Kalpana Pandey, AIR-102 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains, Essay, PSIR & More

Kalpana Pandey's Journey to AIR-102 in CSE-22

Kalpana Pandey, a young aspirant, had a singular goal in mind - to excel in the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). With determination and unwavering focus, she embarked on a journey that would ultimately lead her to secure the remarkable feat of AIR-102 in CSE-22, with Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as her optional subject.

Introduction

On January 8th, 2019, just before ordering her PSIR study materials, Kalpana found herself bowing before Lord Krishna, tears in her eyes, praying for the courage and strength to give her absolute best in this exam preparation. Little did she know that this would be the beginning of a transformative journey that would culminate in her becoming a UPSC topper.

Kalpana's story is one of hope, resilience, and trust in the process. She understands that each aspirant, including herself, starts from a place of fears, doubts, and confusions. The UPSC journey can often feel like an alien island, where guidance and support seem scarce. However, Kalpana's message to fellow aspirants is clear: you are not alone. Each UPSC topper has faced similar challenges, and it is through the collective effort of "walking each other home" that we can overcome the obstacles that lie ahead.

Kalpana, a B.A. Programme graduate in Political Science from Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi, is a living testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief. Her story serves as an inspiration to those who are just beginning their UPSC journey or are facing setbacks along the way.

PSIR Strategy

Kalpana's approach to the PSIR optional was meticulously planned and executed. She started by dedicating the first six months of her preparation to studying the optional subject. In her second attempt at the CSE in 2022, she enrolled in an answer writing test series conducted by Shubhra Ranjan IAS, which helped her maintain discipline and stay on track.

Sources

Kalpana's PSIR preparation relied on a diverse range of sources, including:

1. Shubhra Ranjan's postal correspondence notes, which came with a Google Drive file containing topper copies and important book readings.
2. Selected readings on Equality, Justice, and Rights by Rajeev Bhargava.
3. For the Indian Government and Politics (IGP) section, she referred to the selected readings of B.L. Fadia.
4. For the International Relations (IR) segment, she turned to "The India Way" by Dr. S. Jaishankar.
5. Educational YouTube channels like School of Life and Philosophy Tube.
6. PSIR notes from Mridul Shivhare Sir (AIR 247, CSE 2021).
7. Dropbox short notes from Vibhor Aggarwal Sir (AIR 71, CSE 2018), which she continuously updated.
8. Editorials from reputable sources like ORF, Indian Express, and The Hindu.

Kalpana's Three-Pronged Approach

Kalpana's PSIR strategy revolved around three key principles:

1. Clarity of Concepts and Theories: She dedicated significant time to ensuring a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts and theories within the PSIR syllabus.
2. Solving Previous Year Questions (PYQs): After completing each topic of the syllabus, Kalpana would solve PYQs from 2013 onwards to strengthen her application of the learned concepts.
3. Interlinkages and Scholar Names: Kalpana paid close attention to the interconnections between different sections of the PSIR syllabus and the importance of scholar names in her answers.

Kalpana strongly recommends that aspiring UPSC candidates read Vibhor Aggarwal Sir's blog, which is dedicated to the PSIR optional subject. She believes that her impressive marks in Essay (144) and GS-4 (125) are a direct result of her PSIR knowledge and answer-writing skills, which also helped her immensely in preparing for GS-2 and parts of GS-1.

General Studies Strategy

Kalpana's approach to the General Studies (GS) section of the CSE was comprehensive and well-structured.

GS-1 Sources

1. Geography: Kalpana relied solely on the NCERT textbooks for Class 11 and 12, with additional value addition from the PMF IAS notes and Rushikesh Reddy Sir's (AIR 95, CSE 2019) notes.
2. History:
   • Ancient History: Old NCERT (R.S. Sharma)
   • Medieval History: Old NCERT and Tamil Nadu board book
   • Art and Culture: Self-made notes for ancient, medieval, and modern periods from the New NCERT, Class 11 "Introduction to Indian Art" book, and Nitin Singhania's handwritten notes
   • Modern History: "From Plassey to Partition" by Sekhar Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum for Prelims
   • Post-Independence: Nitin Sangwan Sir's handwritten notes
   • World History: Notes made from Mrunal Sir's YouTube channel
3. Society: Kalpana made her own notes from Vision IAS and Mehak Jain's notes, supplemented with current affairs.

GS-2 Sources

For Polity, Kalpana used her PSIR notes (without scholars) and the IAS 360 Mains notes for Polity and Governance.

GS-3 Sources

1. Economy: Vivek Singh Sir's book
2. Environment: Self-made notes from NCERT and the PMF IAS supplement, with a focus on current affairs from sources like Down to Earth
3. Internal Security: Mehak Jain's (AIR 17, CSE 2021) notes
4. Science and Technology: Current affairs
5. Disaster Management: Mehak Jain's notes

GS-4 Sources

For GS-4 (Ethics), Kalpana made short notes from Lukman IAS's notes, supplementing them with examples from current affairs, personal life, and The Better India.

