While appearing for my Class 12 exams back in 2015, I had no idea that a simple moment with a friend would change the course of my life. One day, a friend brought a form for the CPT exam, the entrance test for Chartered Accountancy. Without much thought, I filled it out. The exam was scheduled for June 2015, and to my surprise and joy, I cleared it in my first attempt. That was the first time I felt what it means to taste success that comes purely from one’s effort.
The Struggle Begins
After CPT, I gave my IPCC (Intermediate) exams in May 2016. I had prepared sincerely, but I couldn’t clear them. I scored 193 in the first group and 147 in the second, just 10 marks short of passing. It was painful to fall so close, but I reminded myself that failure is not the end, it’s a pause that asks you to restart stronger.
In my next attempt, December 2016, I cleared both groups of IPCC. That day, I felt the satisfaction that comes from persistence.
Learning Beyond Books
After that, I began my three-year articleship with Mittal Gupta & Co., a reputed CA firm in Kanpur. Those three years were truly transformative. I was constantly traveling for audits, learning from real-life cases, and handling responsibilities far beyond my years. I got immense exposure in financial systems, audit processes, and client management.
But with frequent outstation assignments came a major challenge, time. I barely got enough hours to prepare for my CA Final exams. Yet, I continued. I appeared for my CA Final attempt in May 2020 but couldn’t clear. I tried again in November 2020 and cleared the second group while also earning an exemption in Financial Reporting in the first group.
The pandemic hit next, and like many, I paused my May 2021 attempt. It was a time of reflection and self-realization. Finally, in November 2021, after years of effort, I cleared the CA Final and officially became a Chartered Accountant.
A Battle Within
During my articleship phase, I began facing a strange issue with my left eye. After a check-up, I was diagnosed with glaucoma, a condition that silently damages the optic nerve and could eventually lead to blindness. I was shaken, but I chose not to let it slow me down, especially with my exams approaching.
In February 2020, I underwent an operation in Ahmedabad. The surgery helped for a while, and I went back to focusing on my work and studies. But in 2023, things got worse. The pain returned, intense and unrelenting. My left eye turned red, tears would flow continuously, and I couldn’t even step into sunlight.
At that point, the DDA Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) Exam was near. Every day was a test of endurance, not just mental, but physical. There were moments when I felt like giving up, but something inside me kept saying, “You’ve come this far, don’t stop now.”
When Effort Meets Faith
Despite everything, I went ahead and gave the exam. It wasn’t easy, the competition was massive. There were lakhs of applicants, only 51 vacancies, and just 23 unreserved seats. The odds were almost impossible, but sometimes, life rewards those who refuse to surrender. When the results were declared, I saw my name among the selected candidates. I had cleared the DDA Assistant Accounts Officer Exam 2023, that moment made every sleepless night, every failure, and every tear worth it.
After the exam, I went through another eye surgery. Thankfully, it was successful, and today, I feel much better. I can walk in sunlight again, without pain and without fear.
The Lesson I Carry
Looking back, my journey has been anything but easy, filled with failures, surgeries, and doubts. But it also taught me what discipline, patience, and self-belief can achieve.
If you’re someone struggling right now, with exams, health, or self-doubt, remember this, you don’t have to be extraordinary to achieve something great. You just have to keep moving forward, one step at a time, even when it hurts.
Becoming a DDA Officer wasn’t just about clearing an exam for me, it was about proving to myself that strength isn’t about never falling, it’s about standing up every single time you do.
My Strategy for Clearing CA and DDA Exams
From my experience, clearing CA and DDA exams requires a mix of discipline, planning, and consistent effort. For CA, the key is to build strong conceptual clarity using ICAI study material, past-year questions, and revision test papers, while following a realistic study schedule with focused daily targets and regular revisions. Writing practice is crucial to improve speed and accuracy for both theory and practical problems. Maintaining physical and mental health is equally important, as long study hours demand endurance and focus. After completing CA, preparing for DDA requires leveraging your accounting knowledge, revising key subjects such as accounting, auditing, and costing, while also practicing general awareness, reasoning, and previous-year question papers to manage time effectively. Mock tests, analysis of mistakes, and consistent practice build both confidence and accuracy, ensuring you are exam-ready despite competition. The most important factor in both journeys is perseverance, patience, and believing in your ability to succeed even under challenging circumstances.
