UPSC 2019 Topper Interview, Mistakes to avoid in UPSC preparation – Sunny Gupta AIR 148

• Interviewer-What was your motivation towards giving this exam?

Sunny-Like many other Indians, I’ve always had a strong desire to help others. However, I lacked the necessary knowledge and direction.

I was progressively introduced to the world of UPSC Civil Services while working for HCL Technologies for two years.

That’s when I realised I was on the right track to achieving my goal.

My determination was fueled by my accomplishment in passing the preliminary exams on my first try.

Despite having exhausted all six tries, I refused to quit up.

• Interviewer-What kept you motivated till 6 attempts?

Sunny-Kashmir Administration Services has also been cleared by me.

In fact, it gave me confidence when I couldn’t pass the exam despite attending interviews.

I was accepted into IRTS services after my fifth attempt, and I am currently completing training.

Now I’m looking forward to my next servicing call.

Working under an IAS officer for the past 2-3 years has further increased my desire to join this service.

• Interviewer-How did you manage your time?

Sunny-While working as a Tehsildar in Kashmir Administrative Services, I took my preliminary and mains examinations.

It was challenging but work pressure was not that much.

I got to work in a remote area.

Holding a full-time gazetted position while taking an exam as difficult as the UPSC Civil Services presented hurdles, but I overcame them.

It was easier to attend my interviews while undergoing training for my IRTS duty because, according to him, interview preparation takes about 3 to 4 hours of one’s day.

• Interviewer-How did you approached prelims and mains exam.

Sunny-Prelims and Mains should not be treated separately.

Given the current design of the preliminary examination, I recommend that you do not make the error of thinking you can prepare for the prelims and mains separately.

UPSC Preliminary questions are no longer just factual or straightforward; they are instead highly analytical in character, requiring the same level of understanding as a mains question.

Stick to the main texts and do extensive research on current events.

If you want to pass the UPSC CSE prelims today, you’ll need to connect each current news piece to the relevant static information.

• Interviewer-How did you practised the answer writing?

Sunny-Don’t put off writing your response until the last minute.

The ability to write answers is crucial to passing the mains exam.

It will take a year to complete and cannot be done in a few months.

It is critical to write every day, with the proper organisation and pace, in order to finish the assignment on time and provide quality responses that earn good grades.

Don’t start composing your answers until you’ve finished your revisions. Working on both at the same time is the only way to succeed.

• Interviewer-How did you make notes?

Sunny-Make No Extensive Notes

It is critical to take notes. It’s also crucial to know how to take clear and succinct notes.

The last month leading up to either the prelims or mains exams should be spent revising the whole UPSC syllabus without skipping a beat.

In just four weeks, how do you update a syllabus that took years to complete? Not from textbooks, not from a collection, and certainly not from a large number of detailed notes.

Do not attempt to reread; this is not the purpose of revising.

Instead, consider your notes to be cue cards that point you to knowledge that your brain has already stored. Make short, concise notes and revise them as often as possible.

• Interviewer-Tell us something about your interview.

Sunny-In interviews, don’t try to be someone else. Interviews are a way of determining your personality.

Don’t try to hide pieces of your personality or present attributes you didn’t have when you were younger.

Dishonesty is unethical, and interview panels do not enjoy it.

Instead, go over what you’ve learned so far in order to get through the interviews.

Find out more about the topics you mentioned in your UPSC DAF. And, while remaining entirely professional and honest about your skills and limitations, try to be humble and answer best to your ability.

You ought should pass with flying colours.

• Interviewer-What was your optional and how you decided it?

Sunny-My optional was political science and International relations. You should find the optional interesting.

It should be Integrated with the GS syllabus and its material should be available.

• Interviewer-What all mistakes did you make while preparing?

Sunny-Do not attempt to learn everything.

Don’t try to learn everything. It isn’t a doctoral degree program. Study a restricted number of sources and keep revising until you don’t have to think too hard to recollect the knowledge when writing.

Studying a small quantity of material and revising and remembering it is more significant than studying a large amount of information.

Continue to revise and write replies.

The only way to succeed in UPSC Civil Services is to do so.

• Interviewer-Last words for aspirants.

Sunny-Do not surrender. Instead, examine your flaws and make changes to them.

There is no such thing as failure in UPSC; it is simply a part of your overall experience.

Do not succumb to the strain. Keep a level mind and keep trying until you succeed. Failure isn’t the end of the road.