Saumya Anand, IAS, CSE-2020 Strategy

Saumya Anand's Journey to Becoming an IAS Officer

Saumya Anand, a young achiever from a lower-middle-class family, has successfully navigated the challenging path of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) and secured her position as an IAS officer. In this detailed article, she shares the strategies and insights that led her to triumph in the very first attempt, achieving this remarkable feat at the tender age of 22.

Brief Background

Saumya's journey to the civil services began in her childhood, as her father, a teacher, instilled in her the dream of becoming an IAS officer and serving the nation. Hailing from a humble background, Saumya's determination was fueled by her desire to make a meaningful impact. After completing her engineering in IT from the Delhi Technological University, she single-mindedly dedicated an entire year to her UPSC CSE preparation, leveraging her strengths and overcoming her weaknesses to emerge victorious.

Crafting the Strategy

Saumya's approach to the UPSC CSE preparation was methodical and multifaceted. She began by thoroughly understanding the syllabus, downloading it from the UPSC website and familiarizing herself with its intricacies. Recognizing the importance of learning from the experiences of others, Saumya watched strategy videos of over 100 toppers, identifying the common threads and distilling the essential elements that could be tailored to her own needs.

Establishing a Solid Foundation

Saumya's preparation strategy was built on a five-layered approach. Firstly, she focused on reading NCERT books to establish a strong conceptual base, particularly in the subjects she was less familiar with, such as humanities. Secondly, she analyzed previous years' question papers to understand the patterns and types of questions asked by the UPSC, sharpening her understanding of the examination's demands.

Comprehensive Subject-Wise Preparation

Thirdly, Saumya delved into standard books for each subject, reading them multiple times to gain a deep understanding of the topics. Only then did she proceed to the fourth step, which involved creating personalized notes using various techniques, such as charts, graphs, and comparison methods, to aid her memory and understanding.

Finally, Saumya reinforced her learning by solving previous years' questions and attempting mock test papers, following an integrated approach that aligned her preparation for both the Prelims and Mains examinations.

Mastering Current Affairs

Recognizing the importance of current affairs in the UPSC CSE, Saumya dedicated a significant portion of her time to staying abreast of the latest developments. She read The Hindu daily, made notes, and supplemented her learning with resources from Insights and Vision IAS. Saumya emphasized the importance of regular revision, as it helped her retain the vast amount of information she had accumulated.

The Role of Consistency and Hard Work

Saumya underscores the significance of hard work and consistency as essential ingredients for success in the UPSC CSE. She advises against the temptation to start solving test series too early, as it is crucial to have a solid foundation in the syllabus before attempting them. Saumya's own journey involved starting the test series only after she had thoroughly studied and revised the syllabus multiple times.

The Five Essential Ingredients

Saumya's strategy for cracking the UPSC CSE can be distilled into five key elements:

1. Self-Confidence: Believing in oneself and one's abilities is the first step towards achieving success.
2. Analyzing the Syllabus and Previous Years' Papers: Understanding the examination's demands and patterns is crucial for efficient preparation.
3. Revision: Regularly revising the vast amount of information learned is essential for retaining knowledge.
4. Hard Work: Dedicated and consistent effort is a prerequisite for success in this rigorous examination.
5. Consistency: Maintaining a steady pace and persevering through the challenges is the hallmark of a successful UPSC CSE aspirant.

Saumya's inspiring journey stands as a testament to the power of these five essential ingredients, demonstrating that with the right mindset and strategies, the dreams of becoming an IAS officer can be realized, even at a young age.