The motivated Thinker

Truth about Civil Services exam nobody wants to tell you because they are scared their shops will be closed. Most aspirants fear this exam not because they're incapable, but because the ecosystem makes it larger than life—the process, the institution, the post. They're all human, cleared by humans. With more aspirants, it feels tough, but the real competition is among just 40-45,000 people. One-third of them will even write Mains; the rest haven't covered the syllabus. Why fear? Coaching institutes claim "UPSC thinks like this," but UPSC consists of professors, not NASA scientists. They might tweak patterns slightly—keep it human. What are the common fears peddled: 1. This time UPSC paper will be very tough. 2. This time cutoff will be very high. 3. This time we will have more weightage of this subject. 4. Toppers are people who study every day 8-10 hours, like a robot. 5. You are competing with best minds of country, IIT IIM graduates. 6. UPSC as an institution is supernatural. 7. What if you fail, pass it for your mom, dad, your village. Well, nobody knows how the paper will be, but it will be of General Studies, right? Secondly, IIT IIM graduates passed an exam which has nowhere near the same syllabus and skills requirement as UPSC. Thirdly, UPSC is not infallible—they commit mistakes every year, a perfectly human organisation. Best minds? Well, best minds are those who are working hard now; past doesn't matter. Pass it for yourself—it is you who wants it the most, it's your life. Don't take added pressure. It's not motivation; it's pressure draped in disguise as motivation. Those who fail repeatedly do so from fear, not hard work. I saw the same faces in interviews; failures blame effort, ignoring execution. Hard-working students have a 33% chance to clear prelims—that's huge. Stay human, execute well, and succeed. You deserve it. Don't get into all these fear-mongering traps. I was an average student (I consider genius only those who unearth some new things for this world; passing any competitive examination is no mark of genius). I cleared Prelims. You all are much more talented—why won't you? Fear creates more business . If you want to clear this exam come out of this fear ecosystem. Success will be yours ❤️ Aditya

Power of Positive Affirmation and Capacity to Handle Success We often think very negatively inside our minds. Until we get something positive, we again start thinking, what if what we have got, we will not get in the future. But this is not how life works. How much capacity you develop to accept things, that will walk towards you. And you need to enhance your capacity. Once you enhance your capacity, bigger things not only you will get, but you will also be able to digest. Digesting is important. Sometimes what happens is, there is a famous saying in Hindi, Khuda mehrban to gadha pehalwan. That is, when God is gracing you, even a donkey becomes a winner. But they are not able to digest the success. It is very important to digest, then only you can sustain a particular success. Your mind is like a glorious device. If you affirm that yes, I am the one who can achieve the hardest of things, I can withstand, I deserve it, and you positively affirm with your actions, it is not just wishful thinking. Affirmation and wishful thinking have a difference. Wishful thinking is that you are not working, you are just thinking that something will fall from the sky. Affirmation is that you are working very hard for it, and you are also positively thinking that what you are working for, you will get that. That is called positive affirmation. So if you think positively that you will become successful, you will become successful. You must have seen interviews of people. For example, a mega Bollywood star like Shah Rukh Khan, from the beginning of his career, always used to say that I am the best. Now, it does not mean that he is arrogant. It meant that inside his mind, he always thought that what he was getting was not enough for him. He would become the leading superstar, he would rule the industry. That positive affirmation, not only in him, you can see in people like Cristiano Ronaldo. He always says, I am the best, even when he knows that Lionel Messi, if not better, is at least equally great. But that is what kept him going to compete with a surreal, generational talent like Lionel Messi. The same goes for people like Novak Djokovic. He was not as naturally blessed as Roger Federer, he never initially got the same glory as Rafael Nadal or Federer, he had to fight hard. He used to say that yes, I am the best, I am working hard, and he proved it with the most number of Grand Slams through positive affirmation and hard work. That is what can give you a big amount of success in life. You do not know how beautiful your mind is. If one opportunity closes, a second comes, if the second closes, a third comes. People who tend to work hard, people who are tenacious, will never lose in life. Some hiccups may come, but at the end of the day, they will try their best. And as said by one of my icons, Great Vikram batra, after getting success, you will say:- Ye dil mange more

