Author: Sumit Kr Rai

An IAS officer of 2019 batch. AIR 54 in CSE 2018. Currently posted as SDO Domkal, Murshidabad. Earlier worked as Sr Petroleum Enginner for 6 years in Cairn India.

How to prepare along with a job: Tips for working professionals by Sumit Kumar Rai( AIR 54)

1. First of all, you need to have a mindset about your current job. It should be treated as a temporary phenomenon in your life. Assume that it is just a job, it is not something where you want to spend your entire life. Your passion and that burning desire for civil services should be your guiding criteria at your work place. So, treat your job as it is: It is secondary to your preparation. By this I don’t mean that you become too negligent at work. That should not be the case and an aspiring civil servant should never do that. You should have that adequate level of efficiency and professionalism and you should be able to complete all your deliverables within time. Don’t run after appraisals. Even if you get a bad one, it is not the end of your life. A little sacrifice is needed for a noble cause.

2. I suggest that you keep your UPSC preparation a secret affair. I understand that this is applicable mostly to private sector as in public sector one might have to submit NOC and hence revelation.

3. Plan your time up to minutes and in some cases up to seconds also (I actually calculated how much time it takes to remove a laced shoes and a slip on shoes once I come back from office. I know it does not make much sense, but those who fight for seconds will look for all possible savings they can and that’s what I did. By changing from laced shoes to slip-on shoes I saved 30-40 seconds)

4. In initial years of preparation when the focus is on building foundation one will have to work extra hard. I remember waking up at 4 AM and reading for 2-3 hrs before leaving for office by 8 AM. So you have to show extra discipline and hardwork in initial years.

5. It gets difficult to read in evening sometimes due to office fatigue and stress. So set a manageable target in evening, don’t be too greedy.

6. Mornings are best for working professionals as chances of getting disturbed in morning is almost zero. So plan your sleep cycle accordingly. It is better to read with a fresh mind in the morning

7. Don’t wait for hardcopy of newspaper. Start reading pdf copies of newspaper (The Hindu/India express). These are easily available in various telegram groups.

8. Avoid reading on office computers, avoid discussing UPSC topics with colleagues. Stay committed to your work. You can read some news or some articles on your mobile though but do that during tea breaks or during lunch hours. I used to skip lunches and used to read something in that break. You see, you got to be hungry to qualify UPSC :p

9. You have to avoid social gatherings and office parties on purpose. It is just one of the sacrifices you have to make for UPSC.

10. Avoid confrontation at work place as much as you can. A disturbed mind is not good for preparation. You need to be calm as rock to keep your preparation on track.

11. Be respectful and kind: everyone you meet is fighting a different battle. Help someone at workplace if you can. I don’t know how it works but positive energy and blessings find a way to help you.

12. Use telegram extensively as it is faster, saves time and helps in network learning.

13. Use evernote or other online note making platform for making notes. As a working aspirant it is crucial to have an accessible note making platform in any situation. (I have shared my notes at the end of this write up, will give you an idea on how to use evernote).

14. Don’t take decisions in haste if you face any setbacks at any stage of exam: pre, mains or interview. Give a week time and get back to preparation again.

15. Quitting job is not really a solution. Take it as a challenge and assume that you might have to work in even harsher situations and deliver more difficult targets once you become a civil servant. Such a thinking will bring that positive boost to complete you assignments in your current job. It is important to balance UPSC preparation and your professional responsibility.

General Studies Notes by Sumit Kumar Rai on IWRA

All the best.

SKR

GS-3 strategy: Sumit Kumar Rai( AIR 54)

I have been getting lot of requests to share my strategy for GS-3 given the marks I have in this paper.( I got 119 in GS-3)

Please note following points in this regard. I have skipped some generic suggestions and highlighted few which might lead to marks augumentation.

