From Losing an Attempt to Scoring AIR 375: Aditya Kaushik’s UPSC Journey With PW OnlyIAS

Coming close to clearing a stage of UPSC can make starting over even harder, especially when circumstances take the attempt out of your hands. Aditya experienced this in 2024 after clearing Prelims and writing Mains with 401 marks in GS and 116 in Essay. Just five days after his Mains papers, he was diagnosed with dengue and could not write his History Optional paper. After coming so close, he had to start the journey again.

Aditya returned for another attempt and eventually secured AIR 375 in UPSC. His preparation was closely connected with PW OnlyIAS across all three stages, from using Udaan magazine for Prelims to relying on Prahar and other Mains resources, and later appearing for a PW OnlyIAS mock interview with just four days left for preparation. His journey offers a close look at the setbacks, preparation changes and support that shaped his path to the final result. 

Leaving Corporate Life Behind and Taking UPSC Seriously

For Aditya, the decision to prepare for UPSC came after spending time in the corporate world and realising that it was not the career he wanted. His first attempt, however, was far from a serious preparation cycle. In 2022, he began with almost no preparation and soon realised that clearing the exam required a completely different level of commitment.

“Sir pehle main corporate mein tha then I decided ki corporate isn't for me.”

His first serious attempt came in 2023, when he approached the exam with a different mindset. But the result did not go his way.

“22 mein main aise hi baith gaya matlab zero preparation ki are de hi aate hain us din aankhen khuli ki ye atleast padh ke dena chahiye. Respect the exam. 23 mein poori izzat di exam ko kuch nahi mila, Pre nahi nikla.”

The setback pushed him to return with a more focused approach. In 2024, he cleared Prelims and reached Mains, where his papers went well.

Just Five Days Before Mains, a Tragedy Changed Everything

Aditya entered the 2024 Mains with confidence after clearing Prelims. He scored 401 in General Studies and 116 in Essay, but the five-day gap between papers brought an unexpected setback.

He was diagnosed with dengue and could not appear for his History optional paper. History was not just another subject for him. It was the optional he genuinely enjoyed studying and writing about.

“24 mein wapas diya, Pre nikla, Mains diya. Mains mein paper sir achhe gaye. I had good marks 401 in GS and 116 in Essay. Wo paanch din ka gap tha. Usmein mujhe dengue ho gaya. And I couldn't give my optional.”

Having come so close, he suddenly had to start over.

“So a tragedy happened. Matlab itni paas aake you have to start over.”

The setback was particularly difficult because of his connection with the subject.

“I love History so much. Like it is my option. My optional is History optional. I really, matlab mere ko numbers ka fark nahi padta zyada aate hain kam aate, but I wanted to write because I love writing History and reading about it.”

Despite what had happened, Aditya returned for another attempt in 2025.

After the Setback, Aditya Rethought How to Approach Prelims

Aditya divided his Prelims preparation into two broad parts: static and dynamic. While current affairs keep changing every year, he believes aspirants should first build a strong base in the core subjects.

He calls History, Geography, Economics and Polity the “Big Four” and stresses that these subjects should not be neglected while preparing for current affairs.

“Mera Big Four, as Big Four term is there, History, Geography, Economics and Polity. Aap kahin bhi kitni bhi galtiyan mocks mein kar lo, revisions mein bhool jao articles, dates, chronology aap bhool jao, rivers ke naam bhool jao, but please us paper mein galti mat karna.”

For him, current affairs should add to this foundation rather than replace it.

“Pehle apna static achha kariye. Phir inka matlab newspaper padhiye, magazines padhiye aur inka daily touch mein rahiye.”

He also sees PYQs as an essential part of this preparation.

The PW Magazines That Became Part of Aditya’s Prelims Preparation

PW OnlyIAS became part of Aditya’s preparation at different stages of the UPSC journey. For Prelims, he specifically relied on the Udaan magazine for areas such as Environment, Science & Technology, Defence and International Relations.

“PW ki jo Udaan magazine hoti hai, I started reading them from Jan-Feb only and trust me there are such topics which will give you direct answers.”

He even remembered specific questions and themes that had appeared in the magazine. For him, the value was not simply in reading another current affairs source, but in finding relevant topics that connected with what UPSC eventually asked.

“So I really relied on the magazine for Environment, Science & Tech, International Relations.”

He also had a clear approach to using such resources. Instead of trying to read everything, he read them according to his own comfort and preparation needs.

From Prelims to Mains: How Prahar Helped With GS Preparation

After clearing Prelims, Aditya moved towards Mains preparation and used Prahar extensively. He describes it as particularly useful for GS Paper II and GS Paper III, where he used the examples and coverage to strengthen his answers. He recalls scoring 112 marks in GS Paper II in his 2024 Mains attempt and says he relied on Prahar for the whole paper, particularly for its finely divided examples. 

