Shubham Kumar: Strategy and Notes for UPSC(CSE)

2023-06-24 19:05:21 There are many genuine telegram channels by some toppers who takes lot of efforts to share their genuine strategy and their sources. Join their channel according to your needs.


https://t.me/Gaurav_Budania_IAS_AIR_13 Open / Comment

2023-06-24 19:04:47 Compilation of all toppers channel (CSE 2022)

Credit: Himanshu Mangal (AIR 288) Open / Comment

2023-06-24 11:17:19 Mains PYQs

Unfortunately there is no single good source for PYQs. One should cover last 10 years of PYQs.

Few pointers:

1) Google the entire question- one can easily find 3-4 model answers by some coaching. Glance through it and copy and paste important portion into your own document.

2) Use ChatGPT: One may not find a very value added answers but for some subjects- flow and context wise answers are decent, but don’t over-depend

3) There are few toppers who have shared their notes on PYQs and GS notes.

I would suggest to make your own PYQs notes. Use google and discuss within your peer group to come up with answers. Start with last 5 years questions

The focus should not be to rote learn PYQs model answers.

The process of referencing to PYQs- discussion with your peer groups- trying to write PYQs as your Daily Answer writing practice- using google to add value to your answers—— all this process helps you to improve your content, your analytical skill and your approach to the Mains examination

Best Wishes !! Open / Comment

2023-06-24 10:29:02 With Prelims result out almost 10 days ago, I hope that those who cleared are into full fledged mains preparation.

Those who didn’t clear, remember this is not the end.

Few pointers for those who are freshers and those who didn’t clear this time:

1) By looking at the recent years toppers one can easily conclude that even many toppers have failed in their 1st/2nd prelims.

2) There is always risk factor involved when you are facing such a competitive exam. Through only two ways one can minimise the risk- good preparation and more attempts (one should also know when to stop)

3) UPSC has changed the way it used to ask questions. Many such surprises might come in future too. So what is the solution?

Prepare all the topics and practice tests— so almost no change the way we prepare?

A little:

Don’t think that whatever you prepare would be asked in the exam. Rather gain maximum knowledge according to syllabus and attempt large number of tests to make yourself ready for any kind of paper— helps in minimising blunders

And also, be ready for the worst. UPSC knows how to not ask questions from the materials popular in the market. Never miss core concepts— helps in any kind of paper


4) UPSC wants you to consider CSAT as important as Paper 1. This has become so important that those who cleared CSAT this year- most of them have cleared Prelims also !!

— there are many free videos available on YouTube. One can also join some guidance/coaching separately for CSAT.

5) Use this time to make mains preparation robust, so that once you clear prelims you clear mains also.

Enrich your GS- 1,2,3,4 and also optional. Watch recent toppers videos and do value addition in each topics. Also, write GS and Optional tests by December

Also now is the time to improve your answer writing and cover PYQs of mains (still mains PYQs are relevant) !! Open / Comment

2023-05-29 17:46:45 Hello everyone.

My friend Sandeep Kumar has secured AIR 24 in CSE 2022. His optional is mathematics in which he has scored 320 marks.

Currently he is undergoing training as IPS probationer in NPA Hyderabad (AIR 184 in CSE 2020).

He has created this channel to guide aspirants regarding UPSC CSE preparation. He will also guide those aspirants who have taken mathematics optional.

Here is the link to join his channel:

https://t.me/sandeepkumarAIR24 Open / Comment

2023-05-28 10:03:49 This marks a great shift in the way UPSC is asking questions and may ask questions in future.

Clearly from paper it shows how aware UPSC is wrt all the ‘gyan’ available from every sources.

But it also means that it was same for everyone. It is better to forget what happened in paper 1 and focus on CSAT and give your best !!

Best wishes !! Open / Comment

2023-05-28 09:16:04 2023 prelims.pdf Open / Comment

2023-05-27 18:47:34 All the best for tomorrow’s Paper

Tomorrow is the test of whatever you have given to this examination in the last one year or maybe more.

So first of all be Proud of yourself that you have dared to face this examination

Some suggestions:

1) A lot can change with confidence and active mind. It can easily decide whether one is getting 80 marks or 100 marks (difference of around 5 ques)

2) Don’t ever judge yourself while still giving your paper. Be in present and give 100%

3)Don’t rush towards the end of examination. 10 minutes is more than sufficient to solve 20-25 questions in 2nd or 3rd iteration/reading.

4) It is generally noticed that we miss the chances of our selection not because of tough questions but due to blunders that we do in easy questions (especially Polity and economy). So don’t rush in easy questions

5) Don’t match/analyse your answers during break, even if you are strong in CSAT. Take CSAT as seriously or may be more than the first paper.

6) I consider attempting around 50 questions in CSAT as best. Temptation to attempt more might lead to silly mistakes.

Also remember that if the paper is tough than it is tough for everyone. Questions are now generally asked to check your analytical skills and static knowledge.

Believe in yourself and take a good nap to remain most active during the vital hours of tomorrow.
Even if you are not able to sleep, in morning convince your mind that you have slept well and you are very active now. (Psychology can play a very important role sometimes)

All the best for the D-day !! Open / Comment

2023-05-27 18:47:15 Official telegram account of this year’s topper Ishita Kishore

Telegram channel - https://t.me/AIR1ishitakishore Open / Comment

2022-12-13 16:04:11 These are the guidelines shared by Kanishak Kataria Sir in 2019. I found it very useful while filing DAF. Kindly go through it. I shared this last year also


Few pointers for filling the DAF:

• Don’t fill anything you are not ready to prepare later.

• Don’t show off achievements or write false hobbies/interests. One of the biggest blunder you can commit in filling the DAF.

• Write your achievements and interests concisely instead of filling paragraphs. Interests etc. should be legible in a single glance. Board doesn’t spend too much time looking into each and every aspect of your DAF. First impression is very critical.

• Limit the hobbies to maximum 3 - more than this will dilute the points and also create headache for you later as you will have to prepare all of them.

• In case of multiple achievements only write those which are most attractive (and can beat other smaller one). Example: University topper need not write about being CBSE 10th topper

• Govt scholarships/fellowships should be written like NTSE, KVPY etc

• Clearly mention your degree like Minor and Honours component. You wouldn’t want the board to misinterpret your graduation domain and ask you irrelevant questions!

• Do not force information where it’s not applicable. It’s perfectly fine to leave some columns. For eg. if you are not into sports, do not write it.

• Write specific interest and hobbies instead of general ones. For eg. if you are into dancing, mention specific dance form instead of merely writing “Dancing” as your hobby. You will end up providing a very big spectrum to the board to ask questions from.

• Writing internship experience under the “jobs” section - completely up to you. But if you write it, you should be ready to justify it. As mentioned earlier, do not force information in the DAF.

• There is a thin line between less info and excessive info in the DAF. If you try to show off and have an information overload, believe me you will have lot of trouble preparing for the interview. Each and every word in your DAF is a loose thread which can form a potential question. Open / Comment