- CAPF Topper Profile
- Education
- Introduction
- Electronic Vs Paper material
- Tempo and style
- Working professional
- GS and Aptitude paper
- Accuracy in GS paper
- Descriptive paper
- Four Essays
- Argument For-Against
- Report writing?
- CAPF Physical Efficiency Test
- Interview by UPSC Panel
- UPSC Interview Transcript
- After the interview
- CAPF Marksheet
- Service preference
- Career Backup
- Wisdom
- Credit: Friends/family
- Bogus Marketing Propaganda
CAPF Topper Profile
Name | AMIT J |
Rank in CAPF-2013 | 13 |
Roll No. | 022800 |
Age | 25 |
No. of previous attempts in CAPF | 0 |
Home town/city | BANGALORE |
Work-experience if any | Worked as an Administrator in HARIPRASADāS INSTITUTE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS |
other competitive examsincluding success & failures |
|
coaching/postal material (if used) | As I was working in a coaching institute I used to get my doubts cleared from the lecturers @ HARIPRASADāS INSTITUTE -BANGALORE |
|
Natal astrology, Marathon Running, Water polo,Ā Swimming and Teaching |
Do you have NCC certificate? | NO |
Education
% in class 10 | 75 |
% in class 12 | 89 |
Schooling (Medium) | ENGLISH |
Graduation course & % | BBM( 73%) |
College & batch-year | Bangalore university Ā 2006-2009 |
Post-graduation | – |
Any professional courses | – |
Introduction
Q. Tell us something about yourself and your family. When and why did you enter in the competitive exam field?
I, driven by my dreams, always wanted to do something which would give me satisfaction rather than mediocre appreciation.
I come from a family which is into business and have no one related to me in the civil services or the armed forces. I was interested to build my career in the police services right from my school days. I always had the passion to become a cop and I had no plan āBā to build upon. I entered this field way back in 2011 when I first tried my hand at UPSC.
Electronic Vs Paper material
Initially I was never technology friendly. I used to find it difficult to study online. But with time I got used to it and I even read my newspapers online now. The only paper material I make use of is the standard NCERT books that I purchased way back and some books that are not available online.
I usually study for around 8-9 hours a day and I start by reading my newspapers online.
I read only selected topics in the newspaper, cut and paste it on my word document and add overviews to it then and there. The next newspapers I read I only read the news that I have missed out in the first paper, but I make sure I browse through all the important editorials.
Any issue that I make notes about, I first cut the newspaper article and paste it on word. Then I add an overview to it from wikipedia. And if the issue is a sensitive or an important one I browse through the concerned ministryās website.
Information overload is something that I used to face initially but a thorough analysis of the previous year question papers will teach you to leave out the unwanted stuff.
Tempo and style
Q. People know what books and syllabus topics are to be prepared. But most of them lack consistency in their preparation. So, how did you keep study momentum going on? How do you fight against the mood swings and distractions?
I think it is very important to remain focused but at the same time it is even more important to lead a normal life and not a life of a saint. I personally feel one has to study during study time and keep the mind fresh otherwise. I used to take a Sunday break which used to put me back to books on Monday. I never exhausted myself with studies. I used to like what I used to do. And yes like any other aspirant, when I got distracted I used to close my books and not push myself too much. I used to remind myself about my priorities and give myself some positive affirmations. My time table always used to put me back on track if I lost my way.
Working professional
If youāre a working professional, share some tips on how to manage studies with job
- Study as much as you can before office hours.
- At office make the best use of internet and try to revise current events and keep browsing whatever you can during your free time.
- Once you are back from work do not study subjects that will put you to sleep.
- And if you are not able to study like your friends (for 15-16 hours a day) DO NOT WORRY. There are only 125 questions and you just have to be smart.
- Analyze the previous year question papers thoroughly before you start studying.
- Read ONE BOOK 10 TIMES & not 10 BOOKS ONCE.
GS and Aptitude paper
Q1. Please share the list of resources you used, your strategy and other tips for benefit of future aspirants.
