Saurabh Singh EPFO APFC Success Story: Your Journey to Success Starts Here!

Do you remember that beautiful poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, “Lehron se darkar nauka paar nahi hoti, koshish karne walon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti”? It means, if you get scared of waves, your boat won’t cross the river, and those who try hard never lose. We all hear it, right? But these lines feel so much more real when we meet someone who has truly lived them. Today, we have one such special person with us.

Meet Mr. Saurabh Singh, who recently cleared the tough EPFO APFC exam. His story is full of dedication, never giving up, and lots of hard work. He faced many challenges for seven long years, but he just wouldn’t quit. And because of his strong will, he’s here today as an Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner. Let’s hear his simple, honest story and see what amazing things we can learn from him.

Let’s dive into his journey.

His Childhood and The Family Who Shaped Him

Saurabh’s journey started like many of ours. He was always known for being a very calm and simple boy at home. He completed his schooling, did his intermediate in Science (Physics, Chemistry, Maths), and then a BSc with the same subjects. But his journey didn’t stop there! He went on to do two Post-Graduations – one in Economics and another in Geography, even qualifying for NET in Geography.

His mother, a government teacher, played a huge role in his life. She was always very disciplined and monitored everything at home, making sure there was a good environment for studies. She even won awards from the District Magistrate for her amazing work! His maternal uncle, who is also a working PCS officer, inspired him a lot.

His journey of becoming a government officer started in 2019, making it a nearly six-year-long path to success.

When Dreams Felt Far: Early Challenges and Doubts

Saurabh’s path was not a straight line to success. He aimed for big exams like UPSC and State PCS. But, like many of us, he faced some really tough times. He couldn’t clear the UPSC Prelims, and even after reaching the Mains stage of State PCS twice, he didn’t get an interview call.

It’s easy to feel hopeless when results don’t come our way. But Saurabh learned something very important from these moments. He realized that failures are not the end, but a chance to learn. He didn’t let those setbacks stop him; instead, he used them to grow.

With this new mindset, Saurabh was ready to refine his study plan.

Saurabh’s UPSC EPFO APFC Preparation Strategy

Saurabh’s study approach was very structured, especially for the EPFO APFC exam, which has many different subjects. Let’s look at his clear advice:

Subject-Wise Strategy and Sources

• Modern History: He followed Spectrum and Bipin Chandra’s Old NCERT.
• Art & Culture: For this, he used New NCERTs.
• Indian Constitution: The trusted M. Laxmikanth and the Bare Act were his go-to.
• Quant, Reasoning, & Statistics: He used R.D. Sharma for basic concepts (for CSAT earlier) and solved monthly questions from Pratiyogita Darpan. He found solving these regular questions kept him ready and helped reduce exam-time stress.
• General Science: He read NCERTs and Lucent’s General Science book, which is very helpful for state-level exams.
• Computer Awareness: Again, Lucent’s General Computer Science book was his choice, covering most basic questions.
• General English: He practiced from Pratiyogita Darpan (CGL questions) and used Neetu Ma’am’s book (Paramount coaching).
• Economics: Having a PG in Economics helped his basics. He also used Vivek Singh’s book for its simple language and Ramesh Singh’s book.
• Population, Development, & Globalization: Since Geography was his optional, these topics were well covered for him through Human Geography. For general prep, he suggests NCERTs.
• Current Events: He read The Indian Express daily, but didn’t make notes directly from it. He also followed Pratiyogita Darpan magazine monthly and Vision IAS’s 365 series for specific subjects like Economics and Geography for Mains.
  • His smart tip for current affairs: If the newspaper mentions the Supreme Court, immediately open your Bare Act and read about the Supreme Court. If it talks about GDP, quickly check what GDP means. This way, you cover your static syllabus along with current affairs!
• Commerce-Related Subjects (Social Security, Industrial Relations, Labour Laws, Accountancy, Auditing, Insurance):
  These were new for him, as they don’t appear in UPSC or State PCS.
  • Accountancy: He studied from NCERTs and a book by Akhtar ji (“engineer approach Akhtar ji”).
  • Labour Laws & Industrial Relations: He used the Ministry of Labour & Employment website, downloading PDFs of new labor codes, the EPFO Vision 2047 document, and annual reports.

