Amit Gupta, AIR-246 CSE-22 Detailed Strategy

UPSC Journey of Amit Gupta

Amit Gupta, hailing from Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, is here to share his 'Aatmnirbhar Journey' towards cracking the UPSC, UPPSC, and BPSC exams through self-study. This is the 45th Topper Journey & Strategy post from the Batch of 2023.

UPSC: The Hard Work

Success in the brutal battlefield of UPSC comes when all the vertices of 'The Success Triangle' align. The first two vertices are the basic pillars - 'The Hard Work' and 'The Smart Work'. 'The Hard Work' is all about intense, dedicated efforts with discipline and perseverance. Across the country, aspirants are burning the midnight oil, driven by the hope, belief, and dream of entering the 'Holy PDF' of the final selection list.

UPSC: The Smart Work

The UPSC Prelims stage, where more than 97% of the admit cards get filtered out, is where 'The Smart Work' comes into play. Aspirants need to keep track of the current trends, analyze their mistakes, fill up their gap areas, and constantly work on improving their content and strategy to cater to the ever-evolving demands of the UPSC exam. Parivartan, or change, is the only constant in the UPSC journey. Toppers rely on understanding, fundebaazi, intelligent guessing, and daring gut feelings to navigate the tricky waters of the Prelims.

The UPSC Mains exam requires aspirants to constantly work on their essay, GS, and optional subject answers, aligning their writing style with that of the UPSC toppers. The task is to address the demand of the question, structure the answer with an introduction, body, and conclusion, and enrich it with data, facts, figures, diagrams, and other relevant information.

UPSC: The Luck Factor

The third vertex of 'The Success Triangle' is 'Luck'. When 'The Hard Work,' 'The Smart Work,' and 'Luck' come together, an aspirant lands in the 'Holy PDF' in this nation of cut-throat competitive exams. While luck is not a commodity that can be purchased, perseverance and self-belief are the keys to keeping the fire alive in this UPSC journey.

UPSC: The Coaching Saga

For those who can afford coaching and accommodation in the UPSC hubs, it can make the path easier. However, the amount of effort put in on the study table is what ultimately matters. Coaching has its pros and cons - the cost, the efficiency of the faculty, the time for self-study, and the potential distractions. Thanks to the techade, self-study can also be done effectively with the wealth of resources available on the internet.

UPSC: Navigating the Financial Angle

Financial stability is a crucial factor in the UPSC journey, as the nature of these exams is such that they run for an entire year. Amit Gupta had to make a tough choice between spending his limited savings on coaching or managing his expenses for 4-5 years in case his UPSC attempts exceeded 1 or 2. He decided to leave his job and focus on self-study, which proved to be a challenging but rewarding decision.

UPSC: Navigating My Journey

Amit Gupta's UPSC journey was marked by a mix of ups and downs. He faced multiple failures in the UPSC Prelims and Mains before finally cracking the exam in his 5th attempt. The PCS exams served as a backup option, and he even secured positions in UPPSC and BPSC. However, his true calling was the UPSC, and the failures only strengthened his resolve. With the support of his friends, he persevered and ultimately made it to the 'Holy PDF' of the UPSC CSE 2022 after a long struggle of 6 years, 22 days, and 13.5 hours.

UPSC: The Final 'BABA' Gyan

Amit Gupta shares his final insights and advice for UPSC aspirants. He emphasizes the importance of analyzing one's mistakes, working on gap areas, and having a backup option like state PCS exams. He also acknowledges that UPSC preparation is not the be-all and end-all, and that there are alternative paths that can lead to fulfilling and happy lives. Ultimately, the key is to stay motivated, persistent, and grounded, no matter the outcome.