Mukund Singh Chahar, AIR-273 CSE-22 Journey, Prelims, Mains, History Optional & More

Hi All,

This is the 27th Topper Journey & Strategy post from the Batch of 2023. 6 years, 5 attempts, 2 setbacks in Prelims, 1 setback in Mains, 1 setback in Interview and finally AIR-273 in CSE-22 in 5th attempt. This is brief of the CSE journey of Mukund Singh Chahar. Read this post to know more on Prelims, Mains, Essay, History Optional, Interview Strategy and more.

INTRODUCTION

Hey, I am Mukund Singh Chahar and I have secured AIR 273 in UPSC CSE 2022. I did my schooling from Bhopal, after which I did History (Hons) from PGDAV college, Delhi University.

You can contact Mukund on his Instagram Profile and Telegram Channel

CSE JOURNEY

I started preparing from 2017, but couldn’t clear prelims in my first 2 attempts. I then decided to pivot to MPPSC, as I felt that maybe I didn’t have what it takes to clear UPSC. But when COVID struck, it delayed the UPSC exam, giving me another shot at UPSC. Luckily, I cleared prelims in the 3rd attempt, but was unable to clear mains this time. I managed to clear both prelims and mains in my 4th attempt, but got a terrible score of 135 in my interview, which kept me out of the holy PDF. I had a gap of just 5 days to cope up with this defeat as UPSC 2022 Prelims was just around the corner. I gave the exam nonetheless, but was not even certain to clear it. Fortunately, I cleared it. After that I didn’t look back and was able to crack the exam this time. But to be honest, this was the year where I had the highest self doubt I’ve ever had, and my self confidence was at an all time low. I want to share this experience because I know that each aspirant struggles during the journey, and I just want to convey that I was no different. It is completely normal to have tough days, it is fine to have self doubt, but one must never lose hope. Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies (from ‘The Shawshank Redemption’)

TIPS FOR UPSC CSE:

I. PRELIMS:

To be honest, Prelims was the stage where I struggled a lot. But there are some strategies that worked well for me, and I would love to share them.

1. Booklist for Prelims: You will get many suggestions on good books for Prelims. I won’t add to it, but would love to share a couple of tips:

i. Browse through suggestions of multiple toppers. Don’t blindly follow only one topper’s strategy, instead look for things that will suit your preparation and customize your booklist accordingly.

ii. Pick limited sources, revise them multiple times. A source that you have revised 4 times is way more useful than 4 sources that you have revised once.

2. Do’s for Prelims:

i. Previous year questions (PYQ) Analysis: PYQs are a must to understand the weightage of different subjects and pattern of the exam. Infact, many times themes from PYQs are repeated as well. Thus, try to do last 10 year PYQs, and analyze them properly to have a better understanding of the exam.

ii. Mock tests: Mock tests are essential to test your preparation. Do 2-4 sectional tests for each subject, follow them up with 3-4 full length tests. Total number of tests can vary from 20 to 40. You must also analyze and revise these tests to understand your weaknesses, and have a question bank of 2000-4000 questions.

iii. Simulation: Prelims is gradually turning into a high pressure exam where often your knowledge is not the only thing being tested. Thus, it is important to simulate the exam to be better prepared. Simulation includes giving mocks in an environment similar to the actual exam. It includes having a fixed 2 hour duration, filling OMR sheets, sitting on wobbly chairs/tables, giving tests for which you haven’t prepared etc. The idea is to put yourself in pressure situations, and develop the ability to handle it.

3. Don’ts for Prelims:

i. Don’t read multiple sources for one subject.

ii. Don’t forget the importance of revision.

iii. Don’t just give mock tests, always analyze and revise them as well.

II. MAINS:

1. Booklist: Again, browse through suggestions of different toppers, limit your sources and revise them. Also, one easy approach for mains is to focus on ‘covering the syllabus’. Cover each keyword of the syllabus, and if possible, keep very short notes for last minute revision before mains.

2. Do’s for Mains:

i. PYQs: PYQs remain important in mains as well, with a good chance of themes getting repeated. Try to cover last 10 year PYQs.

ii. Answer writing practice: Answer writing is the kingmaker in mains. It doesn’t matter how much you know unless you know how to express it within the given time limit. Start with PYQs, gradually move towards sectional tests and finally start giving full length tests. Answer writing skills take time to build, so be patient and keep going.

iii. Value addition: Focus on fetching extra marks by adding value. Maps in GS1, Constitutional articles and judgements in GS2, Facts and Data in GS3, and relevant examples in GS4 can help you improve your score.

iv. Time and space management: I had set drafts for each GS paper to write my answers. These drafts helped me in saving time as well as improving my presentation. For example, my draft for Art and Culture was as follows:

{ Intro:

Discuss relevance-period-patrons of the art mentioned.

Flowchart of all art/crafts asked OR a MAP

Body:

Go chronologically and site relevant examples from each period

Think in Architecture-Painting-Culture-Dance- Theatre- Literature- Sculpture format.

