Anirudha Pandey, AIR-64 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains & Essay

Anirudha Pandey's Journey to Achieve AIR 64 in UPSC CSE 2022

Anirudha Pandey, a civil engineering graduate from MNNIT Prayagraj, has achieved the remarkable feat of securing AIR 64 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. This was his fourth attempt, and he has shared his comprehensive strategy for the Prelims, Mains, and Essay components of the exam.

Introduction

Anirudha's UPSC journey began in 2018, and he has faced his fair share of ups and downs. In his first attempt in 2019, he could not clear the Prelims, and in 2020 and 2021, he was unable to clear the Mains. However, 2022 proved to be Anirudha's breakthrough year, as he not only cleared the Mains but also performed exceptionally well in the Interview, ultimately securing AIR 64.

Anirudha's optional subject for the exam was Political Science and International Relations (PSIR), and he scored 295 marks in this paper. His strategy for PSIR involved thoroughly studying and memorizing Shubhra Ranjan ma'am's class notes, and then further enhancing his knowledge by referring to Utkarsh Dwivedi sir's blog and test series solutions.

Prelims Strategy

Anirudha's Prelims preparation was built on a strong foundation of static knowledge. He relied heavily on NCERTs, standard textbooks, and other recommended resources to cover the various subjects:

Polity

• Laxmikant's book on Indian Polity

History

• Modern History: Spectrum publication
• Ancient History: Short notes from R.S. Sharma's book
• Medieval History: Short notes from Satish Chandra's book

Economy

• Macroeconomics NCERT
• Sriram IAS printed material

Ecology

• Short notes from Shankar IAS book
• Last three chapters of 12th class Biology NCERT

Geography

• Class 11th and 12th NCERTs

Art and Culture

• Fine Arts NCERT
• Selective reading of Nitin Singhania's book

Science and Technology

• Handwritten notes from Vajiram and Ravi, along with Class 6th to 10th NCERTs

In addition to the static preparation, Anirudha also focused on current affairs by reading the newspaper daily for 1-1.5 hours and revising PT 365 twice before the exam. He also thoroughly studied and revised the Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from the last 5 years, exploring in-depth the rationale behind the correct and incorrect options.

Anirudha also emphasized the importance of practicing test series, solving around 30-40 tests before the Prelims to refine his elimination skills. He also paid attention to the CSAT, which has become increasingly challenging in recent years, by practicing PYQs and time-bound tests.

Mains Strategy

Anirudha's Mains strategy centered around developing strong answer-writing skills and building comprehensive content knowledge.

Answer Writing

• Anirudha could not practice daily answer writing, but he relied on giving weekly tests.
• He also analyzed toppers' copies to learn effective structuring techniques and content.
• He gave around 16 GS tests and 5 essay tests between the Prelims and Mains.
• While writing answers, he followed a points-and-subheadings format, using definitions or facts in the introduction and conclusions with relevant slogans or quotes.
• In the body, he aimed to include at least 10 points for 10-mark questions and 15 points for 15-mark questions.
• He also made use of diagrams and maps to enhance the presentation of his answers.

Content

• Anirudha prepared 2-3 page notes for each topic in all four GS papers, drawing from various resources such as Vision IAS value-added material, Google searches, and PYQ solutions.

Essay Strategy

Anirudha's essay marks fluctuated from 120 in 2020 to 105 in 2021 and 116 in 2022. His key suggestions for the essay component are:

• Prepare templates for the introduction and conclusion beforehand.
• Aim to write a multi-dimensional essay rather than elaborating on a few good dimensions in detail.
• Practice a few essays before the exam, but avoid excessive practice, which can make the essay mechanical and reduce originality.
• Judiciously use quotes, examples, and facts to add value to the essay without overdoing it.

Anirudha's journey to UPSC success showcases his dedication, strategic approach, and the importance of a well-rounded preparation. His experiences and insights can serve as valuable guidance for aspiring civil servants.