How UPSC Rank 45 Priya Singh Chauhan Cleared UPSC While Working

Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination while managing a full-time job is one of the biggest challenges for aspirants. Many working professionals feel that limited time, work pressure, and mental exhaustion make it difficult to compete with full-time aspirants.

However, the journey of Priya Singh Chauhan, who secured UPSC Rank 45, proves that it is possible. Despite working as an Accountant in the Ministry of Home Affairs through SSC CGL, she prepared alongside her job and cleared the exam in her first attempt at Mains and Interview.

Her story offers practical lessons for thousands of working professionals preparing for UPSC.

How UPSC Rank 45 Priya Singh Chauhan Cleared UPSC While Working?

Priya began thinking about UPSC preparation in 2019. She appeared for several attempts but faced repeated failures in the Prelims stage.

Her journey included:

• Multiple failed attempts in UPSC Prelims
• Missing Prelims by less than one mark in one attempt
• Facing demotivation and self-doubt
• Clearing Prelims, Mains, and Interview in the same attempt
• Finally securing All India Rank 45

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She shared that the biggest hurdle in her UPSC journey was Prelims. After failing several times, she even felt that maybe she was not meant for this exam. But persistence and consistent preparation eventually paid off.

Her success demonstrates that one good attempt can change everything in UPSC preparation.

Biggest Challenge: Preparing for UPSC with a Full-Time Job

One of the biggest difficulties she faced was time management.

As a working candidate, she had to balance:

• Office work
• Physical and mental exhaustion
• Limited study hours
• Continuous preparation for a highly competitive exam

She admitted that after returning from office in the evening, she often felt mentally and physically tired, which made studying difficult.

To solve this problem, she changed her study schedule.

Study Strategy: Early Morning Study Routine

Priya realized that evenings were not productive due to office fatigue. Instead, she used early morning hours for focused study.

Her daily routine looked like this:

• Wake up at 4:00 AM
• Study from 4 AM to 9 or 10 AM
• Use mornings for the most important subjects
• Study lightly in the evenings if possible
• Utilize weekends for long study sessions

According to her, morning hours were the most productive because:

• The mind is fresh
• There is no work stress
• There are fewer distractions

For working aspirants, this strategy can significantly increase effective study time.

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Limited Sources and Strong Revision Strategy

One of the most important lessons from her preparation is keeping sources limited.

Instead of studying from many books and materials, she focused on:

• Standard UPSC books
• Repeated revision
• Short notes for quick revision

She explained that too many resources create confusion, especially for working aspirants who already have limited time.

By revising the same material multiple times, she built strong conceptual clarity.

Importance of Answer Writing for UPSC Mains

Although it was her first time writing the Mains exam, she focused heavily on answer writing practice.

Her strategy included:

• Daily answer writing practice
• Writing previous year questions (PYQs) regularly
• Making concise notes for quick revisionInterestingly, she wrote fewer full-length mock tests because of time constraints. Instead, she consistently practiced writing answers to previous year questions.

This helped her:

• Understand UPSC answer structure
• Improve speed and presentation
• Develop analytical thinking

Notes Making: Helpful but Not Mandatory

According to her experience, notes can be useful but are not compulsory.

She explained two approaches:

If You Make Notes

• Initial time investment is higher
• Revision becomes faster later

If You Don’t Make Notes

• You must revise books multiple times
• Revision may take slightly longer

Therefore, the decision depends on individual study style.

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Handling UPSC Failures and Staying Motivated

One of the most inspiring aspects of her journey is how she handled repeated failures.

She failed Prelims multiple times and once even missed the cutoff by less than one mark. Such moments can be extremely discouraging for aspirants.

She admitted that at times she felt maybe she was not made for this exam.

But she continued preparing because she had already invested so much in the journey.

Her advice to aspirants is simple:

• Keep studying consistently
• Do not lose hope after failures
• You never know which attempt will change everythingShe believes Prelims is often a “D-Day exam”, where performance on that particular day matters greatly.

Role of Family Support in UPSC Preparation

Family support played a major role in her success.

She shared that after every failed attempt, her mother would come and stay with her to support and motivate her. Her mother even woke up before 4 AM to ensure she could start studying early.

This emotional support helped her remain mentally strong during difficult phases.

UPSC preparation can be a long and exhausting journey, and having family or friends who believe in you can make a huge difference.

Managing Distractions During UPSC Preparation

Distractions such as social media are common for most aspirants.

However, she emphasized that balance is important.

She did not isolate herself completely from the world. Instead:

• She spent time with friends and family occasionally
• Took breaks when needed
• Increased study hours when the exam approached

Her approach was practical. Instead of extreme isolation, she focused on consistent effort and smart planning.

Key Lessons for Working UPSC Aspirants

Her journey offers several practical lessons for working professionals preparing for UPSC:

1. Use Morning Hours Effectively
   Early mornings are the most productive time for working aspirants.
2. Keep Study Resources Limited
   Focus on standard books and revise them multiple times.
3. Practice Answer Writing
   Regular answer writing and PYQ practice are crucial for Mains.
4. Do Not Lose Hope After Failures
   Many aspirants clear UPSC after multiple unsuccessful attempts.
5. Build a Support System
   Family and friends can provide emotional strength during tough phases.
6. Maintain Balance in Life
   Occasional breaks and social interactions help maintain mental health.

Final Advice from UPSC Rank 45

Her message to aspirants is simple yet powerful:

You should continue studying consistently because you never know which attempt will be your breakthrough attempt. The same attempt in which you clear Prelims can also make you an IAS officer.

Her journey shows that hard work, persistence, and smart time management can help working professionals succeed in UPSC.

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