Topic | input |
History Ancient | NCERT |
History Medieval | NCERT |
History Modern (Freedom Struggle) | Old NCERT, SPECTRUM |
Culture society | – |
Polity (theory + current) | LAXMIKANTH + HINDU |
Economy (theory + current) | ECO SURVEY, RAMESH SINGH + BUSINESS STANDARD |
Science (theory + current) | NCERT, NEWSPAPERS, MRUNAL and TMH GS MANUAL |
Environment (theory + current) | ISC BOOKS, MRUNAL, GOVERNMENT WEBSITES |
geography physical | NCERT |
geography India | NCERT |
geography world | OLD NCERTS |
other national/international current affairs | HINDU, BUSINESS STANDARD, INDIAN EXPRESS, DECCAN HERALD, FRONTLINE, YOJANA,JOURNALS LIKE INDIA TODAY, OUTLOOK &Ā MRUNAL |
Schemes, Policy & Filler Stuff | ALL MINISTRY WEBSITES & MRUNAL |
Maths | RS AGARWAL AND TMH ( ABHIJITH GUHA) |
Data interpretation | CAT AND CSATĀ MATERIAL FROM FRIENDS |
Reasoning | RS AGARWAL AND TIME |
Accuracy in GS paper
input | |
How many MCQs did you attempt? | 109 |
How many of them correct (When solved at home)? | – |
official score (when UPSC uploads) | 122 |
Q. Whatās your overall experience with GS paper? (E.g. it was on expected lines as per my preparation, it was quite tougher than earlier years etc.)
It wasnāt too tough. 4-5 months of preparation got me through. It was as per my expectations.
Descriptive paper
Q. How did you prepare the Essay, grammar, prƩcis and report writing?
When I had 15 days left for my exam, I used to write one essay and prƩcis everyday. I ignored the grammar part of it. I just read some 3 reports before going to the exam.
Four Essays
This time, UPSC required the candidates to write 4 out of 6 essays. Which of the following did you attempt? And what were your keypoints in them?
Topic | your key points |
doctor-pharma nexus | — |
interstate water dispute | a.262- mentioned various river disputes and tribunals- effect on the lower riparian states- politics involved- role of supreme court- orders of tribunals- water used for drinking and irrigation- dams- interlinking of rivers- role of the centre and state |
social reformers in freedom struggle | Raja ram mohan roy , Vivekananda, dayand sarswathi , ishwar Chandra vidya sagar, and how each ones idea is revlevant to date- concept of one god, power of youth by swami Vivekananda and todays demographic dividend. |
falling rupee & Indian economy | Reasons( FII s going back- less fdi- quantitative easing- euro crisis)Impact- depreciating rupee- exporters benefit- importers suffer- tourism sector benefits- students going abroad suffer.Measures by rbi and my solution. |
Chinaās aggressive policy | —— |
media publicity on terrorism | Social media- television- not everyone portrays it in the wrong sense- more regulations- have a responsible role to play to stop terrorism- |
Argument For-Against
This time, UPSC required candidates to write both arguments for and against the given statements. so what were your keypoint in it?
Topic | Argument for | against |
casteless society becomes distant through issues raised by reservation | A.44 violated- no uniform civil code- political favours- vote bank- khap panchayts- no proper eduation āno regulation- | With time everything will be fine- more education- globalized world- lesser caste atrocities- privatization and globalization is diluting the caste system slowly |
women empowerment is urban phenomenon | Yes it is- education- higher gdp- better schools- more exposure- more safety- better infrastructure in cities- lack of toilets in rural areas and lack of connectivity | No it not- recent govt schemes- more empowerment in ruaral than urban- ngoās – migration |
Report writing?
Did you write report the same way you wrote essay? or did you apply any special format/structure here?
Report writing needs changes and cannot be written like a essay and that is why they are categorized under two different sub headings.
My essay started with an introduction, then body and ended with a conclusion that replicated my introduction.
Report writing- to the point ā straight and blunt.
Topic | keypoints |
Uttarakhand tsunami & Military | Compare with Europe- they have more floods but less disaster- disaster mgt policy- role of itbp- proper planning needed and how our NDMA has functioned badly |
Ethics crisis in cricket | Betting- ipl- no sportsmanship- recent examples- match and spot fixing- role of bcci- glamour and money taking over the game- |
Q. What is your overall experience with descriptive paper (e.g. too lengthy paper, grammar tougher than previous paper etc.)
Grammar wasnāt too tough but the paper was lengthier than the previous one as we had to write 4 essays while in 2012 it was different.
Without practice one CANNOT FINISH the descriptive paper. PLEASE PRACTICE AT LEAST 10 PAPERS before your exam.
CAPF Physical Efficiency Test
Q1. To pass Physical Efficiency Tests (PET), what preparation did you do at home?
I made sure I ate healthy food to cut down the extra kilos I had. Proper diet with disciplined workout made it easier for me.
Q2. Where was your PET held?
NISA , HYDERABAD
Q3. Please narrate your actual experience PET test with readers.
