Hello future officers! Have you ever felt lost or wondered if your dream of a government job is too big? Today, we bring you a story of a young man, Neelesh Rauniyar, who faced many ups and downs but still cleared the EPFO EO/AO exam.
This article is for you, to show how you can also win your exams, even when things get tough.
Neelesh’s Background
He comes from a small town called Soonooli in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh. This place is right on the border, so it’s quite simple and down-to-earth. Neelesh grew up in a family that had a business, like many of our families. So, he was always around shops and business talks.
Because he was always surrounded by business, Neelesh didn’t really think much about studies in the beginning. He was an average child who only sat down to study when his papa told him to. Mostly, he just wanted to have fun, watch TV, and visit the shop.
But things were about to change for him, and that’s where his real study journey started.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
When Life Showed a New Path
When he was just in Class 9, his father became very ill with cervical pain. It was a tough time for his family. His elder brother, who was supposed to go to college for B.Tech, decided to leave his studies and come home to look after the family business. It was a big sacrifice!
Seeing his brother do so much, Neelesh felt a deep desire to help too. He thought, “Bhaiya jab itna sacrifice kar rahe hain, toh mujhe bhi ab kuch karna hai.” This moment was the turning point for him. He wanted to be independent and make a name for himself, not just be known as his father’s son. Also, in UP, government jobs are seen with a lot of respect, and he wanted to bring some change in society too.
He started studying with all his heart. From an average student, he became a bright one, even getting 92% in his 12th class! Later, he chose Political Science for his graduation from Delhi University and even became a gold medalist in his college. He was not just good at studies, but also took part in many activities like debates and NSS. These activities, he says, really helped him later on.
Now, let’s see how he planned for the EPFO exam.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Smart Study and Planning for UPSC EPFO
After his Civil Services Prelims result, Neelesh decided to try for the EPFO EO AO exam. He already had a strong base from his UPSC preparation, so he made a very smart plan. He knew that the syllabus for EPFO was mostly the same as UPSC, with only a few extra subjects like Accounts and Labour Laws.
So, what did he do? He made a 15-day study plan! He focused only on the new subjects and quickly revised the old ones. Here’s how he prepared for the extra subjects:
- Labour Laws & Accounts: He found that only very basic questions are asked in these subjects. He used YouTube videos and PDFs from Telegram for Labour Laws. For Accounts, his friend Prashant, who was a B.Com graduate, helped him a lot.
- Computer: He found this subject tough because he didn’t have a background in it. He just read some basic things from here and there. He admitted that the computer questions in his exam were quite difficult, and he mostly skipped them.
- Traditional Subjects (like History, Polity, Economy): For these, he stuck to the common books:
- History: Spectrum
- Polity: Laxmikanth
- Economics: Mrunal Sir’s lectures
- Art & Culture, Ancient & Medieval History: Tamil Nadu Board books (the smaller ones)
- Environment: Shankar IAS book
- Current Affairs: Daily newspaper reading and one-liner updates from YouTube.
Neelesh also stressed the importance of Previous Year Questions (PYQs).
“Kisi bhi exam ke liye sabse important hota hai PYQ.”
They help you understand what kind of questions to expect. Even though he didn’t give any specific mock tests for EPFO, his experience from 50+ mock tests for UPSC Prelims helped him understand how many questions to attempt.
Now, let’s see how he tackled the big exam day and the interview.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Facing the UPSC EPFO EO/AO Exam
Imagine you sit for an exam, and the paper is super tough, much harder than any previous year. This is exactly what happened with the EPFO EO AO exam Neelesh gave. It was tougher than the APFC paper that year!
If the paper is hard for you, it’s hard for everyone. So, there’s no need to panic. Just do your best and trust your preparation. Your confidence matters a lot, and it comes from your hard work.
After clearing the written exam, Neelesh faced another challenge: the interview was getting delayed again and again. It was hard to balance his focus between the delayed EPFO interview and his main goal, the UPSC Civil Services Mains. He even thought of dropping the interview sometimes. But destiny had other plans!
When his UPSC Mains was over, the EPFO interview dates finally came out, and he could focus fully on it. Here’s where EduTap played a very important role. Neelesh prepared a lot for the interview, filling two and a half registers with possible questions and answers, and even gave 8 to 9 mock interviews. But he found EduTap’s mocks the best.
Why?
Because at EduTap, retired civil servants took the interviews, not just teachers. They focused on his personality and real-life thinking, not just subject knowledge. He even took EduTap’s mock interview twice, despite it being paid, because it was so helpful.
He learned that guidance is super important. Knowing the right steps, like checking PYQs first, helps save a lot of time.
“Aap apne hisab se schedule banaiye bas yeh apne aap ko analyze karte rahiye ki main sahi direction mein ja raha hoon ki nahi ja raha hoon woh zaroori hai.”
This means don’t just copy anyone’s strategy; make it your own!
Now, let’s dive into his actual interview experience.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
His UPSC EPFO EO/AO Interview Experience
Neelesh was very well prepared for his interview. He had done so much practice and revision, he even stayed up all night before the interview! Going to the UPSC building was a dream come true for him. But here’s the twist: none of the questions he prepared were asked in his actual interview!
The interview, taken by R.N. Chaubey Sir, went in a totally different direction. They asked him very technical questions about EPFO, like about the number of employees and salary limits, which are usually not studied in such detail. They also asked many situational questions, like, “What would you do if you found out your department was corrupt?”
Even though it was unexpected, Neelesh handled it with great confidence. He credits his college experience with extra-curricular activities for this. He replied to the corrupt department question with a balanced approach: first, he would ask for a committee to study the ground reality before suggesting solutions. This showed his officer-like attitude.
His interview only lasted 15 minutes, and he felt like he hadn’t fully “sold himself” (like a businessman would sell a product). So, when the chairman asked if he wanted to add anything, Neelesh smartly spoke about how he had visited an EPFO office on the ground level and seen its good points and also areas for improvement. This showed his seriousness and practical approach.
Finally, all the hard work paid off.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
When The UPSC EPFO EO/AO Results Came
When the results came, Neelesh cleared the EPFO EO AO exam! How did it feel? He felt very good, but for him, clearing an exam is not the final success. He believes true success is if he can bring some positive change in society through his work. He still wants to do more and make a bigger difference.
His family was overjoyed! It was the first central government job in their family, so imagine the happiness and pride! His parents, who had sacrificed so much, finally got a beautiful gift. All those neighbors who used to ask, “What is he doing outside?” now congratulate his parents with full respect. It’s a very touching moment, isn’t it?
When asked who he thanks the most, Neelesh says he thanks God for giving him such good luck, an amazing environment, and wonderful friends and family. Because, truly, our success is never just our own; it’s a team effort.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
His Advice To All Of YOU!
To all of you who are studying hard for your government exams, Neelesh has a very special message. He says everyone will tell you to study, but there’s more to it. As you prepare to become an officer, you must also work on your mindset. You need to learn to handle yourself, because only then can you handle a department and help people.
He also says, be ready to handle failures. It’s okay if things don’t work out the first time. Have a plan for what to do after a setback, so you don’t break down. Life is very big, and there are many things you can achieve apart from just one exam.
Always remember: “Jo hota hai acche ke liye hota hai.” Give your best, work on your mind, and be ready for whatever comes. Your journey defines you, not just one result.
We at EduTap are so proud of Neelesh and his inspiring journey. We hope his story gives you lots of hope, courage, and clear steps for your own preparation. Keep working hard, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself! All the best for your bright future!
