From Setbacks to AIR 8: Raj Krishna’s Inspiring UPSC Journey with Physics Wallah

Raj Krishna’s journey is a powerful example of perseverance. After facing repeated setbacks, he continued improving his preparation with the help of dedicated guidance and resources from Physics Wallah. His story eventually led to a remarkable achievement of AIR 8 in UPSC.

How Setbacks Became Raj’s Greatest Motivation?

Every aspirant experiences moments when preparation feels overwhelming. For Raj Krishna, the early attempts were difficult because he could not clear the exam despite trying.

Instead of discouraging him completely, these failures slowly turned into a strong motivation to prove that he could do it. At one point, the situation felt like a personal challenge that he had to overcome.

“20 nahi hua toh sir 21 mein bhi nahi hua. Do baar nahi hua. Toh thoda laga ki ab toh ego pe aa gaya.”

“Ab toh karna hi padega, jaise bhi karke.”

Failing twice didn’t demotivate him, but made him even more determined. Rather than stepping back from the exam, he decided that he would continue preparing until he succeeded.

How Did Raj Balance a Full-Time Job with UPSC Preparation?

Preparing for UPSC is tough, and doing it alongside a full-time job makes it even more challenging. Raj Krishna had a stable government job at HPCL, but instead of quitting, he decided to manage both work and preparation, a decision that required discipline, time management, and dedication.

“Sir main HPCL mein tha.”

It was a government PSU, which gave him stability but also came with responsibilities that could limit preparation time.

“Poori ki poori tayari job ke saath ki hai. Matlab job chhodi nahi, saari tayari job ke saath mein ki hai.”

Even with job responsibilities, he did not compromise on preparation. It reflects his commitment to the goal, proving that UPSC is possible without leaving your profession.

“Job mein do mahina poora toh chhutti nahi deta, but dedh mahina ka mujhe mila.”

Raj Krishna maximised every bit of available time, planning his study schedule carefully around work, making sure that every hour counted towards his UPSC preparation.

His journey demonstrates that with focus, discipline, and proper time management, working professionals can also achieve top ranks in UPSC.

How Physics Wallah’s SMP Programme Strengthened Raj Krishna’s Preparation

As the preparation progressed, Raj Krishna realised that self-study alone was not enough. UPSC requires a structured plan, proper guidance, and reliable study material. This is when he decided to join Physics Wallah’s Prelims and Mains programmes.

With a clear framework for preparation, he was able to organise his studies better while continuing his job.

“23 mein sir… I have joined PW aur PW ka sir Pre aur Mains dono programme mein I had enrolled.”

Enrolling in both programmes helped him cover the syllabus more systematically.

“24 mein sir main SMP join kiya jo Mains programme hota hai.”

To improve his answer-writing and Mains preparation further, he joined the SMP (Seasonal Mains Programme) by PW. This programme provided regular tests and sessions that helped him practise consistently.

“Maine ek bhi test I think maine chhoda nahi.”

Once he started the programme, he made sure not to miss any opportunities for practice, which highlights his commitment to consistency. Attempting every test helped him track his progress and understand where he needed improvement.

Along with tests, he also followed the sessions and guidance provided by mentors.

“Maine har test diya sir ka, har session uske baad attend kiya.”

This shows that he did not just rely on tests but also actively participated in the learning sessions that followed.

“Sir ke jo bhi insights the, woh adopt karta tha.”

“Jo full length test hote the sir, usmein one rank mere bahut saare mein aaye. Toh, I was very confident.”

This shows how regular practice started giving him confidence. Performing well in mock tests gave him validation that his preparation was moving in the right direction.

How Physics Wallah Resources Supported Raj’s Preparation

Raj also emphasised how helpful Physics Wallah’s learning resources were for both Prelims and Mains. These resources allowed him to revise concepts effectively and stay focused on important topics.

“Aap log jo free mein resources material provide karte hain sir, specially usi se Pre aur Mains nikalta hai.”

According to him, these resources helped him prepare for both stages of the exam.

“Prahar maine padh liya tha, rat liya tha sir sara jitna ho sakta tha.”

Thorough revision of key resources helped him strengthen his concepts.

Another strategy he followed was using simple techniques suggested by mentors.

“Jaise Rohit sir bolte hain mind maps aur chhote-chhote points, wahi kiya hai sir.”

Instead of trying to memorise everything from the textbooks or notes, he focused on mind maps and small key points, which made revision faster and helped him retain important information.

This shows that his strategy was not just hard work, but smart work, using simple, organised techniques to remember the most important parts of the syllabus efficiently.

What Can Be Learnt from Raj Krishna’s Journey?

After achieving AIR 8, Raj Krishna reflected on his journey and the lessons he learned along the way. One of the most important things the aspirantsmust learn is the value of mentorship.

“Sir mentors acche chuno, aur Rohit sir jaise.”

“Mentors sahi chun liya toh aadha matlab resources pata chal jaate hain.”

At the same time, he honestly speaks about the emotional struggles during preparation. 

He also opened up about the emotional struggles during preparation, reminding everyone that losing confidence is normal. 

“Mera toh bahut baar confidence down hua. Mujhe laga ki mujhe hi nahi aata hai kuch.”

He openly acknowledges that losing confidence is normal during UPSC preparation.

“Sab usi boat mein hote hain. Aisa nahi hai ki sabko bahut zyada aata hai.”

“Agar mera 8 aaya hai toh mujhe baakiyon se bahut zyada nahi aata hai sir, bas shayad tareeka samajh aa gaya.”

Through this line, he highlighted an important lesson that success in UPSC is not always about knowing everything. Sometimes, understanding the right approach and preparation strategy makes all the difference.

Raj Krishna’s journey is a reminder that perseverance and the right guidance can transform preparation. With consistent effort, strong mentorship, and dedicated learning through PW’s programmes and resources, he gradually improved his preparation and achieved an outstanding result.

For thousands of aspirants preparing today, his story offers a simple message: with the right approach, determination, and support system, the UPSC dream can become a reality.