Aakriti Sethi (AIR-249 CSE-22) Motivational Journey

Hi All,

Aakriti Sethi's CSE journey will inspire one and all. She attempted CSE 6 times, couldn't clear Prelims in her 1st 5 attempts but kept going strong and finally achieved AIR-249 in CSE-22. Following is her Journey and Prelims, Mains & Economic Optional Strategy.

Introduction

I am Aakriti Sethi, secured AIR 249 in UPSC CSE 2022.

My optional was Economics, and this was my first mains in last 6 years, Prelims was the major hurdle for me to clear and I could not clear it in my last 5 attempts.

Brief Background:

I am born in Ambala Cantt (Haryana), studied till my 12^th standard at Bhartiya Public School Ambala Cantt. I was an all rounder student. I played basketball at state level representing Ambala District. I am national level Handball player. I was good at declamations, dance competitions etc. (I am mentioning this because, you will see the downfall in my life in next part of the blog)

In 2010 I moved to Delhi to pursue my graduation in B.Com (Hons.) from SGND Khalsa College, Delhi University. I graduated in 2013 and in November 2013 I started working at KPMG Global Services Gurugram in the Audit executive profile.

I started my Masters in 2014 from School of Open Learning Delhi University, Passed in 2017 (1 extra year for not qualifying in one of the semester :-P )

I left my job at KPMG in Feb 2017 and moved back to my home in Ambala to self study for my UPSC journey. My first attempt I gave in 2017 and this journey culminated in 2022 (my 6^th attempt) with an AIR 249 (Grateful to almighty).

My UPSC Journey:

2017: No foundation coaching (GS + Optional both). It took me some time to understand the exam, the basic syllabus and how to read and what to read. Internet was the only source at that time. Result -Failed in Prelims (it was meant to be as I prepared only for 2 months and gave it just to try it)

2018: I enrolled in the year long test series for prelims (Now I think it was the second biggest mistake I did). For the whole year, I was just studying and revising the basic books without any preparation of the mains. Result: - Failed again in prelims

2019: Did daily answer writing of Current Affairs, also attempted a test series, wrote many essays. Just before UPSC prelims, Haryana civil services prelims failure gave me an emotional blow which ruined my UPSC prelims. Result – Failed again in prelims.

2020: I joined the Intensive News Analysis (INA) program of MK Yadav Sir and came under his guidance. Working under his guidance, I appeared for 2020 prelims again. After giving the exam this time I was confident that I am going to clear this. But again a prelims failure.

2021: This year, I studied for Mains extensively, also joined the Quality enrichment program (QEP) of MK Yadav Sir and focused too much on answer writing. I think this was the time when I worked wholly on my Mains, improved my answer writing skills, worked on my essay and optional.

But when you see too many failures and also are not mentally stable (it happens with many when they reach their last attempts), you lose your patience, you lose your grit, you lose your self confidence. This was happening in my subconscious mind and again 20 days before the prelims of 2021 I had a major breakdown and I started having panic attacks. I ruined the paper and scored the lowest marks in prelims.

2022: As I had nothing to loose, I chose to give my last attempt and attain Nirvana (Aar ya Paar ki jung). With few months of rejuvenation, I started again in February 2022 to give my last and final attempt. This time I changed my strategy a bit.

I focused on consolidating my notes, prepared some differentiated notes for prelims and Mains from the monthly current affairs magazine. Before the prelims, I had my notes ready for GS 1 – 4 and optional and gave my prelims.

This time, God was by my side, and I kept calm and quiet till the end. I cleared my first prelims in 2022 and sat for Mains (in September 2022). I worked hard and manifested that I am going to clear this time the whole process. I cultivated only positive thoughts and I think this is the only thing that changed my life forever.

My marksheet:

Prelims strategy:

1. Always do integrated study of prelims and Mains, do not only focus on clearing the prelims when you fail in it the multiple times.
2. Never lose faith in you, no matter whatever you study for so many years, it is those 2 Hours which make the ultimate difference.
3. Do not follow multiple sources for prelims, restrict your sources and revise them multiple times (I did that in my last attempt)
4. For current affairs follow a single source.
5. Do practice the previous year questions and analyse them to the core.
6. Focus on the areas, from which there is a higher tendency of questions coming (especially static).
7. Attempt mocks but also analyse your mistakes comprehensively and improve on it.
8. Follow newspaper, do not use ready made shortcuts like watching newspaper videos

Mains strategy:

The only mantra is Practise, practice and practice.

1. I followed the previous year’s questions extensively and worked in the same direction.
2. I prepared the notes from each of the line of the syllabus of the UPSC
3. The Quality enrichment Program of MK Yadav Sir (theIAShub) helped me a lot to prepare the best quality notes. I supplemented them with my notes to have a consolidation.
4. Did not matter whether I cleared prelims or not, but I prepared for mains every year, wrote various answers and essays beforehand.
5. I did value addition to my answers from time to time, used various examples, case studies, case laws, committee recommendations, data facts figures to include in my answers.
6. I referred various books for ethics but at last I realized that Mudit Jain Sir’s book is the best one to refer to. I also used his blogs to kickstart my preparation in various subjects. (Feeling of honour to write on his blog)
7. Between prelims and mains, one must complete at least 3 cycles of revision. This will help in memorizing content and writing good answers.
8. Try to make proper structure for your answer and practice that in test papers. Then only one will be able to replicate that in final exam. Also do not fall in the trap of unnecessary diagram making. Just focus on content and question demand.

Economics optional:

Paper 1:

I referred the basic advised books for this part:

1. Micro economics – HL Ahuja
2. Macro Economics – Froyen and HL Ahuja
3. International Economics – Salvatore
4. Public Finance – Musgrave and Bhatia
5. Money Banking – from HL Ahuja only
6. Growth and development – Jhingan,

• I prepared notes on the syllabus topics after 2^nd reading and used them to revise again and again.
• I also revised books multiple times, and added the points in my notes whenever I feel so
• I practiced previous year questions a lot (atleast last 10 years) and that too multiple times.

Paper 2:

It is dynamic in nature, and I used various sources to prepare for that:

1. Uma Kapila - Indian economy
2. Mishra and Puri
3. Tirthankar Roy for Pre Independence
4. QEP material of MK Yadav Sir
5. Various toppers notes available online like Abhijeet Sinha Sir, Tejasvi Rana Mam, Gaurav Sir and so on.

• If I have scored so good in Paper 2, I am thankful to the notes that were available to me by these toppers.
• Apart from this, Current affairs were very helpful to prepare for this paper (Livemint is a good newspaper to read for this paper)
• Use various economists name, data facts from reliable sources and keep updating them with time.
• Try to use bar graphs, charts and diagrams to show some trends in your answers.

Pro Tip:

1. Your Health is you’re the most priority, focus on your daily lifestyle and make it a healthy lifestyle.
2. Go on a walk daily, pursue some sports activity
3. Mental health should be achieved through a peaceful mind.
4. Read some positive books to release your stress and manage your emotional balance.

I wish all the good luck to the aspirants with the message that:

“Do not lose self belief, and keep working hard!”

I owe this success to almighty, my parents, my family, my mentor and some of the most special friends that I have made in this journey. This success belongs to you all and I promise it is just a beginning.

Regards

Aakriti Sethi

AIR – 249, CSE 22