10th Fail to IPS: Ishwar Gurjar’s Journey Mirrors a Bollywood Script of ’12th Fail’
10th Fail to IPS: Ishwar Gurjar’s Journey Mirrors a Bollywood Script of '12th Fail'
From failing his board exams to cracking UPSC thrice, Gurjar’s story inspires lakhs of aspirants
The story of Ishwar Gurjar, son of a farmer and homemaker from a modest household, reads like the plot of a film. Once a 10th class failure, he went on to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination not once but three times, ultimately achieving his dream of joining the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Born to farmer Suvalal Gurjar and his wife Sukhi Devi, Ishwar faced despair early when he failed his Class 10 exams. At one point, he even considered abandoning his studies. But encouragement from his father kept him on track. “Don’t lose hope and courage,” Suvalal told his son—a piece of advice that stayed with him.
In 2019, Ishwar began working as a government school teacher, but his true ambition lay elsewhere. He pursued the UPSC Civil Services Examination with relentless determination:
- 2019: Failed the prelims
- 2020: Reached the interview stage but fell short
- 2021: Another unsuccessful attempt
- 2022: Cleared with AIR 644, joining the Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
- 2023: Secured AIR 555, entered the IPS
- 2024: His final attempt brought AIR 483, sealing his dream with pride
Reflecting on his journey after the 2024 results, Ishwar wrote on Instagram: “This journey from 2020 until today holds so many memories and so many lessons… This one exam helped me a lot in refining and shaping myself, giving me many experiences.”
His resilience has struck a chord with lakhs of aspirants who see in him the message that failure is not the end but a step toward success.
