The greatest anguish is coming so close to success, yet falling short each time. It can shatter a person internally and diminish morale. Hardik Chandel’s journey reflects this sentiment. Since his engineering days, he aspired to join the civil services and aimed to clear the exam on his first attempt. This determination led him to enroll in coaching during his final year of engineering, making a weekly journey of about 150 kilometers from Kurukshetra to Delhi for his studies.
His efforts seemed to bear fruit when he reached the interview stage in his very first attempt, as he had envisioned. However, fate had other plans. Hardik missed the mark by just 9 points. Encouraged by his initial attempt, many believed success was imminent in his subsequent tries. Hardik himself held onto this hope. Despite this optimism, he failed to qualify for the mains in his next attempt. It was then that Hardik began to grasp the true essence of the UPSC journey.
Despite setbacks, Hardik remained steadfast on his chosen path. Overcoming his despair, he persevered. Finally, in 2022, his efforts paid off as he secured a place in the DANICS cadre. This year, he achieved remarkable success, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 304.
Speaking Exclusively with Indian Masterminds, Mr Chandel narrated his journey.
DANICS TO IRS: JOURNEY SO FAR
Hardik Chandel embarked on his Civil Services journey in 2018 while completing his final years of engineering at NIT Kurukshetra. He joined coaching in Delhi and commuted from Kurukshetra every weekend for studies.
He has attempted the exam four times so far, consistently clearing the prelims in each attempt. He qualified for the mains four times and reached the interview stage three times, achieving selection twice.
In 2020, he made his first attempt, successfully clearing the prelims and mains in UPSC CSE-20, but fell short of the final selection by 9 marks in the interview stage.
In his second attempt in CSE-2021, he qualified for the mains but did not clear it. In his third attempt in CSE-2022, he successfully cleared all rounds and was placed on the reserve list. He was allotted the DANICS cadre and posted in Delhi’s Revenue Department.
In UPSC CSE-2023, he cracked the exam again, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 304 on his fourth attempt. He is likely to be selected for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS).
He said, “My journey has been quite distinctive. It has imparted profound lessons, particularly the experience of nearing success only to encounter unexpected setbacks. It has underscored for me the paramount importance of perseverance and the transformative power of resilience. These are the invaluable lessons I have gleaned from this journey.”
MISTAKES THAT HE MADE
He encountered challenges with completing papers in each attempt. He acknowledges that his slow writing pace resulted in lower marks in mains, particularly in the Essay paper. In his second attempt, he failed to qualify for mains due to issues with the Essay paper.
This year, he dedicated substantial effort to enhancing his writing skills and completing papers on time. In his third and fourth attempts, he scored 104 and 108 marks, respectively, in the Essay paper, having nearly completed his mains papers this year. Additionally, he achieved an impressive score of 193 in the interview round.
BACKGROUND
Originally from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Hardik Chandel’s family is now settled in Ghaziabad, UP. His father is an engineer employed in the private sector, while his mother is a housewife. He also has a sister who is an engineer.
He completed his early education in his hometown up to 12th grade. Subsequently, he graduated with a B.Tech. in Electronics & Communication from NIT Kurukshetra in 2019.
UPSC
He began his UPSC preparation by joining weekend coaching in Delhi in 2018. Initially, he focused on mastering the basics and studied standard books recommended by successful candidates, in addition to NCERT textbooks.
Throughout his UPSC journey, he continually aimed to improve himself each year. For instance, if he received lower marks in a particular paper the previous year, he concentrated more on that paper in subsequent attempts. He analyzed toppers’ answer copies to learn how to craft effective responses and solved previous year’s question papers (PYQs) for better exam comprehension.
He also practiced extensively with mock test papers for the mains exam, focusing on enhancing his answer-writing skills. This year, he particularly emphasized improving the presentation of his mains answers, incorporating maps and diagrams.
Reflecting on his approach, he stated, “I always endeavored to learn from my mistakes. My strategy involved using limited resources but revising them thoroughly. I made it a point to solve test papers immediately after studying to promptly identify and rectify any errors.”
For the mains exam, he concentrated on providing multidimensional answers enriched with data and facts, aiming to bring a fresh perspective to each response. He dedicated approximately 6 hours daily to his studies.
His optional subject was Political Science and International Relations (PSIR), which included new topics in the syllabus every year. Despite this, he found the subject fascinating and diligently prepared notes, ensuring timely memorization. He remarked, “PSIR is such an intriguing subject that I never found it tedious or overwhelming.”
INTERVIEW
His interview went quite well, though he faced rigorous questioning. The questions were mostly opinion-based and centered around his Detailed Application Form (DAF).
He was questioned extensively about his background, optional subject (Political Science and International Relations), and his hobby, cricket. The interview panel also inquired about the US Presidential Elections.
One board member asked him about the Israel-Gaza conflict, while another queried him on India-Sri Lanka relations and the current situation. Another member raised the recurring issue of air pollution in Ghaziabad and its potential solutions.
A particularly interesting question posed to him was about the mechanics of reverse swing in cricket, which he found intriguing.
MESSAGE
To all aspirants, I would say, ‘Stay true to yourself on this journey. Consistency is key. Sacrifices will be necessary. At times, you may doubt your path and wonder if another field might offer better prospects. Have faith in yourself, keep working hard, and you will succeed.
