SBI PO Success Story: Dhruvanshu’s Journey, Strategy & Mindset Mastery

This inspiring SBI PO success story shared at Banking Wallah brings to light Dhruvanshu’s extraordinary journey from lifelong visual impairment to achieving selection in one of India’s toughest banking exams. His story is not just about clearing SBI PO, but about mindset mastery, unwavering trust in mentors, disciplined preparation, and personal responsibility. Through smart use of technology, a structured study routine, and constant positivity supported by family, Dhruvanshu proved that limitations do not define outcomes - attitude and consistency do.

Dhruvanshu's Journey: Early Life and Motivation

Dhruvanshu, who has been visually impaired since birth, showed strong academic performance by scoring 87% in his Class 12 exams, even as the only visually impaired student in his school. Although he had not studied Quantitative Aptitude beyond Class 8, he independently built a solid command of English through consistent self-practice. 

His aspiration to pursue a banking career was sparked by a friend working as a Gramin Bank manager, which motivated him to target the SBI PO exam. A major pillar of his success was his family’s constant support, as they encouraged self-reliance and never allowed his visual impairment to become an excuse. Notably, this achievement came in his very first eligible attempt at the SBI PO examination.

Core Success Philosophy: Unquestioning Trust in Mentors

The single most critical factor in Dhruvanshu's success was his decision to follow the teachers' guidance completely, without applying his own premature logic. He recognized the faculty's extensive experience and insight. He consciously chose to trust their process entirely. Dhruvanshu states, "The one thing that worked most for me was that whatever the teacher said, in any subject, I followed it quietly without applying my own mind." He credits this decision as the primary reason for his success, highlighting the value of trusting expert-driven strategies in a new field.

Structured Study Strategy and Schedule

Dhruvanshu adopted a disciplined, slot-based study routine and a clear strategy for General Awareness (GA).

• Study Slots:

• 3 hours for Quantitative Aptitude (morning, fresh mind, as it was tougher).

• 2.5 hours for English.

• 3 hours for Reasoning (when feeling tired, as it was engaging).

• The remaining time was dedicated to daily Current Affairs.

• General Awareness (GA) Strategy: He strongly advises against waiting until after the Prelims exam to begin GA preparation, stating, "It absolutely will not work." His method involved daily GA study, focusing revision efforts on a weekly and monthly basis. He believes that 5-6 revisions make options easily recognizable during the exam.

• Syllabus Completion: He completed the entire syllabus in approximately 1.5 months by watching video lectures at 2x speed, enabling him to quickly transition to the practice phase.

Subject-Specific Techniques and Course Experiences

Dhruvanshu employed specific techniques for each subject and leveraged dedicated learning materials.

• Reasoning (Puzzles): He found the "251 Rules of Puzzle" video series deeply explanatory. Initially, complex puzzles were time-consuming; he spent 23 minutes on his first Mains-level shelf puzzle but persisted to solve it. He learned to prioritize creative, comprehension-based puzzles over those requiring brute-force, aligning with his instructor's preference.

• Quantitative Aptitude (Data Interpretation): The "Vistar" batch was crucial, featuring 40 dedicated classes specifically for Data Interpretation (DI). This reinforced the teacher's emphasis on high DI proficiency for both Prelims and Mains, alongside Arithmetic.

• Overall Approach: He adhered strictly to the guidance from his core teachers (Sumit Sir for Quant, his interviewer for Reasoning, and Aanchal Ma'am for English), explicitly stating, "We didn't apply any of our own strategies."

Overcoming Challenges: A Visually Impaired Candidate's Toolkit

Dhruvanshu developed innovative and effective methods, leveraging technology to overcome the limitations of his visual impairment during study and exams.

• Screen Reader (TalkBack): He used the "TalkBack" screen reader on his phone, which verbalizes content, enabling digital navigation and communication without sight.

• Studying Puzzles with Screenshots and AI: This was a key technique. Since instructors wouldn't read entire puzzle texts aloud in videos, he would take a screenshot of the puzzle. He then used an AI application called "Seeing AI" to process the image, converting it into readable text that his screen reader could vocalize. He amassed 5,000-6,000 screenshots for initial solving and revision.

• Exam Day Conditions: During the exam, he was monitored by 3-4 special invigilators to ensure his scribe provided no assistance beyond writing. After verbally solving a puzzle, invigilators would question his logic, which he effectively addressed by noting their constant presence.

Mindset, Positivity, and Responsibility

Dhruvanshu's success was greatly driven by his positive mindset, sense of responsibility, and refusal to make excuses.

• No Excuses: He firmly believes disability is not an excuse for underperformance, citing others who achieve despite worse circumstances. He stresses that with available resources, excuses are unwarranted.

• Sense of Responsibility: His parents granted him freedom post-12th grade, trusting him to choose his path. This fostered a profound sense of responsibility to justify their trust through his performance.

• Positive Outlook: His positivity stems from an upbringing that normalized his condition and a strong, supportive network of family and friends.

Key Advice for Parents and Aspirants by Dhruvanshu

Drawing from his personal journey, Dhruvanshu shares several important lessons and practical insights shaped by his own experiences.

• For Parents of Children with Challenges: Treat the child normally. Do not let disability define them. Provide support and motivation for their potential, encouraging them to pursue opportunities.

• For Parents of Competitive Exam Aspirants:

• Grant freedom and avoid pressure. Trust your child to succeed in future attempts if they fail initially. Pressure leads to distraction and hinders performance.

• This freedom, coupled with trust, cultivates a strong sense of responsibility in the child to meet expectations.

• For Aspirants:

• It is crucial to limit time on YouTube after mastering concepts. Self-practice is more vital for growth.

• Consistency is key. He began preparation with a clear goal of securing a job within a year and achieved it through unwavering effort.