Our Life is Built on Fear The day we are born, our childhood is shaped by the fear of punishment. We used to desist from our desires to play, to go out, to dance in the rain, because we knew that if we did all these things, we would get punished. When we go to school, we fall in line with rules and regulations, and in the competition for marks, to avoid the fear of being left out, typecast, and punished. When we grow a bit older, we work because we fear how we will earn money, how we will get respect in society. That fear extends to finding love in life, because society comes in between even in these personal matters. Then we fear—what if we lose our loved ones? It goes on to shaping the path of our children. We again rear them with the same fear, because of our own fears—what if they become rebels, what if society says they are not good, they are not successful? And one fear that constantly looms over us is the fear of losing what we possess—our property, our name, our fame, our possessions. In all of this, we never live life fully. We just work to avoid fear, and that’s why most of us behave like Circus tigers dancing or performing to the tune of a ringmaster to avoid the fear of getting Punished . Aditya

“If they had gotten married, their son would’ve been Raghav Chadha…

Ai is fire 😂

The Illusion of Certainty The things you are doing today — you do not know what the result will be. And that uncertainty bothers you. It bothers all of us. But why? Because it is in our genes. For lakhs of years, our forefathers fought against uncertainty every single day. Harsh weather, unforgiving climates, scarcity of food, attacks from wild animals. Survival meant anticipating what comes next. Certainty was not a luxury — it was life itself. That instinct never left us. It just changed its form. Today, instead of scanning the horizon for predators, we scan the faces of people around us for approval. We seek validation. We ask — am I on the right path? Will this work out? Is this the right decision? But here is the uncomfortable truth: nobody knows. The person you are seeking validation from was once standing exactly where you are standing now — confused, unsure, looking for answers. They figured something out along the way and called it wisdom. But your journey is not their journey. Your outcome was never written in anyone else's story. Life exists in the present moment. Not in the past, not in the future. Every moment that passes is gone forever — and yet we spend most of our time trying to make the future feel certain. We plan, we overthink, we ask, we worry. It will never be certain. That is not a flaw in life. That is life itself. Every religion, every mythology, every system of magic and ritual — at their core, they all work on the same human fear. The fear of the unknown. They offer frameworks, symbols and stories to make things feel certain. But certainty remains an illusion. So do not fall into this trap. Do what you love. Do what you can. Show up fully in this moment. And if it is meant to happen, it will happen.

Trust the process. Aditya

Victory belongs to the most tenacious. I remember during the CSE 2020 interview phase, I met a cricket enthusiast and very humble person who was also appearing for the interviews. The final results came, and he could not make it. He kept on preparing—not just for UPSC, but for different state PCS exams like UPPSC and RAS. What was happening was consistent failure after reaching the interviews; he appeared again in the UPSC interviews but still couldn't make it. Now, almost a decade into this journey with a huge investment from a humble background in a small place in Rajasthan, cut to today: I saw a message in our common group (named the cricket subgroup we made during interview preparation for cricket-related questions, as we all shared the same hobby,and now the group is like a family ). He posted: 'Rank 150 RAS'—and that was surreal. A decade of investment finally paying off. His name is Sonu Jindal, and I believe his journey can inspire many of you. He couldn't get success for so many years but kept on trying. He is the perfect example that victory belongs to the most tenacious.

The Honest Fare The evening was like any other—traffic, noise, the usual rush. I took an auto, just a regular ride, nothing special. When we reached, my UPI didn’t go through for a moment. So I gave him cash. He didn’t have exact change—just ₹2 short. “It’s okay, bhaiya, leave it,” I said. Honestly, I didn’t even think twice about it. But he stopped me. “UPI ID dijiye,” he said. I smiled a bit, thinking he didn’t get it. “Arre bhaiya, rehne dijiye… bas do rupaye hi toh hain.” He looked straight at me and said, “Nahi, theek nahi hai.” There was something different in his tone. Not stubbornness—self-respect. He carefully sent those ₹2. My phone pinged. Then he said something I won’t forget: “Main kabhi bhi bina mehnat ka ek paisa bhi nahi leta.” For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. It was just ₹2 for me. But for him, it was about something much bigger. I just stepped forward and hugged him. “Bhaiya, aap jaise logon ki wajah se hi duniya chal rahi hai.” He didn’t say much after that. Just nodded and drove away. But that small moment stayed. Sometimes, it’s not about the money. It’s about the kind of person you choose to be. Aditya

