Aaditya Sharma, AIR-70 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains, Medical Science & More

Introduction

Dr. Aaditya Sharma, a young and ambitious individual, has achieved remarkable success in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 70. His journey and strategies have been the subject of great interest, as he managed to crack the prestigious exam in his very first attempt. This accomplishment is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and unwavering determination.

Aaditya's journey began during his third year of medical college, where he balanced his MBBS studies with UPSC preparation. Despite the challenges of juggling multiple commitments, he remained focused and disciplined, ultimately emerging as a top performer in the CSE 2022 examinations.

Prelims Strategy

Aaditya's approach to the Preliminary examination (Prelims) was multifaceted. He placed a strong emphasis on static content, thoroughly reading and re-reading standard books like Spectrum and Laxmikant. He recognized the importance of environmental topics, dedicating considerable time to mastering this subject area.

For current affairs, Aaditya relied on PT 365 for Economy and Environment, acknowledging that keeping up with the daily newspaper was a challenging task. Instead, he focused on learning the introductory, body, and conclusion format, which he found more valuable than making detailed notes.

To address his own areas of weakness, Aaditya made personalized notes on topics such as socio-religious reform movements, tribal and peasant revolts, and constitutional and non-constitutional bodies. He believed that this customized approach helped him better understand and retain the information.

Aaditya's strategy for the Prelims paper itself was to attempt all 100 questions, a method that had worked well for him in practice tests and mock exams. While he did not dedicate much time to CSAT preparation, as he was consistently scoring well in this section, the actual CSAT paper turned out to be more challenging than expected, and he scored 100 marks.

Aaditya emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and being open-minded during the Prelims exam. He believed that the increasing difficulty of the Prelims paper was an advantage for new players, as it required a keen observation of the world around them and the application of common sense to solve seemingly difficult questions.

Essay Strategy

For the Essay paper, Aaditya relied on the guidance provided by Anudeep Durishetty, a previous UPSC topper. Anudeep's blog had offered valuable insights and templates for technical essays on topics like health and education.

However, as the essay questions in recent years have become more philosophical in nature, Aaditya decided to focus on writing a philosophical essay. He started each essay with an anecdote and then explored multiple dimensions using the PESTGEM (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Geographical, Environmental, and Moral) approach. Aaditya ensured that the ending line of each paragraph hinted at the beginning of the next one, creating a seamless flow.

In the final exam, Aaditya wrote an essay on the topic "The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining." He used the story of Survinder, a resident of Fazilka, to illustrate his point. Survinder, worried about the potential impact of floods in Pakistan, proactively organized a local community initiative called "My village, my forest" to grow trees using the Miyawaki technique. Aaditya then analyzed the various dimensions of this approach, highlighting both the pros and cons. Towards the end of the essay, he included a short four-line poem, showcasing his creativity. Aaditya's essay efforts paid off, as he was awarded 130 marks, a commendable score in the current year's standards.

Mains Strategy

Aaditya's approach to the Mains examination was strategic and well-planned. He dedicated the period between the Prelims and Mains exams to intensive preparation, with the bulk of his answer-writing work done during this time.

For the General Studies (GS) papers, Aaditya followed a structured routine. He began by solving previous year question papers (PYQs) for the last two years (2020 and 2021), checking the model answers online and studying the toppers' copies to incorporate their styles and techniques. On weekends, he gave mock tests at the Vision Institute and carefully reviewed the solutions.

Aaditya followed a similar approach for GS2, GS3, and GS4, with GS4 receiving slightly more attention as he had initially struggled with it. He also took MK Yadav's QEP (Question Evaluation Program), which he found highly beneficial for improving his GS3 answer-writing skills.

By the end of this process, Aaditya had solved four sets of GS papers, which he read through multiple times. He then took the Abhyaas test series, further refining his answers and developing the confidence to attempt questions even if he did not know the complete subject matter.

Aaditya's focus on presentation was a key aspect of his Mains strategy. He incorporated various visual aids, such as maps, diagrams, flow charts, and micro-diagrams, to enhance the clarity and impact of his answers. He also made it a point to divide the questions into sub-parts and provide comprehensive responses.

Optional Strategy

Aaditya's optional subject was Medical Science, a vast and challenging field. Given the limited time he had, he decided to focus on the syllabus and PYQs, which he believed was the most effective approach for this optional.

Aaditya rapidly made concise notes and marked important points directly in the books to save time. He utilized various standard textbooks and resources, such as BDC for Anatomy, Ak Jain and UPSC Medico Notes for Physiology, Satyanarayan and online resources for Biochemistry, and Shanbhag and Shenoy for Pharmacology.

For other subjects within Medical Science, Aaditya relied on specific resources, such as Ananthanarayan for Microbiology (focusing on only 9 organisms), Upsc Medico Notes for Forensic Medicine, Harsh Mohan and Upsc Medico Notes for Pathology, and Mathews and Upsc Medico Notes for Medicine.

While Aaditya performed well in Paper 1 of the Medical Science optional, he felt he could have done better in Paper 2. He secured scores of 130 and 123, respectively, which he found slightly lower than his expectations.

Timetable and Test Series

Aaditya's timetable was heavily skewed during his third year of college, as he attended classes from 9 am to 5 pm and then went to Raj Malhotra's IAS coaching in Chandigarh from 5 pm to 8 pm, leaving him little time for self-study. During this period, he focused on making notes and gaining a general understanding of the UPSC curriculum.

It was during his final year and the beginning of his internship that Aaditya dedicated more time to self-study, ranging from 3 hours on hectic days to 6-7 hours on weekends, with around 10 hours of study per day in the two months leading up to the Prelims exam. He also took occasional breaks to participate in college events and cultural activities, believing that maintaining a balanced lifestyle was important.

For Prelims preparation, Aaditya relied primarily on the Vision test series, giving 15 tests, along with one Forum test and one Vajiram test. He found that taking too many tests made it challenging to thoroughly review the solutions, so he focused on learning from the answers provided.

In the Mains preparation, Aaditya again turned to the Vision test series, giving two tests for each GS paper, followed by the Abhyaas series. His Abhyaas scores were 112 in GS1, 99 in GS2, 79 in GS3, and 89 in GS4, which varied significantly from his final exam scores of 107 in GS1, 120 in GS2, 100 in GS3, and 119 in GS4.

For the Interview stage, Aaditya gave approximately 10 mock interviews, primarily with institutes recommended by experienced UPSC aspirants, such as Unacademy, Chahal, and Chanakya Mandal.

Throughout his journey, Aaditya found the Mudit Jain blog to be a valuable resource, particularly the strategies and optional marks shared by previous toppers, such as Asrar Kichloo.

Aaditya's advice to future UPSC aspirants is to maintain a positive mindset, engage with friends and family, and never lose confidence, as these factors are crucial for success in both the Prelims and Mains examinations.