There’s a famous quote that says, “You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone.” This couldn’t be truer, as our story reflects this idea in every sense.
At one point, Kaushal Kishore’s repeated failures in the UPSC exams could have been heartbreaking for any aspirant, even discouraging enough to make someone quit. Many might have chosen to walk away after such setbacks. But brave individuals never give up – they choose to rise and fight on. This is exactly what Kaushal Kishore, the 2022 batch IFS (Indian Forest service) officer from the Punjab cadre, did. Despite the odds, he persevered and finally cracked the UPSC IFS exam in his fifth attempt. His story is an example that if one remains committed to hard work and stays focused in the right direction, success is inevitable.
Indian Masterminds had the privilege of speaking with him to learn more about his inspiring journey.
JOURNEY SO FAR
Kaushal’s civil services journey began in 2016, and he attempted the UPSC exams five times in total. In his first two attempts, in 2017 and 2018, he couldn’t even clear the prelims. However, in his third attempt in 2019, he passed the prelims but failed to overcome the hurdle of the mains exam.
In his fourth attempt, Kaushal cleared both the prelims and the mains, making it to the interview round of the Civil Services Examination. But he fell short by just three marks, missing out on the final list. Although disheartened by the continuous failures, he never gave up.
In his fifth and final attempt, Kaushal triumphed, cracking the UPSC IFS exam with an All India Rank of 80 and fulfilling his long-awaited dream of becoming an IFS officer.
Alongside his UPSC preparation, Kaushal also taught at an IIT-JEE and NEET coaching center and later joined PwC as a technology consultant after graduation due to financial instability.
Reflecting on his journey, Kaushal shared, “When you face initial setbacks, it always becomes challenging to keep going. For me, it was heartbreaking and difficult when I kept failing. But since I was also working, it provided me with support – a cushion, in a way. I was also fortunate to receive the right guidance at the right time when I needed it most. And, of course, I kept putting in the hard work, and in the end, I got what I deserved.”
INTERVIEW TIPS
With the UPSC 2024 Interview process currently underway, Kaushal shared some valuable tips for aspirants preparing for their interviews. He emphasized, “Aspirants should go through the transcripts of previous years’ interviews. It’s essential to review them as part of your preparation because many times, the themes of questions from the prelims and mains are repeated in the interview as well. So, you can prepare accordingly.”
He also highlighted that not all interview questions will be based solely on the Detailed Application Form (DAF). Aspirants should be prepared for questions beyond the DAF, which could catch them by surprise. Keeping up with current affairs and the latest updates is crucial in this regard.
Most importantly, Kaushal stressed the significance of being honest and humble. “If you don’t know something, don’t hesitate to acknowledge it,” he advised. “Carry your personality, stay positive, and maintain the right mindset.”
UPSC
Talking about his preparation, Kaushal believes there are two key guides to follow: the syllabus and the previous years’ questions (PYQs). However, he pointed out that the syllabus itself is not always clearly defined. For example, the environment syllabus mentions “Environment and Ecology” and a few other terms, but that’s it. To better understand the syllabus, he stressed the importance of PYQs. By analyzing them, aspirants can get a clearer idea of which topics to focus on and how deeply they need to study each one. PYQs not only help define the syllabus better but also give insights into recurring question patterns.
Unlike many others, Kaushal found the COVID-19 period to be a boon for his preparation. He explained that being at home during this time allowed him to stay focused and peaceful, which significantly benefited his preparation. He also suggested that preparing at home can be more effective than studying in places like Delhi. “There’s nothing that can provide you with additional benefits by studying away from home. Everything you need is available on the internet, and you also have the support of your family at home,” he shared.
In the Civil Services Examination, his optional subject was Chemistry, while in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam, he chose Chemistry and Forestry as his optional subjects.
BACKGROUND
Kaushal hails from a village in Gaya district, Bihar. His father is a farmer, and his mother is a homemaker. He has two siblings: a sister and a brother.
Kaushal completed his early education at DAV School in Gaya before cracking the JEE exam and securing admission to IIT Delhi. He went on to pursue a B.Tech. in Production and Industrial Engineering from IIT Delhi, graduating in 2016.
INTERVIEW
Kaushal’s interviews went well, but he was thoroughly grilled by the panel. The questions covered a wide range of topics, from factual queries to practical understanding.
A significant portion of the questions were related to chemistry. One member asked him about the pH value, while another, who had Dettol in front of him, inquired about the formula for Dettol. Kaushal couldn’t recall the formula and humbly admitted that he didn’t know the answer.
Since cricket was mentioned as one of his hobbies, many questions were related to the sport. To prepare for this, Kaushal had gone through previous years’ transcripts and prepared extensively on cricket-related questions. He was also asked about his other hobby, Vipassana. One member asked him about the theoretical aspects of Vipassana, as well as the changes he had noticed in himself after practicing it. Additionally, there were some technical questions related to his IFS interview.
MESSAGE
Kaushal offered some valuable advice to aspirants, emphasizing an important point: “If you feel you can manage your job alongside UPSC preparation, then don’t quit your job. Studying while working can provide you with support. Never become obsessed with UPSC; treat it as just another exam. I firmly believe that luck plays a role in UPSC, in addition to hard work. So, give your 100 percent, but remember, there’s life beyond UPSC. You can achieve much more than this.”
