From a First UPSC Setback to AIR 281: Mohit Aggarwal Nadbaiwalla's Journey with Physics Wallah

Preparing for UPSC without a clear roadmap can make it difficult to know where to begin, especially when there is no family guidance or easy access to coaching. Mohit Aggarwal Nadbaiwalla faced this challenge when he started preparing for the civil services after studying Mining Engineering at ISM Dhanbad. His first UPSC attempt in 2018 ended in a Prelims setback, which made him reassess his preparation, particularly his approach to Mains, English answer writing, current affairs and analysis. 

As he continued preparing and later balanced his UPSC goal with his work as a Tehsildar, PW OnlyIAS became a part of his preparation through current affairs videos, editorial analysis, tests, answer writing and interview support. His journey eventually led to AIR 281 in UPSC CSE, along with Rank 1 in the Indian Economic Service and Rank 177 in RAS.

A Moment of Inspiration, But No Clear Roadmap 

Before UPSC became a serious preparation goal, Mohit was pursuing Mining Engineering at ISM Dhanbad. A meeting with a district collector during his college years introduced him to a different possibility and made him think about joining the civil services himself.

“To mujhe wahan se inspiration aayi ki mujhe bhi aisa kuch karna chahiye”

That moment gave Mohit a direction, but the next challenge was understanding the examination and finding a way to prepare for it. He did not have an established roadmap to follow at home or easy access to coaching.

Coming from a family without a civil services background, Mohit did not have someone who could guide him through the preparation process. Coaching options in Dhanbad were also limited, while online preparation was not as widely available around the time he began preparing.

“Sir ek to idea hi nahi tha main kyunki mera family background us tareeke ka nahi hai ki koi guide kar paye to ek dikkat aati thi aur Dhanbad mein bhi koi coaching nahi thi aur us zamane mein online coaching bhi bahut zyada available nahi thi 2018 17 18 ke aas paas.”

This lack of guidance meant that Mohit had to gradually understand the examination while preparing for it. Economics was one subject that initially made him particularly uncertain, even though he also wanted to understand the subject because of his interest in the economy.

“Sir main frankly kahun to economics se mujhe bahut dar lagta tha. But at the same time mujhe interest bhi karti thi kyunki I wanted to know about the economy in general.”

He began looking for resources that could make the subject easier to understand. Mrinal Sir’s free YouTube videos became one such resource.

“To mujhe Mrinal Sir ki videos free mein wo YouTube pe rakhi hoti hain. To I started watching them and then I started developing interest in that.”

This was one of the early stages in which Mohit began building his preparation through the resources he could find and gradually became more comfortable with subjects that initially seemed difficult.

Mohit’s First UPSC Attempt Showed Him What Was Missing

Mohit appeared for UPSC CSE for the first time in 2018. He scored 86.33 in Prelims against a cutoff of 98, bringing his first attempt to an end. The result also made him reflect on the larger state of his preparation.

“To I felt that I there is laghuna also agar main pre clear bhi kar leta to mera mains ki preparation bhi nahi hai. To doesn't matter I should focus on mains still”

The setback was not limited to the Prelims score. Mohit was also conscious of the challenge of writing the examination in English after studying in Hindi medium.

“I felt that ki main ek Hindi medium se hun and English medium se agar main writing kar raha hun exam likh raha hun to I need to be well in English also”

These gaps made him look beyond simply studying more content. He needed to understand how to read issues, analyse them and eventually use that understanding while writing answers.

Finding a New Way to Approach UPSC Preparation

As his preparation developed, newspapers and editorial analysis became increasingly important. Mohit began using videos that showed him how an article could be analysed, which gradually changed the way he approached current affairs.

“To mujhe newspaper padha. Maine aapki videos dekhi jo OnlyIAS pe aati hain and how you analysed any article. To dheere-dheere I think it was a process for me, not just an exam.”

The process helped him understand that preparation was not only about knowing facts. He also needed to understand how issues could be evaluated and analysed.