I was weighing 80 kilos in December. I had to cut down 13 kilos in 4 months. It was the toughest part of the entire process. I started dieting and hit the gym to shed those extra kilos. I used to run everyday and I somehow was confident about my 800mtrs race.
On the PET day, in the hot sun we were first made to run 100 meters. One has to put in a lot of power and push really hard to finish the race in 16 secs. ( I finished it in 15 secs as I had concentrated only on reducing my weight and finishing 800 mtrs. I had ignored the 100mtr event thinking I could do it). I had a hamstring injury as I hadnāt practiced much.
5 minutes later began the 800 mtrs race. A lot of guys get eliminated here as they find it difficult to complete it. So please practice. Set your target at 3 minutes during practice.
10 minutes after this was āLONG JUMPā. THE NEXT HIGHEST ELIMINATION HAPPENS HERE. Not because itās too difficult but because a lot of people come without practice.
Lack of practice can lead to making fouls and they are very strict about judging your performance.
Last event is Shot put. Donāt bother about it. It is very easy unless you donāt step on the line to make a foul.
PLEASE PRACTICE ALL THE EVENTS BACK TO BACK BEFORE YOUR PET.
After your weight and height is measured and before you start with your events, make sure you eat something which has a high glycemic index. It is only to keep your energy levels high. Please donāt feast. See what suits your body.
Interview by UPSC Panel
Q1. How did you prepare for the interview? Particularly college graduation subjects related questions?
As I did not have enough time to prepare for my interview, the only option I had was āGOOGLEā. My marks card says BBM with Specialization in HR. So I knew they would grill me with respect to Human Resource. So in a span of 4-5 hours I saw some common interview questions on HR which most interviewers love to ask. Though only a couple of questions were asked, it gave me enough confidence to handle the rest.
Q2. Where did you stay for the interview? (Hotel / friendās home ā¦) and what books/material did you bring for the ārevision before interviewā?
I stayed at my Friends place in South Delhi and the only thing that I carried for revision was an IPAD. I did carry my Current affairs notes but I could not revise it.
Q3. Who was the chairman of you interview board?
Mr. Manbir Singh
Q4. How long was the interview?
20 minutes
Q5. Why do you want to become an Assistant commandant? Why donāt you continue in your graduation field? [Since I donāt know whether they asked you this question or not. But if they had asked- what will be your reply?]
To serve in the uniformed services was always my passion. I had to complete any degree to be eligible to take up these exams and I pretty much knew before I started my graduation that I would not continue further with management studies. But I chose to study management amongst other fields of study as I knew any service that I enter into, the limited knowledge that I would have gained would not go waste in comparison to the other subjects.
I want to be an Asst. Commandant in the central armed police forces for the dynamic nature of the job and the various opportunities it provides after 5-6 years of service. 1) It is a police job
2) You are not limited to just one area or field of operation (this is also the reason why CISF was my first preference)
UPSC Interview Transcript
Q. Please narrate your entire interview- what questions did they ask and what did you reply and other pleasant or uncomfortable experiences during the interview?
My interview was in the afternoon session and the chairperson was Mr. Manbir Singh.
(My interview began exactly at 3.55 pm and the only thought that was running in my mind was if I had to wish them a good evening or an afternoon!!! Sounds silly but I did not want to be caught off guard in my first statement).
ME: Good evening sir (to every member there), Good evening madam.
Chairman: Amit, You seem to be working in a coaching institute as an administrator. Donāt you think coaching institutes are only making money and misguiding the students rather than guiding them?
Me : Sir I donāt deny the fact that there are institutes making money but not all institutes are the same. For a lot of candidates who plan to make it to the services and who has no one in their family or friends circle to guide them, they have no where and no one to go to. This is where coaching institutes act as a platform to help students meet, interact, discuss and exchange views. And the trend today is such that a lot of people from various backgrounds are aspiring to enter the services but with no proper guidance, unlike the earlier days where members in the family , already in the service used to make it easier for their kith and kin.
Chairman: Do you know Iraq?
Me: Yes sir, I do.
Chairman: What is happening in Iraq now? Elaborate on the present crisis.
Me: ISIS conflict( explained the entire crisis) ā
Chairman: what is the difference in the ideology of Shias and Sunnis?
Me : Shias worship the son in law of Prophet Md. And they mourn his demise while Sunnis worship Prophet Md.
Chairman: Why is America, an ally of Sunnis joining hands with Iran, a Shia nation? Donāt you think itās a shift in its foreign policy?………………………..( went on and on. I was wondering if he was asking me a question or telling me a story)ā¦ā¦and yes what do you think Amit?
