Success Story: She failed Class 5, missed UPSC 3 times, then became an IAS officer at just 24. india news

Last updated:15 July 2026, 14:51 IST

IAS officer Neha Byadwal failed Class 5 after struggling to adjust to her new school. She missed UPSC in her first three attempts. He achieved AIR 569 in his fourth attempt

Every year, lakhs of aspirants dream of cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination, which is widely considered to be one of the toughest competitive examinations in India. While many people give up after repeated failures, IAS officer Neha Byadwal decided to persevere.

From failing Class 5 after struggling to adapt to a new school and language to failing UPSC in his first three attempts, his journey is a reminder that setbacks do not always define the final outcome. In her fourth attempt, she achieved All India Rank (AIR) 569 in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2021 and became an IAS officer at the age of just 24.

Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Neha spent most of her childhood moving from one city to another due to her father’s job in the Income Tax Department. He studied in Jaipur, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Korba and Raipur, changing schools frequently and adjusting to the new environment.

One of those changes proved particularly difficult. After going to an English medium school, she struggled with the language and failed in Class 5. Instead of going back to her previous school, she decided to work hard and overcome the challenge.

From university topper to UPSC aspirant

Neha gradually regained her confidence and excelled academically. She later became a university topper, which strengthened her belief that initial failures could be overcome with consistent effort. Encouraged by his family, he decided to prepare for the Civil Services Examination.

three attempts, three failures

Success does not come easily. Neha was unable to clear the preliminary exam in her first two attempts. In her third attempt, she passed the prelims but could not clear the main examination. While many candidates stopped there, they took every failure as an opportunity to identify the weaknesses in their preparation.

Neha has often credited her family for helping her stay motivated during those difficult years. He has said that their encouragement prevented him from losing confidence after each failed attempt.

Instead of letting failure discourage him, he focused on improving with every attempt.

A new strategy changed everything

After her third failed attempt, Neha completely changed her preparation strategy.

She stayed away from her mobile phone and social media for almost three years, dedicated more time to revision, mock tests and answer-writing practice and systematically worked on improving her weak areas.

How did his younger brother help?

One of the lesser known aspects of his preparation involved his younger brother. Using a simple stopwatch, he helped her practice writing answers within a strict time limit. This practice significantly improved his speed and time management – ​​two important skills for the UPSC Mains exam.

success in fourth attempt

Ultimately his persistence paid off. In her fourth attempt, Neha scored AIR 569 in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2021 and joined the Gujarat cadre as an IAS officer at the age of just 24.

Recalling the day the results were declared, Neha said that she looked calm on the outside but was overwhelmed with emotions. Seeing the joy on his family’s faces made every setback worth it.

His advice to UPSC aspirants

Now serving as the Chief Development Officer (CDO) in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, Neha often tells UPSC aspirants that success is not determined by the number of hours spent studying, but by how effectively those hours are utilized.

He believes that disciplined planning, regular revision, answer-writing practice and consistency matter more than just studying for a long time. His journey from a child who once failed in Class 5 to becoming an IAS officer, continues to inspire thousands of civil services aspirants across the country.