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Prakhar started UPSC preparation from zero in 2023 and chose online learning with PW after exploring offline coaching in Delhi. What changed his preparation from simply studying to building an exam-focused routine? His journey to AIR 787 explains it.
Prakhar secured AIR 787 in UPSC after around two and a half years of preparation. After completing his graduation, he explored offline coaching in Delhi but eventually chose to prepare online with PW, starting his focused preparation from zero in 2023.
His journey was built around a structured routine, regular practice, answer writing, tests, and mentorship. Along the way, he also had to figure out how to make online preparation work for an exam as demanding as UPSC.
Prakhar’s interest in UPSC began during graduation. While pursuing his BSc during the lockdown, he started reading newspapers to understand the exam, but initially struggled to identify what was relevant.
“To graduation ke time mein jaise us time jo common cheez hoti thi ki kisi ko bhi poochho ki newspaper padhna hai — to maine newspaper padhna start kiya. Lekin usme bhi mujhe 3 ghante lag jaate the aur samajh mein bhi nahi aata tha kaunsi cheezein important hai kaunsi nahi.”
Editorial analysis helped him understand current affairs and their connection with the UPSC syllabus. His focused preparation began in 2023, and he made it clear that he was starting from zero.
“Nahi nahi, online course se pehle nahi taiyaar — bilkul zero se shuruaat ki hai.”
After graduation, he travelled to Delhi to explore offline coaching but found that its cost and environment did not suit his circumstances. He returned home and chose online preparation with PW, enrolling in the PW Foundation batch in 2023. His familiarity with PW’s free Physics lectures from Class 12 also gave him confidence in the platform.
Once Prakhar joined the PW Foundation batch, his preparation became more structured. He did not rely only on attending lectures. He combined classes with DPPs, answer writing, current affairs, and tests.
He specifically remembered different PW teachers for different subjects. Rishabh Sir’s CSAT classes helped him understand questions through step-by-step solutions, while Deependra Sir’s Geography classes helped him connect knowledge with the skills required for Mains.
“Bilkul sir, bilkul sir, jaise-jaise yahan pe main aaya to yahan pe 2023 mein kya hua sir ki CSAT ka paper bahut tough aaya tha, bahut zyada tough — CSAT ko leke, aur maine idhar aa jaiye — pehla hi lecture sir jab maine Rishabh sir ka dekha, CSAT subject samjhaaiye inko pehle, aap CSAT hi samjhaao — yes sir, jab pehla lecture Rishabh sir ka dekha to ekdum wo feel aa gaya ki yaar ye bilkul waisi hi baatein kar rahe hain jaise mujhe samajhne ki aadat hai, aur teachers bhi — Rishabh sir even question right karke ekdum answer uska proper step-by-step karte the — to CSAT sir wahan se padha maine.”
His experience was not limited to CSAT. He also studied Economy with Rishabh Sir and used the Prelims Booster sessions for current affairs. For Geography, he credited Deependra Sir with helping him understand the answer-writing side of UPSC. He also mentioned Devendra Sir’s story-based approach to History and Shivam Sir’s Science and Tech current affairs sessions.
The lectures were supported by regular practice. Prakhar followed a routine where he attended classes, completed DPPs, practised Mains answers, and then dedicated a separate study slot to his optional subject.
He also made weekly tests a regular part of his preparation instead of treating them as optional.
Online preparation gave Prakhar flexibility, but he knew that flexibility could only work if he remained accountable.
He created a dedicated study environment at a library and followed a fixed routine. His day included editorial reading, live classes, DPPs, answer writing, optional-subject preparation, and weekly tests.
For him, the most important part was not the number of hours studied but the honesty with which he followed his routine.
“Sir mere ko pata hai ki exam mujhe likhna hai, imaandari mujhe khud se karni hai. To sabse badi baat ye hai ki agar aaj main test se bhaagunga to main real exam ke din bhi bhaagunga hi, kyunki yahan pe aisa hai na UPSC mein attempt count hota hai.”
This approach helped him take online tests seriously. Rather than judging his preparation only through test scores, he used them to identify mistakes and improve before the actual examination.
His preparation also challenged the idea that UPSC aspirants must study for extremely long hours every day. Instead of chasing long study hours, Prakhar focused on using his available time effectively and maintaining the consistency needed for a long examination cycle.
After clearing Prelims, Prakhar continued his preparation with PW through the Srijan Mains Program.
This phase came with a personal challenge. Due to family circumstances related to his father’s health, he was unable to write the tests during that period. However, he still tried to get feedback on his answer writing.
He sent one of his answer copies to his mentor, Rohit Sir, and asked him to identify areas for improvement before the Mains examination.
“Maine apne jo mentor the Rohit sir, unko ek copy bheji — ek copy likh ke 31 August ko, 20 September ko mera Mains ka exam tha, aur maine bola sir ye copy check karaane mein mujhe ek hafta lag jaayega aur aap is copy ko dekh lo, aap jo bhi improvement bataoge main kar loonga, aur unhone wo improvement bataayi aur maine wahi jaake real exam mein wo kiya, aur sir 424 number aaye the mere GS mein…”
For Prakhar, this experience showed how personalised feedback could make a difference during the Mains stage. The mentorship was not simply about answering doubts. It helped him understand what needed to change in his written answers before the actual examination.
He also mentioned that mentoring sessions continued even after his batch had ended, which allowed students to continue receiving support during their preparation.
Prakhar’s journey eventually led to AIR 787 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination after around two and a half years of preparation.
His preparation combined several elements: the PW Foundation batch, subject-wise classes, DPPs, answer writing, Prelims Booster resources, regular tests, and later the Srijan Mains Program and mentorship.
Most importantly, he did not treat online learning as simply watching recorded or live classes. He built a routine around the resources and made tests and practice an integral part of his preparation.
His experience also changed his own perception of online UPSC preparation. Having initially travelled to Delhi to explore offline coaching, he ultimately completed his Foundation preparation online from Allahabad and continued with Mains preparation through PW.
Prakhar’s story is not about preparing for an extraordinary number of hours or having years of coaching experience before starting. He began his focused preparation from scratch in 2023, gradually understood the examination, chose an approach that suited his circumstances, and stayed consistent with it.
His journey from zero preparation to AIR 787 shows that aspirants can build their preparation step by step by understanding the exam, selecting suitable resources, practising regularly, taking feedback seriously, and staying accountable to themselves.
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