Building @UPSCprepIAS • Mentored 50+ rankers in CSE2022 • Past: Cleared UPSC CSE twice • Tweets about UPSC prep & self improvement •
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Jan 24 • 21 tweets • 5 min read
Reading & re-reading books is an inefficient way to study.
There are smarter and more efficient ways to study.
Here's how YOU can study like UPSC CSE toppers.
Before we start, let me tell you a story.
One day, a man approached JP Morgan, held up an envelope, and said, “Sir, in my hand I hold a guaranteed formula for success, which I will gladly sell to you for $25,000.”
“Sir,” JP Morgan replied, “I do not know what is in the envelope. However, if you show me and I like it, I give you my word as a gentleman that I will pay you what you ask.”
The man agreed to the terms and handed over the envelope. JP Morgan opened it, and extracted a single sheet of paper. He gave it one look and handed the piece of paper back to the gent, pulled out his checkbook, and paid the man the agreed-upon $25,000.
The paper read:
1. Every morning, write a list of the things that need to be done that day. 2. Do them.
Jun 29, 2023 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
I’ve given 6 attempts at UPSC CSE. I’ve been selected twice.
And over the past two years, I’ve mentored more than 50 Rankers in this exam.
So if I had to start my preparation over from scratch, this is the advice that I would give to the first attempter me.
For all the things that can change about UPSC CSE, there are a few things that remain constant.
Apr 18, 2023 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
It took me two failed Prelims to realise the simplest thing in UPSC prep:
If a month before the exam, you're still scoring below 50 in mock tests, you're not going to clear Prelims 2023. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is what it is.
If you haven't worked for it so far, no one is coming to save you on 28th May.
Apr 17, 2023 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
How many questions should you attempt?
The definitive answer for UPSC Prelims 2023:
Exam Difficulty Variability
Attempts depend on how HARD or EASY Prelims is in a given year. For example, look at the cutoffs.
Compilation of facts that you can use in your UPSC Mains answers.
SDG 1 - No poverty
• Oxfam report: 70% of wealth generated in 2018 taken by top 1%.
• World Bank defines extreme poverty as people living on less than $1.25/day.
• Tendulkar committee says 22% of people BPL in 2012.
• UN: 270 mn Indians out of poverty in a decade till 2016.
Aug 20, 2022 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
How to improve your UPSC Mains answers
A step by step playbook (with examples)
Priority order for answer writing: 1. Content answering the Q 2. Structure of info 3. Presentation (diag / flowcharts)
In that order.
Aug 18, 2022 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
I've given 6 attempts at UPSC CSE
I've failed prelims twice, failed Mains twice and I've cleared the exam twice.
10 things I wish I knew in my first attempt:
1. UPSC prep is BORING.
Success in UPSC comes from doing boring things everyday - for months on end.
Aug 13, 2022 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
Want to build consistency in your UPSC prep?
You're in luck.
6 ideas to help your build your consistency (like a UPSC topper):
1. Start Slow, Start Small
If your plan means you give 110% everyday, you're going to fail, sooner rather than later.
Start with small targets & build momentum.
TIP: start with studying 4 hours everyday. Increase that to 6 next week, & then 8 the week after.
Jul 9, 2022 • 17 tweets • 3 min read
Important committees and their recommendations.
Use them in your mains answers in GS2 and GS3.
(Organised as per syllabus)
Centre-State Relations
Sarkaria Commission, 1988:
A356 should be used very sparingly and as a matter of last resort. Material fact and grounds of invocation should be made an integral part of the Proclamation of President's Rule.
Jul 6, 2022 • 16 tweets • 3 min read
List of important SC cases sorted by topic.
Use these in your GS2 and GS3 Mains answers.
Separation of Powers
Bhim Singh Case: a strict separation of powers is neither possible, nor desirable.
2nd Judges case:
In case of conflict between judiciary and executive, judiciary takes precedence. Collegium instroduced.
Jun 21, 2022 • 14 tweets • 4 min read
6 Common mistakes that have a negative impact on Mains answer writing
He supports his argument for why India is a political democracy with exact provisions.
Jun 17, 2022 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Do all UPSC candidates doubt themselves?
Even the succesful ones? 🧵
During interview prepartion in 2018, I met Anu Kumari during one of the mocks. She was as nervous as anyone else out there. Because before the final list is out, no one knows where they stand.
When the final list did come out, she had AIR 2.
Yet before that, there was doubt.
Jun 16, 2022 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
NCERTs form the base for your UPSC prep.
But making short notes of NCERTs is a WASTE of time.
Why do I say that? 🧵
I'll be using a swimming analogy to explain this.
Why? Because it's summer and swimming is fun.
Jun 16, 2022 • 8 tweets • 1 min read
UPSC preparation boils down to one thing
Honesty.
Be honest with yourself about where you stand, and if you're not happy with that you can improve. Mislead yourself about how "good" you are and you'll be wasting your own time.
Be honest about how much you've read.
If you're not happy with that, read more.
Jun 9, 2022 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
What do the Prelims trends look like after Prelims 2022?
Distribution of Prelims Qs for last 4 Prelims 🧵
Basic breakdown of GS1 paper
• Conceptual Qs - 28
• Factual Qs - 72
(Give or take a few)
As compared to 43 conceptual and 57 factual in 2021.
Jun 9, 2022 • 37 tweets • 9 min read
Chronological compilation of Quotes on UPSC prep
Dhirubhai Ambani
I failed my first two prelims.
That was the first serious setback that I had to deal with in life.
I had worked hard for IIT, IIM and been successful there. But failing UPSC Prelims, twice in row, was hard.
In those moments, the self doubt was brutal.
But over time those two failures made me much more willing to try new things. Which got me a rank in my 4th attempt.
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