“Then I got the hang ki kis tarah se aap evaluate karte ho, analyse karte ho. Then I started reading the newspaper also thoda thoda mann se. To mujhe cheez samajh mein aane lag gayi.”

This was also the point at which PW OnlyIAS became part of Mohit’s preparation, particularly for current affairs and editorial analysis.

How PW OnlyIAS Became Mohit’s Regular Source for Current Affairs and Analysis

Mohit’s association with PW OnlyIAS began with current affairs content and continued as he used different resources alongside his preparation. He recalled regularly coming across recommendations to watch the videos for current affairs coverage.

“Sir PW OnlyIAS ke saath pehle to OnlyIAS tha, I believe aap hi the, aur generally every channel, even on Telegram aur somewhere, matlab jahan se bhi humein milta tha ki sir ki videos dekh lijiye. Current affairs ko will be covered.”

The videos were particularly useful on days when he could not manage to read the newspaper. For someone preparing alongside other responsibilities, the current affairs videos became a way to keep up with important issues even when time was limited.

“In fact kai baar hamara akhbaar chhoot jaata tha. Nahi padh paate the, time nahi milta tha to aapki video jo aadhe ghante ki, paune ghante ki hoti thi, that can suffice.”

The editorial analysis also had a longer-term effect on how Mohit approached newspapers. He began understanding the method behind analysing an issue rather than only consuming the information.

“Then I got the hang ki kis tarah se aap evaluate karte ho, analyse karte ho.”

Another resource that stood out to him was the Prarambh magazine, particularly because it provided preparation material without an additional cost.

“To I believe it is one of the most valuable sources. Kyunki aapko cost benefit bhi dekhiye. Koi paisa nahi dene free mein aapko cheezein mil rahi hain.”

For Mohit, these resources became useful not simply as additional study material but as part of his regular preparation for current affairs and analysis.

From Tests to Interview Mocks, How PW OnlyIAS Supported Mohit’s Final Preparation

As Mohit moved further into his preparation, he also used tests and answer-writing practice to work on the demands of the examination. After Prelims, he enrolled in a course where he regularly wrote tests.

“Abhi ek I was enrolled after Prelims ek course tha and I used to write test. Daily test bhi tha.”

Answer writing became a particularly important area for him, especially the ability to complete the paper within the examination setting.

Preparing for UPSC without a clear roadmap can make it difficult to know where to begin, especially when there is no family guidance or easy access to coaching. Mohit Aggarwal Nadbaiwalla faced this challenge when he started preparing for the civil services after studying Mining Engineering at ISM Dhanbad. His first UPSC attempt in 2018 ended in a Prelims setback, which made him reassess his preparation, particularly his approach to Mains, English answer writing, current affairs and analysis. 

As he continued preparing and later balanced his UPSC goal with his work as a Tehsildar, PW OnlyIAS became a part of his preparation through current affairs videos, editorial analysis, tests, answer writing and interview support. His journey eventually led to AIR 281 in UPSC CSE, along with Rank 1 in the Indian Economic Service and Rank 177 in RAS.

A Moment of Inspiration, But No Clear Roadmap 

Before UPSC became a serious preparation goal, Mohit was pursuing Mining Engineering at ISM Dhanbad. A meeting with a district collector during his college years introduced him to a different possibility and made him think about joining the civil services himself.

“To mujhe wahan se inspiration aayi ki mujhe bhi aisa kuch karna chahiye”

That moment gave Mohit a direction, but the next challenge was understanding the examination and finding a way to prepare for it. He did not have an established roadmap to follow at home or easy access to coaching.

Coming from a family without a civil services background, Mohit did not have someone who could guide him through the preparation process. Coaching options in Dhanbad were also limited, while online preparation was not as widely available around the time he began preparing.

“Sir ek to idea hi nahi tha main kyunki mera family background us tareeke ka nahi hai ki koi guide kar paye to ek dikkat aati thi aur Dhanbad mein bhi koi coaching nahi thi aur us zamane mein online coaching bhi bahut zyada available nahi thi 2018 17 18 ke aas paas.”

