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(Success Story) UPSC 2021 TOPPER, AIR-10 Harkeerat Singh Randhawa Strategy to Cracking UPSC Exams

(Success Story) UPSC 2021 TOPPER, AIR-10 Harkeerat Singh Randhawa Strategy to Cracking UPSC Exams

Harkeerat Singh has secured the 10th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2021. He is a native of Gurugram, Haryana. He gave his first attempt in 2012 just after his graduation. But he failed in the preliminary examination. He gave 5 consecutive attempts but failed in every attempt. He didn't give up and also did not lose his patience. Finally, he secured AIR 10th in his last attempt. It took him 10 years to crack this exam. During an interview by India Today he said, 

What is a dream without failures? If you dare to dream, you have to dare to take on failures, too. He further added that IFS is his teenage dream.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND HIS UPSC JOURNEY

Harkeerat completed his graduation in History (Hons) from St. Stephen's college, Delhi University. Harkeerat started his UPSC journey in 2012. He gave his first attempt just after graduation but didn't qualify the Preliminary Examination. In the second attempt he also failed. In the third and fourth attempt he didn't qualify the Mains Examination. Again he failed the Preliminary examination in his fifth attempt. In 2021 it was his last and sixth attempt. In final attempt, he tried to change his strategy and did not even make notes of the subjects. It was a do or die situation for him. This time he did not follow the strategy of the last 5 attempts. Finally he got All India Rank 10 and became the topper in his sixth attempt.

HARKEERAT SINGH RANDHAWA'S UPSC PREPARATION STRATEGY

MAKE YOUR OWN STRATEGY

Harkeerat advised the aspirants don't follow or copy any strategy blindly. Consecutive failures made him realise that whatever strategy he was following, those were others strategies. So in his last attempt he decided that he didn't try to copy any toppers strategy. He decided to stick to his own strategy. Literally, he did not make any notes, nor did he give any mock interviews. He just focused on reading and understanding as per UPSC syllabus. At last he cracked the exam with AIR 10th. 

CHOOSE YOUR OPTIONAL SUBJECT CAREFULLY

When he started his UPSC preparation, he took History as his optional subject. He completed his graduation with a history subject so he felt it was suitable for him. But after four attempts he realized that he should change his optional and took the Political Science and International Relation (PSIR) subject. 

NOT RELYING ONLY ON STANDARD BOOKS

He believes that just not relying solely on standard books. Take the help of online sources such as Wikipedia. His optional was Political Science & International Relations. He used to read newspapers like Indian Express, Hindu, New York Times, Washington Post and a diplomatic magazine called International Affairs for enrichment of his knowledge. It also helped him Mains Examination.

ALWAYS KEEP A DON'T GIVE UP ATTITUDE

He said that it took him 10 years to crack the UPSC exam. But he never gives up. He always learnt from his past mistakes and was careful in his next attempt. Despite a series of failures, he did not give up; he knew that determination and hard work would pay off one day.

At last Harkeerat said that his biggest learning was not to take anything for granted. He changed his preparation strategy. He worked on mastering every aspect, right from time management to general knowledge. He also advised the aspirants to take frequent breaks. He also used to take short breaks every hour to stay fresh and focused throughout the day.

Civil service officers like Harkeerat prove that failures are, indeed, the stepping stones to success.

Harkeerat Randhawa wishes you all the best

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(Getting Started) 10 Qualities Of A UPSC Topper

(Getting Started) 10 Qualities Of A UPSC Topper

One of the toughest and most prestigious examinations conducted in this country, UPSC Civil Services is a dream for so many of the country’s youth. Aspirants who succeed in breaking into these coveted services are put on a pedestal. And they are every bit deserving. UPSC Civil Service toppers join India’s bureaucracy and help push the country into the future. Over the years, a visible pattern has emerged and can be observed in successful candidates across the years. These are qualities that we all aspire to cultivate. 

Here are the top 10 qualities seen in a UPSC topper that all aspirants should persevere to inculcating –

  1. Discipline

This is the first and foremost quality, the bare minimum one needs to crack UPSC. Without discipline, this examination cannot be conquered. Being able to develop studious habits, a regular schedule, the ability to follow a routine and achieve both short-term and long-term goals is what one needs to succeed in UPSC Civil Services. This is also a quality highly expected of our civil servants.

