Ayushi Jain, AIR-74 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains, Booklist, Geography & More

Ayushi Jain's Remarkable UPSC Journey: From Setbacks to Sub-100 Ranks

Ayushi Jain's UPSC journey has been one of resilience, determination, and unwavering focus. As a graduate in mechanical engineering from IIITDM Jabalpur, hailing from Dag, Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, Ayushi has faced her fair share of challenges, but her perseverance has led her to achieve remarkable success.

Introduction to Ayushi Jain's UPSC Journey

Ayushi Jain's UPSC journey has spanned a total of five attempts, each marked by its own set of experiences and lessons learned. In her first attempt (CSE 2018), she was unable to clear the preliminary examination. However, she did not let this setback deter her, and in her second attempt, she cleared the mains examination and faced the interview, but was ultimately unable to secure a place in the final list.

Triumph and Setbacks

It was in her third attempt (CSE 2020) that Ayushi Jain achieved her first significant success, securing All India Rank 85. However, in her fourth attempt, she once again faced the challenge of not clearing the preliminary examination. Undeterred, Ayushi persevered, and in her fifth attempt (CSE 2022), she secured an impressive All India Rank 74.

Book List and General Preparation Strategy

Ayushi's preparation strategy involved a comprehensive approach, covering a wide range of subjects. For Polity, she relied on Laxmikanth's work, while for Modern History, she primarily used the NCERT textbooks of class 12, supplemented by Spectrum publication's book. For Ancient History, she combined NCERT resources with Lucent's publications, while for Medieval History, she focused on Lucent's offerings.

In the realm of Environment, Ayushi relied on Shankar IAS's book, and for Economics, she turned to Sriram IAS's material. Geography was tackled using NCERT 11th and 12th-grade textbooks, as well as the Vajiram yellow book. For International Relations, she combined current affairs with Vision 365's resources, and for Society, she compiled short notes by researching the relevant keywords.

Science and Technology, as well as Internal Security, were primarily covered through current affairs sources, while for Disaster Management, she utilized Forum IAS's booklet. Mudit Jain's strategy, rather than a specific book, guided Ayushi's approach to Ethics, and for Current Affairs, she relied on Vision IAS magazines and sometimes Forum IAS Dipin Sir's notes.

Coaching and Test Series

Ayushi did not opt for any coaching for the General Studies section, but she did avail of Vajiram's coaching for her Optional subject. For GS test series, she utilized Vision's offerings in 2019 and Forum's in 2022, while for Geography, she participated in ALS's test series in 2020 and MSP's series by Edukemy. Additionally, she attended mock interviews at Deeksha in Hyderabad.

Strategies for Prelims and Mains

In her approach to the Preliminary examination, Ayushi emphasized the importance of thorough revision, solving multiple test papers, and analyzing the solutions to identify specific areas for improvement. She solved over 50 test papers, including 15 full-length tests from various coaching institutes, and also delved into the past 10 years of Prelims question papers, carefully researching each option provided.

For the Mains examination, Ayushi's focus was on consistent practice, rather than extensive note-making. She allocated time to writing 3-4 GS answers daily, structuring an additional 2-3 GS questions, and writing 2 optional questions per day. She also dedicated time to essay writing, aiming to complete one essay per week and one essay structuring exercise per week. Additionally, she reviewed solved Mains papers from the Vision IAS test series.

Optional Subject: Geography

Ayushi's approach to the Geography optional subject involved compiling concise notes, practicing the creation of diagrams and schematics, and structuring past year question papers in a geographic manner. She also utilized model answers from Edukemy's compilation to enhance her preparation.

Personality Test

Ayushi's performance in the Personality Test has been impressive, with her scores steadily improving from 138 in 2019 to 187 in 2020 and finally reaching 202 in 2022. She attributes this success to factors such as honesty, confidence, and providing structured and concise answers during the interview.

Other Suggestions and Learnings

Throughout her UPSC journey, Ayushi has learned valuable lessons. She acknowledges that she initially struggled with the habit of making notes, often relying on market-sourced notes, which is not recommended. She also faced confusion regarding the choice of test series, but ultimately realized that the quality of content is generally consistent across different coaching institutes.

Ayushi emphasizes the importance of developing good habits and maintaining consistency, as they are the keys to cracking any competitive examination. She also highlights the value of having a supportive peer group and being open to seeking help from others without any expectations.

Lastly, Ayushi advises aspiring UPSC candidates to remain hopeful and optimistic, while also maintaining a realistic perspective on their preparation. She stresses the importance of being honest with oneself and avoiding self-delusion about the level of preparation.