  1. Be updated with facts and figures on various aspects of economy: Sectoral contribution of GDP(Agriculture, industries, services), employment scenario. Within agriculture what is the contribution of cereal crops, non-cereal crops in farmers income, what is average farmers income, NPA and bad loans etc. Similar facts on other aspects of economy need to be prepared.
  2. Use these facts and figure to strengthen your arguments.
  3. Use charts and diagrams wherever possible ( Avoid overdoing though)
  4. For GS-3 committee and commission names and their recommendations are important. Hence keep an eye on such committees, note down their central points.
  5. Economic survey: do this religiously and use its suggestions in answers. Make Short notes of various chapters.
  6. NITI ayog’s 3 years action agenda: many great suggestions are there which can be written in your answers.
  7. Keep visiting NITI website. It keeps releasing new reports which might be useful for GS-3 like report on mobility, tackling air pollution in Delhi etc. These will add value to your answer.
  8. Read Sendai framework document, read NDMP-2016. These will give you administrative skeleton ( accountability matrix) of disaster management. This will be handy in answering DM questions.
  9. Use columnists and their central ideas. For example Isher Judge Ahulwalia wrote about Ambikapur model of SWM. I used this example in SWM question in this year’s mains. Such usage increases your credibility and helps in boosting marks.
  10. Extending point 9, list down certain key columinst and keep an eye on their ideas, opinions. For example if there is a question on unemployment controversy in CSE-19, you can talk about how NITI Ayog’s CEO, Amitabh Kant highlights the issues in Calculation methodology of CSO. So preparation on these lines should be done. Similarly Ashok Gulati can be mentioned for agriculture issues.
  11. Look for toppers copy and look for how they present their ideas on paper. I learnt many new diagrams and new ideas from Anudeep Durishetty( Rank 1, CSE2017) and other toppers through their written test papers.
  12. When you read compilations or vision 365( Economics, Environment, security, Science & Tech) make Short, effective notes which are reproducible in exams.I have shared my GS-3 notes on these links. Have an idea on how to prepare notes for GS-3.

General Studies Notes by Sumit Kumar Rai on IWRA

Until next time,

SKR

Ethics Answer Copy- Analysis & Tips by Sumit Kumar Rai (AIR 54)

I am uploading one of my ethics copies. I would request you all to focus on practical examples, writing your own definitions in simple languages and breaking a general statement into parts to make it ready for analysis. Re-read question many times if the language seems tough ( as it happens in few questions).

How to utilize this copy: First read the question and think yourself what you would have replied/answered for this question and then read the answer. This is called reverse learning. I also used to do the same when I used to go through the toppers copy. So, you can get other toppers copies and try the same analysis. It will definitely improve your ethics answer writing. Also, don’t be under the impression that all of my answers are excellent. Many of you might write beautiful answers than what I have written. I also used to write mediocre answers and it might happen in few questions that you might not do justice to the question demands. Consider all these as learning blocks and improve answer-by-answer, test-by-test. Remember: Practice makes an aspirant perfect.

In following paragraphs I would be analyzing few of my questions from this test paper and will try to bring your attention to few aspects:

  1. Explain the new term: When you get a new term in a question, try to explain it first. Sometimes a simple definition makes a good enough introduction. This can be referred as definitional approach of introduction. For example see how I tried to define what I mean by Institutionalized Corruption. 
  2. Write definition of terms like attitude, aptitude, integrity, honesty etc in your own language. Write examples to substantiate your points, rather than simply writing theories and theories. Examples shows your understanding, let examiner know that you understand the matter at hand.  
  3. A statement might look simple when given as a question. But you have opportunity to write a great answer by showing your understanding. Again your examples and arguments, art of substantiation matters. See this question on ” Those who know don’t talk and those who talk don’t know. Comment”.

PFA the answer copy. https://secureservercdn.net/198.12.145.38/k1r.f20.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SUMIT-KUMARI-RAJ.-ETHICS-TEST-3.pdf-2_1.pdf

How do I understand the UPSC CSE syllabus- Sumit Kumar Rai (AIR54, CSE2018)

This post has been written keeping first timer in mind or those who want to try CSE exam in coming years. This will help in clarifying how to see UPSC CSE syllabus and how to prepare various topics. First thing first, Keep a print out of syllabus or its PDF copy. Read,re-read and try to get a bird’s eye view of the syllabus. Structure it in the form of broad categorisation. This will help in deciding your priorities on what to focus, what to cover, how much time to devote to a particular topic, issue, discussion etc.

