The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is probably the most difficult exam in all of India and lacs of aspirants are trying every year to clear it. One of such inspiring success stories is that of Ravi Kumar Sihag, who created a history by securing All India Rank (AIR) 18 in UPSC CSE 2021, by battling financial insolvency and studying in the Hindi medium. This is the story of perseverance, dedication and resilience.
Early Life and Education
Ravi was born on November 2, 1995, in Chak 3 B.M. in Sriganganagar of Rajasthan, and comes from a farming family. His father Ramkumar Sihag reportedly is a farmer, while his mother Vimla Devi is a homemaker. He has three elder sisters, all excelling in different fields.
Ravi completed his schooling at Saraswati Vidya Mandir and later at Anupgarh Sharda School. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Sharda College, Anupgarh, studying Hindi, English Literature, and Economics.
UPSC Journey: Struggles and Success
History of Attempts: First (2018) – Rank 337
Ravi started preparing for UPSC in 2017. He secured AIR 337 in 2018 and got inducted into the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) but aspired for IAS and continued preparing.
Second Attempt (2019) – Rank 317
While working in IRTS, Ravi again tried for 2019 and improved his rank to 317 and joined the Indian Defense Accounts Service (IDAS). He has gone towards IDAS than IRTS as this gives him more time to study.
Third Attempt (2020) – Did Not Clear Prelims
Ravi could not clear the prelims in 2020. He however turned this failure into a lesson and rescrutinised his strategies.
Fourth Attempt In 2021 – Rank 18
Ravi believed he would concentrate on NCERT books, answer writing, and revision. There are minimal Hindi study materials, but he is still glued to his language. It brought him fruits, as from that labor, he had AIR 18 in UPSC CSE 2021, which poses as evidence that anything can be because he has approached it.
Lessons from Ravi Kumar Sihag’s Journey
Persistence Pays Off – Ravi never gave up despite setbacks.
Strategic Decisions Matter – Choosing IDAS over IRTS helped him balance work and studies.
Adaptability is Key – He tackled the lack of Hindi resources by translating notes.
Connect with Ravi Kumar Sihag
Follow Ravi on social media:
Twitter: @ravikrsihag01
Instagram: @ravisihag01
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