Is UPSC Really About Luck? | What Actually Decides Selection in UPSC | Vijender Masijeevi

For aspirants preparing for Prelims, structured MCQ practice plays a critical role in reducing uncertainty. I found Oswal Books MCQ Power Bank to be well-curated and exam-aligned for serious practice: Get upto 50% discount by using the coupon code VC10 on Link for Power Bank Books :- https://shorturl.at/PYSI4 Link for Other NCERT Books :- https://shorturl.at/GxtN4 Is success in UPSC really about luck, or is that just an easy explanation we give ourselves? Every year nearly 10–11 lakh aspirants appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, and barely 700–1000 finally get selected. With a success rate close to 1%, it is natural for aspirants to ask one difficult question: Is UPSC a game of luck? In this video, I break this question down honestly and stage by stage. We look at Prelims, where objective questions, negative marking, unpredictable trends, and two or three questions can decide your future. We discuss why this phase has the highest luck-to-effort ratio and how preparation can still reduce randomness. We then move to Mains, a descriptive examination where analytical ability, answer writing practice, critical thinking, and depth of understanding matter far more than chance. Here, luck plays a very limited role. Finally, we talk about the Interview, where attitude, emotional maturity, communication, background relevance, and yes, factors beyond your control also come into play. Beyond exams, this video also addresses a deeper truth: privilege, birth, geography, caste, financial background, and environment shape opportunities long before effort begins. These are often labelled as “luck,” even though they are structural realities. The real question is not whether luck exists. The real question is what you do about the things you can control. If you are preparing for UPSC or any competitive exam and struggling with self-doubt, comparisons, or frustration, this conversation will help you think more clearly and prepare more honestly. About Dr Vijender: Dr Vijender Chauhan is an educator, UPSC Interviewer and Motivational speaker with an experience of over a decade. He is one of the most recognised faces among the UPSC aspirants. Follow us on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masijeevi Twitter: https://x.com/masijeevi?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masijeevi/ Public speaking series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsjpxNdkPe9703jiUliZrRB8cZMIXPyH&si=iIQoHc2SrsoOdI1M Podcast with Dr Vijender: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsjpxNdkPe8xHGGNWhzZEzVbugyiyGnd&si=qyySVVRlZNSba8LI #upsc #upscpreparation #upscjourney #luck #upscprelims #upscmains #upscinterview #civilservices #iaspreparation #upscmotivation #examreality #upscexam #aspirantslife #upscmindset #hardworkvsluck #competitiveexams #upscguidance #vijenderchauhan