Devraj Patil (AIR-462, CSE-21) Prelims, Mains, History Strategy

Devraj Patil's Journey to the UPSC CSE

After graduating from college, Devraj Patil found himself at a crossroads, uncertain about his next steps. He had three options to consider: GATE, MBA (CAT), or the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Devraj decided to pursue the UPSC CSE, and he began his preparation on August 17, 2019, without having read a single book beforehand.

Why Devraj Chose Self-Study for UPSC CSE

Devraj's decision to opt for self-study was influenced by several factors. He had spent three years in Pune, a hub for MPSC and UPSC aspirants, and he had observed that coaching classes tend to complete the entire syllabus within a year. This made many aspirants overly dependent on the coaching institutes. Devraj recognized that there were already candidates who had cracked the UPSC and were serving in various services, such as the IPS, IRS, and IAAS, and were attempting the exam again to achieve the coveted IAS post. This meant that Devraj was already behind the curve, and he realized that to crack the UPSC in his first attempt, he needed to finish the static syllabus as soon as possible, which coaching classes often take a year to complete.

Devraj believed that while coaching classes can be beneficial, it was essential for him to be a step ahead of the lakhs of aspirants who had already undergone coaching. He recognized the importance of self-study and self-reliance in achieving his goal. Devraj also utilized the power of the internet and mobile devices, which he saw as the "app of all coaching classes," and he aimed to use them efficiently in his preparation.

Devraj's Preparation Strategy

Syllabus and Prioritization

Devraj's approach to preparing for the UPSC CSE began with a thorough understanding of the exam pattern and syllabus. He downloaded the syllabus, printed it out, and spent a day or two reading and understanding it in detail. He then prioritized the subjects based on the number of questions that typically appear in the exam, with Polity, Economy, History, Environment, and Geography being the focus areas.

Booklist and Resources

Devraj's booklist for the UPSC CSE was carefully curated:

1. Polity: M. Lakshmikanth (only this book)
2. Economy: Mrunal Patel's YouTube videos and free PDFs
3. Environment: Shankar IAS book
4. Geography: 11th and 12th NCERT books, and Mrunal Patel's YouTube lectures
5. Art and Culture: N. Singhania's book

For History, Devraj relied on the following resources:

1. Ancient and Medieval History: Poonam Dalal Dahiya (for both GS and optional)
2. Modern History: Spectrum book
3. World History: YouTube videos and Vikram Grewal's notes

Current Affairs

Devraj's approach to current affairs was straightforward. He relied on the Indian Express newspaper, IAS Baba's daily current affairs and quizzes, and Vision's monthly magazine.

Prelims Preparation

Devraj understood that the Prelims exam was the biggest hurdle in the UPSC CSE, and he devoted around 60% of his time and effort to it. He aimed to complete the static syllabus within the first 2-3 months, making his own notes to avoid becoming dependent on others. He then began solving mock tests, starting with 50 questions per day and gradually transitioning to solving full-length question papers in the last 3-4 months before the exam.

Devraj also emphasized the importance of not neglecting the CSAT section and focusing on subjects like Polity, Economy, History, Environment, and Geography in the final stretch before Prelims.

Why Devraj Chose History as an Optional

Devraj chose History as his optional subject for several reasons. He believed that History is the most overlapping subject with the Prelims and Mains syllabi, and it can also be effectively used in essays and ethics. Additionally, History is a static subject, which meant that Devraj could offset the time he spent on it during the 90-day period between Prelims and Mains.

Devraj had no prior background in History, but he found it to be an approachable subject that did not require any specific coaching or classes. He focused on using the books he had already mentioned for the GS and Prelims preparation, and he did not feel the need to read any "fancy" books for History.

Mains Preparation

Devraj started his Mains preparation only after the Prelims results were announced, giving him around 2.5 months to prepare. He allocated 70% of his time to the History optional, which automatically covered a significant portion of the GS1 syllabus.

Instead of solving full-length Mains tests, Devraj focused on solving 5 questions daily with a stopwatch and analyzing the answers himself, comparing them to topper's responses. For the Essay, he started his preparation just 7 days before the exam, but he managed to secure a score of 131.

For Ethics, Devraj did not rely on any specific book. Instead, he solved 5 ethics questions on alternate days, using topper's answer sheets as a reference.

Devraj emphasized the importance of writing concisely and effectively, which helped him improve his speed and acquire valuable keywords to use in his answers.

Lessons Learned and Advice

Devraj's UPSC CSE journey was not without its challenges. He faced setbacks in his first attempt, where he made silly mistakes and lacked confidence. However, he learned from these experiences and made necessary adjustments for his second attempt, which resulted in him passing the Prelims.

Devraj's key advice to aspiring UPSC CSE candidates is to:

1. Devote the majority of your effort and energy towards the Prelims exam.
2. Solve a large number of mock tests and question papers to develop the habit of guesswork and improve your speed.
3. Maintain a balance between self-study and external resources, but avoid becoming overly dependent on others.
4. Treat the exam as just an exam and maintain a calm and confident approach.
5. Choose an optional subject that aligns with your strengths and overlaps with the GS syllabus.

Devraj's journey to the UPSC CSE is a testament to the power of self-study, strategic planning, and perseverance. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring civil servants who are looking to crack the toughest exam in the country.