How a 22-Year-Old Became an IPS Officer Without Coaching
Abhijit Patil from Maharashtra achieved his dream of becoming an IPS officer in his very first UPSC attempt by relying entirely on self-study and free online learning resources.
Success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is often associated with expensive coaching institutes and years of preparation. However, Maharashtra’s Abhijit Patil has proved that determination and disciplined self-study can also lead to remarkable success.
A resident of Bhiwandi in Thane district, Abhijit completed his engineering degree before setting his sights on the civil services. His interest in UPSC was sparked after watching an interview of a successful civil servant on YouTube, which inspired him to pursue a career in public service.
Instead of joining coaching centres, he depended on NCERT textbooks, online study materials, Google searches, and educational videos available on YouTube. He focused on understanding concepts and maintaining consistency throughout his preparation.
For nearly eight months, he followed a disciplined study routine of around eight hours every day. His strategy emphasized quality learning rather than extremely long study hours.
The hard work paid off when he secured All India Rank 470 in his first attempt and earned a place in the Indian Police Service. Today, his achievement stands as a powerful example for aspirants who may not have access to costly coaching facilities.
