‘You Don’t Need Delhi For UPSC Prep’: IRMS Officer On How He Cleared UPSC CSE From Gujarat Village

Every year, New Delhi’s UPSC coaching hub attracts aspirants from across the nation. Tens of thousands of aspirants continue to live in small, windowless PGs in popular and crowded areas of Mukherjee Nagar, Old Rajendra Nagar (ORN), Patel Nagar in the hopes of becoming an officer one day.

It is believed that aspirants need to relocate to the capital to prepare for the UPSC exam and that they cannot clear the exam without coaching. This issue was also highlighted once again when three aspirants recently lost their lives after drowning in the waterlogged basement of a coaching institute following continuous rainfall in the city.

However, Akash Chavda, who cleared the UPSC examination in 2023 with an All-India Rank of 1007, busts this misconception. He says, “Delhi is overcrowded with aspirants and this also puts a lot of pressure on the infrastructure there. When I visited ORN for the first time, I felt disgusted and suffocated. There, aspirants compromise on everything from rents to quality food.”

“You really do not need to go to Delhi for preparation. This could have been true a few years back when there was a lack of online resources and guidance. If you feel there is a lack of atmosphere for studies at home, you can rent some property in a nearby town and join a library. While it is not important to go to Delhi, it is important to have a mentor and a structured study routine,” shares Akash, who himself sought guidance from a retired DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) during his preparation journey.

Gujarat-based Akash had prepared for one of the challenging examinations of the country from the comforts of his home in a small village of Somnath district. 

Sharing his experience, he says, “I had options of preparing for the exam by joining the coaching centres in Gandhinagar or Ahmedabad but I chose to remain in my village. I never felt left out. In fact, I felt privileged. My mornings started with chirping birds and fresh air. Whenever I felt stressed out, I would spend time with my family.”

Akash (second from left) is grateful to his cousin — a daily wage mason by profession — who showed him unwavering support.

Securing 1007 rank, he was appointed in the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). We sat down with Akash to learn more about his preparation journey.

From hostel room to UPSC hall

Akash’s journey to success was filled with challenges, perseverance, and a strong determination to achieve his dreams. When he was just three years old, he lost his mother. While dealing with the terrible blow, it was difficult for his father to look after him as he worked in the Middle East. 

So at a young age, Akash was enrolled in a hostel. However, he lost his father as well in a tragic road accident when he was studying Class 9.

“I had met him only twice in seven years. Suddenly, I felt I had no one left. My younger sister also lived with a relative, hundreds of miles away from me,” he adds.

A glimmer of hope in this bleak moment in his life came when his cousin — a daily wage mason by profession — showed him unwavering support. He not only welcomed him into his small one-room tin shed house but also treated him like his own child.

“Today, whatever I am is because of him. His sacrifices kept motivating me. He was not financially stable and he had his own family to look after but he accepted me and made me a part of the family selflessly,” he shares.

Akash with his younger sister. On the right are his cousin and sister-in-law who took him in.

Akash’s goals were never deterred by his cousin’s meagre resources. He encouraged him to strive high and follow his aspirations. He eventually pursued mechanical engineering from a local college in Vadodara where he was inspired to prepare for the UPSC examination.

“I was naturally inclined to social work and was exploring ways in which I could contribute to the community directly. I came to know about the UPSC exam from my college friends. When I searched more, I came to know this work can not only help me engage with the community directly but also help me grow personally,” he says.

As he delved into the world of competitive exams after his graduation in 2018, Akash encountered further hurdles; the first of which was his Gujarati-medium education. 

“There is a lack of quality study material available in my native language. I sought out notes from toppers but I faced difficulties in comprehending the English-language content. For most of the words, I would have to refer to dictionaries,” he adds.

Despite these initial struggles, he qualified the prelims in 2019 but failed the Mains exam. He appeared for his second attempt in 2022. Although he cleared the prelims and the Mains exams, he failed at the interview stage. However, he achieved this feat while working as a tax inspector in Jamnagar as he wanted to be financially independent.

Sharing his experience, he says, “In the interview round, I opted for English as my medium of communication. I thought I would be able to manage but I fumbled in my interview. This lowered my confidence level and I failed at expressing myself in the personality stage. It was one of the reasons why I could not clear the exam in 2022.”

However, Akash remained undeterred and cleared the 2023 examination. With his triumphant preparation journey, he emphasises the need for consistency, self-evaluation through test series, writing answers and the importance of utilising limited resources effectively.

Sharing tips for aspirants, he advises, “Get a good understanding of the syllabus, and solve previous years’ questions. Also, normalise taking breaks. There were days when I felt guilty for taking breaks. But, whenever you feel low, pause and unwind for a brief period. Utilise internet and online test series and mock exams for effectively preparing at home.”

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photos: Akash Chavda.