This lack of guidance meant that Mohit had to gradually understand the examination while preparing for it. Economics was one subject that initially made him particularly uncertain, even though he also wanted to understand the subject because of his interest in the economy.

“Sir main frankly kahun to economics se mujhe bahut dar lagta tha. But at the same time mujhe interest bhi karti thi kyunki I wanted to know about the economy in general.”

He began looking for resources that could make the subject easier to understand. Mrinal Sir’s free YouTube videos became one such resource.

“To mujhe Mrinal Sir ki videos free mein wo YouTube pe rakhi hoti hain. To I started watching them and then I started developing interest in that.”

This was one of the early stages in which Mohit began building his preparation through the resources he could find and gradually became more comfortable with subjects that initially seemed difficult.

Mohit’s First UPSC Attempt Showed Him What Was Missing

Mohit appeared for UPSC CSE for the first time in 2018. He scored 86.33 in Prelims against a cutoff of 98, bringing his first attempt to an end. The result also made him reflect on the larger state of his preparation.

“To I felt that I there is laghuna also agar main pre clear bhi kar leta to mera mains ki preparation bhi nahi hai. To doesn't matter I should focus on mains still”

The setback was not limited to the Prelims score. Mohit was also conscious of the challenge of writing the examination in English after studying in Hindi medium.

“I felt that ki main ek Hindi medium se hun and English medium se agar main writing kar raha hun exam likh raha hun to I need to be well in English also”

These gaps made him look beyond simply studying more content. He needed to understand how to read issues, analyse them and eventually use that understanding while writing answers.

Finding a New Way to Approach UPSC Preparation

As his preparation developed, newspapers and editorial analysis became increasingly important. Mohit began using videos that showed him how an article could be analysed, which gradually changed the way he approached current affairs.

“To mujhe newspaper padha. Maine aapki videos dekhi jo OnlyIAS pe aati hain and how you analysed any article. To dheere-dheere I think it was a process for me, not just an exam.”

The process helped him understand that preparation was not only about knowing facts. He also needed to understand how issues could be evaluated and analysed.

“Then I got the hang ki kis tarah se aap evaluate karte ho, analyse karte ho. Then I started reading the newspaper also thoda thoda mann se. To mujhe cheez samajh mein aane lag gayi.”

This was also the point at which PW OnlyIAS became part of Mohit’s preparation, particularly for current affairs and editorial analysis.

How PW OnlyIAS Became Mohit’s Regular Source for Current Affairs and Analysis

Mohit’s association with PW OnlyIAS began with current affairs content and continued as he used different resources alongside his preparation. He recalled regularly coming across recommendations to watch the videos for current affairs coverage.

“Sir PW OnlyIAS ke saath pehle to OnlyIAS tha, I believe aap hi the, aur generally every channel, even on Telegram aur somewhere, matlab jahan se bhi humein milta tha ki sir ki videos dekh lijiye. Current affairs ko will be covered.”

The videos were particularly useful on days when he could not manage to read the newspaper. For someone preparing alongside other responsibilities, the current affairs videos became a way to keep up with important issues even when time was limited.

“In fact kai baar hamara akhbaar chhoot jaata tha. Nahi padh paate the, time nahi milta tha to aapki video jo aadhe ghante ki, paune ghante ki hoti thi, that can suffice.”

The editorial analysis also had a longer-term effect on how Mohit approached newspapers. He began understanding the method behind analysing an issue rather than only consuming the information.

“Then I got the hang ki kis tarah se aap evaluate karte ho, analyse karte ho.”

Another resource that stood out to him was the Prarambh magazine, particularly because it provided preparation material without an additional cost.

“To I believe it is one of the most valuable sources. Kyunki aapko cost benefit bhi dekhiye. Koi paisa nahi dene free mein aapko cheezein mil rahi hain.”

For Mohit, these resources became useful not simply as additional study material but as part of his regular preparation for current affairs and analysis.

From Tests to Interview Mocks, How PW OnlyIAS Supported Mohit’s Final Preparation

As Mohit moved further into his preparation, he also used tests and answer-writing practice to work on the demands of the examination. After Prelims, he enrolled in a course where he regularly wrote tests.

