- Topper Profile
- Education
- Electronic Vs Paper material
- Tempo and style
- Struggle of a Senior player
- Prelims (CSAT) General studies
- Prelims (CSAT) Aptitude
- Prelim accuracy
- Mains: Compulsory language paper
- Mains: Essay
- General Studies (Mains) paper 1
- General studies (Mains) paper 2
- General studies (Mains) Paper 3
- General Studies 4: Ethics, Integrity, aptitude
- GS4 Ethics case study answers in Mains 2013
- Mains answer-writing?
- Mains Optional Subject
- Before the interview
- During the interview
- CSE-2013 Marksheet
- Career Backup
- Views on UPSC reforms
- Insecurity about profile
- Wisdom
- Credit: Friends/family
- BOGUS Marketing Propaganda
Topper Profile
| Name | Gaurav Agrawal |
| Rank in CSE-2013 | 1 |
| Roll No. | 249085 |
| Age | 29 |
| Total attempts in CSE | 2 |
| Optional Subject | Economics |
| Medium chosen for Mains answers | English |
| Schooling medium | English |
| College medium | English |
| Home town/city | Jaipur |
| Work-experience if any | 3.5 years in Investment Banking. Presently in IPS. |
| Details of other competitive exams, including success/failures |
|
| Details of coaching, mock tests, postal material for any competitive exam (if used) |
|
| service preference #1, 2 and 3 | IAS > IPS > IRS |
| state cadre preference (top3) | Rajasthan > MP > Gujarat |
Education
| fill the details here | |
| % in class 10 | 88.2 |
| % in class 12 | 85.6 |
| Schooling (Medium) | English |
| Graduation course and % | Computer Sc. & Engg. 6.8/10. Multiple F’s and degree Extended. |
| Name of college, city, passing out year | IIT Kanpur, 2005 |
| Post-graduation | IIM Lucknow, MBA in Finance 9.25 / 10. Gold Medal |
| Any other professional courses | |
| Hobbies & Extra curricular |
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Electronic Vs Paper material
Q. In recent times, there is spur in electronic material- blogs, sites, pdfs, RSS-feeds. Many aspirants feel bogged down by this information overload. So, how much do you rely on electronic material and how much on the paper material (Books, newspapers)?
More than 60% of preparation today has to come from internet. Role of books is decreasing. Hindu is of prime importance now. No typical day. I maintain notes.
Tempo and style
Q. People know what books and syllabus points are to be prepared. But most of them lack consistency in their preparation. So, how do you keep study momentum going on? How do you fight against the mood swings and distractions?
Inner strengths.
Struggle of a Senior player
Q1. What’re your words of wisdom to other senior players? If any specific inspirational incident(s), please share.
Only one thing. While preparing for the next attempt, don’t begin in blind and just repeat what you did earlier, because that obviously failed. Instead, sit down, analyze, find your weaknesses and work to improve those weaknesses mainly.
Q2. What went wrong in your previous attempt? What changes did you make in this current attempt?
I’ve written a detailed article about it. click me
Prelims (CSAT) General studies
| Topic | strategy/booklist/comment |
| History Ancient | I had history optional last year. |
| History Medieval | I had history optional last year. |
| History Modern (Freedom Struggle) | Shekhar Bandopadhyay and Bipin Chandra books |
| Culture society | I had history optional last year. |
| Polity (theory + current) | DD Basu |
| Economy (theory + current) | I had economics optional. |
| Science (theory + current) | 9th and 10th class NCERT and Vajiram notes. |
| Environment (theory + current) | Please read my blog post for this. click me |
| geography physical | 11th and 12th class NCERT, Goh Che Leong, Vajiram notes. |
| geography India | 11th and 12th class NCERT, Goh Che Leong, Vajiram notes. |
| geography world | 11th and 12th class NCERT, Goh Che Leong, Vajiram notes. |
| other national/international current affairs | Newspaper and internet. |
| Schemes, Policy & Filler Stuff | Newspaper and internet. |
Prelims (CSAT) Aptitude
| Topic | strategy / booklist |
|---|---|
| Maths | Didn’t prepare. |
| reasoning | Didn’t prepare. |
| comprehension | Didn’t prepare. |
| Decision Making | Didn’t prepare. |
Q. Any observation / comments / tips about GS Aptitude 2013 paper.
Can’t comment here as didn’t prepare for this.
Prelim accuracy
Q1. Did you attend any ‘mock tests’? do you think they’re necessary for success?
Yes. Yes absolutely necessary.
Q2. Approximate no. of attempted answers vs. correct answers. in CSAT-2013
Don’t remember as didn’t analyze this year’s paper after coming back.
Q3. Your score in prelim?
| General studies | 121.34 |
| aptitude | 182.50 |
| total | 304 |
Mains: Compulsory language paper
| Compulsory language paper | Your preparation strategy / booklist? |
| English paper | None |
| your regional language | None |
Q2.other observations / tips / comments on the length / difficulty level of compulsory language papers in CSE-2013
None
Mains: Essay
Q1. How did you prepare for the essay paper?
Analyzed my mistakes from previous year and improved upon them. Details can be found here. click me
Q2. Which among the following essay did you write? What key points did you include in it?
- Be the change you want to see in others (Gandhi)
- Is the Colonial mentality hindering India’s Success?
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country
- Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation.