I will give you a few heads-up. You can work upon it further.

Prelims syllabus: GS paper and CSAT paper.

GS paper mainly covers 7 themes:

  1. Current events
  2. History of India(and not world), with particular focus on Indian National Movement
  3. Geography:India & World
  4. Polity & Governance
  5. Environment, bio-diversity and climate change
  6. Economic and social development: Poverty, inclusion, social sector initiatives ( here government schemes need to be focused)
  7. General Science

This information will help you in your strategy for prelims. Don’t read world history for Prelims, focus more on modern Indian history compared to the ancient and medieval, environment is a big portion, the polity is a big portion ( Laxmikanth becomes so crucial).

For mains syllabus:

GS-1: 4 broad categories

  1. Indian heritage & Culture
  2. History of India & World
  3. Geography of India & World
  4. Society ( women, children, old age, urban issues, migration etc topics)

Along with this, you need to see the exact words in the syllabus and orient your preparation in that direction. For example “ Effects of globalization on Indian society” is the one small part of the stated syllabus by UPSC for GS-1. This can come in the form of what is the effect of globalization on women, children, older people, culture, crime in India. So you have to prepare that part of the syllabus in all possible dimensions. Hence keep a copy of the syllabus.

GS-2: 4 broad categories

  1. Constitution
  2. Polity & Governance
  3. Social Justice
  4. IR( International relations)

Constitution covers all aspects of our holy document, starting with historical evolution to comparison with other constitutions. There have been direct questions on CAG, Article 360 in recent years. So just hone your Laxmikanth knowledge again.

Polity & Governance covers the latest development in Indian administration: From election to various constitutional amendments, issues of the judiciary, executive, centre-state relationship, federal structures.

Welfare schemes, government policies, poverty, hunger, protection of vulnerable sections are covered under social justice. Read the exact words from the syllabus, check previous years question papers and prepare accordingly.

GS-3: 5 broad categories

  1. Indian Economy
  2. Internal security
  3. Disaster management
  4. Environment & Biodiversity
  5. Science & Technology

Indian Economy is the biggest block and covers many dimensions: from planning to resources allocation, agriculture, manufacturing, service sectors ( sectors of the economy), subsidies, PDS, Animal husbandry, cropping pattern, budgeting, inclusive growth, employment-unemployment scenario, infrastructure etc. These are keywords and each keyword needs to be prepared in a 360-degree manner.

For example, if you look at syllabus it mentions “Infrastructure: Energy, ports, roads, airports, railways etc”.

Now to prepare this syllabus topic, you need to cover all major happenings in these mentioned sectors: road, rail, airport, shipping, energy.

You see energy in itself can be a big topic: from renewable energy ( wind, solar) to energy-economy linkages. You need to read government policies in all these sectors.

So go through the exact syllabus and prepare the topics in this manner.

GS-4: For ease, it can be categorised in 2 parts: Section A ( Theory) and Section B ( Case studies).

Section A deals with theoretical aspects like the meaning of various words: integrity, ethics, morality, beliefs, value system etc. An important section is “foundational values for civil Services”. This covers various values like integrity, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections. This is an extremely & extremely important part of the syllabus, not only for section A and case studies but also for your future, once you get selected. So prepare this part thoroughly.

With this background information, devise your own ways to get acquainted with the syllabus. Ensure that your efforts are not misdirected and you will see the results very soon.

All the best.

P.S: You can get the official CSE syllabus PDF from this website.

https://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/main-syllabus.html

Public Administration: How to use Administrative thinkers in Answers -by Sumit Kumar Rai (AIR 54)

Hello guys.


