The Power of Persistence: Abhijeet Sirohi’s Triumph in Civil Services

February 14, 2024

3 Minutes

“क्या हार में क्या जीत में किंचित नहीं भयभीत मैं
  संघर्ष पथ पर जो मिले यह भी सही वह भी सही ।”

During every challenge and hardship, there are always a few lines of poetry that keep us going. For Abhijeet Sirohi, this was a special poem by Atal Bihari Vajpayee that was like the light in the dark. In his moments of self-doubt, these words became the motivation that pushed him towards achieving an All India Rank of 215 in the UPSC 2022 exam. 

Early Inspirations

Abhijeet grew up in a place near Karol Bagh, close to Usha Institute, a hub for UPSC preparation in Old Rajinder Nagar. He was born into a middle-class family where his parents, alongside his brother and sister, are all government servants. This sparked interest in serving the country. He shares that even as a child when he saw traffic violations, he felt a strong sense of justice. This spirit of wanting to make a difference was always there, and now, instead of intervening with a bicycle, he aims to do so as an IAS officer, maintaining the same zeal. He graduated with English Literature in 2016 from Hansraj College, Delhi University. 

Facing Failures

After his graduation, Abhijeet decided to chase his dream of becoming a civil servant. He joined a coaching center ‘Vajiram and Ravi’ for a year to prepare for the UPSC exams. He began his UPSC journey in 2017, straight out of college, without much preparation for the prelims, thinking it wouldn’t take more than two or three years to clear the exams. He failed miserably in his first attempt. 

Turning Point in Preparation

The years 2018 and 2019 brought more challenges. In 2019, he faced disappointment again. He did not score as well as he hoped and missed getting to the interview stage by just 19 points. It was a difficult phase of his life. He realised that the main reason for his failure was he needed to practice answer writing. He says content is important but the art of writing, and the way of presenting is as important. It took a year of self-study and the peaceful environment of a library to realize the value of being around like-minded individuals. During this period, his choice of optional subjects and his approach toward preparation underwent significant changes. Support from his family, who understood the challenges of competitive exams, was important. He realized the privilege of having a supportive family that allowed him to focus on his studies without financial worries.

Success and Disappointment: Aiming Higher

The turning point came in 2020 when he secured an All India Rank of 302, earning a position in the Indian Defence Service. But Abhijeet did not stop there. He aspired for more.  He joined the services but wanted to appear for the exam again. Balancing between work and preparing for the exam seemed like a difficult task. To save time, he used to convert his notes into audio files so that he could listen to them while he was traveling to work. In 2022, Abhijeet’s hard work finally shone through when he secured an impressive All India Rank of 215. He is currently serving as Joint CEO of the Delhi Cantonment Council. He is a living example of what dedication, persistence, and a strong desire to serve the country can look like. 

Conclusion

Abhijeet Sirohi’s path to success in the UPSC exams is a story of unwavering determination and hard work. He overcame several failures and improved his preparation strategy throughout. Despite initial setbacks and the challenge of balancing work with studies, he achieved an All India Rank of 215 in 2022. Abhijeet exemplifies the impact of persistence and dedication in reaching one’s goals.