Recently, the UPSC 2025 results were declared. In total, 958 candidates have been recommended. Among them is Narendra Mathuriya from Rajasthan, who secured All India Rank 879 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
His journey stands out as an inspiring example of perseverance and disciplined practice. He had enrolled in in the Nischay UPSC Prelims Test Series Program of APTI PLUS Academy, which he found extremely exam-relevant and analytical. He also relied on the current affairs and study materials from our IASGYAN platform for his preparation.
From IIT Kanpur Classrooms to Civil Services: Narendra’s Profile
| Category | Details |
| Hometown | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Place of Birth | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Educational Background | B.Tech in Electrical Engineering, IIT Kanpur |
| Optional Subject | Anthropology |
| Medium of UPSC Exam | English |
| Language for Paper A | Hindi |
| UPSC Exam Centre | Jaipur |
| UPSC Attempts | 5 |
| Preparation Support | Prelims Test Series – APTI PLUS Academy, Interview Guidance |
| Key Resources | IASGYAN Current Affairs and Study Materials |
| Hobbies | Cooking, learning card magic tricks, watching food and travel vlogs |
Early Life of Narendra Mathuriya: Roots in Service and Discipline
Narendra Mathuriya was born on 25 June 2000 and grew up in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in a family that values discipline and public service. His father, Khushi Ram, serves as a Senior Nursing Officer in government service, while his mother, Laxmi Devi, is a homemaker who has been a constant source of encouragement.
Growing up watching his father’s dedication to healthcare service, Narendra developed a deep respect for responsibility and service to society. These early influences inspired him to pursue a career in the civil services.
Academic Journey: Kendriya Vidyalaya and then IIT Kanpur
Narendra has consistently demonstrated strong academic performance throughout his educational journey.
His academic milestones include:
- 10th Grade: Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Jhotwara, Jaipur – CGPA 10.0 (CBSE)
- 12th Grade: Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Jhotwara, Jaipur – 81.67% (CBSE)
- Graduation: Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur (2021)
Studying at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur exposed Narendra to rigorous academic training and problem-solving approaches. The analytical thinking developed during his engineering education later proved highly beneficial in tackling the concept-driven questions of the UPSC examination.
UPSC Preparation Journey: Five Attempts and Persistent Effort
Narendra Mathuriya’s journey to success reflects perseverance and determination.
He appeared for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination five times between 2021 and 2025. Over the years, he gradually improved his preparation strategy and gained valuable exam experience.
Instead of being discouraged by setbacks, he used each attempt as a learning opportunity.
This persistence ultimately paid off when he successfully cleared Prelims, Mains and Interview in UPSC CSE 2025, securing AIR 879.
Optional Subject Strategy – Anthropology
Narendra chose Anthropology as his optional subject due to its concise syllabus, scientific approach and overlap with General Studies topics like society and tribal issues.
His preparation strategy included:
- Building a strong foundation in Physical Anthropology, Archaeology and Indian Anthropology.
- Using diagrams such as skull types, evolution charts and tribal maps to enhance answer presentation.
- Practising previous years’ questions and test series answers
- Linking anthropological theories with tribal issues, policies and contemporary examples in Paper-II.
This approach helped him present clear and analytical answers in the UPSC Mains examination.
How APTI PLUS Academy helped him in Prelims Preparation
Narendra enrolled in the Nischay Prelims Test Series Program of APTI PLUS Academy- trusted by toppers as the best IAS coaching in Kolkata.
According to him, the quality and exam relevance of the test series helped him understand the evolving nature of the UPSC Preliminary Examination.
Image: Testimonial by Narendra Mathuriya
The Nischay UPSC Prelims Test Series helped Narendra in multiple ways:
- Understanding the pattern and difficulty level of UPSC questions.
- Practicing high-quality analytical and application-based questions, including sectional tests, subject-wise tests, full-length mocks and PYQ-based tests, all fully aligned with the latest UPSC trends and syllabus.