OR For significance/relevance of Art (PESTEL).

Address demand of Qs.

Mention LIMITATIONS in Flowchart format.

Way forward:

Flowchart: Legal(AMASR 1958, Antiquities Act 1972), Schemes: Rashtriya Sanskriti Mohotsav, Scheme for protecting intangible heritage, adopt a monument), Technology (Digital database for arts)

Conclusion:

Uphold Constitutional measures to protect art(Art 49: Protection of monuments and heritage, Art 51 A for protection of heritage)

Join here for free guidance from Mudit Jain, IRS CSE-17 (IPS CSE-14 & 15), Author of Decode Civils – Philosophical Essay Writing, Decode GS2, Decode Ethics 4.0 & Decode History Books

Ethics book referred by CSE 22 Toppers: AIR –76, 91, 176, 189, 249, 288, 297, 299, 326, 356, 476, 541, 611, 616, 700, 737, 739, 746 & others

History book referred by CSE 21 Toppers: AIR – 44, 212, 572, 653 & others

Sample PDFs of Books: Decode Civils – Philosophical Essay Writing, Decode Ethics 4th Edition, Decode GS2 & Decode History

3. Don’ts for Mains:

i. Don’t prepare for Prelims and Mains separately. Try to integrate your preparation, focus on sources that are helpful in both prelims and mains.

ii. Don’t underestimate answer writing. Attempt at least 3-4 tests for each GS paper, 3-4 essays, 5-6 tests for Optional. This number can vary upwards.

iii. Don’t try to write 20 perfect answers in mains. No one can do that. Focus on ensuring that you complete your paper on time.

4. SPECIFIC TIPS:

1. Essay: I scored 129 in Essay this year, and I feel I improved my score by writing from my heart, instead of having an overtly mechanical approach. Further, I had a flexible draft that I followed, which is as follows:

{ESSAY DRAFT:

1. ANECDOTE: should be relevant(1-1.5 page max), avoid digressing and hit the bullseye straight away, comprehensively link the anecdote with the topic and justify it.

2. Follow up paragraph: Briefly explain anecdote, briefly go into details of anecdote to show how it is relevant to the essay topic and then write: and ‘thus the above anecdote proves the age old adage: X’

3. Definition paragraph: Explain the keywords, mention philosophers and examples to justify your definition if possible(briefly)

4. BODY: GS I-IV approach, maintain Argument-substantiation-inference approach, focus on logical connectivity and flow(ex: From individual to society, from evolution to history and beyond).

5. Counter: 2-3 paragraphs, 2 counters/interpretations (follow argument-substantiation-inference model)

6. Conclusion: Summarize your points, give new examples related to topic (proportionate weightage: more to core, less to counters), 1 futuristic paragraphn(stakeholder approach briefly (individual Art 51A, international: SDGs) + connect with INTRODUCTION ANECDOTE.}

2. Optional (History):

I improved my score from 205(2020) to 276(2021) and 263(2022). My basic tips for history are:

i. Sources: Followed Balyan Sir Notes, and filled gaps by properly doing last 10 year PYQs. For maps, I followed Self-study history and Nandini Maharaj Mam’s notes.

ii. Revision: I had limited sources, but I had revised them so many times that I had a very good grasp on my notes.

iii. Answer writing: History questions can be complex and vague at times, thus proper answer writing practice and PYQ assessment helps you prepare for that.

5. Interview:

I had scored 135 marks in my interview in 2021. I was heartbroken and gradually started to doubt my suitability for civil services. But luckily, I was able to improve my score to 190 this year, and the following strategies helped me:

i. Improving awareness: I read 2 newspapers (The Indian Express and The Times of India), held discussions with my peers and seniors on current affairs and started to think about issues of national- international relevance. These activities helped me become more aware of my surroundings.

ii. Improving communication: Mirror talk (standing in front of the mirror and communicating with oneself) and increased interactions with people around me helped me in this regard. I also watched topper mock interviews to learn from their communication skills.

iii. Simulation: I simulated the interview room by taking printouts of images of UPSC members and sticking them to walls around me. I then sat on a chair in the middle and simulated a half hour interview. Exercises like this helped me be more relaxed and better prepared for the actual interview.

iv. Know yourself: Your Detailed Application Form (DAF) contains all relevant information concerning you, and provides fodder to the interview board for asking questions. Fill the DAF very carefully and honestly. After this, research your DAF thoroughly. You must know yourself inside and out to be really confident about your DAF. Exercises like meditation and journaling can help in this regard.

In the end, I would like to remind the readers that I used the terms ‘lucky/luckily’ multiple times. The simple reason is this: I believe that hard work can take you the distance, but luck also has a role to play in your success. This holds true especially in an exam where the success rate is incredibly low. Therefore my advice to all fellow UPSC aspirants is to keep working hard and stay patient. You may or may not succeed, but if you stay committed to the process, you will definitely improve as a person. And there is no bigger success than being better than your older self.