Attempted the Essay on S&T. Key points can be found here. click me
General Studies (Mains) paper 1
Please note that while reading the coaching material, we will find that 90% of the topics are repetitive and useless if we have read the books. So skip those 90% and quickly read the remaining useful 10% only.
| Topic | How did you prepare? |
| culture | Multiple sources, mentioned here click me |
| Indian history | Shekhar Bandopadhyay – From Plassey to Partition, Bipin Chandra (both freedom struggle and since independence) |
| world history | Baliyan’s history optional classnotes. Also read Europe Since Napoleon for history optional last year. |
| post-independence India | Mentioned above. Most of the questions asked were common knowledge which we develop from school time via newspapers and stories. |
| Indian society | Everybody knows everything. Skipped. |
| role of women, poverty etc. | Everybody knows everything. Skipped. |
| globalization on Indian society | Everybody knows everything. Skipped. |
| communalism, regionalism, secularism | Everybody knows everything. Skipped. |
| world geo physical | Had some basic idea. Got some coaching notes of Baliyan and Vajiram. Read some topics from Savinder Singh’s book. Prepared cyclones from IMD website. |
| resource distribution | Skipped. |
| factors for industrial location | Skipped. Most of it is common sense. |
| earthquake tsunami etc | NCERT, Savinder Singh. |
| impact on flora-fauna | Skipped. |
General studies (Mains) paper 2
| Topic | How Did You Prepare? |
| Indian Constitution, devolution, dispute redressal etc. | DD Basu |
| comparing Constitution with world | Basic comparison everybody knows. So skipped. |
| parliament, state Legislatures | DD Basu, Puncchi Commission and 2nd ARC reports. |
| executive-judiciary | DD Basu and also current issues. |
| ministries departments | Skipped |
| pressure group, informal asso. | 2nd ARC report. But too general a topic, everybody knows everything. |
| Representation of people’s act | Current issues (SC rulings had come on this issue) |
| various bodies: Constitutional, statutory.. | Internet based study, Wikipedia, expert opinion. Basically find the composition etc. of the body. Powers, functions etc. mostly same. Weaknesses and strengths also mostly same. Refer to my notes here. |
| NGO, SHG etc | Everybody knows everything. Still studied 2nd ARC report for core issues. |
| welfare schemes, bodies | Vajiram came out with a public pdf analyzing various schemes. |
| social sector, health, edu, HRD | Follow current issues |
| governance, transparency, accountability | 2nd ARC report |
| e-governance | 2nd ARC report |
| role of civil service | 2nd ARC report |
| India & neighbors | Newspapers and internet |
| bilateral/global grouping | Newspapers and internet |
| effect of foreign country policies on Indian interest | Newspapers and internet |
| diaspora | Newspapers and internet |
| international bodies- structure mandate | Newspapers and internet |
General studies (Mains) Paper 3
| Topic | How Did You Prepare? |
| Indian economy, resource mobilization | Everything under the sun comes under it. What to prepare. |
| inclusive growth | Everybody knows everything. |
| budgeting | I read 2nd ARC report on Financial Management. But obviously question asked was from somewhere else and I had no idea. But still one should read it to cover basic stock issues in the topic like accrual budgeting, other types of budget etc. Additionally I think one should read the budget carefully and watch out for any interesting term in it. |
| major crops, irrigation | Report titled “State of Indian Agriculture” presented in parliament in March / April 2012. |
| agro produce – storage, marketing | APMC Acts, direct marketing, e-marketing initiatives, FDI in retail, schemes of the ministry, Mega food park scheme, National Food Processing Missin etc. All this can be found on internet. |
| e-technology for famers | Internet. |
| farm subsidies, MSP | From economics optional background. Understand what are the issues with farm subsidies and MSPs. See what leading economists are saying about these. Read a few papers from CACP website. |
| PDS, buffer, food security | CACP website, FSB, internet based study totally. |
| technology mission | Internet. |
| animal rearing economics | Couldn’t prepare except for whatever is given in State of Indian Agriculture Report, 2012. |
| food processing | Mentioned above in storage, marketing topic. |
| land reforms | Prepared it as a part of economics optional. You can see my notes. Bhoodan and Gramdan I saw from Mrunal. |
| liberalization | Internet, newspapers |
| Infra | Internet, newspapers |
| investment models | Internet, newspapers |
| science-tech day to day life | Coaching material, but all of it was useless. |
| Indian achievements in sci-tech | Skipped |
| awareness in IT, space, biotech, nano, IPR | Tried to follow current developments. For all effective purposes, skipped. |
| environmental impact assessment | Skipped. Everybody knows everything. |
| Disaster Management | 2nd ARC report. CAG report on the topic. |
| non state actors, internal security | 2nd ARC and Puncchi Commission reports covering tribal councils, 5th and 6th schedule issues, PESA, FRA etc. |
| internal security – role of media, social networking site | Too general, everybody knows everything. Just keep following current issues. |
| cyber security | Skipped. Everybody knows everything. |
| money laundering | Skipped. Everybody knows everything. |
| border Management | Skipped. Everybody knows everything. |
| organized crime, terrorism | Skipped mostly. Read some discussion on anti-terror law in 2nd ARC report. Everybody knows everything. |
| security agencies- structure mandate | Some Wikipedia based study, but mostly skipped. Everybody knows everything. |
General Studies 4: Ethics, Integrity, aptitude
| Topic | How Did You Prepare? |
| ethics and interface, family, society and all the hathodaa topics | Too general topics. Everybody knows everything about these topics. Most important question in this topic is what is the role of family / society in framing morality / ethics. |
| attitude, moral influence etc. | Sriram, Baliyan and Vajiram material available in photocopy shops for basic definitions. |
| civil service: integrity, impartiality, tolerance to weak etc | Vajiram and Baliyan material available in photocopy shops. Nolan committee report. 2nd ARC report. |
| emotional intelligence, its use in governance | Sriram material for basic definitions. Too general topic, everybody knows everything about it. One important question is role of EI in administration. |
| moral thinkers of India and world | How many thinkers did you prepare? Mostly skipped it. Tried to remember a few thinkers from Baliyan’s and Sriram’s notes but found it couldn’t be done. |
| ethics in pub.ad, accountability, laws, rules etc. | 2nd ARC report. Everybody knows everything. |
| corporate governance | Important topics I thought here were recent Company law, Sebi recommendations. But they didn’t ask these. Otherwise this is too general a topic and everybody knows everything. |
| probity in governance, work culture | Everybody knows everything. |
| citizen charter, ethics code, work culture etc. | 2nd ARC reports on ethics and governance. |
| challenges of corruption | 2nd ARC report on ethics. |
| case studies on above topics | Bring it on approach. |
Any other comments, word of wisdom after going through the mains-2013.
