Dwij Goel, AIR-71 CSE-22 Journey & GS-2 Strategy

Dwij Goel, a young aspirant hailing from the small town of Kharkhauda near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has emerged as one of the top performers in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022. With his unwavering determination and strategic approach, Dwij secured the impressive rank of AIR 71, inspiring many aspiring civil servants across the country.

Introduction

Dwij's journey began with a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious NIT Bhopal. After graduating in 2019, he worked as an Assistant Manager at Hero MotoCorp Limited in Gurgaon. However, his true calling lay in the realm of public service, and in September 2020, he made the bold decision to leave his job and dedicate himself fully to the UPSC preparation.

You may contact Dwij on his Telegram Channel, Instagram Profile, and his Blog.

CSE Journey

Dwij's first attempt in 2020 saw him successfully clearing the Prelims but falling short in the Mains examination. Undeterred, he continued his preparation, identifying and addressing the areas that needed improvement. In 2021, he attempted the Mains again, this time with a renewed focus and determination.

During the period between Mains and Interview, Dwij co-founded an EdTech startup with a friend, but the venture ultimately faced challenges and had to be abandoned. This setback, however, did not deter him. Dwij remained steadfast in his pursuit of the civil services.

The Roller Coaster Ride

Dwij's journey was not without its fair share of ups and downs. After missing the final list by a mere 5 marks in the interview stage, he found himself facing a period of self-doubt and uncertainty. His closest friend and go-to person even left him during this difficult time. Yet, Dwij remained resilient, drawing strength from the adage "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."

In the face of adversity, Dwij found solace in the camaraderie of his friends, Shubhratosh and Asad, who were also aspiring for the civil services. Together, they gathered their courage and prepared for their third attempt, supporting each other through the challenging times.

The Final Push

With the Prelims just around the corner, the trio of Dwij, Shubhratosh, and Asad embarked on their journey once more. They prepared and wrote the Mains examination together, creating lifelong memories and strengthening their bond. Despite the setbacks, their unwavering commitment to their goal remained steadfast.

Dwij's perseverance paid off when, on October 10th, 2022, UPSC released the reserve list for the 2021 attempt, and to his delight, his name was among them. He was allotted the Pondicherry cadre and currently serves as the Commissioner of the Municipality in Pondicherry.

GS-2 Strategy

Dwij's exceptional performance in the UPSC examination was highlighted by his impressive score of 124 marks in GS-2, which placed him among the top 5 scorers in this section.

Polity

Dwij's approach to the Polity section was methodical and comprehensive. He relied on M. Laxmikant's work as his primary source, supplementing it with additional resources such as the "Only IAS" booklet for landmark judgments and Atish Mathur's specific notes for the Mains examination.

To effectively cover the Polity section in a limited time frame, Dwij focused on grasping the key concepts and important articles, judgments, and amendments. He also selectively used notes from Mandar Patki (AIR 22, CSE 2019) and templates from the EdSarrthi mentorship platform.

Governance

For the Governance section, Dwij relied on the "Vision Value Addition" material, making comprehensive notes on each topic covered in the syllabus. He further enhanced his answers by incorporating examples, case studies, and catchy phrases from the "Only IAS Prahaar" booklet and EdSarrthi's mentorship program.

International Relations

Dwij's approach to the International Relations (IR) section was multi-faceted. He meticulously curated newspaper articles and made notes from Sansad TV's "Diplomatic Dispatch" and "Vision Mains 365" resources. To gain a deeper understanding of India's foreign policy, he also read books such as "The India Way" by Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Test Series and Answer Writing

Dwij's preparation strategy involved a combination of online and offline test series. He participated in the mains mentorship program at EdSarrthi, which included live answer writing sessions and test series. Additionally, he wrote some ForumIAS tests and had them evaluated independently.

Dwij emphasized the importance of consistent practice, stating, "The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war." He suggested writing at least two full-length mock tests for each GS subject and incorporating part-tests from various coaching platforms to build content and structure his answers effectively.

You may find some of Dwij's useful notes here.

Dwij's journey to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 was a testament to his unwavering determination, strategic approach, and the invaluable support of his friends. His exemplary performance in the GS-2 section, scoring 124 marks, has undoubtedly inspired many aspiring civil servants to emulate his success. Dwij's story serves as a reminder that with resilience, hard work, and a positive mindset, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.