Daijiworld Media Network – Bihar
Bihar, Oct 27: UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is regarded as one of the toughest exams in the world. Cracking it requires unmatched dedication, patience, and hard work. While lacs of aspirants dream of becoming IAS and IPS officers, only a handful manage to turn that dream into reality. Among them is Hemant Mishra, who proved that perseverance and consistency can overcome any number of failures. Despite facing three unsuccessful attempts, Hemant finally achieved his goal by securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 13 in UPSC CSE 2024.
Hailing from Bihar, Hemant Mishra always aspired to become an IAS officer. His journey, however, was far from easy. His father, Om Prakash Mishra, works as an Assistant Project Officer (APO) in the Bihar Education Department, and his mother is a teacher in a private school. Hemant’s younger brother, an IIT alumnus, currently works with Oracle Corporation in the United States.
Hemant completed his schooling up to Class 10 in Buxar and his Intermediate studies in Patna. Later, he moved to Delhi to pursue BA Honours and subsequently completed his Master’s in Geography from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2020. He later enrolled for a PhD program at Jamia Millia Islamia.
Hemant began preparing for the UPSC CSE in 2020 and appeared for his first attempt in 2021. Despite his best efforts, he was unsuccessful. In his next two attempts (2022 and 2023), he couldn’t clear the preliminary stage, which he considers the toughest among all three stages of the exam. However, instead of giving up, he took these failures as lessons and continued working hard. His persistence paid off in 2024, when he cracked the UPSC CSE with AIR 13.
After a few setbacks in UPSC, Hemant shifted focus to state civil service examinations. In his very first attempt at UPPCS-2022, he secured Rank 47 and was offered the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Yet, driven by his IAS dream, he chose not to join. In UPPCS 2023, he improved his rank significantly to 9th and was posted as a trainee Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he cleared the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exams twice, including the 68th BPSC exam.
Hemant candidly admitted that the preliminary exam was the most challenging stage for him. Managing both work and study was not easy for Hemant. A strong believer in self-study, Hemant followed a disciplined approach rooted in patience and self-improvement. Despite his busy schedule, he made sure to stay connected with his family and friends, which helped him stay mentally strong throughout his preparation.
He advises aspirants to view UPSC as just an exam rather than a life-or-death challenge. He also recommended that aspirants always have a backup plan (Plan B) to maintain balance and reduce stress.
Hemant Mishra’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. From facing three failures to securing AIR 13 in UPSC CSE 2024, his story reminds every aspirant that success is not about speed—it’s about persistence. His words echo a simple truth: There are no shortcuts; only consistent effort and belief can turn dreams into reality.