In case studies, I always tried to analyze each option from a theoretical perspective. I used to take an option and see what the 4-5 school of ethics say about it and then try to come to an acceptable ethical decision.
GS4 Ethics case study answers in Mains 2013
Q. in GS4 ethics papers, please give a sketchy overview of your case study answers:
Sorry don’t remember. But my vision ias mock tests where I attempted such case studies can be seen here… click me
| Case | your approach/ keypoints |
| 1: RTI: To hide or not to hide | |
| 2: Engineer: Bogus flyover vs deadline | |
| 3: Child Labourers in Sivakasi | |
| 4: Nepotism in Job recruitment | |
| 5: Leaking information | |
| 6: Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such crisis of conscience and how you resolved the same. |
Mains answer-writing?
Q. How was your experience with the ‘fixed space’ answer sheet?
It’s a trap. Don’t fall to the temptation of filling the entire space.
Q. Did you write answers in bullet points or in paragraphs? Some players (who cleared mains and got interview call letter) were claiming that they wrote entire paper in bullet points, so it doesn’t matter….whether examiner is asking ‘examine, comment, discuss or xyz’….simply write in bullets and points.
Bullet points with proper headings, sub headings, underlining. And who says we can’t comment / discuss in points or while analyzing can’t present our thoughts in points. In comment / discuss / analyze kind of questions, simply give all positive points, then given all negative points and then give way forward. Or say take up an issue as a point sub heading, do its pros and cons analysis and then move on to next point sub heading. Bottom line is, use your own brain and communicate in a way you feel to be the best. Don’t rely blindly on coachingwallahs.
Q. Did you follow the “introduction-body-conclusion” format? because some mains-qualified candidates claim they simply wrote the points they could recall within the time, instead of bothering with proper introduction and conclusion.
Yes. I too wrote almost all my answers in points but still I gave a proper introduction, proper headings and sub-headings and then a conclusion. The main bulk of the answer was in points. I don’t think why the tradeoff mentioned in the second half of your question should arise.
Q. In GS papers, Since UPSC came with those 100 and 200 words questions. What was your approach in the exam (I wrote all, I only focused on the questions where I could answer perfectly, I just not to high quality points to reach the word limit etc.)
Extremes in public life are mostly bad and one has to do a balancing act. Same applies to your question above. I would only say, have faith in your judgment, apply your mind, and rely on intuition on what to attempt and what not. Exam condition is so dynamic, can’t apply any rigid formula there. I simply attempted questions I ‘felt’ I should attempt.
Q. How many marks worth questions did you skip/couldn’t finish in the GS papers?
| GS (Mains paper) | Couldn’t finish /attempt |
|---|---|
| GS1 | 10 marks |
| GS2 | 10 marks |
| GS3 | 60 marks |
| GS4 | 10 marks |
Q5. Did you use highlighters / sketchpens in your answers?
No
Q6. Did you draw any diagram in any paper? (e.g. in GS1 Geography)
No, wanted to but couldn’t
Q7. If yes, Did you draw diagrams with pencil or pen?
NA
Q8. Did you use ruler to draw the lines in diagram? Or did you just make it by hand?
NA
Q9. You wrote the answer in blue pen or black pen?
Blue gel pen
(Mrunal – since readers keep mailing such queries, therefore I’m asking the topper to clear all the air haha.)
Mains Optional Subject
Q1. First the essential book/resource list. (Also mention which one is the “Base book” for covering the theory? + Whatever comments you’ve for a particular book e.g. “my seniors said read xyz book but I found that ABC book was better”. “xyz topic not given properly in this book, so prepare from xyz website or book…” OR and so on.)
Economics was my optional. Please read my blog post on this where I have covered this in great detail. click me
This is a list of reading material arrived after a lot of painstaking trial and errors.
There are many topics which required study of many research papers and internet articles. So obviously can’t mention a single source for them. But I used to take whatever I found useful from there and make my own notes which can be found here. click me
Q2. How much of internet-research / current affairs is necessary for this optional? OR can one simply rely on the books and be done with this subject?
Paper 1 can be done mostly by books. Paper 2 is 80% internet based.
Q3. How many months did it take to finish the core optional syllabus?
3 months for the first time where I could study the other optional as well as GS along with Economics.
Q4. How many days/ weeks before the exam, you started answer writing practice?
Around 2 months.
Q5. Do you maintain self-notes for revision of optional? In which format- electronic or paper?
Yes, electronic. All uploaded on my blog.
Q6. Your observation about the difficultly level of 2013 mains vs previous papers. And what precautions / rectifications are necessary in the future strategy for given optional subject?
