Kalpana Pandey (AIR-102 CSE-22) PSIR + Comprehensive Strategy

Hi All,

Kalpana Pandey secured AIR-102 in CSE-22 with PSIR Optional in her 2nd attempt. Following is her strategy.

Introduction

On 8th January 2019, just before ordering PSIR notes, I bowed before Lord Krishna teary eyed and prayed him to give me courage and strength to give my best in this exam preparation. Here I am today , writing a topper's strategy blog! Can you believe this ? This is surreal. We'll, with this dramatic beginning, all I want to convey you is that we all start from fears, doubts and confusions. We all feel lonely, guidance deficit at some point and despite all the hurdles, we Hope, we Begin. If the one reading this feels that you are entering an alien island and are absolutely lonely then you are not the only one. After all, we're all walking each other home, in life and in this part of life that UPSC journey is! Each one of us, who has cleared the exam faced similar fears. But you know what, just when the caterpillar thought it would die, it became a butterfly! So TRUST THE PROCESS.

I am Kalpana Pandey. I have completed my B.A. Programme in Political Science from Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi. I have secured AIR 102 in CSE 2022. My optional was PSIR. I am taking you through the roads I travelled to reach here. Let's go.

PSIR Strategy

I started with studying optional for first six months. In my second attempt of 2022 , I enrolled in answer writing test series from Shubhra Ranjan IAS itself to keep myself on track and disciplined.

Sources:

1. Shubhra Ranjan postal correspondence notes. They come with a Google drive file updated with topper copies and important book readings.
2. Rajeev Bhargava selected readings on Equality, Justice, Rights.
3. For IGP , selected readings of B.L. FADIA.
4. The India Way by Dr. S. JAISHANKAR for IR.
5. YouTube channels: School of Life, Philosophy tube.
6. PSIR notes of Mridul Shivhare Sir (AIR 247 CSE 2021 )
7. Dropbox short notes of Vibhor Aggarwal Sir( AIR 71 CSE 2018) which I kept updating.
8. Editorials from ORF, Indian Express, The Hindu .

For PSIR, I relied on three rules:

A. Clarity of concepts/theories.

B. Solving PYQ's from 2013 onwards after finishing each topic of syllabus.

C. Interlinkages between different sections and scholar names.

Most importantly please do read Vibhor Aggarwal Sir's blog dedicated to PSIR optional.

I Believe my marks in Essay (144) and GS -4 (125) are a reflection of all the PSIR knowledge and answer writing skill. It helped me immensely in preparing the entire GS -2 and parts of Gs-1 as well.

General Studies Strategy

GS -1 Sources:

1. For Geography: Class 11th and 12th Ncert only. Value addition from PMF IAS NOTES and Rushikesh Reddy Sir's (AIR 95 CSE 2019) notes.

2. For History:

• Ancient : Old NCERT (R.S. Sharma)
• Medieval : OLD NCERT and Tamil Nadu board book.
• Art and Culture : made self notes for ancient , medieval and modern from New NCERT + Class 11th Introduction to Indian Art book , Nitin Singhania handwritten notes.
• Modern : From Plassey to Partition by Sekhar Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum for Prelims.
• Post Independence: Nitin Sangwan Sir's handwritten notes.
• World: Made notes from Mrunal Sir's YouTube channel

3. For Society: Made own notes from Vision IAS and Mehak Jain mam notes + Current affairs.

GS 2 Sources: Polity fir Prelims, Used my PSIR notes without scholars. IAS 360 Mains notes for Polity and Governance.

GS 3 Sources:

• Economy: Vivek Singh Sir's book
• Environment: Made self notes from NCERT and PMF IAS supplement with current affairs mostly from Down to earth.
• Internal Security: Mehak Jain (AIR 17 CSE 2021 ) notes.
• Science and Tech: Current affairs.
• Disaster Management: Mehak Jain's notes.

GS 4 Sources: Made short notes from Lukman IAS's notes supplemented them with examples from Current affairs, personal life, The Better India.

Preparation for GS

Till December I tried to complete most of GS portion with notes. I did PYQS of all the GS subjects , sometimes only brainstormed them. Used to solve PYQ's of Prelims and Mains after covering each topic of the syllabus. Post December , started giving sectional Tests for Prelims to revise basic books effectively along with answer writing test series for PSIR optional, that I was doing since December 2021.

Revision:

1. Each day before going to bed , skimmed through portion of syllabus I covered that day in around 1 or half an hour more.
2. Started new topic each day after again skimming through what was done a day before.
3. Revision slot of 2 hours every third day. I generally felt like taking a break every 10 days and hence devoted 2-3 hours only for revising and then relaxing the entire day.

