Rohit Kumar’s UPSC CSE Journey: From a Small Village to AIR 39 with PW

Coming from an agricultural background in a small village of Rajasthan, Rohit Kumar began his UPSC journey in 2019 with the aim of creating a generational shift for himself and his region. After multiple attempts, including setbacks in Prelims, he continued refining his approach.

His fifth attempt brought a major change as Rohit secured AIR 39 in UPSC CSE 2025 and entered the final list for the first time. His journey highlights how understanding the exam, learning from earlier attempts, and consistent practice can gradually change the way an aspirant prepares.

How Rohit Kumar’s UPSC Journey Began

Rohit Kumar’s UPSC journey began in 2019 after completing his graduation from Shivaji College, University of Delhi. Coming from an agricultural background and a small village in Rajasthan, he saw the Civil Services Examination as an opportunity to create a change not only for himself but also for the people around him.

“Meri UPSC ki jo journey thi wo 2019 mein start hui thi aur ye UPSC mein mera paanchva attempt raha aur ye mera second mains tha. Second interview tha aur ismein first time main list mein aaya hoon.”

His academic journey had taken him from schooling in his village to Classes 11 and 12 in Sikar, followed by graduation with Geography and History. After two attempts, when he was unable to clear Prelims, he also pursued an MA in Geography from Delhi School of Economics while continuing to work towards the examination.

“Coming from an agricultural background, from a small village in Rajasthan. Toh ye zaroori tha, baar-baar realisation tha is cheez ka ki yaar yahan se nikalna hai. Humein ek jo hote hain ek generational hota hai ki aapko ek shift karna hota hai.”

For Rohit, the preparation was therefore not limited to clearing an examination. He wanted to create a transition for himself and contribute to the region he came from. He also became the first candidate from his area to reach the interview stage, which became an important source of motivation throughout his journey.

The Challenges Rohit Kumar Faced Through Multiple Attempts

Rohit’s preparation did not move directly towards the final list. After experiencing setbacks in his initial attempts, he realised that clearing UPSC required him to understand the examination more carefully rather than simply continuing with preparation.

“Lekin ek attempt, do attempt hua toh laga ki jab Prelims bhi clear nahi hua toh laga ki yaar kuch na kuch aisa hona chahiye saath-saath. Toh maine Masters ke liye apply kiya aur Delhi School of Economics se maine MA mein Geography ki hai.”

The setbacks made him reassess his approach while continuing his academic journey. His eventual success came after five attempts, including two Mains and two interview stages, before he finally made it to the final list.

“Main fortunate raha ki jo mera region hai jahan se main aata hoon toh main pehla candidate raha jo ki interview stage tak pahuncha toh sab log utsahit the toh usi cheez wahi mera primary motivation raha ki yaar apne region ke liye kuch karna hai.”

This motivation helped Rohit continue despite the length of his preparation journey. Instead of viewing the examination only as an individual goal, he connected his preparation with the larger responsibility he felt towards his family and region.

How Rohit Kumar Refined His UPSC Preparation Strategy with PW 

As Rohit progressed through his attempts, his understanding of the examination also changed. He gradually realised that preparation should begin with understanding exactly what the examination demands, especially through the syllabus and previous year questions. During this phase, PW helped him access and practise relevant PYQs and mock questions, which supported his understanding of the exam pattern and question framing. 

“Baad mein samajh aaya ki yaar aap sabse zaroori cheez jo students jo exam dene wale hain unke liye hai ki aap sabse pehle exam ko samajhiye. Usko samajhne ka sabse best tareeka hai aap syllabus ko padhiye. Bahut achhe se padhiye.”

He also changed the way he approached previous year questions. Rather than simply solving them and moving on, he started focusing on understanding the language and pattern of the questions. Regular practice through PYQs and mock questions available through PW further helped him apply this approach during his preparation. 

“Main initially unko ignore karta tha ki solve kar liya unko chhod diya baad mein. Lekin zaroori hai ki aap har question ko us language ko samjhe. Us language ko decode karna bahut bahut zaroori hai aapke liye.”

With repeated practice, Rohit noticed that working through several years of questions helped him recognise recurring patterns and develop an understanding of how questions were framed. His preparation therefore became more focused on understanding the examination rather than only completing study material.

From Repeated Attempts to AIR 39: Rohit Kumar’s Final Breakthrough

Rohit’s preparation eventually translated into a result in UPSC CSE 2025, where he secured AIR 39. His final written score was 851, reflecting the preparation he had built across multiple attempts and the changes he made in his approach.

“Abhi recently hi Mains ka score aaya toh usmein mera written total 851 raha hai jo ki main fortunate raha ki itna achha score aaya hai.”

Looking back at what helped him prepare more effectively, Rohit particularly emphasised repeated practice and creating examination-like conditions. His advice was to go beyond passive preparation and regularly practise questions and mocks.

“Toh aap is time focus kijiye ki zyada se zyada previous year questions ko, ki zyada se zyada mock test lagaiye. Practice kijiye roz questions ko.”

He also recommended simulating the conditions candidates may face on the actual examination day, including attempting papers within limited time and practising in different environments. For Rohit, this helped make the final examination setting more familiar and reduced the possibility of feeling uncomfortable under exam pressure.

Rohit Kumar’s journey from a small village in Rajasthan to AIR 39 shows that setbacks can become useful learning points when preparation continues to evolve. His experience also highlights the importance of understanding the UPSC syllabus, decoding previous years' questions, practising regularly and preparing for real exam conditions. For future aspirants, his story offers a practical reminder that progress can come from refining the approach with every attempt.

Related Resource

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