Summary

Topper's Talk with Aditi Varshney (Rank 57)

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION ABOUT HERSELF AND HER JOURNEY (01:28 PM)

She is an online student.
She got this rank in the first attempt.
She focussed more on self-analysis.
After Prelims, she did not have enough time to prepare for mains.

PRELIMS STRATEGY (01:30 PM)

The questions were more from current affairs.
She scored 104 in prelims.
When you find that Prelims is getting difficult, It will be difficult for everyone either.
So, do not get feared for Prelims.
Full-Fledged one and half months of preparation is more than enough.
The static portion cannot be ignored.
Focus on the important portions and can make notes out of it.
Continuous revision is very important.
When you finish off one subject and switch to another may lead you to forget the first one.
What you can do is divide your day into three slots with multiple subjects.
This will make the content interdisciplinary.
Don't go for a lot of sources.
For current affairs, UPSC is mostly asking questions from repeated news.
If you read a certain new term in the newspaper, write it somewhere in a synoptic way.
Try to attempt mock test.
Prefer more self-analysis.
You yourself are capable to customise the preparation by yourself.
CSAT:
Although maths is becoming difficult, you should give due importance to maths.
Try to attempt comprehension first.
Try not to get stuck with the difficult questions.

MAINS (01:44 PM)

You have additional subjects for the mains.
Optional is the maker of your mains score.
Get the hold on your optional.
The syllabus is very important for the mains.
Because when you know each and every topic of mains, it is easy to decide which topics to do it.
You need to revise everything, before going for answer writing.
Don't get demotivated if you are not writing good answers in the beginning.
Try to improve upon those answers.
One should not miss out on answer writing and revision after you have consolidated the content.
She started giving 3 hours test and then two tests per day.
How to differentiate your answers with others?
When you make your static notes, leave some space to add the information.
Originality is what counts in mains because it gives a positive impact to the examiner.
If you are able to give 3-4 examples your answers will be more than enough.
Don't write a lot in answers.
Just pick and choose five important points.
Write less but to the point.
All subjects are inter-connected.
Connect the dots between different subjects.
For example, How weather forecasting will affect people.
One should link it to tourism, and disasters.
One should link it to how this will affect the people, economy, polity, etc.
Newspaper is the best source for mains.
Instead of focussing on perfection, try to give your 100%.

ESSAY (02:03 PM)

The questions are getting philosophical.
Few things that you need to keep in mind:
Accept the fact that philosophical essays will come in exams.
Give more time to read the things.
Refer to Topper's answer sheets but do not copy them.
It's okay to write different examples as long as it connects with the topic.
Add on more diversity rather than writing one thing in detail.
Write short sentences with short paragraphs.
Time management is very important for essay.

OPTIONAL (02:11 PM)

Choose the subject that interest you.
It depends on how much comfortable you are with that subject.
Sociology:
She graduated with sociology and did not refer to any standard books or coaching because she is well aware about the basics.
Keep the syllabus in front of you and start picking up each topic and make notes for it.
She gave the high number of mock tests for optional.

PRELIMS (02:17 PM)

PYQs are very important.
The questions on S&T are getting more current-oriented.
Just try to know what to study, how much to study, and capitalise on the strength.

QUESTION-ANSWER SESSION (02:19 PM)

Q. Which material you have referred to?:
She has prepared from home itself and referred test- series of Vision IAS along with Abhyaas.
Q. What have you done between the prelims and CSAT paper?
One should not freak out in between that time.
Try to be calm during that time.
Q. Source for sociology current affairs?:
She referred to the newspaper.
There is no one source for it.
Q. How you have handled the changed pattern of questions?:
The pattern changes for everyone.
The cut-off will be low by itself.
Just focus on newspaper and monthly magazines.
Q. How to manage time during Pre- exam?:
Whenever she has done mocks, she tried to cover it within 45 minutes.
In the first reading, she used to do those questions which she knows.
She used to focus thoroughly which she has not read in the first round.
Her sweet spot for attempting the questions was 80-85.
Leave those questions in which you do not have any idea.
It is very important to prioritise what to answer and what not to.
Q. What to write in Conlusion?:
Address each part of the question thoroughly.
The solution is very necessary to give.
The conclusion should be futuristic and optimistic.
There should be a forward-looking approach to conclusions.
Q. How did you manage note-making in that limited time?:
She used to focus more on efficiency.
She gave 15 days for note-making.
You should know your speed and capacity for note-making.
Q. How do you manage your time in the starting phase of preparation?:
It really depends on you as a person.
She used to keep targets.
But just make sure that you decide on the targets.
Q. What about the days when you do not want to study?:
She used to take breaks when it becomes very exhausting.
When you are taking breaks from your studies, just try to do something else apart from UPSC.
Try to start your day with the easy things.
Q. What was your revision strategy?:
It varies from Prelims and mains.
For Prelims, She used to keep one weekly target.
For Mains, She has organised notes in very synoptic ways in such a way that she was able to revise her notes within one hour.
Q. What about the comprehension part?:
Attempt comprehension of the past 10 years.
Or join the test series and apply for different mocks.
Q. What about the maths part?:
Just see strong topics from the index and make sure they are asked in Prelims.
Refer Reference book and complete it topic-wise.
Q. What was your mindset between Prelims and Mains?:
You should give your 100%.
When you give your heart and soul to the preparation, you will not regret it.
Q. How much important is the DAF?:
The interviewers know you only through your DAF.
Fill out the DAF where you will be able to face questions from the interviewer.
In her achievements, she has mentioned the prizes with respect to her hobby of painting.
Q. What about Plan B?:
She cannot imagine herself in any other place except this civil Service.
What do you regret about not getting the first rank?:
She said that she should not have taken so much pressure and stress.
Try to be confident and have faith in yourself.
Q. What is your source of history?:
She took notes from different coachings and compiled those notes.
Q. Please tell briefly about your optional?:
She has referred to her personal notes.
Feedback in the test series has helped her a lot.
Q. Do you make notes in a digital manner or offline manner?:
For different subjects, it varies.
For example, For the environment, you can make digital notes.
For History, offline notes will do.
Q. How much time you have given to your preparation?:
In three years of graduation, she has her basics cleared.
Two-three months are very crucial for this exam.
Q. How to develop an interest in sociology as optional?:
You may sometimes feel boredom reading it.
The interest here means that looking forward to new things and basics have been cleared.
Q. Tell about your UPSC interview?:
In reality, the interview is more cordial.
The question was asked on Green Revolution 2.0.
Economic liberalisation 2.0 Question was asked.
Another Question on Wetland Day and Urbanisation.
The quote of Mahatma Gandhi, " How moral Courage is more important than physical courage."
Q. What about Anthropology?:
It is similar to sociology.
Thoroughly cover the syllabus.
It is not that much current-oriented.
The key is about recalling.
Try to give more mocks.
Just try to make synoptic notes.
Q. How to recall a newspaper after 2-3 days?:
It is not possible to make notes from the newspaper.
For example, If she gets Greenwashing as term.
She keeps one paper while reading the newspaper and writes just key terms.
If she finds some very good editorial she used to cut that article.

The topper's talk has been completed.