Hi, Anurag Ghuge here, AIR 624 in CSE 2022. NIT Warangal awarded me a B.Tech in Civil Engineering. I am from the Maharashtra district of Washim. I chose Public Administration as an optional. And my preparation had begun following my graduation in 2018.
I attempted four times, three mains and three interviews: CSE 2019 – First Attempt – Could not pass Prelims. I came up 1.5 marks short. I erred by over-attempting and not thoroughly reading questions under pressure. CSE 2020 2nd Attempt – Exceeded Cutoff by 10 Marks. I wrote First Mains and passed it. Appeared in Personality Tests but fell short of the Final List Cutoff by 9 points. [Not advisable]
CSE 2021 3rd Attempt – Wrote Mains and Appeared in Personality Test Again, but fell short in Final List by 29 Marks. [Not advisable] CSE 2022 4th Attempt – AIR 624 in CSE 2022.
Economy – Vajiram and Sriram’s Economy Class Notes
Indian Society – Vision Society Material, Notes from Mehak Jain Ma’ m, Social Media Value Addition
Atish Mathur Sir’s Polity – Laxmikanth, PYQs, Magna Carta Series on YouTube
IR – 365 Mains
VisionIAS Material for Security
VisionIAS Material for Disaster Management
Ethics/ GS4 – Selective reading of D.K. Balaji’s Lexicon and Book, Lukmaan Case Study Booklet, Topper Copies, Forum Red Book for Ethics
Preliminary Exam Strategy – GS
With my failure in the first prelims, I had micro-analyzed every question attempt. I had passed several Full Length Tests from various institutes.
Using the Accuracy-Attempt graph, I arrived at my ideal attempt of 75-80.
Recognising which questions to avoid. (You don’t know unless you ask.)
Concentrate on the Static Part of Polity, History, Maps, and Logical Economy.
Using latent knowledge to eliminate options
Learning new information and topic dimensions from the Test Series. In the preliminary exam, my strategy included: 1. attempting my strengths, such as politics, economics, and maps, and 2. making fewer mistakes rather than attempting to complete more problems. Also, staying calm and patient in the test hall, as well as trusting your preparation, is the main reason I was able to pass prelims without much preparation in CSE 2021 and CSE 2022 after receiving bad final results. For CSAT Prelims – As an Engineer with CSAT experience, I never undertook a separate preparation.
Demand for Qn > Answer Content. Demand should be prioritised, and content can be enhanced.
The structure of the answer demonstrates coherence.
Use of introductions, conclusions, topic-related keywords, and subheadings using Qn Words.
Paper completion is very important in determining your grade. It is necessary to strike a balance between quantity and quality.
10m and 15m time management. Try to close the gap in successive questions.
Increase your writing speed by practising and reviewing more.
Using pre-made diagrams, maps, flowcharts, and case studies will improve quality.
Refer to the top copies to understand the presentation, the dimensions of Qn, and the structure.
Include the Value Addition from the Test Series in the Notes.
Prepare Optional in depth and analyse Optional demand with PYQs.
Essay Paper Specific Inputs
My essay paper scores were 138 (2020), 117 (2021), and 125 (2022).
Refer to top copy for general idea exploration and essay flow.
I avoided the PASTEL Approach since it mechanicalizes the essay. I try to break essays into topic elements and then sprinkle appropriate examples in each dimension.
Use of Quotes (2-3 in a single essay), Books, and Authors – See Shubham Bhaisare Sir’s Notes
Pay attention to word and line spacing in presentations.
Avoid word repetition and maintain logical flow in essays.
The ending should not be rushed; a balanced and detailed conclusion has earned more points.
Avoid focusing on topical keywords, but rather on the relationships between them. (Applicable in Philosophical Essays).
You may always ask me about essay preparation on my Instagram, where I post various write-ups and FAQs concerning Essays on a regular basis.
Stage 1 of the interview: Thoroughly prepare the DAF.
Brainstorm the majority of probable questions using Transcripts and Relevant Entry in DAF.
During the PT stage, 2-3 newspapers are your best pals.
Smile, speak directly to the point, and internalise values that must be articulated.
General Advice for UPSC Aspirants by Anurag Ghuge
Carefully prepare the Static section. It will also offer you an advantage in current affairs. It will also help you in the mains and the interview.
Have faith in your preparation and materials, and tailor your preparation to your personality.
Maintain a single source [Base] and add extra stuff to it.
Timetables should always be created, with both short and long-term goals. Maintain buffer time to account for spillovers.
Creation of multi-purpose data sets, committees, and decisions. One-page notes for GS’s recurring themes. This Exam is a long game, and failure is always a possibility given its nature. There will be times when you doubt yourself, feel insecure, and even consider quitting. Always have faith in your motivation, ability, and desire. Surround yourself with people that inspire you to work harder. Maintain an open mind and react to the changing demands of the UPSC. Best wishes!
