Can you imagine an aspirant who cracks the UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFS) prelims in all five of his attempts but never appeared for the mains exam in his first four attempts? What could have caused this? Was it overconfidence, or something else entirely? This is an inspiring story that stands out.
Meet Indrajeet Sirra, a 2022 batch IFS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, who triumphed in the UPSC in his fifth attempt. His journey serves as a reminder to every aspirant: never let an opportunity slip by, as your wait might end up being longer than you expect. And in the end, not everyone is as fortunate as Indrajeet.
Indrajeet’s story is a beacon of inspiration for anyone pursuing civil services or competitive exams. He juggled a job while preparing, only to return to his preparation with an even stronger backup job. Yet, destiny had different plans for him – civil services were his true calling. And after much persistence, he finally achieved his goal.
Indian Masterminds recently had the privilege of interacting with Mr Indrajeet, who is currently awaiting his posting orders, to delve deeper into his extraordinary journey.
JOURNEY SO FAR
After completing his engineering from IIT Bombay in 2016, he joined a private sector job at ICICI Lombard. However, after almost a year, a deep yearning for civil services drove him to leave his job in 2017 and move to Delhi to prepare full-time for the UPSC exams.
He made a total of five attempts at the UPSC CSE and IFS exams. His first attempt was in 2017, where he cleared the prelims but fell short in the Mains of the CSE. In his second attempt, 2018, he cleared both the prelims and the CSE Mains, but unfortunately, he did not make it to the final list.
In his third attempt, he could not clear the Mains exam. However, in his fourth attempt in 2020, he cleared the CSE Mains again and reached the interview stage, but once again, he did not make it to the final list. This was a major setback, leaving him feeling disheartened and sad. What was even more disheartening was that he hadn’t even given the IFS Mains exam, having been so focused on clearing the CSE, believing that he would surely qualify.
In his fifth and final attempt in 2021, Indrajeet learned from his past mistakes. He decided not to repeat the same error and gave the IFS Mains exam. Although he didn’t clear the CSE, he passed the IFS exam with an All India Rank of 95 and officially became an Indian Forest Service officer.
In addition to his UPSC journey, Indrajeet also cleared the SSC CGL exam in 2017, securing the position of ‘Assistant Audit Officer’ in Delhi. He continued in this role until 2021.
Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “My journey has been a roller coaster ride. After my time at IIT, I didn’t want to burden my family financially, so I also prepared for and cleared the SSC exam. But I certainly took it for granted. I was overconfident, and despite clearing all the prelims of the IFS, I didn’t attempt the Mains in four of my attempts. If I had, I might have cleared the exam earlier. But that’s life – it’s full of lessons.”
INTERVIEW SUGGESTIONS
Giving advice to UPSC IFS aspirants whose interviews are scheduled between April 21 and May 2, 2025, Indrajeet said, “The key to a successful interview is authenticity. Don’t try to fake anything. When you answer based on your true personality, your responses will appear genuine and things will flow naturally. Avoid exaggerating or presenting things in an inflated manner. If you’ve done something small, don’t feel the need to make it sound bigger than it is – just be real.”
He also stressed the importance of keeping answers concise and to the point. “Don’t beat around the bush. Provide clear, direct answers. If you don’t know something, simply admit it. And remember, be clear about everything you’ve mentioned in your DAF (Detailed Application Form) and explain it well.”
Indrajeet further highlighted a common interview question: “Why do you want to join this service?” He pointed out that everyone will answer this question differently because each candidate’s journey is unique. “But my advice is to be honest and express your true reasons. If you believe that joining the service will elevate your social prestige, say so. The panel members are highly experienced and will easily detect artificial answers. There’s nothing wrong in saying that this job will bring you more respect or make your life easier – it’s the truth.”
BACKGROUND
Indrajeet hails from a village in Dausa District, Rajasthan. His father works in a bank, while his mother is a housewife. He completed his basic education up to the 10th grade in his hometown, attending a Hindi-medium school. Afterward, he moved to Jaipur, where he completed his 12th grade while simultaneously preparing for the IIT JEE.
After finishing his 12th, he pursued a dual degree course in B. Tech and M. Tech in Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay, graduating in 2016. Following his graduation, he joined the workforce.
UPSC PREPERATION
Indrajeet’s preparation was primarily self-study, though he did join coaching for a very short period. He focused on using limited resources and emphasized the importance of making his own notes, especially for his optional subjects, which proved to be extremely helpful.
Regarding the prelims, he said, “No one can know all the answers, so sometimes you have to make educated guesses. But for that, you need to practice and improve your logical guesswork. You should focus on determining which option has a higher probability compared to the other three. To do this effectively, it’s crucial to take multiple mock tests and practice papers. The key is to attempt as many questions as possible – try to attempt 99 out of 100 questions, leaving just a few.”
He also shared his approach to study planning: “We planned our study schedule carefully. We studied for six days a week, with the seventh day being a lighter day for relaxation and refreshment.”
His optional subject for the CSE was Anthropology, while for the IFS, he chose Agriculture Engineering and Forestry.
HIS INTERVIEW
His personal interview was smooth and concise, covering a wide range of questions related to forestry.
One board member asked him to explain the balance between development and forest conservation, and which of the two he would prioritize. Indrajeet replied that both are necessary from different perspectives. “To save the forest, we can’t impose a blanket ban on development,” he explained. “However, the revenue generated from development can be reinvested into projects aimed at conserving the environment that may have been affected.”
Another member asked him about the indigenous tree species in Rajasthan that should be promoted for plantation. Additionally, he was questioned about the greenhouse and polyhouse methods for nursery planting, as well as the ideal approach to creating a nursery. His interview also included several other basic forestry-related questions.
MESSAGE
Advising aspirants, Mr Indrajeet said, “Keep your resources limited and focus strictly on the syllabus. Don’t get overwhelmed by the vast amount of material available; it’s important to stay focused on what’s relevant. Don’t rush to cover everything at once – pace yourself and be patient with your progress. Stay committed to your hard work and remain honest throughout your journey, as integrity is key to long-term success.”
“It’s crucial to maintain consistency in your efforts, but also remember to work smart. Prioritize quality over quantity, and don’t get caught up in trying to do everything. Smart work is about understanding what’s important and efficiently managing your time. Most importantly, make sure to revise regularly. Timely revision helps reinforce what you’ve learned and ensures you’re always prepared. It’s not about how much you study, but how well you study and retain the knowledge.”
