When the results of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 69th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) were announced late on the night of November 26th, joy poured into a middle-class family in a remote village of Bihar. A young man from this family had not only cleared the state’s toughest exam but had also topped it, securing the first position. Overcoming numerous challenges and putting in relentless hard work, Ujjwal Kumar Upkar achieved what many youngsters in Bihar can only dream of. What makes his achievement even more remarkable is that Ujjwal appeared for the exam in Hindi medium – marking the first time in a decade that someone from Hindi medium had topped the BPSC.
But Ujjwal’s journey wasn’t easy. From repeatedly failing in the UPSC exams to becoming a BPSC topper, his path was filled with struggles. After completing his engineering, Ujjwal left behind a promising job to pursue his dream of cracking the civil services exam. During this time, he faced constant taunts and doubts from everyone around him. It was a tough phase, but Ujjwal never gave up. He turned those challenges into motivation, proving everyone who doubted him wrong and securing the success he so deeply desired.
In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, Ujjwal shared the details of his remarkable journey and offered valuable insights into his BPSC preparation. He confessed, “I never expected to secure the first rank. But after the exam, I had a feeling that my result would be very good, and I was definitely hopeful of being in the top 100.”
CHOOSING DYSP INSTEAD OF SDM
This was Ujjwal’s third attempt at the BPSC exam. His journey began in 2021 with the BPSC 67th exam, where he cleared it with 496 rank and received posting as the Block Welfare Officer in the Goraul Block of the Vaishali district.
He cracked the exam again in 2022 but couldn’t gain a better position. . However, in his third attempt, he finally achieved his long-term dream. He cracked the examination and earned the position of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP).
Apart from his regular attempts at BPSC, Ujjwal also tried his hand at the UPSC CSE. In his first attempt in 2020, he couldn’t clear the prelims and again fell short in his second attempt in 2021. Despite these setbacks, Ujjwal focused his efforts on the state civil services and began preparing for the BPSC in 2021.
Interestingly, despite topping the BPSC exam, Ujjwal did not prioritize the post of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), even though it was available to him this year. He explained, “It was always my dream to join a uniformed service, which is why I chose Deputy SP over SDM.” Looking ahead, he plans to reattempt the UPSC CSE once he settles into his new role, with a stronger focus and preparation.
Reflecting on his journey, Ujjwal shared, “Preparing for civil services is inherently unpredictable and demanding. When you’ve failed UPSC twice, everything becomes more challenging. It’s even harder to prepare while working full-time. But somehow, I managed to dedicate 4 to 5 hours a day to study, pushing through each hurdle until I reached my goal.”
SON OF AN ANGANWADI WORKER
He originally hails from Raipur village in the Nanpur block of the Vaishali district. His father runs a small private school in the village, while his mother works as an Anganwadi worker. Ujjwal has a younger sister and brother. His sister, after clearing the BPSC exam, is now a teacher.
Ujjwal completed his basic education up to the 12th grade in his hometown, Sitamarhi. He then pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Uttarakhand. After completing his studies, he worked for a while but eventually decided to leave his job to focus on his civil services preparation. During this time, he also stayed in Patna to dedicate more time to his studies.
Ujjwal draws great inspiration from IPS officer Shivdeep Lande, whom he admires deeply for his dedication and work ethic.
BPSC INSIGHTS
When discussing his BPSC preparation, Ujjwal shared valuable insights for aspiring candidates. He emphasized that the BPSC exam pattern has evolved, now aligning more closely with the UPSC format. “You can no longer simply mug up facts and expect to clear the exam. Now, you need to adopt a broader perspective and an analytical approach,” he explained.
He also pointed out that the trend in the types of questions has changed, which every aspirant must recognize. For example, the Science and Technology section, which was previously given minimal attention in the BPSC exam, now plays a significant role. This year, almost 10 questions were asked from this topic. Additionally, Economics, which was previously sidelined, now features prominently in the exam.
Optional & Essay: In the past, BPSC included an optional subject, but it has now been replaced with an essay paper. Ujjwal noted, “The level of difficulty in the BPSC essay paper has significantly increased. It now matches the UPSC level. So, candidates need to focus more on this paper, as it not only tests your writing skills but also reflects your personality through the opinions you express.” The optional paper is now merely qualifying and objective in nature. His optional subject was Hindi Literature.
He also shared that there’s no longer a need for rote learning: “Take my own example—this year, there was a question on Monsoon in the Mains exam, which I hadn’t specifically studied recently. But since my geography concepts were clear, I was able to answer it well and scored good marks.”
Ujjwal’s dedication to his studies was evident in his schedule. He worked a government job from 10 AM to 5 PM and used to prepare for competitive exams from 10 PM to 2 AM, making the most of his late-night hours to focus on his preparation.
INTERVIEW
His interview went well, though it was intense. The interview was conducted by the board led by former IAS officer Yashpati Mishra. Known for his composed demeanor and limited personal questioning, Mr. Mishra typically observes the aspirants closely rather than grilling them. However, in Ujjwal’s case, he was more reactive, putting him under pressure with probing questions and demanding clear answers, as Ujjwal shared.
The board asked a wide range of questions, from current political issues to topics related to his optional subject. One member inquired about the India-Bangladesh issue, while another asked about the difference between Doha and Sortha from his optional subject. Ujjwal couldn’t answer the latter, and the board members pressed him to respond. However, Ujjwal, understanding that the personality test is not about knowledge, remained calm and humbly admitted that he didn’t know the answer.
He was also asked several opinion-based questions, testing his views on burning social issues, including SC/ST reservations. One particularly interesting question was whether, if the government encouraged inter-caste marriages with the upper-caste, such as Brahmins, reservation should be abolished. Ujjwal took a firm stand, saying no, it wouldn’t solve the problem. “Reservation can’t be abolished based on marriage,” he stated. “It’s an issue of social and economic backwardness. If marriage could solve this, we would have seen a significant change by now, with more intercaste marriages taking place, but the effect is not visible.”
SUGGESTIONS
Advising future aspirants, Ujjwal said, “Change your mindset towards BPSC, as its pattern has also changed. It’s now much more dynamic, with many questions based on UPSC themes. Have confidence in yourself and evolve by recognizing your weaknesses and working to correct them. Prepare for both Prelims and Mains simultaneously, as this will help improve your analytical skills. Self-confidence is crucial for this exam. If you have patience and perseverance, success will surely follow.”
FUTURE AIM
When asked by Indian Masterminds about his goals in service, Ujjwal shared, “Today, there is a gap between the police and society. I aim to bridge that gap, even if it’s just a little, by fostering better understanding and connection between the two.”
The Bihar Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Examination (BPSC CCE) is a state-level exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission for recruitment to various administrative posts in the government of Bihar. The 69th BPSC was the most recent edition of this prestigious exam.
