Deepti Rohilla (CSE-23 AIR-39) Geography 323 Marks & Comprehensive Strategy
Hello readers! I am Deepti Rohilla. I have secured AIR 39 in UPSC CSE 2023. This was my 2nd attempt. I missed the interview call by 18 marks last year. My optional is geography in which I have secured 323 marks. It has been analyzed that it is the highest among humanities subjects this year.
Deepti Rohilla's Journey to Success in UPSC CSE 2023
Deepti Rohilla, a young and determined individual, has recently secured an impressive rank of AIR 39 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023. This was her second attempt, and she was determined to succeed after missing the interview call by just 18 marks in her previous attempt.
Deepti's Journey
Deepti's journey to success was not without its challenges, but her perseverance and resilience shone through. During her college years, she started preparing for the UPSC exam, reading basic books and glancing through coaching notes, toppers' copies, and newspapers. However, she was not as consistent as the demanding nature of the exam required, as she did not want to miss the fun of her college days.
The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown
The COVID-19 lockdown proved to be a turning point for Deepti. Amidst the chaos, there was also a sense of calm, and she finally found the time to make her own notes, as the travel time was eliminated due to online classes.
Dealing with Setbacks and Bouncing Back
Deepti gave her first attempt in 2022 and cleared the preliminary stage. Feeling elated and overconfident, she faced challenges in the subsequent stages of the exam. Due to improper subject and time management, she missed the interview call by a small margin. This was a significant setback for Deepti, who had been a topper throughout her academic life. She faced mental struggles, days of crying, loneliness, desperation, and a loss of identity.
Rise Like a Phoenix
Determined to bounce back, Deepti took time to reflect on her weaknesses. She realized that over-relying on coaching notes without referring to basic books was a mistake. To address this, she used various tools, such as NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) by Andrew Huberman, the YPT app for self-accountability, and joining a library to change her study space.
Deepti's Strategies
Prelims Preparation
Deepti focused on strengthening her static subjects, using comprehensive sources such as books, toppers' notes, and self-made notes. She also thoroughly analyzed previous year question papers and adopted a "Confidence + Common Sense" mindset on the day of the exam.
Mains Preparation
For the Mains examination, Deepti prepared comprehensive notes based on the syllabus keywords. She placed a significant emphasis on her optional subject, Geography, which proved to be a game-changer.
Geography Optional: The Key to Success
Deepti's approach to the Geography optional was multi-faceted. She created comprehensive notes, made frameworks and quick revision notes, and employed various strategies that helped her improve her score from 219 in 2022 to 323 in 2023. Some of her key strategies included:
- Selective reading of basic books, such as Rupa Made Simple for physical geography and Models by Majid Hussain
- Incorporating newspaper reading to stay updated on current affairs and find relevant examples or case studies for her answers
- Layered answer writing, where she focused on structuring the answer with different components, such as introducing key concepts, explaining geomorphic cycles, and providing critiques
Deepti also highly valued the guidance and resources provided by previous toppers from the Geography optional, particularly Preksha Agrawal and Katyayani Bhatia.
The Last 15 Days Before the Mains Exam
The last 15 days before the Mains exam were a crucial period for Deepti. She described this time as an "inflection point," where her revision speed increased, her ability to link different concepts improved, and she felt a strong sense of dedication and determination to give her absolute best.
Message to the Students
Deepti's journey is an inspiration to aspiring UPSC candidates. She emphasizes the importance of setting up systems rather than just setting goals, and the importance of knowing oneself to overcome any inhibitions.
Deepti also shared a comprehensive list of UPSC CSE 2023 toppers' strategies, covering a wide range of optional subjects and comprehensive approaches, to provide valuable insights to the students.
Deepti's success story demonstrates that with dedication, resilience, and a strategic approach, the seemingly daunting UPSC exam can be conquered. Her journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of learning from setbacks to emerge stronger and more determined than ever before.