Me : Sir, Iraq is a oil rich nation and America does not want to lose its strong hold as there is huge money involved and it is more of an issue based alliance rather than an ideology based alliance. The Persian gulf being close to Iran, through which a lot of world trade happens is also important in the larger interest of the world and thus to bring things under control America has joined hands with Iran
Member 1: what is corporate ethics?
Me: Not jumping from one company to another for menial gains and also to merge the mission of the company with that of the individual.
Member 1: So not swindling money and not being corrupt does not fall under corporate ethics?
Me: Of course it does madam but I just couldnāt recall it immediately.
Member 1: Thatās alright. How would you motivate your force as a commandant?
Me: Madam, I think what satisfies any employee in an organization or elsewhere is the feeling of an individual being heard. Once an employee is heard and his grievances are addressed he would automatically take care of motivating himself and contributing to the organization. But apart from that I would wish to set up a feedback mechanism of the work culture and try to address grievances individually rather than implementing common schemes. Some might be motivated by money, while for others money might never be a motivating factor. Thus, I would try to redefine the goals of employees in a manner that would synchronize with the vision of my organization.
Member 2: what is competency mapping? What is the difference between job analysis ,description and specification? What is career growth? Career succession? (I ANSWERED ALL BUT THE LAST ONE)
Member 3: your hobby seems to be Natal Astrology. Is Astrology a science or an art?
Me: The astronomical part of it is science sir but to predict is an art. If you will have to define science as that which can have a cause and effect relationship with an empirical evidence, then astrology is definitely not a science sir. But if we can broaden the definitions of science, Astrology can be classified as one sir.
M3: what is the difference between astronomy and astrology?
Me: The study of planets and other heavenly bodies objectively is astronomy and the impact it has on the human race can be called astrology.
M3: you are about to go for a war. Will you look at the moon or the gun?( everyone burst out laughing)
Me: Sir of course the gun at the first instance but after the war probably I would sit and analyze the position of the moon.( I Think I shouldnāt have said this.. he looked at me like I was the biggest fool. But I kept smiling)
M3:I can derive something from a scientists theory but why is it that I can derive nothing from the so called āscience of astrologyā?
Me: Sir, even if we categorize astrology as a science, NOT ALL ASTROLOGERS ARE SCIENTISTS SIR.
M3: What kind of injuries happen during Marathon Running?
Me; Achilles Tendon, Hitting the wall syndrome, lower back pain. Shin sprain.
M3: Why do injuries happen?
Me: lack of training and proper nutrition.
M3: But a 4 year old Budhia Singh, who comes from a below poverty line family has no proper food to eat and cannot afford a good trainer. But he ran an ultra marathon without any injuries. How?
Me : Sir , I am not too sure but can I take a guess.?
M3: NO. THANK YOU
Me: Thank you sir.
Chairman: Thank you Amit.
( The board was cordial enough but the panel members were expressionless. I was wondering if I was on the right track but I made sure I kept smiling throughout).
After the interview
Q1. Was your interview on the expected lines of what you had prepared or did they ask you totally unexpected questions?Ā Was it a stress interview, did they ask any uncomfortable questions? If yes, how did you handle it?
It was more or less on the expected lines but I realized that they are not testing what you say BUT HOW YOU SAY IT.
Q2. Any side details about technicalities like āmake sure you bring xyz document or do xyz thing, or youāll face problemā?
ā MAKE SURE YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE THEREā by which I mean do not try to be someone who you are not. Just be yourself and please do not fake and lie. You think you are smart , they are a million times smarter than you. Do not worry about your documents. If you have missed out on any documents, they will give you time to present it.
CAPF Marksheet
- paper 1:122
- paper 2:92
- interview:120
Service preference
Q1. What is your service preference order BSF,CRPF, CISF, ITBP?
CISF, CRPF, BSF, ITBP
Q2. How/Why did you pickup that order?
CISF for the vast opportunities it provides in terms of working with various establishments and for the nature of the job. If not CISF I wanted CRPF for the various challenges it has got. I personally feel I would have found it difficult to get adjusted to the way of life at the borders and that is why that was not my first preference but having said that I would have taken up any service with pride and served my nation.
Career Backup
Q1. If you were not selected, what was your career backup plan?
If not selected, I was planning to continue teaching but a couple of years down the line I would have started an NGO for the aged.
Q2. When were you going to execute that backup plan (e.g. after third attempt, after dad retires, after girlfriend dumps me etc.)
After I found a girlfriend to help me start an NGO HAHAHA.
Q3. If you were to re-appear in CAPF-2014 then what modifications would you make in your studies?
