After years of facing multiple setbacks in UPSC Civil Services preparation and the Services Selection Board (SSB) process, Pankaj has successfully cleared the UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant examination with AIR 196 and is set to join as an Assistant Commandant.
However, achieving his dreams has never been easy for him. While he was in Class 9, at the age of 14, he lost his father due to a sudden heart attack. His family, which includes his mother and his five elder sisters, mostly depended on farming to meet their daily needs.
Shifting to Delhi for Competitive Exam Preparation
Pankaj hails from a village, Padampur, near the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand border. His family owned nearly four acres of land, with part of it used to grow food and the remaining portion rented out to generate some income.
After he lost his father in 2016, farming became the most important source of support for the family. His mother, who had never attended school, showed unwavering support to Pankaj’s dream to pursue education and build a different future.
Pankaj shifted to Delhi in 2021 and began his preparation for the competitive examinations. Due to financial setbacks, it was difficult for him to join coaching; therefore, he mostly depended on the available online resources, study material, and self-made notes.
He completed his graduation from Delhi University in 2023 as the topper of his batch.
Three UPSC Prelims Failures and Multiple SSB Setbacks
The first three attempts at the UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam for Pankaj were full of disappointment, and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) became the major challenge to overcome.
Along with this, he also appeared for defence-related examinations where he cleared both the examinations, CDS and AFCAT, four times in four attempts each, but his SSB journey was again full of setbacks.
Yet, every single time after facing failure, he returned to preparation and looked towards the next examination as another opportunity. Along with the setbacks he faced in the process, financial pressure and questions from people around him continued to add to the pressure. At one point, relatives even suggested that he return to his village if he could not succeed.
But Pankaj continued to rely on the belief that his efforts would eventually lead somewhere.
UPSC CAPF Success, But CSE Dream Continues
Pankaj has now cleared the UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant examination and is set to begin his career as an officer in the uniformed forces.
The achievement became significant for him because he wanted to become the first person from his region to clear a UPSC examination. His success also represents years of sacrifice made by his family to support his education.
After three unsuccessful attempts, Pankaj cleared the UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination on his fourth attempt and recently appeared for the Mains examination.
His journey is a testament that failure can only delay the dream but not necessarily have to end it or decide the destination. He refused to give up despite the continuous setbacks and showed up even on the hardest days. Coming from a small farming family to the threshold of becoming a CAPF Assistant Commandant is a reminder that persistence can turn repeated setbacks into another opportunity to move ahead in life.