Revision, Notes, and Mock Tests

• Make Your Own Notes: He made notes for all his GS subjects, labor laws, and industrial relations. This helps you sort and memorize things, as writing makes them stick in your mind.
• Mock Tests are a Must: He gave about 10-15 mock tests in February 2023 when the form came out. Mock tests help you find your weak spots and improve.
• Handy Notes for Last-Minute: Your own notes are perfect for quick revision just a few days before the exam.

Now, let’s see how he used these methods when it really mattered – in the exam hall and the interview.

His UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Hall Experience

He says his big mistake earlier was making easy questions wrong. “Jo easy questions hain woh galat na ho.” That’s key! Tough questions are tough for everyone, but if you get the easy ones wrong, you lose marks that could have helped you pass.

Don’t Decide Attempts Beforehand: Many students decide to attempt a certain number of questions even before seeing the paper. Saurabh advises against this. Look at the paper first!

Analyze the Paper’s Nature: Some papers are tough, some are easy. The EPFO EO/AO paper, for example, was tougher than the APFC one. Adjust your attempts based on how hard or easy the paper feels.

Three-Round Strategy (X, Y, Z):

• X Category: First, solve all the questions you are absolutely sure about.
• Y Category: Next, tackle questions where you are a bit confused between options but can figure it out.
• Z Category: Leave the questions you have no idea about for last.

Revision is Crucial Here: Revising well means you won’t make silly mistakes on easy questions.

His UPSC EPFO APFC Interview Strategy

The interview for EPFO APFC was quite a journey, especially since there was a one-year gap between the written result and the interview! That’s a long time to wait and feel anxious. Saurabh was an introvert, so facing an interview panel was a huge challenge.

“He couldn’t even speak properly when he gave his first mock interview.”

To overcome this, he did some amazing things:

• Mirror Practice: He practiced talking in front of a mirror every day.
• Friends as Interviewers: He asked his friends to ask him questions, and he would answer them.
• EduTap’s Mock Interviews: He joined EduTap’s mock interview sessions, where experienced people like RPSCs shared great insights. He found the feedback very genuine and helpful.

He was worried about having two PG degrees (Economics and Geography) because he thought it made his profile too broad. But EduTap’s mentors shared that degrees are an asset, and organizations see it as a plus! This boosted his confidence a lot.

The D-Day: Inside the Interview Room

Saurabh describes his interview as very cordial, not a grilling session, especially if you are honest.

• Hobbies are a Conversation Starter: They asked him about his hobbies, like Pranayama (what it is, who he follows) and cooking (he even shared a detailed Chole recipe!).
• Degrees as a Strength: The Chairman asked him, “You have so many degrees, from which subject should we ask you questions?” This made the atmosphere very light and showed they saw his varied background as a strength.
• Honesty is Best: When asked about the 11th Fundamental Duty and its amendment, he couldn’t recall the exact one under pressure. He simply said, “Sorry Ma’am, I am unable to recall.” And they were okay with it!
• The “Add On” Moment: The Chairman asked him a tricky question: “Yoga ka mathematical version kya hota hai?” Saurabh thought hard, then remembered that ‘Yoga’ also means ‘add on’ or ‘addition’. He explained that through Yoga, we can ‘add on’ to our personality, health, and society. The Chairman said, “Very good!” This showed his presence of mind.

Saurabh’s success wasn’t just his effort; many people supported him along the way.

The Pillars of Support: Family, Friends, and EduTap

His parents played a huge role, especially during his weak moments. When he failed the PCS Mains twice, it was their encouraging words that kept him going. He believes it’s very important for students to be open with their parents about their preparation and struggles. This way, parents can provide the needed emotional support.

Saurabh specifically mentioned EduTap for their help in interview preparation. 

He was grateful for the genuine feedback and support, especially about how to present his diverse academic background as a strength.

Finally, let’s hear his inspiring tips for keeping your spirits high.

Your Next Steps: A Hopeful Path Ahead

Saurabh Singh’s story is a beautiful reminder that every struggle, every doubt, and every moment of hard work has a purpose. His path, from being an average student to becoming an APFC, shows that consistency, honest effort, and a positive mindset can truly make your dreams come true.

Don’t worry if you face setbacks; they are just lessons in disguise. Trust in your parents’ support, choose your friends wisely, and seek guidance when you need it. Remember to prepare smartly, revise often, and face interviews with honesty and a calm mind.

As Saurabh learned, keep ‘adding on’ to your life and knowledge. The journey might be long, but it’s full of learning and growth. Believe in yourself, and keep moving forward with hope and a smile. Your success story is waiting to be written!

We at EduTap are always here to support you in every step of your journey. All the very best!