JEE Success to UPSC AIR 38: Lost both parents during preparation, Deepanshu Jindal cracks exam in 3rd attempt

It's not easy to lose both parents and bounce back in life. Deepanshu Jindal lost both parents while preparing for one of India’s toughest competitive exams. This loss could have completely shattered him and may have derailed his dreams, but instead he refused to give up.

Deepanshu Jindal (Instagram )With unwavering determination and the constant support of his sister, Jindal overcame personal tragedies and two unsuccessful attempts to secure All India Rank (AIR) 38 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination on his third attempt, fulfilling his dream of becoming an IAS officer.

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Deepanshu’s academic journey was a success. He cracked the JEE exam and completed his engineering degree at Delhi Technological University (DTU). AI, Skills and Future Careers: University of Birmingham Former Chancellor Lord Karan Bilimoria, CBE DL on preparing students for tomorrow Soon after becoming an engineer, he decided to prepare for UPSC exam to serve the nation.

However, while he was preparing for the UPSC, his parents passed away due to illness one after another. Losing both parents at a young age was a devastating loss for any young person. During that tough time, Deepanshu’s sister became his biggest strength.

She not only handled her own grief but also ensured that Deepanshu’s preparation was not affected much. She boosted Deepanshu's morale at every step, took on household responsibilities, and ensured that, despite all the obstacles, Deepanshu's studies remained uninterrupted.

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He had already appeared for the UPSC exam twice, and so he knew where it went wrong. In his third attempt, he learned from his past mistakes and improved his answer writing and revision strategies. His hard work and unwavering dedication paid off on his third attempt, securing the 38th rank in the country.

For UPSC aspirants facing failures or personal challenges, Jindal's story offers an inspiring message: perseverance, self-belief and the support of loved ones can make even the toughest goals achievable. Papri Chanda is the Deputy Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital.

With over 12 years of experience as an education journalist, she has worked across multiple media platforms, building deep expertise in education policy, examinations, and higher education systems. In her current role, Papri manages the day-to-day editorial work for the education beat.

She plans daily content, decides story priorities, and oversees breaking-news coverage in a fast-moving digital newsroom. She works closely with reporters to ensure stories are accurate, timely, and meet editorial standards.

Papri plays a key role during major exam cycles, CBSE and state board exam results, and policy announcements. Her work focuses on covering India’s education system, including the Ministry of Education, UGC, CBSE, NEET, JEE, CUET, and important higher-education policy changes.

Prior to joining Hindustan Times Digital, Papri served as Correspondent – Education at Times Now Digital, where she delivered high-volume breaking news under intense newsroom deadlines and conducted interviews with key policymakers and academic leaders.

Earlier, at Dainik Jagran, she independently managed the education and careers vertical, leading coverage of competitive exams, government jobs, and admission cycles, while mentoring junior writers and streamlining editorial workflows.

Papri holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Burdwan. Outside work, she enjoys travelling, reading, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring diverse cuisines.Read More