Success stories also tend to share a common theme – they are never expected, of course, starting from a simple place. From the depths of a simple Maithili family, the journey of one ordinary boy called Raj Krishna Jha started when he aspired for not just gaining a means to live, but making his difference. From the desks of a tiny school in Nepal to achieving All India Rank 8 in the highly competitive UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, Raj’s life is a motivational story of sheer determination, resilience, and unrelenting passion.
Raj Krishna’s Roots That Grounded Him:
Born to Sunil Kumar Jha, a Nepal-based private school teacher, and Jiwachh Devi, a homemaker, Raj Krishna was brought up in a simple environment. His father’s regular visits to their native village kept Raj close to his traditional and cultural roots. He studied in Nepal, where his leadership traits first emerged — being School Head Boy and an active participant in football tournaments, both at school and at the university level later on.
These formative experiences imparted him discipline, teamwork, and the necessity of balancing scholastics with co-curricular activities.
Raj Krishna :Academic Genius with a Multi-Faceted Edge:
Raj Krishna was not only a studious student; he was an all-rounder. Having scored 88.63% and 81.80% in his 10th and 12th exams respectively, he proceeded to study Mechanical Engineering in Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Allahabad. There as well, he made an impression — graduating with a brilliant 9.56 CGPA, and winning a Gold Medal in Machine Design.
His success wasn’t limited to studies only though:
He authored a chapter in a book that was brought out by prestigious Springer Publications.Won the OP Jindal Merit Scholarship during his engineering days.
Capable leader from college days and headed various Tech Fest teams in his university, learning leadership and management early on.
Participated in various football tournaments with his university team, carrying the passion forward.
After his engineering, Raj started his career in Bajaj Auto Ltd. in Pune and later shifted to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) as an Assistant Manager (CGD) in Kolhapur. Even in the corporate sector, Raj’s leadership skills were evident. He was made the Marketing Lead for HPCL in Kolhapur District, effectively handling operations and people — a position that set him up for greater responsibilities in public service.
The Dream of Civil Services: A Tale of Perseverance and Redemption
Notwithstanding a successful corporate life, Raj Krishna’s heart was elsewhere — in serving the public. The journey wasn’t smooth, though. The first two UPSC attempts he did not clear the prelims. The third was promising, but it was another attempt when heartbreak came the hardest way. With 739 marks in Mains, Raj fell just two marks short of the cut off.
Many would have called it quits, but Raj made a vow: “It’s Top-10 or nothing.”
With a clear strategy, disciplined preparation, and continuous practice through mock tests, he balanced his demanding job while gearing up for what would become his breakthrough year. The risk was ever-present, but so was the resolve.
And in UPSC CSE 2024,in his 5th attempt, it all materialized. Raj Krishna Jha achieved AIR-8, putting him among India’s best budding bureaucrats. He scored 831 marks in the Mains exam, which is nearly 100 marks more than the previous attempt.
Raj Krishna Jha’s Journey with La Excellence:
Raj Krishna Jha joined our ‘Interview Guidance Programme’, where he was helped by our experts in pinpointing DAF. Top most faculty like Dr.Rambabu sir and other working civil servants have trained him for the interview process by giving valuable feedback sessions. He rightly used their expertise and scored a very good score of 200 in the UPSC interview.
A Man Beyond Exams:
When he is not buried under books or dealing with professional work, Raj enjoys the little things. He enjoys playing cricket, joining weekend matches regularly, and is a great enthusiast of science fiction movies — a genre that sets his imagination running and offers relief from strict routines.
The Message to Every Dreamer:
Raj Krishna Jha’s tale isn’t one of scoring at the top of an exam. It’s a validation of what commitment, grit, and unflinching passion can do. From a child kicking a ball around school playgrounds in Nepal to heading up marketing functions in Maharashtra, to now entering India’s elite bureaucracy — his existence is a reflection that setbacks aren’t dead ends but stepping stones.
His lesson is straightforward yet compelling:
If you fall four times, get up the fifth — but this time, run faster.”
For each and every aspirant who sits in a small town or holds down a corporate job while dreaming big, Raj Krishna’s story is a beaming reminder: with heart, smart strategy, and determination, no dream is too far out of reach.
Sharing his joy, Tripurari Kumar, deputy mukhiya (deputy chief of Athari Panchayat, said, “The entire village is proud of Raj Krishna’s extraordinary success. He has become a role model for the youth of our area.”
Here is what Raj Krishna Jha has shared his happiness with us:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+la+excellence+raj+krishna+jha+upsc
For more such success stories, you can visit: https://laex.in/category/success-stories/
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