Hope your prep is going good. Many have been asking about linkages and how to use thinkers in answer. I am attempting to address your query here. [ Join this TG group, here I share strategy and materials related with Pub Ad mostly, apart from some GS guidelines: http://t.me/iwrapinkmanww ]

The most important part of pub ad syllabus is Administrative thinkers & Administrative behaviour in my opinion. So, ensure that all key ideas of every single thinker is on your finger tips. whatever sources you are referring to cover thinkers: be it Aribam, P&P or your classroom coaching notes, ensure that you summarise all thinkers in 4-5 key ideas and be ready to use in your answers. .

Again, first have a broad understanding of thinkers classification: from classical to human relations, behavioural and modern thinkers, what do they focus upon etc.

Just to elaborate, classical thinkers focus on 2M (Machine and Method) but it is human relations and behavioural thinkers who brought focus on 3rd M–that is Man aspect in organisation. This can be represented through a triangle in answers: Machine and method at base, Man at top. In sides, mention important thinkers. For example: Taylor, Fayol, Urwick, Gullic, Weber will come at base while Mayo, Follet, Likert, Chris Argyris, Barnard, Simon, Maslow, McGregor will come at top (they focus not only on machine and methodology but also quite a lot on man in the organisation).

Now with respect to individual thinkers prepare central ideas and keep thinking examples from Indian administration and other contemporary areas (modern corporate practices, factory working etc).

For example:

F.W.Taylor: His scientific management theory talks about differential piece rate system. You can link it with overnight duties done in few factories where employees are paid more than the normal day rate for night duty which extends beyond their day duty. Time and motion study can be linked to Red Tapism and Indian government’s recent focus on curbing same. By target based monitoring with timelines we are tackling the problems of Red Tapism. Thus digitalisation of process is field level implementation of time and motion study. The legal enforcement of same comes from citizen charters and right to service legislation. This is the applied part of Taylor’s work.

Let’s take another thinker: Chris Argyris. When it comes to Chris Argyris, his central work should come to your mind. His concept of incongruency between employees need and organisation demand, maturity-immaturity theory, fusion process, T-group etc should be on your fingertips. Let’s see some descriptives, linkages and applied part.

In the descriptives, simply write the incongruency, maturity-immaturity theory and fusion process theory in your own words. You don’t have to use the language of P&P or MB or Aribam (though Aribam has most simple expression). Use your own words and substantiate with examples. This is what I call “descriptives” of a thinker ideas ..extending it in your own word. For example, I would write that: Argryris has highlighted that there is basic incongruency b/w employees and organisation. Both want different things. Organisation demands that employees should work hard to achieve its goals, however employees feel that their needs are not being fulfilled. For example: An employee would like to work on new skill but organisation would not allow that and rather want the employee to focus on an old project. This incogruency leads to dissatisfaction, low morale and ultimately poor productivity. As a solution, Argyris has suggested Fusion process where the needs of employee is fitted with organisation demands. This is where the role of manager becomes crucial also. Based on the new projects that company is taking few employees who have interest in these areas can be given responsibility to look into it. In many companies the HR follows talent rotation across various verticals to ensure emolyees skills are developed and they don’t feel stagnated. This is one example how fusion can work. The supervisor/manager has a big role in ensuring that fusion process is implemented effectively.

What I have written above is not to be found in any book. It is my own language.

So, try to write central ideas of thinkers in your own languages and link it with various examples.

Overcoming depression and feeling of lost out during CSE preparation: Sumit Kumar Rai (AIR 54, CSE 2018)

Hello friends,

I hope your mains preparation is going good. I am writing this post to help you out if you ever found yourself in a depressed situation or feeling completely lost out in this long journey.

This is Sumit Kumar Rai, AIR 54 this year. I failed in CSE 4 times at different stages and each failure brought its own challenges and expectations. This can happen to anyone.Somehow we have to overcome them all and keep going. In this long journey ( lucky are those who get through in their first attempt, no disrespect to their hardwork) feeling depressed and having thoughts like “What the hell am I doing with my life” is quite frequent. Added to that, if you are a working aspirant your task becomes a little more challenging. All this can put you in a depressing situation.

