UPSC Success Story: Remember the Bollywood movie 'Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana,' where Rajkummar Rao's character becomes an IAS officer after a heartbreak? IAS Aditya Pandey's story echoes a similar sentiment. After experiencing betrayal in love, he resolved to become an IAS officer. He faced setbacks, failing twice, but refused to give up. On his third attempt, he achieved his goal and became an IAS officer.

Heartbreak in 10th Grade

Hailing from Vishunpur Pakri village in Patna, Bihar, Aditya moved to Jamnagar after completing his initial education. He excelled in 8th and 9th grade. However, during his 10th grade, he fell in love, which impacted his academic performance. Seeing this, his father sent him back to Patna. He completed his 12th grade from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kankarbagh. Everything seemed to be going well until he experienced a painful breakup.

Engineering Due to Father's Wish

Aditya's father wanted him to pursue engineering. Heeding his father's wish, he earned an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication from LPU, Punjab, with a good score. However, the pain of his past heartbreak lingered. After the breakup, he had vowed to become an IAS officer one day. At that time, though, he didn't have much knowledge about the UPSC exam. He had only heard about it from his seniors.

16 Months in a Job, UPSC Preparation from 2020

Lacking interest in an engineering career, Aditya pursued an MBA from IIT Roorkee in 2018. He then joined the marketing team of a private bank, gaining corporate experience. However, he couldn't continue for long and resigned after 16 months. In January 2020, he dedicated himself to preparing for the UPSC exam.

48th Rank in UPSC 2022

Aditya faced consecutive failures in the UPSC exams of 2020 and 2021. A teacher even remarked to his father that he would shave his head if Aditya cleared the exam. On one hand, there was negativity and discouragement, while on the other, the challenges of the exam loomed large. However, amidst these circumstances, some people motivated and supported him. Drawing strength from their belief in him, he continued his preparation and finally, in the UPSC CSE 2022 exam, he secured the 48th rank, fulfilling his dream of becoming an IAS officer.