# From a Small Town to Professor at 26: How Aditya Cracked the Exam Using Just YouTube and Self Study > Aditya Kumar Prajapati from Chandla in Chhatarpur has cleared the Assistant Professor exam 2024 in Geography without any coaching, relying solely on self study and free YouTube classes. **Type:** article · **Category:** Success Stories · **Published:** 2026-06-25 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/success-stories/26-ki-umra-men-bina-kochinga-ke-asistenta-prophesara-bane-aditya-youtube-aura-selpha-stadi-bani-jita-ki-chabi-2883 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Aditya Kumar Prajapati, Assistant Professor Exam 2024, MPPSC, Self Study Success, UGC NET, Chhatarpur, Success Story Another name has joined the growing list of small-town youngsters who have made it big. The Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission recently announced the result of the Assistant Professor exam 2024, in which Aditya Kumar Prajapati, a resident of Chandla in Chhatarpur district, secured success in the Geography subject. What makes his story stand out is that he achieved this milestone at just 26 years of age, and that too without leaning on any expensive coaching. Both of Aditya's parents work as primary teachers in Chandla, so a learning environment was something he grew up with at home. His early and school education took place at Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Chandla, from where he completed both his Class 10 and Class 12. ## The Journey from Chandla to Prayagraj and Delhi After school, Aditya moved to Prayagraj and completed his BA from the University of Allahabad. During his graduation, he had opted for English literature, Economics and Geography. After finishing his degree in 2019, he was advised to pursue post graduation. However, his real intention was to prepare for the UPSC civil services, so he headed to Delhi. Around the same time, he also took admission in the MA Geography course at Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University. The Covid pandemic changed his plans. When the lockdown was imposed, he had to return to Chhatarpur just six months after reaching Delhi. His MA studies continued through this period. Aditya says he was advised that, alongside preparing for the UPSC civil services, one should also keep a second career option ready. With that in mind, he cleared the UGC-NET and JRF exam during his MA itself. He then began his PhD at Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University, which is still in progress and is set to be completed this year. ## He Refused to Give Up After Setbacks Aditya's path was far from easy. He appeared twice for the Mains stage of the MPPSC State Service exams of 2021 and 2022, but unfortunately could not clear the Mains on either occasion. On top of that, a vacancy for Assistant Professor in Geography had come out in 2021. He passed the written exam and reached the interview stage, but could not make it to the final selection. Despite these setbacks, he kept trying. ## How the PhD Helped in the Exam Aditya believes his PhD studies proved extremely useful in cracking the Assistant Professor exam. During his PhD at Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University, he also had to teach PG students, and that meant he had to keep studying himself. This very habit made him stronger for the exam. He prepared for both his PhD and the exam under the guidance of the person who had become an Assistant Professor in 2017. The HOD and professors of the university's Geography department also continued to support him. ## Success Without Coaching, Through Self Study The most striking part of Aditya's success is that he never stepped out of Chhatarpur for it, nor did he join any kind of coaching. He cleared this exam entirely on the strength of self study. For his preparation, he relied on free classes available on YouTube. He spent no money on buying online or offline courses, and not a single rupee on coaching. ## Aditya's Success Mantra Aditya has clear, straightforward advice for youngsters preparing for the exam. He says that anyone who wants to become an Assistant Professor should first download the syllabus from the official MPPSC website. After that, one should study the standard books that cover the syllabus. According to him, solving the old question papers of Assistant Professor exams from other states is very helpful, so aspirants should make a point of analysing and solving these previous papers. Aditya adds that if you have studied well during your post graduation, your UGC-NET will clear easily, and a student who passes the UGC-NET can crack the Assistant Professor exam with ease too. ## What this means for you - **For aspirants:** For those aiming to become Assistant Professors, this story shows that the exam can be cleared without coaching by using the MPPSC syllabus, standard books and solving old question papers from other states. - **In Chhatarpur and Bundelkhand:** For students from small towns like Chandla, it is an example that success in a major government exam is possible while staying at home and relying on free YouTube classes. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Who is Aditya Kumar Prajapati? He is a resident of Chandla in Chhatarpur district and has cleared the Assistant Professor exam 2024 in Geography. Both his parents are primary teachers in Chandla. ### 2. At what age and in which subject did Aditya succeed? He achieved success in the Assistant Professor exam in the Geography subject at the age of 26. ### 3. Did Aditya take any coaching? No, he did not join any coaching nor buy any online or offline courses. He cleared the exam through self study and free YouTube classes. ### 4. Where did Aditya complete his education? He did his schooling at Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Chandla, his BA from the University of Allahabad and his MA from Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University, where he is also currently pursuing his PhD. ### 5. Which exams had Aditya failed earlier? He appeared twice for the MPPSC State Service Mains in 2021 and 2022 but could not clear them, and in the 2021 Assistant Professor vacancy he reached the interview but missed the final selection. ### 6. What is Aditya's advice for students aspiring to become Assistant Professors? He suggests downloading the syllabus from the official MPPSC website, studying standard books, and analysing and solving the old question papers of Assistant Professor exams from other states. ## Inspiration & Lessons Aditya Kumar Prajapati's journey shows that big success is possible even with limited resources, through hard work and the right strategy. His story offers a few key lessons: - **Don't stop at failure:** Even after failing the MPPSC Mains twice and missing the final cut despite reaching the interview once, Aditya kept trying. - **Keep a second option ready:** Alongside his UPSC preparation, he built another strong career path by completing his MA and clearing the UGC-NET JRF. - **Strategy matters more than money:** He cleared the exam through self study and free YouTube classes alone, without spending on coaching or costly courses. - **Learn by teaching:** The habit of teaching PG students during his PhD strengthened his own preparation. - **Focus on syllabus and old papers:** Studying the official syllabus, standard books and analysing previous question papers from other states became the key to his success. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._