Understand that this might not be a continuous 24*7 feeling, but there might be triggers from time to time where you feel totally helpless.

I wrote earlier on this topic to create awareness and make you believe that you are not alone. Feelings like these are normal. I am sharing that post again. If it helps even one of you, I will consider my job done.

“Now that I have qualified CSE I would like to highlight the struggle phase. I hope you get a clarity on how the process goes and what is normal/abnormal.

During the preparation phase sometimes I used to wonder if I am clinically depressed? The gradual phase-out from all social association has created a bubble around me and there was no one else except me to hover in that bubble. I have to find answer to every question myself ( not the academic questions).

Often in the middle of night, I would go back to the memory lane and remember what I used to be:I had a life outside UPSC too, what happened to my college friends, where are they now and what are they doing in their lives. Ominous thoughts used to prevail in the dead of night from time to time: What if I am stuck here, what if I never qualify, what if I never got to do what I love. Will my life be a perpetual reminder of what life looks like when the heart and the brain are not in sync.

Did I cry? Yes, I did.( And anyone who says that they don’t cry in UPSC journey are plainly lying; the journey is too long and some emotional damage is inevitable, natural outcome of which is letting it go through tears).

After each such emotional/sentimental eruption there will be a trigger within which will normalize everything again. I will go back in contemplation mode again. I will count every single thing I sacrificed for this journey. A sense of peace would prevail and I would console myself, going numb without emotions but full with determination.

The journey has to be resumed. Someone has to tell you that it’s ok to cry, it’s ok to feel sad. Many a times it will happen that it is You, yourself who will have to play that someone’s role.

So, enjoy the process, enjoy the journey. It is not easy but you won’t regret at the end of it.

As Dan Eldon once said: The journey is the destination. What you go through and how you handle every single day, every single test, every single question in itself is a sign of success. If you measure your journey in these small segments, seeing your name in the holy PDF would just be a matter of time.”

P.S: The topper interview which has relatively higher impact on me, in terms of recency and something which I will keep thinking over in moments of despair- I am sharing that below. Hope you get over your worst fear and keep moving through this phase, if you ever find yourself in one.

MOTIVATION: Alankrita Pandey, Came out of Depression to get Rank 85, UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015

Link for some useful topper’s copies

Hello guys,
We all know that toppers copies can be a useful source for improving your answer writing. Based on a quick discussion amongst few selected candidates we have come up with a curated list for all of you to go through some copies. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, neither has it captured all the good copies that are there. We are trying to reduce the scatteredness and bringing some useful copies at one place.

Happy scanning!

