Khushhali Solanki (CSE-23 AIR-61) Journey & Strategy

Hi Everyone ! I’m Khushhali Solanki (AIR-61, CSE 2023)

Background and Journey: I’ve done Btech in Civil Engineering from NIT SURAT. I’ve always dreamed of joining civil services since I saw my Mother working very closely with DMs, going to the village visits, listening to their experience etc. When I heard about my Mom’s experience of village visits, I decided to explore the same. And there it began! I was inspired by the dedication, and enthusiasm of our DMs, their method of conducting Jan Sunwais, and a zeal to become ‘My Man’ (my person) for the people standing last in societal hierarchy.

I opted for Civil Engineering since my family (including my Mother, Father and Brother are Civil Engineers), and when you are opting for something, then you gotta do it from best of institutes. Thats why I gave IITJEE exam too, and was fortunate to get NIT SURAT. Although my dream was to go IIT BOMBAY, but I guess it was coming towards me automatically. It was by chance that NIT SURAT has a program wherein top 5 candidates (in Btech) gets a chance to study Final year from IIT Bombay with Mtech (in Civil engg). I was a lucky one to be in top 5 in my batch. However, by that time covid struck and we all were bought back to home. So it was now, in my third year that I decided to start the preparation right away.

You can contact her on Telegram

I started online coaching, and used to watch the videos for 10-12 hours, since the subjects were very interesting. I was completely immersed into UPSC preparation (alongside my college studies) that I forgot my IIT B dream. So When I was given the option of going to IITB, what did I do? Yes! the unthinkable! I chose UPSC preparation (an uncertain exam) over a very certain career (MTECH from Prestigious and my dream institute).

I gave my first attempt in 2021, just 2 months after my final year exams. I couldn’t clear prelims, and missed it by 4-5 marks. Everybody tried to console me by saying that no worries, its just your first attempt. But it was only me, who knew what all I have sacrificed for this exam. Nevertheless, its life! and I accepted it. I then analysed what were my fault lines and worked on it. I never gave any mock test in 2021 attempt and that was my biggest mistake. It took me half hour to even fill the OMR sheet (last time I had filled it when I gave IIT JEE). I didnt have any strategy for attempting questions.

Neither Let CSAT Ruin Your Prelims Nor Read 900+ Pages for 66 Marks! DECODE CSAT IN 280 PAGES!!

Thats why in my 2nd attempt, I gave 100 mock tests of different institutes. By this I was able to analyse my sweet spot for attending number of questions. I never went below 50:50 answers because they always earned me negative marks. I gave my brain a good simulation of exam stress by attempting the mock tests in exact time (9:30 to 11:30 am) without fail. Therefore, by God’s grace, I was able to clear Prelims with good score in 2022. Then came the Mains examination. I thought that the same strategy of giving so many mocks would work in mains too. However I was wrong, since in Mains, the mock answers require more analysis and improvement over our previous version. I was merely writing 50-60 mocks without analysing it in detail. So the result was simple (though I cleared mains but only with 5 marks margin). I was very happy since the marks were not known to me and there I begin my interview preparation. I read 3 newspapers daily (The Hindu, Indian Express, Economic Times) and read everything about my home state, college, civil engineering, hobbies etc. I was able to have a good score of 184. But alas, my dreams were shattered when I didnt find my name in the pdf, which was released on 23rd May 2023. And guess what – just 5 days from this date i.e., 28th may was the prelims 2023. I wasnt ready to give the paper, but due to parents support and friends’ help (in motivating me and bringing me back from depressive stage) I gave the exam and cleared it. Then begin my mains preparation once again, and this time I was fortunate enough to have joined MMP (mains masterstroke program which is a free initiative of daily answer writing) which helped me improve my marks a lot. I joined different coaching for essay and ethics too and therefore my marks in ethics jumped from 100 to 136.

This was my journey of 4 years hardwork and 3 attempts, with 2 interviews and 2 mains.

Join here for free UPSC guidance from Mudit Jain, IPS-15, IPS-16, IRS-18, Author of Decode CSAT, Decode Essay, 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

Find PDFs of All Decode Series Books Here

How and when to start preparation – I think, one can begin the preparation in final year of college itself so that they can give their first attempt right after college ends.

Timetable – Initially, I studied for 10-12 hours daily, when the subjects were new to me and I found them interesting. But once, when course was done, and only revision phase begin, I studied for 6-8 hours daily. Since I’m a night owl, it was difficult for me to avoid sleeping in afternoon (you can avoid afternoon sleep 1 month before exam – since exam timings are in afternoon too).

