Garima (AIR-220, CSE-21) Comprehensive Strategy

Garima's Journey to Success in the Civil Services Examination

In the highly competitive landscape of the Civil Services Examination (CSE), where thousands of aspirants vie for a limited number of coveted positions, Garima's story stands out as a testament to the power of perseverance and strategic preparation. Hailing from Sonipat, Garima's journey to securing the prestigious All India Rank (AIR) 220 in the CSE 2021 was marked by unwavering determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Garima's UPSC Journey

Garima's UPSC journey began in 2016, shortly after she had graduated from BITS Pilani. Despite the challenges and setbacks that often accompany the CSE, Garima remained steadfast in her resolve, making her fifth attempt her most successful one. Throughout her journey, she cleared the Prelims four times and the Mains twice, but it was in her fifth attempt that she finally achieved her goal, largely due to a significant improvement in her optional subject, Public Administration.

Garima's Comprehensive Strategy

Garima's approach to the CSE was both comprehensive and strategic. She understood the importance of keeping her sources limited and focused, emphasizing the need for multiple revisions and completing the syllabus as essential components of her preparation.

Prelims Preparation

For the Prelims, Garima concentrated on the static parts of the syllabus, particularly history, polity, economy, geography, and environment. She found Mrunal Patel's handouts and the guidance of Sudarshan Gurjar and Pratik Nayak from Unacademy to be invaluable in these subjects. Previous year questions (PYQs) served as a guiding light, helping her streamline her preparation and identify the areas of focus.

Mains Preparation

In the Mains, Garima's strategy for the essay section involved reading toppers' copies and incorporating examples from the book "You Can Win" by Mr. Shiv Khera. She also drew inspiration from movies, TV series, and books to enrich her essays. For the GS papers, Garima analyzed previous year questions and used them to structure her content, ensuring that she could write at least 250 words on any given topic.

Optional Preparation

Garima's optional subject was Public Administration (PSIR), and she relied heavily on PYQs as a benchmark for her preparation. She utilized Shubhra Ranjan's notes and supplemented them with Arvind Shah's (AIR 123, CSE 2020) notes. Nikhil Gowda's test series also proved to be a valuable resource, as it provided her with feedback and guidance on structuring her answers.

Key Ingredients for Success

Garima attributes her success to four key elements:

1. Keeping sources limited: Garima deliberately restricted her sources, focusing on the essentials to avoid getting overwhelmed.
2. Multiple revisions: Garima emphasized the importance of repeated revisions, ensuring that the content was reinforced and internalized.
3. Completing the syllabus: Garima made it a priority to cover the entire syllabus, rather than delving too deeply into specific topics.
4. Utilizing previous year questions: Garima recognized the immense value of PYQs, using them as a roadmap for her preparation and a benchmark for her performance.

Acknowledgments and Connections

Garima is deeply grateful for the support and guidance she received throughout her UPSC journey. She acknowledges the role of God, her teachers, family, and friends in her success. Garima has graciously offered to connect with aspiring civil servants on her Instagram account, @garimagarg309, where she is willing to share her experiences and insights.

Garima's story serves as an inspiration to all those who are navigating the challenges of the Civil Services Examination. Her dedication, strategic approach, and unwavering determination are a testament to the fact that success in the UPSC can be achieved through a well-planned and disciplined preparation process. Aspiring civil servants can undoubtedly learn from Garima's experiences and incorporate her valuable insights into their own preparation strategies.