How Dushyant Singh Secured UPSC ESE AIR 45 with PW's IGP Support as a National-Level Shooter

Clearing the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) requires consistent preparation, subject knowledge, and the ability to perform under pressure. However, not every successful candidate follows a conventional academic journey.

Dushyant Singh's story reflects this reality. A national-level pistol shooter, he had several backlogs during his BTech and spent much of his college life participating in sports and extracurricular activities. Despite these challenges, he shifted his focus towards engineering examinations and eventually secured AIR 45 in UPSC ESE 2025.

His journey offers useful lessons about restarting preparation, managing limited time, and improving through regular practice.

How Dushyant Singh Balanced Engineering and National-Level Shooting

Dushyant Singh completed his BTech in Civil Engineering and MTech in Environmental Engineering from Delhi Technological University (DTU). However, academics were not his primary focus during his undergraduate years.

He was actively involved in sports and extracurricular activities, including national-level pistol shooting. He explained how his sports commitments affected his academic performance.

"Mere BTech ke time meri aath semester mein shayad 15 ya 16 back hain sir. Us time padhai pe dhyan nahi tha bilkul bhi."

His BTech percentage was 67%. However, he did not consider his academic performance during college a permanent limitation. After completing his degree, he decided to shift his dedication towards engineering examinations.

How Dushyant Singh Restarted UPSC ESE Preparation After a Five-Year Gap

Dushyant started preparing for the Engineering Services Examination around 2018–19. His first attempt in 2019 did not go as planned because he could not clear the preliminary examination.

He appeared again in 2020, cleared the preliminary and mains examinations, and attended the interview. However, he could not make it to the final merit list.

Later, he secured selection in several engineering positions, including RPSC AE and other Assistant Engineer and Assistant Manager posts. He eventually joined the Delhi Jal Board as an Assistant Engineer.

After taking a break from ESE preparation for around three to four years, he decided to attempt the examination again in 2025. Talking about his decision to restart, he explained:

"Mera tha ki mujhe definitely karna hai wo clear. Toh maine 19 ke baad 20 mein phir se attempt diya aur mera prelims clear hua."

He also shared how he approached his final attempt despite having doubts about continuing preparation.

"Ek attempt main definitely seriously dena chahta hoon. Toh wo maine phir poora sab kuch chhod ke definitely ek attempt bahut seriously diya."

He started preparing again in December after submitting his application during the reopened application window. With the examination scheduled for June, he had approximately four months to prepare.

How Dushyant Singh Used Mock Tests to Improve His ESE Performance

With limited preparation time and several years away from technical studies, Dushyant needed an effective preparation strategy. He focused heavily on test series, especially for General Studies and technical subjects.

For General Studies, he studied his notes once but practised extensively through online and offline test series. He also analysed his performance to improve question selection and avoid negative marking.

Explaining his approach, he said:

"Test series maine itni wholeheartedly lagayi ki baar-baar laga raha tha main aur test series ko analyse kar raha tha."

He further explained how repeated practice improved his question-solving approach.

"Aap kitne test de rakhe hain, kitne questions solve kar rakhe hain, kyunki aapka option elimination strong ho jata hai. Aapka guesswork strong ho jata hai sir."

His preparation also included time-bound mains practice. He followed the examination duration strictly and avoided spending additional time on a paper after the allotted three hours.

Initially, his mock test scores were around 140–150. With continued practice, his performance improved, and he started scoring above 200 in full-length tests.

This practice helped him remain focused even when the actual ESE 2025 mains examination was more difficult and lengthy than expected.

Dushyant Singh's UPSC ESE AIR 45 Result: Interview Experience and PW's IGP Support

Dushyant's preparation translated into a strong performance in UPSC ESE 2025. His preliminary examination score was 314, while he secured 330 marks in the mains examination.

His interview experience was different from his earlier interviews for other engineering positions. He received 116 marks, as most of the questions were technical.

Discussing his interview experience, he shared:

"Mera interview jo tha wo bilkul bhi mere DAF se related ya mere jo non-technical achievements hain unse related nahi hua. Toh poora technical aa gaya."

He also reflected on his expectations after receiving his interview marks.

"Jitne bhi maine interviews diye usmein mera score kaafi achha rehta tha, hamesha one of the highest scores interview mein rehte the. Toh mere ko yahan bhi yahi expectation thi."

During the interview discussion, Dushyant also confirmed that he had appeared for PW's IGP (Interview Guidance Programme). However, he did not describe any specific contribution of the programme to his final marks or selection.

Ultimately, he secured AIR 45 in UPSC ESE 2025, adding another achievement to his professional journey.

Dushyant Singh's Journey: A Message for Future ESE Aspirants

Dushyant's experience highlights that an unconventional academic journey does not have to determine your future performance. His transition from national-level sports to engineering services preparation, along with his return after a long gap, demonstrates the importance of commitment and focused effort.

His message to future aspirants was to stay confident and continue working towards their goals despite doubts and uncertainty.

"Kabhi bhi doubt nahi rakhna ki nahi hoga, 10 sawaal aate hain mind mein, but karte jayenge toh definitely hoga."

He also shared how he approached his own preparation with a clear goal and determination.

"Ek attempt main definitely seriously dena chahta tha. Toh wo maine phir poora sab kuch chhod ke definitely ek attempt bahut seriously diya."

Dushyant Singh's journey to securing AIR 45 in UPSC ESE 2025 shows that academic backlogs, a gap in preparation, or college background do not define an aspirant's potential. His success highlights the value of sincere effort, consistency, and regular practice.

PW also supports ESE aspirants through its courses, test series, and programmes such as the Interview Guidance Programme (IGP). With the right preparation strategy and guidance, aspirants can work towards their goals with greater confidence.