Prelims Books, CSAT Strategy, Mains Books, Optional Strategy and Books

Sources For Public Administration

Coaching

Unacademy – Grajput Sir’s Course (2020)+ Rakesh Verma Sir’s Course (2021)+ Pavan Kumar Sir’s course (2022-when he used to be on Unacademy + read his notes)
Some Free classes of Lukmaan ias – Ansari Sir
Mains Crash Course at Prodegy Ias (2023) – Ashutosh Sir
Pubadpedia by rahul sir ( for current affairs)

Test Series

Lukmaan IAS – 2021 and 2022 (their model answers helped in making notes)
Pavan Kumar IAS academy – 2022 and 2023
Unacademy – Daily answer writing practice by grajput sir (2022)
Officers IAS Academy (Deepuk Sir) – Daily Answer writing Course
GS score – Abhishek Saxena Sir – daily answer writing course (joined this channel – although couldn’t participate much)

Material / Books

Coaching notes as mentioned above
Prasad and Prasad for thinkersRadhabinod Aribam Sir’s book (both paper 1 and paper 2)
Mohit Bhattacharya (read it once)
Model Answer book by SS mohanty sir (this was a gem!)

Sources and Coaching for GS

Foundation course – Unacademy (online) from 2020 january till 2022 january

Within Unacademy –

1. Ancient History – Pratik Nayak Sir (2020 and 2021) and Arti Chawwari Mam (2020)

Books – RS sharma (didnt read NCERT)

2. Medieval History – Pratik nayak Sir Notes (2021, 2022)

Books – didnt read any

3. Modern History – Pratik Nayak Sir Notes (2021)

Books – Spectrum

4. Art and Culture – Pratik nayak Sir’s notes (2020)

Books – didnt read (Took help from Mehak Jain mam notes)

5. Polity – foundation course from Siddharth Arora sir on unacademy (2020) + Rakesh Verma sir polity and governance course (2021)

Books – Laxmikanth 6th edition + Ncert

6. Geography – including Indian/World/Mapping – Sudarshan Gurjar Sir course on Unacademy (2021)+ Rakesh Verma sir course on unacademy of GEDM (Geo/Env/Disaster Mgt)

Books – Few chapters from GC Leong + Ncert

7. Environment – Rakesh verma sir course GEDM (2021) + Sudarshan Gurjar sir course (including mapping of national parks/sanctuaries etc – 2022)

Books – selected chapters from ShankarIAS book

8. Internal Security – Rakesh verma Sir course on unacademy (2021-22)

9. International relations – Rakesh verma sir course (2021-22)

Books – Read few months ‘the Diplomat’ magazine

10. Ethics – Rakesh Verma sir foundation course (2020) + Value Addition course for mains by Peeyush Sir on TheIAShub(2023)

11. Essay – Peeyush Sir Essay course on KalamIAS (in 2022) and TheIAShub(2023)

12. Science and technology – Rakesh verma Sir course (2021-22)

13. Economy – Mrunal patel Sir Course on unacademy (2020-21) + Rakesh Verma sir course (2021-22) + Special classes of Mrunal Patel sir.

14. Society – Newspapers + mehak jain mam notes

Current Affairs –

1. VisionIas monthly magazine

2. Newspapers – ET, Indian Express, TheHindu

3. IGP classes of Dipin Sir at ForumIAS

4. Critical issues classes – rakesh verma sir

Note making or not – I used to make notes extensively in typed and handwritten format. In my view, if notes are written by oneself, it helps in quick recall and revision just before the exam day.

Role of PYQs in prelims-mains – PYQs play a very important role in this whole journey. In prelims, it helps us to analyse what type of questions are asked, in what depth, and which topic is more focussed, etc. Similarly in mains, it helps to gauge the demand of UPSC, and may a times, few questions are repeated.

Revision strategy – I had revised entire syllabus 15-20 times in this 4 year long journey. I made my own notes and then used a highlighter to mark very important lines which I used to read before the exam.

How to attempt pre? – now the pattern for prelims has changed quite a lot. the elimination technique on which we used to play with earlier, doesnt seem to work now. The type of options require indepth understanding of the subject. Thats why I think, one should find a sweet spot of attempting the number of questions (for me it was around 85 – If I went above 85 questions, then surely that would earn me more negative marks). First attempt only the sure shot questions and fill the OMR right away. Then in the second reading, attend the 90%/80% sure questions and fill the OMR. then in third reading, so for 50:50 or below (if you wish to do so).

How and which tests to practice – There are ample test series available on telegram channels, can do any test series. But select atleast 3-4 institutes rather than sticking on just one. By this, you’ll get diversity in questions

Answer writing strategy, Optional strategy and my Notes

CSE-23 Topper Strategies:

1) Medha Anand AIR-13 Socio + Comprehensive

2) Romel Bijalwan AIR-353 Anthro + Comprehensive

3) Samiksha Mhetre AIR-302 Comprehensive

4) Aditya Hriday Upadhyay AIR-416 Maths + Comprehensive

5) Prerna Singh AIR-271 Journey + Learnings + Comprehensive

6) Abhinav Jain AIR-35 Journey + Comprehensive

7) KN Chandana Jahnavi AIR-50 3/3 Selections + Socio + Comprehensive

8) Rohit Sattawan AIR-997 Prelims & Mains Booklist + FAQs

9) Dr. Subhadharshini AIR-83 Motivational Journey + FAQs

10) Megha Dinesh AIR-268 Sociology + Comprehensive Strategy