From Four Attempts to UPSC Success: Satvik Sharma’s Journey with PW OnlyIAS

Preparing for UPSC can become difficult when multiple attempts bring setbacks and the result takes longer than expected. For Satvik Sharma, the journey stretched across four attempts and two interviews, but his belief that he could clear the exam kept him going. With an average academic background, he continued working towards a career in civil services because the job profiles appealed to him and he felt he could perform well in them.

His association with PW OnlyIAS became part of this journey at different stages. He joined the Interview Guidance Program for his previous interview, used lectures from the Srijan Mains Program during his successful Mains preparation and took mentorship from Rohit Sir. Looking back, Satvik highlights limited resources, repeated revision, PYQs, self-belief and persistence as important lessons from his UPSC preparation.

An Average Student Taking on the Long Road to UPSC.

Satvik Sharma does not describe himself as an exceptionally talented student. His schooling and college years were fairly ordinary, with normal marks. What kept him going through the long UPSC journey was his belief that he could clear the exam.

“Very exceptionally main talented nahi tha kabhi bhi ki main kuch easily mil jaye. Bahut normal average schooling rahi. College mein bhi aise hi normal college aur normal marks usmein. Bas ye tha ki ek belief tha ki shayad main is exam ko kar sakta hoon.”

The job profiles also gave him a reason to continue preparing, while the exam's focus on current affairs matched an area he was naturally interested in.

“Sabse bada factor ye tha ki mujhe ye jo job profiles offer hoti hai ye mere ko attract karti hai. Main samajhta hoon ki main ismein achha kar sakta hoon.”

That belief kept him coming back through multiple attempts, eventually taking him to his fourth attempt and second interview.

From Interview Guidance to Mains Preparation With PW OnlyIAS

Satvik’s association with PW OnlyIAS began through the Interview Guidance Program during his previous interview cycle. For his successful Mains attempt, he also used lectures from the Srijan Mains Program and took mentorship from Rohit Sir from time to time.

“Last interview mein maine Interview Guidance Program ke through initially main associated hua tha. Uske baad main apne is wale Mains mein jismein mera selection hua hai, usmein maine Srijan Mains Program ke kuch lectures dekhe the aur bas ye do the aur Rohit Sir se maine mentorship ek tarah se time to time li thi.”

He also used Srijan for essay preparation, particularly after scoring less in the essay paper in his previous attempt.

“Mere essay mein last time kam score tha to maine essay ki videos dekhi thi aur usmein kuch answer likhe the aur wo us pe feedback liya tha.”

The Lessons Satvik Wants Aspirants to Remember

After experiencing several attempts himself, Satvik highlights three things: revise limited resources repeatedly, maintain belief throughout the journey, and figure out the preparation strategy early instead of wasting attempts.

“Jo limited resources hain, unko baar-baar revise karein.”

“Apne aap par poori journey mein belief rakhein ki main ye kar sakta hoon.”

He also believes aspirants should be careful with their attempts and avoid appearing without figuring out their preparation strategy.

“Hum pehle ek baar apni poori strategy bana lein uske baad hi attempts dein. Attempts bahut keemti hain.”

For the 2026 aspirants, his advice was to stick to limited resources, focus on PYQs and avoid constantly picking up new sources.

“Limited resources ko baar-baar padhein aur naya source na pakde. PYQ pe focus karein aur na ki zyada mocks pe kyunki PYQs wo theme pakad paate hain jo actual exam mein aate hain.”

His own journey also taught him that the process takes time and requires persistence, especially after setbacks.

“Bas persistence kyunki bina persistence ke wo nahi milta hai.”

He acknowledges that the journey can come with difficult nights and uncertainty, but continuing through them matters.

“Time lagta hai. Cheezon ko time lagta hai. Patiently wait karna padta hai. Bahut raaton ko neend nahi aati hai par karna padta hai. You have to be through it.”

For Satvik, four attempts and two interviews ultimately led to the result he had been working towards. His experience reflects the importance of staying consistent with preparation while holding on to the belief that the goal remains achievable.