Sakshi Mishra, AIR-299 CSE-22 Prelims, Mains & PSIR
Hi All, This is the 24th Topper Journey & Strategy post from the Batch of 2023. Sakshi Mishra cleared CSE-22 with AIR-299 in her 2nd attempt and has detailed her Prelims, Mains and PSIR optional strategy in this post. Introduction My name is Sakshi Mishra. I was born in a small town called Shahdol in Madhya
Sakshi Mishra's Topper Journey and Strategy for UPSC CSE 2022
Sakshi Mishra, a native of the small town of Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as a shining star in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. Hailing from a humble background, Sakshi's journey to securing the coveted All India Rank (AIR) 299 in her second attempt is a testament to her unwavering determination and strategic approach to the exam.
Early Life and Educational Background
Sakshi's educational journey began at Kendriya Vidyalaya, where she laid the foundation for her academic excellence. Subsequently, she pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science and History from the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, completing her studies in 2020.
During her college days, Sakshi's initial tryst with UPSC preparation came through a weekend batch at Raus IAS coaching institute. However, due to her various college engagements, she was unable to devote the necessary attention to her preparation, which ultimately affected her first attempt at the UPSC CSE in 2021.
The Journey to Success
Sakshi's serious preparation for the UPSC CSE began around September 2020. Initially, she was uncertain about attempting the exam in 2021, but the postponement of the Prelims due to the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to give it a shot. Despite her preparation being "half-baked" at the time, Sakshi narrowly missed the final cut-off in her first attempt.
Undeterred, Sakshi dedicated herself fully to her second attempt in 2022. With PSIR (Political Science and International Relations) as her optional subject, she embarked on a comprehensive and strategic approach to excel in the exam.
Prelims Preparation
Sakshi's Prelims preparation focused on relatively static subjects like Polity, Modern Indian History, and Economy. She meticulously created detailed notes from standard books, ensuring easy revision. For dynamic subjects like International Relations, Environment, and Science & Technology, Sakshi relied on current affairs compilations to complement her basic knowledge.
For the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) paper, Sakshi practiced previous year question papers, as she was scoring around 100 marks in most of them. However, the 2022 CSAT paper turned out to be more challenging, and Sakshi advised future aspirants to do additional practice beyond just the previous year questions.
Sakshi also gave around 30-40 mock tests from reputable institutes like Vision IAS, GS Score, and Forum IAS. Importantly, she emphasizes the significance of maintaining a calm and confident mindset during the Prelims, as it can help in making calculated guesses even when all the answers are not known.
Mains Preparation
In the Mains examination, Sakshi's focus was on thoroughly covering the detailed General Studies (GS) syllabus. Revision of her comprehensive notes was crucial, as she had compiled important statistics, judgments, and other value-adding information.
Sakshi also studied the answer-writing patterns of previous toppers to understand the structure and approach. In the final weeks, she attempted full-length tests to acclimatize herself to the actual examination scenario, honing her writing speed and answering skills.
For her PSIR optional, Sakshi primarily relied on the notes of Shubhra Ranjan, along with a few standard books. She emphasized the importance of understanding the theoretical foundations of the topics, incorporating relevant criticisms and counter-viewpoints in her answers.
Sources and Resources
Sakshi utilized a diverse range of sources to prepare for the UPSC CSE. For General Studies, she referred to standard textbooks, such as Spectrum's "Modern India" for history, Nitin Singhania's book for art and culture, and NCERT textbooks for geography. She also extensively used online resources and publications like Mains 365 for topics like Governance and International Relations.
For her PSIR optional, Sakshi found the notes of Shubhra Ranjan madam to be particularly helpful, along with a few other standard books. She also selectively referred to the notes and resources shared by previous toppers, such as Utkarsh Dwivedi's blog and the Telegram channels of Jayant Rathore, Rishabh Rewar, and Shreya Shree.
Sakshi emphasizes the importance of consistency, patience, and a determined mindset in navigating the UPSC CSE journey. Drawing inspiration from the words of Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter series, she believes that "anything is possible if you've got enough nerve."
Conclusion
Sakshi Mishra's remarkable achievement in the UPSC CSE 2022 demonstrates the power of strategic planning, consistent effort, and a positive mindset. Her journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring civil servants, reminding them that with unwavering determination and a well-crafted approach, success in this highly competitive examination is within reach.