Arpit Gupta

 

Arpit Gupta (AIR-54, CSE-21) Prelims, Mains & Maths Strategy

Hello Everyone,

I am Arpit Gupta (AIR 54, CSE’21). I belong to a small town Sahjanwa in Gorakhpur (UP). I have done my graduation in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee. I worked as Financial Market Analyst for 3 months then left my job in Aug’19. I started my preparation in Sept’19 with Mathematics as my optional.

My UPSC Journey:

I gave 2 attempts. I have done self-study and did not join classroom coaching for anything (No GS coaching, No optional coaching). In my first attempt in 2020, I could not clear Mains (i got 735, 736 was the cutoff in 2020). I also fell severely ill (due to chicken pox 20 days before my 1st mains). During my 1st mains, I had pneumonia, so I gave it in highly feverish condition. It was a learning curve as I understood that health was to be given topmost priority. I shifted back to home just after my 1st mains. I gave 2nd attempt in 2021 from my home. In this attempt, I cleared the exam with AIR 54. 

Prelims Strategy:

Pretty simple. Read all basic books. Used PYQs as the reference to cover any topic (made it clear what to read in a topic). Booklist was similar to other toppers hence I am not mentioning them.

I would explain my approach for each subject through Polity. I picked Laxmikanth and completed its first reading. Went to PYQs. Saw what was asked and how were the questions framed. Picked the book again, with a highlighter and marked everything which I found on pattern of PYQs. Revised the marked portion. Gave a sectional test to see my hold on the subject. This approach is useful for every subject.

Now once you have done this for all subjects, you now know what is your strength area and weak area? You also know where you stand at the level of preparation (through the sectional tests).

After completing all these subjects, I went for the Full Length Tests (FLTs). You can use FLTs of various coachings. I found Vision, Forum, Next IAS as the good ones. I used to give open tests of almost 10 coachings to enable myself to tackle various types of papers..

Regarding mocks, I would say it is not important as to how many mocks you give, the key is the number of mocks you revise. I tried to revise all the mocks I gave and made a copy where I wrote all mistakes I had committed in 1-2 liners. This helped me minimize my mistakes.

My prelims mantra is – Minimize your mistakes through mocks and you will sail through.

Maths Optional Strategy (completing Maths with self-study):

Although the no. of days for each topic can vary, the rough distribution should be like this. Everyday you have to give 3 hours (can add another hour based on your convenience) to maths.

The Plan:

Start with Linear Algebra – Nearly 20 days (can be flexible since most of the engineers study this in college)

3-D Geometry – 25 days (focus on conicoids more because it is tougher)

Vector Analysis – 15 days (after understanding 3D figures, this part becomes a bit easier)

ODE+PDE – 25 days (Easy part hence must be covered properly)

Calculus+Real Analysis – 30 days (calculus is easy for most of the maths optional people, real should be covered in continuity)

Complex Analysis – 15 days (low hanging fruit)

LPP – 10 days (Easiest among all but prone to calculation mistakes hence practice practice & practice)

Modern Algebra – 30 days (toughest topic, but if you master it, it becomes the deadly weapon. In my 1st attempt, I was frightened of modern a bit, in my 2nd attempt, modern was my deadly weapon.)

Numerical Analysis + CP – 18 days (focus on derivation rather than mugging up. UPSC has evolved in this portion)

Physics Topics:

Statics and Dynamics – 25 days (Easy topics should be picked and mastered. Conceptual understanding is the key here. You can practice 20 problems and then fail to solve 21st here. Hence, concept holds the prominence.

Mechanics – 15 days (lagrangian+hamiltonian is the low hanging fruit here. Rigid body is a bit tougher and less chances of hitting the question present.)

