The pain of coming so close to success, only to lose it, can be crushing for anyone. But when you are in a seemingly better position and still fall short of realizing your dream, the journey becomes even more daunting. Rahul Kumar’s path through the UPSC exam exemplifies the challenges of one of the country’s toughest competitive tests. From a corporate job to spending two years in the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and facing the highs and lows of five UPSC attempts, Rahul’s story is not only inspiring but also a powerful reminder that determination and persistence are key to overcoming adversity and achieving one’s goals.
In UPSC – 2023, Kumar’s perseverance paid off when he secured an impressive AIR of 94, earning his place as an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer. His journey is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and unwavering dedication – qualities that are essential in the pursuit of any dream.
Indian Masterminds interacted with Rahul, gaining valuable insights into the remarkable journey that led him to success.
JOURNEY SO FAR
Rahul Kumar began his UPSC journey in 2017-18, during the final year of his college studies. He was determined to pursue the UPSC but wanted to gain some corporate experience first. After graduating in 2018, he worked as a Data Scientist at Mu Sigma Company in Bengaluru. While still in college, he gave his first UPSC attempt in 2018, mainly to assess his capabilities.
In 2019, he decided to quit his job and move to Delhi to fully focus on UPSC preparation. However, just three months into his preparation, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing him to shift to online studies. His second attempt came in 2020, but he was unable to clear the prelims.
Undeterred, Rahul pushed forward, and in 2021, during his third attempt, he wrote the mains exams for both Civil Services Exam (CSE) and Indian Forest Services (IFS). He even reached the interview round for IFS but fell short of the final list by just 17 marks.
Simultaneously, Rahul explored other backup options and appeared for exams like EPFO, UPPCS, and the IB exam. In May 2022, he was selected as an Assistant Central Intelligence Officer in the IB and was posted in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
Despite his success in the IB, Rahul’s fourth UPSC attempt in 2022 ended in disappointment when he failed to clear even the CSAT, a major setback that didn’t shake his resolve. He fell short by just 1.5 marks in the CSAT, despite scoring 108 marks in Paper 1 of the UPSC prelims.
In his fifth and final attempt in 2023, Rahul reached the interview round of CSE but again fell short of the final list. However, in IFS, he achieved an impressive AIR 94 and secured his dream position as an IFS officer.
Reflecting on his journey, Rahul shared, “My path was full of ups and downs. I prepared while working in a corporate job, then left my job to focus on UPSC. I also worked in the IB, and it wasn’t easy. You give interviews for a year, and then if you don’t clear CSAT the next year, it feels disheartening. Balancing everything physically and mentally was tough. But in the end, it all paid off. Now, everything feels right. So much hard work has finally come together.”
Background
He hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand, though his roots trace back to Patna, Bihar. He spent most of his formative years in Ranchi, where he completed his schooling up to the 12th grade. Rahul then pursued a degree in Telecommunication Engineering from Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, graduating in 2018.
Raised in a modest family, Rahul’s parents played a crucial role in shaping his values and aspirations. His father serves as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), while his mother, a homemaker, provided emotional support throughout his academic journey. Rahul is also blessed with two siblings, who have been an important part of his life.
UPSC PREPARATION
During his UPSC preparation, Rahul faced several setbacks in the early stages, which led him to focus intensely on clearing the prelims. After failing the 2020 prelims, he dedicated himself to rigorous practice, often taking 3 to 4 mock tests (50 to 60 questions) each day. To stay on track, he set alarms multiple times a day, pushing himself to complete these tests consistently.
For the mains, Rahul enrolled in a crash course for his forest services optional, which was Geology. His optional subjects for CSE were Geography, and for the forest services exam, he chose Forestry and Geology.
He also shared a deeply emotional incident that impacted his exams. Just one day before his geology exam, his grandmother passed away, a tragic loss that shook him to his core. Reflecting on this difficult time, he said, “Sometimes, I got emotional at the exam center and had to pause while writing, overwhelmed by memories of my childhood. But that’s life — you have to deal with it.”
INTERVIEW
Rahul’s interview went well, and he had the opportunity to face the board led by Sanjeev Verma. Interestingly, he was assigned the same board for both his CSE and IFS interviews this year. During the interview, he was asked a wide range of questions, covering his current work profile, his DAF (Detailed Application Form), and current affairs.
He was thoroughly grilled about his role in the IB, with one member posing several security-related questions. Additionally, Rahul faced a rapid-fire round consisting of five quick questions from the board members.
In the IFS interview, he was presented with several situation-based questions, testing his problem-solving and decision-making skills in real-life scenarios.
SUGGESTIONS
Advising future aspirants, Rahul said, “Never start this preparation because of external influences. The goal of cracking UPSC should be your own, not something driven by society’s expectations. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, many people are influenced by their surroundings and begin preparing for UPSC without truly owning the decision, and that’s not the right approach.
Secondly, the effective use of social media and the internet is crucial. I made sure to use them productively. Practicing mindfulness is also very important. There will be many highs and lows along the way, and you need to be prepared for both. At times, you may question whether it’s all worth it. But if your decision is personal and truly yours, you will never feel disappointed.”
