‘There’s just one formula for success…’: Farmer’s daughter clears UPSC exam, shares her winning mantra

Success rarely comes easy, but what makes it happen is determination and will power, and UPSC rank holder Prachi Kumari’s success story reflects the same. Hailing from Jauhad village in Vidisha district, Prachi Chauhan, a farmer, secured an impressive AIR 260 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. With her rank, she became the Hindi medium topper in what is considered one of India's toughest examinations. Now Prachi’s journey has become an inspiration for thousands of aspirants who’re preparing for the examination.

Prachi’s father, Chandrabhan Singh Chauhan, is a farmer, while her mother, Sadhna Singh Chauhan, is a homemaker. She completed her early education in her village and later pursued graduation from a government college in Vidisha.
Prachi first decided to prepare for UPSC when she was in her BSc second year. What makes her story even more compelling is that for a long time, Prachi wasn’t aware of the details of civil services. She came across the details during her visits to government offices, where she observed that the important duties were handled by the collector. From there, something sparked the inspiration in her.

Prachi, the eldest among five siblings, also faced financial struggles during her preparation and relied largely on self-study and online courses. After clearing prelims in her fourth attempt, she moved to Delhi to prepare for the mains examination and interview.

While speaking to Drishti IAS, Prachi Chauhan shared that the biggest secret behind her success was “constant hardwork.” Reflecting on her UPSC journey, she said, “Fourth attempt hai, bohot ups and downs dekhe,” highlighting the struggles she faced before finally achieving success. In another interview with The News Pinch, Prachi encouraged aspirants not to fear failure. According to her, “Failure is a part of life. It gives us a chance to work on our mistakes.”

Prachi also spoke emotionally about the role her parents played throughout her preparation journey. She shared, “Agar aapke mummy papa kehte hain ki aap mein vishwas hai ki aap karloge, toh lagta hai ki unhe humpe itna vishwas… agar hum nahi bhi kar sakte naa toh bhi kar lenge unke liye.” Calling her mother her biggest strength, she added, “Puri taiyari mein mummy meri backbone thi.”