Meet This IAS Officer Who Went from an Average Student to UPSC
AIR 2
Success stories often begin with struggle, and
IAS officer Akshat Jain's
journey is no exception. Once an average student battling self-doubt and
academic pressure, he turned his failures into stepping stones, ultimately
securing All India Rank 2
in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Today, he serves as the CEO of the Zila Panchayat Office in
Betul, Madhya Pradesh, proving that resilience and
determination can reshape destinies.
A Childhood Marked by Pressure and Self-Doubt
Born into a family of high achievers—his father D.C. Jain an IPS officer and his
mother Simmi Jain
an IRS officer—expectations
always loomed over Akshat. Success seemed like a given, but his academic
journey was anything but smooth.
Throughout his school years, Akshat struggled
with self-doubt. While he wasn’t a weak student, he never considered himself
exceptional. The turning point came in high school when he scored unexpectedly
high marks. For the first time, he realized that he was capable of achieving something big.
However, the real challenge began in 11th and 12th grade when
he joined JEE coaching
with dreams of becoming an engineer. Despite putting in relentless effort, his
performance failed to improve. His teachers and even his parents began to lose
hope. One teacher bluntly told his father that if Akshat even managed a 20,000 rank in JEE, it
would be an achievement. These words crushed him, but instead of breaking down,
he made a decision that changed his life.
The JEE Breakthrough: Overcoming Mental
Barriers
Tired of the pressure and the fear of failure,
Akshat made a firm decision—to stop
overthinking and start focusing. He let go of his fear of
results and dedicated himself
entirely to the present. The change in mindset worked wonders.
With newfound confidence, he passed his 12th grade from India
International School, Jaipur, with 94% marks. Determined to
clear JEE, he gave his best effort and secured a rank of around 4,000,
earning admission to IIT
Guwahati. Though it wasn't the top rank he had aimed for, it
was a victory over self-doubt and external expectations.
The UPSC Challenge: Learning from Failure to
Achieve AIR 2
After completing his engineering, Akshat set
his sights on the UPSC Civil Services
Examination. His first attempt in 2017 was half-hearted,
with only three months of
preparation. He missed the cut-off by just two marks, a painful yet
valuable lesson. Instead of getting discouraged, he treated it as a learning
experience.
The next year, he gave his 100% effort.
Every failure, every past disappointment, and every moment of self-doubt fueled
his preparation. In 2018,
he not only cleared UPSC but secured an All India Rank of 2.
The moment of triumph was surreal. He had always believed he could crack the
exam, but securing the second
rank in India was beyond his wildest dreams.
From an Average Student to a Respected IAS
Officer
Today, IAS
Akshat Jain serves as the CEO of the Zila Panchayat Office in
Betul, Madhya Pradesh. His journey is a testament to the fact
that:
- Your past failures do not define your
future success.
- The right mindset and perseverance can
turn the tide in your favor.
- Success is not about being the best from
the start, but about pushing through obstacles.
Akshat’s story is an inspiration for every student struggling with self-doubt. He wasn’t a topper from the beginning, but he became one when it mattered the most. His journey proves that success doesn’t come easy, but when it does, it makes every struggle worthwhile.