Preparation for GS

Until December, Kalpana tried to complete most of the GS portion by making comprehensive notes. She solved PYQs for all the GS subjects, sometimes only brainstorming them. After covering each topic of the syllabus, she would solve PYQs from both the Prelims and Mains examinations.

Post-December, Kalpana started giving sectional tests for Prelims to effectively revise the basic books, alongside the answer writing test series for the PSIR optional that she had been doing since December 2021.

Revision

Kalpana followed a disciplined revision strategy:

1. Every night before going to bed, she would skim through the portion of the syllabus she had covered that day, spending around 1 to 1.5 hours on this activity.
2. She would start a new topic each day after reviewing what she had done the previous day.
3. Every third day, she would dedicate a 2-hour revision slot, followed by a relaxing day.

This routine, though not entirely rigid, ensured that Kalpana consistently revised the material she had covered, a key component of her successful preparation.

Essay

Kalpana's approach to the Essay paper was multifaceted:

1. For content, she relied on topper copies from Vikram Grewal Sir, Mehak Jain Ma'am, and Diksha Joshi Ma'am.
2. She also utilized Mehak Jain Ma'am's essay notes.
3. Kalpana further value-added these resources with phrases and quotes from Yojana magazine, her own reading of selected books, and, of course, her PSIR optional knowledge.

Kalpana's essay-writing strategy revolved around several key principles:

1. Starting with an Anecdote: Kalpana would often begin her essays with an anecdote and then seamlessly connect it from the introduction to the conclusion.
2. Building a Setting: Kalpana aimed to create a vivid setting for the examiner, allowing them to visualize a "movie" through her writing.
3. Explicit Exploration of the Given Quote: Kalpana would explicitly outline in the introduction how she planned to explore the different aspects of the given essay prompt.
4. Implicit Incorporation of PETALS: Instead of following the PETALS model explicitly, Kalpana would weave the relevant aspects (Political, Economic, Technological, Administrative, Legal, and Social) into her essay in a more implicit manner, connecting the paragraphs through logical flow.
5. Creative Headings: Kalpana used creative and engaging headings to capture the essence of her essays.
6. Connecting with the Essay Prompt: Kalpana made it a point to use words and phrases from the essay prompt itself, further strengthening the coherence of her writing.

Prelims Strategy

Kalpana's Prelims strategy was a result of her learnings from her first failed attempt. She understood the unpredictable and challenging nature of the Prelims stage, and in her second attempt, she implemented the following measures:

1. Preparation Plan: Kalpana created a detailed 150-day plan, including revision and test dates, in an Excel sheet.
2. Sectional Tests: In December 2021 and January 2022, Kalpana gave sectional tests to effectively revise the basic books.
3. Full-Length Tests: From February onwards, Kalpana started taking at least 50 full-length tests, which were a mix of question papers from various coaching institutes, to get accustomed to the randomness of the Prelims.
4. Timed Tests: Kalpana gave these full-length tests in 1 hour and 30 minutes to build up the necessary pressure, as the actual Prelims paper is to be completed in 2 hours.
5. CSAT Preparation: Kalpana devoted 2 hours every day to CSAT preparation from March onwards, using the CSAT Mantra channel on Telegram for solving PYQs and similar questions. She also gave sectional and full-length tests for CSAT.
6. Simulated Exam Hours: Kalpana ensured that her sleep cycle and active mind cycle were synchronized with the actual exam day by simulating the exam hours each day.

Importance of Breaks

Kalpana emphasizes the significance of taking breaks during the UPSC preparation journey. She understands that while aspirants often ask about the number of hours devoted to studying, they rarely inquire about the days spent crying, feeling lonely, going through breakdowns, and taking time for leisure activities.

Kalpana's learnings from her first failed attempt have led her to the following conclusions:

1. Daily Breaks: Aspirants should take an hour or two each day for family time, hobbies, or simply relaxing. This earned break is essential for rejuvenation.
2. Periodic Breaks: Kalpana observed that she experienced exhaustion every 10 days, so she would take a break by watching a movie or engaging in other relaxing activities.
3. Positive Circle: Surrounding oneself with a supportive network of loved ones who understand the importance of the UPSC exam is crucial. Aspirants should block out all toxicity and negativity.
4. Connection with the Divine: Kalpana believes in the power of being connected to nature, worship, or meditation. Visiting a temple or any holy place can provide a sense of guidance and strength.
5. Maintaining Perspective: Kalpana reminds aspirants that the UPSC exam is just one among the many challenges life presents. Their worth is not defined by the outcome of this exam. The key is to give their best each day, treating their preparation as an offering to the divine.

Closing Thoughts

Kalpana's parting message to fellow UPSC aspirants is one of hope, courage, and faith. She reassures them that no matter where they stand in life right now, a beautiful future and an evolved version of themselves are waiting on the other side. She emphasizes the importance of studying with the determination of a topper, being their own superhero, and trusting the process. Kalpana firmly believes that the Supreme Power is guiding each aspirant throughout their journey, and she encourages them to embrace their fears, doubts, and confusions as stepping stones to their ultimate success.