Vikalpa N Vishwakarma (AIR-275, CSE-21) Prelims Mains and Interview Strategy
Hi All,
Vikalpa N Vishwakarma secured AIR-275 in CSE-21. She is already into Indian Forest Service (AIR-14, 2020)
Following is her detailed Prelims, Mains and Interview Strategy
Introduction
Brief about myself. I am Vikalpa N Vishwakarma. I am an Electronics and Telecommunication graduate by education, a Telecom Engineer by profession, and recently was able to secure an AIR of 275 in Civil Services Examination 2021. Earlier I have secured AIR 14 in Indian Forest Services Examination 2020. I am here to take you through my Civil Services journey.
You can contact Vikalpa at her Instagram Profile.
This was my 4th Mains Attempt and 1st Interview. I started my preparation in 2017. I was able to clear Prelims in all my serious attempts of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. I have always struggled with Mains exam and I kept missing the Interview call by either 30, 14, 12 marks each year. However, the scores kept improving with each gradual attempt. I have referred to multiple sources in increasing my knowledge base, updating it with current affairs and chiseling out my answers from various topper copies. I hope I do my bit in guiding at least one struggling soul.
2018
2019
2020
2021
Few Observations from the scorecard-
Every year the cut offs change, hence direct comparison between marks cannot be made. However a general observation can be made that the cumulative marks in GS have increased for me relatively. A marginal improvement in Optional is there. I would be now taking you with my Prelims, Mains and Personality Test preparation methodology, changes in successive attempts and my thoughts on what works and what doesn’t in this examination cycle.
The Basic textbooks and reference books remain the same for almost everyone. These books provide the basis of one’s preparation. The exam is so dynamic that one needs to append the knowledge with youtube videos, articles available online and professors and guides in different subjects. Each and every resource should be taken help from, but in a measured manner, taking time into consideration, always.
Tentative / Recommendatory Booklist:
GS1:
Ancient and medieval history: Old NCERTs, Class XII All Themes, Unacademy Videos by Abhishek Srivastava, OnlyIAS Videos etc.
Modern history: Spectrum and NCERT class 12, Youtube videos (watch 1/2 videos multiple times).
Art and culture: CCRT notes, Current affairs, few Observations from travelling
Geography: Class 11 and 12 NCERT plus Rajtanil Solanki mam’s videos on Youtube, pmfias write-ups on internet, Samjhao Learning free videos, and other random topic wise videos for a better understanding of concepts, EPG Pathshala courses & Study Material on Geography
World history: short videos on Youtube, Coaching notes, World Wars movies to develop interest in the subject
Society: CA only. Watched Smriti Mam’s structuring video on Vision IAS Youtube channel.
Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015), Author of Decode Ethics and Decode History Books
GS2:
Polity: Laxmikanth
Governance: Any decent pdf on govt schemes plus CA based study, 2nd ARC Reports
IR: Mostly CA based, Organize notes according to neighborhood relations, International organisations, etc, Vision, Raus IAS booklets can help
GS3:
Economy: I watched Swayam videos by Either Mrunal sirs video/pdf or Sriram Eco book. Add with CA
Agriculture, Food Processing: Vision Value Add material, plus CA
Environment: Shankar IAS plus CA (CA Intensive subject), Just before prelims, watched Videos on TargetUPSC Websites, BYJUs, envis websites for government data on Protected Areas.
Science and tech: Rajya Sabha TV Videos, Current Affairs, NCERTs of Class XI, XII, if not a Science student
Disaster Management and Internal Security: Any coaching notes, downloaded toppers notes as well and referred them to make self notes, Used NDMA Policy
GS4:
Good books- either Decode Ethics by Mudit Jain sir or Balaji sir ethics.
Coaching notes/videos- Ansari sir from lukmaan ias, Forum IAS booklet (I referred this time), Examples from Current affairs (eg. Padma Awards, Public Services Excellence awards, TheBetterIndia for good IAS Officers),
SleepyClasses Ethics Playlist made basic notes from it.
Michel Sandel’s Justice series on Youtube by Harvard University is a good resource for developing an ethical mindframe.
Essay:
Anudeep Sir’s notes and website.
Many Topper copies, Own extra reading to evolve literary style of writing, Vision IAS Youtube channel Smriti Mams discussion.
Mudit Jain Sirs discussions on structuring Essay.
Crash Course Channel on Youtube can be used to study and understand about various topics and take an intelligent interest and take on the topics.