“Prahar sir, absolute gem.”

He used the material for Social Justice, International Relations, Economics and Disaster Management, while also adding information from outside sources to his own notes.

“I have relied on Prahar this Mains for the whole GS Two paper because the examples are very finely divided. The paper's Social Justice, IR, in fact my last, I remember, GS Two mein ghusne se pehle last book I read was poori IR Prahar mein.”

For GS III too, he found the material useful, particularly in Economics and Disaster Management.

“Prahar helped me especially in GS Two and GS Three; the Economics part and the Disaster Management part it was very good.”

His PW OnlyIAS association also extended to other Mains resources. For History optional, he mentions Vikas Elawat Sir, while for Ethics he used lectures by Atul Garg Sir through the Srijan Mains Program.

“For History optional, Vikas Elawat Sir is also associated with PW OnlyIAS. He is a magician for History. And for Ethics, Atul Garg Sir, I used their lectures, which were given to me in this region Mains Program of which I was a part.”

Together, these resources supported Aditya’s preparation across GS, History Optional and Ethics, giving him PW OnlyIAS support across multiple parts of his Mains preparation.

Four Days Before the Interview, Aditya Found His Most Important PW Support

The Interview stage brought another challenge. As a working candidate, Aditya had very little time to prepare. His interview was scheduled just four days after he received the call.

“According to me was the interview because I only had four days to prepare.”

He went to other institutes as well, but his first mock was with PW OnlyIAS, and the experience stood out for him because of the feedback he received.

“I went to other institutes also but my first mock was at OnlyIAS and that is the best mock I gave. I got genuine feedback.”

The mock was not simply about rehearsing how to sit or speak. Aditya says the guidance helped him work on his DAF and understand aspects of his preparation that he had not noticed himself.

“He guided me a lot; he helped me fill my DAF very carefully, and he gave me a very good one-on-one session post my mock, which actually gave me a lot of revelations.”

For him, the biggest takeaway was the confidence he gained from that interaction.

“And he gave me the pass that be yourself. That confidence boost was that.”

After the actual interview, Aditya also sent his transcript to the PW OnlyIAS team, completing an association that had followed him through all three stages.

“And when my interview ho gaya, the first person I sent my transcript to you was you OnlyIAS Sir and luckily I am here. So the association is PW OnlyIAS has been good.”

The Preparation Lessons Aditya Wants Aspirants to Take From His Journey

Looking back at his own setbacks, Aditya believes aspirants should avoid waiting until they feel completely prepared before beginning answer writing. For Mains, his first rule is to stay calm even when the paper moves rapidly between subjects.

“Mains ka sabse mera first thumb rule hai ki you never have to panic because wo itna pressure situation hota hai.”

He recommends starting with basic preparation and gradually increasing the amount of writing rather than waiting for perfect preparation.

“Start answer writing. Aadha page likhoge, phir ek page likhoge, phir 1.5 and then two pages ho jaata hai. Speed ki chinta mat kariye, wapas aa jayegi.”

He also places great importance on the syllabus and self-made notes.

“I believe the syllabus is the Bible for Mains because it has been very finely divided.”

“Self-made notes for Mains are very necessary, be it in digital form or written form. Because last-minute revision Mains mein wahi aata hai.”

For Prelims, his advice is to understand the relationship between static subjects and current affairs instead of treating them as two completely separate areas. He also recommends identifying major current affairs themes rather than trying to consume everything.

“Current affairs mein don't miss out the major themes which everyone, matlab aap aspirant ki nazar se bhi chhod dijiye, but any curious person should know this.”

His own journey, marked by an unsuccessful attempt, a dengue-related setback and another return to the exam, shaped the way he approaches preparation. Through it all, he kept moving forward and continued working towards the service he genuinely wanted.

The Setback, the Comeback and the Gratitude at the End

The result carried a different meaning for Aditya because he had already experienced what it felt like to come close and then have circumstances force him to start again. He says he had not even been able to write his optional the previous year because of dengue, making the final outcome difficult for him to predict.

“I wasn't, I really wasn't expecting because last year maine optional likha hi nahi. Toh mujhe nahi gauge karne ko hai main kya likha.”

This time, he had written the optional for the first time and had specifically hoped for the Indian Revenue Service because of his interest in the role.

“I have put IRS over IPS in my DAF and aap bhi mujhe bol rahe the ye kya kar raha hai, but I really like the service. I really want to serve in the IRS.”

After everything that had happened, his reaction was less about celebration and more about gratitude.

“This is where I believe in the word gratitude.”

Aditya's journey from leaving corporate life to facing multiple UPSC setbacks, recovering from dengue and eventually reaching the service he wanted reflects the patience that a long preparation journey can demand. His experience also shows how preparation can evolve across Prelims, Mains and Interview, with different resources and strategies becoming useful at different stages.