K.N.Chandana Jahnavi (CSE-23 AIR-50) Comprehensive and Sociology Strategy

K.N. Chandana Jahnavi, a native of Hyderabad, Telangana, has emerged as a remarkable success story in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). After three attempts, she has secured the impressive feat of AIR 50 in UPSC CSE 2023, showcasing her determination and unwavering commitment to her aspirations.

Jahnavi's UPSC Journey

Jahnavi's UPSC journey began on May 31st, 2019, marking the start of a challenging yet rewarding odyssey that spanned five long years, three attempts, and three different services. She considers herself extremely fortunate to have been selected all three times, witnessing a gradual progression in her performance.

In her first attempt (CSE 2020), Jahnavi was recommended for the Indian Corporate Law Service with a Reserve List-01 ranking, followed by her second attempt (CSE 2022), where she secured AIR 313 and was selected for the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax).

Despite the initial setbacks, Jahnavi remained undeterred. She recounts the humbling experience of the 2020 attempt, where she achieved the exact cutoff marks of 944 but narrowly missed the main list. This experience, though challenging, ultimately prepared her for the inevitable obstacles that lay ahead.

Gradual Improvement and Perseverance

Jahnavi's UPSC journey exemplifies the power of perseverance and gradual improvement. She provided her marksheets from all three attempts, showcasing a consistent upward trajectory in her performance.

Educational Background and Professional Experience

Jahnavi holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from BIT Mesra and a Master's in Business Administration from IIM Indore. After her MBA, she worked with Deloitte for 14 months, where she began her initial UPSC preparation before resigning in July 2021, two months before the 2020 Prelims.

Preparing with a Job

Jahnavi's dedication to her studies while juggling a full-time job is truly commendable. She strategically utilized her time, studying from 5 AM to 9 AM, during her commute, and during lunch breaks. She leveraged various apps, such as Yeolpumta, to track her studying time and ensure efficient time management.

Jahnavi emphasizes the importance of being meticulous and adaptable when studying alongside a job. She recommends techniques like starting the day early, utilizing transit time for revision, and incorporating current affairs and optional subject studies during work breaks and free time. This multitasking approach allowed her to make significant progress in her UPSC preparation while fulfilling her professional responsibilities.

Optional Strategy: Sociology

Jahnavi consistently maintained her Sociology scores across all three attempts, earning 280 (2020), 278 (2022), and 283 (2023). She credits her success to a well-rounded approach that involved utilizing resources from toppers like Srishti Deshmukh, Neha Bhonsle, and Gunjita Agarwal, as well as relying on the guidance of Dhatri Reddy and Neha Bhonsle.

Jahnavi's strategy included:

• Completing the online course from IAS Gurukul as a foundation
• Incorporating content and styles from topper answer copies
• Giving a minimum of 6 mocks for both Sociology papers in each attempt
• Making short, visually appealing notes for last-minute revision

General Studies (GS) Strategy

Jahnavi's GS scores saw a consistent improvement, rising from 376 (2020) to 416 (2022) and 427 (2023). She attributes this progress to her meticulous approach, which included:

1. Memorizing the entire GS syllabus and reviewing it multiple times
2. Adopting the presentation style of Vishaka Ma'am, which suited her writing
3. Giving around 30 mocks for the four GS papers and the Essay, closely analyzing topper copies to enhance her own content and presentation
4. Creating crisp, color-coded notes for last-minute revision

Jahnavi emphasizes the importance of building a comprehensive dashboard of mock tests, which served as a source of enormous confidence leading up to the Mains examination.

Note-Making Approach

Jahnavi has shared insights into her note-making process, highlighting two key principles:

1. Making notes in a way that she enjoyed reading and revising them, using color pens, highlighters, and even flashcards.
2. Condensing her notes closer to the Mains examination to accurately reflect her revision and ensure they can be easily reproduced.

Language Paper Strategy: Sanskrit

Jahnavi opted for the Sanskrit language paper in all three attempts, despite her proficiency in Hindi and Telugu. She shares her strategy, which includes:

1. Solving past 5-year question papers to understand the essay writing and comprehension patterns
2. Incorporating GS syllabus words into her Sanskrit essay and comprehension
3. Dedicating focused practice on grammar and writing in the Sanskrit script in the week leading up to the exam

Final Thoughts and Message

Jahnavi's UPSC journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and the power of perseverance. She embraces the quote from Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist," stating that her greatest treasure lies in the fact that she tried, worked hard, and has no regrets, regardless of the outcome.

Jahnavi's success story serves as an inspiration to aspiring UPSC candidates, showcasing the importance of strategic planning, efficient time management, and a resilient mindset. Her experiences and strategies provide valuable insights for those embarking on their own UPSC journeys.