Khushboo Oberoi, AIR-139 CSE-22 Prelims, Ethics & PubAd Strategy

Khushboo Oberoi, a resident of New Delhi, is a young civil services aspirant who has recently secured the impressive rank of AIR 139 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. This was her second attempt, and she has generously shared her strategies and insights to help other aspirants on their journey.

Khushboo's Background and Preparation Journey

Khushboo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Science from Lady Irwin College, Delhi University. She began her preparation for the UPSC CSE during her college days, by reading NCERT books and newspapers, ensuring that she was well-versed in the foundational knowledge required for the examination.

"I was once, where you are right now. So I hope that my strategy is helpful for you in some way," Khushboo shares, reflecting on her own experience as an aspirant.

Prelims Strategy

Khushboo's strategy for the Preliminary examination was well-rounded and effective. She scored 107 marks in the General Studies (GS) paper and 103 marks in the CSAT paper, demonstrating her strong performance.

Sources and Preparation

• Khushboo followed coaching magazines like Vision PT365, along with her own self-notes, which she prepared after a "thorough reading of the newspaper." She found the 'explained' section of the Indian Express newspaper to be particularly helpful.
• She had a benchmark of attempting at least 85 questions for sure, which she arrived at after giving numerous mock tests and analyzing her efficiency and accuracy.
• While solving and analyzing test series, Khushboo was cautious about "what not to read," focusing on topics that were relevant in the current affairs and syllabus, and avoiding excessive factual details in areas like Art and Culture.
• Towards the end of her preparation, Khushboo made "very short notes of topics" that she was easily forgetting, ensuring that she could revise them quickly even on the exam day.

Exam-day Strategy

• During the Prelims exam, Khushboo followed a "3-round strategy," where she first attempted the questions she was sure about or could answer through elimination, then took more time to eliminate and reach an answer, and finally, in the third round, she ensured that her benchmark of 85+ questions was met through smart guesswork.
• For the CSAT paper, Khushboo started revising basic notes and formulae, and solving questions, 2 days a week, about 2 months before the Prelims.

Khushboo emphasizes the importance of "believing that you can do it" as a crucial aspect of her strategy. She had missed the Prelims cutoff by just 3 marks in her first attempt, and in her second attempt, she went in with "utmost confidence" in her mind.

Ethics Strategy

Khushboo scored an impressive 128 marks in the Ethics paper, and she attributes her success to a well-planned approach.

Approach to the Ethics Paper

1. "I always started with case studies and then went to the theory part of the paper, because case studies have much higher weightage."
2. Khushboo ensured that she attempted "each and every question," no matter how less she wrote, as this is particularly possible in the Ethics paper, where one can even write generic answers if needed.
3. She "always started [her] answers with quotes related to the topic," having collected a wide range of relevant quotes on topics like corruption, empathy, compassion, and integrity.
4. Khushboo also "tried to conclude [her] answers by relating some quotes/philosophies to the topic," such as using the "Seven Sins according to Gandhiji" in corporate governance answers.
5. In case studies, Khushboo would "make a small summary of the question, or writing the ethical dilemma(s) being presented" in the introduction of her answers.
6. She made it a point to "mention an example with each and every statement" being written, even using everyday examples to support her points.

Public Administration Optional Strategy

Khushboo scored a total of 294 marks in the Public Administration optional subject, with 135 marks in Paper 1 and 159 marks in Paper 2.

Reasons for Choosing Public Administration

1. Khushboo found the subject of Polity to be "an interesting subject," which led her to choose Public Administration as her optional.
2. She recognized the "overlap between Pub Ad and GS2 (especially Pub Ad's paper 2)", which made the subject a practical choice.
3. Khushboo also considered the "practical relevance for someone planning to join administration in the future" as a factor in her decision.

Preparation Sources and Strategy

1. Khushboo followed an online coaching program from the TrustIAS institute, which provided her with comprehensive notes.
2. She referred to the book "Administrative Thinkers" by D. Ravindra Prasad and Prasad for the theory aspects of Paper 1.
3. For Paper 2, Khushboo relied heavily on her Polity notes, as there is a significant overlap between the two subjects.
4. She also studied previous year question papers and "topper copies freely available on the internet" to understand the best approach to answering questions.

Key Elements of the Strategy

1. Khushboo ensured "word by word topic coverage of the optional syllabus" to ensure thorough preparation.
2. She emphasized the importance of "linking Paper 1 and 2", ensuring that each answer had at least one reference from the other paper, thereby demonstrating her holistic understanding of the subject.
3. Khushboo used a mix of paragraphs and bullet points in her answers, with introductions and conclusions in paragraph form and the body utilizing both formats as appropriate.
4. She made short notes of "keywords for each thinker in Paper 1" and used them diligently in her answers.
5. Khushboo reviewed the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) reports multiple times, as they are crucial for Paper 2.
6. She also made use of "diagrams, graphs, etc." to enhance the visual appeal and clarity of her answers, such as using graphs to showcase the evolution of Comparative Public Administration.

Khushboo's comprehensive and well-planned strategies across Prelims, Ethics, and Public Administration have undoubtedly contributed to her remarkable success in the UPSC CSE 2022. Her insights and experiences are invaluable for current and future civil services aspirants seeking to emulate her achievements.