Rochika Garg, AIR-174 CSE-22 Journey & Prelims Strategy

Rochika Garg's Inspiring UPSC Journey: From Missed Cutoffs to Achieving AIR 174 in CSE 2022

Rochika Garg, a young woman hailing from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, has recently emerged as a shining star in the realm of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations. After two previous attempts, she secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 174 in the CSE-22 (Civil Services Examination 2022), showcasing her resilience and unwavering determination.

Rochika's Introduction

Rochika's journey began after completing her schooling from St. Mary's Convent School and her BTech in Electrical Engineering from NIT Bhopal. It was during her third year of preparation that she seriously considered appearing for the UPSC examinations, inspired by the slum students she used to teach, who ignited her desire to serve her country.

You can connect with Rochika on her Telegram Channel or Instagram Profile.

Rochika's Journey

Rochika's UPSC journey commenced on May 20, 2019, when she enrolled in the foundation course at Vajiram and Ravi in Delhi. For the next year, she followed a strict schedule, dedicating 5 hours to coaching (2.5 hours for General Studies and 2.5 hours for her Optional subject) and an additional 5-6 hours for self-study. She diligently completed the subjects from basic books and coaching notes, eagerly awaiting the Prelims examination.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to the postponement of the examination. Rochika utilized this time to complete her Mains preparation and make notes for Ethics and other subjects. During this period of uncertainty and grief, she balanced her family responsibilities with her studies, maintaining a disciplined routine that included yoga, daily discussions with friends, and helping others by listening to them.

Rochika's First Attempt

In Rochika's first attempt, she tried to cover as much as she could, including current affairs and static subjects. Unfortunately, a moment of panic during the last 30 minutes of the Prelims examination cost her dearly, and she fell short of the cutoff by a mere 0.66 marks. This experience taught her a valuable lesson: while preparation is important, performing well during the actual examination is crucial, and remaining calm and composed is key.

Rochika's Second Attempt

For her second attempt, Rochika made two significant changes. Firstly, she focused more on the static portion of the syllabus, seamlessly integrating current affairs with the static content. Secondly, during the examination, she remained confident, trusted her instincts, and applied her common sense. These adjustments enabled her to clear both the Prelims and Civil Services cutoffs. However, in the Mains examination, Rochika faced challenges with her Optional subject, Mathematics, as the syllabus was vast, and she had made the decision to leave the Physics portion before the exam, which proved to be a setback.

Rochika's Third Attempt

Determined to succeed, Rochika decided to give her third attempt, treating it as her final shot. She meticulously worked on plugging the loopholes in her Mains preparation. She focused on incorporating valuable insights from toppers' copies for Ethics and Essay, and she devoted more effort to improving her performance in Mathematics by giving more tests, completing the syllabus, and utilizing Kanishk Kataria's notes.

Rochika's dedication paid off, as she managed to improve her Mains performance by approximately 80 marks. The final stage, the Interview, was, in her opinion, the easiest yet the most crucial. By engaging in daily discussions, mock interviews, and one-on-one sessions with her peer group, Rochika gained the confidence and skills to tackle new questions, ultimately securing an impressive 193 marks in the Interview, which proved to be a game-changer for her this year.

Rochika's Prelims Booklist and Sources

Rochika shared her comprehensive Prelims booklist and sources, which covered a wide range of subjects, including Polity, History, Art and Culture, Geography, Environment, Science and Technology, and Economics. She emphasized the importance of analyzing and solving previous year question papers (PYQs) from various sources, including Mrunal Sir's book, which covered 25 years of PYQs.

Rochika's Advice for Aspirants

Rochika's parting advice for UPSC aspirants is to believe in themselves, surround themselves with a positive circle of people from both UPSC and non-UPSC backgrounds, and be true to their intentions and efforts. She firmly believes that "Those who sweat more during preparation will bleed less in war." Rochika's journey serves as a testament to the power of resilience, hard work, and self-belief, inspiring future generations of UPSC aspirants.