Fluid Mechanics – 20 days (follow the themes of PYQ; conceptual understanding needed otherwise you will suffer)

Advertisements

Now, this is around 8 months plan for completion of maths syllabus. It includes the tests & PYQs to be solved. PYQs must be a priority while you learn the syllabus. I know when we go forward in maths syllabus, we tend to forget things behind. So, once in a while simply look at what you studied previously. Note making is a personal choice. I followed Kanishak Sir’s notes. I studied all the topics of sir’s notes from books and then used his notes as primary reference afterwards. IMS notes (in my personal opinion) are not sufficient for the maths papers of 2020/2021. You have to cover books properly.

 your optional should be given 3 hours (extendable upto 4) everyday. So, nearly 5 hours remain everyday. 1 hour can be reserved for the newspaper. Remaining 4 hours are for GS portion.

THE 8-MONTH PLAN:

1.Pick polity (you can pick any other, I am telling you my preference order). Go through at least 2 readings of Laxmikanth. Use a highlighter to mark important things. Now, go through PYQs, especially mains. You will find you can’t answer many questions 😅. That’s because laxmikanth doesn’t cover many issues from mains perspective. These have to be covered from Vision’s value added material (VAM). Use upsc syllabus to pick up the value added material and complete them in one go (make short notes as you have a good understanding of polity already after reading Laxmikanth). Try to solve all PYQs now. No answer writing, simply framing answer in mind.

2. Pick Geography now. Cover it from NCERTs. Use Rajtanil Ma’am’s lectures if you think you lack clarity in any concept. PMFIAS notes are also a handy source. Any thing remaining can be covered with Vision’s VAM (use upsc syllabus to find the portion which needs to be covered through VAM). Look at the PYQs. Here, you might be able to solve almost all of them. If you can’t, just google the concept and make small notes on it. Now, brainstorming on all mains PYQs is a must. Practice diagram of every concept you learn.

3. Pick Economics now. Read Sriram IAS’ notes or Mrunal Sir’s notes (as per your comfort). They both comprehensively cover the syllabus. Use VAM if needed. Go through PYQs and brainstorm.

4. Pick Environment now. Easy subject. From mains perspective, you need very less things to know. Try to cover issues from mains365 of previous year. Use VAM if needed. Look at the PYQs and you will find they are very general and easy to answer. But you have to prepare quality content. Theme based notes must be prepared (like climate change, air pollution etc)

5. Pick Modern History now. Go through Spectrum once. If possible, try to go through NCERTs to have a grasp of the story. From mains perspective, cover “events”, “personalities”, “contributions” (syllabus keywords). Make notes around cause, consequence, phases and features etc. Look at PYQs, you will find almost all of it is focused on the keyword I talked about (decoded this early in prep hence history was my stronghold😅).

6. Pick Art & Culture. Use Nitin Singhania and NCERTs selectively to prepare notes on S&T, coins, painting, archi, dance, music. There is no end to the syllabus here but you have to be selective because it is low yield topic in mains. Look at PYQs and you will curse yourself for even making those notes 😂

7. Pick Society. It is easy again because most of us know about society. Here, framework development and uniqueness of content with examples becomes key. Use VAM and search for good examples. See PYQs and prepare framework on dealing with society questions (much needed since the question is always abstract worded).

8. Now you can pick Internal security. Use Vajiram’s yellow book (found it really good). Make notes based on syllabus keywords. Look at PYQs and try to solve. Most of them are theme based so prep becomes easy.

9. Pick governance. Use VAM. Go through PYQs.

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

You can reach me at Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Telegram.

All My Notes @ 1 Place

10. Now you can cover other remaining topics like disaster management, agriculture, sci&tech etc. Simply look at PYQs and prepare around it.

11. Topics like international relations which need only basic current awareness should be prepared between prelims and mains from mains365.

12. ETHICS : Go through Lukmaan’s notes. Read them 2 times at least. Before reading this, go through “Justice” series on youtube to understand basics of Ethics. This is the subject which gives low cost high benefit. Case studies can be practiced from various toppers’ copies available freely on coaching websites. Readin toppers’ copies is of immense benefit in Ethics. My scores of 105 & 106 in both attempts show that I have gained marks with minimal efforts in Ethics just by using toppers’ copies and Lukmaan’s notes. Time for each subject should be decided on one’s own. I would just suggest that no subject should go beyond 20-25 days because it creates monotony and reduces our interest thereby reducing our gains.

