Scores of candidates prepare and appear for the Civil Services Examination, competing for about a thousand seats every year. If you want to clear the UPSC with cut-throat competition, who can guide you better than previous years’ UPSC toppers themselves?
On Sunday, 25 August, the IAS topper, batch of 2015, Ira Singhal (Rank: 1), batch of 2017, Nandini KR (Rank: 1) and batch of 2018 Anu Kumari (Rank: 2), gave tips to aspirants across the country regarding cracking the examination.
During a programme called ‘Dynamite News UPSC Conclave’, the IAS officers answered many queries put forth by UPSC candidates for about two hours. The event was moderated by former DD News anchor and senior journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash.
‘Pay Attention to Graduation’: Ira Singhal
Ira Singhal, the topper of the 2015 batch, says that it is important for one’s basics to be clear in order to prepare for the IAS examination. One’s grasp of subjects should be strengthened during graduation, which will prove helpful while preparing for the examination. According to Singhal, if one gives the exam in a regional language, one’s use of the language should be impeccable, as no matter what the subject may be, the examiner isn’t lenient about the language and writing. However, if one is giving the exam in English, the examiner might be lenient with respect to grammar.
‘Coaching Not So Important’: Anu Kumari
According to Anu Kumari, the second-ranked topper of the 2018 batch, there is a perception that candidates who don’t enroll in or take the help of coaching institutes will lag behind the others. She says that coaching isn’t very important as everything is available online these days. However, one has to be wholly devoted and dedicated towards the preparation, and have a set goal while preparing for IAS.
‘Trusting Yourself Is Important’: Nandini KR
Nandini KR, the topper of the 2017 batch, believes that while preparing, it is important to trust oneself. She says that after facing failure, candidates stop believing in themselves, whereas, every failure teaches one what one did wrong. One can achieve success by learning from past mistakes.
President Ram Nath Kovind’s secretary and senior IAS officer Sanjay Kothari was also present at the event. He advised the aspirants to focus firmly on their goal like Arjuna.
The ‘Dynamite News UPSC Conclave 2019’ was organised in the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
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