2 November 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

From A Village Government School To IIT And IAS

Indian Masterminds Stories

If you are passionate about something and equally determined to achieve it, then no goal is bigger or difficult for you. Sandeep Jha of Madhubani district in Bihar has proved it with his series of successes. Due to his high achievements in education since childhood, not just his family but his entire village had high hopes from him. He was declared a child prodigy, and now with his two consecutive successes in UPSC CSE, he has proved it true. 

Mr. Jha, who is currently under training as an IPS officer in Hyderabad, has secured AIR 24 in UPSC CSE 2022. Earlier, in 2021, he had secured AIR 186 and was allotted IPS. Since, his aim was to join IAS, he attempted again and made it. During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, he shared his mantra for success in any exam. 

PREPARATION STARTED FROM CHILDHOOD 

Hailing from Tardiha village in Madhepur block, Mr. Jha completed his primary education from a local government school. He had started showing his talents ever since he was a kid. His father used to always encourage him to attempt competitive exams. He qualified for Jawahar Navoday Vidalaya, and, thereafter, cracked IIT with AIR 1313 and went to Kharagpur for B.Tech in Computer Science. Cracking any academic competition was not much of a challenge for him as he had been preparing himself for this since school. 

During the third year of his graduation, he realised that only UPSC CSE provides a bigger canvas to bring about some change and be of some use to society. So, he started preparing for it. He was well aware that this journey is very different from any other. So, he planned a strategy and followed it religiously. Not only did he focus on studies for around 10-12 hours daily, but also kept himself miles away from social media. 

He told Indian Masterminds: “UPSC CSE is difficult as the syllabus is huge. So, every aspirant should focus on making plans of their own and follow it without a miss. I studied for that many hours. Some don’t need that much time, so each individual should strategise according to their strength and weakness.”

FULL FAMILY SUPPORT 

He is the younger son of Suman Jha and Sunaina Devi. His elder brother is an engineer. All his family members stood by his side during his success, and failure too. In his first attempt in 2019, Mr. Jha couldn’t make it to the final list. He didn’t score good marks in his optional, which was Mathematics. In the next attempt, he cleared all his shortcomings and qualified for IPS. He gives the credit to his family, especially his father and brother. He said, “It wouldn’t have been possible without them. They trusted and supported me all throughout.”

He is currently a trainee IPS. After completing his foundation course in LBSNAA, he took few months leave from service to focus on UPSC CSE 2022. Now, that he has made it to the top ranks, he feels relieved. 

CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE 

Mr. Jha emphasizes that for success in any exam, one needs persistence and discipline. He is already guiding aspirants from his areas. No aspirant is ignored by him since he believes that everybody needs help and encouragement. And, he is determined to continue with it. “Even if you prepare well for UPSC CSE, you might not succeed in it. But, the journey trains you well to clear other exams. I will be glad if anyone would win in life using my help.”

He now looks forward to working in the field of education, as he thinks nothing can match its power.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Join our WhatsApp Channel
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Jharkhand DISHA Meeting
Jharkhand DISHA Meeting: Deepika Pandey Singh Reviews Central Schemes, Directs Timely Project Completion 
Bhanu Pratap Singh IPS
Bihar IPS Bhanu Pratap Singh's Wife Pooja Singh Protests Outside CM's Residence, Seeks to Meet Daughter
Bihar Fresh Catch Kiosk Scheme-200kb
Bihar to Set Up 100 Fresh Catch Kiosks Under Saat Nischay-3, First Outlet to Open in Patna
INS Trishul Greece
INS Trishul Arrives at Greece's Souda Bay to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation with Hellenic Navy
Ministry of Coal
Ministry of Coal to Honour Top-Performing Coal and Lignite Mines at Star Rating Awards in Raipur on November 2
India Coal Production FY 2025–26
India’s Coal Imports Decline 5.83% to 104.57 MT in August 2026, Import Dependence Eases
Orissa Adverse CCR Case
Orissa High Court Issues Contempt Notices to Chief Secretary Anu Garg Over Consumer Commission Vacancies
Sushant Kumar Nath
Odisha Police Register Case Against Prisons DGP Sushant Kumar Nath Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Trust No One, Said His Instinct in Pakistan
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
How India Plans to Boost Tourism, Create Jobs and Ease Overcrowding : Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the Road to 2047
Dr Saket Badola IFS
Beyond Tigers and Safaris: How Corbett Literature Festival Wants to Change the Conservation Conversation
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Story
He Taught Students to Meet Expenses. Today, Sachin Bhadouria is a Scientist ‘B’ at CWPRS
Sachin Bhadouria overcame financial challenges and a Hindi-medium background to secure AIR 2 in a UPSC...
Vishwas Jhargad UPSC CAPF
A Photograph of His Mother Accompanied Vishwas Jhargad to the UPSC Interview, Where His Dream Came Closer
Vishwas Vijay Jhargad lost both parents as a child. With his family's support, he secured AIR 145 in...
IA&AS Lokesh Datal
‘Dreams Don’t Change Lives, Daily Habits Do’: IA&AS Officer Lokesh Datal on UPSC and Discipline
IA&AS officer Lokesh Datal shares his UPSC journey, clearing the exam in his fourth attempt, building...
CSR NEWS
Petronet LNG public health award
Petronet LNG Wins ‘Excellence in Public Health Initiatives’ Award at Asia Social Impact & Sustainability Awards 2026 
The recognition, presented in Mumbai on October 28, highlights the company’s commitment to public health,...
CMPDIL Unnat Krishi Project
CMPDIL Signs MoA with Nidhi Samriddhi Foundation to Promote Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Jharkhand
Unnat Krishi Project to introduce ICT and IoT-enabled precision farming for around 100 farmers across...
MCL
MCL Signs MoU to Provide ₹3.20 Crore for Multipurpose Community Hall in Anugola Under CSR
The project at the Reserve Police Office in Chheliapada aims to strengthen local civic infrastructure...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Gaurav Rai
How IPS Officer Gaurav Rai Made Trust Central to the Fight Against Naxalism
Jharkhand DISHA Meeting
Jharkhand DISHA Meeting: Deepika Pandey Singh Reviews Central Schemes, Directs Timely Project Completion 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Dr Saket Badola IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT