‘Your competition is with yourself’: Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav on clearing the UPSC exam

Clearing the UPSC examination is often compared to climbing Mount Everest, but for senior IAS officer and author Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav the real challenge lies not in defeating lakhs of others, but in mastering one’s own fears and doubts. At the session titled 'The Making of a Civil Servant', held as part of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2026, Dr Yadav offered an honest and deeply human portrait of the civil services journey, focusing as much on emotional endurance as on preparation strategies.

An IAS officer currently serving as Additional Secretary to the Government of India, Dr Yadav traced his aspiration back to his rural childhood. "If there was a land dispute, a pension issue, or irrigation problem, people would say go to the Collector. That idea of being someone who could solve people’s problems deeply inspired me," he recalled, emphasising that civil services remain one of the rare fields where transparency and merit allow students from farmers’ families, small towns, and modest backgrounds to rise to national responsibility.

Challenging the widespread belief that coaching institutes are essential, Dr Yadav argued that aspirants often lose valuable time in travel and passive classroom learning. He encouraged students to rely on self study, limited and reliable sources, online lectures only for difficult topics, and rigorous mock tests and answer writing practice.

"This journey cannot be sustained by peer pressure or parental pressure. It has to come from within. Otherwise, no one can work this hard for 3 to 4 years," he said, stressing the importance of internal motivation over external expectations.

One of the most striking parts of the discussion was his candid acknowledgment of the mental health struggles that accompany preparation. Anxiety, loss of confidence, and even depression are common, he noted, though rarely discussed openly.

Pointing out that of nearly 12 lakh applicants, only about half appear for the preliminary exam, he said many withdraw due to fear and self-doubt. "The difference between successful and unsuccessful candidates is often the ability to overcome feelings of failure and rebuild confidence," he said, adding, "Your competition is not with 12 lakh people. Your competition is with yourself."

Drawing from his book 'Scaling Mount UPSC: Inspiring Stories of Young IAS Officers' documenting civil servants’ journeys, Dr Yadav shared stories of extraordinary resilience, including that of Anjali Sharma, who lost her eyesight at 16 due to illness but later cleared the examination with the help of audio learning and scribes.

He also spoke of an IIT graduate who left a high paying job in the United States in search of meaning beyond comfort and eventually succeeded in UPSC. He said that these journeys, show that calling and conviction differ for each individual.

Demystifying the personality test, Dr Yadav reassured aspirants that the interview panel does not expect encyclopedic knowledge. "They are not testing your knowledge. They are testing honesty, clarity of thought, balance, and values."

He also highlighted the importance of a strong support system and strict discipline, noting that many candidates balance jobs, children, and preparation, often sacrificing social life for years. Even for those who do not clear the exam, he maintained that the preparation process builds knowledge, communication skills, analytical ability, and discipline in any career, advising serious aspirants to make three or four focused attempts rather than drifting indefinitely.

What emerged from this engaging session at MBIFL was more than just an exam strategy; it was a reminder that the making of a civil servant begins long before results are declared, in the quiet inner battle to keep faith when doubt feels louder than ambition.