Pratik Agrawal (AIR-156, CSE-21) Journey and Strategy

Pratik Agrawal's Journey from Failure to Success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination

Pratik Agrawal's journey to success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) was one of resilience and determination. On the day when the UPSC declared the Prelims-22 results, many dreams were shattered. However, Pratik had to move on after his failure in CSE-20, where he managed only 60 odd marks in the Prelims. Undeterred, he not only cracked the CSP but also achieved the forest cut-off in CSE-21.

Pratik's Detailed Timeline and Resources

The Beginning

After finishing his college on 15th May 2019, Pratik found himself on the streets of Old Rajinder Nagar on 17th May 2019. He started his classes from the next week in Vajiram for General Studies and Geography optional from GuidanceIAS in mid-June 2019. With no background in humanities, it was a tough initial phase, as things started very quickly.

The next 10 months in Delhi were challenging, with extreme weather, overcrowded and congested streets, and anonymity in the crowd. By 15th March 2020, classes were forcefully closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Pratik had to shift back to his home in Raipur.

The COVID-19 Setback

The COVID-19 times were very challenging and uncertain. The lockdown phase, as well as Pratik's complacency, took away his first attempt in 2020. He was scoring around 64 in the Prelims and knew he wouldn't make it. Pratik took a break of 7-10 days and started afresh from zero.

Reassessing the Strategy

Pratik realized that the GS classes provided him with some direction and information about the exam, but there was little academic gain. However, the optional classes were good and fulfilling. He analyzed his Prelims score, the syllabus, and previous years' questions of both Prelims and Mains. Pratik started covering the syllabus one by one, joined an answer evaluation programme of the IAS network, and wrote previous years' questions extensively for the optional and GS.

The Tough Months

November and December were tough months for Pratik mentally, as there was too much pressure to look for a job or join the family business. However, his parents and friends supported him during this phase. Pratik gave his heart and body from November to October 2021.

The Detailed Plan

Pratik's plan was simple: November to February for Mains and March to May for Prelims. He started with GS 2 and GS 4, along with the optional, and finished the two GS papers by the end of December. Then, he went for GS 1, but the Prelims anxiety started to kick in. Pratik ordered the SFG-1 online and started giving one test a day from mid-January, along with GS 1 and optional revision and note-making.

By the end of February, Pratik was done with the major GS portion, optional revision, as well as the SFG-1 50 tests. For current affairs, he did the Vision monthly magazine from April 2020 for the exam in May 2021, reading 20 pages a day after giving a glance through the headlines of The Indian Express.

Recalibrating for the Postponed Prelims

When the Prelims was postponed due to the Delta variant, Pratik had to recalibrate. He ordered the SFG-2 tests, 50 of them, writing each one day. He also completed the Vision and Forum IAS tests by September, and he was raring to go for the Prelims.

The Mains Preparation

Pratik had always believed that he would go all the way through if he cleared the Prelims. This time, he aimed for 400 in GS, 110 in Essay, 280 in the optional, and 180 in the interviews.

The Essay journey was tougher, as Pratik scored 45/250 in the first test. He changed his writing style and practiced a lot of philosophical essays, eventually scoring 120/250.

Pratik wrote 27 GS and optional tests in 60 days. Everything for the Mains was almost done in this period, including finishing tests on time, improving handwriting, and adding data, facts, and examples.

The Interview Preparation

After writing the Mains, Pratik took 20 days off and started preparing for the Prelims, Mains, and interviews altogether. The results after two months were positive, but Pratik was unprepared for the interviews. He went to Delhi, got his DAF analyzed 4-5 times, gave 8-10 mocks, and in the last 10 days before the interviews, came back home to analyze his mocks and work on them.

The interview was a very nice experience, as it was 100% DAF-based, and Pratik was satisfied with his performance.

The Final Stretch

With exactly 40 days remaining for the Prelims 2022, Pratik's preparation was minimum, and his efficiency was really lacking due to the uncertainty. The results were due around 27-28th May, with one week to go for the Prelims.

On 30th May 2022, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Pratik's friend called him with the news that he had cleared the Prelims. Pratik was shivering, as this was the objective output of three years of investment. He felt very lucky and blessed, and he had trust in his processes, though he was not overjoyed.

Pratik's Booklist and Other Resources

GS 1

• Art and Culture: Nitin Singhania
• Ancient and Medieval: Poonam Dalal Singh
• Modern History: Sonali Bansal and Spectrum
• World History: Vision Notes
• Social Issues: Vision notes and VAM
• Geography: with optional so no other source

GS 2

• Governance: VAM
• Polity: Constitution Bare Act, Lakshmikant, and VAM
• International Relations: Vajiram static and Monthly Magazine

GS 3

• Economics: Vivek Singh, VAM, Monthly magazine, Selective topics from Mrunal Sir
• Environment: VAM and Monthly Magazine
• Science and Technology: Monthly Magazine, Vajiram Static Notes- Rahul Sir
• Security: VAM

GS 4

• VAM

Geography Optional

• Paper 1: Himanshu Sir's notes
• Paper 2: Himanshu Sir's notes and Khullar

Other Important Sources

• Economics Survey Vision Summary
• Mapping from YouTube and PMF IAS

Pratik also took various paid and non-paid coaching classes, test series, and other programs in his journey, which he has listed in detail.

Other CSE 21 Topper Strategies

Pratik has also provided links to the strategies of several other CSE 21 toppers, covering various subjects and aspects of the examination.