Neha Byadwal (AIR-260, CSE-21) Prelims, Mains and Economics Strategy

Neha Byadwal's Journey and Strategy for UPSC CSE 2021

Neha Byadwal, a resident of Jaipur district of Rajasthan, secured AIR-260 in the UPSC CSE 2021 exam on her second attempt. She chose Economics as her optional, securing 285 marks in Economics. This post delves into her comprehensive preparation strategy for Prelims, Mains, and the Economics optional.

Background

Neha Byadwal completed her schooling in Jaipur and pursued a BS in Economics from IIT Kanpur. She then completed an M.S. in Economics from the same institution. After graduation in 2019, she embarked on her journey to prepare for the UPSC exam. In her first attempt, she was unable to clear Prelims due to strategic errors. This experience motivated her to improve her preparation and approach in the subsequent attempt.

Preparation

Neha's preparation began in earnest after her graduation. She joined Vajiram & Ravi's classroom program and also availed optional coaching from the same institution. However, the 2020 lockdown disrupted her preparation. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, she managed to recover and re-strategize for the 2021 attempt. Her second attempt was marked by a clear strategy and effective use of sources.

Prelims Preparation

For Prelims, Neha focused on covering the entire syllabus comprehensively. She relied on NCERTs for foundational knowledge and supplemented them with additional sources specific to each subject. Her study strategy involved multiple readings and extensive note-taking only after the fourth reading to avoid rewriting entire books. For Polity, she used M. Laxmikant, for History she used NCERTs and other recommended sources, and for Economics, she relied on her background knowledge and additional resources.

Mains Preparation

For Mains, Neha adopted a methodical approach. She started by understanding the syllabus and then covered each topic with a deep understanding, making concise notes for specific topics. She practiced essay writing regularly and sought feedback from past year toppers’ essays.

Economics Optional

As Neha had a background in Economics, she chose it as her optional. The vast syllabus required a well-defined strategy. She divided her preparation into six sub-subjects: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Money-Banking, Public Finance, International Economics, and Growth & Development. She referred to specific sources for each topic and practiced solving past year questions to identify gaps in her knowledge.

Coaching and Notes Making

Neha found coaching helpful in understanding subjects from the UPSC perspective, especially for subjects like Polity, History, and Geography where she had a science background. However, she emphasized that self-study and self-analysis are crucial components of UPSC preparation. She did not make extensive notes initially but started making short and specific notes after multiple readings.

Essay Writing

Neha approached essay writing with the aim of understanding and expanding on the given topics. She started writing essays before Prelims, with a focus on self-evaluation. She joined an essay test series to improve her writing skills and attempted various types of essays. The key to a good essay, she found, was choosing topics wisely and understanding them deeply.

Optional Paper 1 Strategy

For Paper 1, Neha divided her preparation into six sub-subjects and referred to specific sources for each. She started with the basics and then moved on to understanding the models and theories. She relied on past year papers to evaluate her preparation and to identify areas needing improvement.

Optional Paper 2 Strategy

Paper 2 was a significant challenge for Neha due to its vast syllabus. She tackled it by understanding the syllabus word by word, covering each topic with sufficient material, and practicing writing concise answers. She relied on past year papers and used toppers’ notes to guide her preparation.

Preparing for the Exam

Neha emphasized the importance of past year papers in understanding the exam pattern and preparing effectively. She also highlighted the need for regular practice and self-evaluation. For the Economics optional, she practiced solving past year papers in an exam mode to improve her speed and accuracy.

Conclusion

Neha Byadwal's journey to securing AIR-260 in the UPSC CSE 2021 exam was marked by a clear strategy, effective use of resources, and a disciplined approach. Her success can be attributed to her understanding of the exam and her ability to adapt her preparation strategy to the challenges she faced. Her advice to aspirants is to focus on self-study, practice, and self-evaluation, while also leveraging the guidance provided by coaching and mock tests.