About Akshat Kaushal
Failed 5 Times in UPSC, Became an IPS After Just 17 Days of Preparation - Learn These 5 Powerful Lessons
Success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is often associated with years of uninterrupted preparation, multiple test series, and endless revisions. However, the journey of Akshat Kaushal, who secured AIR 55 in UPSC CSE 2017 and became an IPS officer, challenges this conventional belief.
After four failed attempts, Akshat Kaushal had almost given up on the UPSC dream. What makes his story extraordinary is that he cleared the exam in his fifth attempt with only 17 days of focused preparation. His journey is a powerful reminder that mental readiness, experience, and strategy often matter more than duration alone.
Brief Background of Akshat Kaushal
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Exam: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017
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Rank: AIR 55
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Service: Indian Police Service (IPS)
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Attempts: 5
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Preparation before final attempt: 17 days
After repeated failures, Akshat stepped away from UPSC preparation. However, a chance meeting with friends just weeks before the exam reignited his confidence and motivation, prompting him to attempt the exam once again.
How 17 Days Became Enough
It is important to understand that Akshat Kaushal did not start from zero. His earlier years of preparation had already built:
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Conceptual clarity
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Familiarity with the syllabus
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Understanding of exam demands
The final 17 days were used not for learning new material, but for revision, mental alignment, and execution.
5 Key Lessons from Akshat Kaushal’s UPSC Journey
1. Failure Is Feedback, Not a Verdict
Failing four times did not mean Akshat lacked ability. Each failure refined his understanding of:
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UPSC expectations
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His own strengths and weaknesses
Lesson: Repeated failure does not disqualify you—it prepares you.
2. Experience Compounds Quietly
Years of preparation do not disappear just because results don’t show immediately. Akshat’s previous attempts ensured that:
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Concepts were already internalised
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Syllabus familiarity was high
Lesson: Past efforts accumulate silently and pay off unexpectedly.
3. Mental Readiness Matters More Than Time
During his final attempt, Akshat was:
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Calm
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Confident
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Free from exam anxiety
This mental clarity allowed him to write better answers and make sharper decisions.
Lesson: A stable mindset can outperform long but stressed preparation.
4. Revision Beats New Reading
In the final 17 days, Akshat focused on:
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Revising what he already knew
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Avoiding new sources
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Strengthening confidence in core areas
Lesson: At the final stage, depth beats breadth.
5. Never Self-Eliminate
After four failures, Akshat could have permanently walked away. Instead, he gave himself one more honest chance—and that made all the difference.
Lesson: UPSC defeats many aspirants not by difficulty, but by discouragement.
What Aspirants Should Learn from This Story
Akshat Kaushal’s journey does not suggest that UPSC can be cleared casually. Instead, it proves that:
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Consistency over years builds readiness
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Mindset decides performance
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Never underestimate the value of one last attempt
For aspirants struggling with repeated failures, his story stands as a reminder that the line between failure and success can be very thin.
Final Takeaway
UPSC is not just a test of knowledge—it is a test of resilience, patience, and belief. Akshat Kaushal’s success shows that even after multiple setbacks, one focused attempt can change everything.
If you are standing at the edge of giving up, remember:
your best attempt may still be ahead of you.