“Abhi ek I was enrolled after Prelims ek course tha and I used to write test. Daily test bhi tha.”

Answer writing became a particularly important area for him, especially the ability to complete the paper within the examination setting.

“Paper completion and answer writing is the biggest thing.”

He also worked on adding quotations, examples and case studies to his answers.

“To I started working, and also, like this time, I added some icing on the cake, like quotations and example case studies I try to incorporate so that works”

The support continued into the interview stage, when PW helped him schedule a mock interview.

“But PW has managed to schedule my mock interview, so I am really thankful for that”

Together, these parts of his preparation helped Mohit work on different stages of the examination, from current affairs and answer writing to interview preparation.

Even After RAS, Mohit Refused to Let Go of His IAS Dream

While continuing his civil services journey, Mohit also cleared RAS with Rank 177 and went on to work as a Tehsildar in Rajasthan. Working in administration gave him an opportunity to experience public service directly and deal with problems at the ground level.

That experience did not make him abandon his IAS goal. Instead, it strengthened his desire to aim higher.

“And it actually motivated me to go up higher.”

One experience that stayed with him involved helping resolve a land dispute that had affected families and a village for years.

“To main ye kahunga ki thodi si samjhaein iske baad wo itna bada mudda jo itna 10 saal se jo parivaron aur gaon ko pareshan kar raha tha wo bahut easily humne solve karwa diya bina kisi police prashasan ke.”

For Mohit, the value of administrative work was also visible in the response of the people he was able to help.

“Bas aap apni boli se logon ka man ko khush kar sakte hain aur unke chehre pe jo khushi hoti hai sir wo bahut hi matlab that is worth it agar dekha aapne baaki sab cheezein to dekho aani jaani hai.”

“To maine wo cheez rakhi par maine apna ye jo dream hai isko maine jaane nahi diya.”

The experience gave his IAS goal a deeper connection with the work he had already begun doing. Despite having entered a government role, he continued to hold on to the larger dream.

Keeping the IAS Dream Alive Alongside a Government Job

Preparing for UPSC while working required Mohit to make time specifically for the examination. He took leave before both Prelims and Mains and continued preparing with the aim of giving his best.

“To main frankly kahunga to maine to leave li thi. And leaves maine Prelims se pehle bhi li thi, Mains se pehle bhi li thi. Interview ke liye nahi li. But yes maine leave leke hi tayari kari hai. And I give my best.”

The journey had already involved setbacks, but Mohit continued to believe that the effort would eventually lead to the result he wanted.

“But some day I will get it. To I knew at the back of my mind.”

His preparation therefore continued through repeated attempts to improve his writing, revision and ability to reproduce what he knew in the examination.

After Years of Persistence, AIR 281 Was Finally Within Reach

After years of preparation, an early UPSC setback, RAS success, administrative experience and continued work on current affairs, answer writing, tests and revision, Mohit secured AIR 281 in UPSC CSE. He also secured Rank 1 in the Indian Economic Service and had previously secured Rank 177 in RAS.

Looking back at the demands of the examination, Mohit highlighted revision as an important part of turning knowledge into an actual exam performance.

“Revision is the key, I believe for this exam, knowledge is one factor, but more than knowledge what matters is ki aapke paas kitna kam hai and how you can reproduce it into the actual exam”

His own journey also shaped the advice he wanted to give to others preparing for competitive examinations. Rather than simply following someone else’s path, he emphasised making decisions based on one's own understanding and preferences.

“To suno sabki karo apne man ki”

He connected the same idea with choosing an optional subject as well.

“And based on the selection of the optional is also should be on the basis of the optional do you like on it or not.”

Mohit Aggarwal Nadbaiwalla's journey from an uncertain beginning to AIR 281 in UPSC CSE was built over several stages. He began without a clear preparation roadmap, faced a setback in his first UPSC attempt, gained administrative experience through RAS and continued preparing while working as a Tehsildar. Along the way, PW OnlyIAS became part of his preparation through current affairs, editorial analysis, tests, answer writing and interview support. His eventual result marked the culmination of a goal he had continued pursuing despite the setbacks along the way.

