Tejveer’s UPSC Journey From IIT Bombay to IPS With PW’s Support

Tejveer’s UPSC journey began with a challenge that many working aspirants face: how to prepare for one of India’s toughest exams while managing a demanding career. After graduating from IIT Bombay and working as an engineering officer at IOCL, Tejveer had a stable professional life. 

Yet, his childhood dream of becoming an IPS officer continued to stay in the back of his mind. When he started preparing for UPSC in 2022, clearing Prelims became a major hurdle.

Instead of letting repeated setbacks stop him, Tejveer changed his approach after finally clearing Prelims. He moved to focused Mains preparation and joined PW’s Srijan Program, which helped bring structure to his first Mains attempt.

Tejveer’s Settled Career Gave Way to an Old UPSC Dream

Tejveer had already built a stable career before starting his UPSC preparation in 2022. His decision came after seeing a close IIT Bombay friend clear the exam and reconsidering a childhood dream of becoming an IPS officer.

“Bachpan mein jaisa sabka sapna rehta hai ki bhai haan humein bhi IPS banna hai IAS banna hai. Wo wala sapna bachpan mein tha ekdum. Phir IIT ho gaya aur jo job aa gayi, paise-waise aane lag gaye. To phir uske baad mein saari cheezein jo hai wo matlab UPSC wala dream ekdum peeche chhoot gaya tha.”

The decision was significant because Tejveer was not leaving an uncertain career. He had worked at IOCL and was later earning through teaching as well. Still, the thought of not pursuing UPSC stayed with him, eventually leading him to begin preparation.

Tejveer Struggled to Clear Prelims While Working

Starting UPSC preparation did not immediately bring results. Tejveer continued working while preparing and found Prelims particularly difficult. The repeated failures made him unsure about leaving his job and preparing full-time.

“Lekin mera prelims clear nahi ho raha tha. Isliye main job chhodne ka matlab soch nahi paa raha tha.”

His experience also challenged the confidence that came from his earlier academic record. After clearing several competitive exams, not clearing UPSC Prelims made him realise that the exam demanded a different approach. Once he finally cleared Prelims, he made a decisive shift in his preparation.

PW’s Srijan Program Gave Tejveer a Structured Mains Push

After clearing Prelims, Tejveer moved to Patel Nagar and immediately started PW’s-Srijan Program. It became particularly useful because this was his first Mains attempt and he was still figuring out the examination process.

“First Mains tha. First interview tha aur Srijan Program mein matlab kaafi help kiya mujhe. Srijan matlab literally game changer tha. First Mains tha. Kuch pata nahi tha kaise kya karna hai.”

The program gave him a structured routine that included regular tests and focused preparation. His Chemistry teaching background also helped him stay connected with his optional subject, eventually contributing to a strong score.

“Surface Chemistry completely maine Alakh Pandey sir ka kiya tha aur Chemistry optional mein mere highest marks hain is baar 326 marks.”

For Tejveer, PW’s role was practical: it helped him move from an uncertain first attempt towards a more organised Mains preparation.

Tejveer’s Focused Preparation Took Him to the Next Stage

With Prelims finally cleared, Tejveer treated the Mains window as an opportunity that had to be fully utilised. He followed an intense study schedule during the 90-day period between Prelims and Mains.

“Prelims aur Mains ke beech mein maine frankly 16 se 17 ghante padhai kari hogi. Har 90 din wo jo 90 days hote hain beech mein unmein har din maine 16 se 17.”

The effort helped him clear Mains in his first attempt and reach the interview stage. His journey had moved from repeated Prelims setbacks to a position where he was competing for a place in the final list.

Tejveer’s story shows that a strong educational background or a stable job does not make UPSC preparation predictable. His progress came from recognising what was not working, changing his preparation when needed and continuing despite setbacks. For aspirants, especially those balancing work and preparation, his journey offers a realistic reminder that consistency and exam-specific strategy can gradually turn an uncertain attempt into a serious opportunity.