Daijiworld Media Network - Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur, Jun 18: For thousands of UPSC aspirants across the country, the journey to success is often marked by uncertainty, failures, and moments of self-doubt. Raghav Jhunjhunwala’s remarkable achievement of securing All India Rank (AIR) 4 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and strategic preparation.
Hailing from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Raghav’s journey to one of the country’s most prestigious achievements was far from smooth. Born to Late Naveen Jhunjhunwala and Anju Devi Jhunjhunwala, he received unwavering support from his family throughout his academic journey. Following the loss of his father, his mother became his strongest pillar of support, encouraging him to pursue his dreams with determination.
Raghav displayed academic excellence from an early age. He completed his class 10 education from Delhi Public School International Garhan, Muzaffarpur, in 2017, securing a perfect 10 CGPA. In 2019, he completed his class 12 studies from G D Mother International School, Muzaffarpur, with an impressive score of 97.4 percent.
He then moved to Delhi to pursue a BA (Hons.) in Economics from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University. During his undergraduate years, he distinguished himself academically and was awarded the Charat Ram Gold Medal. He graduated in 2022 with an outstanding CGPA of 9.35.
Unlike many aspirants who begin preparing for the Civil Services Examination during college, Raghav started his UPSC preparation only after graduation. The path ahead proved challenging, requiring patience and continuous improvement.
His first attempt in UPSC CSE 2023 saw him reach the Mains Examination, but he could not progress to the Personality Test stage. In UPSC CSE 2024, he improved significantly by clearing the Mains Examination and appearing for the Personality Interview Test. However, he narrowly missed making it to the final selection list.
Many candidates would have been discouraged after such setbacks, but Raghav chose to learn from his experiences. Entering his third attempt in UPSC CSE 2025, he focused on identifying and correcting his weaknesses. The result was extraordinary—he secured AIR 4, emerging as one of the top achievers in the country.
Reflecting on his journey, Raghav admitted that he was uncertain about the outcome and had already begun planning for another attempt when the results were announced. The success came as a pleasant surprise.
A key factor behind his dramatic improvement was his strategic approach to preparation. While hard work remained constant, he realised that success required smarter planning. He identified Mains answer writing as his weak area and worked systematically to improve it. He enriched his answers with relevant data, committee recommendations, examples, and case studies, resulting in an increase of nearly 100 to 120 marks.
Raghav also highlighted the importance of solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs), which helped him understand the actual demands of the examination and align his preparation accordingly.
Interestingly, he believes that the biggest challenge in the UPSC journey is not the vast syllabus but finding the right guidance. According to him, identifying the right mentors and direction can significantly influence an aspirant’s chances of success.
His Personality Test was equally demanding, covering diverse subjects such as artificial intelligence, market regulation, and examination ethics. However, he approached the interview as a learning opportunity rather than a make-or-break event.
Drawing upon his academic background, Raghav chose economics as his optional subject for the UPSC Mains Examination. His strong foundation in Economics from SRCC played a crucial role in helping him excel in the optional papers, which carry significant weight in the final ranking.
At just 25 years of age, Raghav’s achievement has become an inspiration for countless aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination. His journey demonstrates that success is not always about avoiding failure but about learning from each setback and returning stronger.
His message to aspirants is simple yet profound: “Hard work is non-negotiable, but smart work is equally important.”
Raghav Jhunjhunwala’s story proves that determination, adaptability, and the willingness to improve can transform setbacks into stepping stones. From missing out in earlier attempts to securing AIR 4, his journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the difference between ‘almost’ and extraordinary success lies not in effort alone, but in the direction in which that effort is applied.