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(Success Story) UPSC 2022 TOPPER, AIR- 15: SWATI SHARMA SUCCESS STORY AND TIPS

Swati Sharma has secured 15th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022. She is a native of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. This was her third attempt. After her first attempt she realized that though she had the knowledge, she was not able to apply that knowledge while giving answers, so she started practising for that.

She gave the interview in 2021 but couldn’t come in the final UPSC list. During an interview by the media she said, she wants to work for women’s safety as well so that no woman is afraid to go anywhere at any time and their families also feel safe when their daughters are moving to other cities or states for studies or to progress further.”

Educational background

She did her schooling from Jabalpur only. She completed her graduation in Computer Science and Technology from Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur in 2019. She started preparing for the civil services examination from the college itself. For one year after her graduation, she did the UPSC preparation in Delhi, but in 2020, when the Covid-19 lockdown began, she shifted to Jabalpur and continued with her preparation. She chose Sociology as her optional subject because she feels that as a civil servant, one has to work for society and Sociology helps in understanding the problems of society well. She read the SYLLABUS thoroughly and according to that she prepared her own strategy. She gave equal emphasis to all the subjects whether it was current affairs or GS subjects she cannot leave out anything as everything is important.

Swati's UPSC preparation strategy

Consolidate your study material

Swati advises the aspirants that during the preparation try to consolidate your study materials. After that, revising them again and again. At the end of the day what you read is not important, what you remember is important. Just focus on limited study materials from limited resources.

Strategy for MAINS answer writing

Swati said the mains examination is the most important phase of UPSC preparation. Mains exam scores will be extremely important in determining your selection as well as rank. Mains paper is descriptive in nature, it is very important that aspirants give enough time to answer writing in their UPSC mains preparation strategy. After reading any topic, try to summarise that in your own words. Don’t panic about writing bad answers in the beginning. Don't be scared to commit mistakes. No one can write perfect answers and write the best essay on day one. The

Practice does make one perfect, hence it is important that practice answer writing as much as you can. Try to give mock tests regularly and solve the PYQS of UPSC mains examination.

Interview strategy

She said, Interview is very important as it decides your final ranking, as at times aspirants who score low in Mains but get better marks in Interview. They go high on the rank because of the interview, so the interview plays a very important role.

For the interview round, she did mirror practices to improve her communication skills so she could communicate her answers properly to the interview panel. She asked questions to herself and then answered them. It helped lot to her.

At last Swati said she wanted to bring positive change in society, to work at the grassroot level and also to set an example for girls and to work for them, improving their position in society. She aspired to be a civil servant and also advised the aspirants, whenever you feel demotivated, just count your blessings. This will make you feel better and also motivated. Be thankful for what you have and promise yourself to achieve for more.