UPSC Topper 2024 Utkarsh Srivastava: How He Overcame CSAT Setbacks to Secure AIR 498 with PW

Clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination can become challenging when repeated attempts bring setbacks in different stages. For UPSC Topper 2024 Utkarsh Srivastava, CSAT remained a major challenge across multiple attempts before he finally cleared the examination and secured AIR 498 in his fifth attempt.

His journey involved repeated setbacks, self-doubt and the need to change his preparation strategy. During this process, PW's YouTube content helped him strengthen his CSAT preparation, while the Srijan Mains programme and mentorship supported his Mains preparation.

How Utkarsh Srivastava's UPSC Journey Started

Utkarsh's UPSC journey began with his first attempt in 2020. His initial attempts brought different setbacks at different stages of the examination.

He explained the progression of his attempts:

"Sir, mera first attempt 2020 mein tha. Isme sir mera prelims mein CSAT mein selection ruk gaya tha."

In his second attempt, he cleared CSAT but could not clear GS Paper 1. He then cleared Prelims in his third attempt but missed the Mains selection by 15 marks. His fourth attempt in 2023 again ended with a CSAT failure.

These repeated setbacks made CSAT a significant concern for him. However, his fifth attempt in 2024 brought a different outcome: he cleared Prelims and Mains and secured AIR 498 after the interview.

Utkarsh Srivastava Faced Repeated CSAT Setbacks

CSAT became one of the biggest hurdles in Utkarsh's preparation. In 2022, he scored 75 marks and cleared the paper by only two marks. Instead of continuing to work consistently on the subject, he admitted that overconfidence and being misguided affected his preparation.

After failing CSAT in 2023, the pressure became even greater. He recalled:

"2023 mein jab fail hua tab sir ekdum fear mere upar bahut jyada aa gaya tha. Phir mujhe laga mujhe preparation chhodni hi padegi."

This phase became an important turning point. Rather than allowing the setback to end his preparation, Utkarsh eventually found a way to work specifically on the areas that troubled him most.

How PW YouTube Videos Helped Utkarsh Prepare for CSAT

While preparing for his 2024 attempt, Utkarsh came across PW's YouTube videos covering CSAT topics. He used these videos to create short notes and revise important concepts.

He specifically recalled:

"Sir, aapki videos mili mujhe YouTube pe sir, jisme sir aapne jo topic-wise jo padhaye the... 25-30 hi the sir 2024 ke is baar attempt mein sir ji sir maine aapki videos se hi chhote-chhote sir clips aur short notes bana liye sir."

He also made notes from videos covering topics such as calendar questions and the number system and used the comprehension content for preparation.

The approach helped him recognise patterns in the examination. According to Utkarsh, several questions in the actual CSAT paper were familiar after his preparation through these videos and notes.

He explained:

"Wo notes ke baad jab main asli examination hall mein CSAT mein gaya sir paanch chhe question to aise the... bas mujhe dekh kar karke tick mark karna tha."

His experience shows how targeted preparation and revision can help an aspirant approach a previously difficult section with greater familiarity.

How Srijan Mains Programme Supported Utkarsh's Preparation

CSAT was not the only part of Utkarsh's preparation where he received support. He was also part of the Srijan Mains programme, where he received mentorship and test-based preparation.

Speaking about the programme, he said:

"Taiyari to bahut achhi hui Mains programme ke tahat, sir. Usme hamari mentorship team thi. Mere Neeraj Sir mentor the.”

He also highlighted how the programme and related resources supported his essay preparation:

"Maine kariban-kariban aath ES test diye the Srijan Mains programme mein mujhe mile the. Baaki aapke courses ke liye the aur Kapil Sikha Sir ki do classes thi. Unke bhi sample essays the, sir. Unko maine padha.”

Reflecting on his preparation, Utkarsh said that he had scored 87 marks in Essay in 2022 and expected his score to improve this time. For General Studies, he studied toppers' answer copies to understand how to frame examples and present his answers more effectively. 

Utkarsh Srivastava's Fifth Attempt Finally Led to AIR 498

After four attempts involving setbacks at different stages, Utkarsh's fifth attempt in 2024 produced a significantly different result. He cleared Prelims, Mains and the interview stage and secured AIR 498.

His preparation also involved working through areas that had previously affected his performance. In Mains, he continued practising essays, studying toppers' answer copies and working on answer presentation.

He recalled that despite some questions remaining incomplete in his papers, he received 795 marks, and believed that completing those questions could have improved his score further.

The Family Support Behind Utkarsh's UPSC Journey

Alongside his preparation, Utkarsh highlighted the importance of his family as a source of motivation. He described his family members as his primary motivation during the long preparation period.

Recalling his father's support, he said:

“Tum 10 saal tak bhi padhai karoge, hum to main tumhe padhauga.”

His father also encouraged him to continue pursuing his goal. Utkarsh recalled his father's words:

"Agar tumhe banna hai IAS, IPS to ek baar mujhe is topic pe, our neighbourhood pe kuch likh karke dikhao… Papa ne jab dekha ki ye likh le raha hai, to uske baad unhone bola ki beta, ab tum ho jaoge, bas tum mehnat karo. "

Before committing fully to UPSC preparation, Utkarsh had also worked as a salesperson selling beauty products and had prepared for smaller examinations. Later, after learning more about the UPSC examination and receiving encouragement from his family, he decided to pursue this path more seriously.

What Utkarsh Srivastava's Journey Means for UPSC Aspirants

Utkarsh Srivastava's UPSC journey is marked by repeated attempts, setbacks in CSAT and continued efforts to improve his preparation. His fifth attempt eventually resulted in AIR 498, showing the progression from repeated disappointments to a successful outcome.

His experience also highlights the value of identifying specific weaknesses instead of allowing one difficult subject to define an entire preparation journey. His use of PW's CSAT videos, short notes, practice and the Srijan Mains programme formed important parts of the preparation he described.

For aspirants facing setbacks, Utkarsh's journey shows that multiple unsuccessful attempts do not have to end the preparation. Understanding your weaknesses, improving your strategy and continuing to work can help you achieve better results in a later attempt.