He also worked on adding quotations, examples and case studies to his answers.

“To I started working, and also, like this time, I added some icing on the cake, like quotations and example case studies I try to incorporate so that works”

The support continued into the interview stage, when PW helped him schedule a mock interview.

“But PW has managed to schedule my mock interview, so I am really thankful for that”

Together, these parts of his preparation helped Mohit work on different stages of the examination, from current affairs and answer writing to interview preparation.

Even After RAS, Mohit Refused to Let Go of His IAS Dream

While continuing his civil services journey, Mohit also cleared RAS with Rank 177 and went on to work as a Tehsildar in Rajasthan. Working in administration gave him an opportunity to experience public service directly and deal with problems at the ground level.

That experience did not make him abandon his IAS goal. Instead, it strengthened his desire to aim higher.

“And it actually motivated me to go up higher.”

One experience that stayed with him involved helping resolve a land dispute that had affected families and a village for years.

“To main ye kahunga ki thodi si samjhaein iske baad wo itna bada mudda jo itna 10 saal se jo parivaron aur gaon ko pareshan kar raha tha wo bahut easily humne solve karwa diya bina kisi police prashasan ke.”

For Mohit, the value of administrative work was also visible in the response of the people he was able to help.

“Bas aap apni boli se logon ka man ko khush kar sakte hain aur unke chehre pe jo khushi hoti hai sir wo bahut hi matlab that is worth it agar dekha aapne baaki sab cheezein to dekho aani jaani hai.”

“To maine wo cheez rakhi par maine apna ye jo dream hai isko maine jaane nahi diya.”

The experience gave his IAS goal a deeper connection with the work he had already begun doing. Despite having entered a government role, he continued to hold on to the larger dream.

Keeping the IAS Dream Alive Alongside a Government Job

Preparing for UPSC while working required Mohit to make time specifically for the examination. He took leave before both Prelims and Mains and continued preparing with the aim of giving his best.

“To main frankly kahunga to maine to leave li thi. And leaves maine Prelims se pehle bhi li thi, Mains se pehle bhi li thi. Interview ke liye nahi li. But yes maine leave leke hi tayari kari hai. And I give my best.”

The journey had already involved setbacks, but Mohit continued to believe that the effort would eventually lead to the result he wanted.

“But some day I will get it. To I knew at the back of my mind.”

His preparation therefore continued through repeated attempts to improve his writing, revision and ability to reproduce what he knew in the examination.

After Years of Persistence, AIR 281 Was Finally Within Reach

After years of preparation, an early UPSC setback, RAS success, administrative experience and continued work on current affairs, answer writing, tests and revision, Mohit secured AIR 281 in UPSC CSE. He also secured Rank 1 in the Indian Economic Service and had previously secured Rank 177 in RAS.

Looking back at the demands of the examination, Mohit highlighted revision as an important part of turning knowledge into an actual exam performance.

“Revision is the key, I believe for this exam, knowledge is one factor, but more than knowledge what matters is ki aapke paas kitna kam hai and how you can reproduce it into the actual exam”

His own journey also shaped the advice he wanted to give to others preparing for competitive examinations. Rather than simply following someone else’s path, he emphasised making decisions based on one's own understanding and preferences.

“To suno sabki karo apne man ki”

He connected the same idea with choosing an optional subject as well.

“And based on the selection of the optional is also should be on the basis of the optional do you like on it or not.”

Mohit Aggarwal Nadbaiwalla's journey from an uncertain beginning to AIR 281 in UPSC CSE was built over several stages. He began without a clear preparation roadmap, faced a setback in his first UPSC attempt, gained administrative experience through RAS and continued preparing while working as a Tehsildar. Along the way, PW OnlyIAS became part of his preparation through current affairs, editorial analysis, tests, answer writing and interview support. His eventual result marked the culmination of a goal he had continued pursuing despite the setbacks along the way.