From Struggle to AIR 45: Priya Singh Chauhan’s UPSC Journey with Physics Wallah

With the right guidance and the right learning resources, this journey can become more manageable. Platforms like Physics Wallah help aspirants stay focused with organised courses and clear explanations. Priya Singh Chauhan’s journey reflects this persistence, after multiple setbacks, she continued preparing and eventually secured AIR 45 in UPSC CSE.

The Struggles That Came Before AIR 45

Priya’s UPSC preparation started in 2019, but the journey was far from smooth. Like many aspirants, she had to face several failed attempts before finally succeeding.

She explained the phase honestly:

“Sir, actually maine 2019 mein socha tha ki main tayari karungi. 2020 mein maine first attempt to I would say ki bahut zyada preparation ke saath nahi diya tha. To mujhe lagta hai ki shayad mujhe nahi dena chahiye tha wo attempt.”

At that stage, she felt that she had taken the attempt without enough preparation.

Her next attempt also did not go as planned.

“Then 21 mein bhi maine thoda padh ke diya, but prelims se kaafi margin se mera 21 wala attempt bhi reh gaya tha.”

Even after studying, she could not clear the exam that year.

By 2022, she had much higher expectations from herself and believed that she might finally clear the Prelims.

“22 mein main bahut expect kar rahi thi ki mera ho jayega prelims, but 22 ka prelims bhi nahi hua.”

“Then 23 mein main less than one mark se prelims mein reh gayi.”

“Ek number se bhi kam tha sir, 0.66 kuch aise margin se main reh gayi.”

Missing the exam by such a tiny margin was heartbreaking and made her question herself.

“Sir us time pe mujhe lagta tha, maybe shayad I am not made for it.”

Yet, she chose to continue.

After years of effort and repeated setbacks, many aspirants consider quitting. Priya also reached that point. But she realised that after investing so much into the journey, she could not stop just yet.

“But then mujhe laga ki itna sab kuch is journey ko de diya hai to phir ek attempt kya hi hai, wo bhi de hi dete hain. Isko kyun chhodna hai?”

That final decision eventually changed everything.

Balancing UPSC Preparation with a Full-Time Job

One of the biggest challenges Priya faced was preparing for UPSC while working full-time. Managing time became the key to continuing her preparation.

She shared how she planned her study routine.

“Sir, actually, I was a working candidate. So main SSC CGL ke through I am working as an accountant in the Ministry of Home Affairs. To mere paas time ka hamesha crunch hota tha.”

For Priya, the morning hours became the most productive part of the day. She used this time for focused study, while weekends allowed her to study for longer hours and revise her topics.

“Sir mujhe aisa lagta tha ki evenings mein office se aane ke baad main kaafi physically bhi exhaust ho jaati thi aur mental exhaustion bhi hota tha.”

“To main apne hours nikalne ki koshish karti thi morning mein. So I used to wake up early aur agar main 4:00 baje uth rahi hoon to 4:00 baje se 9:00 baje tak jo mera stretch hota tha wo mujhe lagta tha bahut productive hota tha.”

Her mornings became the most focused study time of the day, while weekends were used for longer study sessions.

The Preparation Strategy That Helped Priya Clear UPSC Mains

Once Priya cleared Prelims, she kept her preparation strategy simple and focused. Instead of following too many resources, she concentrated on revision and answer writing.

She explained that keeping the preparation concise helped her stay focused and avoid confusion.

“Sir, maine bahut hi apni jo strategy thi usko bahut concise rakha.”

“Main wahi basic cheeze follow karti thi jo har topper suggest karta hai.”

One of the most important parts of her strategy was limiting the number of study sources. Instead of reading too many books, she focused on revising the same material again and again.

“Maine apne sources ko limit karke bas I used to revise them.”

“Maine short notes banaye aur maine answer writing kaafi zyada ki.”

“Maine tests kam likhe, but I used to write daily PYQs.”

This approach helped her build strong conceptual clarity and improve her answer-writing skills, which are extremely important for performing well in the UPSC Mains examination.

Priya also shared her thoughts on making notes, which is something many aspirants struggle with. According to her, notes can be very helpful, especially for faster revision during the later stages of preparation.

“Prelims ke liye to sir maine standard books hi refer kari thi.”

“Baaki mains ke liye mujhe lagta hai notes banana helpful hai kyunki agar aapne initially notes banane mein time invest kar diya to aapko revision mein time kam lagega.”

However, when it came to Mains preparation, she felt that making notes can save time during revision. At the same time, she also made it clear that note-making is a personal choice.

“Aur agar aapne notes nahi banaye to aisa nahi hai ki notes banana mandatory hai.”

“Bahut saare log notes nahi bhi banate hain, but phir aapko revision mein thoda zyada time lagta hai.”

Her journey shows that success in UPSC does not always require complicated strategies. Sometimes, limiting sources, revising consistently, and practising answer writing regularly can make a huge difference in the final result.

Building a Simple and Focused Strategy with Physics Wallah

One of the most important lessons from Priya Singh Chauhan’s journey is the value of keeping preparation simple and focused.

She explained that instead of running after too many resources, she kept her strategy concise and concentrated on revision and answer writing.

“Sir maine bahut hi apni jo strategy thi usko bahut concise rakha. Maine apne sources ko limit karke bas I used to revise them.“

“Maine short notes banaye aur maine answer writing kaafi zyada ki. Maine tests kam likhe but I used to write daily PYQs.”

A preparation approach like this becomes much easier when aspirants have proper learning and organised resources. Platforms like Physics Wallah help students follow a focused preparation strategy by providing dedicated courses, clear concept explanations, and regular answer-writing practice.

Advice to Aspirants: Never Give Up on Your UPSC Dream

The UPSC journey is often long and full of ups and downs. Many aspirants feel discouraged when they are unable to clear Prelims even after several attempts. Priya Singh Chauhan understands this feeling deeply because she went through the same experience during her preparation.

For years, she saw the same message while checking the result PDF.

“Mujhe wo ‘no matches found’ dekhne ki aadat ho gayi thi us PDF mein.”

Like many aspirants, she had become used to not finding her name in the list. But one day, things finally changed.

When the result was declared and she saw her name, her first reaction was pure emotion.

“Sir pehla reaction to rona tha jo maine expect kiya tha ki if I get into the list to shayad main pehle roongi. That is what happened.”

That emotional moment marked the end of a long journey filled with hard work, patience, and uncertainty.

What makes her story even more inspiring is that this success came in her very last attempt. Even more surprisingly, it was also the first time she had cleared the Prelims examination.

“It was my last attempt and the first prelims that I could clear.”

“Yes sir, pehla mains tha, pehla interview tha aur pehli rank.”

In a single cycle, she cleared Prelims, Mains, and the Interview, ultimately securing AIR 45 in UPSC CSE.

Because of this journey, her advice to aspirants is simple but powerful: never lose hope and keep studying with consistency.

“Aap padhte rahiye kyunki aapko nahi pata aapka kab kaun se attempt mein aapka prelims nikle aur jis attempt mein aapka prelims nikle aap IAS ban jaaye. So do not lose hope.”

Her story reminds every UPSC aspirant that one attempt can change everything. Even if success takes time, staying consistent and believing in your preparation can eventually lead to the result you dream of.

Priya Singh Chauhan’s journey from repeated setbacks to AIR 45 in UPSC CSE is a powerful reminder that there will be failures, doubts, and moments when quitting feels easier. But if you continue preparing with discipline, patience, and the right guidance, success can eventually arrive. 

And sometimes, the attempt you almost give up on becomes the one that changes your life forever.