Pubad Strategy Ankit Jain IPS (309 marks)
Courtesy Ankit. Strategy in his words: Hi Friends, I am Ankit Jain, AIR 222 in CSE 2017. I am sharing my strategy about how I prepared for my optional subject Public Administration that worked for me and helped scoring (309/500) one of the highest score in CSE 2017 Pubad. In General Studies I scored 463
Ankit Jain, with an All India Rank (AIR) of 222 in CSE 2017, shares his comprehensive strategy for preparing for the Public Administration optional subject. His efforts resulted in scoring 309/500, one of the highest scores in the 2017 CSE exam. Additionally, he scored 463 marks in General Studies, making his 3rd attempt, 2nd mains, and 1st interview the most successful of this year. In his first Main exams (2014), his score in Public Administration was 204 (114+90).
Why Choose Public Administration?
Background and Interest: Ankit, coming from an Engineering (IT) background, had no advantage of graduation in choosing an optional. He preferred to go for Humanities subjects because they require less time than other science subjects and help in both General Studies and Essay writing. Among Humanities subjects, he found Geography and History too vast and somewhat boring. Given his interest in Polity and the overlap of the Public Administration (Pub Ad) syllabus with General Studies (especially GS-2 and Ethics), he chose Public Administration. This decision proved to be beneficial, as he found the optional both easy and interesting, giving him ample time to prepare for General Studies.
Changing Trends: Historically, Public Administration was one of the most sought-after optional subjects. However, the shift towards other options was likely due to the lower marks allocated to it. Ankit believes that the performance of an optional cannot be predicted solely based on the marks it used to yield in previous years. The decision to choose an optional should not be based on its past performance but on the candidate's interest and preparation.
Coaching and Books Referenced
Coaching Classes
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Mohanty Sir's Class (Synergy): Ankit joined Mohanty Sir's class for Public Administration. He found the coaching beneficial, especially for Paper 1, which is often considered more challenging by most Pub Ad students. Mohanty Sir's teaching style was particularly effective in handling the 'thinkers' part of Paper 1, which is crucial for scoring high in both papers. While some topics in Paper 2 were not covered comprehensively in class, Ankit managed to supplement his preparation with a book by Radhabinod Aribam (IAS).
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Pavan Kumar IAS for Test Series: Ankit joined Pavan Kumar IAS for test series in 2017. This helped him practice answer writing and prepare for the examination. The questions in the test series were generally straightforward and based on previous year's papers. While the test series helped in boosting confidence, Ankit noted that the questions might not fully represent the complexity of questions that could appear in the actual exam. The discussion on the same day of the test provided immediate feedback but also limited flexibility in writing the test.
Books
Ankit read a diverse range of books to prepare for Public Administration. He found some to be particularly useful, while others were less effective.
Useful Books:
- Aribam Paper 1 & Paper 2 (Aribam): Ankit found this book extremely helpful, especially for Paper 1. It is a must-read for those who are not well-prepared or writing mains.
- New Horizon by Mohit Bhattacharya: This book is particularly good for handling tough questions in Paper 1. It is a bit challenging for beginners but is highly recommended after completing the basics or coaching.
- Prasad and Prasad: Useful for the 'thinkers' part of Paper 1, but Ankit recommends reading selectively as some topics are redundant.
- MPA 12 for Administrative Theory (IGNOU): Ankit found this book good for administrative theory and recommends reading only 2 or 3 of the IGNOU books.
- Super 50 by Shubhra Saxena IAS: This book covers all topics in a concise manner and is good for value addition. It can be read quickly.
- Laxmikanth for PubAd: This book is useful for Paper 1 but is not as essential as some of the other books mentioned.
Less Useful Books:
- Nicholas Henry: Not worth reading, especially for the Public Policy chapter.
- Goyal and Arora: Useful for basics in Paper 2, but the current pattern in Paper 2 focuses more on current affairs.
- Awasthi & Maheshwari: Useful for Administrative Law but not comprehensive enough for all topics in Paper 2.
Not Read Books:
- Sharma Sadana, Fadia & Fadia, IIPA: Ankit did not find these books particularly useful for his preparation.
Conclusion:
Ankit highly recommends Aribam's Paper 1 book for those who are not well-prepared. Even for those taking coaching, it can serve as a supplementary resource. He suggests revising the book multiple times and practicing answer writing.
Answer Writing Strategy
Paper 1:
- Thinkers: Mastering the thinkers is crucial as they will be used in all answers in Paper 1 and related to Paper 2.
- Indian Administration and Current Affairs: Make answers dynamic by relating them to Indian administration and current affairs with relevant examples.
- Diagrams and Flow Charts: Use diagrams and flow charts where suitable, but do not draw them just for the sake of drawing them.
Paper 2:
- Contemporary Issues: Be well-versed in contemporary issues like lateral entry, Pragati portal, etc.
- Linking with Administrative Thoughts: Relate answers to administrative thoughts from Paper 1, such as the mental revolution of Taylor, Esprit de corps of Fayol, Theory Y of McGregor, etc.
- Relevance of Examples: Use examples to make your answers stand apart.
Notes Making
- Key Points: Write key points in short notes and ensure you can recall their meanings.
- Examples: Learn the entire syllabus first and keep noting down relevant examples from newspapers and articles. Google the topics you are reading to find the latest articles and examples.
Time Management in Exam
- Select Questions: Attempt 5/8 questions, including the two compulsory questions, in any order that suits your strategy.
- Practice Mock Tests: Find out during mock tests which strategy works best for you to complete the paper in time.
Crux of Preparation
- Read, Revise, and Write: Read, revise multiple times (6-7), and write as much as possible.
- Underline Key Words: Underline key words in the question to ensure you address the demand of the question.
- Be Creative: Be creative and use relevant examples from current affairs as well as history, inter-linking both papers.
- Complete the Paper: Always strive to complete the whole paper.
Topper's Strategies
For more insights, you can refer to Ankit's notes and sample PDFs on his blog. His strategies and resources cover a wide range of topics, including General Studies, Ethics, and History.
Ankit's strategy and experiences offer a valuable insight into preparing for the UPSC CSE exam, particularly for the Public Administration optional subject. By following his recommendations, aspirants can enhance their preparation and performance in the exam.