https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Rural Dreamer’s Triumph: How a Mine Laborer’s Daughter Conquered Fear to Achieve IRS Success

Payal Gwalwanshi battled self-doubt to achieve her dream, earning an impressive 184 marks in the interview. She advises, 'If you truly want to succeed, dedicate yourself fully,' ultimately becoming an IRS officer before 25."
Indian Masterminds Stories

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston S. Churchill

Coming from a rural background, she often battled feelings of fear and self-doubt. Each time she entered the exam hall, nerves would overwhelm her, and she struggled to complete the paper. For years, the haunting specter of these fears held her back; from 2019 to 2022, she was unable to clear even the preliminary exams. However, she eventually came to a powerful realization: in life, winning and losing are part of the journey. One cannot live in fear of failure forever, and to succeed, one must confront those fears.

With this newfound determination, she finally cracked the prestigious UPSC CSE 2023 exam, achieving an All India Rank of 913 and becoming an IRS officer. This is the inspiring story of Payal Gwalwanshi, who set her sights on clearing the UPSC before turning 25—and achieved her goal.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Masterminds, she shared, “I set a goal for myself during my college days: I had to clear this exam by 25. If I didn’t succeed, I would pursue another field. This year, despite failing the prelims three times before, I achieved my goal at the right moment. This is my greatest achievement.”

Payal Gwalwanshi with her parents

JOURNEY SO FAR

Her UPSC journey began during her college days when she was just 21 years old. After graduating in 2019, she moved to Delhi, enrolled in coaching classes, and started her preparation. However, due to COVID-19, she returned home and continued her studies remotely.

She made a total of four attempts at the exam. In her first attempt in 2019, she was unable to clear even the prelims. The pandemic and some personal challenges led her to skip the 2020 attempt. In 2021 and 2022, she sat for her second and third attempts, but the results were the same: she did not pass the prelims. Despite these setbacks, she remained steadfast in her goal. With unwavering determination and confidence, she continued her preparation.

Finally, in 2023, her hard work paid off when she cracked the prestigious exam with an All India Rank of 913 and became an IRS officer. Remarkably, she also attempted the exam for the fifth time this year, successfully cleared the prelims, and has since written the mains.

In the meantime, she also cleared the state civil services exam and received a posting. In February this year, she was selected for the position of Agriculture Extension Officer in the Agriculture Department, but she chose not to join.

Payal Gwalwanshi, AIR-913, UPSC-23

THE BIGGEST HURDLE & CRACKING IT

The main hurdle she faced in the exam was the prelims. She attributed this challenge to her feelings of underconfidence and a pervasive fear of failure. Coming from a rural background, she often doubted her abilities and believed the exam was too difficult for her to clear. This mindset left her nervous and anxious. She remarked, “This issue affects many aspirants, especially those from Hindi medium and rural backgrounds. Even what we know can lead to self-doubt.”

Gradually, she began to confront this fear. She started to believe in herself and focused more intently on her goals. She recognized that there are only two possible outcomes: winning or losing. “I told myself, why should I fear? Until now, my failures were entirely my own doing. It was my own actions that led to my setbacks,” she explained. Over time, she noticed that her fear began to dissipate. With newfound confidence, she approached the exam and managed to attempt over 95 percent of the questions.

With family and friends

BACKGROUND

She hails from the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. Her father works as a laborer in the manganese mines, while her mother is a homemaker. Payal has two siblings: a brother and a sister. Her brother is currently a junior engineer with the railways, and her sister is preparing for the SSC exams.

Payal completed her basic education up to the 12th grade in her hometown. Following that, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (JNKVV) in Jabalpur, graduating in 2019.

With her mother

UPSC JOURNEY

She completed her entire exam preparation in Hindi medium, choosing Hindi Literature as her optional subject. Payal studied diligently for about 10 hours each day, dedicating significant time to developing and implementing her study strategy.

She firmly believes that aspirants should first understand the demands of the UPSC before diving into their preparations. It’s crucial to grasp what the UPSC is looking for and the types of questions it typically asks. To better tailor her study plan, she conducted a SWOT analysis on herself to determine how and what she should study, creating a timetable that aligned with the UPSC requirements.

To aid her revision during exam time, she created short and concise notes, which proved invaluable. She emphasized the importance of these notes, noting that revising from bulky textbooks is often impractical during the exam period.

When discussing the challenges faced by Hindi medium students in the UPSC, she candidly remarked, “It is a harsh reality that there is a significant difference in the success ratio between Hindi and English medium aspirants. The root of this issue often lies in foundational education. I struggled to clear the prelims myself because I come from a government primary school where Hindi medium education is the norm. This environment doesn’t always align with the demands of the UPSC, particularly in areas like CSAT.”

She continued, “As a result, our foundational skills are often weaker compared to those from convent schools. However, if you are determined, you can certainly succeed, as the UPSC offers many opportunities.”

Payal Gwalwanshi, IRS (IT)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Her interview went exceptionally well, earning her 184 marks-the second highest among Hindi medium aspirants. She noted that the questions were more analytical and situational rather than purely factual. Payal emphasized that the interview is designed to assess your personality rather than your knowledge, advising candidates to focus on showcasing who they are.

During the interview, she faced a wide range of questions, covering topics such as rural development, women empowerment, her Detailed Application Form (DAF), and the agriculture

MESSAGE

In her message to aspirants, she said, “If you truly want to succeed, dedicate yourself fully to your goal. This isn’t just a myth; it’s a reality that if you lose focus, this exam can easily turn into a five-year plan for you. From the very beginning, it’s important to clearly define your goal and prepare strategically for the exam.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
delhi-government-resized
Delhi: 7 IAS Officers Transferred, Prashant Goyal Appointed Financial Commissioner - Check Details Here
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
delhi-government-resized
Delhi: 7 IAS Officers Transferred, Prashant Goyal Appointed Financial Commissioner - Check Details Here
678341a1754f9-ias-prashant-kumar-singh-appointed-as-manipur-chief-secretary-12142054-16x9
IAS Prashant Kumar Singh: Taking Charge of Manipur in Its Toughest Hour
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT