Anjali Shrotriya (AIR-44, CSE-21) Geography Strategy

Anjali Shrotriya, a determined aspirant from the city of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has secured the impressive rank of AIR-44 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021, with Geography as her optional subject. This was Anjali's fourth attempt, and she had faced the UPSC interview process twice before. Her consistent hard work and strategic approach have been the driving forces behind her success.

Anjali's Journey Towards UPSC

Anjali's journey with the UPSC examination began with her first attempt in 2018. Although she could not clear the preliminary stage in her initial attempts, she remained undeterred and continued her preparations with unwavering focus. In the 2021 examination, her hard work and dedication paid off as she secured a remarkable rank of AIR-44, with impressive scores of 263 in 2020 and 276 in 2021 in the Geography optional.

Anjali's Geography Strategy

Anjali's decision to choose Geography as her optional subject was based on several factors. She found the subject to be science-backed, with less emphasis on rote memorization and more on understanding. Additionally, Anjali's strength in drawing maps and diagrams made her believe that Geography would be a suitable choice. As she progressed in her preparations, Anjali's initial perception evolved, and she ultimately fell in love with the subject.

Booklist and Sources

Anjali's booklist for Paper-I of the Geography optional included Savinder Singh's works on Geomorphology, Oceanography, and Biogeography/Environmental Geography, D.K. Lal's Climatology, and R.D. Dixit's and Majid Hussain's books on Perspectives. For Paper-II, she primarily referred to the comprehensive work by Dr. Khullar and R.C. Tiwari.

Answer Writing Strategies

Anjali followed a specific format for her Geography answers, which included an introduction, a diagram/flowchart/schema, a detailed body addressing each subpart, and a conclusion. She emphasized the importance of incorporating diagrams and maps in her answers, as they are the "heart of Geography." Anjali made sure to include relevant human geography aspects in her answers, recognizing the myth that a greater focus on human geography would yield higher marks.

Anjali also stressed the importance of following the GEBCO-PRAIT CSPR (Pratham Sir) mnemonic to ensure comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. She also prepared short notes for each unit of the Geography syllabus, which helped her in the revision process.

Importance of Memorization and PYQs

Anjali understood the significance of memorization in the UPSC examination, particularly for the Geography optional. She emphasized the importance of revising each topic at least ten times before the Mains examination. Additionally, Anjali and her group of friends extensively practiced and discussed previous year questions (PYQs) in Geography, which helped them understand the pattern of questions and prepare accordingly.

Current Affairs and Toppers' Answer Copies

Anjali relied on magazines like Down to Earth and Geography and You to enrich her answers with current affairs content. She also found Mains 365 helpful for environmental and ecological topics. Anjali also made use of toppers' answer copies, including those of Ajay Jain (Rank 12) and Mudit Jain, to gather valuable insights and improve her own answer writing.

Coaching and Guidance

Anjali benefited from the guidance and support of several experienced and renowned teachers throughout her UPSC preparation journey. She credits Shabbir Sir, Sachin Arora Sir, Atyab Ali Sir (IASBABA), Himanshu Sir, and Shankar IAS's Karthikeyan Sir for their invaluable contributions.

Anjali also expressed her gratitude to Mudit Jain, an ex-IPS and IRS officer, whose blog provided her with essential resources, such as Pratham Kaushik's geography strategy and Mudit Jain's own notes and test copies. Additionally, Satyam Choudhary, an IRS officer from the 2020 batch, was a constant source of support, helping Anjali with her answer writing and providing valuable perspectives.

Overcoming Challenges and Perceptions

Anjali faced the common perception that the Geography optional is not as rewarding in terms of marks. However, she was determined to prove this notion wrong. She believed that with the right strategy and approach, one can score well in Geography as well. Anjali's impressive scores of 263 in 2020 and 276 in 2021 are a testament to her success in this regard.

Anjali's Advice and Guidance

Anjali has created a Telegram channel where she plans to share her answers and notes on Geography, aiming to help other UPSC aspirants. She encourages them to explore the subject with an open mind and not be deterred by the prevailing perceptions.

Anjali's journey serves as an inspiration to all UPSC aspirants, showcasing the power of perseverance, strategic planning, and a willingness to learn from diverse sources. Her success story highlights the importance of a comprehensive and innovative approach to the UPSC examination, particularly in the Geography optional.