Clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination is often seen as a race against lakhs of aspirants. But IAS officer Pari Bishnoi believes the biggest competition may actually be inside an aspirant’s own mind.
Bishnoi, who secured All India Rank 30 in the UPSC examination, recently shared a message for civil services aspirants, urging them to focus on confidence, preparation and belief in themselves.
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‘Believe in Yourself’
Bishnoi shared her advice in a video posted on Instagram by photographer Ankit Kumar.
In the video, Kumar approached two women and asked them about their professions. One of them introduced herself as Pari Bishnoi, an IAS officer currently serving as an Additional District Magistrate in Sikkim.
The other woman, Palak, said she practises criminal law in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court.
When asked what advice she would give to UPSC aspirants, Bishnoi immediately highlighted two qualities: belief and confidence.
She recalled that when she herself began preparing for the examination, she often wondered whether she would be able to secure a place among the successful candidates.
‘I Came From a Very Normal Background’
Bishnoi said the presence of highly accomplished candidates from prestigious universities can easily make aspirants doubt their own abilities.
She explained that she herself came from a normal school and college background and initially felt intimidated by the competition around her.
Her experience, however, taught her that an aspirant’s background does not determine the final outcome.
The bigger challenge, she suggested, is overcoming the psychological pressure created by the perception of intense competition.
‘The Competition Is More in Our Head’
Bishnoi’s central message was that aspirants often exaggerate the scale of the competition in their minds.
According to her, the number of people who are actually preparing seriously is far smaller than the number aspirants imagine when they look at the overall UPSC applicant pool.
She said the pressure surrounding the examination can become a distraction in itself.
For candidates who are preparing sincerely and consistently, she believes the examination is not as impossible as it may initially appear.
UPSC Is Also a Test of Mental Strength
Bishnoi described the civil services examination as more than an academic test.
According to her, UPSC also tests an aspirant’s mental strength, resilience and confidence.
Her advice is particularly relevant for candidates who constantly compare themselves with people from prestigious institutions or worry about the enormous number of applicants.
Instead of allowing those comparisons to undermine confidence, she urged aspirants to trust their preparation and stay focused on their own journey.
From Self-Doubt to AIR 30
Bishnoi’s own UPSC success gives added weight to her message.
The IAS officer secured an impressive AIR 30 and has since taken up responsibilities in the administration.
Her advice boils down to a simple idea: the first battle an aspirant has to win is often against self-doubt.
For thousands preparing for UPSC, the message is clear — the competition may look enormous from the outside, but confidence, sincere preparation and mental resilience can make the challenge far more manageable.
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