Daijiworld Media Network – Ranchi

Ranchi, Apr 19: The UPSC 2024 results have brought immense pride to Ranchi as local lad Vaibhav Kumar secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 90 in his third attempt. A former bank manager who traded a lucrative corporate career for a life of public service, Vaibhav’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence and structured preparation.

The turning point

After completing his MBA, Vaibhav secured a position as a manager at Citibank in Mumbai. However, the allure of a corporate cabin could not overshadow his childhood dream of social impact. “I wanted to work directly with people and contribute to society. That’s why I decided to quit my job and dive into full-time preparation,” Vaibhav shared.

Persistence over two failures

Success did not come instantly. Vaibhav faced setbacks in his first two attempts but refused to give up. In his third attempt, he adopted a more balanced approach, focusing on stress management alongside rigorous study. His daily routine involved 10 to 12 hours of dedicated learning, typically starting at 6 am and concluding by 10 pm.

Strategy: Revision over resources

While many aspirants get lost in a sea of books, Vaibhav followed a "minimalist resource, maximalist revision" strategy. He emphasized that he did not rely on a vast library of textbooks. Instead, he meticulously converted complex topics into concise bulleted notes.

“I relied heavily on my own notes. I kept them brief and revised the same material 10 to 12 times rather than reading 10 different books,” he explained.

A family triumph

Vaibhav credits his family as his backbone throughout the grueling preparation phase. His father serves in the Revenue Department, while his mother is a homemaker and his sister is also professionally employed. “This isn’t just my victory; it belongs to my entire family who stood by me when the results didn't go my way in the previous years,” he added.