How PW Student Utkarsh Srivastava Overcame Repeated CSAT Failures to Secure AIR 498 in UPSC

Utkarsh Srivastava, a PW student, secured AIR 498 in the UPSC examination after five attempts, turning years of setbacks into a successful result. His journey was especially challenging because CSAT remained a major hurdle, with multiple failures affecting his confidence. 

With consistent preparation, support from his family, and guidance through PW’s CSAT resources and Srijan Mains Programme, Utkarsh worked on his weaknesses and improved his preparation. His story highlights how focused practice, mentorship, and persistence can help aspirants overcome repeated failures and achieve their UPSC goals.

Utkarsh Srivastava’s UPSC Journey: From 2020 to AIR 498

Utkarsh’s UPSC journey began in 2020. His first attempt did not go beyond Prelims because he could not qualify CSAT.

In his second attempt, he managed to clear CSAT, but his journey stopped at GS Paper 1. The third attempt brought another setback. Although he cleared Prelims, he missed the Mains cutoff by approximately 15 marks.

His fourth attempt in 2023 was particularly difficult because he again failed CSAT. This created a fear around the paper and made him question his ability to continue with UPSC preparation.

He recalled:

“2023 mein jab fail hua tab ekdum fear mere upar bahut zyada aa gaya tha. Phir mujhe laga mujhe preparation chhodni hi padegi.”

However, instead of giving up, Utkarsh decided to address the problem directly. His fifth attempt became his breakthrough year. He cleared both Prelims and Mains and eventually secured AIR 498.

How Utkarsh Overcame His CSAT Fear With PW

CSAT remained one of the biggest challenges in Utkarsh’s preparation. In 2022, he scored 75 marks and qualified by just two marks. After his subsequent failure, he realized that he needed to take CSAT more seriously.

During his preparation for the 2024 attempt, Utkarsh came across PW’s YouTube videos on CSAT. He watched topic-wise videos and created short notes from them.

He particularly focused on topics such as calendars, number systems, ranking, time, clocks, and comprehension. Instead of watching the videos passively, he converted important concepts into short revision notes.

He explained:

“Aapki videos se hi chhote-chhote clips aur short notes bana liye. Calendar ke questions, number system ka jo video aapne dala tha, woh saare maine notes banaye.”

This approach helped him recognise familiar patterns during the actual CSAT examination. He noticed that some questions were based on concepts he had already practised through the videos.

For Utkarsh, targeted preparation helped reduce the fear associated with CSAT. His experience highlights the importance of identifying a weak area, practising it consistently, and using focused resources instead of avoiding the subject.

How Utkarsh Built Confidence After Repeated Setbacks

Repeated failures can affect an aspirant’s confidence, but Utkarsh found strength through his family and his own determination.

He described his family as his biggest source of motivation.

“First of all motivation meri family thi, family members the.”

His father played an important role in encouraging him to continue his preparation. Even when results did not go in his favor, his family remained supportive.

Utkarsh also shared that his father had told him that if he wanted to study for several years, the family would continue supporting him.

This support allowed him to keep preparing even during difficult phases. His journey shows that a strong support system can help aspirants stay focused when repeated setbacks create self-doubt.

The Role of His Partner in His UPSC Journey

Utkarsh also spoke about the role of his present partner in his journey. He believes that a relationship does not necessarily have to become a distraction if it is constructive and supportive.

He explained:

“Agar relationship aapka constructive hai toh aapko woh duniya ki sabse oonchi jagah pe le ja sakta hai.”

According to Utkarsh, his partner consistently encouraged him and believed in his potential. This support became another source of motivation during his preparation.

His experience also highlights an important point for aspirants: the people around you can influence your mindset significantly. A supportive environment can help an aspirant remain positive, while constant negativity can make an already difficult preparation journey harder.

How PW’s Srijan Mains Programme Helped Utkarsh

Utkarsh’s association with PW was not limited to CSAT. He was also part of the Srijan Mains Programme, where he received preparation and mentorship.

He credited the programme with helping him strengthen his Mains preparation, particularly in essay writing and answer presentation.

He recalled:

“Srijan Mains Programme mein tha. Preparation toh bahut achhi hui Mains programme ke tahat.”

The programme gave him opportunities to attempt multiple essay tests and receive guidance. He also studied sample essays to understand how ideas could be developed and presented effectively.

The mentorship component helped him stay connected with his preparation and identify areas that required improvement.

How Essay Practice Improved His Mains Preparation

Essay had been a challenging area for Utkarsh. He mentioned that he had scored only 87 marks in the Essay paper in 2022.

During his preparation with Srijan, he attempted several essay tests and studied sample essays. This helped him understand how to structure arguments, develop ideas, and use examples effectively.

He also found that some of the themes he had practised helped him during the actual examination.

Apart from Essay, Utkarsh worked on his General Studies answers by studying topper answer copies. He focused on understanding how successful candidates used examples and presented their arguments.

His approach was not simply to increase the amount of information he studied. Instead, he worked on how to convert his knowledge into effective examination answers.

Utkarsh’s UPSC Interview Preparation

After clearing Mains, Utkarsh shifted his focus toward the UPSC Personality Test.

He revised different aspects of his preparation and practised questions that could be asked during the interview. His preparation also involved revisiting areas where he felt he could perform better.

The interview was the final stage of his UPSC journey. While he felt that there was room for improvement in his interview performance, he successfully completed the process and secured AIR 498.

His experience shows that UPSC preparation does not end with clearing Prelims or Mains. Aspirants need to approach every stage differently and prepare according to its specific requirements.

What UPSC Aspirants Can Learn From Utkarsh’s Journey

Utkarsh’s journey offers several practical lessons for UPSC aspirants:

1. Do Not Ignore Your Weakest Subject

CSAT became a major challenge for Utkarsh because he initially underestimated it. His experience shows why aspirants should identify weak areas early and give them regular attention.

2. Use Targeted Resources

Utkarsh focused on specific CSAT topics through PW videos and converted important concepts into short notes. Targeted resources can make revision more manageable.

3. Practise Consistently

Understanding a concept is only the first step. Regular question practice helped Utkarsh become familiar with the patterns and reduce his fear of CSAT.

4. Learn From Successful Candidates

For Mains, Utkarsh studied topper answer copies to understand presentation, examples, and answer structure. This helped him improve not only what he wrote but also how he presented it.

5. Take Mentorship and Feedback Seriously

The Srijan Mains Programme provided him with practice, essay tests, mentorship, and guidance. Feedback can help aspirants identify gaps that are difficult to notice through self-study.

6. Do Not Let Failure Become Fear

Utkarsh faced multiple setbacks, including repeated CSAT failures. Instead of allowing these failures to define his preparation, he eventually focused on solving the problem.

His message is simple:

“Positive rehna zaroori hai. Bilkul bhi ghabrana nahi hai.”

Utkarsh Srivastava’s Message to UPSC Aspirants

Utkarsh’s journey from repeated setbacks to AIR 498 in UPSC is a reminder that success can take time.

He spent several years preparing and faced multiple disappointments along the way. There were moments when he considered leaving UPSC preparation altogether, especially after repeated CSAT failures. However, family support, personal determination, focused preparation, and the right guidance helped him continue.

His journey also shows that aspirants should not restrict themselves to one narrow definition of success. The UPSC preparation process itself can teach valuable lessons about discipline, consistency, resilience, and self-improvement.

For future UPSC aspirants, Utkarsh’s story offers a simple message: identify your weaknesses, work on them consistently, seek guidance when needed, and do not let one failed attempt decide your future.

His journey proves that setbacks can become turning points when an aspirant is willing to learn from them and keep moving forward.