For 15 years, Mayank Sachan wore the uniform of an Indian Navy sailor. But behind those years of service was another, much longer battle, one that came with rejection after rejection.He failed more than 15 competitive examinations. He appeared for the SSB twice and was unsuccessful both times. His first two attempts at the UPSC CAPF written examination also ended in failure.Then, on his third attempt the Kanpur resident secured All India Rank 343 in UPSC CAPF 2025, turning a string of setbacks into the result he had been working towards for years. His journey was highlighted by India Today after he shared his experience on Instagram.
From a government school to the Indian Navy
Mayank says his journey began in a modest family. He studied Classes 10 and 12 at a government school, while his father worked as an electrician at a private factory.With two siblings and financial constraints making engineering difficult, he chose another route and joined the Indian Navy as a sailor. He eventually spent 15 years in the service, while continuing his education alongside his professional responsibilities.During his Navy career, he completed his graduation and post-graduation in Public Administration through IGNOU, according to his account reported by India Today.But the desire to move into a different kind of public service did not disappear.
The rejections kept coming
His first attempts at entering the officer cadre did not go as planned.Mayank appeared for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination and reached the SSB stage, but did not clear the interview. A second SSB attempt, this time for a commission, ended the same way.He later attempted the UPSC Civil Services Examination but could not clear the preliminary stage.Then came CAPF.The first written attempt did not work out. Neither did the second.By then, Mayank says he had failed more than 15 competitive examinations overall. Yet he returned for the CAPF examination for a third time.This time, he cleared it.In the Instagram post that prompted the recent coverage, Mayank reflected on the role his years in the Navy played in helping him deal with repeated setbacks.According to his account, the discipline developed during his Navy years helped him handle those setbacks without abandoning the goal.For Mayank Sachan, the successful attempt was not the beginning of the journey. It was the attempt that came after he had already failed so many times.Disclaimer: The details about Mayank Sachan’s personal journey, including his exam attempts, setbacks and experiences, are based on information shared by him on his personal social media account. These personal claims have not been independently verified by Times of India.