You can connect with Rochika on her Telegram Channel or Instagram Profile.

CSE-22 Topper Strategies

In addition to Rochika's story, the post includes a comprehensive list of strategies and insights shared by various CSE-22 toppers, covering a wide range of topics, including Prelims, Mains, Essay, Ethics, Anthropology, Sociology, Public Administration, and more. These top-ranking candidates offer valuable guidance and inspiration to aspiring civil servants navigating the UPSC journey.

The post highlights several key toppers and their remarkable achievements:

1. Dwij Goel (AIR 71) for his journey, GS-2 strategy, and Anthropology strategy
2. Gautam Vivekanandan (AIR 211) for his outstanding performance in the Essay paper
3. Khushboo Oberoi (AIR 139) for her Prelims, Ethics, and Public Administration strategies
4. Aaditya Sharma (AIR 70) for his Prelims, Mains, and Medical Science approach
5. Abhishek Dawachya (AIR 610) for his Prelims, Mains (GS-1 Topper), and Sociology insights
6. Avinash Kumar (AIR 17) for his exceptional performance in the Philosophy paper
7. Virendra Kumar Meena (AIR 883) for clearing Prelims thrice as a Hindi medium candidate
8. Jatin Jain (AIR 91) for his Prelims, Mains, and Sociology strategies
9. Kasturi Panda (AIR 67) for her Prelims, Mains, and Interview preparation
10. Laxmipriya Upadhyaya (AIR 176) for her Prelims, Mains, and Agriculture journey
11. Nidhi Goyal (AIR 202) for her exceptional GS-3 performance
12. Ishan Sinha (AIR 234) for his Prelims strategy and booklist
13. Anirudha Pandey (AIR 64) for his Prelims, Mains, and Essay insights
14. Tanisha Jetly (AIR 400) for her Botany Optional strategy
15. Damera Hima Vamshee (AIR 548) for her inspirational journey and Sociology approach
16. Kunal Jain (AIR 356) for his journey and learnings
17. Shaik Habeebulla (AIR 189) for his Prelims, CSAT, and Anthropology strategies
18. Priyanka Goel (AIR 369) for her journey and Public Administration performance
19. Ayushi Jain (AIR 74) for her comprehensive post and Geography insights
20. Arpita Thube (AIR 214) for her journey and GS strategy
21. Ritu (AIR 739) for her journey, Prelims-Mains booklist, and strategy
22. Siddharth Bhange (AIR 700) for his journey, Prelims-Mains booklist, and strategy
23. Anurag Ghuge (AIR 624) for his Prelims, Mains, Essay, and more
24. Sakshi Mishra (AIR 299) for her Prelims, Mains, and PSIR strategies
25. Navita Kumari (AIR 251) for her journey as a working professional and Sociology insights
26. Aaditya Pandey (AIR 48) for his Prelims, Mains, and Interview preparation
27. Mukund Singh Chahar (AIR 273) for his Prelims, Mains, History, and more
28. Goldi Gupta (AIR 181) for her journey, Prelims, and Mains (GS-3 101 Marks)
29. Aditya Jain (AIR 326) for his Prelims and Mains strategies
30. Manpreet Singh (AIR 616) for his journey, Prelims, and Mains preparation
31. Asad Zuberi (AIR 86) for his exceptional performance in Anthropology
32. Aakriti Sethi (AIR 249) for her journey, Prelims, Mains, and Economics insights
33. Muskan Dagar (AIR 72) for her outstanding performance in GS and GS-4
34. Madhav Bharadwaj (AIR 536) for his Management strategy
35. Atul Dhakne (AIR 737) for his Prelims strategy

This comprehensive collection of toppers' strategies and insights serves as a valuable resource for UPSC aspirants, providing them with a diverse range of approaches and perspectives to navigate the challenging exam.