I think there was a quantum jump in the difficulty level from previous mains. There was a question in paper 1. I still can’t even understand to this day. But thankfully, the system of choices saved me. Precautions etc. I have mentioned in my blog post on economics.
Q7.How much did you skip OR couldn’t answer properly, in the optional paper?
| optional paper | Couldn’t finish __ mark |
|---|---|
| Paper I | Around 14 marks |
| paper II | Around 8 marks |
Before the interview
Q1. How did you prepare for the interview? Particularly college graduation subjects related questions?
First, would like to clarify the myth that UPSC interview is only of 275 marks i.e. 10-15%. The real weight of the interview is at least 40%. The reasons are: a) UPSC has developed a habit of giving very less marks in mains. This is a relative exam and only difference of marks between us and others matters. Naturally if low marks are given in written, then difference of marks from others which we can have by performing well in written will be less. b) Only candidates clearing mains can give interview. So whatever little difference in marks was there in mains gets reduced even further (as the difference in marks among the mains successful candidates would be less than the difference in the entire set). On the other hand, interview marks come only after this mains cutoff stage and there is a full range of marks given in interviews. So the difference in marks arising out of interview can be great leading to its increased effective weight.
So neglect interview only at your own peril! And also unlike what many say interview is not purely ‘luck’ based. Barring few exceptional cases, most of the interviews contain questions 90% of which can be predicted and prepared well in advance! Wait for my blog post on interviews.
– Subject: College graduation subject (Computer Sc.) didn’t have much relevance for me as I had done a lot of things after college. So I had done only very basic preparation of IT – current happenings and some theoretical aspects. My main field was economics which was running through my entire DAF (in hobby, job related to eco, optional eco, MBA done in finance – most people relate finance with economics). And economics is a subject where unless we meet an economist in the panel, the interview would be on current economic issues only. So decided to skip the theoretical portions and prepare only the current macroeconomic issues. We were facing high inflation and low growth, stalled projects, land acquisition issues etc. And a new government was there. So it was natural to expect questions on it and so I prepared these issues. Since economics was my main area, so I had to speak like an economist. Nothing less was expected. So remembered some key data related to IIP, WPI, CPI, GDP numbers etc. Developed mind maps containing 6-7 points on Why high inflation and Why low growth. The thing is in such issues everybody knows everything, but I had to speak like an economist. So from the first sentence itself, my understanding should be visible. This is possible only when we prepare these questions beforehand and not think about them for the first time in the interview itself. I have these mind maps on paper, so will upload scanned images on my blog post so that readers can get a clearer idea of what I am talking about.
– Home state: Had prepared it last year as well, so this year mostly revised it and prepared some current issues (like refinery, jaipur metro, drug trafficking, socio economic scenario). Mostly internet based study particularly Wikipedia. For Rajput and modern history, read a book used in RAS history optional apart from internet.
– Home district: I was brought up in Jaipur so prepared a few aspects of Jaipur (tourism places, economic activities, present problems etc.). But I was born in Bharatpur. In the summary sheet, only place of birth comes, so preparing place of birth is more important than preparing ‘home’ district. I prepared Bharatpur history, economy, tourism places, Keoladeo park, Salim Ali, ornithology etc. Mostly Wikipedia based study.
– Job: I was trading financial derivatives at Citi. Most important thing for me was naturally financial crisis. I know a great deal about financial crisis naturally having seen it from the middle of it all, but when it comes to explaining it in 2-3 sentences, prior preparation is needed. So I prepared it and it was asked in the beginning questions itself last year. Then I also prepared history of Citi and its mergers, Salomon Brothers, John Meriwether, LTCM etc. Some preparation related to Vikram Pandit and Corbatt.
– IPS: Had to study a lot about this topic this year as it was completely new. Prepared police reforms (studied all commissions setup since British era, watched Aamir Khan’s show, read many articles on internet) then prepared mind maps of 5-6 points to speak on various possible questions on police and bureaucracy reforms. Basically in such topics everybody knows everything. What matters is how we speak in first 2-3 sentences. However, they couldn’t find out I was already into IPS (as it was there in the DAF but not summary sheet from where they were asking), so no questions asked. Will upload the scanned copies of these mind maps in my blogpost.
– Why IAS after IPS, IIM, IIT, Investment Banking: Spent a lot of time preparing this. Prepared it from all possible angles I could think. Came up with realistic answers. In both interviews, this was the first question asked.
– Other DAF things: Prepared everything mentioned in the DAF. Will cover these in the blog post where I will upload my DAF and cover each issue.
– Current affairs: Current affairs preparation for interview is different from preparation for mains. Basically people who are taking our interview are not preparing themselves. So they will only remember ‘masala’ news and not the boring committees and legislations etc. So have to cover masala news for interview and develop our own opinion on all such news items.
Q2. Did you attend any mock interviews by coaching classes? How were they similar / different than official interview? Do you believe it is necessary to attend such mock interviews?
Yes. They were very helpful for me as I was cutout for private sector interviews, not UPSC interview. UPSC interview requires different kind of mannerisms and body language and this is what I learnt from mocks. Then I also got to know my weakness areas on which I worked. However, don’t rely blindly on whatever they say, apply your own mind before changing / preparing something.
Q3. What did you wear? Some experts say coat is must, some say tie is must, and some say black shoes must. What attire did you pick up?
The sole purpose of the attire should be that it doesn’t get noticed. I wore a shirt, trousers and a tie. Black shoes, clean shaved.
Q4. Where did you stay for the interview? (Hotel / friend’s home …) and what books/material did you bring for the ‘revision before interview’?