  1. Perseverance

Only a handful ever make it to the final list on their very first try. It is not a matter of capability if we are being logical. The upsc syllabus is vast, the trend ever changing. The exam in itself is very different from any students take in their school or college years. Understanding the ask of the examination takes time. Having the will to keep trying and not get bogged down by failure is very important.

  1. Dedication

UPSC needs dedicated preparation. Studying on and off on a whim will never push you forward. Being dedicated to your efforts is important and it is a quality that is non-negotiable in every UPSC aspirant.

  1. Focus

There are a lot of distractions day to day life presents to you. Especially in today’s digital age, outside of our personal lives, we are constantly collected to the pulse of the entire world. These are distractions one cannot afford if they are to successfully navigate the maze of the UPSC Civil Services Exam. A focussed approach towards the final goal is essential to success in this examination.

  1. Time Management

Other than a vast syllabus, an optional which needs in-depth understanding, and the need to be updated on every relevant national and global news item, UPSC also required one to develop skills such as writing, analytical ability, maintaining a lack of bias, etc. To support all of these activities successfully, one must know how to manage their available time.

  1. Analytical Mindset

UPSC does not just deal with facts. What you conclude from those facts is what is even more important. The ability to logically reason and deduce information from data is a highly appreciated skill that all civil servants must cultivate.

  1. Unorthodox Ideas

The world will not make progress if inventions aren’t made. Inventive ideas are the core of a developed nation and UPSC expects its aspirants to come up with solutions for problems that are yet to be solved. Out of the box, ideation is one of those qualities that UPSC toppers must have.

  1. Decisiveness

Bureaucrats need to take immediate action all the time. Taking decisions at a moment's notice that have a long-lasting impact is a part of the job description. UPSC sets its examination in a manner that this skill in aspirants is tested.

  1. Communication Skills

No matter how well you know your subjects, unless you can convey that to the examiner or the interviewer, there is no way for them to judge you to your true potential. Developing both written and oral communication skills is thus indispensable for all those who wish to crack this exam.

  1. Voracious Curiosity

And finally, unless you are relentlessly curious, the chances of you doing well in this examination is very low. The syllabus is designed to be endless and the questions are set to test your thirst for knowledge. More importantly, you will not enjoy the journey itself if you are not moved by curiosity to learn more. 

So stay curious, develop these essential skills, and very soon your name too will shine bright on that elusive final list.

BEST OF LUCK.

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(Success Story) UPSC 2021 TOPPER, AIR-9 Preetam Kumar Strategy to Cracking UPSC Exams

(Success Story) UPSC 2021 TOPPER, AIR-9 Preetam Kumar Strategy to Cracking UPSC Exams

Preetam Kumar has secured the 9th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2021. He is a native of Kotra village in Sikar district, Rajasthan. He is the son of a kargil warrior. Preetam appeared in the UPSC exam thrice. In his first two attempts he reached the interview stage but didn't qualify. Finally, in 2021, he secured the AIR 9th in his third attempt. During an interview by news.com he said,

"One has to be consistent towards this exam. Sometimes your studies are going well, another moment you are feeling tired and sometimes you just want to give up. But the challenge is to keep going and keep working hard towards the goal. If you are consistent, any exam is easy to crack". He further added "When the UPSC results were declared, he was hoping to be at least in the top 300 but he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the result with AIR 9th. This is truly the happiest moment of his life.”

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Preetam completed his graduation with B.Tech degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Ropar. After graduation he started preparing for the Civil Services Examination. He took Mathematics as his optional subject. He joined coaching for a year in Delhi. After that he focused on self study. He gave ample time to every subject. 

PREETAM KUMAR'S UPSC PREPARATION STRATEGY

COVER THE STATIC  PORTION

Firstly, go through the static portion because the static part forms the core of the Preliminary Examination. Minimum 55 to 60 questions come from the static portion. For the static portion, aspirants can take the help of NCERT books and some standard books like 

But Preetam advised that aspirants should not keep more than two resources for any topic or subject. Read these books holistically, especially NCERT books. Nowadays, questions are coming from pictures and glossaries of new NCERT books. So don't ignore it.

