‘Focus on Karma, Not on Results’: UPSC AIR 14 Abhishek Vashishtha Shares His Preparation Journey

UPSC AIR 14 Abhishek Vashishtha’s story is a powerful example of patience, self-belief, and consistent hard work. His long journey from missing Prelims by only two marks in his first attempt to securing a top rank in his sixth attempt reflects the real challenges faced by thousands of aspirants. Recently, he spoke in detail about his preparation path, the mistakes he corrected, and the mindset that finally helped him reach IAS.

Abhishek explains that UPSC was never his childhood dream. Like most students who score well, he chose Science in Classes 11 and 12 and then joined engineering. However, during his first year, he realised his interest did not match engineering. A professor who was preparing for UPSC explained the purpose of the Civil Services and the kind of work done at the ground level. That conversation made him feel that he wanted a career where he could solve real problems of people. At the age of nineteen, the idea of IAS strongly appealed to him.

Early Preparation and First Major Setback

He began background work early. He attended topper talks, spoke to selected candidates, studied booklists, and understood the exam pattern. In 2018, he attempted the exam for the first time after multiple rounds of revision. Yet he could not clear Prelims. This was his first academic failure, and it affected him deeply. He had rejected a private job offer to pursue the Civil Services, and therefore, the failure created self-doubt and anxiety.

Understanding Mistakes and Improving Strategy

With guidance from mentors, he realised his biggest mistake. He had studied well but had not practiced enough MCQs. In the next attempt, he corrected this and cleared Prelims comfortably. However, because all his focus had shifted to Prelims, he had not prepared well for Mains. He again missed the cutoff by only one mark. These close misses became a strange form of motivation and reminded him that improvement was possible.

Turning Points During the COVID Period

During the COVID period, he got extra months for preparation and used them for answer writing. In 2020, he secured the IRS. In 2021, he appeared again. The first attempt that year took him till the interview stage, but he did not make the final list. A later attempt in the same year got him IPS. Still, he knew he wanted one more chance.

Final Attempt and Achievement of AIR 14

In his final attempt, he prepared with a calm and focused approach and secured AIR 14. Abhishek says the message of the Gita, focus on karma and not on results, guided him throughout. For him, UPSC success comes from simple habits, limited books, repeated revision, regular MCQ practice and steady answer writing. He believes anyone who follows the process with honesty can succeed.