1. Details
2. Essential books for CPF Exam
3. Decision Making question
4. Mood swing
5. Essay strategy
6. Comment of Civil Service (Mains) Exam
7. Interview
8. Medical Checkup
9. NCC certificate
10. Service Preference
11. Training of the officers
12. Career Backup
13. Message to Aspirants
14. Bogus Marketing propoganda

Details

Q. Tell us something about yourself. When and why did you enter in the competitive exam field?

I was fascinated by uniform services since childhood. Inspired by my father Mr U.S.Chavan retd bureaucrat, my uncles Mr Mohan Rathod (IPS) And Mr G.T.Chavan (IFoS). Watching them as a child, I learnt that  competitive exams get the best out of an individual. The zeal to excel at national level, to be better amongst the best motivates me and fuels my efforts. I took the decision of going for civil services when i was 10 years old. I’ve been a good student in academics with 84% marks in 10th and 12th. 66 % in graduation and 82 % in MBA. But I’m also a person more interested in out of the classroom ventures. I’ve always liked empirical mode of study than mere theoratical Aspects of it. I  felt that Competitive exams can give stronger and sustained wings to my ambitions. I chose my career option accordingly.

Essential books for CPF Exam

Q. Provide the List of Essential books/ tips for success in the CPF written exam?

1. Basic science textbooks of school class 8^th – 10^th . Ncert history, geography, newspaper
2. Indian express and any monthly current affair magzine.
3. Practice for basic logical reasoning and math.
4. Polity laxmikant.
5. for paper 2 essay . No books used just common understanding of the issue based on study for paper 1.

Decision Making question

Q. How to approach the Decision Making/Situation reaction test type MCQs in CPF exam?

• Decision making question expect candidates to take a comprehensive view of situation.
• Answer must be rational, practical and effective. It may not be all of them at the same time but the best option in the given situation must be given the priority.

Mood swing

Q. How did you maintain the study-mood, motivation and tempo throughout this journey? On an average, how many hours do you study per day?

• I devoted 4-12 hrs of study. It increases as exam approaches.
• I take time off to watch national geographic , history, discovery along with comedy shows to laugh off the stress.
• I used to chat with friends who arent preparing for civil services which took me Out of the zone temporarily. Special thanks to Sumedh, Ruchita, Sanjog.

Essay strategy

Q. How did you prepare for the essay? What Essay did you write in the CPF-2011 exam and what keypoints did you include in it?

I didn’t prepare for essay separately. I attempt essay based on paper 1 study. I wrote topic no 1 regarding internet vs culture . I assesed the pros and cons of technology with respect to its progressive and regressive effect on society. Changing society as an outcome of technology and vice versa.

Q. You have also appeared in Civil Service (Mains) exam, so what essay did you write in CSM-2012, what keypoints did you include in it?

• I wrote topic no 2 on PPP model. I explained the ppp concept and need for it.
• I evaluated the merits and demerits of the model from indian context in current socio-economic and international perspective followed by a summery cum conclusion.

Comment of Civil Service (Mains) Exam

Q. Since you’ve appeared in CSM-2012, What’s your take/opinion/review on the GS and optional subject paper?

• GS paper was by far the most lenghty. It equired us to think fast and write faster.
• Newspaper readers benefitted.
• Coaching class notes muggers had a nightmare although many might put up a brave face to swallow the embarassment.
• Optionals couldn’t have been more application based. UPSC is converging towards a Mains pattern change.

Interview

Q. Where was the CPF interview conducted? Please Provide the list of questions asked? And any tips for future aspirants.

• CPF interview is held in upsc at dholpur house, new delhi. I had it on 10^th sep 2012.
• Panel of hon. P.M.Mishra sir. Time- 18 minutes. I was 2^nd candidate in morning session.
• I was asked questions mostly on my biodata, why cpf , why was tiger in news? , naxalism, Cricket, T20 , internal security, NCC.
• My advice would be to study every detail of biodata. Be honest. Everyone of us is scared on the fateful day but its all about not showing it and trying to be calm and listening to questions carefully.

