Born and raised in Barmer, Rajasthan, Akshay Doshi had a humble upbringing, with his father self-employed and his mother a homemaker. Little did he know that an offhand remark by his uncle would change the trajectory of his life forever. After cracking the prestigious IIT JEE exam in 2011, his uncle remarked, “Now, your next target should be the civil services.” That spark turned into a lifelong dream for Akshay, one that took eight long, arduous years to finally achieve. In the UPSC 2023 results, Akshay secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 75, marking the culmination of years of self-doubt, determination and never giving up
THE INITIAL STRUGGLES
Akshay’s journey began in 2016, right after completing his Master’s in Chemistry from IIT Kharagpur. With the choice between pursuing higher studies abroad or attempting the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), Akshay chose the latter. However, his first attempt was met with failure—he couldn’t clear the prelims. Despite being ill-prepared, this initial setback did not deter him. He moved to Delhi to take coaching for Mains while preparing for Prelims on his own.
His optional subject was chemistry, a subject he felt confident about. “I wasn’t good at essays or English, but I was confident in my optional,” he recalls. Yet his struggles continued. In 2017, he narrowly missed clearing the Prelims by just two marks. Disheartened but undeterred, he returned to his hometown to study further, supported by his parents but increasingly feeling the pressure to succeed.
BALANCING PRELIMS AND MAINS
By 2018, Akshay had learned a crucial lesson: balance is key. “I learned the hard way that you shouldn’t take Prelims or Mains lightly. In my third attempt, I prioritized Prelims, and as a result, I got stuck in Mains due to lack of preparation,” he explains. Though he cleared Prelims, he could not pass the Mains exam. Questions from family and friends started pouring in—why was he jobless despite an IIT degree?
In 2019, Akshay once again cleared Prelims but faltered in Mains, particularly in his optional subject. “I scored around 125 marks in Prelims but made the mistake of not filling out the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam form,” he shares. The growing disappointment around him mirrored the one in his own heart.
BREAKING POINT
By 2020, Akshay was facing his fourth attempt, and the pressure was immense. After scoring his lowest—just 84 marks in Prelims—he was shaken to the core. “It was the lowest point in my journey. I couldn’t even talk to my family,” he remembers. The pandemic hit soon after, forcing him to return home without any of his study materials or his laptop. He fought his way through these challenges, managing to retrieve his laptop and resume his preparation.
Yet 2021 proved to be a year of reflection. “I skipped the 2021 attempt and decided to re-approach my preparation, especially my optional. To boost my confidence, I attempted the Rajasthan PCS exam and cleared Mains,” he reveals. This period of introspection and rebuilding was vital for what was to come next.
THE FINAL STRETCH
By 2023, Akshay was in his last and final attempt. After facing disappointment in the IFS interview, he knew he had to make this attempt count. “This was a do-or-die situation,” he admits. Fortunately, he found a study partner, and together, they devised a strict schedule. “We planned every single day, never skipping any test,” he says. For the first time, he focused solely on revision, using only his notes, all of which were saved on his laptop.
When Akshay finally cleared the Mains, he felt a wave of happiness but knew the interview stage was looming. He had expected more time to prepare but was shocked to find only 14 days between the result announcement and the interview. Unlike his IFS interview, this time he gave four mock interviews to prepare himself. “I was really nervous as I was once again at number four in the interview schedule, just like in my forest interview, and it was with the same board,” he recalls. The interview lasted half an hour, and Akshay walked out feeling uncertain, believing it to be an average performance.
VICTORY AT LAST
On the day of the result, Akshay was eating when his friend informed him he had secured AIR 75. “I couldn’t believe it. My brother confirmed it over the phone, and I was overwhelmed,” he says. Calls flooded in for the next three hours, but despite the congratulations, Akshay remained calm. “Many asked why I wasn’t showing excitement, but I was just content inside. I felt relieved after eight years of struggle,” he reflects.
