Dr. Subhadharshini (CSE-23 AIR-83) Motivational Journey & Comprehensive Strategy
Hello everyone, this is Dr. Subhadharshini, AIR 83 in UPSC 2023. Introduction & Journey I’m a small-town girl from Tamilnadu and I’m a qualified dentist. I graduated in 2015, worked for a year and quit dentistry for a career in Civil Services. This was my 7th attempt and in all my previous attempts I had
##Introduction and Journey
Dr. Subhadharshini, a small-town girl from Tamil Nadu, has achieved a remarkable feat by securing AIR 83 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023. Her journey to this success has been one of perseverance and determination, as she had to overcome numerous challenges to reach her goal.
After graduating as a dentist in 2015, Dr. Subhadharshini made the bold decision to pursue a career in the civil services, quitting her dental practice. This was her 7th attempt, and in all her previous attempts, she had not even crossed the preliminary stage. However, her unwavering determination and the hope of achieving her goal kept her going.
The path to success was not without its difficulties. Dr. Subhadharshini faced financial, emotional, and various other challenges during her nine-year journey. But her steadfast belief in her abilities and her desire to build her own career, independent of others, fueled her determination to continue her UPSC preparation.
##Strategy
Dr. Subhadharshini's preparation strategy was a well-rounded approach that involved a combination of thorough study, consistent practice, and effective time management.
###Sources For her preliminary examination preparation, Dr. Subhadharshini relied on NCERT textbooks as her foundation, supplemented by standard textbooks for each subject. She also used RS Agarwal's quantitative aptitude book and a YouTube channel called "Feel Free to Learn" to strengthen her CSAT skills. Additionally, she diligently followed The Hindu newspaper and the Vision IAS compilation for her current affairs preparation.
###Mocks Mock tests played a crucial role in Dr. Subhadharshini's preparation. She wrote numerous sectional tests for every subject and nearly 30 full-length tests before the actual examination. Attending these tests in offline mode helped boost her confidence in handling the pressure of the exam day.
###Answer Writing Since 2018, Dr. Subhadharshini had been preparing for the Mains examination. She practiced writing answers on a daily basis, relying primarily on Vision IAS materials for subjects like internal security, disaster management, and world history. She also utilized the current affairs covered in her preliminary preparation to add value to her answers.
###Optional (PSIR) For her optional subject, Political Science and International Relations (PSIR), Dr. Subhadharshini did not opt for classroom coaching but instead utilized Shubhra Ranjan's notes and regularly followed articles from eminent scholars in newspapers and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) to stay updated on international relations.
###Mistakes and Learnings In the initial years of her preparation, Dr. Subhadharshini acknowledges that she wasted a lot of time running after various materials and making notes. However, from the fourth year onwards, she streamlined her resources, limiting herself to a single source for each subject. This allowed her to focus on effective revision and retention of the information.
##Revision Dr. Subhadharshini adopted a well-planned revision strategy, setting weekly targets for herself. She would revise major subjects in both the General Studies and Optional papers every 3-4 months. To aid her learning, she would also teach her friends various concepts and interlinkages, which she found to be a mutually beneficial exercise.
##Interview Dr. Subhadharshini considers the interview stage to be the most challenging part of the UPSC preparation process. She found that there was a lack of guidance available specifically for the interview, and the continuous failures in the previous attempts had shattered her confidence. To overcome this, she recommends that aspirants start their interview preparation from the very beginning, practicing skills like summarizing news articles and improving their articulation.
Dr. Subhadharshini's journey to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 was a testament to her resilience, mental strength, and determination. She emphasizes that the UPSC journey is not just a test of knowledge but also a test of one's personality and ability to handle failures. She encourages all aspirants to have faith in their abilities, continuously examine their path, and learn from their mistakes. With her inspiring story, Dr. Subhadharshini has paved the way for others to follow in her footsteps.