This is the 1st Topper Journey & Strategy post from the Batch of 2023 and I must say that it will inspire you for sure.
Following is Journey and GS-2 Strategy of Dwij Goel, AIR-71 CSE-22 in his own words.
Introduction
Hi Guys, My name is Dwij Goel and I have secured AIR 71 in UPSC CSE 2022. I come from a small town named Kharkhauda,near Meerut, U.P. After finishing my basic education from Meerut, I have done B.Tech in mechanical engineering from NIT- Bhopal. After my graduation in 2019, I worked for a year in Hero MotoCorp limited, Gurgaon as Assistant Manager.
In September 2020, I left my job to prepare full time for upsc. In my first attempt (2020) I cleared prelims but couldn’t clear mains. But, meanwhile I got selected in UPPSC(state services) but I was not satisfied with it so didn’t join.
In 2021, I improved, plugged all loopholes and attempted mains in January 2022 with all my heart. After mains, I also started working on some of my ideas apart from UPSC. Between Mains and interview I Co-founded an EdTech startup with my friend and worked 3-4 months, but eventually it failed due to some flaw in marketing, and it was a setback for me. I got upsc interview call in the meantime but missed the final list by 5 marks. I felt devastated, as I couldn’t make it because of poor marks in interview.
Nothing was working for me, 2.5 years already passed away after I quit my job and I was still sitting at the same place.
This was the time I started doubting myself. My closest friend and my got to go person also left me. But as they say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
Me, my friends Shubhratosh and Asad also couldn’t make it to the final list and they were also disheartened by it. With prelims around the corner (after 5 days only ) ,we three together gathered all the courage we had for our 3rd attempt and attempted again. I attempted UPPSC also, after 1 week of UPSC. Then I went for a week long trip with my friends and recharged myself for mains again, considering it as my last attempt . We 3 together cleared prelims and wrote UPSC mains again in September 2022. When one feels demotivated , other one is there to help out. We prepared together, made notes together and made lifelong memories. This was probably the good thing out of all, that we 3 together were kicked out by UPSC, and now in our utopian beliefs hoping to go LBSNAA together next year, the probability of which is (0.0033 %). We prepared and attempted mains together. Just after 1 day of finishing of UPSC mains , I also wrote UPPSC mains (to get Deputy collector post ) considering this as my last attempt in civil services journey.
Till 9th October 2022, things were not working for me. Then suddenly on 10th October UPSC released reserve list of 2021 attempt and luckily I got my name there. I was allotted PONDICS, and currently I’m working as Commissioner Municipality in Pondicherry. Then, on 8th April 2023 I got UPPSC final result and I got Rank 19 and got selected as Deputy Collector (SDM as they say). Finally, I appeared in UPSC interview on 17th April 2023 and has now secured AIR 71.
So, this has been a roller coaster ride of emotions, fear, anxiety, failures and hope. As Victor Frankl has quoted “ hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” I was very hopeful and optimistic about seeing the light at the other end.
And yaa, Asad has got AIR 86, Shubhratosh has got AIR 358 and we are going LBSNAA together !!!
I have analyzed about 150 Marksheets of CSE-22 Toppers and Dwij’s score of 124 in GS-2 is among the top 5. Following is his GS-2 Strategy in his own words:
How I scored 124 in GS2
I got 124 marks in GS2 this year and I improved it from 100 marks which I got last year. Here is my strategy.
GS2 broadly covers 3 sections namely polity, governance and international relations. Here I would be writing about each in a comprehensive manner.
Polity
Sources:
M. Laxmikant for basics as it was my only source for prelims as well.
Value addition: landmark judgement: Only IAS booklet
Atish Mathur sir specific notes for mains, they are freely available on his telegram channel. Good value addition for mains.
Strategy: Q. How to read Laxmikant in less time for mains(after prelims )
I covered basics from Laxmikant to revise all the basic concepts like federalism, centre state relations etc. but for mains, reading strategy is different.
It should be to grasp catchy phrases like N A Palkhivala called Preamble as the ‘identity card of the constitution’.
Focus on main areas which upsc frequently ask like separation of power, decentralisation etc.
Remember important articles, judgements and amendments Ex: I mentioned MC Mehta case in question asked about Environment related cases.
Value Addition:
I used booklet from Only ias and Atish Mathur sir notes for covering the topics mentioned in syllabus in wholesome manner. It helped me in getting quality content also, like if Separation of power is asked, we need to mention what all provisions in constitution provide for it, article and judgements related to it.
I selectively used Mandar patki sir ( AIR 22 , CSE 2019) notes for some topics, his notes are in pdf format and easily available.
EdSarrthi (a mentorship platform ): I used readymade intro and conclusion templates provided by them.
Made a list of important committee names and tried to include them in my answers.
Governance
Basic Source: Vision value addition material , I made notes out of them for each topic mentioned in the syllabus
Value Addition: I included examples, case studies, catchy phrases from Only IAS prahaar booklet and Edsarrthi material for mains mentorship program.
2nd ARC: I read summary of selective chapters of 2nd ARC and tried to include them in way forward, suggestions etc.
IR
Newspaper articles are very important, I used to save them in a separate file if some good articles is there.
Static: EdSarrthi given material and Vision mains 365 covers it comprehensively
Current: Vision mains 365, and my own articles clippings.
Made notes from Sansad TV: diplomatic dispatch, past 6-7 months videos.
I had keen interest in IR and after my mains I read many books on IR, I would highly recommend “The India Way” by Dr. S. Jaishankar for getting good perspective on India’s approach to foreign policy.
In my 2022 attempt, I attempted mock tests online at Edsarrthi and it was good. I was part of mains mentorship program which included live answer writing and test series. I also wrote some ForumIAS tests which I got from outside and after writing them at my home only, I got them evaluated independently( I was not willing to invest money again in costly test series ). My those copies are not in pubic domain so I would be sharing them on my telegram channel for the reference.
In my 2021 attempt I took Vision and EdSarrthi, in 2020 attempt I took Forum and EdSarrthi.
How many tests to give : I would suggest to write 2 full length mock paper for each GS subject. I used to take part tests of different coaching(from market or online ) like Forum, Vision and scribble them on the paper. It helps in building the content as well as helps in structuring the answer.
Since I joined live answer writing session of Edsarrthi, I used to diligently follow it and always try to improve my answers.
As they say “the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war ”. So write more, learn more.
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