Twice he reached the UPSC interview. Twice he failed. On his third attempt, he secured AIR 602—and he’s still chasing his IAS dream

Deepak Baghel’s UPSC journey is a story of resilience and perseverance. After reaching the interview stage twice but missing the final merit list, the Madhya Pradesh graduate changed his preparation strategy under expert guidance. His efforts paid off with AIR 602 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025. Despite clearing one of India’s toughest exams, Deepak continues preparing to secure a higher rank and fulfil his dream of joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).