Third Attempt, AIR 76 — Faridkot Inspector Sunawardeep Masoun Cracks UPSC 2025
Sunawardeep Singh Masoun, 26, from Faridkot, Punjab secured AIR 76 in UPSC CSE 2025 on his third attempt. He serves as a Grade B inspector in Punjab's cooperatives department and is a mechanical engineering graduate from Symbiosis, Pune.
UPSC CSE 2025: Faridkot Inspector Sunawardeep Singh Masoun Bags AIR 76 on Third Attempt — 'Keep Trying,' He Says
Sunawardeep Singh Masoun, 26, a Grade B officer with Punjab's cooperatives department, cleared UPSC CSE 2025 with AIR 76 after failing to clear prelims in his first attempt and missing mains clearance in his second. His story is one of patience, purpose and never giving up.
Not everyone who makes it to the UPSC merit list gets there on their first try. For Sunawardeep Singh Masoun, 26, from Faridkot, Punjab, the journey took three attempts, two setbacks, and one unshakeable belief that the work he wanted to do for ordinary people could not wait. A serving inspector and Grade B officer with Punjab's cooperatives department, Masoun has secured All India Rank 76 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 — and his message to every struggling aspirant is simple and direct: keep trying.
Sunawardeep Singh Masoun secured AIR 76 in UPSC CSE 2025 after three attempts, proving that persistence and belief can overcome early setbacks.
A Field Officer Who Saw the Gap Between Power and Purpose
Masoun is a mechanical engineering graduate from Symbiosis Institute in Pune. After completing his education, he joined the Punjab cooperatives department as an inspector, a role that brought him face to face with the realities of everyday life in rural Punjab.
In his daily work, he interacted closely with women from low-income households, daily wage labourers, farmers, and others from the grassroots level of society. He could see their problems clearly. What he could not do — as an inspector — was fix them.
"Being a field officer in the cooperatives department, I have daily interactions with the grassroot population like women, daily wagers and others, so I know what their issues are. I did not have much power as an inspector to make any difference in their lives, so I decided to prepare for civil services."
That frustration — of knowing the problem but lacking the authority to act — became the fuel for his UPSC preparation. He wanted a position where he could actually change things, not just witness them.
Working closely with grassroots communities in rural Punjab inspired Sunawardeep Singh Masoun to pursue the civil services and gain the authority to make a real difference.
Three Attempts, Two Failures, One Big Result
Masoun's road to AIR 76 was anything but smooth. In his first attempt in 2022, he did not even clear the preliminary examination — the very first stage of the three-tier UPSC process. It was a hard blow, but he did not stop.
He came back stronger in his second attempt in 2024, this time clearing the prelims and making it all the way to the mains examination. But the mains result did not go his way either. Two attempts, two disappointments — and yet he returned for a third time.
This time, everything came together. In UPSC CSE 2025, Sunawardeep Singh Masoun cleared all three stages and emerged with All India Rank 76 — a result that reflects not just his intelligence, but his extraordinary persistence.
"This was my third attempt."
After failing prelims in his first attempt and missing mains in his second, Sunawardeep Singh Masoun secured AIR 76 in his third attempt at UPSC CSE 2025.
An Academically Strong Family Behind Him
Masoun comes from a family deeply rooted in education and public service. His mother, Dr Gagandeep Kaur, is an associate professor at a college in Punjab. His father, Dr Kuldeep Singh, holds the position of Director at the Regional Research Centre under Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) — one of India's leading agricultural institutions.
Growing up in a household where knowledge and public contribution were everyday values clearly shaped the way Masoun thinks about his own career and responsibilities.
Coming from a family dedicated to education and public service helped shape Sunawardeep Singh Masoun's vision for a career in civil services.
His Message: Failure Is Not the End
For the thousands of UPSC aspirants who are currently preparing — many of whom are on their second, third, or even fourth attempt — Masoun has a message that comes from lived experience, not just inspiration.
"Those who do not clear in the first, second or even third attempt should not get demotivated. Keep trying."
These are not just words of comfort. They come from a man who lived exactly that reality. He did not clear prelims in 2022. He did not clear mains in 2024. And in 2026, he has an All India Rank of 76 to show for his patience.
Sunawardeep Singh Masoun's story is a reminder that UPSC is not a sprint — it is a marathon. The finish line does not disappear because you stumble. For every aspirant who has faced rejection and is wondering whether to try again, Masoun's AIR 76 on his third attempt is perhaps the clearest possible answer.
"Keep trying," says Sunawardeep Singh Masoun — a message rooted in his own journey from setbacks to securing AIR 76 in UPSC CSE 2025.
Prepare for UPSC with the Right Strategy
Inspired by the journey of Sunawardeep Singh Masoun and other UPSC toppers? With the right preparation strategy, disciplined study plan, and expert mentorship, you can move closer to your dream of joining India's civil services. Connect with our mentors and begin your UPSC preparation journey today.
