Inspirational Story of Priya Singh Chauhan UPSC Rank 45

The journey of UPSC Topper Priya Singh Chauhan (UPSC Rank 45) is a powerful example of resilience and determination. After failing the prelims several times, Priya finally cleared the exam in her last attempt, and not just cleared it, she secured an impressive All India Rank 45.

Her story is especially inspiring for aspirants who feel discouraged after repeated failures in prelims. Priya proved that one successful attempt can change everything.

Priya Singh Chauhan UPSC Rank 45: Biography

Priya prepared for UPSC while working as an Accountant in the Ministry of Home Affairs, which made her journey even more challenging due to time constraints.

First Reaction After UPSC Result

When Priya saw her name in the UPSC result list, the moment was emotional and unforgettable.

She shared her immediate reaction candidly:

“सर पहला रिएक्शन तो रोना था… मैंने एक्सपेक्ट किया था कि अगर मैं लिस्ट में आ गई तो शायद सबसे पहले मैं रोऊंगी, और वही हुआ।”

The result was even more special because it came in her last attempt.

Interestingly, this was also the first time she cleared the prelims, and she directly went on to clear Mains and Interview in the same cycle, achieving Rank 45.

Explore UPSC Foundation Courses

Explore UPSC Foundation Courses

From Multiple Failures to UPSC Rank 45

Priya began her UPSC preparation journey in 2019 and gave her first attempt in 2020. However, the journey was far from smooth. Her attempt timeline looked something like this:

Talking about this phase, Priya admitted that self-doubt often crept in.

“पांच बार प्रीलिम्स फेल करने के बाद IAS रैंक एक्सपेक्ट करना मुश्किल लगता है। मेरे लिए इस जर्नी का सबसे बड़ा हर्डल प्रीलिम्स ही था।”

However, she decided to give one final attempt rather than quitting.

How Priya Singh Chauhan Prepared With a Full-Time Job?

Preparing for UPSC while working in a government job is extremely challenging. Priya managed this by creating a disciplined routine.

One of the biggest challenges in Priya’s journey was balancing a government job with UPSC preparation.

She was working as an Accountant through SSC CGL in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Because of this, she had limited study time and had to plan carefully.

Her strategy included:

• Waking up early at 4 AM
• Studying from 4 AM to 9–10 AM
• Using weekends for longer study sessions
• Revising consistently

She explained:

“मैं सुबह जल्दी उठकर पढ़ती थी। 4 बजे से 9–10 बजे तक का टाइम सबसे ज्यादा प्रोडक्टिव होता था क्योंकि उस समय कोई मानसिक दबाव नहीं होता।”

Role of Family Support in Priya’s Success

Priya repeatedly credited her family, especially her mother, for supporting her through difficult times.

After every prelims failure, her mother would come to stay with her in Delhi.

She emotionally recalled:

“हर प्रीलिम्स फेलियर के बाद मेरी मम्मी दिल्ली आ जाती थीं और मेरे साथ छोटे से कमरे में रहती थीं। वो मेरे लिए एक पिलर ऑफ सपोर्ट थीं।”

Her mother would even wake up before her so that Priya could start studying at 4 AM.

This emotional support helped her stay focused during tough phases.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Strategy That Helped Priya Clear UPSC Mains

When Priya finally cleared the prelims, she kept her mains strategy simple and focused.

Her preparation approach included:

• Limiting study resources
• Making short revision notes
• Practicing daily answer writing
• Solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
• Regular revision

She explained her strategy clearly:

“मैंने अपने सोर्सेस लिमिट रखे, शॉर्ट नोट्स बनाए और डेली पीवाईक्यू लिखती थी। मैंने फुल लेंथ टेस्ट कम लिखे लेकिन रोज आंसर राइटिंग जरूर की।”

This approach helped her perform well in her first-ever Mains attempt.

Advice for Aspirants Struggling With Prelims

Priya’s journey makes her an inspiration for students who repeatedly fail the prelims stage.

She gave a powerful message to such aspirants:

“आप पढ़ते रहिए क्योंकि आपको नहीं पता कि किस अटेम्प्ट में आपका प्रीलिम्स निकले और जिस अटेम्प्ट में आपका प्रीलिम्स निकले, आप IAS बन जाएं।”

She also emphasized staying calm on the exam day.

“प्रीलिम्स डी-डे का गेम है। उस दिन शांत रहना और अपने कंट्रोल में रहने वाले फैक्टर्स को संभालना बहुत जरूरी है।”

How Priya Handled Failures and Self-Doubt

After several unsuccessful attempts, Priya admitted she sometimes felt she was not meant for the exam.

However, instead of quitting, she reminded herself of the effort she had already invested.

She shared an important realization:

“इतना सब कुछ इस जर्नी को दे दिया है तो एक अटेम्प्ट और दे ही देते हैं। इसे बीच में क्यों छोड़ना?”

That final attempt ultimately changed her life.

Priya Singh Chauhan on Physics Wallah (PW) Study Platform

Priya also spoke about the role of the right guidance and structured preparation during the journey.

She acknowledged the usefulness of the platform and said:

“PW एक अच्छा प्लेटफॉर्म है तैयारी के लिए। यहाँ कंटेंट बहुत स्ट्रक्चर्ड है और स्टूडेंट्स को सही दिशा मिलती है।”

Many aspirants benefit from such structured learning environments while preparing for competitive exams like UPSC.

Life After UPSC Success

After years of continuous preparation, Priya now wants to do something she couldn’t do earlier.

Explore UPSC Prarambh Course

Explore UPSC Prarambh Course

She revealed:

“मुझे ट्रैवल करना बहुत पसंद है और अभी तक तैयारी और जॉब की वजह से मुझे मौका नहीं मिला। अब मैं ट्रैवल करना चाहती हूँ।”

Travel is her way of celebrating the end of a long and challenging journey.

Key Lessons From Priya Singh Chauhan’s UPSC Journey

Priya’s success story offers several valuable lessons for UPSC aspirants:

1. Prelims failures do not define your final result.
2. Consistency and revision are more important than multiple sources.
3. Daily answer writing improves Mains performance.
4. Family support and emotional stability play a huge role.
5. One successful attempt can change everything.

Her story proves that perseverance, discipline, and belief in oneself can eventually lead to success.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

DOWNLOAD PDF