Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 16: Kiran P B, a 32-year-old engineer from Thiruvananthapuram, has cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 in his fifth and final attempt — all while continuing his full-time job at Oracle. Remarkably, he topped the personality test (interview round), sharing the highest score with fellow candidate Ashutosh Kumar.

Kiran, who served as a principal applications engineer for nearly a decade, never quit his job during his UPSC journey. Instead, he relied on disciplined time management and a balanced work-life approach to chase his civil services dream.

Speaking about his path to success, Kiran said he kept his preparation minimalistic, focusing only on essential study material. "Smart work mattered more than hard work," he said, adding that his routine involved studying before and after office hours and utilising weekends efficiently. His optional subject was Public Administration.

His UPSC journey began in 2017. Despite a poor first attempt due to lack of preparation, he kept going. In his second attempt, he couldn’t clear the prelims; in the third, he cleared prelims but fell short in the mains. His fourth attempt was derailed by health issues during the pandemic. Finally, in 2021 — his last eligible attempt due to age — he made it to the final list, with the highest interview marks.

Kiran attributed his success in the personality test to two main strategies: in-depth analysis of his Detailed Application Form (DAF) and attending multiple mock interviews. He anticipated and prepared for questions related to his decade-long corporate experience and Public Administration background. One of the panel questions asked if start-up principles could be applied to governance — a discussion he said he handled confidently by drawing from his professional insights.

“Presence of mind and composure matter as much as knowledge,” Kiran shared. “You don’t have to answer every question. It’s okay to admit when you don’t know something.”

For other aspirants, especially working professionals, he advises maintaining a clear timetable, setting daily targets, staying updated through news, and having a backup plan. “Having my job as a safety net kept me mentally secure and helped manage stress,” he said.

Kiran's journey stands out not only for his persistence but also for proving that a full-time job need not be a barrier to cracking one of India’s toughest exams.