- Receiving detailed stage-by-stage feedback from expert evaluators, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
- Tracking All India Ranking (AIR) to gauge performance against peers.
- Continuous mentoring and personalized feedback, which guided him throughout his preparation.
- Improving accuracy, time management and analytical problem-solving rather than rote memorization.
Narendra particularly appreciated how this structured, feedback-driven approach mirrored the evolving UPSC pattern and helped him confidently tackle both Prelims and Mains questions.
Using IASGYAN for Current Affairs Preparation
In addition to mock tests, Narendra also relied on current affairs and study materials from IASGYAN- the e-learning platform of APTI PLUS. He referred to Daily Current Affairs, Editorial Analysis, Monthly IAS Gazette Magazine, Prelims and Mains Express Files and Notes and Reports.
The platform supported his preparation by helping him:
• Connect current affairs with static subjects.
• Understand multi-dimensional issues for UPSC questions.
• Revise important topics efficiently.
Leadership Roles and Extracurricular Activities
Narendra was actively involved in extracurricular and leadership activities during his college years.
At IIT Kanpur, he held several positions of responsibility:
- Deputy Contingent Leader for the college at the Inter-IIT Sports Meet
- Coordinator of the Student Film Society
- Mess Secretary of his hostel
He also participated in athletics events such as discus throw and hammer throw, competing in district athletics meets and Inter-IIT sports competitions.
Additionally, he contributed to social awareness initiatives, including organizing a Women-Cell Marathon at IIT Kanpur to promote menstrual health awareness.
These experiences helped him develop leadership, teamwork and organizational skills, which are essential qualities for future civil servants.
Hobbies that Helped Him Stay Balanced
UPSC preparation can be mentally demanding and Narendra believes hobbies helped him maintain balance during his journey.
Cooking: He enjoys preparing basic home-style food, which he finds relaxing.
Learning Card Magic Tricks: A unique hobby that helps him stay mentally engaged and creative.
Watching Food and Travel Vlogs: This helps him unwind and explore different cultures and cuisines virtually.
These hobbies helped him maintain mental freshness and motivation during long preparation phases.
Lessons from Narendra Mathuriya’s UPSC Journey
Narendra’s success offers valuable lessons for UPSC aspirants:
- Persistence matters
Multiple attempts are common in UPSC preparation. Learning from each attempt and not giving up is the key. - Focus on analytical preparation
Understanding concepts is more important than memorizing facts. - Practice with quality mock tests
Exam-relevant test series significantly improve performance. - Use reliable resources
Focused preparation with curated study material saves time and effort.
Narendra Mathuriya- An inspiration to all future aspirants
Narendra Mathuriya’s journey from an engineering student at IIT Kanpur to securing AIR 879 in UPSC CSE 2025 reflects how determination can lead to success in India’s toughest examination.
His experience with the APTI PLUS Academy’s Nishchay Prelims Test Series and the IASGYAN study resources highlights the importance of structured preparation.
His achievement will continue to inspire UPSC aspirants across India who dream of serving the nation through the civil services.
FAQs
Who is Narendra Mathuriya?
Narendra Mathuriya is a UPSC candidate from Rajasthan who secured AIR 879 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
What was Narendra Mathuriya’s optional subject?
He chose Anthropology as his optional subject.
Where did Narendra Mathuriya complete his graduation?
He completed B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur.
How did APTI PLUS Academy help him in his preparation?
He enrolled in the APTI PLUS Nishchay Prelims Test Series Program, which provided exam-relevant analytical mock tests that helped him strengthen conceptual understanding and improve performance in the UPSC Preliminary Examination.
Aiming to clear UPSC 2026, 2027 or 2028? Enroll in the Nischay UPSC Prelims Test Series by APTI PLUS Academy – the best UPSC test series trusted by toppers like Narendra Mathuriya.
