Soubhagya Beelagimath (CSE-23 AIR-101) Anthropology & Comprehensive Strategy

Soubhagya Beelagimath, a recent graduate with a BSc in Agriculture (Hons) from the College of Agriculture, Dharwad, Karnataka, has achieved what many aspire to: securing AIR-101 in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE) 2023. This triumph is the culmination of years of dedication, strategic planning, and unwavering resolve.

Introduction to Soubhagya Beelagimath's Journey

Soubhagya Beelagimath graduated in 2022 with a BSc in Agriculture (Hons) from the College of Agriculture, Dharwad, Karnataka. Her childhood dream was to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, and she pursued this goal with a steadfast determination. Over the course of her preparation journey, she developed a robust strategy that has now resulted in her extraordinary success. This narrative delves into the key aspects of her preparation, from the initial stages to the final triumph.

The Preparation Journey

Building a Foundation

During her graduation, Soubhagya Beelagimath started following current affairs by reading The Hindu. When the COVID-19 lockdown forced her classes online, she found ample time to build up her static fundamentals and work on her optional subject, Anthropology. She made sure to utilize this period effectively, ensuring a solid foundation in both core and optional subjects.

The First Attempt

Soubhagya Beelagimath gave her first attempt at the UPSC CSE while in her fourth year of graduation. Unfortunately, she couldn't clear the prelims. This experience taught her valuable lessons that would shape her subsequent attempts.

Prelims Strategy

The prelims, often considered the first hurdle, were approached with a strong static foundation. Soubhagya Beelagimath emphasized reading and revising fundamentals continuously. She also made micro notes for final revision but refrained from extensive note-taking from static books. Instead, she focused on analyzing her mistakes from mock tests and improving based on those insights. She wrote numerous mocks and analyzed them meticulously to understand her strengths and weaknesses.

Key Strategies:

• Reading and Revising: A continuous process of absorbing and reinforcing core concepts.
• Mock Tests: Comprehensive practice to identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Analysis: Detailed analysis of mock tests to refine understanding and strategy.
• Experimenting with Question Numbers: Trying out different numbers of questions to be attempted in the exam to find what works best.

CSAT Preparation

Soubhagya Beelagimath's CSAT preparation focused on conceptual clarity and improving her reasoning and aptitude skills. She watched numerous YouTube videos and focused on scoring well in comprehension and reasoning. She also experimented with formulas and shortcuts to enhance her speed and accuracy.

Key Tips:

• Conceptual Clarity: Watching YouTube videos to understand concepts thoroughly.
• Practice: Regular practice to improve accuracy and speed.

Mains Strategy

Content Building and Answer Writing

The mains were approached with a strong focus on content building. Soubhagya Beelagimath never hurried with answer writing until she had a substantial amount of content to draw from. This strategy ensured that her answers were well-researched and comprehensive.

GS-1 Preparation

For GS-1, she made notes on PYQs and major themes like history, art, and culture. For geography, she emphasized maps and diagrams to substantiate her answers. The society part was less focused due to her optional topic of Anthropology.

Key Sources:

• Modern History: Spectrum
• Post-Independence: Google and PYQs
• Art and Culture: Nitin Singhania
• Value Addition: Mains 365 and various test series synopsis

GS-2 Preparation

GS-2 preparation was a favorite for Soubhagya Beelagimath. She took a comprehensive approach, covering all major aspects of the syllabus. She added value to her answers by quoting committee recommendations and SC judgments.

Key Sources:

• Lakshmikant
• Websites: Niti Ayog, Ministry Websites, PRS India
• Committees: Recommendations of various committees
• Value Addition: Mains 365

GS-3 Preparation

The vast syllabus of GS-3 made notes-making challenging. Soubhagya Beelagimath focused on making notes for economics, quoting statistics and schemes. She collected diagrams, pie charts, and graphs for themes like poverty and agriculture.

Key Sources:

• Economics: Nitin Singhania, Ramesh Singh, Economic Survey
• Science and Technology: Mains 365
• Agriculture: Enrichment from various sources
• Value Addition: Mains 365 and test series synopsis

GS-4 Preparation

The GS-4 paper was her favorite, and she compiled examples and case studies for both the essay and ethics sections. Her strategies for this paper involved a thorough understanding of case studies and ethical dilemmas.

Key Books:

• Lexicon
• Ethics Book by DK Bala Ji
• Vajiram and Ravi Ethics Notes
• Case Studies Compiled by Vision IAS

Anthropology Preparation

Soubhagya Beelagimath made notes for all topics in Anthropology. For last-minute revision, she used A-4 sheets to scribble down key points and made handy notes.

Key Sources:

• Physical Anthropology: P. Nath, Ignou and EPG Pathshala material
• Socio-Cultural Anthropology: Upadhyay and Pandey, University of Alabama, Braintree, Ember and Ember
• Tribal Anthropology: Brain tree, Tribal Culture of India, Data collection
• Indian Anthropology: Nadeem Hasnain, Brain tree, Ignou material

Test Series and Practice

Soubhagya Beelagimath gave very few tests, focusing more on practicing PYQs. She took two full-length test series from Forum's MGP program and practiced many topic-wise PYQs rigorously.

Key Tips:

• Practicing PYQs: Crucial for any optional subject.
• Test Series: Helps in understanding the exam pattern and improving performance.

Mental Health

Soubhagya Beelagimath emphasized the importance of mental health throughout her preparation journey. She spent time with nature and practiced meditation to maintain inner peace and tranquility.

Key Strategies:

• Nature: Spending time outdoors to relax and rejuvenate.
• Meditation: Practicing meditation for 10-15 minutes daily.

Conclusion

Soubhagya Beelagimath's journey to AIR-101 is a testament to her dedication, strategic approach, and unwavering resolve. Her success story provides valuable insights into the preparation process for the UPSC CSE. By focusing on building a strong foundation, practicing consistently, and maintaining mental health, she has achieved her dream of becoming an IAS officer.

Soubhagya Beelagimath's journey and the strategies of these top scorers offer valuable guidance for those aspiring to become civil servants. These insights provide a roadmap for a systematic and effective preparation strategy. Soubhagya Beelagimath's success story and the strategies of the top scorers in the UPSC CSE 2023 demonstrate that a well-planned and dedicated approach can lead to remarkable achievements. Best wishes to all aspiring civil servants!