Apoorv Balpande (CSE-23 AIR-546) Philosophy & Comprehensive Strategy

Experiences and Strategies of an UPSC CSE Aspirant: A Deep Dive

Aspirants often look for guidance and insights from those who have successfully navigated the challenging path of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). In this blog, we delve into the experiences and strategies of one such aspirant, Apoorv Balpande, who secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 546 in the UPSC CSE 2023.

About Apoorv Balpande

Apoorv Balpande, a native of Nagpur, is a mechanical engineering graduate who made his way into the civil services after a series of attempts and lessons learned. His journey spanned five attempts and two interviews, ultimately leading to his success in the 2023 UPSC CSE. Balpande shares his strategies and mistakes to provide valuable insights for aspiring candidates.

You can contact Apoorv on Instagram.

Mistakes to Avoid

Aspirants often make several mistakes during their preparation. Balpande highlights several key errors:

• Insufficient Test Preparation: In his first attempt, Balpande focused solely on reading books without attempting to analyze previous year's questions (PYQs) or solve adequate mock tests. This lack of practical preparation led to poor performance.
• Ignoring CSAT: Balpande ignored the Common Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), which cost him a year. He emphasizes that no aspect of the exam can be taken lightly, as even one mistake can delay progress significantly.
• Choosing Ineffective Study Materials: Reading coaching material instead of basic books cost Balpande marks in the preliminary examination. He advises aspirants to stick to reliable sources.

How to Begin Your Preparation

Aspirants should start by analyzing the strategies of successful toppers and identifying common points that can be applied to their own preparation. Balpande suggests the following steps:

Prelims Strategy

Balpande's prelims strategy revolved around three key elements:

1. Reading Basic Books: Aspirants should read and revise basic books multiple times to consolidate their knowledge. Balpande recommends the following books for the preliminary exam:

   • Polity: Laxmikant
   • Economy: Sriram IAS book and Vajiram class notes
   • Modern History: Spectrum and NCERT themes
   • Ancient and Medieval: Old NCERT and NCERT themes
   • Arts and Culture: Fine arts NCERT and notes from Nitin Singhania
   • Environment: Four chapters from the 12th biology NCERT and Shankar IAS
   • Science: Vajiram class notes
   • Geography: 11th and 12th NCERTs, Vajiram class notes, and GC Leong climate part
   • Current Affairs: Daily The Hindu newspaper and Vision IAS monthly

2. PYQ Analysis: Aspirants should analyze where questions are being asked in each subject to narrow down their preparation to core topics. Regularly solving PYQs for 30 minutes daily can help improve prelims marks.

3. Test Series: Participating in test series helps improve time management and provides additional information for the exam. Balpande recommends solving tests from Digicate IAS (following UPSC pattern) and Vision IAS.

Mains Strategy

Balpande's strategy for the mains exam included several crucial elements:

1. Analyzing Toppers' Answers: Analyzing how toppers write their answers, especially those of AIR 1, 2, and 3, can provide valuable insights into answer writing. Aspirants should study the vocabulary and structuring of answers from toppers like Shruti Sharma and Ishita Kishore Ma’am.

2. Reading Notes: Reading notes from various toppers can be beneficial. Balpande used Rushikesh Reddy sir’s notes for General Studies (GS).

3. Answer Writing: Regular answer writing is essential for the mains exam. Balpande joined an answer writing course by V.V. Patil sir, which provided crucial feedback and led to significant improvement in his answers.

4. Tests: Joining test series from reliable institutions can help aspirants prepare for the rigor of the mains exam. Balpande recommends not taking test marks too seriously, as institutions often give average marks. The focus should be on feedback and improving performance.

5. Value Addition: Including maps, diagrams, examples, and data can boost marks. Aspirants should draw from their knowledge of newspapers, articles, and other sources.

6. Optional Subject: Balpande chose philosophy as his optional subject and joined Enlite IAS academy for guidance and regular feedback. His mentors' support and the academy's reading material were crucial to his success.

Conclusion

Balpande's journey to securing AIR 546 in the UPSC CSE 2023 was marked by both challenges and successes. By learning from his mistakes and adopting effective strategies, aspirants can navigate their own preparation journeys more effectively. Balpande's insights provide a comprehensive guide for those aiming to succeed in the civil services examination.