At a time when most people begin slowing down in their 40s, Dr Adarsh Singh, a senior IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh, did the opposite — he hit the reset button.
From failing in Maths as a schoolboy to cracking UPSC in the very first attempt with AIR 47, and now topping a Master’s degree at 45, Dr Singh’s journey is a gripping reminder that learning has no age limit.
A Childhood of Self-Doubt, A Life of Self-Discovery
Dr Singh grew up as a child many would not expect to become an IAS officer. Weak in Maths, confused about his career, and carrying the pressure of expectations, he stumbled more often than he succeeded.
But one thing kept him going — a restless curiosity.
That curiosity led him from MBBS to UPSC, and ultimately to the Indian Administrative Service, where he began a career filled with challenging roles, frequent transfers, and intense workloads.
The UPSC Strategy That Changed Everything
When he finally decided to attempt UPSC, he didn’t rely on bulky books or endless notes.
Instead, he built a strategy that became his superpower.
“My notes were so crisp that I could revise the entire syllabus in just one hour,” he revealed.
He carefully filtered unnecessary content, picked only reliable sources, and focused on smart revision — a formula that helped him clear UPSC in 2006 on his first attempt.
Mid-Life Crisis? No. Mid-Life Awakening
In 2022, Dr Singh went through what many call a mid-life crisis. But for him, it was a jolt of clarity.
“It made me realise you should never stop learning.”
The subject he always wanted to study—International Relations—kept tugging at him. So at 45, he decided to do something few bureaucrats attempt: go back to school.
Balancing Bureaucracy and Books
Despite being transferred to the demanding post of Excise Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh, he found a way to study.
“If you truly want to learn, even one hour a day is enough.”
And that one hour changed everything.
He completed the course on time — and graduated as the top performer.
Yet, in classic IAS humility, he says:
“The rank is nice, but what I value is that I completed the degree.”
Learning German, Rekindling Dreams
Parallel to this, Dr Singh finally fulfilled a childhood dream — learning German.
He cleared A1 and A2 levels, and is already preparing for the next stage.
“If you stop learning, you stop growing. You actually become less sharp.”
A Message That Every Young Indian Must Hear
Dr Singh’s life proves that your starting point doesn’t decide your destination.
●Failed in Maths
●No clarity in youth
●Medicine to UPSC
●Bureaucrat to student again
●Topped a degree at 45
●Learning new languages
●Still searching for the next challenge
His message is simple — and powerful:
“Never give up. Keep learning. Your true interest reveals itself only when you explore.”
At 45, when many settle into routine, Dr Adarsh Singh is reinventing himself.
His story isn’t just success — it’s a blueprint for resilience, curiosity, and lifelong growth.