Answer Writing Strategy:

My answer writing strategy is pretty simple. Start writing some answers after you complete any one subject. I know the quality of answers would be ridiculous (especially if you are an engineer). But just write and try to see what you missed. Use toppers’ copies to see how they write differently. Inculcate from them the art of showcasing limited knowledge. After prelims join a mains test series. Try to give full length tests if it is your 2nd mains (in 1st mains you can write some sectional tests too, fully upto you). Focus on value addition. Learn data, facts, committees etc and sprinkle them in your answers. I would use any committee name (if i remembered the work of committee in any field) & use any general recommendation under the committee name. It looked attractive and made my answer a bit different. I had limited knowledge and less time for improving GS portion because of my optional Maths. But I used the time to add value to answers rather than learning too many things or topics.

You can contact Arpit as his Telegram Channel or at his Instagram Profile.

Maths Booklist:

1. Linear Algebra – Shaum/Krishna series

2. Calculus – Malik & Arora or any engg book

3. 3D – Krishna series/PNC

4. ODE – MD Raisinghania

5. Vector Analysis – Any engg book.

6. Statics & Dynamics – Krishna series

7. Modern Algebra – R Kumar (2 books – one of group & other of ring)

8. Real Analysis – Malik & Arora

9. Complex Analysis – Krishna Series

10. LPP – Watch any engg youtube channel and learn simplex, trasportation & assignment.

11. Numerical Analysis – Iyengar

12. PDE – MD Raisinghania

13. Mechanics – Krishna

14. Fluid – MD Raisinghania

Use Kanishak sir’s notes (AIR 1, 2018) to see what is in syllabus. Also use them as point of reference.

GS booklist:
GS 1 :

Modern – spectrum

Ancient & Medieval (for prelims) – NCERT

Art & culture – Nitin Singhania

World history – Google topics like 1st-2nd WW, integration of Germany &Italy, Industrial revolution.

Society – Mains365 of previous year & vision’s value added material

Geography – NCERT (9th to 12th). Minerals+industrial location – I didn’t study (it is a subject in itself so simply left). Remaining topics – cover from Vision’s value added material

GS 2 :

Polity – Laxmikanth

Governance – vision’s value added material International relations – mains365

Remaining topics – cover from Vision’s value added material

GS 3:

Economy – mains365

Environment – Vision’s value added material and mains 365

Disaster Management – Basics & NDMA guidelines regarding all notified disasters in news (google or any source)

Science & tech – mains365 (selectively)

Agriculture – Vision’s value added Remaining topics – vision’s value added

GS 4

Lukmaan’s notes (print out and pdf both available in market). I simply read the notes & tried to understand as many values as I could.

Current Affairs: Mains365 for Mains
PRELIMS:
Booklist remains the same for history, polity & geography.
Economy – Read basics from Sriram’s notes and current from any current affairs source (vision’s or forum’s or any magazines). You can go for Mrunal too if you want.
Environment – Can read Shankar IAS for basics. Cover current from any current affairs source (vision’s or forum’s or any magazines)

Science & Tech – Any magazine (try to understand new techs rather than mugging up facts here).

Balancing maths & GS between prelims and mains: Finally, the prelims is over. The day must have been tiring (I would go for a party after this 😂). I know the rush to match your answer with keys and the urge to maximise your marks (I would try to go for 1-2 keys and then stop, I trusted vision’s key which would come late so, I used to relax till then). But I would suggest you to please be patient and go for a party, the time between prelims and mains is really exhausting. So, coming to balancing Maths and GS, my time table has been like this:

1. Used to start 3-7 days after prelims in both attempts.

2. Maths was the first to be picked.

3. Used to pick P-1 syllabus and covered first 3 topics ( I know sab bhul chuka hoga😛 isliye easy utha lo, confidence aata hai).

