UPSC 2019 Topper Interview – Strategy for Prelims, Mains and Interview by AIR 24 Abhishek Jain

• Interviewer: Welcome to study Iq, please tell us about your family and educational background.

Abhishek: I am from Delhi, born and brought up in Delhi only.

• My Dad is a businessman.
• My Mom is a homemaker and my younger brother is a student.

I am a graduate of Hansraj College, DU. Having cleared UPSC in my first attempt only, I got AIR 24 in my second attempt. My optional was Commerce and Accountancy.
I love Netflix, music, and badminton.
Currently, I am serving as an IRS (IT) officer.

• Interviewer: What was your strategy for prelims?

Abhishek: I would like to say that one should never underestimate the prelims exam.

• Have segregation for prelims and mains exam preparation.
• Go through the previous year’s question papers and study them thoroughly.
• For Geography, map work is important.
• From environment and ecology, current based questions are coming more.
• For Prelims specific knowledge is required.
• Follow limited resources.
• The mock test should be attempted sectional wise.
• Elimination of certain questions is also very much required.
• Revise and practice more.

Interviewer: What was your strategy for answer writing?

Abhishek: Take Paper and pen and write  2 to 3 questions. After 7 to 8 months of this process, take mocks from the proper test series.
Time management is important in answer writing.
For writing format use flowcharts, diagrams, and maps.
When Comparison is asked from questions I used the table to answer them and tell the differences.

• Interviewer: What was your strategy for clearing the IAS Mains Exam?

Abhishek: Topics that were available easily like from polity (Laxmikant), I  did not make notes for them.
Topics that are not covered completely for different subjects made notes for them.
There should be a balance between the topics for which you have to make notes or not.

• Interviewer: How did you prepare for case studies?

Abhishek: Referred G.Subarao sir book and prepared from previous year papers.

The solution to the case studies should have a short-term, medium-term, and long-term approach.

• Interviewer: What was your essay paper preparation strategy?

Abhishek: Practice past years’ paper and prepare from repeated topic like women empowerment, health, climate change, etc. Practice for an essay is very much required.

• Interviewer: What was your optional subject?

Abhishek: Commerce and Account: Took banker’s classes and referred to my class notes.

Focus more on the previous year’s question papers.
The majority of my optional subject was covered in my college time.
Follow online resources, and make your criteria for it narrow.
Make a book list and stick to it.
Follow one website for current affairs and keep revising it from time to time.

• Interviewer: How did you prepare for the Interview and how was your experience.

Abhishek: Both times my interview was based on DAF.DAF is nothing but the Bio-data of the candidate and you should fill your DAF with pure honesty.
They test your personality.
The mock interview aims to simulate that D day.
Take videos of your mock interview and analyze yourself.

• Interviewer: Any special message for aspirants?

Abhishek: Upsc is a long journey like a marathon you have to balance between your preparatory life and balance life.