My friend’s place. Revised some of my online notes and mind maps.
During the interview
Q1. Who was the chairman of you interview board?
Dr. Kilemsungla
Q2. How long was the interview?
May be around 20-25 mins
Q3. Please narrate your entire interview- what questions did they ask and what did you reply and other pleasant or uncomfortable experiences during the interview. (Earlier some toppers only tell me their question but not their answer. I would appreciate if you give both Question + your original answers)
click me for Full transcript of my interview by UPSC panel.
Q5. Was your interview on the expected lines of what you had prepared or did they ask you totally unexpected questions? Was it a stress interview, did they ask any uncomfortable questions? If yes, how did you handle it?
Most of it was expected.
Q6. Any side details about technicalities like “make sure you bring xyz document or do xyz thing, or you’ll face problem”?
None
Q7. Any word of wisdom / observations about medical checkup?
None
CSE-2013 Marksheet
| SUBJECTS | MARKS |
|---|---|
| ESSAY (PAPER-I) | 135 |
| GENRAL STUDIES -I (PAPER-II) | 85 |
| GENRAL STUDIES -II (PAPER-III) | 63 |
| GENRAL STUDIES -III (PAPER-IV) | 88 |
| GENRAL STUDIES -IV (PAPER-V) | 102 |
| OPTIONAL-I (Economics) (PAPER-VI) | 134 |
| OPTIONAL-II (Economics) (PAPER-VII) | 162 |
| WRITTEN TOTAL | 769 |
| PERSONALITY TEST | 206 |
| FINAL TOTAL | 975 |
Q2. After looking at the marksheet, suppose you had to prepare again next time, what changes will you make in your studies?
Would sit down and try to figure out how to score more in GS. Would consult few more people, also join test series to seek feedback.
Career Backup
Q1. If you were not selected, what was your career backup plan?
Continued with IPS, Rajasthan cadre.
Q2. when were you going to “execute” that backup plan? (e.g. after __ failed attempts/ after I cross __ age/after dad retires/ etc.)
After the result.
Views on UPSC reforms
What are your views on following issues?
Q. Despite what UPSC has done in recent years, it has failed to curb the nuisance of Delhi’s coaching factories. In fact it’s increased under the new syllabus in 2013. Let’s face it, most toppers have relied on (authentic OR Xeroxed) coaching notes because there was hardly any time left to prepare so many topics in such short time. This system work against an individual preparing from far-away area, without any financial resources, high-speed internet or contacts in Delhi.
Don’t agree with this. Coachingwallahs thrive when question papers are static and same things are repeated year after year. UPSC, on the other hand, has made their paper very dynamic in last 2-3 years. Now the ‘bookish’ questions have reduced greatly and analyze types have increased. No longer are they asking questions where information is the key determinant (even in the prelims). What matters is one’s opinion and analysis. This cannot be found in any single place / book and internet has to be referred to. Most coachingwallahs are stagnant and old and are unwilling to change with times. Classroom coachings have become a waste of time. Only 10% of what they teach is perhaps relevant. Instead of attending their classes and wasting time on that 90% useless thing, better to just buy their notes from photocopy shops and study the 10%. Coachings take 6 months to teach what one can study in 2 months and are of inferior quality.
Mrunal comments: thanks, your reply will help clear the negative vibes among some new players that Delhi coaching is essential for success in UPSC.
Q. Optional subjects should be removed altogether. The present stalemate is helping no-one, except coaching-owners, book publishers.
I don’t subscribe to the so called ‘level playing field’ theory that removing optional ensures level playing field. How can it be a level playing field when you force an engineer to study history as well as a history student to study history? Is this level playing field or the scenario when everybody can study his/her strength?
Q. UPSC should disclose official prelim answerkey and cutoffs, immediately after prelim is over, instead of postponing it till interview phase is over.
Yes. In fact should also reveal individual’s marks along with his / her prelims result.
Q. UPSC should be conducted online like IBPS and CAT exam to shorten the duration of exam.
Invariably that is the direction one has to move in. But people are not ready for it presently.
Q. If you are made the UPSC chairman, what other reforms would you initiate for the civil service exam?
Transparency Related Matters
- Provide scanned copies of answer sheets.
- Release all marks of each candidate at each stage.
- Give a tentative window of result declaration beforehand.
Quality of Exam
Divide GS into more papers and ensure that only a historian is checking history answers, geographer is checking geography answers, foreign policy experts are checking IR answers and so on. In the present system, a single person is checking entire GS paper which has 3-4 subjects and this hampers quality of examination seriously.
Insecurity about profile
Q. Many candidates prepare sincerely but constantly live under fear about ‘profile insecurity’. I’m not from a big college, I’m not from English medium, and I don’t have work-experience. What if they ask some stressful questions in the interview about this? Did you suffer from such insecurities? What is your message to these candidates?
No such insecurities. On the other hand, I suffered from the insecurity that given my exceptional background, the interview board may take me as arrogant and confused even before the interview begins.
Wisdom
Q. Through this struggle and success, what have your learned? What is the wisdom of life and competition? What is Your message to the new aspirants?
Learnt that there are always conflicting perspectives of things and one has to appreciate both. Also life is not like sciences, but social sciences. 2 + 2 may not be equal to 4. One has to accept what it is and move on.
Q. Many hardworking candidates have failed in Mains/Interview of CSE-2013. They’re feeling dejected- what is your message to them?
Of course tighten your seat belts and get going. But don’t just blindly repeat what you did because obviously it didn’t work. See where your mistakes might have been and improve them.