Feeling Left Out? Yes, you may feel the same. The digital world celebrates success only. Miss by 0.5-1 marks? No opinion, just heavy criticism. You feel like a sinner. Chill, Friends—You're Not! What did you do wrong? - Chose what you want. - Studied hard. - Tried your best every day. Is that a sin? No way. Society wants you to fail, but you're not failing. Exams are designed that way—99% don't succeed, and people pile on to pull you down. But you stay up. No pity needed. You're Doing Great Work! Remember your worldview before prep? So narrow, right? Now look at you—vast knowledge, transformed personality. No training or degree teaches that. Trust me: Non-UPSC folks do the same work but take twice as long. Why? We immerse for days without complaining. Example: I made 400+ YouTube videos single-handedly. No editor, no script writer—raw AF. So what? Sheer hardwork changes destiny. Keep grinding!

bahar ban ke aau kabhi tumhari duniya me gujar na jaye ye din kahi isi tamnna me End of an era ❤️ There can never be as diverse singer as Asha Tai . From chura liya hai to dum Maro dum to Dil chij kya hai aap meri jan lijiye (ghazal ) , very few can match her range .

सितारों से आगे जहाँ और भी हैं अभी इश्क़ के इम्तिहाँ और भी हैं तही ज़िंदगी से नहीं ये फ़ज़ाएँ यहाँ सैकड़ों कारवाँ और भी हैं

Fired for Lacking Ideas – How One Guy Turned Rock Bottom into Billions Picture this: a guy gets canned from his newspaper gig. His boss hits him with the killer line, "You got no imagination. Your ideas suck." Ouch. Then he pours everything into his own business... and bam, bankrupt before it even gets off the ground. Flat broke, down to his last dream, staring at failure square in the face. Most would've quit right there, head hung low. But not him. He dusts off, grits his teeth, and keeps swinging with fresh ideas, one wild try after another. Then it happens—the breakthrough that shakes the world. He grabs 22 Oscars, opens the very first Disneyland in California back in '55, and builds this magic empire. Fast-forward, and his company's raking in billions yearly from movies that make you cry and laugh, theme parks buzzing with joy, and merch kids everywhere beg for. It's the ultimate gut-punch to doubt: one stubborn heart can flip the script on impossible.

What's your "fired" moment? Grab it, fight through, and watch your own empire rise.

Aditya

Mere tun ke zakhm na gin abhi Meri aankh main abhi noor hai Mere bazu'on pey nigah ker Jo ghuroor tha, wo ghuroor hai Don’t count the wounds on my body yet, There is still light in my eyes. Look at my arms with care, The pride I had is still my pride

The Soil That Bred Lions There was a time when the soil of India produced lions—one after another—men who were eager to make the highest sacrifice for the freedom of this nation. When Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh was sentenced to death, another lion, Batukeshwar Dutt, was not relieved—he was shattered. So deep was his anguish that he wrote a letter, expressing disbelief that he had not been awarded the same fate as Bhagat Singh. It was Bhagat Singh who, from the shadow of the gallows, tried to console him. Cut to 1965. India was free. Batukeshwar Dutt lay frail, his health failing. When asked about his last wish, he did not ask for comfort, recognition, or remembrance. He said, quietly but firmly, that his last rites be performed beside the samadhi of Bhagat Singh.

“He deceived me… went alone… left me here. At least now, let me be with him.”

If there is a truer, purer expression of Balidan Parmo Dharma, it is hard to find. And yet, when we chose to write our history, we labelled these lions as “revolutionary terrorists.” That perhaps was the moment we unknowingly wrote struggle into our destiny. 🌐Keep following our Instagram channel for more such historical stories and motivational shorts - https://www.instagram.com/karmayogi_ias?igsh=N2RscGs5c3ptcW9p

Many UPSC aspirants struggle with endless scrolling, Instagram reels, and social media distractions during preparation. Completely quitting social media is often unrealistic. In this insightful conversation, Ayushi Sijeria (AIR 914, CSE 2025) shares the practical strategy she used to control the habit of mindless scrolling while preparing for UPSC. 👇 Watch Now -https://youtube.com/shorts/Nw5Q2_yXmgg?feature=share

Everyone will stand beside you when you become victorious in life. But never forget those who stood with you when you were failing repeatedly and facing setbacks. Those who arrive after your success are often opportunists. The ones who stayed when you were alone in the dark room were the ones who truly wanted you to come out of it. We have stood beside many during their darkest phases. Some remembered, like Harsh Lodha, AIR 261. Many forgot the help we offered when they were struggling. But that will not change who we are. Just as a river never drinks its own water, Karmayogi IAS will continue to stand beside you — all the fallen heroes — until you rise like a phoenix.

When life is miserable and bad When circumstances make you sad When one after another problems abound Like a phoenix you rise from the ashes of agony and smile in utter faith