Raj Krishna Jha, popularly known as Raj Jha, is a UPSC Topper who secured All India Rank 8 in the 2024 Civil Services Exam. He hails from Bihar and scored a total of 1031 marks. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at his UPSC journey, the hurdles he faced along the way, and how he overcame them with determination and smart strategy.
Also Read about:
Shakti Dubey AIR 1
Harshita Goyal AIR 2
Komal Punia AIR 6
Aayushi Bansal AIR 8
Raj Krishna Jha Biography Overview Table
The following is an overview biography of Raj Krishna Jha in a table format:
| Name | Raj Krishna Jha |
| Age | 27 |
| Hometown | Athri village, Runnisaidpur, Sitamarhi district, North Bihar |
| Early Schooling | Langat Singh College in Muzaffarpur, Bihar |
| Gradudation | B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj in 2018 |
| Profession | Worked at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited for past 7 years |
| UPSC Rank | All India Rank 8 |
| UPSC attempts | 5 |
| Marks Obtained | 1031 |
| Optional Subject | Geography |
Raj Jha’s Educational Background
| Qualifications | Details |
| Early Education | Completed his early schooling from a school in Nepal, near the Bhitamore border |
| Senior Secondary Education | Langat Singh College in Muzaffarpur, Bihar |
| Under graduation | B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj in 2018 |
Raj Jha UPSC Attempts
Raj Krishna Jha secured the 8th rank in UPSC CSE 2024 in his fifth attempt, proving that perseverance and consistent effort truly pay off. He started preparing for the UPSC Civil Service Examination in 2020 and in 2024, he finally cleared it in his fifth attempt.
Optional Subject of Raj Jha
Raj Jha’s optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination was Geography. His choice for Geography was both interest based and strategic. He mentioned his immense interest in geography and static question.
Raj Krishna Jha UPSC Preparation
Key Strategies followed by Raj Krishna Jha to prepare for UPSC Examination:
| Exam Stage | Strategy | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Focus on Strengths | Emphasized strong subjects like Polity and Geography, enjoying static questions and trivia, which helped clear Prelims three times. |
| Prelims | Limit Study Resources | Kept study materials limited to manage the vast syllabus, including Laxmikanth for Polity, G.C. Leong for Geography, NCERTs up to 12th, and one monthly magazine. |
| Prelims | Consistent Newspaper Reading | Read The Indian Express daily and The Hindu’s editorials occasionally for varied perspectives, noting or highlighting important articles for revision. |
| Mains (Ethics Paper) | Study Previous Years’ Questions | Analyzed five years’ Ethics questions, evaluated answers through peers and mock tests to understand the paper’s unique format. |
| Mains (Ethics Paper) | Prioritize Time Management | Focused on completing the Ethics paper within three hours, addressing past struggles with its format in 2022. |
| Mains (Ethics Paper) | Use Work Experience | Drew on his PSU experience emphasizing integrity to craft practical, experience-based answers for Ethics. |
| Mains (Essay) | Regular Essay Practice | Wrote essays every second or third day to improve, scoring 112 in 2022. |
| Mains (Essay) | Use AI Tools | Used AI to enhance essays by exploring multidimensional aspects of topics, asking AI for value additions to his ideas. |
| Mains (General) | Adopt Point-Wise Answers | Preferred point-wise answers over paragraphs after finding lower mock test scores with paragraphs, though he studied toppers’ diagram-heavy answers. |
| Optional (Geography) | Focus on Standard Books | Read Savindra Singh’s five books and Majid Husain’s Human Geography to cover the syllabus, improving from 238 marks in 2023. |
| Optional (Geography) | Solve Previous Years’ Questions | Emphasized PYQs, noting repeated questions in 2024, which boosted confidence and eased attempts in the exam hall. |
| General | Self-Evaluation via Mock Tests | Relied on mock tests over coaching, using free online resources to assess and improve performance, critical for working professionals. |
| General | Honest Time Management | Managed time based on personal capacity (e.g., 1–2 hours daily), being honest about preparation needs while balancing a job. |
| General | Seek Guidance for Starting | Started with guidance from his brother-in-law, recommending beginners connect with experienced individuals for direction. |
| General | Discuss with Family/Friends | Talked honestly with family and friends during low phases (e.g., after third/fourth attempts) to gain motivation and lighten mental burden. |
Conclusion
Raj Jha’s journey from a small village in Bihar to cracking the UPSC in his fifth attempt is a powerful reminder of what perseverance and self-belief can achieve. While juggling a demanding job at HPCL, he stayed focused, made the most of mock tests, and leaned on his family’s support during tough times.
With Geography as his strong suit, he kept his strategy simple—stick to your strengths, limit your resources, and keep evaluating yourself honestly. Raj’s story is not just inspiring for the youth of Bihar, but for anyone chasing a big dream. His message? Stay consistent, ask for help when needed, and don’t let setbacks shake your spirit. Let his journey motivate you to keep going—with focus, grit, and faith in yourself.
If you like this article, make sure to read about the other UPSC CSE 2024 Toppers
Frequently Asked Questions about Raj Krishna Jha
How many attempts did Raj Krishna Jha take to clear UPSC?
He cleared UPSC in his 5th attempt, after starting preparation in 2020.
What was Raj Jha’s optional subject in UPSC?
His optional subject was Geography, chosen out of interest and scoring potential.
What is Raj Krishna Jha’s educational background?
He did B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from MNNIT Prayagraj, graduating in 2018.
How did Raj Krishna Jha manage UPSC prep while working?
He studied 1–2 hours daily while working at HPCL, focusing on smart revision and honest self-evaluation.