Daijiworld Media Network – Muzaffarpur

Muzaffarpur, Oct 11: Success rarely comes overnight, and for Prachi Honey, who secured the 28th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, the journey was fraught with repeated failures, shattered confidence, and sleepless nights. Today, her resilience stands as an inspiration for countless aspirants navigating the gruelling path of competitive exams.

Hailing from Padav Pokhar Lane 4B in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, Prachi grew up in an academic environment. With her father serving as a school principal and her mother as a teacher, education was always a priority. Prachi grew up listening to her father’s unfulfilled dream of becoming an IAS officer, which eventually became her own life's ambition.

After completing her schooling in Muzaffarpur, she moved to Delhi for higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Kalindi College, Delhi University. She began her UPSC preparation during her college years, opting for Geography as her optional subject.

However, the journey was anything but easy. It took Prachi four years and four attempts to crack the examination. In her first three attempts, she failed to clear even the preliminary stage. The repeated setbacks took a severe toll on her mental health.

"When I failed my second and third attempts, I was deeply disturbed. It felt like nothing was left, and my confidence was completely shattered. I started overthinking so much that I suffered from insomnia and had to take sleeping pills upon a doctor's advice," Prachi shared in a recent interview, adding that she used the medication only temporarily under strict medical supervision.

During her lowest phases, she drew inspiration from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's famous poem, 'Rashmirathi', which motivated her to keep fighting. Instead of giving up, she identified her shortcomings, altered her preparation strategy, and continued her hard work.

A major turning point arrived when she secured the 92nd rank in the 69th BPSC examination. Though she chose not to join the state services to keep her focus solely on the UPSC, the result restored her lost confidence. Approaching her fourth UPSC attempt in 2025 with a relaxed mindset, she successfully cleared the prelims, mains, and interview, securing an impressive 28th rank at the all-India level.

Reflecting on her journey, Prachi outlined four crucial mistakes that UPSC aspirants must avoid:

• Superficial use of PYQs: Do not merely skim through Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers. Aspirants must deeply analyse the patterns, themes, and logic behind the questions asked by the UPSC.

• Losing self-confidence: Despite knowing the syllabus, Prachi began doubting herself after three failures. She advises aspirants to trust their preparation entirely; otherwise, a lack of confidence will cause them to succumb to pressure inside the examination hall.

• Not having a 'Plan B': Having a backup plan is vital for mental peace. Clearing the BPSC exam gave Prachi the validation she needed, allowing her to face her fourth UPSC attempt with a calm and relaxed mind.

• Ignoring physical and mental health: Studying should not come at the cost of well-being. Prachi strongly advocates staying in touch with family and friends, openly sharing feelings, and maintaining a journal to manage stress effectively.