Gautam Vivekanandan, AIR-211 CSE-22 Essay Strategy (149 Marks)

Navigating the UPSC CSE Journey: Gautam Vivekanandan's Winning Essay Strategy

As the 2023 UPSC CSE aspirants eagerly await their opportunity to shine, the journey of the previous batch's toppers serves as a valuable guide. Among them is Gautam Vivekanandan, who secured the impressive rank of AIR 211 in the 2022 examination. Hailing from Valsad, Gujarat, and armed with a B.Tech degree in Electronics & Communication engineering, Gautam's path to success was marked by strategic planning and unwavering dedication.

Gautam's Background and Preparation Journey

Gautam's tryst with the UPSC CSE began during his college days when he joined the weekend batch of Chahal Academy in Gujarat. However, his focus was divided between college activities and exam preparation at the time. After a brief stint at TCS, Gautam devoted himself fully to his UPSC aspirations starting from May 2021. He joined the Vision IAS foundation course for GS preparation and sought guidance from Professor Radhakrishnan in Kerala for his optional subject, English Literature.

Gautam's Essay Strategy

The essay paper in the UPSC CSE-Mains holds a special place in Gautam's heart. He recognizes the freedom it offers to express oneself and the way it reflects an individual's personality. Gautam's comprehensive approach to essay writing involved several key elements:

Thorough Research and Preparation

1. Gautam thoroughly reviewed the essay topics of the last 25 years, identifying the ones that were repeated more often, such as Agriculture, Education, Technology, and Terrorism.
2. For these recurring topics, as well as other important themes like Health, Poverty, and Women Empowerment, he meticulously prepared short 3-4 page notes covering the What, Why, How, and When aspects, along with relevant data, statistics, initiatives, and solutions.

Strategic Approach to Essay Writing

1. Gautam was not confined to using pre-determined templates, as he believed that essays should flow naturally and allow for creative expression.
2. He emphasized the importance of having adequate and relevant content, presenting strong arguments supported by exemplary data and examples, maintaining a smooth flow, and covering various dimensions of the topic.
3. Gautam paid special attention to the introduction and conclusion, recognizing them as crucial elements in creating a lasting impression.
4. To enhance his essays, Gautam incorporated relevant quotes or lines from famous poems that could be applied to diverse topics.
5. His deep understanding of philosophies like Feminism, Universalism, Socialism, and Humanism helped him tackle philosophical essay topics with a nuanced approach.

Unique Topic Selection and Execution

1. Gautam's selection of unique essay topics, such as "Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world" and "A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities," was not motivated by a belief that they would be less chosen by other candidates. Rather, he chose topics he was deeply comfortable with and could write about with conviction.
2. In his essays, Gautam endeavored to present a wide range of relevant examples, drawing from both Indian and international poets, philosophers, and thinkers. This allowed him to showcase his depth of knowledge and the breadth of his perspective.
3. Gautam's essays were characterized by a clear interpretation of the topic at the outset, which he then expanded upon using a diverse range of arguments and examples.

Why Gautam Believes He Secured 149 Marks in the Essay Paper

Gautam attributes his exceptional performance in the essay paper to several factors:

1. The unique topics he selected allowed him to showcase his creative and analytical abilities.
2. His use of a wide variety of relevant examples, both Indian and international, strengthened the content of his essays.
3. By establishing a clear interpretation of the topic at the beginning and then building upon it, Gautam maintained a cohesive and well-structured approach.
4. Avoiding the rigid use of templates enabled Gautam to craft essays that were free-flowing and reflective of his personality.
5. Gautam's efforts to start and end his essays on a high note, with the use of quotes or anecdotes, left a lasting impression on the evaluators.

Disclaimer and Concluding Remarks

Gautam acknowledges that his essay strategy is a personalized opinion-based approach and not a flawless, one-size-fits-all solution. He emphasizes that there is no guaranteed formula for scoring high marks in the essay paper, as it is a unique and subjective assessment. However, he hopes that his insights and experiences can serve as a valuable framework for future UPSC CSE aspirants to understand the requirements of the essay paper and develop their own successful strategies.

Gautam extends an invitation to fellow aspirants to reach out to him on his Telegram channel, Instagram profile, or email, where he will be sharing detailed strategies and plans, along with his comprehensive notes. He remains committed to supporting the UPSC CSE community and wishes all the best to the upcoming batch of aspirants.