Credit: Friends/family
Q. Behind every topper are many people who stood by during those uncertain times when he/she was merely an ‘aspirant’. Would you like to tell the world, who were those people in your case? Any specific incidence that you would like to share with the readers?
I dedicate this success to my family.
BOGUS Marketing Propaganda
Q. You are well aware of the sacred rule – the last question must be about self-marketing. So, Did you use Mrunal.org for your preparation and if yes, how did it help you? And you can even reply “No”. I’ll still publish your answer without tempering, unlike those competitive magazines.
Yes, in fact question on Bhoodan movement I had read from your article only. But not a regular follower as its not a user friendly site. Please make it structured and easy to read. I have tried to read it many times but always find it difficult to see.
Mrunal comments: In 2014, I shifted to a new theme. But Yes, there are still lot of issue with the site, but as they say in Public Administration- routine activities taking away the time necessary to bring out long term reforms! Anyways, great interacting with you, especially the Delhi coaching factories part. Wish you the best for the long career ahead, keep in touch.
![[Topper’s Interview] Akarshi Jain (Rank-140/UPSC-2019): Law Optional, 4th Attempt, LLB from NLU-Jodhpur](https://mrunal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Topper-CSE19-140-Akarshi-c-500x383.jpg)
![[Topper’s Interview] Deepak Kumar (Rank-684/UPSC-2019) Public Administration, 3rd Attempt, Bihar](https://mrunal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/c-topper-thumbnail-500x383.png)
invincible!!!!!!!!!!!
IIT … IIM … IAS
Any 2 ‘I’ s are considered sufficient. But damn all the 3 !! [ofcourse didn’t even consider another lesser known I – Investment Banking ]
And the fact that this guy failed [F -grades in Btech] and then got-up like a tennis ball on rebound- Inspiration !!
Enough of Motivation
Mrunal…please flood us with information(processed data).
Congrats Mrunal ji for taking interview of AIR 1.
and Gaurvav ji, I wish you a very bright and successful career in IAS.
and one request to Mrunal ji, please follow the principle of ‘minimalis’ in site design. Ex- reduce the number of colours used [use only two- black and white], remove less used icons, reconsider the need for anchor links. Anyways it is very good site.
why is mrunal hell bent on destroying coaching institutes after all these interviews?printed notes photostat and test series are there because of coaching institutes.most of the toppers interviewed in this forum have used all of these to maximum and after attaining sucess they disown them.see this topper VAJIRAM,SYNERGY,BALIYAN,AXIOM,SRIRAM ARE ALL WHAT?by the way mrunal is the most user friendly site which is currently available.try insights,forumiasa,indian officer forum and all and you an find the difference.
”by the way mrunal is the most user friendly site which is currently available.try insights,forumiasa,indian officer forum and all and you an find the difference.” sahi baat hai…… Mrunal bhai rocks……
Agree with u bro,as usually first day when a person think of ias
Ist day-which coaching ,success rate,cost.vjjiram or shriram.thn journey to delhi.thn mukrjeenagr and rajndr nagar-the third world.
Mid way of thr prprtion-my coaching is best,and rattafication of coaching notes and materials.
Aftr clearing pt-to coaching sirs-sir i hve qulified pt,pls give the mantra of clearing mains exam,sir u r the best,,,
After clring mains-these coaching sirs become their god father-and
Final selection-self study is the best study.no coaching,,,
Evn in my coaching i hve seen most of the successful candiDates were my seniors and were regulr students.
Its seem to much idealistic and ambitious to cover the ias syllabus by just sitting on net and googling
Well said bro :)
Hi Mrunal Sir, I have spent one whole year in Delhi taking coaching at 2-3 places but just before my first PT2014 i feel i do not remember anything. In this whole year I have felt that I just wasted my time , I tried to mould myself in study plans given by coachings or my senior friends. and after a long time I have learnt that sitting here I have reduced my capacity to study , distorted my lifestyle, no playing , no meeting with real friends , no laughs , life stopped, though became serious but that did not help. Now I am going back to resume my life at my place Gwalior and I feel, from there I will make into civil services because I do not need coaching but self study.
Respect!!!
gaurav sir .
Actually everybody doesnt know everything ….
Kuch to batate sir ji.
One thing which got to know after this interview is that , everybody has his own strategy …..
It was like Vintage Roger Federer
Its an very easy task to criticise coachingwallahas,but to find the reason y they r mushrooming in large numbers.until unless we reform our education system,we change the manner how our gradutation courses are commenced,these coachingwall will keep on growing.the fact is that coaching provide u with the momentum and concise material make them popular.its all most become boredome sitting at home and keep googling for whole 24*7 days.no doubt intrnt provide u with valuble info and sites as mrunal ,insight have an state of art mayerial,but it normally requires 6 hours a day study for the whole year and thats where coching gets the leading edge.its not that all there notes and stratgey is bogus.even i had that coahing phobia but once i hve attended their course ,it made a lot of diffrnce in my preprtion.coaching transform your prption in to an organised and disciplined form which is a very tough task while sitting in your home and googling.its not that i m pro coaching or against mrunal sir view but i hve tried both coaching and intrnt preparation and i hve got the reason y coachings in delhi will keep on growing
Bhai tu pakka coaching walla hai or naam badal kar doing praise for coaching institutes. I am Police walla and I have caught you. Hahahaa.
Mrunal Sir,if you could make a separate column with subheadings gs1,gs2,gs3,gs4 and just mention the topics that needs to be covered,specially the current topicsi.e;the dynamic ones,that will be of great help.Once you create the columns and integrate all the issues and topics that needs to be covered(including the ones that you have already covered) we will then be constantly reminded of the topics that re required to be covered,you need not explain each and every topic but all of us will get an idea of the topics that one needs to know,just mentioning them will suffice our requirement.Please think over it.
