Friday, 3 July 2026 MUMBAI EDITION LIVE

IAS officer cracked UPSC after failing 35 government exams

Vijay Vardhan's persistence paid off after years of setbacks. He failed 35 competitive exams before becoming an IPS officer in 2018 and later an IAS officer in 2021, inspiring thousands of exam aspirants across India.

Arjun Verma
Arjun Verma
News Desk · Fri, 03 July 2026 at 12:16 pm
IAS officer cracked UPSC after failing 35 government exams

An Indian Administrative Service officer's remarkable story of resilience has become an inspiration for thousands of civil service aspirants across the country. Vijay Vardhan achieved his dream of joining the Indian bureaucracy only after enduring repeated failures in government entrance examinations, eventually clearing the UPSC examination with a commendable rank.

Vardhan's journey began with disappointment after disappointment. He appeared for 35 different government competitive exams before finally securing success. His early attempts at cracking prestigious examinations like the UPSC ended in failure multiple times, testing his determination and mental strength. However, instead of abandoning his aspirations, he chose to learn from each setback and refine his preparation strategy.

In 2018, Vardhan's persistence yielded its first major success when he cleared the UPSC examination and was selected as an Indian Police Service officer. But his ambition did not stop there. Three years later, in 2021, he cracked the UPSC examination once again, this time securing a position in the Indian Administrative Service with an impressive rank. This remarkable achievement positioned him among India's most elite civil servants, responsible for policy implementation and administrative governance at the highest levels.

Vardhan's story holds profound significance for India's competitive exam landscape, where millions of aspirants attempt UPSC and other government entrance tests annually. Most candidates struggle with the intense pressure, limited success rates, and years of preparation required to clear these examinations. His experience demonstrates that failure is not final and that consistent effort, combined with strategic planning and emotional resilience, can eventually lead to success.

For exam aspirants facing rejection and discouragement, Vardhan's example provides hope that persistence matters more than quick success. His journey from repeated failures to becoming both an IPS and IAS officer serves as a powerful reminder that the path to civil service is rarely straightforward, but determination can ultimately triumph over obstacles.

Source: TOI India

X Facebook Telegram
Read the original report ↗

More in all

Deepti Sharma Sees Dhoni's Calm in Djokovic's Championship Mentality all

Deepti Sharma Sees Dhoni's Calm in Djokovic's Championship Mentality

Indian cricketer draws striking parallels between MS Dhoni and tennis legend Novak Djokovic's pressure-handling prowess.

By Divya Rao · Just now

Centre flags username feature as cybercrime risk in messaging apps all

Centre flags username feature as cybercrime risk in messaging apps

Government issues notices to WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal over anonymous username functionality.

By Imran Qureshi · Just now

Shreyas Iyer's Bold Batting Call Against England Rooted in Ireland Lessons all

Shreyas Iyer's Bold Batting Call Against England Rooted in Ireland Lessons

Dinesh Karthik explains India's surprising bat-first decision in England T20I amid overcast skies.

By Imran Qureshi · 15 min ago

Hyderabad Woman's Death During Video Call Raises Urgent Mental Health Concerns all

Hyderabad Woman's Death During Video Call Raises Urgent Mental Health Concerns

Woman dies by suicide during late-night video call with friend in tragic incident.

By Sameer Joshi · 15 min ago