This was not as rigid as it sounds here, but the point is I KEPT REVISING.

Essay:

1. For content I relied on topper copies of Vikram Grewal Sir, Mehak Jain Mam, Diksha Joshi Mam.
2. Mehak Jain Mam's essay notes.
3. I value added these with phrases and quotes from Yojana , my reading of few books and Of course Optional.

For essay, few points that I felt worked for me are:

1. Starting the essay with an anecdote and then connecting this from intro to the conclusion.

2. Build a setting, let the examiner see a movie through you . For eg in Section A I attempted the essay on A ship in harbour is always safe ,but that is not what the ship is made for. Here I started with the story of Sachin Tendulkar describing the scene of the stadium. Pakistan's flag waving everywhere. Indian crowd looks grim and disappointed as every legendary player is on knees in front of Pak's fast paced bowlers. Then walks a 16 year old lean guy , and how everyone looks at him with fun, sympathy etc. So the point is to add emotive content in your essay.

3. After intro write explicitly on how are you going to explore different aspects of the given quote.

4. DO NOT FOLLOW PETALS model explicitly. It becomes too verbose and boring . Try to bring these aspects implicitly by connecting different paragraphs to each other. For eg instead of writing Socially speaking , you write it as we can see the relevance of this quote in the way crime in society is increasing specially towards children, women , downtrodden etc.

5. Keep connecting your write up with words from the essay itself. For eg. If I had to explain Sachin Tendulkar's journey I would use the word voyage ( link with ship) instead of journey.

6. Use creative headings. ( Flipping through pages of history, Half baked cake etc)

7. Do not mention thinkers from your optional. But do use their theories and quotes.

Prelims Strategy

Sources remain the same. I think anyone who has cleared this exam would completely agree on the fact that this is the most dicey and difficult stage of the exam. The randomness of prelims paper has increased exponentially in the last 3 years. I failed my first attempt at the Prelims level and hence can totally understand the trauma one goes through not being able to make it to the Mains. In my second attempt I did the following:

1. Made a proper 150 days plan with revision and test dates in Excel sheet.
2. I gave sectional tests in December 2021 and January 2022 to revise basic books effectively.
3. From February, I started with Full Length tests at least 50. These full length tests were a mix of all possible coaching institutes so that I become used to the random questions rather than solving tests of a fixed pattern.
4. Gave tests in 1:30 hrs in order to build up more pressure and usually on exam day the paper seems too difficult to be done in 2 hrs. So already psyching the mind that I have done these papers in less time, today (on exam day) I have half an hour more!
5. CSAT is the game changer. I devoted 2 hrs since March for CSAT each day . The channel CSAT MANTRA on TG was my go to for solving PYQ's and similar questions . Also gave sectional and full length tests for CSAT.
6. Simulated Exam hours each day. Hence my sleep cycle and active mind cycle ( if that is even a word😁) was synced to real exam day.

Importance of Breaks

Since my selection , almost everyone asks me the number of hours I devoted each day but nobody asks the days I cried, felt lonely, went through breakdowns, chilled with my friends, watched a movie, went shopping and etc. etc. But Dear Aspirants my learning from first failed attempt are:

1. You need to take an hour or two break each day for your family time, hobby or just relaxing ! It's okey! You deserve it . But better earn it after slogging the entire day.

2. Take a break by observing your pattern of exhaustion ,for me it was every 10 days. So I watched a movie or took a break in any other way.

3. Be in a positive Circle, people who love you, motivate you and know how important this exam is to you. Block all Toxicity and negativity.

4. Be connected to nature , worship or meditate. Visit a temple or any holy place you believe in. Because there's power above everything that takes care of everything. Can't you see it's all perfect? That power guides you each moment and hence Remember God is always with you.

5. Do not make this exam above you. This is an exam in the series of exams that life throws at us. Hence be prepared for the best and worst. Your worth is not defined by clearing it. Give your Best each day so that when you look back you feel you lost on nothing.

6. Remember Work is worship so study like an offering to God wholeheartedly.

End: Always a beginning

My ending remarks are that no matter where you stand in life right now , a beautiful future and evolved YOU is waiting on the other side. Nothing is permanent in this world not even your position in life , you can always change it. Study like a top ranker! Be a topper each day in the efforts that you make. You are never really alone. Your courage, confidence, Faith is always with you. Be your own Superhero.

One Day you'll look back and see how hard it was, and how brave you were. Go on comrades ! All The Best. May The Supereme Power guide you .