Plan B: After UPSC Preparation, Political PR, and the Aftermath of Life of a Consultant

 

It has been a while since I wrote something or simply sat down to blog. Life lately has been moving too fast — so much happening all at once that writing somehow took a backseat. But over the past few months, one question has repeatedly appeared in my DMs from students and young consultants stepping into this field:

“How did you manage to come this far?”

From the outside, the journey may look exciting, even glamorous. Election campaigns, war rooms, political meetings, travelling across states — it all sounds fascinating. But the reality behind Political PR and consultancy is far more layered, exhausting, and emotionally demanding than what appears on social media. And perhaps that is exactly why this story needs to be told.

When UPSC Stops Being the Only Dream

I still remember the year 2024. The JPSC examination process had put on hold, and uncertainty had quietly started consuming me. One day, my sister looked at me and said: “Mons, it’s been a while now. You need to find other options.”I remember crying while replying to her:“Didi, I don’t think I am left with any skill. Preparing for exams is not a skill. What will I even do?”That was my mental state back then.

Anyone who has prepared for UPSC or any competitive examination for years will understand this feeling. Somewhere in the process, your identity becomes attached to the exam itself. You stop seeing yourself beyond preparation. And when uncertainty enters, it feels like standing in the middle of nowhere without direction. At that point, even earning ₹10,000 per month felt like a luxury to me. But wen I had lost confidence in myself, my sister didn’t. She researched opportunities, re-designed my CV, and made it look presentable enough for recruiters to notice. Then began the phase every aspirant fears of applying anywhere — Call centres, Coaching institutes, PR firms, Startups, etc. Anywhere that were hiring. I applied to all of them. Most applications went unanswered. Some rejected me. Many never reverted. But eventually, one call changed everything.

The Unexpected Entry into PR

One fine day, I got a call from a small PR startup hiring for a Strategist and Business Development role. That was my first exposure to the PR industry.The firm primarily worked in Corporate PR and Digital Marketing. Looking back, that job may not have been my final destination, but it gave me something I desperately needed at that stage of life: Confidence.

For the first time after years of exam preparation, I realised I could survive professionally outside the UPSC ecosystem. Even today, I remain grateful to the HR manager who gave me that opportunity. But deep down, I knew corporate PR was not where I truly belonged.

Discovering Political PR

Within seven months, I started exploring another domain that had always interested me — Political PR. This time, I approached things differently. I studied the industry. I researched political consulting firms. I watched hundreds of interview videos just to understand how to present myself better. Slowly, I started preparing not as an aspirant, but as a professional. Then, in October 2024, I received a call that completely altered the course of my career. After just three simple interview questions, my campaign manager hired me for the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Campaign. And that became the real turning point.

Ex- MLA , Mr. Dhanraj Mhale (Dindori Vidhansabha ), during the election campaign in Maharashtra 

Entering the World of Indian Elections

When I first landed in Maharashtra, the truth is — I knew absolutely nothing. Nothing about the functioning of election campaigns. Nothing about political operations. Nothing about how strategy actually works on the ground. My campaign manager taught me everything — the basics, the standards, the expectations, and most importantly, the loopholes that no classroom or textbook can ever teach you.Even today, he remains my mentor. Whenever situations overwhelm me, I still go back to him for guidance. In a profession as unpredictable as political consulting, having someone who helps you navigate through chaos becomes invaluable.But while getting into Political PR felt lucky, surviving in it was an entirely different struggle.

The Reality of Political Consulting

People often think becoming a political consultant is difficult.It is.But staying in this profession is even harder. Political consulting is not a 9-to-5 job. There are no fixed working hours, no predictable schedules, and honestly, very little personal life during election season. When campaigns peak, sleep becomes optional.Your days are spent in endless meetings, understanding caste equations, analysing political behaviour, reading local sentiments, speaking to leaders, and observing the mood of the constituency. And when the day finally ends, reports begin. There are days when you survive on one meal and ten cups of tea or coffee. The work culture can be extremely toxic. Work hours become toxic. Deadlines never really end. And your body eventually starts reacting to this lifestyle.That is why people who survive in Political PR are not merely working for money. Somewhere, they genuinely love politics, strategy, elections, and the thrill of understanding how India functions politically. I have worked across multiple states during election campaigns, and despite the chaos, I truly love this profession.Because every state teaches you something new. Every constituency surprises you. And every election rewrites your understanding of Indian politics.

