Google techie working in US cracks UPSC after 5 attempts, bags AIR 402: '10,000 miles did not hinder prep'

Google techie clears UPSC after five attempts. (Image: Piyush Kapoor/ LinkedIn)

For many Indians, cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination is considered the ultimate achievement, demanding years of preparation, discipline, and focus. Attempting this while managing a full-time career abroad is rare. Yet, Piyush Kapoor, a 32-year-old from Lucknow, has achieved this extraordinary feat.

As reported by the Times of India, he secured the 402nd rank in the UPSC results announced on Friday, while working as a software engineer at Google in Mountain View, California. Managing a demanding international job and preparing for one of India’s most competitive examinations required careful planning and steady perseverance.

The journey to success was not easy. Preparing for the UPSC from abroad can be isolating, especially after multiple setbacks. For Piyush, his family became a source of strength and guidance. Reflecting on his journey, his father, Arun Kapoor, 66, a retired banker, shared, “We turned the odds into his assets and kept pursuing the goal. It was his fifth attempt, but he never let a setback define him.”

This support helped Piyush remain focused and motivated, even when facing the pressures of repeated attempts and a challenging work schedule. Piyush’s educational background and professional experience gave him a strong foundation to approach the UPSC systematically. A graduate in computer science from IIT-BHU, he joined Google as a software engineer and worked on improving Gmail’s spam and phishing protection systems.

While his work at Google demanded long hours and concentration, Piyush applied a methodical approach to his exam preparation. Speaking about his strategy, he said, “My mantra was simple: consistency over intensity. Instead of chasing unsustainable 12-hour study sessions, I focused on two to three hours of deeply concentrated preparation every day.”

One unique challenge was the 13-hour time difference between California and India. Instead of letting this hinder his preparation, Piyush turned it into an advantage.

He explained how this helped him stay updated on current affairs, an essential part of UPSC preparation, “When newspapers, current affairs updates, and coaching materials were published in India each morning, it was evening in California. This allowed me to access the latest information almost in real time without disrupting his work schedule. By the time my American workday began, I had already completed my focused study session, staying aligned with developments back home.”

Piyush treated the UPSC syllabus like a large system design problem, using his analytical skills from technology to structure his preparation. He relied heavily on digital tools for note-making and accessing online resources, ensuring that the distance from India did not hinder his progress. He explained, “I relied heavily on digital notemaking tools and online resources, ensuring that the physical distance of 10,000 miles did not hinder my preparation.”

He also chose Mathematics as his optional subject, leveraging his strength in analytical thinking to secure better scores in the exam. For Piyush, the decision to attempt UPSC was driven by a desire to apply his skills in a broader social context. He said, “I wanted to move from building products to building the nation.” Even after multiple failed attempts, he remained committed to his goal, showing perseverance that is often cited as essential for UPSC aspirants.