Success Story: She Failed Class 5, Missed UPSC 3 Times, Then Became An IAS Officer At Just 24

Published 15 July 2026 · local

Success Story: She Failed Class 5, Missed UPSC 3 Times, Then Became An IAS Officer At Just 24 Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026

Success Story: She Failed Class 5, Missed UPSC 3 Times, Then Became An IAS Officer At Just 24 Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 14:51 IST IAS officer Neha Byadwal failed Class 5 after struggling to adapt to a new school. She missed the UPSC in her first three attempts. In her fourth attempt, she secured AIR 569 Rapid Read Neha gradually rebuilt her confidence and excelled academically. She later became a university topper, reinforcing her belief that consistent effort could overcome early failures. Every year, lakhs of aspirants dream of clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination, widely regarded as one of India’s toughest competitive exams. While many give up after repeated setbacks, IAS officer Neha Byadwal chose to persevere. From failing Class 5 after struggling to adapt to a new school and language to missing the UPSC in her first three attempts, her journey is a reminder that setbacks do not always define the final outcome. In her fourth attempt, she secured All India Rank (AIR) 569 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 and became an IAS officer at the age of just 24. Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Neha spent much of her childhood moving from one city to another because of her father’s job in the Income Tax Department.

She studied in Jaipur, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Korba and Raipur, frequently changing schools and adjusting to new environments. One of those transitions proved particularly difficult. After moving to an English-medium school, she struggled with the language and failed Class 5. Instead of switching back to her previous school, she decided to work harder and overcome the challenge. From University Topper To UPSC Aspirant Neha gradually rebuilt her confidence and excelled academically. She later became a university topper, reinforcing her belief that consistent effort could overcome early failures. Encouraged by her family, she decided to prepare for the civil services examination. Three Attempts, Three Setbacks Success did not come easily. Neha was unable to clear the Preliminary examination in her first two attempts. In her third attempt, she cleared the Prelims but did not make it through the Mains examination. While many aspirants would have stopped there, she treated every setback as an opportunity to identify weaknesses in her preparation. Neha has often credited her family for helping her stay motivated during those difficult years. She has said their encouragement prevented her from losing confidence after each unsuccessful attempt. Rather than allowing failure to discourage her, she focused on improving with every attempt. A New Strategy Changed Everything Following her third unsuccessful attempt, Neha completely overhauled her preparation strategy.