Q. How was interview: normal, stress, mixed?

It was normal. Panel was extremely comforting.

Q. If you’ve received the marksheet, please share it.

No marks or marksheet yet.

Medical Checkup

Q. To pass Physical Efficiency Tests (PET), what preparation did you do at home? How hard is the fitness test? Can a candidate with let’s say “average body and fitness”, clear it?

I’m an avid foody. An aspirant puts up weight faster. I was 90 kg so i reduced 23 kg in 3 months. I followed salad n low fat diet. I was studying for mains . Jogging 5 km daily n dieting. It helped me get fitter and enhanced my focus. I felt better about myself and confident.  Sufficient practice for 1 month can get an avg built person through.

Q. Where is the Physical efficiency test conducted? i.e. @Delhi or at some state HQ of CRPF?

I was alloted Bhilai (Chattisgarh) as i it was near to my exam center Nagpur.

NCC certificate

Q. Do you have any NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ Certificates? If a candidate doesn’t have such certificates, what are his chances to get selected?

NCC B or C grade is a preferred qualification. I don’t have it. One can still be in the top ranks even without it.

Service Preference

Q. What was your service preference order (CRPF>CISF>SSB etc) and why did you pick up the particular order?

CISF , CRPF , BSF , ITBP , SSB. My choice is purely based on instincts and little feedback from friends. My advice to aspirants will be to enlist preferences as per own personality by studying the job profile of all services individually and relatively aswell.

Training of the officers

Q. When will the training start and how long is the training period?

Currently 2010 batch is undergoing training. We are expecting a call by the end  of 2013. Training spans around 1 year.

Career Backup

Q. If you were not selected, what was your career backup plan?

I wouldve worked in clean energy sector preferably out of India.

Q. Behind every topper are many people who stood by him/her during those uncertain times when he was merely an ‘aspirant’. Would you like to tell the world, who were those people in your case?

• My Parents: Mr U.S Chavan and Mrs. Kamal Chavan, My Mother Always Wanted Me To Be A Uniform Services. She got me one when I was 6 yr old.
• My elder Sister Dr Apeksha Chavan.
• They Always Believed In Me And Motivated Me.
• My Aunt Mrs Vimal Chavan Took Care Of My Diet When I Was In Pune For Studies.
• My Friends Sumedh Munshi (Currently Pursuing MBA At Lese, Spain), Sanjog Binkar (Ranji Trophy Player, Indian Railways), Alok Raut (Maruti , Gurgaon).
• Ruchita Kale (M.A English Litt)  Dr Sagar Doifode , Tushar Nikhare (RBI Officer),
• Aditi Walunj ,Pradnya Gholap (My Friends , Philosophers And Guides)
• My Cousins Varun Rathod ,Tejas Chavan .

Message to Aspirants

Q. Through this journey, what wisdom did you gain about competition and life? What is your message to the aspirants?

EVERY FIGHTER HAS ONE LAST FIGHT LEFT IN HIM

SUBJECT YOUR BODY AND MIND TO THE LIMITS OF ITS CAPACITY.

NEVER BACK DOWN.TRUST YOURSELF. FEAR NOTHING.

Bogus Marketing propoganda

Q. The unwritten and most sacred rule of conducting topper’s interview=Last question must be related to marketing. So, I’ve to ask you: Did you use Mrunal.org for your preparation? And you can even reply “No”. I’ll publish your answer as it is. (Unlike certain Competitive magazines who distort the answers after taking the Toppers’ interview, hehehe.)

• I used mrunal.org for current and economics. One should go through it atleast once.
• I’ve has been using it since 2011. It helped me in CAPF , Civil Services (mains-prelims) and also in RBI  Grade “B” Officers’ mains. It’s one of its kind.