Hello, my name is Siddharth Bhange, and I got an AIR of 700 in the UPSC CSE 2022. I was 16 years old in June 2016, when the results of the UPSC CSE came out. Tina Dabi was getting a lot of attention. The scores of 2016 made me want to take the UPSC CSE. Tina Dabi made me think that I could pass this test on the first try. I did not do well in school. Scored 52% in the first half of 11th grade and 63% in the second half. And just barely got 74% in the 12th boards. Because I didn’t do well in school, I was told not to take tests like the UPSC.
But even though people told me not to, I chose to start preparing for UPSC in 2018. My English was not good at all. In 2018-2019, I worked on my English, built up my vocabulary, and started reading English stories, autobiographies, and other books to improve my English.
When covid lockdown began in June 2020, real preparations began. My first try was in 2021. I was ready for everything, didn’t forget anything, and talked about everything. But because of my health, I couldn’t get into the 2021 prelims. I was ready for this, so it was a big blow for me. But still couldn’t make prelim.
Many people told me that because my family’s finances were bad, I should quit UPSC and get a job or go to graduate school instead. Also, I didn’t sign up for any coaching, so people around me said, “You should join coaching, but you didn’t.” But, still I managed.
I chose not to try again in 2022 and instead go to school for an MBA. But my teachers asked me to take the test even though I wasn’t ready and hadn’t done much studying. But because I had prepared well for my first try, I was able to pass prelim 2022.
I wasn’t ready mentally for this try. I was about to give up on this try. But I’m grateful to my older friends who gave me hope and courage.
Coming from a family in the lower middle class, it wasn’t easy to do this. I couldn’t afford to join a teacher, so I never did. Too much stress about money (ghar ka bada ladka); I did the whole optional by myself with no teaching or help, just YouTube. So I did have to put in a lot of work.
Strategy for UPSC by Siddharth Bhange
My plan was simple: for each subject, I read a normal book. My motto was to use as few resources as possible, as other toppers had proposed.
Art and culture: reading parts of Nitin Singhania about Harrapa, Buddhism, Jainism, dance, painting, puppetry, sculpture, and architecture.
Modern History: Spectrum Choose what you want to read
Polity: Laxmikant
Environment: Vision Current Affairs
Economy: I made handwritten notes using 2015 videos from Mrunal (some of which were a little old) and Vision Current Affairs, as well as YouTube videos for some topics.
Geography: Physical Geography NCERTs for Grades 11 and 12. Rajtanil Solanki Mam Videos to Help Understand Ideas. Crochet Pattern 11/12 NCERT
Science and technology: a look at recent events
For current events, check out Vision Magazines and the discussion of news on the Only IAS YouTube account.
Plan for the UPSC by Siddharth Bhange
First-year students should begin at least four months before their exams.
All normal books should have at least four new versions.
Do all of the group practise tests for Vision and look at how you did on them. Learn those test answers as well (VVVVIMP). Vision Current Affairs has been changed at least three times.
Start as soon as you can for the CSAT. Pls don’t ignore CSAT. I got a 66.66 on the CSAT, so I know how important it is to study for it.
For GS1 Mains:
Modern: I only read modern during my prelims. I didn’t study a single book for my mains because I didn’t have enough time.
World History: didn’t do it.
Post Independence: skipped
Geography: I took a quick look at NCERTs
Society: Sociology was my alternative subject, so I didn’t study anything in particular. But NCERTs for 11th and 12th grade and Vision Mains 365 are enough.
