Coming from Richhwas village in Agra, Harivendra Singh Gurjar grew up with limited exposure and very little guidance about competitive exams like UPPSC. There was no clear roadmap, and he had limited access to resources.
He initially struggled with where to start, what to study, and how to stay consistent. Self-doubt and lack of direction often made the preparation feel uncertain.
The turning point came when he found guidance through PW OnlyIAS. With the right direction and steady effort, his preparation slowly became more focused and disciplined, eventually leading him to secure UPPSC Rank 24 and become a Deputy Collector.
Like many aspirants, Harivendra did not begin with clarity. His preparation started with UPSC, but without proper direction, it felt scattered and uncertain.
“Preparation to maine UPSC ki chalu ki thi… par ye to aise kehte hain na ki saath mein lapet diya… gehun ke saath ghun ko pees diya.”
“To gehun ki chalu ki thi UPSC ki aur ghun ko yahan lapet diya sir UPPSC mein aane ke baad.”
He describes how his UPPSC success came along with his UPSC preparation, almost unintentionally. But the real issue at the start was not effort, it was a lack of direction.
“Problem to sir wo hai ki pata nahi tha ki kahan se chalu karni hai.”
“Vaise hamare yahan kahawat hai ki dhool mein lathh dete hain na… jiska koi fayda nahi hona hai ki dete jao dete jao.”
Without guidance, preparation felt like a random effort. On top of that, his environment made things harder with low educational exposure and frequent distractions.
“Bhattak jaate hain… hariyali dekhte hain bahar.”
This phase shows a very real problem: hard work without direction often leads to confusion, not results.
As preparation continued, challenges did not disappear. In fact, emotional struggles and distractions became stronger.
Harivendra understood that focus does not come naturally it has to be built around purpose.
“Mummy papa bhaiya jisne aapne bheja hai ghar se usko yaad kariye ki hum kis purpose ke liye khade hain to aap distraction aayega hi nahi.”
He highlights a powerful truth that if your purpose is clear, distractions lose their strength.
At the same time, he warns against unrealistic expectations.
“Aur aap soch ke aaye ho ki wo batti ghuma doonga 4 din mein… usse nahi hoti hai.”
Low phases were also part of his journey. Missing the UPSC cutoff by just 9 marks was a major setback, and like any aspirant, he faced moments of doubt.
“Kuch-kuch din aate hain na jab aapko lagta hai… galat hi phas gaya.”
Instead of ignoring these phases, he managed them in his own way taking breaks, going out for peace, and staying connected with himself.
“Jab bhi dimaag kharab hota hai… us park mein jaata hoon aur bahut shanti milti hai.”
He also kept his mindset light and positive, avoiding unnecessary pressure.
“Hanste rahiye ekdum… itna load lene se kuch nahi hoga.”
This balance between seriousness and calmness helped him stay consistent even during tough phases.
The turning point in Harivendra’s journey was when he found the right guidance.
Coming from a background where mentorship was limited, choosing the right platform made a huge difference.
“Guidance ka abhaav to rehta hi hai… jab koi nahi hota hai background mein.”
He emphasised the importance of having a mentor or guide who can show the correct path.
“Ek sathi chuniye, guru chuniye… chhota bada mat dekhiye… agar wo sahi disha dikha sakta hai.”
His preparation with PW OnlyIAS, especially the Safalta Batch, gave him that structure and clarity. Instead of running after multiple sources, he focused on limited, reliable material.
“Main 24 wale Safalta batch mein juda hua tha PW ke saath.”
One of the strongest impacts was the study material and notes.
“GS 5 mein 60 page ke notes the… 55 page wahi aaye the.”
“GS 6 mein lagbhag 16–17 question wahi aaye the.”
This shows how focused preparation and trusting the right material can significantly improve performance.
He clearly credits his success to this focused guidance.
“Main sahi bata raha hoon… unki preparation ki wajah se, unke notes ki wajah se hi khada hoon yahan pe.”
With clarity in resources and direction, his preparation became more efficient and result-oriented.
Beyond strategy and guidance, the biggest factor in Harivendra’s success was his mindset.
He believed that success is not just about studying—it is about how you think during the journey.
“Zindagi aisi jiyo ki zindagi kam pad jaye… aur hanso itna ki rona kam pad jaye.”
He encouraged aspirants to treat the exam like a challenge to conquer.
“Exam ko dushman maano apna ki ye wala crack karna hai.”
At the same time, he kept his approach practical—stay happy, stay consistent, and don’t overcomplicate preparation.
“Khush rahiye ekdum mast rahiye… kya pata khush rehne se ban jaye.”
His journey also reflects the power of belief and patience. From a village where educational awareness was limited to becoming a Deputy Collector, his success changed not just his life, but also inspired his entire community.
“Jab aap itihas rachte hain na… aapko log itna pyaar denge.
Today, his achievement stands as proof that with the right mindset, guidance, and consistent effort, even the biggest exams can be cleared—regardless of background.
Harivendra Singh Gurjar’s journey to Rank 24 in UPPSC was shaped by clarity, consistency, and resilience. With guidance from PW OnlyIAS and a focused mindset, he overcame confusion and distractions to stay committed to his goal. His story shows that steady effort and the right direction can gradually turn aspirations into success.
