Merugu Kaushik (CSE-23 AIR-82) Sociology & Comprehensive Strategy

Merugu Kaushik: Journey to UPSC CSE Success

Merugu Kaushik's journey to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 is an inspiring story of dedication, strategic planning, and unwavering determination. Starting with a diverse educational and professional background, Kaushik embarked on this challenging path, determined to achieve his goals.

Background and Journey

Merugu Kaushik, a civil engineer by training, pursued an MBA in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi. After working as a consultant in Capgemini's Financial Services BU for a year, he decided to take on the UPSC Civil Services Examination. With a strong academic foundation and a keen interest in public service, Kaushik began his preparation in January 2022, aiming to secure a top rank in his first attempt.

Prelims Preparation and Mains Strategy

Kaushik's preparation strategy was well-organized and multi-pronged. During the initial phase, he focused on preparing for the Preliminary Examination, covering the standard resources and notes recommended by toppers. He analyzed the trends of questions asked in the past and identified the important topics and dimensions to be addressed in the Mains Examination.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding, Kaushik made his own notes and supplemented them with toppers' notes, particularly for subjects like Sociology, which he had chosen as his optional subject. From February 2023 onwards, he dedicated his efforts exclusively to revising the static part and practicing mock tests to prepare for the Preliminary Examination.

Post-Prelims Journey

After clearing the Preliminary Examination, Kaushik shifted his attention to the Mains Examination, emphasizing answer writing practice, essay writing, and ethics. He diligently wrote all the questions from the General Studies and Optional papers from 2013 onwards, honing his skills within a strict time limit. To further enhance his preparation, he enrolled in the ForumIAS test series for General Studies and the Sleepy Classes test series for Sociology.

Challenges and Mentorship

One of the major challenges Kaushik faced was in the post-prelims phase, particularly with regards to Ethics and Essay writing. Unsure of the exact approach and the resources to refer to, he sought guidance from a senior and mentor, Rohini ma'am, at the ForumIAS, who provided valuable insights and direction.

Preparation Strategies

When to Start Preparing

Kaushik recommends starting the preparation process at least 1-1.5 years before the Preliminary Examination. This time frame allows aspirants to develop a clear understanding of the examination pattern and thoroughly prepare for all the stages of the UPSC CSE.

How to Start Preparing

Kaushik suggests the following steps for the initial phase of preparation:

1. Thoroughly study the syllabus for both the Preliminary and Mains Examinations.
2. Analyze the trends of questions asked by UPSC and identify the important topics and dimensions.
3. Select the standard resources and notes that one feels confident in and stick to them.
4. Develop a comprehensive plan, including short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals, and create a detailed timetable.

Preparing with a Job

Kaushik was employed during his preparation period, from May 2022 to May 2023. He found that preparing alongside his job helped him maintain a focused and intense approach, as he carefully utilized the limited free time available to cover the news, revise topics, and practice answer writing. However, he recognized the need to dedicate more time to Mains preparation and eventually made the decision to quit his job, which proved to be a beneficial move.

Booklists and Strategies

Preliminary Examination

Kaushik's booklist for the Preliminary Examination included standard resources like Laxmikanth for Polity, Mrunal notes for Economy, Shankar IAS and PT365 for Environment, and NCERT books for Geography and Science and Technology.

Mains Examination

For the Mains Examination, Kaushik's strategy involved making his own notes for subjects like Indian Society, Governance and Welfare, and Internal Security, while relying on resources like Mridul Shivhare's notes for Polity and Mains365 for International Relations and Science & Technology.

Optional Subject: Sociology

Kaushik chose Sociology as his optional subject, focusing on the Essential Sociology by Nitin Sangwan and solving previous year question papers.

Note-Making and Revision

Kaushik did not make extensive notes for all subjects, recognizing that it was a personal choice. However, he did create concise notes for subjects like Economics, where he found it helpful to have a quick reference. His revision strategy involved repeatedly going through the standard resources and making notes of new concepts or facts encountered during test series.

Key Strategies and Learnings

Kaushik emphasized the importance of PYQs (Previous Year Questions) at both the Preliminary and Mains stages, using them to identify key topics and concepts, and to practice answer writing. He also shared his approach to attempting the Preliminary Examination, which involved a three-round strategy, starting with the 100% sure questions, followed by those where he could eliminate two options, and finally the questions where he had to rely on his gut feeling.

Regarding test series, Kaushak encouraged aspirants to attempt as many as possible, focusing on quality over quantity, and analyzing the feedback to improve their performance with each mock test.

Kaushik's journey to success in the UPSC CSE 2023 is a testament to his strategic planning, disciplined approach, and willingness to seek guidance when necessary. By sharing his experiences and insights, he aims to inspire and guide future UPSC aspirants in their pursuit of public service.