Anu beniwal (AIR-217, CSE-21) UPSC Journey & Strategy

Anu Beniwal's Journey to Success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination

Anu Beniwal, a resident of Pitampura, Delhi, has emerged as a remarkable achiever in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. With an impressive background in physics, including a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics Honors from Hindu College, Delhi University, Anu has also been involved in research work in nanoscience. However, her true passion lies in the realm of civil services, and she has dedicated herself to this pursuit with unwavering determination.

Anu's UPSC Preparation Journey

Anu's journey with the UPSC Civil Services Examination began in 2018, after a period of personal circumstances that had initially delayed her preparation. She recounts her first attempt in 2018, where she wasted the opportunity by appearing for the exam without proper preparation. Anu strongly advises against this approach, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation before attempting the exam.

Despite the initial setback, Anu remained resolute in her goal. In 2019, she cleared the Preliminary Examination but faltered at the Mains stage, primarily due to her performance in the Geography optional subject, where she scored only 211 marks.

The year 2020 proved to be a turning point for Anu, as she cleared the entire examination process with a rank of 638 and was allocated the DANIPS service. Recognizing the value of continuous improvement, Anu decided to take another shot at the exam in 2021, and this time, she achieved the remarkable feat of securing an All India Rank of 217.

Anu's Preparation Strategy

Anu firmly believes that beyond mere hard work and dedication, the key to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination lies in narrowing down to qualitative material, practicing it multiple times, and obtaining a proper assessment of the practice papers.

Essay Preparation

In her essay preparation, Anu made a remarkable journey, improving her scores from 119 to 126 and finally to 135 in the 2021 attempt. She utilized various resources, including internet searches, newspapers, and compiling quotes, news reports, stories, and real-life incidents to enhance the content of her essays. Anu also emphasized the addition of emotional and ethical dimensions to her essays, which she believes was a contributing factor to her success.

GS Papers

Anu's performance in the GS papers saw a significant improvement, with a gain of 57 marks in the 2021 attempt compared to 2020. She scored a total of 413 marks in the GS papers. Anu attributes this improvement to a change in her answer-writing technique, moving away from dense answers to more concise and time-managed responses.

Optional Subject: Geography

Anu's optional subject, Geography, is known for its challenging nature. In her consecutive Mains attempts, she scored 211, 248, and 244 marks in this subject. In her final attempt, Anu faced some health challenges after the GS exams, which she believes affected her performance in Geography Paper 2, where the first three questions were left blank, costing her 40 marks. Anu's strategy in the last two attempts was to create her own notes from standard books and enrich them with coaching material, while also learning answer-writing techniques from Sachin sir's Masterstroke program of geography test series.

Anu's Message to Aspirants

Anu's journey is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a positive mindset. She encourages fellow aspirants, stating, "If you're hardworking and dedicated, then there's light at the end of this tunnel. Stay hopeful! Keep writing! Keep improving! All the best!"

Anu expresses her sincere gratitude to Mudit Jain, the IRS officer and author, for his motivation and guidance in sharing her preparation journey and strategy. Anu's story serves as an inspiration to all those who aspire to excel in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.