Gaurav Singh Sogarwal is one of India’s most celebrated UPSC success stories — a man who rose from profound personal tragedy, rural poverty, and repeated failure to secure All India Rank 46 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016.
A native of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, who prepared entirely through the Hindi medium using Sanskrit literature as his optional subject, his journey has inspired millions of UPSC aspirants across India, particularly those from humble rural backgrounds and Hindi-speaking regions. His story is a masterclass in resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to a dream.
Profile
| Full Name | Gaurav Singh Sogarwal |
| Birthplace | Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India |
| State of Origin | Rajasthan |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | IAS Officer (Indian Administrative Service) |
| UPSC Year (Final Rank) | CSE 2016 – AIR 46 |
| Previous UPSC Rank | CSE 2015 – AIR 99 |
| Medium | Hindi |
| Optional Subject | Sanskrit Literature |
| Education | B.E. in Electrical Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune |
| Previous Service | BSF (Border Security Force) |
Early Life
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal hails from a rural agricultural family in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. His early life was marked by profound sorrow and hardship that would have broken most people. He lost his mother at the tender age of three and was raised by his stepmother and father. Tragedy struck again when his father, a government school teacher, passed away when Sogarwal was just 14 years old and studying in the tenth standard. From that moment, the responsibility of running the entire household fell on his young shoulders.
He had to do agricultural work, manage the family’s small farm — which was insufficient for survival — and simultaneously take care of his elder sister and younger brother. Despite living with emotional trauma and financial hardship, Sogarwal drew strength from one source: his father’s dying dream that his son would one day clear the civil services examination. Whenever he felt discouraged, he recalled his father — a memory that became the most powerful motivational force in his life.
Education
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal studied in a Hindi medium school throughout his formative years. Despite the financial challenges that plagued him, he managed to join college and pursued his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Electrical Engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune — one of his most cherished cities. During his college years, he had to manage study expenses for his brother and sister, household expenses, and his own college fees simultaneously, which was no small feat.
His educational journey was shaped not only by formal schooling but also by his deep financial resourcefulness and emotional resilience. After completing his engineering degree, his goal was always the civil services — a dream instilled by his late father.
Career
After graduating from college, Sogarwal started teaching at the Narayana IIT Academy in Delhi, where he had moved as part of his civil services preparation. He then got a teaching position at ETOOS Coaching Institute, Kota, with a substantial annual pay package of ₹20 lakhs. This financial stability helped him arrange his elder sister’s marriage and fund his younger brother’s MBA degree — responsibilities he had carried since his father’s death.
However, despite financial security, Sogarwal could not abandon his true calling. He quit his high-paying coaching job and returned to Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar to prepare for the UPSC. He started taking tuitions again to manage expenses during this period. He qualified for the Assistant Commandant exam during this time, but was denied entry to the academy because he was late by one day due to unforeseen events — yet another setback that he overcame.
He began his UPSC preparation in earnest in 2012. He qualified the CAPF examination and served as a BSF (Border Security Force) officer before cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination. On his first day of training, Sogarwal received the remarkable news that he had cleared the 2015 Civil Services Examination with a rank of 99. In 2016, he bettered his rank to an extraordinary AIR 46 — making him one of India’s celebrated UPSC toppers that year.
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal’s choice of Sanskrit literature as his optional subject in a Hindi medium is one of the most discussed aspects of his UPSC strategy. He cleared the examination relying entirely on Hindi, proving that language is never a barrier to cracking India’s most prestigious exam.
Social Media
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal maintains a presence on social media, primarily Facebook, where his inspiring story has been widely shared. He has also participated in YouTube interviews and topper talks hosted by various UPSC coaching platforms including Mrunal, IASBABA, and others. His interview on ForumIAS and other platforms continues to circulate as motivational content for UPSC aspirants. His social media presence is modest and focused on governance and public service rather than personal branding.
Personal Life
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal grew up as the eldest male in a family that lost its primary breadwinner very early. His sister and younger brother have both been supported by him through their major life milestones — his sister’s marriage and his brother’s MBA education. He sacrificed his own financial comfort multiple times to ensure the wellbeing of his family before himself.
Details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not prominently publicized. His personal life has largely remained private since his ascent into administrative service. What is well-known is that his character is defined by sacrifice, integrity, and a deep sense of familial duty that continues to shape his administrative ethos.
Net Worth
As an IAS officer who cleared the 2016 Civil Services Examination, Gaurav Singh Sogarwal earns his income as per the 7th Pay Commission pay structure applicable to IAS officers of his batch. IAS officers at his seniority level draw a monthly basic pay in the range of ₹78,800 to ₹1,18,500, depending on their posting, plus government allowances and perks. His estimated net worth has not been publicly disclosed. His primary source of income is his government salary as an IAS officer serving under the Government of India or a state government.
Awards & Recognition
- All India Rank 46 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 (Hindi Medium)
- All India Rank 99 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2015
- Qualified CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) examination
- Served in the Border Security Force (BSF) before joining IAS
- Widely recognized as one of India’s most inspiring Hindi medium UPSC toppers
- Featured extensively by leading UPSC platforms including Mrunal, IASBABA, and InsightsIAS as a motivational case study
FAQs
Who is Gaurav Singh Sogarwal IAS?
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal is an IAS officer who secured All India Rank 46 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2016 through the Hindi medium, using Sanskrit Literature as his optional subject. He is widely celebrated as one of India’s most inspiring UPSC success stories, having overcome personal tragedy and rural poverty to reach the top echelons of public service.
What was Gaurav Singh Sogarwal’s UPSC rank?
He secured AIR 99 in CSE 2015 and improved to AIR 46 in CSE 2016, both through Hindi medium.
What optional subject did Gaurav Singh Sogarwal choose?
He chose Sanskrit Literature as his optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Did Gaurav Singh Sogarwal prepare in Hindi medium?
Yes. Gaurav Singh Sogarwal is one of the most prominent examples of a Hindi medium UPSC topper, proving that the medium of instruction is not a barrier to cracking the civil services examination.
Where is Gaurav Singh Sogarwal from?
He hails from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and comes from a rural agricultural family.
What did Gaurav Singh Sogarwal do before becoming an IAS officer?
Before cracking the UPSC, he worked as a teacher at Narayana IIT Academy, Delhi, and ETOOS Coaching Institute, Kota. He also served in the BSF after qualifying the CAPF examination.
Conclusion
Gaurav Singh Sogarwal’s journey from a grief-stricken 14-year-old farmworker managing an entire household in rural Rajasthan, to becoming one of India’s top-ranked IAS officers through the Hindi medium, is one of the most powerful narratives in Indian civil services history. He proved that socioeconomic background, language of instruction, personal tragedy, and repeated failure can all be transcended through sheer determination and clarity of purpose. His story resonates deeply with millions of UPSC aspirants — particularly those from rural backgrounds and Hindi-speaking regions — reminding them that the civil services dream is achievable for anyone willing to pay the price of persistence and sacrifice.