BPSC 70th CCE Success Story: Shivangini Singh selected as Rural Development Officer

Determination, resilience, and unwavering self-belief often define the journeys of successful civil servants. One such inspiring story is that of Shivangini Singh, who has achieved success in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE). She has been selected as a Rural Development Officer. Hailing from Ara in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, Shivangini’s journey was marked by emotional challenges and moments of self-doubt after failing to clear even prelims in her first attempt. In her second attempt she cracked the BPSC exam with 1224 rank in the merit list. In this candid conversation with BiharConnect, she shares her preparation strategy, the lessons she learned during her journey, and her vision as a future administrator.

Please tell us about your hometown, family background, and educational journey.

I belong to Ara, in Bihar’s Bhojpur district. I completed my schooling from DAV Public School, Dhanupara, Ara, pursued my graduation from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), and later completed my post-graduation from IGNOU. My father is an advocate practicing in Ara, and my mother is a teacher. Their values and constant support have played a significant role in shaping my personality and aspirations.

What motivated you to pursue a career in civil services?

Since childhood, my mother taught me the importance of strength, compassion, and selfless service towards society. Her words stayed with me and inspired me to contribute to the greater good. As a girl from Bihar, I always wanted to do something meaningful for my state, particularly for women and their empowerment. Civil services appeared to be the best platform to turn that aspiration into reality and make a positive difference, even if it is just a small contribution.

How many attempts did it take for you to achieve success, and what were the biggest challenges during your preparation?

I achieved success in my second attempt. The journey, however, was not easy. The biggest challenges were:

• Constant anxiety and self-doubt.
• The recurring fear of failure.
• Social and family pressure regarding marriage.
• Financial constraints while living in Delhi for preparation.

There were many difficult moments, but looking back, every struggle feels worthwhile.

Could you walk us through your strategy for the Preliminary Examination?

For the Preliminary Examination, my preparation focused on:

• Bihar-specific books for a thorough understanding of the state.
• Current affairs through YouTube and standard current affairs compilations.
• Bihar-specific current affairs notes.
• Revision of subject notes multiple times.

I also solved mock tests from various coaching institutes under timed conditions. Mock tests helped me improve recall, identify weak areas, and build exam temperament.

What was your approach towards the Mains Examination?

Since it was my first Mains examination, I initially had very little understanding of the answer-writing requirements. To overcome this, I:

• Took several mock tests to understand the exam pattern.
• Identified important and recurring topics.
• Focused on repeated revision.
• Practised writing answers within time limits.

The mock tests played a crucial role in improving both my answer-writing skills and time management.

How did you prepare for the Personality Test (Interview)? What qualities do you think the board looks for?

The interview stage was the most challenging for me because I had never appeared for an interview before and was quite nervous. To overcome my fear, I attended multiple mock interviews, which gradually boosted my confidence. From my experience, I felt that the BPSC interview board looks for qualities such as:

• Calmness under pressure
• Patience
• Presence of mind
• Practical thinking
• Decision-making ability

These qualities are essential for handling real-life administrative situations effectively.

Looking back, what were the key factors behind your success?

Success is always the result of multiple factors coming together. For me, the most important factors were: discipline and consistency, self-belief, family support and guidance and motivation from loved ones. I am especially grateful to my parents, particularly my mother, and to my close friend, Gaurav Mishra, who supported me throughout this journey as if it were their own.

Competitive examinations can be emotionally demanding. How did you stay motivated?

This journey can be emotionally exhausting, and the company you keep matters immensely. My mother called me every day and would always say: “I am proud of you, and I know you will do it one day.” Her faith in me became my strength during difficult times. My friend Gaurav also played an extraordinary role in keeping me motivated. Whenever I felt like giving up, he reminded me of my strengths and encouraged me to continue. I am deeply grateful to everyone who stood by me when I was close to losing hope.

Were there moments of self-doubt or failure? How did you overcome them?

Yes, there were many moments of self-doubt. I overcame them because of the people who never stopped believing in me—my mother, my family, and my friends. Their unwavering trust gave me the courage to keep moving forward. I realised that setbacks are temporary, but perseverance eventually brings results.

What are the three most important lessons you learned from your BPSC journey?

The first, never compromise on hard work. Second, do not make excuses for failures; instead, learn from them and improve and third, always remain positive and believe in yourself.

What advice would you give to aspirants who are struggling or facing repeated failures?

My advice to every aspirant is simple: Do not lose hope; trust yourself and your journey and stay committed to what you have started. Success may take time, but sincere efforts never go in vain.

Also, surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you during difficult times. Choose your company wisely because the right people can become your greatest source of strength.

As a future administrator, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing Bihar today?

Some of the major challenges facing Bihar are: unemployment, migration, floods and droughts, gender inequality, and low literacy rates, especially among women. I believe education is the foundation for solving many of these issues. If given an opportunity, I would particularly like to work in the fields of education and women’s empowerment, as empowering women can transform society as a whole.

What does becoming a civil servant mean to you personally, and what kind of administrator do you aspire to be?

For me, becoming a civil servant means accepting responsibility towards society and working for the greater good. I aspire to become a people-friendly and accessible officer, someone whom citizens can approach without hesitation and who can genuinely work towards resolving their problems. I would consider my position meaningful only if I can positively impact people’s lives.

Finally, if you had to describe your entire journey in one sentence, what would it be?

My journey has been a beautiful culmination of highs and lows in pursuit of what I aspired to become.