Navdeep Aggarwal (AIR-150, CSE-21) Working Professional+Dos+Pre+Mains+Socio+Interview Strategy

Navdeep's Journey to CSE-21 AIR-150: A Comprehensive Strategy

Navdeep's journey to cracking CSE-21 with AIR-150 is a testament to his resilience and strategic planning. His story begins in 2016 when he cleared the Indian Forest Service exam with AIR-21, joining the 2017 batch and serving in various roles, including Deputy DFO and Regional Manager. Despite the challenges of a full-time job and the responsibilities of family and a child, Navdeep felt the urge to serve society more holistically. This led him to make the decision to retake the exam after a 5-year gap, a move that required immense emotional strength and strategic planning.

Navdeep's Background and Preparation

Navdeep's path to CSE-21 was not straightforward. He had to handle the responsibilities of a family and a full-time job while preparing for the exam. After working in Pathankot as Deputy DFO for a year and a half, he was posted as Regional Manager in Punjab State Forest Development Corporation. This role allowed him some flexibility, which he used to study and prepare for the exam. He married during this period and now has a daughter who is 20 months old. Despite these responsibilities, Navdeep remained committed to his goal and worked tirelessly to achieve it.

Key Strategies for Navdeep's Success

Navdeep's strategy can be broken down into several key components that contributed to his success.

1. Time Management

Navdeep understood the importance of managing his time effectively. He was able to carve out time for study from his work schedule by solving prelims questions during his work hours and dedicating more time during non-working hours and weekends. He also advised other working aspirants to take leave for at least 1-2 months before prelims and mains to fully focus on preparation.

2. Emotional Control and Optimism

One of the biggest challenges Navdeep faced was a health issue during the mains exam. He was diagnosed with dengue and chikangunya, which disrupted his plans. However, he did not let this setback deter him. Instead, he remained optimistic and focused on the things he could control. He reworked his strategy and ensured he completed the most important tasks before the final exam.

3. Delayed Gratification

Navdeep never compromised his primary duties or responsibilities towards his family. He made sure to take care of his daughter, attend to his parents' health needs, and maintain his work commitments despite the demanding preparation schedule. He also made a conscious decision to avoid social media and minimize office parties to reduce distractions and maintain his focus.

4. Reverse Engineering

Navdeep's preparation involved reverse engineering, where he referred to previous year questions (PYQs) to get an idea of the syllabus and trends. He developed a problem-solving approach to studies, which helped him narrow down the scope of what needed to be studied. He also revised his notes multiple times and made use of mnemonics and stories to aid in retention.

5. Revision and Practice

Revision was a crucial aspect of Navdeep's strategy. He believed in the importance of systematic revision and encouraged others to revise important points multiple times. He also practiced writing tests to improve his writing skills and familiarity with the exam format.

Sociology Preparation Strategy

Navdeep's strategy for sociology was meticulous and well-planned. He started preparing in January 2021 and scored 286 marks overall, with 161 in Paper 1. His preparation involved a mix of study material, including books by Nitin Sangwan, Neha Bhosle, and Vision IAS, as well as online resources like InsightsonIndia and IAS Gurukul.

Study Material

Navdeep's sociology preparation included a variety of resources:

1. Sleepy Classes: Free and paid content for comprehensive understanding.
2. IAS Gurukul: Test series and answer writing program.
3. Nitin Sangwan sir’s book: Essential Sociology.
4. Neha Bhosle mam’s test papers: To understand the exam pattern and improve answering skills.
5. Vision solved test papers: To gain confidence through practice.
6. Selected Reading: From IGNOU and other sources.

Preparation Schedule

Navdeep divided his preparation into three phases:

1. First 2-3 Months: Focused on understanding the syllabus through PYQs and watching videos from Sleepy Classes and Nitin Sangwan’s book.
2. Next 3 Months: Wrote answers and updated his notes based on Neha Mam’s papers and Vision IAS test papers.
3. Final 3 Months: Devoted time to prelims and joined the test series of IAS Gurukul for practice.

Mock Tests and Revision

Navdeep participated in multiple mock tests to improve his writing skills and familiarize himself with the exam format. He also revised his notes multiple times, ensuring that he retained the important points.

Prelims and GS Strategy

Navdeep's prelims strategy involved solving a large number of questions from various sources. He believed in the importance of revision and made rough notes of keywords to aid in retention. For GS papers, he relied on a mix of notes and test series, including IAS Baba, Mrunal, and Vision IAS.

Ethics Strategy

Navdeep's approach to GS4 involved readingDecode Ethics by Mudit Jain twice and solving previous years' papers. He added contemporary examples and quotes to his answers to make them more relevant and scored high in ethics.

Interview Preparation

Navdeep considered the interview to be tougher than mains. He attended mock interviews and prepared balanced perspectives for various topics. He also ensured he stayed calm and confident during the interview.

Conclusion

Navdeep's journey to cracking CSE-21 with AIR-150 is a testament to his dedication, strategic planning, and emotional resilience. His strategy, which involved effective time management, emotional control, delayed gratification, reverse engineering, revision, and practice, can serve as a guide for other aspirants. His notes and strategies are available on his Telegram channel, and he is open to helping other aspirants with their preparation.