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UPSC EPFO EO/AO AIR-1’s Journey & Strategy

Priti Palit

Meet Karan Raghav, who achieved the top position in the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2017 with an All India Rank of 1. While many recognize him as the AIR-1 in this competitive exam, few understand the challenges he faced. He went through five attempts in the CSE mains and dedicated years to intense preparation. This blog explores Karan’s unique approach, his mindset, and how he transformed setbacks into opportunities.

The UPSC Journey & Discovering EPFO

Karan Raghav started his UPSC journey in 2012. He took part in five CSE mains exams but did not make it to the final list. Despite the challenges, he kept going, motivated by a growing sense of purpose. In 2016, while preparing in Gujarat, he learned about the EPFO EO/AO notification through his peers and saw it as a great chance.

He researched the role in detail and recognized how it matched his skills and profile. His decision to apply stemmed from both awareness and adaptability, which are important traits for any candidate.

Strategic Preparation Approach

Karan’s success came from using his strengths like his commerce background, UPSC preparation, and CAT-level aptitude to match the EPFO syllabus. He followed a smart and focused approach:

His advice: You don’t need to know everything. Just study smart and make the most of what you already know.

Current Affairs, Interview, and Personality

For current affairs, Karan recommends covering at least one year thoroughly, especially topics like government schemes, social security, and economy-related developments.

During the interview, Karan talked openly about his failures and what he had learned from them. He was questioned on optional subjects, current issues, ethics, and profile-related themes.

His golden rule: Stay calm and be yourself. Pick your interview language (English or Hindi) beforehand and don’t switch during the interview.

Role, Promotions & Work Culture in EPFO

Now posted in Delhi, Karan handles both core duties and Public Relations. He describes EPFO as a space where:

He emphasized that “desirable qualification” is not mandatory. Candidates from diverse academic streams also made the cut.

What Karan Learned and His Final Advice

After five unsuccessful CSE attempts, Karan stayed motivated through self-evaluation, support from family, and a consistent effort to improve. He urges aspirants to:

“You don’t need to burn yourself chasing someone else’s idea of success. Be honest with yourself, and walk your own path.”

Questions on UPSC EPFO EO/AO Preparation (Answered Karan Raghav)

Q1. Do you need a commerce background to clear the EPFO EO/AO exam?

Ans: No, it’s not necessary. While Karan had a commerce background, he emphasizes that candidates from diverse streams like sociology or geology have also cleared the exam. You just need to identify your strengths and plan smartly.

Q2. Is the “desirable qualification” in the EPFO notification mandatory?

Ans: Not at all. Karan himself did not have the listed “desirable qualification,” yet he topped the exam. It’s not a disqualifier; your performance matters more.

Q3. What should I focus on while preparing for the EPFO exam?

Ans: Focus on your strong areas and build basic understanding in weaker ones. Use previous year papers from similar exams (like APFC, SSC, CDS), revise NCERT summaries, and cover at least one year of current affairs.

Q4. How important is current affairs for EPFO?

Ans: Very important. Focus on employment news, social security schemes, and government initiatives. Cover at least one year thoroughly old current affairs can also show up.

Q5. What language should I use in the interview?

A: You must choose either English or Hindi not both. Once selected, stick to it throughout the interview.