STRATEGY  FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS

Preetam used to read Current affairs with static parts. He used to interlink the topics of current affairs with static portions. He believes that one year of current affairs is enough for the UPSC exam. He used to read PT 365 and also preferred online sources. He believes that online sources broaden your knowledge. He advised the aspirants that if anyone follows the monthly magazine, they don't need to read PT 365. He also said to stick to just one magazine. Don't follow multiple magazines. Apart from that, I read the newspaper regularly.

MOCK TESTS ARE  VERY IMPORTANT

Preetam said that “Practice makes a man perfect”. Mock tests play a vital role in the UPSC exam. Before one month prior to prelims he used to solve one mock test daily. It helped him to get used to the test and handle the pressure in the actual exam. He advised the aspirants to at least solve the 40 to 50 mock tests for the prelims exam. After giving the test, analyse yourself and find in which areas you are making mistakes. 

STRATEGY FOR ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE

He advised the aspirants while writing the answers to focus on three things: Introduction, Main body and Conclusion. Try to write the introduction as best as you can because an introduction is like the soul of an answer. By seeing your introduction of the answer, invigilator can get a rough idea about your perception about answer.

Aspirants can start their introduction with any fact, data, and definition. Always remember if you are going to mention any data, you must write the source of the data. It helps you in getting extra marks. The body of the answer should be intellectual. Mostly, try to write the answer in an Indian centric approach. 

At last Preetam said that "Hard work is key to success". Never give up. Give your 100 percent to this exam. Stay away from all the distraction but it doesn't mean you just isolated yourself in a one room. You can play any game or take a walk for stress release. Mental health and physical health both are very important while preparing. So just focus on your goal and achieve it.

Preetam wishes you all the best.

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(Getting Started) Crash Courses - are they Effective for UPSC Preparation?

(Getting Started) Crash Courses - are they Effective for UPSC Preparation?

Crash courses have forever been sold as an instant cure to hapless aspirants. And this is not just the case for UPSC Civil Services but almost all kinds of exams in general. There are always conflicting views on whether these courses are indeed useful or not. Some upsc toppers swear by these, some openly claim that they underwent a crash course but it did nothing for them. In this article, we try and decipher whether a crash course is indeed effective for UPSC preparation.

Objectives Of A Crash Course

The first thing you need to know is the objective of the course you are about to enroll in. Largely, there are two types of crash courses –

  • Introductory – This is targeted at beginners. It is meant to give you a basic understanding of concepts and help you create an effective structure for your preparation.
  • Revision – This is a revision course, targeted at those with a decent idea of the subjects. It is meant to clarify doubts and help revise content and conclude your preparation.

If you are a beginner and enroll in a revision course, or vice versa, suffice to say, you will not find it helpful at all.

Benefits Of A UPSC Crash Course

Unending Material To Cover

Among the many reasons one enrolls for a UPSC crash course, these 2 stand out –

  1. Access to upsc curated notes – These courses usually come with summarized reading material that is excellent for a quick review. It saves you time and effort and if the course is from a reputed source, the material adds a lot of value to your preparation.
  2. Access to upsc mock tests – They uniquely allow you access to a few sectional and full tests, and you can then choose to invest in a separate test series or just use the one included in the course.

UPSC PRELIMS Online Course (GS, CSAT, Current Affairs Combo)

What A Crash Course Won’t Do For You

A crash course is in no way a substitute for self-studying or a regular classroom course. It gives you guidelines and material content at best but it cannot fully prepare you for the long-drawn journey that is UPSC and to expect that would be unwise.

Do You Need A Crash Course?

That depends on where in your UPSC journey you currently stand. 

Ask yourself these questions –

  1. Are you facing difficulty finishing the upsc syllabus?
  2. Are there certain topics with which you are having more difficulty with?
  3. Do you feel despite covering the syllabus you are unable to answer questions in previous years’ papers or mocks?

If your answers are “yes” to more than one of these questions, chances are that despite the effort you are putting in, lack of guidance is preventing you from getting results. A crash course may be ideal for you in such a scenario.

Always remember, UPSC is unpredictable to only those who do not understand what it is asking of them. It's always better to be overprepared than to find yourself at a disadvantage. Whether you choose to join a regular course, a crash course, or self-study, at the end of the day it is your mental agility and hard work that will help you succeed. You just have to choose the options best for you.

Best of Luck.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD UPSC TOPPERS NOTES

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