4. Nearly 8-9 days for maths p-1.

5. Gave 2 tests for p-1.

6. Went for GS and would revise gs-1 & give a test.

7. Went for GS-2 and gave its test. Also, used to write on test for essay just after GS-2 or between GS1 & GS2.

8. Again, picked up maths and went for p-2.

9. P-2 took generally 12-13 days.

10. In the meanwhile i would keep studying few questions and frame answers in mind. Helped to maintain continuity in GS.

11. Again, gave few tests for p-2.

12. Used to write GS3 & GS4 after revision. Also, wrote 2nd essay test.

13. Now, more than a month time was already over and I got nearly 70-85 days in both attempts so had nearly half of the time over by this time.

14. I had gotten test copies and used to discuss them with friends ( a big shoutout to the group of 10 which was the biggest companion during this time)

15. The issues in all the papers including maths & GS were discussed. I am a firm believer of reviewing copies and incremental improvement.

16. The 2nd iteration would start and by this time mains 365 used to be available.

17. Went for maths and would again revise p-1 & p-2 and give tests.

18. Went for GS and tried to study mains365 & made additional very short notes for revision during the papers. GS1234 in succession were dealt with and tests were written. Used to write 2 more essay tests in between.

19. After all this just about 12-13 days would remain. It was pretty much stressful situation.

20. Prioritized maths & used to give as much tests of maths as possible in next few days (tests picked from G-20 google drive) to get complete hold of it.

21. Last 8 days were for GS only. Used to revise short notes & work on value addition in some areas (like unique data, unique recommendations of committee etc).

22. Last day before the essay paper, I enjoyed fully. 😜 Talked to all friends & used to chill. I did not prepare anything for essay, simply used to read toppers’ copies.

I hope I have given all the details about balancing both. I would recommend making small groups of 4-5 people with similar optional since mains preparation is a lot about discussing variety of questions and knowing each others’ approaches.

Anjali Shrotriya

Anjali Shrotriya (AIR-44, CSE-21) Prelims & Mains Strategy

Hi All,

It feels great to present this particular blogpost to you all. Having known Anjali since last few years, it is special for me as well that she cracked CSE-21 with AIR-44. Following is her strategy in her own words:

Hello everyone,

This is Anjali Shrotriya. I hail from the city of Indore (MP). I have secured Rank 44 in UPSC CSE 2021. This is overall my 4th attempt and 2nd interview at UPSC. I would be happy to share my strategy with you all:

Prelims: REVISION and PYQ’s are must.

Previous scores: 76 (2018), 88 (2019), 105 (2020) and awaiting 2021 (cleared forest cut-off this time).

You can contact Anjali at her instagram profile.

Prelims was a major hurdle for me. I could not clear it in my 1st two attempts but with consistency I learnt the art of clearing prelims. I call it art because prelims is much more than knowledge. It requires you to be calm and composed, have faith in your preparation and hard work ofc. But once you are good at prelims you will make it even with less efforts. I had only 10 days at my disposal after 2020 Interview results were out to prepare for prelims, yet I cleared it with a comfortable margin because I happen to decode prelims. I will share my learnings regarding the same:

Keep sources as limited as possible:

Polity Laxmikant– Bible: Read cover to cover

  I made 2-page notes of every chapter of Laxmikant to revise fast. I also made 1 big sheet in which I wrote all the Constitutional and Non constitutional bodies as I got confused every time. I also went through class 11th and 12th Polity NCERT’s too in the time between 2020 covid wave and prelims as UPSC is now asking unconventional questions.

Modern Indian History Spectrum by Rajiv Ahir: Again bible I made 2-3 pages notes of each chapter of spectrum and compressed into 70 pages which were very easy to revise. Tables at the back of spectrum are very important. I revised them in last couple of days before exam. I also read class 12th NCERT (Themes part 3)and class 8th NCERT for modern India. Really good NCERT’s.

Environment Shankar IAS and looked at PMF IAS notes. Monthly magazines and newspapers are a good source to cover Environment. As it is mostly dynamic. Made notes of important acts of environment and Shankar IAS book.