CA:
1 newspaper (either Hindu or IE).
I referred OnlyIAS Current Affairs News Discussion and Prelim Booster discussion diligently for almost 2.5 years.
Superfood for Content:
Vikaspedia, Drishti ias (for solved PYQs), Vision IAS PYQ discussions, Mudit Jain Sirs website for Topic wise content, Sansad TV, Topper copies (Saumya Shamra, Anudeep, Neha Bhosle, Jagriti Awasthi, Pratyush Pandey etc etc)
My PRELIMS Strategy:
1st, 2nd Attempt: Read the basic books and textbooks from cover to cover. Supplemented each topic with youtube videos and mentors if any fro in depth understanding of the topic. I subscribed to a Test series consisting of almost 35 tests of GS (which had sectional and comprehensive tests both) and 5 tests of CSAT. I attempted each and every test in a competitive environment, in a time tested manner each week. This helped me in developing a disciplined approach in the preparation. I used to calculate my score after every test, check for the explanation of the answers and looked up facts and figues around the topic. This made the activity interesting and engaging. It took an entire day, usually Sundays, but it paid huge dividends at the end. I saw my rank within the class of 400 students improving with every successive week. This gave a positive boost to my confidence.
Apart from this regular test series, I brought in Sectional and Comprehensive tests of Vision IAS, Forum IAS which were available and solved them completely, sometimes, 2 papers in a day.
In all solving a total of 50-60 tests, gave a sense of completeness and enriched by knowledge base. It developed an instinct to take risks and intelligent guesses. It took away my fear of attempting around 95 questions each time. It increased my reading speed and ensured that I cover 2 rounds in 2 hours. I practiced marking bubbles each time. I simulated the actual exam day one week before, on Sunday.
CSAT should never be taken with a casual demeanor. I can be improved and worked upon by taking help from a good mentor, viewing and practicing using short youtube videos on various topics like time-work, boat-speed, syllogisms etc.
My MAINS Strategy:
With every successive attempt, the strategy changes. Basically every strategy is a trial and error.
1st, 2nd Attempt: Prepared for these attempts independently. This was advantageous as well had some difficulties. I could develop a good foundation of knowledge, however could not get past the plateau of marks, motivation and upgraded content. I prepared from mains perspective from the very first day. Read current affairs and made short notes, topic wise as per the GS Syllabus, 3 months before prelims, focused more on Prelims. Solved around 60 Mock test papers, more than 20 comprehensive test papers. For Mains, extracted content from Prelims data bits like environment case studies, Governance related schemes, etc.
Post Prelims, subscribed to a good test series, got it evaluated and tried to work on the comments in the next test. Read topper copies and saw how they write, how do they interpret the tail words liked comment, analyze, how they change paras, how they use point format in writing, how they imbibe flow charts and diagrams in between answers, how they introduce and conclude. This inquisitive mindset and self-work helped me in long term and the skill of structuring my answer stayed with me all through my attempts.
3rd Attempt: So, I went to the Residential Coaching Academy in Jamia Millia Islamia, with the recommendation of one of my friends. It turned out to be a blessing. Finding a small group of dedicated sincere students, gave the much needed fillip to the preparation. We wrote 7-8 questions in 1 hour and completed all GS topics like this. On weekends, we worked on Essays in similar manner by taking up topics from coaching institutes available. Discussion post writing was crucial. We exchanged our answer structures, examples, case studies, and saw each other’s answers, which helped in rectifying individual errors and gave all of us enriched perspectives. This exercise was continued for Optional subject as well. So every day between Prelims and Mains, 3 hours were dedicated to writing, 2 hours almost for discussion and answer evaluation. Rest of the time for reading current affairs and basic notes and books. Mains Test Series was also subscribed and wrote tests in a competitive environment which keeps us on track of our performance. The marks however, were not taken emotionally and personally, just an indicator to do better next time, and learn from out performers.
In this attempt too, could not clear CSE Mains and was deeply dejected. However kept the momentum as I also had Forest Mains to appear for. And by God’s grace, I got through Indian Forest Services exam 2020. This was a crucial juncture as it brought in a shift in Mindset, my mental state and fundamental changes in preparation.
