BPSC 70th exam: Pooja Kumari clears DSP post after 6 failures
Synopsis
Six failures, seven years of self-study, and a farmer's daughter from a Bihar village — Pooja Kumari's selection as DSP in the 70th BPSC exam is the kind of persistence story that cuts through the noise of Bihar's troubled exam season. Her rural-to-officer arc, built without heavy coaching, is already reshaping aspirations in Kesath village.
Key Takeaways
Pooja Kumari from Kesath village, Buxar district, Bihar secured the 999th rank in the 70th BPSC exam and was selected as DSP .
She had previously attempted BPSC and UPSC examinations six times without success before this result.
Her preparation spanned approximately 7 to 8 years , relying primarily on self-study rather than coaching.
She studied at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kaimur and completed her BA from IGNOU .
Her father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker ; she credited family support as the key driver of her persistence.
She advises aspirants to prioritise NCERT books , solve previous years' papers, and limit current affairs study to one hour daily .
Pooja Kumari, a farmer's daughter from Kesath village in Buxar district, Bihar, has secured the 999th rank in the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination, earning selection to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) — after six previous attempts across BPSC and UPSC that ended without success.
Seven Years in the Making
Pooja's journey to the DSP post spanned roughly 7 to 8 years of preparation. Her path through the BPSC was marked by near-misses and outright rejections: she reached the interview stage in the 64th BPSC exam but was not selected; failed to clear the prelims in the 65th; cleared the mains in the 66th but did not advance further; and then failed the prelims in three successive attempts. The 70th BPSC exam finally broke the pattern.
Her academic foundation was built at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kaimur, after which she completed her Bachelor of Arts from IGNOU. She also attempted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination but was not successful there either.
Self-Study Over Coaching
Rather than leaning heavily on coaching institutes, Pooja said she prioritised self-study throughout her preparation. She told reporters that continuous encouragement from her parents and siblings was the single most important factor that kept her going after each setback. Her father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker — a household with limited resources but, by her account, unwavering support.
This is notable in a state where access to quality coaching is concentrated in urban centres like Patna, and aspirants from rural districts often face structural disadvantages in competitive exam preparation.
Her Advice to Aspirants
Speaking after her result, Pooja said: 'Never lose hope. NCERT books are very important for the basics. Solve previous years' question papers. Do not spend too much time on current affairs — one hour daily is enough.'
She also cautioned against letting exam results define one's trajectory. 'Those who stop do not grow — only those who keep moving forward achieve progress,' she added.
Village Celebrates, Families Inspired
News of Pooja's selection has triggered celebrations in Kesath village, with family members and neighbours expressing pride. According to reports, villagers now speak of their own daughters aspiring to follow a similar path — a shift in aspiration that her success has visibly catalysed in the community.
Pooja's story arrives at a time when Bihar's competitive exam ecosystem is under scrutiny over paper leaks and systemic irregularities, making her persistence-driven success all the more resonant for the state's large aspirant population. With her DSP appointment now confirmed, she is set to join the Bihar Police's officer cadre.
Point of View
And that rural Bihar aspirants face insurmountable structural odds. Six failures over eight years from a village in Buxar, with a farmer father and no coaching crutch, ending in a DSP appointment — that is not an outlier story, it is a systems critique dressed as inspiration. Bihar's exam ecosystem has been battered by paper leak controversies; the state needs more than feel-good arcs, it needs the institutional integrity that makes Pooja's kind of merit-based persistence reliably rewarded rather than occasionally lucky.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pooja Kumari and what did she achieve in the BPSC exam?
Pooja Kumari is a resident of Kesath village in Buxar district, Bihar, who secured the 999th rank in the 70th BPSC examination and was selected for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). She achieved this after six previous failed attempts across BPSC and UPSC exams over roughly 7 to 8 years.
How many times did Pooja Kumari attempt the BPSC before succeeding?
Pooja attempted the BPSC and UPSC examinations a combined six times before clearing the 70th BPSC. Her earlier BPSC attempts included reaching the interview stage in the 64th exam, clearing the mains in the 66th, and failing the prelims in three subsequent attempts.
What preparation strategy did Pooja Kumari follow for the BPSC exam?
Pooja focused primarily on self-study rather than coaching, a deliberate choice she has spoken about openly. She recommends NCERT books for foundational concepts, solving previous years' question papers, and restricting current affairs preparation to one hour per day.
What is Pooja Kumari's educational background?
Pooja completed her schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kaimur district and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from IGNOU. She also prepared for the UPSC civil services examination but was not successful in that attempt.
Why is Pooja Kumari's BPSC success significant for rural Bihar?
Pooja's selection as DSP is significant because she comes from a modest rural background — her father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker — and succeeded largely through self-study without institutional coaching support. Her success has already inspired aspirations among families in her village, and it arrives at a time when Bihar's competitive exam environment is under scrutiny over systemic issues.