I would reduce the number of books I read and revised more. I would try to keep myself fit and not rush into losing weight in the last few months.
Wisdom
Q1. Through this journey and success, what wisdom did you gain about life and competitive exams?Ā What is your message to new aspirants?
ā WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH , THE TOUGH GET GOINGā . I have learnt many lessons on the blackboard of life that can never be erased.
- When you need something very badly, life will laugh at you and teach you to be patient.
- When you think you have touched the finish line , UPSC will remind you that you have many more laps to run.
- Success and failure are twins. If you have failed, trust me you will win. So never ever give up.
- Work so hard that it should negate your so called BAD LUCK!!
- Be smart, focused and remember nothing beats determination and perseverance.
- Godās plans for your life are bigger than your own dreams for your life.
Q2. UPSC had cleared nearly 2500 candidates from CAPF-prelims. Youāre selected but many others did not. Theyāre feeling dejected with this whole competitive exam business. What is your message to them?
This is a blessing in disguise. Trust me, something big is waiting for you. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Go back and learn the lessons that life is about to teach you. Wait for the gifts of the universe to unfold. But having said that, remain focused on your goal. I would love to quote my favorite line from ROCKY ā IT IS NOT ABOUT HOW HARD YOU Ā GET HIT. IT IS ABOUT HOW HARD YOU CAN GET HIT AND STILL MOVE ONā
ā IF SOMEONE CAN DO IT , THEN EVEN YOU CAN DO IT. AND IF NO ONE HAS DONE IT YOU MUST DO ITā.
( Enough of gyan.. go watch some movies.. relaxā¦get ready for the next battle)
Credit: Friends/family
Q. Behind every topper are many people who stood by him/her during those uncertain times when he/she was merely an āaspirantā. 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?
Of course my parents have been my greatest support and never judged me by my results. With every failure hitting me hard on my face they instilled confidence in me that I was cut out for something big and helped me sail through my tough times.
You know how important friends are in ones life and I think I am lucky enough to have genuine guys around to fall back upon during tough times.
And my all time current events friend MRUNAL.
Bogus Marketing Propaganda
Q. You are well aware for the sacred rule. The last question in topper interview, Ā must be about self-marketing. So, Did you use Mrunal.org for your preparation and if yes, how did it help you?Ā And you can even reply āNoā. Iāll publish your answer without tempering.
I did subscribe for mrunals current events and I used to get his updates regularly. They have no doubt been of great help to me. I used to read my newspapers but used to use more of mrunalās notes as everything was organized and to the point.
Selection of CRPF after CISF shows conviction to job. Many are scared entering jungles of Dantewada. Well Done officer
Thank you:))
Hi, I need to know more things about your success.. can i have your number please.
congrats sir
Sir need some more details regarding medical tests.. Especially regarding eye sight.. Could you pls share elaborately regarding medical examination
Sir congrats sir, I want to be same dream put on my uniform serve the nation. daily I wake up see your video sir that motivate me Can you suggest me sir
Hat’s off to your dedication and wish you all the best.
wow rank 13 dont know the diff between shia and sunni…..
Thank you:))
Congrats sir
Thank you bharat:))
Hello, Amit I am working in IT sector in Bangalore so could you please tell me from where you did the preparation and how you did.If possible could you give me your number or email id.
Thank You
Thank you:))
My dream also same as yours I’m in final year b Tech suggest me sir your words are heart touched me daily morning I will see your video sir
nice one
CONGRATS SIR..
too motivational….
some tips are very good for working professional
Hello sir I am Abhishek I am also want to do something that’s my parents feel proud ,something like that’s motivate me whole life .I want to do something for my country its my aspiration I don’t want job I just want away in which i satisfied my soul. Sir my long long relative don’t listen about upsc .I am dining my Be .so sir suggest me , and I am thinking about prepare myself in Hindi
Hi abhishek. You can get in touch with me at amit14in@gmail.com. please be more specific with your doubts.
sir!! i want to ask you that Is there different exams for IAS and IPS? Is the rank in upsc matters in recruitment on post? please reply…
shias are those who treat hazrat ali(R.A.) as there prophet or messenger and sunnis are those worship only ALLAH and follows muhammad(S.A.W.) as there prophet….rank 13 clarify your concept about ISLAM by some learned scholar….
Bhai tu apna concept clear kr.. rank 13 ne sahi kaha h..hazrat ali hi mohammad the.. see lucent gk page no 14
love you.
sir up to which age we r eligible for it
Sir can we refer monthly magzines for the UPSC may i get ur contact no.sir please