  1. Kanishak Kataria, AIR 1: (Below text as written by Kanishak)
    I have uploaded my evaluated Mains and Essay test series copies on my dropbox folder.
    Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/px298yystx0779x/AABqiBXgasa0P5UMYguKXJc7a?dl=0
    It was the 1st time I was attempting any test or essay, thus there is a lot of scope for improving all the answers. You can get a fair understanding of the level of my answers, my general habits while writing plus the quality of evaluation done.
  2. Shreyans Kumat, AIR 4: You can find his copies in his telegram channel link: https://t.me/shreyansupsc
  3. Namrata Jain, AIR 12: GS marks-464: http://www.visionias.in/resources/toppers_answers.php (Other toppers copies also available here)
  4. Dhodmise Trupti Ankush, AIR 16;GS marks-460: :http://www.visionias.in/resources/toppers_answers.php (Other toppers copies also available here)
  5. Akshay Agrawal, AIR 43: You can find his copies and notes at https://akshaybrotherhood.home.blog/
    He also shares daily GS questions for practice and addresses the queries in the comment, if any.
  6. Sumit Kumar, AIR 53: (Below text as written by Sumit)
    I shared mine on demystifycse. In total, I have shared 6 copies. 2 GS copies (1 GS 2, 1 GS 3) are such in which I have scored low marks (70s). The other 2 are improved ones of GS 2 and GS 3 only in which I scored above 100. It would be helpful for the aspirants if they compare the previous 2 with the latter 2.Rest 2 copies are of Ethics. These copies are of 2017 Mains test series. I didn’t give any tests papers for Mains 2018.
    GS Marks in GS 2017: 453; GS 2018: 435
    Link: http://demystifycse.in/general-studies-mains-notes-sumit-kumar-air-53/
  7. Sumit Kumar Rai, AIR 54: I have shared one of my ethics copies here
    http://demystifycse.in/ethics-answer-copy-analysis-tips-by-sumit-kumar-rai-air-54/
    I have scored 119 in GS-3 and have been approached by many for GS-3 strategy. Below is the link for same:
    http://demystifycse.in/gs-3-strategy-sumit-kumar-rai-air-54/
    Other copies can be found in my telegram channel: https://t.me/iwrapinkmanww
  8. Nidhi Siwach, AIR 83: Full length 4 tests are shareable as they are close to how she attempted in final paper and got decent score in GS.
    https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1I2A8TnqT3cbZ-afVtP1eYo6KGem8ar85
  9. Hitesh Kumar Meena,AIR 417: Hitesh has decent GS marks(439) this year and his copies might be useful to you. I have shared few of his copies in my telegram channel:
    https://t.me/iwrapinkmanww
  10. “Essay Kaise?” by Vikram Grewal, AIR 51. He has scored 161 in essay this year. http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/essay-kaise-by-vikram-grewal-air-51.html?m=1

Also please have a look at these posts:

http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-upsc-book-of-anything-and.html?m=1

http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/a_16.html?m=1

What life lessons have poems taught you?

1.I am the master of my fate.

I am the captain of my soul.

Don’t lose yourself even(and especially) when it seems too difficult to move ahead. The way to do so is having a strong faith in your principles.

From the poem—-Invictus—— by William Ernest Henley:

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

2. When you think it is over, it is the time to rise and fight again.

From the poem — Into the Fray —of movie “The Grey”

Once more into the fray
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know
Live or die on this day
Live or die on this day

3. You might become big, achieve big success but don’t forget your roots. Vanity would be your end.

From the poem — If —by Rudyard Kipling

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

My Essay Strategy

I have average essay score so I might not be the best person to look for an essay strategy. There are people who have scored 150+ in essay in CSE-2018 which will be a very good score given this year’s low average essay marks. Their strategy might be more beneficial.

My approach and suggestions are listed below. May it help you somehow!

1. I got 125 in essay in CSE-17 & missed list by 7 marks (I got 127 marks in essay in CSE-2018 which is a decent enough score considering this year’s essay marks). My CSE-2017 essay score was not a good score and I needed an improvement there. So I joined ForumIAS & VisionIAS’s essay test series

2. I followed a pattern of an impactful introduction (an anecdotes, a hook or an interesting proposition) to get the attention of the reader. Then I opened the essay in the middle parts covering various dimensions. I prepared notes for same (notes shared below).

3. Avoided digressing from the topic too much.

Suggestion:

1. Choose topics in which you are comfortable. Don’t get trapped into perception that when everyone chooses same topic, “tab marks nahi aate” . It is all misconception

2. Make you own notes covering personal anecdotes, examples, hook lines for introduction

3. Work upon conclusion to give a 36o degree perspective.

Here, I share my essay notes and sample essays to have an idea.

General Studies Notes

Go to essay section and read relevant notes.

My sample essays are available in my telegram channel.

IWRA

There will be light at the end of the tunnel.

