Dr. Ghulam Maya Din (CSE-23 AIR-388) Medical Science & Comprehensive Strategy
Background and Journey Hi everyone, I am Dr. Ghulam Maya Din. I have qualified UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 388. I did my graduation in MBBS from government medical College Jammu. During internship I decided to pursue my career in civil services. Before that i hardly read any newspaper and have little interest in humanities
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din's Journey to Success in the UPSC CSE 2023
In the ever-competitive landscape of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din's story stands as a testament to perseverance, resilience, and the power of strategic planning. As a medical professional, he initially had little interest in the humanities, but through sheer determination and a methodical approach, he managed to secure an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 388 in the UPSC CSE 2023.
Background and Journey
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din graduated with an MBBS degree from the Government Medical College in Jammu. During his internship, he decided to shift his focus and pursue a career in the civil services. Despite his medical background, he recognized the importance of developing a strong foundation in subjects like polity, economy, history, and geography, which are crucial for the UPSC CSE.
To aid his preparation, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din turned to toppers' videos on YouTube, which helped him understand the structure and preparation framework for the exam. He also found remarkable mentors and seniors at the Hamdard Study Circle in Delhi, who provided him with the basic understanding and guidance he needed to navigate this challenging path.
Overcoming Challenges
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din's journey was not without its setbacks. Despite his hard work and sincere efforts, he was unable to clear the preliminary examination in his first three attempts. The reasons for his initial failures were not paying adequate attention to previous year question papers (PYQs) and relying too heavily on smart guessing, as well as struggling with the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) section, which he missed by a mere 0.8 marks.
Undeterred, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din persevered and in his fourth attempt, he successfully cleared the preliminary and main examinations, but he was unable to find his name in the final merit list. This was due to time management issues during the mains examination, where he could not complete all the question papers.
Strategies for Success
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din believes that the graduation period is an ideal time to begin preparation for the UPSC CSE. During this time, he emphasizes the importance of developing the habit of daily newspaper reading (The Hindu and Indian Express), studying NCERT textbooks, and selecting and preparing an optional subject.
Timetable and Preparation with a Job
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din acknowledges that maintaining a disciplined and consistent study routine is crucial, but he also recognizes the need for flexibility. For those attempting the UPSC CSE while holding a job, he suggests outsourcing tasks to capable team members and utilizing spare time judiciously to manage the added responsibilities.
Prelims Preparation
For the preliminary examination, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din recommends a comprehensive approach, including studying NCERT textbooks, Laxmikanth's book on Indian Polity, and the explained sections of leading newspapers like The Hindu and Indian Express. He also suggests utilizing Mrunal Sir's notes for the Economy section and referring to R.S. Sharma's books for Ancient and Medieval History, along with Spectrum for Modern History.
CSAT Strategy
To tackle the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) section, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din emphasizes the importance of regular newspaper reading to improve comprehension skills and the practice of previous year question papers to familiarize oneself with the exam pattern. He also recommends utilizing Edutap videos on YouTube for areas where one is not comfortable, particularly in the Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections.
Optional Subject Strategy
For his Medical Science optional, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din relied on his graduation textbooks and created his own crisp notes for high-scoring but shorter subjects like Dermatology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pediatrics, Radiology, and Psychiatry. He suggests that aspiring candidates follow him on Telegram to access his notes and strategies.
Revision and Attempt Strategies
Dr. Ghulam Maya Din emphasizes the crucial role of previous year question papers (PYQs) in preparing for both the preliminary and main examinations. He advises a two-pronged revision strategy: for the preliminary exam, focusing on recurring themes and smart guessing techniques, and for the main exam, conducting syllabus-wise topic revision using his own notes, supplemented by topper notes and newspaper articles.
Finally, with the grace of the Almighty, Dr. Ghulam Maya Din's perseverance and strategic approach paid off, as he qualified the UPSC CSE 2023 with an impressive AIR of 388. His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring civil servants, highlighting the importance of consistent effort, adaptability, and a well-rounded preparation strategy.