“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
When the world gives up, when attempts fail, when society whispers “Enough now,” only a rare kind of spirit dares to rise again. Among thousands of aspirants who break after one, two, or maybe three attempts, one man kept going till seven, without losing focus, without breaking down, without letting his dream slip away.
This is the story of Yogendra Nirmalkar, a symbol of extraordinary persistence, a living example of grit and unshakeable belief. In a world where competitive exams test not just intellect but character, Yogendra carved his own destiny, cracking CGPSC-2024 in his 7th attempt and finally becoming a Naib Tehsildar.
His journey is not just a success story – it is a testament to resilience, proof that dreams may be delayed, but with courage, they can never be denied. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, he said, “The journey has been long, and this was my seventh attempt. I failed many times and stumbled along the way, but I never stopped believing in myself. Today, I finally achieved what I always dreamed of.”
JOURNEY SO FAR — SEVEN ATTEMPTS OF GRIT
Yogendra’s journey began with the 2018 PSC exam (held in 2019), where he cleared the Prelims and reached the interview stage in his very first attempt.
The second attempt also took him to the interview, but the final selection still stayed out of reach. In the third attempt, he missed Mains by just a few marks, a pain only a true aspirant can understand.
The fourth and fifth attempts were even harder, as he couldn’t clear Prelims, a phase where most lose their confidence – but he didn’t. In his sixth attempt, he finally achieved a government post as Cooperative Inspector/Government Extension Officer with Rank 114. Even then he didn’t stop. And in the seventh attempt, after years of struggle, he finally achieved what he had always wanted – selection as Naib-Tehsildar in CGPSC-2024.
His BACKGROUND – ROOTS OF STRENGTH
Yogendra comes from Patan Bansuli, a small village in Durg district, where he completed his schooling in a government school and grew up in a farming family. His parents, both farmers, taught him the value of effort and humility, lessons that guided him throughout his preparation. He completed his Engineering in Information Technology from BIT Durg in 2017, explored job options briefly, but soon realized that his heart belonged to the world of public service. Later, driven by his interest in History, he completed his MA in History in 2023. Even during setbacks—like failing Prelims in 2022—he did not stop learning and qualified the NET exam, yet never joined a job because his family’s destination for him, and his own dream, was the Civil Services.
PREPARATION STRATEGY – WHAT HE DID DIFFERENTLY
This time, Yogendra’s preparation ran parallel to his job, which made revision the most important part of his routine. For Prelims, he ensured strong conceptual clarity so that he would not get stuck at the initial stage anymore. For Mains, he focused heavily on writing practice, solving numerous test papers with his group.
His interview preparation was simple but honest; he reviewed his profile, polished his engineering knowledge, and reflected on his hobby of social welfare.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS – A TEST OF KNOWLEDGE AND CLARITY
Yogendra’s interview this time was a blend of analytical, technical, and personality-based questions. The panel explored multiple dimensions of his profile, starting with questions on reservation policies, which required both understanding and balanced thinking. Since he comes from an engineering background, especially IT, the board asked him about Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and related technological developments. They also touched upon his declared hobby—social welfare—and asked him conceptual questions around it. One particularly interesting question was: “If you donate a fruit to someone, is it social service or social welfare?” The panel also asked him about literary figures and posed some economics-related questions such as the purpose behind introducing FERA and FEMA, which he found challenging to recall.
Overall, the interview was well-rounded, probing not only his knowledge but also his ability to think calmly, respond honestly, and remain composed—qualities that ultimately strengthened his performance.
BIGGEST STRUGGLE IN THE JOURNEY
For Yogendra, the toughest part was balancing his preparation with family responsibilities after he got selected in his sixth attempt. Coming from a farming background, financial challenges were constant, and expectations were always high. Yet he pushed himself every year because the PSC exam gave him a goal to look forward to. The support of his family and the constant reminder that he had already come so far kept him mentally strong during moments of doubt.
TURNING POINTS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
One of the major turning points in Yogendra’s journey was finding a dedicated study group. Preparing alongside sincere friends like Sahlen, Bandesar, Chandel, Rajesh, Goyal, Swami, and Akhilesh helped him remain disciplined. They wrote multiple tests together, discussed strategies, and supported each other, and almost all of them eventually secured posts. Another turning point was his decision to focus deeply on scoring subjects like Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 4, which played a decisive role in lifting his Mains score.
MESSAGE TO ASPIRANTS
Yogendra believes that CGPSC is not just an exam—it is a test of consistency and patience. He says, “With dedication, consistency, patience, and hard work, you will definitely achieve success one day.” He emphasizes that the key is not to give up, even when results don’t come as expected.
WHY HE WASN’T SELECTED EARLIER
According to him, it wasn’t about mistakes; rather, the timing simply wasn’t right. He had always worked hard, but he believes that success comes when fate aligns with effort. His words reflect deep maturity: “You get the fruit only when the right time comes.”
CONCLUSION – A LEGENDARY JOURNEY OF PERSEVERANCE
Yogendra Nirmalkar’s story is a powerful reminder that success rewards those who remain unshaken despite failures. Giving seven attempts is something only a handful of people in this world can even imagine, and enduring those years of pressure, uncertainty, and expectations requires unimaginable inner strength. From a small village to the prestigious position of Naib Tehsildar, Yogendra’s journey proves that dreams may take time, but they never die when chased with courage. His story will continue to inspire thousands of aspirants who feel tired, lost, or discouraged—because he stands as living proof that persistence can turn any dream into reality.
