Kasturi Panda, AIR-67 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains & Interview

Kasturi Panda's Journey to Success: Clearing UPSC CSE with AIR 67 in 2022

Kasturi Panda, a young woman hailing from the state of Odisha, has recently achieved a remarkable feat by clearing the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 with an All India Rank (AIR) of 67. Her journey to this success has been one of determination, hard work, and strategic planning.

Introduction

Kasturi's path to the UPSC CSE began after she completed her BTech in Computer Science from NIT Rourkela in 2019. "My proper preparation for UPSC started only after I finished my graduation," she explains. Her first attempt at the UPSC CSE was in 2020, where she reached the personality test round. In 2021, she skipped the UPSC examination and instead appeared for the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) exam, securing Rank 14 in the Odisha Administrative Services.

Preparing for the UPSC CSE

Kasturi's preparation for the UPSC CSE spanned over four years, and she shares her journey in a chronological manner. She firmly believes that "gathering the courage to prepare for this exam full-fledged is half the work done." Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of "smart work" and "patience" as crucial elements in the UPSC preparation journey.

First Principles

One of the first decisions Kasturi had to make was whether to shift to Delhi or prepare from the comfort of her home. After careful consideration, she decided to prioritize self-study over competition and opted for the latter. "Delhi will provide for a great ecosystem but life becomes difficult," she explains. Regarding her optional subject, Kasturi chose Sociology, a subject she found more interesting than the alternative of Mathematics.

General Strategy

Kasturi's preparation process began with a thorough research on the best resources and strategies. She followed the approach of "Anudeep Durishetty Sir (AIR 1 UPSC 2017)" for GS and "Anu Kumari Mam (AIR 2 UPSC 2017)" for Sociology. Her basic preparation lasted for about 7-8 months, from July 2019 to February 2020.

Prelims Preparation

Kasturi devoted approximately 2.5-3 months for her specific prelims preparation, which she found more challenging than the mains examination. Her strategy involved "revising the basic books multiple (8-10) times or as many times as possible" and practicing around 50-55 full-length tests (FLTs) from various coaching brands.

During the mock tests, Kasturi developed a unique approach to solving the MCQs. She divided the process into three phases, focusing on identifying the easy questions, eliminating options, and attempting the most difficult questions based on probability. "Even if I come back to them in the next phase, it's unlikely that I will change my mind," she explains.

Mains Preparation

Kasturi's mains preparation began when the 2020 prelims were postponed, and she had some extra time. She started with answer writing practice using previous year question papers and IasBaba TLP questions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also joined the NICE IAS Sociology Test Series by Praveen Kishore Sir, which helped her make notes and understand the demands of the Sociology papers.

To improve her mains performance, Kasturi enrolled in various test series and simulator tests, including the Vision Mains Test Series, the Forum IAS MGP+ (including essay), and the Reliable and Valid Test Series for Sociology. She also made detailed notes on specific themes and content for each paper, ensuring thorough preparation.

Personality Test

Kasturi found the personality test to be the most relaxing phase of the UPSC exam cycle. She focused on preparing herself thoroughly on her background, state, and hobbies. In her 2022 interview, she had a great conversation with the panel, and most of the questions were derived from her previous answers, allowing her to stay confident throughout.

Conclusion

Kasturi's journey to success in the UPSC CSE 2022 is a testament to her unwavering determination, strategic planning, and the support of those around her. "I am blessed and grateful beyond words for everyone who was part of my journey, blessed me, supported me and prayed for me," she expresses.

Kasturi is now sharing her resources, including her marksheet, booklist, notes, and mock test copies, on her Telegram channel and Instagram profile. She encourages other aspirants to connect with her and learn from her experiences. "I'm eagerly waiting for a day when another average aspirant like me enters the holy PDF who might have benefitted from my resources," she concludes.