Rimita Saha (CSE-23 AIR-566) Anthropology & Comprehensive Strategy

Rimita Saha, a young achiever from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, has secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 566 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023. This remarkable feat comes after her third attempt at the mains exam and her first experience with the interview process.

Rimita's Educational and Professional Journey

After completing her B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from NIT Durgapur in 2015, Rimita decided to let go of her PSU job and enrolled in an M.Tech program at IIT Delhi. Following her postgraduate studies, she briefly worked as an Assistant Professor. However, the dream of cracking the UPSC CSE soon started to take precedence, and Rimita made the decision to quit her teaching job to focus entirely on her preparation.

UPSC Preparation Journey: Highs and Lows

Rimita's UPSC journey has been a roller coaster of successes and challenges. She managed to clear the UPSC prelims in 2019, but the mains exam remained elusive. In 2020 and 2021, she could not even clear the prelims, and the thought of giving up crossed her mind. Yet, with the unwavering support of her parents, Rimita persevered.

"People say 'you get impatient as time progresses' but for me, it was the other way. Time made me realize the significance of perseverance and practice," Rimita reflects.

In 2022, Rimita's confidence grew after her performance in the UPSC CSE, despite not clearing the mains exam. This experience helped her realize what she needed to do and how to approach the preparation. Rimita then took a leap of faith and decided to change her optional subject from Electrical Engineering to Anthropology.

Strategies and Preparation Highlights

Rimita's preparation for the UPSC CSE 2023 was meticulous and multifaceted. She devoted a significant amount of time to writing mock exams, both sectional and comprehensive, in test centers and with model papers. After clearing the prelims, she dedicated almost 80% of her time to her optional subject, Anthropology, while allocating limited time for General Studies.

Pre-Prelims Preparation

Rimita's pre-prelims preparation focused heavily on mock tests. She wrote almost all the open mocks organized by various institutes, which helped her analyze her preparation, gauge her accuracy, and determine the optimum number of questions to attempt. Additionally, she solved the past 15 years of UPSC Prelims question papers, which boosted her confidence and understanding of the exam's demands.

Post-Prelims Preparation

• General Studies (GS): Due to her shift to the Anthropology optional, Rimita had limited time for GS preparation before the mains exam. She relied on Mudit Jain's answer-writing strategies and wrote daily answers in the OnlyIAS Srijan test series.
• Essay: Rimita had scored 102 in her 2022 attempt. She analyzed her mistakes, referred to the essay booklets of previous successful candidates, and incorporated relevant strategies to improve her essay writing skills, ultimately increasing her score to 114 in 2023.
• Optional (Anthropology): Rimita enrolled in the Anthropology Advanced course at Next IAS, where previous year question papers were discussed thoroughly. She also joined the Answer Writing program at O2 IAS Academy, where she worked closely with Akashdeep Sir to devise a winning strategy for her optional subject.

Interview Preparation

During the interview preparation stage, Rimita enrolled in various institutes for mock interviews. Although the actual interview questions differed from the mocks, the experience helped her overcome her hesitation, anxiety, and nervousness. Additionally, she practiced with a friend for an hour every day, further boosting her confidence.

Booklist and Resources

Rimita's preparation was supported by a comprehensive booklist and various resources, including Mudit Jain's Decode series, NCERT textbooks, and subject-specific books recommended by experts. She also actively engaged with the Decode Civil Services Telegram group for free UPSC guidance and access to strategy sessions by toppers.

Conclusion

Rimita Saha's journey to the UPSC CSE 2023 podium is a testament to her unwavering determination, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of the examination's demands. Her story inspires aspiring civil servants to embrace the challenges, stay persistent, and leverage the ever-growing pool of resources available to achieve their dreams.