I also think to post same as u. thank u risha. sir please think over it.
Thanks mrunal ji for publishing my article. pleasure was all mine.
congrats sir!!!,!!!
and thanks for such a nice study plan about the interview that. is realy very helpful.
sir i read ur blog and found that u also went to soo many coaching centers………u also comment that these are not so beneficial.
but for a beginner what u will suggest, the one who has to start preparation from scratch ???? will coaching be helpful………
ur suggestion plz
shiv brother.. how a beginner should start her prep according to me, I have written here…
http://thesupermanreturns.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/upsc-gs-preparation-strategy/
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/fate-of-upsc-aspirants-hangs-in-balance/article6218116.ece?homepage=true
after 1 year of coaching realised i would hv been in much better situation had i prepraed it by myself…i took coaching from a very popular institute(dont want to name it ) but trust me all they cared was about their administrative convinience and not about student’s need…everything would be known to eveybody if they just do some good research on internet..i agree most of the insti lack dynamism and only 10 % of what they teach is useful wich can be prepared by self study in much much lesser tym..hv already fallen trap but a msg for future aspirants and to all those clever one who dint take coaching not to feel insecure..
Mrunal’s work is phenomenal as usual and this interview is 1st of its kind which can help all the aspirants exceptionally..
Thanks
@ashish goel http://hpsc.gov.in/Announcement/Announcement_04-07-2014_HCS.JPG
Thanks ,mrunal sir
Give pol science topper intv. plz
hi sir, I am preparing from 10 months( self study) because of no guidance I can’t prepared rightly. my prelims preparation is good but mains preparation not so and also I don’t have righting skill. sir I think if i gave prelim exam then I have to prepare again for prelim and after that for mains(and then I can’t prepared it well in 3 months) but instead of that I start my mains preparation now for 2015 exam till that I can prepared mains very well. I can make my command on righting skill also. sir I want your suggestion please reply me.
pravin ji, sabko 2 extra attmpt aur age relaxation mil hi gaya hai… to aap apni taiyyari se yeh prelims to dijiye.. y r u afraid of failing. u ll only learn from this experience.
congrats sir! you are a true inspiration and guiding light for.. at the outset i want to congratulate you for ur great success…you truely deserve it and i m very sure that country has got a very abled IAS officer and u wd bring more and more laurels to it. your interview on DD channel is is heart warming and the way you hv explained your vision of india of ur dream was marvelous(the highway wala thing)..i also liked ur bent of mind for academics and relentless effort to guide future aspirants through blogs … a big salute to you ..not only for being UPSC 2013 topper but for being such a great human being..
k sir ji mai to ye soch raha tha ki agar iss prelims pass bhi ho jau to kya hoga kyonki mere mains tayari nhi huyi hai lekin experience bhi bahut badi bat hoti hai. thank u sir ji
Congrt sir….
Heartiest Congratulations Gaurav Agrawal Sir for securing rank 1. you truly deserved it.
n thanx alot for your honest straight forward interview.
Sir, you mentioned that both Vision IAS and Synergy mains test series are useful. I am in dilemma which one to choose from them.Please guide Sir.
Thanks in advance.
its realy motivated for me and learned much more thanks lot Gaurav sir good luck for bright future.
is der any update about prelims?
This man has got a lot of ego……….
It seems there is no point in reading his interview (by mrunal) because…..”Everybody knows Everything”. If we already knew everything then why are you guiding us.
He has not given a clear cut answer of majority of the questions and in fact criticized the mrunal’s question at some places.
If he is good at criticizing others then we are too. Mr. Gaurav IAS is not the end of your life. Lets see what you do now as an officer.We are first human beings and then IAS.
Mrunal Sir your blog is the best source for IAS preparation without any doubts. He just criticized you because he himself is a blogger and thinks he is better than you.
Mrunal Sir is our real guru and coach. Intelligent and creative but at the same time so kind and humble.
Its just a matter of luck that he is not IAS today…..
Otherwise, he would be much better IAS officer than our topper(albeit intelligent academically but poor in conduct)
Thank You Mrunal Sir for everything you gave us as a “GENTLEMAN”
But he is much better than those IAS who are arrogant, corrupt and illusioned in their false ego of power
sach kaha mrunal sir is best….cahhe coaching wale ho ya toppers ho ya koi bhi ho mrunal is mrunal
brother NISHANT , clearing all the counted toughest exams in our country viz. iit , iim and ias one must have to have extreme perseverence and concentration ( FOR GENERAL CATEGORY SPECIAL CONDITIONS APPLIED). so some ego develops in a person , but in GAURAV SIR I THINK THIS EGO IS POSITIVE , otherwise he was not going to share his notes and ideas with us at any cost . Instead of thanking him , criticizing him could not be judged good at any cost because he has been already judged by the best ones and the specialists. so learn to thank those who are helping you in any manner . no offence , hope u will take it positively .
apart from this he has earned a lot of many by appearing in advertisement for too many coaching institutes. same persons has taken coaching from too many institutes… its shows that he is running after money… here he himself saying that all coaching centers are bogus…
Mr Agarwal had joined almost all the IAS coaching factories on earth. Still he curses them all. Unable to get the point. Moreover, I find Mrunal.org is the most user-friendly and helpful site in comparison to other sites dedicated for this cause.
whenever a person is inside the circle, see outside world in different way its human nature.
I agree.
