The Civil Services Exam (UPSC CSE) is a very hard mountain to climb for the Indian aspirant. Each year, we see lakhs of people step in for this tough cycle, but only a few come out on top. In the 2026 Civil Services cycle, we see the story of Trilok Singh, which is very inspiring. From Rajasthan, he comes out as a great example of how strategic changes, unshakeable will, and a very clear vision can turn dreams into reality.
As a huge fan of the civil services myself, which I get just as excited about as my brother does the IPL, I was immediately drawn to Trilok’s story. His honest self-assessment and practical approach make his journey a perfect guide for future aspirants.
The Roots: Early Life and Background
Born in the year 2000 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Trilok was brought up in a very disciplined atmosphere, which also had great emphasis on academic success. He finished school at Army Public School, which in turn instilled in him the dedication required for achieving large-scale goals.
Moving to the city of Delhi for his higher studies, he graduated from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University with a B.Sc. Hons in Math. Later, he went on to expand his academic scope, which took him to Jai Narain Vyas University, where he obtained an M.A. in Political Science.
Age, Rank, and the Turning Point
At the age of 26, Trilok achieved what he set out to with the civil services, which was his goal from the 3rd try. Out of his first two attempts, which he used as a very steep learning curve (he managed to get to the Mains stage in the second go around), the third time around, he made it to the final interview board, which was chaired by BB Swain and which in turn resulted in a very fine rank.
The Core Strategy: PSAI Optional and Notes.
After his graduation, which was in Political Science and International Relations, he naturally chose that as an optional subject. For his preparation, Trilok used Shubhra Ranjan Ma’am’s notes, which were found to be very basic, and also online resources from Sleepy Classes, and also made use of standard texts by authors like OP Gauba and Subrata Mukherjee.
Trilok put forth a strategy that included micro notes and high-density value additions. In PSIR Paper 2, he stressed a journalistic approach, which in turn included political theories and what was said in the External Affairs Ministry’s statements, which made his answers very authoritative. Also, he was very much aware of current international issues that had happened in the days before the Mains exam and brought that in.
Tackling Mistakes and Masterminding the Mains
Trilok’s true relatability comes from his honesty about his past mistakes. He looked at his past attempts, which he did not do so well in, for instance, when he chose the wrong optional question sets, passed over core scholar critiques (like Leo Strauss in normative political science) and also didn’t pay enough attention to the larger geographic picture, which includes the Arctic and Central Asian dynamics in international relations.
In the Essay paper, Trilok put forth what he called the “Two-Edged Sword” (Do Dhari Talwar) approach. He included in his mix very in-depth real-world philosophy, which he presented with very engaging creative stories. For instance, he used the myth of Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuh to put forward a philosophical point.
The Final Step: The UPSC Panel interview.
Trilok had put together a 30-minute personality test, which was a reflection of his wide range of experiences. In a mock scenario, in which he used the pen name “Jatayu” (also known as Rocket Singh), he appeared before a mixed panel that put to him questions out of the blue on his DAF interests, which included air pistol shooting, the structure of the Indian Army, environmental politics (AQI parameters) and governance values. The session ended on a very positive note, with the chairperson advising him to shed the formalism and to present his natural self.
Trilok Singh’s passage from Jodhpur to the final UPSC list is a great model. It shows that what you are weak in is what you should focus on, and with a detailed, structured plan, you can overcome the greatest of challenges.
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