Shivansh Singh (CSE-23 AIR-164) Anthropology & Comprehensive Strategy

Shivansh Singh's Journey to CSE 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

Shivansh Singh, a graduate from IIT Roorkee in Electrical Engineering, shared his journey and strategy of preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023, which he cleared with AIR-164. This detailed account provides valuable insights into his approach, strategies, and preparations for the exam.

Overall Strategy

Shivansh Singh began his preparation for CSE 2023 in 2021, during his final year of college. The initial hurdle he faced was identifying the right sources for each subject, including his optional, Anthropology. He was skeptical about leaving his corporate job in Bangalore to prepare full-time for the exam but ultimately made the decision once he felt comfortable with the syllabus. He recommends considering the leap of faith once the syllabus is well-understood, utilizing any free time after work, and dedicating 9-10 hours during weekends for preparation.

He emphasized that no single coaching can be a one-stop solution for UPSC preparation. Once he identified reliable sources for each General Studies (GS) subject, he focused on revising them rather than exploring new material. The sources he referred to included Vision IAS online coaching and his handwritten notes from classes. For standard books, he repeatedly revised Laxmikant and Spectrum.

Preparing from home, Shivansh found constant psychological support from his family crucial. To break the monotony of home preparation, he explored nearby libraries and parks, making friends outside the UPSC ecosystem. Balancing UPSC preparation with family, friends, and hobbies helped him stay consistent and avoid burnout.

Prelims Strategy

CSAT:

Shivansh did not extensively prepare for the CSAT and took only a few mock tests. His strategy in the exam hall was to attempt all comprehension questions first and then only those reasoning questions he was comfortable with. He aimed to get at least 23/27 comprehension questions correct and targeted around 60 questions in total. For reasoning, he aimed to identify and attempt around 15 easy standard questions.

GS:

For each GS subject, he aimed to be able to attempt all questions correctly which majority of aspirants were attempting. He relied on coaching class notes and Spectrum for Modern History, coaching class notes for Ancient and Medieval History, Art and Culture, Polity, and Geography. For Environment and Economics, he used Sudarshan Gurjar's videos and PT365, respectively. For Science and Technology, he relied on class notes and PT365. PT365 of IR was also recommended but not covered specifically for prelims.

He attempted 35 mock tests from Vision IAS, including 10 sectional tests. He stressed the importance of reverse learning from these mock tests. PYQs were prioritized as the most important source for prelims, with a focus on understanding the pattern of questions and the options provided.

Mains Strategy

Answer Writing:

Shivansh focused on improving his answer writing skills before prelims by writing one question after each class and submitting it for evaluation. He attempted around 4-5 questions daily and used feedback to improve his answers. ConvertIAS was his go-to platform for evaluation and feedback.

Test Series:

He attempted Vision IAS and Edsarrthi test series for mains preparation.

Essay:

He did not prepare separate material for essay but used content from GS. He practiced 12 structures and 5 full-length essays, focusing on covering various dimensions and creating broad headings for each essay.

GS Papers:

He used the same sources for GS papers as prelims, with additional reliance on Mains 365 for IR and Polity. For Indian Society, he made short notes from Vision IAS value-added material. For Ethics, he solely relied on the GS-4 module from Edsarrthi.

Anthropology

Shivansh took online coaching from Sosin mam for Anthropology but felt that no coaching can be a one-stop solution. He referred to topper notes and prepared answers in intro, body, conclusion format from standard sources. Laghima Tiwari mam’s notes were particularly helpful. He added case studies and examples from coaching class notes, Vivek Bhasme sir’s book, and Dr DK Bhattacharya sir’s lecture videos.

Interview Strategy

Interview preparation was relatively unstructured compared to prelims and mains. The focus was on preparing the DAF thoroughly and reading 3 newspapers daily. He found that knowing the answers to certain questions was more important than the number of questions answered.

Advice

UPSC is a marathon, not a sprint. Shivansh recommends dedicating 8-9 hours daily to study, increasing the number of hours 2-3 months before prelims and between prelims and mains. He urges aspirants not to get scared of pattern changes or unconventional questions and to trust their preparation.

Finally, he shares that the journey must be enjoyed to sustain oneself. He is open to connecting personally with aspirants to address any specific doubts.

Shivansh Singh’s comprehensive and detailed approach provides a roadmap for aspirants preparing for the CSE. His strategy, emphasizing reliability on tried-and-true sources, disciplined study, and balanced preparation, serves as a valuable guide for future aspirants.