There are some success stories that arrive with a lot of noise—big claims, dramatic turning points, and grand declarations. And then there are stories like that of DSK Prachet, who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2025 and became an IPS officer. His journey is not loud. It is steady, simple, and deeply human.
If you listen closely, it doesn’t sound like a speech. It feels like someone sitting next to you, telling you how things actually unfolded—step by step.
Growing Up: Where It All Began
Prachet grew up in a family where discipline was not taught through lectures, but lived quietly every day. His father, D.N. Srinivas, had served in the Indian Army before moving into a management role. That background naturally brought a certain structure into the household—waking up on time, doing things properly, and not cutting corners.
His mother, D. Bindu, was a homemaker, and like many mothers, she became the emotional anchor of the family. There’s something about that steady presence that doesn’t show up in marksheets, but plays a big role when things get tough.
And then there is Prachet’s brother, Vidhu, an Entrepreneur . He wasn’t preparing for UPSC, but his support mattered more than any strategy. Sometimes, just knowing that someone believes in you is enough to keep going on a difficult day.
A Student Who Took Things Seriously But Quietly
Prachet studied at Hyderabad Public School, Ramanthapur. In Class 10, he scored a perfect 10/10 CGPA. Now, that might sound impressive—and it is—but what’s more important is what it shows: he was consistent from the beginning.
He wasn’t someone who suddenly “became serious” in college. He was always like that.
For Intermediate, he joined Guru Junior College, Narayanaguda, with FIITJEE coaching. He scored 97.4% in 2019. Again, no drama, no sudden jump—just the same pattern of steady effort.
IIT Bombay: Learning Beyond Books
Getting into IIT Bombay is a dream for many, and Prachet made it there, choosing Aerospace Engineering. He graduated in 2023 with a CGPA of 8.16 and honours.
But what stands out is not just the degree. It’s what he did during those years.
He took part in a summer research internship, where he worked on micromachines. This wasn’t just textbook learning—this was real application, connected to industries like healthcare and biomedical systems. He even contributed to a research paper in the Micromachines Journal.
At the same time, he didn’t stay limited to academics.
He became the Secretary of the Alumni Relations Cell at IIT Bombay. That role involved connecting students with alumni—people who had already walked the path ahead. It required communication, coordination, and leadership.
He also led a team that made it to the Top 10 in an RC plane competition at IIT Bombay.
Outside academics and leadership, he has many talents too.
These may seem like small things, but they shape how a person thinks. And in UPSC, thinking matters more than memorising.
The First Attempt: When Things Don’t Work Out
Like many aspirants, Prachet didn’t clear UPSC in his first serious attempt (2024). He couldn’t get through Mains.
Now, this is the point where many stories try to create drama—“he was shattered,” “he almost gave up,” and so on. But in reality, most failures are quieter than that.
For Prachet, it became a moment of reflection.
He didn’t change everything. He didn’t start from zero. He simply looked at what needed improvement and worked on it.
| Paper / Subject | Marks Obtained |
|---|---|
| Hindi (Paper-I) | 110 |
| English (Paper-II) | 103 |
| Essay (Paper-I) | 126 |
| General Studies-I (Paper-II) | 87 |
| General Studies-II (Paper-III) | 98 |
| General Studies-III (Paper-IV) | 79 |
| General Studies-IV (Paper-V) | 112 |
| Optional-I Anthropology (Paper-VI) | 97 |
| Optional-II Anthropology (Paper-VII) | 116 |
| Written Total | 715 |
Anthropology: A Subject He Stayed Loyal To
One of the most interesting parts of his journey is how he handled his optional subject—Anthropology.
He didn’t treat it like something to be studied only after prelims. He prepared it alongside General Studies, consistently.
In fact, he continued studying Anthropology till two months before prelims. That shows something important—he wasn’t preparing randomly. He had a plan and he trusted it.
After prelims, he put a consistent effort. He wrote 11 full-length Anthropology tests before mains.
Think about that for a second. Writing tests is not easy. It’s tiring, and sometimes frustrating. But that’s exactly where improvement happens.
He also spent time improving his notes. He looked at toppers’ answer copies, added value to his content, and refined his material.
All of this came together in the final result—288 marks in Anthropology.
That score didn’t come from one month of effort. It came from months of quiet, consistent work.
General Studies: Keeping It Simple
While many aspirants keep changing sources and strategies, Prachet kept things simple.
For General Studies, he followed:
- PIB (Press Information Bureau) for authentic government information
- Akashvani news for current affairs
Prachet didn’t try to read everything under the sun. He focused on reliable sources and stuck to them.
This consistency paid off. His GS marks improved significantly in his second attempt.
Essay and Interview: Not Everything Goes Perfect
Even in his successful attempt, not everything was ideal.
His essay marks dropped by around 30 marks compared to expectations.
But here’s the important part—he didn’t let one setback affect everything else.
He balanced it out with strong GS scores and an excellent optional performance.
And then came the interview.
He scored 204 marks in the UPSC interview, which is considered a very good score. This played a key role in his final selection into the IPS.
The Role of Guidance: La Excellence
Prachet was a classroom student at La Excellence (PCM – Prelims cum Mains Program).
He joined around 2023, and he often mentions how the environment there helped him.
Faculty members like Seenaiah Sir, Kareem Sir, and Shamim Anwar Sir helped him build strong basics. The classroom approach, including daily practice systems like DPP and DMP, matched the demands of the exam.
What mattered even more was the support after classes.
Even after completing his coaching, he continued visiting for doubt clarification and answer discussions. Mentors like Satish Sir and later Kalyan Sir guided him during these phases.
During the Interview Guidance Program, Kalyan Sir’s insights helped him understand what the interview board actually looks for.
That clarity contributed to Prachet’s strong interview score.
More than anything, what he appreciated was the continued support—not just during classes, but even after.
The Final Result: A Quiet Victory
In 2025, Prachet cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination and secured a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS).
There was no dramatic turning point. No sudden miracle.
It was simply the result of doing the right things, again and again, even when no one was watching.
What His Journey Teaches
If you ask Prachet what made the difference, he doesn’t talk about shortcuts or secret strategies.
He says something very simple:
- Be open to suggestions
- Don’t have a closed mindset
- Stay consistent
- Build self-confidence and courage
That’s it.
It may not sound exciting, but that’s exactly why it works.
Because real success is usually not exciting. It is repetitive, sometimes boring, and often slow. But if you stay with it long enough, it works.
A Story Worth Remembering
For students who are just 16 or 17, Prachet’s journey might feel far away. UPSC might seem like a distant goal.
But if there’s one thing to take from his story, it is this:
You don’t have to be extraordinary from the beginning.
You just have to be consistent for a long time.
Prachet didn’t become successful overnight.
He simply didn’t stop when things got difficult.
And sometimes, that is the only difference.
For more such success stories, you can visit: https://laex.in/category/success-stories/
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar : 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040