“Nahi hua” I said these words to my mother on the evening of 27th April 2018 with a sad face and a sunk heart. I can see even the deeper sadness in her eyes. It was my 4th attempt, 2nd interview and I was not in the list, again. I have seen failures earlier also, thanks to the journey that UPSC is, but the pain that my mother was unable to conceal was more heart wrenching than anything. I decided two things on that day: I have to get over this anyhow (Rage, rage against the dying of the light. …Yeah that’s what I said to myself when the light within me was dying) and I should not be at home when next CSE results would be declared :p

Treading with a job: travails of a working aspirant

I joined Cairn India as a petroleum engineer in 2013 and have given all my 5 attempts with Job. Managing preparation along with job is a tedious task and needs lots of planning, perseverance, passion and a strong-will.

  • First of all, you need to have a mindset about your current job. It should be treated as a temporary phenomenon in your life. Assume that it is just a job, it is not something where you want to spend your entire life. Your passion and that burning desire for civil services should be your guiding criteria at your work place. So, treat your job as it is: It is secondary to your preparation. By this I don’t mean that you became too negligent at work. That should not be the case and an aspiring civil servant should never do that. You should have that adequate level of efficiency and professionalism and you should be able to complete all your deliverables within time. But you should avoid all those other things which can be otherwise utilized for your preparation (Social gatherings, frequent parties, Office gossip, extended lunch hours etc.). Don’t run after appraisals. Even if you get a bad one, it is not the end of your life. A little sacrifice is needed for a noble cause.
  • Do not let anyone know in the office that you are preparing. Prepare in silence, let success roar. There are practical problems especially in private sector, so it is better that you keep this as your little secret.
  • After you come back from office, plan your time judiciously. Divide your time between optional and GS and read accordingly. Also, don’t expect that you will run at super efficiency every time. There will be days where you won’t feel like reading anything. It is ok to feel that way and it is ok to not read anything on that day. What is not ok is making it a too recurrent phenomenon. At that point of time you have to tell yourself: No, that’s not how my story is going to end. Fall you must, but fail you shouldn’t. So, buck up, come out of comfort zone and start reading.
  • Weekends are God’s gift to you – use them to your fullest.
  • Social media: Since you have time constraints, you should stay away from social media as much as possible. Instead read newspapers and do productive things. I was away from facebook for a long time, didn’t use whatsapp much and got active only after this year’s result. So everything can wait: Say this to yourself.
  • Your mobile is your best friend, and it is more so for working-travelling aspirants. You can read on flights, in trains, in office washrooms if you have that one companion. So make your mobile your library. You should be able to access Laxmikanth pdf within 30 seconds, read your optional notes and should be able to make online notes on evernote (or any other platform). So, a good investment in mobile with lots of storage space is recommended.
  • “Remember why you started in the first place”: Remember this line in case you want to quit,there was a bad day at office, you felt like a failure or when you were just too helpless in this lone, long journey at any point of time.
  • Avoid conflicts at workplace as much as possible. It is not good for your preparation if you are disturbed. Keep your eyes always on UPSC.
  • Choose your friends selectively. Avoid noisy ones. Be in company of people who motivate you and create positivity in your life. Have someone who has absolute faith in you all the time, they do wonders for you.
  • Form a close group of friends and discuss questions, your answer sheets and learn cumulatively.
  • Be respectful and kind, everyone you meet is fighting a different battle. So be a little kinder, it is what makes you humane. Help someone at work, it will make you feel good. It helps in civil services preparation somehow—blessings and positive energy.
  • Never give up, avoid taking decisions in a haste especially after a setback like a failure in prelims, mains or finally not getting selected in the end. Give yourself a week time and get back in the preparation mode again.

In the end, I would like to leave you with my personal journey:

I failed in prelims 2014, I failed in mains 2015, and I reached till interview stage in next two attempts (2016 & 2017). In 4 attempts I had seen my heart shattered many times and each time it was damn difficult to start again. Many said that you had such a high paying job and you should not be worrying about UPSC this much. But how could I do that? How could I give up?The heart doesn’t lie.

So I kept going.

I was very clear that I will try till my very last and even if I fail at the end of my 6th attempt I would be happy with the feeling that I failed rather than I never tried.

I never wanted to have that regret: What if?

—By Sumit Kumar Rai

AIR 54, CSE 2018

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