Sampada Trivedi (AIR-79, CSE-21) Philosophy Strategy

Sampada Trivedi's Remarkable Journey to AIR-79 in CSE-2021 with Philosophy Optional

Sampada Trivedi, a determined and hardworking aspirant, has secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 79 in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021, with Philosophy as her optional subject. Her remarkable achievement is a testament to her unwavering dedication and strategic approach to her preparation.

Sampada's Background and Preparation

Sampada's journey began with her decision to pursue the Civil Services Examination, a highly competitive and prestigious exam in India. She recognized the importance of having a strong foundation in her optional subject, and she chose Philosophy as her area of focus. Sampada's preparation was guided by the coaching classes she attended at Mitras IAS, where she diligently utilized the study material and class notes provided by the institute.

Indian Philosophy

For the Indian Philosophy segment of the exam, Sampada relied heavily on the class notes and study material from Mitras IAS. Additionally, she supplemented her learning by reading the book "CD Sharma," which provided her with a deeper understanding of the various topics within Indian Philosophy.

Western Philosophy

Similarly, Sampada's preparation for the Western Philosophy section of the exam was centered around the class notes and study material from Mitras IAS. To further enhance her knowledge, she referred to the book "YA Masih," which helped her gain a more comprehensive grasp of the Western Philosophical concepts.

Socio-Political and Philosophy of Religion

In the Paper 2 section, which covers Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion, Sampada recognized the dynamic and analytical nature of these topics. For Socio-Political Philosophy, she utilized the book "OP Gauba" to understand the basics of concepts such as Equality, Liberty, and Democracy. However, she emphasized the importance of complementing this with regular newspaper reading and analyzing these concepts in the context of real-world events and issues, such as caste discrimination.

For the Philosophy of Religion, Sampada once again relied on the study material provided by Mitras IAS, and she further enriched her understanding by reading the works of John Hick.

Sampada's Preparation Strategy

Sampada's preparation strategy involved a multifaceted approach, focusing on both conceptual clarity and practical application.

Extensive Answer Writing Practice

Sampada recognized the importance of extensive answer writing practice, especially for the Paper 2 section, which demands a high level of cross-referencing between the topics covered in Paper 1.

Personalized Note-taking and Revision

Sampada diligently prepared her own personalized notes, using mind maps, flow charts, and other visualization techniques. This not only aided her in revising the material but also helped her in memorizing the intricate details, Sanskrit terms, and the nuances of the various philosophical concepts.

Conceptual Understanding and Real-life Application

Sampada emphasized the importance of developing a deep conceptual understanding of the philosophical ideas, rather than merely memorizing the details. She encouraged herself to apply these concepts to real-life situations, drawing connections and comparisons between different schools of thought, which proved to be a valuable strategy in the exam.

Scoring Brownie Points

Sampada shared some insightful tips and tricks that she learned during her preparation journey, which helped her score better in the Philosophy optional.

Focused and Concise Answers

In Paper 1, Sampada advised aspirants to understand the demand of the question and respond accordingly, providing only the necessary details about the philosophical concepts and then moving directly to the core of the question.

Effective Cross-referencing and Use of Sanskrit Terms

Sampada found that cross-referencing between Indian and Western philosophical concepts, as well as incorporating relevant Sanskrit terms, were effective ways to earn additional marks in the exam.

Incorporating Criticism and Real-life Examples

Sampada emphasized the importance of including critiques of the philosophical ideas presented in the answers, as well as drawing upon real-life examples and current affairs to demonstrate a strong grasp of the concepts.

Leveraging the Indian Constitution

For the Socio-Political Philosophy section, Sampada suggested that extensively quoting the Indian Constitution on topics like Equality, Socialism, and Secularism could be a powerful tool to earn more marks.

Continuous Improvement and Additional Resources

Alongside her primary preparation strategy, Sampada also utilized test series and past year question papers to assess her learning and further refine her answer-writing skills. She found these resources to be extremely helpful in identifying areas for improvement and sharpening her approach.

Sampada's remarkable success in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021 with Philosophy as her optional subject is a testament to her unwavering determination, strategic approach, and deep understanding of the subject. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring civil servants, encouraging them to embrace the beauty of Philosophy and leverage it to achieve their dreams.