Dilip Shekhawat cleared IAS Exam in his 3rd attempt and got the 72 Rank (AIR).

Welcome to study Iq, please  tell us something about yourself.

I belong from Jodhpur  and completed my graduation in chemical engineering from NIT Rourkela.

From the time of college, I was very much involved in many social and cultural groups of my college, I went to various blood donating camps  and  anganwadi’s at the time of college and  got inspiration from there to prepare for civil services.

What kept you motivated in your  all of the three attempts?

• I had no plan B, I was solemnly dedicated to civil services only and belief of my parents on me kept me going throughout preparation.
• I kept myself strong.
• UPSC is the toughest exam of country and the mental pressure is very high.
• I kept myself calm and composed and did meditation to remove all kind of  mental stress from myself.

Tell me something about your strategy?

Honesty and integrity should be there when you start preparing for this exam.

Civil services exam is personality development journey for any aspirant.

Do you recommend leaving the job and then study?

• I personally think that if you have the motivation you can find a way in any kind of situation.
• UPSC provides equal opportunities for all, if you are in a job then you should improve your time management.
• If you are not in job then you have to manage stress.

Tell the books that you would like to  recommend.

• Foundation for preparation starts from reading basics of  NCERT’S, these are very good.
• You should also have advance level books for every subject.
• For current affairs follow any good newspaper and monthly magazine.

What is the value of reading Current Affairs and Editorials?

Current affairs are very important for the exam  point of view , newspaper reading should be kept in the continuous manner.

Newspaper editorial helps in building your thinking and can change your perception regarding many things.

How did you managed to cope with the mental stress?

Prelims

• Prelims exam is of two hours and you should be calm and composed for those two hours.
• Meditation will help you a lot in it.
• On the day exam I performed in similar way that I use to do at the time of the mocks, and that was only possible because of the mediation that I had practised.

For mains

• Mains is like a marathon, there will be 9 papers within a week.
• It is a very stressful exam and patience is very much required during the whole process.

Interview

• Interview is done to check your mental stress.
• Within half an hour your personality is being the judge.
• Don’t let stress be over you, just be calm.

How you finally got through this exam, any suggestion for the aspirants?

I belong to the middle-class background and I just wanted to serve my country and people, I had this honesty intact with me, hence I got through it.

How did you fill the DAF(Detailed Application Form)?

DAF is nothing but the Bio-data of the candidate and you should fill your DAF with pure honesty.

How was your interview?

The panel present for the interview will calm you down and will  test you within that half an hour.

I just thought that I am capable, honest and done the required amount of hard work for it and will definitely get through it .

Are you excited about your training?

Yes I am, but more that excited it is a very big responsibility for me.

What is your cadre selection?

• Rajasthan-1st
• Madhya Pradesh-2nd
• Uttar Pradesh-3rd
• Telangana-4th
• Sikkim-5th

I have not thought anything about my cadre cause no matter what cadre I get , I will perform my duty with full responsibilities.

Who will you like to give the credit for your success apart from your hard work that you have done?

• To my father (who is himself very honest person ), to my mother for helping me in managing the stress management through the meditation , my younger brother and sister .
• To my mentors who are already in service and have provided me proper guidance.
• Thirdly to my friends who were there for me whenever I was low.

Thank You