Miss Meghana,
Mr. Agrawal just presented his opinion and he prooved that without classes he can stand first. Critisizing in negative tone not suit to any IAS aspirant. Please dont take it wrong but control your emotions. (This is my personal opinion)
Yes..Its true…Thnx for giving words to my feelings Meghna
Hi Mrunal Sir, Can you make the page in black background and white letters (you have already mentioned the same in one of your earlier article for reducing the strain for eyes..) ?
Mrunal sir we are waiting for your article series on budget & economic survey..!!
Sb english medium ka kamaal h
Read Mr. Gaurav Agarwal’s interview……thanks mrunal sir for your efforts in doing everything possible to help ias aspirants. Regarding Mr. Agarwal he had nothing new to talk about. Infact I doubt his age. He is 29 years old. Entered IIT in 2001. So if we presume he was 18 years old in 2001 than in 2013 he should have been 30 years and in 2014 31 years. Going by his biodata it seems he entered nursery class at the age of 2 which I doubt…….I may be wrong……is not true. Moreover, he got it wrong in his analysis of this site when he said it is not user friendly. Infact I find one of the most user friendly sites.
kya aapko nahi pata ki jaagruk maa baap apne abchcho ki certificates me age kam kara dete hai……
I am a below average person in intelligence and I was a post grad at 21.
why can’t Gourav do it then?
u r presumption is wrong that he was 18 when he went to IITK
one of the worst interview ..i hd evr read .. gaurav agrawal is full of arrogance. .one thing is right.abt delhi coaching ..and nothing is inspirational in this interview..
toppers full of arrogance is what d.p agarwal wants in civil services…..and toppers like him didnt prepares for csat is this level playing field……..1 rs mahine ki fees deke sarkari school me padhne walo ke sath sach me anyay ho raha hai..socho agar unpe paise hote to wo bhi pehle iit fir iim and fir hongkong k baad ek darjan coaching join kar ke topper ban jate…aise log kya bhala karenge desh ka
aap jis hisab se paise ki keemat bata rahe hain, us hisab se is exam ka topper mujhe nahi ambani k ladke ko hona chahiye :-)
respected sir,paise ki keemat mat dekhiye aap ek public servant ki tarah dekhiye aur sochiye…….sir basic education pe kaam karna bahut jaruri hai…ab apke pas power hai ki kuch change la sakte hai aap…..
Helo Mr.Agrawal,
First of all my heartiest congratulations to u for ur grand success.Ur views regarding the coachings are timely.With due respect Sir I wud give u a humble suggestion.U need not have replied to the above comment,though sportfully, as u too must have gone thru a gruelling period to become wat u are today.Empathy as a is virtue can only transform u from Civil Service Exam topper to a top Civil Servant.
.
n Saif Ali Khan cricketer !!! As his father had a Australian coach for him, who charged more than Indian Cricket team’s coach erstwhile ,Ms Naina its you who look arrogant .
PS I really want to thank Gaurav Sir for the notes
ha ha ha best answer by your side ye sabhi kendriy mantriyo ke pariwar wale
unhone csat ki practice 15 16 k age me hi kar li..us samay ki mehnat k karan hi unhone pre easily clear kar liya..this is level playing field..history optional wale history pre k liye nhi padhenge..it is same way..all students have sm strength n that they utilise by giving lesser to tat subject during competition and utilise that time for other tough papers..
emapthy…………is not sympathy
SORRY SHAKTIMAAAAAAAN
Nearly a century ago, biologists found that if they separated an invertebrate animal embryo into two parts at an early stage of its life, it would survive and develop as two normal embryos. This led them to believe that the cells in the early embryo are undetermined in the sense that each cell has the potential to develop in a variety of different ways. Later biologists found that the situation was not so simple. It matters in which plane the embryo is cut. If it is cut in a plane different from the one used by the early investigators, it will not form two whole embryos.
A debate arose over what exactly was happening. Which embryo cells are determined, just when do they become irreversibly committed to their fates, and what are the “morphogenetic determinants” that tell a cell what to become? But the debate could not be resolved because no one was able to ask the crucial questions in a form in which they could be pursued productively. Recent discoveries in molecular biology, however, have opened up prospects for a resolution of the debate. Now investigators think they know at least some of the molecules that act as morphogenetic determinants in early development. They have been able to show that, in a sense, cell determination begins even before an egg is fertilized.
Studying sea urchins, biologist Paul Gross found that an unfertilized egg contains substances that function as morphogenetic determinants. They are located in the cytoplasm of the egg cell; i.e., in that part of the cell’s protoplasm that lies outside of the nucleus. In the unfertilized egg, the substances are inactive and are not distributed homogeneously. When the egg is fertilized, the substances become active and, presumably, govern the behavior of the genes they interact with. Since the substances are unevenly distributed in the egg, when the fertilized egg divides, the resulting cells are different from the start and so can be qualitatively different in their own gene activity.
The substances that Gross studied are maternal messenger RNA’s-products of certain of the maternal genes. He and other biologists studying a wide variety of organisms have found that these particular RNA’s direct, in large part, the synthesis of histones, a class of proteins that bind to DNA. Once synthesized, the histones move into the cell nucleus, where section of DNA wrap around them to form a structure that resembles beads, or knots, on a string. The beads are DNA segments wrapped around the histones; the string is the intervening DNA. And it is the structure of these beaded DNA strings that guide the fate of the cells in which they are located.
Mrunal Sir, what you have provided in your site by giving your important piece of time is more than enough.
Then you have classified topics also….So that suffices your effort. Do not bother about providing AC 1-Tier Luxury here. We are grateful for what you do and have done.