Economy SRIRAM IAS book beats all. I read Mrunal in 2019 but because it is bulky and difficult to revise, I switched to SRIRAM book, and it is good. However, I had also compressed Mrunal Sir’s book into short notes, so I revised them as well.

Sc and tech Newspaper + Monthly magazine. I googled every new term that I came across

Mapping Prem Patel + Atlas as main source. I marked all important places in news, static mapping points on the maps. All the important dams, places in news, countries, national parks, GI tags etc I marked on map and revised them.

   

Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015), Author of Decode GS-2, Decode Ethics and Decode History Books

You can reach me at Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Telegram.

All My Notes @ 1 Place

Revision is the key to prelims: Atleast 10 times revision of all the sources. That is why I prepared my own short notes of everything even for prelims so that I can do a greater number of revisions. I never made notes in 1st reading. 1st reading was just cursory, I highlighted important parts and in 3rd or 4th read I made notes.

Previous year Questions (PYQ): in my first 2 attempts I never gave importance to PYQ’s but in 2020 and 2021 I solved all the PYQ’s (used DISHA publication book). Also analysed each option of the PYQ’s-> googled it and made notes for the same. This single exercise helped me understand UPSC pattern of asking questions in prelims.

Test series for Prelims:

Forum IAS: SFG helped me to have a disciplined approach. I subscribed to it in 2019. Simulators are really good.

Vision IAS: Did FLT’s and Abhyaas

IASBABA: Did FLT’s

Practised all the FLT’s of different coaching to increase my width of Current affairs.

Current Affairs for Prelims:

Newspapers are indispensable

Any monthly magazine. I followed Vision IAS.

Mains: 787 (2020); 838 (2021)

Before I go down to my booklist, I wish to emphasise few things:

Most important break or make phase of the journey is Mains. Your selection depends on how well your mains go. Put everything you have in those 3 months of mains. I never speculated if I would clear prelims or not. I started right away for mains. 1st month is very crucial to get into mains mode. Start early .

Importance of PYQ’s for Mains: I solved and made frameworks and even answers in some cases for all the PYQ’s asked by UPSC from 2013-2020. This is the most important part. I never ran after Mains test series, nor did I write many tests. Only 4 FLTS of Abhyaas in the end to check my speed. I solved PYQ’s diligently and this helped me a lot. From the PYQ’s I was able to map important themes and topics that UPSC is asking these days and I prepared them. For instance: river interlinking was asked in 2020 mains, and it had been asked twice before as well.

Introduction and conclusions: I already had prepared introduction and conclusions for each important topic w.r.t. GS and optional which helped me save time.

Diagrams and schematics: I tried to put diagrams and schemas, flowcharts in my answers wherever possible to make answers look appealing

Breaking the Question: Most important. Try answering the question by dividing it into different categories and answering each subpart. It makes the life of the examiner easy.

Keywords of the Question: Vision IAS and IASBABA website has explained what each keyword means. Critically analyse is different from Explain or elaborate. Please read the question carefully and then start answering.

Focus on revising more. If you can’t recall in the exam no point of having things in your notes. Revise atleast 10 times before exam. Things should be on your tips.

Importance of test series: Do not spend too much time thinking which test series needs to be taken. All are good and similar. Take any and start preparation. In my case I subscribed test series not to write but see the questions being asked to widen my horizon of questions and Current affairs that could be asked. Also, I had done a lot of answer writing in geography hence I was confident I could write good answers in GS presentation wise. The only thing I needed to work was on content, so I focused here. I referred to FORUMIAS tests, Shankar IAS, Vision IAS and Lukman IAS (ethics)

Some good blogs I was ardent follower of: Decode CIVILS, Shubham Kumar sir’s channel , Anudeep sirs blog.

Some myths: Fill all pages – Not at all true. I never used to do that and yet scored above average in mains. Don’t leave any question even if it means writing any thing in technical questions like BLUE LED or Bose Einstein condensate. The examiner can’t be fooled. Pls don’t write 3-page rubbish to expect marks in such question. Better to save time here and use in other questions.

