CBI PP Topper Raman Kumar Rank 23 Success Story: From 32 Failures to Final Selection With PW Test Series

For Raman Kumar, the journey to becoming a CBI Public Prosecutor at Rank 23 was built over nearly a decade of preparation. A Hindi-medium student from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, Raman completed his LLB in 2017 and began preparing for competitive legal examinations. With no judicial officers in his immediate family and limited resources, he chose to keep moving forward despite repeated setbacks across different examinations.

His journey eventually took him through 32 exam papers and multiple failures before his CBI PP selection. Along the way, he focused on expanding his opportunities, improving his preparation strategy, and seeking the right guidance and resources. His experience also highlights how PW’s Test Series and mock interview contributed to his preparation before the final selection.

Raman Kumar’s Journey Began With a Long-Term Commitment

Raman Kumar completed his LLB in 2017 and began preparing seriously for competitive legal examinations soon after. Coming from a farming family in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, he did not have a judicial background in his family, but he remained determined to continue his preparation regardless of how long it took.

He eventually spent around 10 years preparing and appeared for 32 papers across different examinations. His journey included setbacks in Rajasthan Judicial Service and other state-level examinations, including reaching the interview stage but not being selected.

Reflecting on the mindset he adopted at the beginning of his preparation, Raman said:

“Maine yeh socha ki main kabhi bhi peeche nahi hatunga. Main apne pairon ko wapas nahi kheenchunga. Chahe mujhe usmein kitna hi time lag jaaye.” 

For Raman, this decision became important as the years of preparation continued. His repeated attempts did not make him abandon the goal; instead, they pushed him to explore different opportunities within the legal and judiciary field.

32 Failures Tested Raman Kumar’s Persistence

The biggest challenge in Raman’s journey was not one particular examination, but the accumulation of failures over several years. He appeared for examinations across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Bihar, experiencing setbacks at different stages.

He recalled reaching the interview stage in Rajasthan Judicial Service and returning without success. That moment became one of the lowest points in his preparation.

“Phir mera mains ho gaya sir. Phir interview mein gaya. Interview se wapas aaya toh ek baar poori tarah se toot gaya tha, kyunki har student ke saath aisa hota hai. Lekin yahan par main ek point bilkul highlight karna chahunga us pe ki jab aapko lage na ki aap toot chuke ho, tab aapki journey start hui hai.”

Instead of treating those failures as the end of his journey, Raman gradually changed his approach. He also advised aspirants not to restrict themselves to a single examination or state when preparing for judiciary-related careers.

His own experience taught him that smaller achievements could also help reduce the pressure of a long preparation journey and open new opportunities.

How PW Supported Raman Kumar’s CBI PP Preparation

As Raman progressed through his preparation, he focused on structured resources, testing, and interview practice. He specifically credits PW for its test series and mock interview, which helped him assess his preparation and become more comfortable with the interview environment.

For the CBI PP preliminary examination, Raman emphasised thorough preparation of the Bare Acts and regular testing. He explained:

“Jaise maine PW ki test series li, toh bilkul usse fayda milta hai, kyunki humein humne kya padha hai uski refreshment hoti hai. Jab humein score pata lagta hai ki hamara kya score reh raha hai, hum kitne paani ke andar hain, aur other students kitna score achieve kar rahe hain.”

He also highlighted the importance of mock interviews for candidates who may know the subject but struggle with hesitation while speaking. Raman described his own experience before appearing for PW’s mock interview:

“Jab PW ne mera interview liya, lene se pehle main kaanp raha tha, aise ki dar lag raha tha bahut zyada. Toh unhone questions pooche, tab mujhe hausla mila. Phir unhone mereko feedback diya ki bete, aapko aise karna hai, aise nahi karna. Ye baat aapko batani hai, ye nahi batani. Batani hai toh kaise batani hai.” 

The mock interview helped him understand not just what to answer, but how to present himself during the personality test. Raman also acknowledged the role of his mentors, particularly the guidance he received over several years.

Raman Kumar’s Hindi-Medium Background Did Not Stop His Progress

Another important part of Raman’s journey was his background as a Hindi-medium student. He studied in Hindi medium from school through his LLB and preparation, while the CBI PP examination and interview required familiarity with English legal terminology.

Rather than viewing this as a limitation, Raman developed a practical approach: understanding legal concepts in Hindi while learning and retaining the corresponding English terminology.

He explained:

“Jab aap law padhte ho, tab aap law mein jo English ke terms hain, woh aap dhyaan mein rakho. Jaise humko sangya apradh nahi yaad karna hi hai, uske saath mein English ke words aap yaad karo ki cognizable offence hai.” 

His interview itself reflected this approach. He began by greeting the interview board in Hindi and then answered bilingually, using English legal terms where required.

For Raman, the experience reinforced that a candidate’s school or college background does not determine the final outcome. He pointed instead to the importance of preparation, dedication and discipline.

Raman Kumar’s Rank 23 Turned Years of Failure Into Success

After years of preparation and 32 unsuccessful papers, Raman finally saw his name in the CBI Public Prosecutor selection list at Rank 23. He was cycling when a friend called to tell him about the result, but he did not immediately believe the news.

He wanted to see the result himself before accepting that he had finally been selected.

“Toh maine kaha, main aapke batane se nahi maanunga. Main khud apne PDF ke andar, jab sir naam dekhte hain, tabhi finally believe hota hai.” 

When he finally saw his name, the result left him stunned. More than the rank itself, he wanted to see his family’s reaction after years of watching him prepare.

He later told his father, who responded emotionally:

“Shabash bete, aisa beta Bhagwan sabko de.” 

For Raman, that moment made the years of struggle feel worthwhile. His selection as a CBI Public Prosecutor at Rank 23 also marked a significant achievement in his district, where, according to his account, he was the first person from the area to be selected as a CBI Public Prosecutor.

Raman Kumar’s Message to Aspirants

Raman’s story is ultimately about persistence through a preparation journey that lasted nearly a decade. His experience shows that repeated failures do not necessarily indicate that a goal is out of reach; they can also become part of the process of finding the right approach.

His advice to aspirants is to continue focusing on their work, build self-confidence and treat themselves as their own support system when setbacks come.

“Agar failures aate hain, toh aap khud ko apna dost bana lijiye. Khud ko motivate kijiye ki mera hoga. Aaj nahi hoga, ek din mein nahi hoga, lekin ek din mera zaroor hoga.” 

Raman Kumar’s CBI PP Rank 23 selection shows that a long preparation journey can include repeated setbacks without determining the final outcome. His experience highlights the value of persistence, regular assessment, interview practice and learning from failures. For aspirants facing similar challenges, his message is simple: continue improving, stay self-motivated and keep working towards the goal.