Dear Friend,
\nI begin by congratulating those who have made their mark in the UPSC CSE 2025-26 results announced on March 6, 2026. It’s no small feat to secure a place of pride among the 958 successful candidates out of over 5.7 lakh who appeared for one of the toughest examinations in the country. They are the shining stars who have worked hard, devoted themselves to their goal patiently and perseveringly, happily made every sacrifice they had to, and endured all the pain cheerfully to reach their desired destination. It’s a dream come true for them. They all deserve fulsome praise and congratulations as they have collectively emerged as a lighthouse, a guiding path, and a beacon of hope for lakhs of others whose eyes are lit by the dream of becoming an IAS Officer.
\nBut my special words are for those who could not make it to the list of selected candidates this year. When you look at the list of successful candidates and do not find your name in it, I know the silence feels heavy. The mind questions everything: Was my effort enough? Did I miss something crucial? Is this the end of the road? Let me assure you\u2014it is not the end. It is a bend, a pause, a moment of reflection before the next stride forward. Your journey matters, even if the result did not turn out as you hoped this year. The UPSC CSE is not just an exam\u2014it is a test of resilience, patience, and character. To have walked this path, to have prepared with discipline, and to have dared to dream of serving the nation through its most prestigious service, is itself a mark of courage.
\nInstead of seeing this as a defeat, see it as a mirror. This year’s outcome is telling you something important. Perhaps your strategy needs refinement\u2014more focus on answer-writing, time management, or current affairs integration. Perhaps your mindset needs balance\u2014less stress, more confidence, and better emotional regulation. Perhaps your resources need recalibration\u2014choosing the right test series, mentors, or study techniques.
\nEvery setback carries within it the seed of a comeback. The toppers of CSE 2025-26 carry an inspiration for you. Most of them achieved their coveted success only after multiple failed attempts. The topper, Mr. Anuj Agnihotri, AIR 1, did it in his third attempt. The topper among women, Ms. Rajeshwari Suve M., took five attempts to finally achieve AIR 2. The same goes for Mr. Akansh Dhull, AIR 3, who took three attempts to reach where he is today. When you read the success stories of these toppers in this issue of CSR, you will find that the earlier failed attempts only reinforced their will to reach the goal. What separates them from the rest is not luck, but persistence. They refused to let one result define their worth. They treated failure as feedback, not as a verdict.
\nYou can easily take some practical steps forward. First, reflect, do not regret. Write down what worked well in your preparation and what didn’t, just as Ms. Zinnia Aurora, AIR 6, did. She analysed her marks from the previous attempt and improved upon the gaps after meticulously identifying them. Such an honest self-assessment will be your compass for the next attempt. Second, seek guidance. Talk to mentors, seniors, or peers who cleared the exam. Their insights can help you identify blind spots in your preparation. Third, rebuild your routine. Discipline is your greatest ally. Create a fresh timetable that balances revision, practice, and rest. Remember, consistency beats intensity.
\nFourth, strengthen your writing skills. UPSC rewards clarity, structure and originality. Practise daily answer-writing. Treat every question as an opportunity to sharpen your articulation. The example of Mr. Raghav Jhunjhunwala, AIR 4, will serve you better. He cracked the exam in his third attempt. What he did was “improving a lot in Mains”. \u201cI used current affairs, data, facts, examples, and especially case studies in my answers to make them multi-dimensional\u201d, he explained. Last but not least, stay connected with your purpose. Remind yourself why you started this journey. Was it to serve society, to bring change, to honour your family’s dreams? That purpose is still alive\u2014it did not vanish with one result.
\nRemember, if you can rise after this, you will carry a strength that no exam can measure. Civil Servants are expected to handle crises, setbacks and challenges with composure. Isn’t this experience already shaping you into that very person? So, take heart. The road is long, but your spirit is strong. The next attempt is waiting, and so is your destiny.
\nWith these words, I wish you the best in all your endeavours,<\/p>\n
Yours sincerely,
\nSurendra Kumar Sachdeva<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Friend, I begin by congratulating those who have made their mark in the UPSC CSE 2025-26 results announced on March 6, 2026. It’s no small feat to secure a place of pride among the 958 successful candidates out of over 5.7 lakh who appeared for one of the toughest examinations in the country. They […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2156"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2157,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2156\/revisions\/2157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.competitionreview.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}