She failed UPSC ESE by just 1 mark, a year later Mridupani Nambi turned the setback into AIR 21

One mark separated Mridupani Nambi from her goal in 2020. After months of preparation, she missed qualifying the preliminary stage of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also known as the Indian Engineering Services (IES), by a single mark.

The result left her disappointed, but it also reshaped the way she approached the examination.Instead of treating the setback as the end of her journey, she viewed it as an opportunity to prepare differently. She stepped away from distractions, refined her strategy, and returned the following year with a clearer plan. Her second attempt ended with an All India Rank (AIR) 21, securing her place as an Indian Engineering Services officer.

Early years and engineering background

Mridupani Nambi is a native of Hyderabad, where she completed her schooling. In an interview, she shared that she was academically inclined from an early age and developed a strong interest in engineering and technology during her school years.After completing Class 12, she began preparing for the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), with the aim of pursuing engineering from a reputed institution.

She later enrolled at G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science, where she completed her Bachelor of Technology (BTech).Her engineering education gradually strengthened her interest in competitive examinations. While pursuing her degree, she also began thinking more seriously about her long-term career goals.

Choosing UPSC Engineering Services Examination

After graduation, Mridupani chose to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission Engineering Services Examination instead of immediately pursuing a job.

During her academic years, she had learned about the different examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, and the Engineering Services Examination emerged as the path she wanted to follow.The decision marked a shift from academic preparation to one centred on public service through engineering.

The one-mark setback

Mridupani appeared for the Engineering Services Examination for the first time in 2020. Despite her preparation, she fell short in the preliminary examination by just one mark.The result was difficult to accept. Missing an examination by such a narrow margin can often feel more discouraging than a wider gap because it raises questions about what could have been done differently. For a brief period, she felt disappointed. However, rather than allowing that disappointment to define the outcome, she decided that her next attempt would be different.

A change in preparation

Following the result, Mridupani reduced distractions by staying away from her phone and social media.

The decision allowed her to devote more time to revision and structured preparation.Her second attempt focused on consistent revision, mock tests, and time management. Rather than beginning from scratch, she worked on improving the areas that had prevented her from clearing the examination in her first attempt.

AIR 21 in the second attempt

The revised preparation paid off. In her second attempt, Mridupani secured All India Rank 21 in the Union Public Service Commission Engineering Services Examination and became an Indian Engineering Services officer.Her journey demonstrates how a narrow failure does not necessarily determine the final outcome. A single mark kept her out of the examination one year, but disciplined preparation helped her achieve success in the next.For many competitive examination aspirants, her story serves as a reminder that setbacks are not always indicators of ability. Sometimes, they become the point from which a more focused and effective preparation begins.