GS 1: 101 (2020) and 108 (2021)

GS1  

Art and Culture Nitin Singhania Book. Made short notes for each important topic from the book. Made diagrams that I could use in my paper for ex: Stupas, Architecture etc.  

Modern history Spectrum: But this time I made notes thematically for each topic in the syllabus asked. I had notes on governor general, important movements like NCM QIM etc and not just information but analytically I tried to write points in my notes. Referred to Mudit Jain sir’s 78 pages notes on modern India.

Geography It was my optional, so I had to put less efforts. Nevertheless, I compiled diagrams all at one place and revised them.

Society I had made 1-page notes on each topic of the syllabus with examples. Examples are must here. I also read class 11 and 12th Sociology NCERTS.

World history Decode World history book by Mudit sir. Took the online version and prepared notes. In 2020 I saw Prateek Nayak sir’s videos on YouTube

In GS1, we do give importance to Geography and Society but forget modern history and art culture. Pls revise that too. It gives an edge to score high in exam.

GS2 (101 in 2020, 120 in 2021)

 It is not totally dynamic as it seems. Many questions come from static areas. So, prepare static part well.

Polity Revised the basic from Laxmikant. Made 1-page notes on all static topics like Governor, Ordinance, Bills, parliament etc. Made a list of all important amendments, committees, and articles which I needed in answers. This year there was a question on Legislative council, and I was able to write the article associated. So, such things help a lot to get that ½ mark extra.   Referred to Polity Mains 365 for dynamic part

Governance and Social Justice I made my own notes for the same. Took the help of syllabus and google. Included reports/ committees wherever possible along with examples.   Referred to social issues Mains 365.

IR Made 1 pages on each country’s relation with India. Tried to include important keywords and acronyms used by Hon’ PM in his speeches.   Referred Mains 365 of International Relations.

In GS2, focus on stats / reports / committee name for value addition.  No need of any Yojana / Kurukshetra etc. Focus on keeping your sources limited. We any way need to write only 2 -3 pages in exam.

Decode GS-2: Governance & Social Justice Sample & Format Explainer:

decode-gs-2-sampleDOWNLOAD

GS3: 92 (2020) and 98 (2021)

Use diagrams / names of important committees / SDGs. Keep reading newspapers helps a lot here. Can read NITI Aayog document for the same. (I never read though)

GS-3  

Economy Revised the Basic economy concepts well from SRIRAM book. Took pointers from syllabus and prepared own notes from google. And kept on revising. Referred Mains 365 for Current affairs

Agriculture Overlap with geography optional. I prepared notes separately here too. Plus committees name and diagrams if any

Security Maximum marks fetching area. I prepared separate notes from syllabus using google. There is no need to read any book. Directly google pointers of syllabus and use Mains 354 to enrich the content. Use maps wherever possible

Ecology and Envt No separate notes. Just read Mains 365

DM Prepared a list of all disasters, NDMA guidelines for the same and diagrams wherever necessary.

Science and Tech Mains 365 and Dipin sir’s handouts.

GS 4: Ethics – 92 (2020) and 103 (2021)

Prepare a list of all important key terms of the syllabus in a tabular form. See Shubham Kumar sir’s notes. Example of each term, quote related to it.

I did all PYQ’s from Decode ethics books and made a list of all diagrams from the book.

I also was part of online sessions where Mudit Jain sir discussed all PYQ’s of ethics and referred toppers copies to see how they wrote answers. Some good copies I referred were Vishaka Yadav ma’am, Divya Mishra ma’am, Anudeep sir, Pradeep Singh sir. Please do this in ethics.

Keep brainstorming the case studies with friends to develop insights into different cases.

Prepare a list of examples that can be used in answers.

Keep answers simple and not very technical in ethics.

Ethics paper is the lengthiest so keep a track of time here.

I wrote tests in Ethics because it is one paper where writing matters the most as we need to prepare less.

I used Lukman IAS solutions to see how to write answers and also referred good answer copies given by them.

ATB!!!