4th Attempt: The 3 years of preparation acted as a good foundation for this attempt. I had 40 days of time to prepare. We made a group of 3 people, who trusted each other and were good friends. Your group takes you forward. I brought in ForumIAS MGP printed material and read aech test, brainstromed on it, highlighted important content and made jottings on the margins, and then explained the answers to each other in other to read, revise and re revise the content. This covered the entire syllabus holistically and gave a sense of completion. Simultaneously we enrolled for an 8-test Test Series, and just before all tests, we revised from the MGP highlighted content, so that we are able to use what we read. During tea and coffee breaks, we used to tell each other examples of civil servants, change makers, made mnemonics and basically revised thins in a fun way.
We revised handmade notes of NCERTs to again brush up the basics. A week before the Mains, we collated the Model answer content and revised it. Used a Test Booklet to read current affairs of last 2 months.
We had made 2 small A5 sized notebooks, one for GS and other for Optional. We noted examples, Case studies, Constitutional Articles, maps etc in this so as to be referred at the last moment.
I watched Youtube videos that I had bookmarked, for quick revision, like modern Indian History, Probable topics discussions to fill in the gaps if any.
Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015), Author of Decode Ethics and Decode History Books
My Personality Test / Interview Strategy:
This was my 1st Civil Services Interview, however I had faced the board earlier in my Forest Services interview. This time I was more confident of myself. Although I didn’t get much time to prepare for Interview, I snatched time in between my training schedule and managed to pull my socks on the weekends.
The strategy that I followed was a simple one. Making use of my peer group for discussing entries in DAF and probably, opinion based question on DAF.
We prepared the current affairs from Indian Express, and watch many good youtube videos to supplement our way of delivering answers politely. We watched mock interviews to take an estimate of where to pause, how to make the eye contact, and hand movements, and the manners of entry and exiting the interview room. I took a total of 3 offline and 1 online mock interview. All of them suggested common points like enriching the content, brushing current affairs. All the mock boards appreciated the way of answering, take on the opinions, and the basic mannerisms. Hence mocks have a good utility as far as a guiding mechanisms is considered.
However, mocks should not be taken with a rigid mindset. The opinions of mock panels could be sometimes harsh and demotivating. They should be only taken as a source of multiple questions, to check one self’s responding manner and how one faces impromptu, and creative- imaginative questions. Once this exercise is done, facing the actual interview panel becomes little comforting.
Few takeaways from my interview:
1. Always have a positive outlook towards problems and challenges.
2. Show a decisive personality. Take a pause before answering. Once you have taken a stand, stick to it by giving valid arguments, by being polite.
3. Do not make an impression of the interview panel. Infact one should not discuss too much before entering the interview room. Go in with a fresh and open mind. It will help in being very comfortable in listening and answering all the questions.
4. Listening is a big skill, which is highly underrated. Listen, listen very carefully. Even if you don’t know the answer in the beginning of the question, listen. Attempt if possible answering to it in your best capacity. If you do not know anything on that topic, say ‘I am unable to recall at this moment, I am not in a position to make a comprehensive judgment on this sir, I am not aware of the current happening sir, I could not go though it sir’. There are multiple ways to politely say it. Practice. Adopt what suits you.
Tips to beginners and strugglers:
1. Having a Positive mindset is extremely important in this preparation. I have had many friends who have got much more knowledge than me, but they somewhere lack in self-belief and have a shaky self-esteem. Inner confidence is a must in this exam. The sense of self confidence can come from multiple sources. A strong family support, dependable peer group, an encouraging friend circle beyond UPSC and a rich educational background and work experience will give you a sense of confidence.
2. With each Mains attempt, we tend to think that what else can we do to improve, we have done all that we could. This mindset plateaus our scores and keeps us from getting our selection. Always approach each attempt with a beginner’s mindset. A beginner’s mindset will help in learning better, humbly accepting the mistakes that we are committing, and bring vigor to the preparation.
3. Keeping in touch with ones hobbies becomes difficult as time is a t a premium in the preparation. However 1-2 hours can be scheduled for the things we like doing. I practiced Yoga, meditation throughout my preparation. I went for weekly engagements to my NGO organization. I read fiction, non- fiction books whenever I got time in between. These activities, if done in a time bound manner bring happiness and contentment in heart and give a fillip to the prep. This will also reflect in your essays and personality at the time of interview.
4. Finding and sticking to a progressive peer group is essential. You gain a lot from your peers. Exchanging knowledge with each other gives an opportunity to improvise.
A few of my videos that can be viewed:
I wish you all a happy preparation. Have faith in yourself and your preparation.
God speed!
Regards!
You can contact Vikalpa at her Instagram Profile.