Mr. Bhaulal Tambde (District President, Shivsena Nashik) 

During one of my meetings with local politicians in Maharashtra

The Three Major Domains in Political PR

One thing people often ask is:

“What are the career options in Political PR?”

The truth is — there are countless opportunities. Broadly, the field can be divided into three major sectors:

1. Ground PR Team

This is the core fieldwork of election campaigns. The Ground Team interacts directly with local leaders and voters, conducts meetings, understands public sentiment, observes caste and social dynamics, and studies the political mood of the constituency.Based on these observations, detailed ground reports are prepared, which later shape campaign strategies.For students from backgrounds like Political Science and International Relations, this domain can be an incredible learning experience because it exposes you to the real social and political structure of India beyond books and theories.

2. PIU Team (Political Intelligence Unit)

This is where research and strategy dominate.The PIU Team studies constituencies in detail — voter behaviour, historical election data, demographic patterns, caste calculations, opposition strengths, local issues, and political trends. They analyse the information collected by Ground Teams and convert it into actionable campaign strategies. Unlike field teams, most PIU work happens in offices, war rooms, and data systems.

3. Social Media Team

This is perhaps the fastest-growing segment in Political PR today. The Social Media Team handles content creation, narrative building, digital campaigns, reputation management, positive and negative PR, trend analysis, propaganda tracking, and online political communication. This team works both on-ground and remotely, depending on campaign requirements. For people interested in content writing, graphic design, digital marketing, or political communication, this space offers enormous opportunities.

UPSC Preparation and Political PR: Can Both Coexist?

Another question I constantly receive is:

“How do you manage studies alongside such a demanding profession?”

The answer is simple — you learn to manage your day strategically. While travelling, I read newspapers. Newspaper reading is anyway essential both for competitive exams and for political consulting. Articles, government policies, and PIB updates remain relevant in both worlds.In many ways, the work itself becomes a continuous revision process.Yes, election season gets extremely hectic. Sometimes, even managing four hours of study feels difficult. But the advantage of this profession is that not every month is an election month. There are phases when work slows down, and during those periods, you can easily dedicate seven to eight hours daily to preparation. The key is discipline, adaptability, and consistency.

The Aftermath of Political PR

Political PR changes you. Not just professionally, but personally too.It teaches you resilience. It teaches you emotional control. It teaches you how power functions behind speeches and headlines. But most importantly, it teaches you that politics is ultimately about people. Behind every election statistic are emotions, identities, aspirations, fears, and survival. And perhaps that is why no AI can truly replace political strategists completely. Because elections are not merely games of numbers.They are games of timing, human behaviour, perception, and strategy.And those things still require human instinct.

What This Journey Taught Me

If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it is this:

It is never too late to begin again.

Holding onto one failed path forever will only stop you from discovering newer possibilities. Yes, UPSC preparation teaches discipline and knowledge, but life outside exams also has immense opportunities if you are willing to adapt.My managers, colleagues, juniors, and mentors taught me many things over these years. But one lesson I will never unlearn is this:

Live life.

Because in consultancy, especially Political PR, living life often feels like a luxury. The little time we get with our families, friends, and loved ones matters deeply. And as Indian politics evolves alongside technology and a growing economy, Political PR too is changing rapidly. If we do not evolve with it, we risk becoming irrelevant.So for every UPSC aspirant wondering whether there is life beyond examinations — there is. And sometimes, your Plan B introduces you to a version of yourself you never knew existed.