Anjali Shrotriya (AIR-44, CSE-21) Prelims & Mains Strategy

Anjali Shrotriya's Journey to CSE-21 AIR-44

Introduction

Anjali Shrotriya, hailing from Indore, has achieved an impressive feat by securing Rank 44 in the UPSC CSE-21 exam. This achievement marks her fourth attempt and second interview at UPSC. Her strategy, as described below, provides valuable insights into the preparation process for the civil services exam.

Prelims Strategy

The Art of Clearing Prelims

Anjali underscores the importance of revising and previous year questions (PYQs) in clearing the prelims. She believes that prelims require not just knowledge but also the ability to stay calm and composed. Her experience with prelims, which she initially found challenging, underscores the need for consistency and the right approach.

Limited Sources and Systematic Revision

Anjali emphasizes the importance of keeping sources limited to avoid confusion. She made extensive use of the Laxmikant book for Polity and Spectrum for Modern Indian History, while also utilizing NCERTs for supplementary reading. Her approach involved making concise notes and revising them multiple times to ensure better recall.

Test Series and Current Affairs

She subscribed to various test series like Forum IAS, Vision IAS, and IASBABA to maintain discipline and ensure a wide range of questions. Her regular practice of Current Affairs through newspapers and monthly magazines helped her stay updated and prepared for any topic that could come up.

Key Strategies for Success

• Revision: She emphasizes the importance of thorough revision, suggesting at least 10 times for all sources.
• Previous Year Questions (PYQ): Anjali solved all PYQs from 2013 to 2020 and analyzed each option, making notes for better understanding.
• Test Series: She practiced various FLTs (Full Length Tests) to improve speed and accuracy.

Mains Strategy

Importance of Mains

Anjali stresses that the Mains phase is crucial as it determines your selection. She advises starting preparation for Mains right after the Prelims results, especially in the first month, to get into the Mains mode.

Preparation and Revisions

She prepared detailed notes for each important topic and practiced writing answers for PYQs. Her strategy involved solving PYQs diligently and making frameworks for answers. She also used diagrams and schematics to make her answers more appealing.

Breaking the Question

She recommends breaking down questions into sub-categories and answering each part systematically. This approach not only helps in organizing thoughts but also makes it easier for the examiner to evaluate the answers.

Key Components of Preparation

• Introduction and Conclusions: She prepared introductory and concluding statements for important topics to save time during the exam.
• Diagrams and Schematics: Including diagrams and flowcharts in answers enhances the visual appeal and clarity.
• Keywords: Understanding the meaning of keywords mentioned in questions is crucial for accurate answers.
• Focus on Revising: She emphasizes the importance of thorough revision to ensure that all information is well-recalled during the exam.

Specific Preparation for GS Papers

GS1

Anjali focused on Art and Culture; Modern History; Geography; Society; and World History. She used various sources like books by Nitin Singhania and Spectrum, and NCERTs for additional reading. Her notes included diagrams and examples to aid better understanding.

GS2

For GS2, she focused on static parts and prepared detailed notes on topics like Polity, Governance and Social Justice, and International Relations. She referred to Mains 365 for dynamic topics and included reports and committees for value addition.

GS3

Anjali's preparation for GS3 included Economy, Agriculture, Security, Ecology and Environment, Disaster Management, and Science and Technology. She used Mains 365 for Current Affairs and prepared lists of disasters and committees.

GS4

Her strategy for Ethics included preparing a list of key terms, examples, and quotes related to each term. She referred to various ethics books and practice solutions to improve her answers.

Conclusion

Anjali's journey to CSE-21 AIR-44 is a testament to her dedication, strategy, and hard work. Her preparation techniques, including revision, PYQs, test series, and systematic note-taking, have proven effective. By focusing on these key areas, aspirants can learn from Anjali's experience and improve their own preparation for the civil services exam.