https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Meet UP PCS-2022 Boys Topper Who Left 3 Government Jobs

Kumar Gaurav stood 5th in UP PCS-2022 He is a Basic Siksha Adhikari in Shahjahanpur PHD in Hindi Literature, he had cracked the exam thrice earlier
Indian Masterminds Stories

Aspirants usually find it hard to crack the civil services exams even once. But this topper cracked the UP PCS exam thrice and also appeared for the Mains 6 times as he was not satisfied.

Kumar Gaurav did not just notch the 5th rank in his sixth attempt but also the topper among the men.

Currently posted as Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) in Shahjahanpur, Mr. Gaurav earlier was allotted Naib Tahsildar (2019) and Assistant Commandant in CRPF. The PhD scholar, who was busy preparing for exams, had to reject one of the government jobs.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Gaurav said, “All’s well that ends well and I am satisfied now. Yes, the journey was full of ups and downs. Many failures and some minor successes propelled me to do even better.”

SERIAL ACHIEVER

In 2016, the boy from Ambedkarnagar in Uttar Pradesh appeared for his first attempt in the UP PCS. He cracked the prelims, but could not give the Mains as dates overlapped with the UPSC CSE. 

By 2018, the son of a retired Village Development Officer had reached the interview level thrice, but could not make it to the final list. 

That is when he decided to change the medium from Hindi to English and the results were evident as he passed the UPPCS-2019 and got the ‘Naib Tehsildar’s post. 

In PCS-2020, he got the BSA post. In 2021, he did not appear for the exams but next year, he is the topper among the Boys.

Mr Gaurav said, “My English writing is faster than that in Hindi and also much more study material was available, so it was the correct decision.”

EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVER

Mr. Gaurav holds a PhD from Delhi University. He has a postgraduate degree in ‘Hindi Literature’ from JNU. The Allahabad University graduate had taken his first steps from a village school so his achievements have been a joy and pride for his parents.

UPSC TO PCS

He had started his civil services preparation when he was in JNU. At first, he was only focussing on UPSC CSE. But that did not work out as destiny had a different plan. He decided to try his luck in the state civil services. 

In 2018, UP PCS syllabus was changed. It was made almost UPSC-like, except for a few differences. It was around the same time when Mr. Gaurav started taking interest in the UP PCS.

Mr. Gaurav, who is now done with UPSC altogether after his failed attempt this year, said, “As the UPSC questions are more of analytical types as against the fact-based approach of PCS, so I needed a new strategy. Besides, UP PCS has more state-specific questions, at least 30 percent of total — all pre, mains and interview will be on UP.”

STRATEGY

Besides studying carefully and according to the syllabus, one must know what to study and what not, he said, adding that the aspirants should analyse the previous year’s papers. “Must pay attention to syllabus and FAQs,” he said.

As he was already working while appearing for the civil service exams, he did not have any fixed hours for studies.

“My basic preparation was done before the job landed, so in my last two attempts, I focussed on current affairs before Prelims and did a lot of writing practice before the exam for Mains,” he said. 

Interviews were easier, he said, as he had received good exposure due to his employment, which also boosted his confidence.

LUCK STRUCK

Mr. Gaurav was lucky to come across questions related to his current posting as BSA and also some from Hindi literature.

He was asked about his take on the government spending crores on basic education and yet not achieving any major improvement.

Besides a question on corruption in the education department, he was also asked about the challenges for this department in the state. 

“Then there were some real-life situational questions asked. For example, if the cook failed to deliver despite resources, whom will you fix the onus on?,” said Mr. Gaurav, who also had to recite a Hindi prayer often heard in state schools.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
NTPC_Tapovan Donates_Ambulance_
NTPC Hands Over ₹30 Lakh Advanced Life Support Ambulance to Chamoli District Hospital to Boost Emergency Healthcare
NTPC_Barauni_signed_agreement_
NTPC Barauni to Install 89 High-Mast Lights Across Begusarai to Boost Safety and Community Development
BPCL_bags_Excellence_Awards_
BPCL Wins Top Honours for City Gas Distribution and Customer Service at 19th PNGRB Foundation Day
Allahabad high court
SC Collegium Approves Appointment of Vinai Kumar Dwivedi as Judge of Allahabad High Court
JK Cement Health Camp Panna
Free Health Camp Organised for Forest Personnel During Wildlife Week 2025 by South Panna Forest Division
REC Mobile Medical Units
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Flags Off REC’s ₹5.71 Cr Mobile Medical Units to Boost Rural Healthcare in Rajasthan
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Utkarsh Ujjwal IAS
IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal Shares Key Advice for UPSC Aspirants: Work Ethic, Failure, and Focus
Read the inspiring journey of IAS Utkarsh Ujjwal, 2023 batch, Gujarat cadre. From IIT Guwahati to clearing...
Sagar Datta Majumdar UPSC CSE 2024 AIR 317
“Don’t get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-doubt,” says UPSC Achiever Sagar Datta Majumdar
Discover how Sagar Datta Majumdar from Agartala, Tripura, cracked UPSC CSE 2024 with All India Rank 317....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Bihar Elections 2025: CEC Gyanesh Kumar Addresses 5 Key Issues - SIR, Fake Voting, Freebies & More
BSNL
BSNL Surpasses Airtel in Mobile Subscriber Growth After Nearly a Year; Jio Leads with 19 Lakh Additions in August
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT