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ClearIAS » UPSC Toppers » Ira Singhal (CSE 2014 Rank 1): Preparation Strategy and Book-list

Ira Singhal (CSE 2014 Rank 1): Preparation Strategy and Book-list

Last updated on November 10, 2016 by Alex Andrews George

Every UPSC topper has a unique story – an inspiring story for millions in the country. The life and journey of Ira Singhal IAS – all India rank 1 in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2014 – is unique in many unique ways. With 62% locomotor disability, 30-year-old Ira Singhal topped the IAS exam, attempted by around 5 lakh aspirants in 2014.

Why now: As many aspirants wrote to us about their lack of motivation and confidence, we felt the strategies and booklist of the last year topper should give direction for aspirants. ClearIAS had been publishing UPSC Toppers interviews for last 3 years. We don’t want our readers to miss the take-aways from toppers like Ira.

Preparation Strategy of Ira Singhal in her own words

Ira Singhal IAS

  1. I never mugged up anything. I focused on preparing the topics I could handle.
  2. I started from the basics. I found NCERTs are a must-read. But yes, some subjects require specialized books after that. But I found that you cannot ignore NCERTs. Read them multiple times.
  3. I mostly depended on online material. Did not go to any one site, but checked multiple sources for everything.
  4.  I read the same topic from multiple books. But I also went back and read all the books again. I used to underline important stuff in the books but I was too lazy to write it all down.
  5. I used to discuss and debate a lot of stuff with my friends so it helped giving me different view-points and helped my analytical abilities.
  6. I am not someone who can study throughout the day or something, so my study plan is always about finishing a particular amount of course rather than studying for a fixed number of hours.
  7. I spent a LOT of time on my multiple hobbies.

Takeaways from Ira Singhal’s Preparation Strategy

  1. No mug up.
  2. Your basics should be strong.
  3. Online preparation helps. Try to get different view points on everything.
  4.  Revision is the key.
  5. Develop your analytical abilities.
  6. Plan your work and work your plan.
  7. Get a life!

What does all-India rank 1 has to say about IAS exam?

  1. I think it is important to find another alternate career before you stake your future on this uncertain path. That will give you confidence and a safe haven in case things don’t go your way.

  2. This exam needs a lot of hard work, a lot of mental strength and some amount of Luck.

  3. I never made clearing the exam as the only thing in my life. I did not connect it to my ego or to my personal success or made it my reason to live.

Books referred by Ira Singhal for UPSC CSE Mains

  1. Old NCERT Indian History.
  2. Spectrum Modern India.
  3. New NCERT Indian History.
  4. New NCERT – India Since Independence.
  5. Old NCERT World History.
  6. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity.
  7. Wizard – Science and Technology.
  8. Lexicon – Ethics.

Note: Apart from these books, Ira also referred different websites on internet, materials from coaching institutes etc.

Coaching or No Coaching?

Ira had taken coaching for her first attempt in 2009-10 as she didn’t had much idea about preparation. She says, at that time, in 2009-10, there was no material available online.

These days a lot of material is available online and a lot of guidance on where to begin is also present online so if I were preparing today, I would not join them. I don’t recommend or condemn them. It depends on the sort of person you are. Some of us need hand-holding and need someone else to keep them on track and some of us are self-motivated. So it all depends on how you think you can succeed best. Though if it is only about material, a lot of it is available online these days.

Courtesy: This article is drafted with permission of Ira Singhal. For more details on her approach, refer: Ira Singhal’s Blog – http://irasinghal.blogspot.in/. 

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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training, Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped thousands of aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alok Rai says

    April 24, 2016 at 7:24 am

    Only 3 months left how can i started my preparation for civil exam?

    Reply
    • lalan says

      May 6, 2016 at 8:47 pm

      start for next year not for this year.How can you complete those books in 90 days..? you are not god.so start preparing for next year.

  2. gire rameshwar says

    April 26, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    nice madam…y r our upsc exam guindenss.

    Reply
  3. Augustine says

    May 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I need the best book on Indian history …please do suggest one among the best books and authors.

    Reply
    • adotr says

      May 9, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      1. India struggle for independence By Bipan Chandra (Selective Study)
      2. Spectrum

    • Mohammad chandini says

      February 27, 2021 at 9:41 pm

      Hai sir I gave already 3 attempts for upsc … I born Oct 21 1990… M from oc category … I am thinking to give attempt for 2022 … At that time i would be eligible or not for upsc according to age limit ?

  4. deepak chandh says

    May 10, 2016 at 12:06 am

    mam, now i’m currently studying first year. What kind of books should I read to enrich my skills? I read newspapers everyday

    Reply
  5. pratishtha says

    May 10, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Hello mam m not economic fullfill these online books.. Pls help me

    Reply
  6. Mayank says

    May 10, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    Hi Ira mam , I’m a student of class 12 and I want to start my CSE preparation now. So , how I should start my preparation along with my boards ?

    Reply
  7. Mayank says

    May 10, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Hi Ira mam , I’m a student of class 12 and I want to start my CSE preparation now. So , how I should start my preparation along with my cbse 12 boards ?

    Reply
  8. manasa says

    May 10, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    mam i need guidence regarding optional subjects
    as i am an btech CSE student about paper 6&7

    Reply
  9. Shaheena Hussain says

    May 21, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    I must say ma’m you are inspiration of millions…

    Reply
  10. Amresh Barman says

    May 23, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    namastey mam , I am Amresh barman . I want to know about optional subject. plz guide me

    Reply
    • Gautam kumar says

      March 24, 2019 at 11:55 am

      You can choose geography and public administration as optional subject.

  11. Rutuja Manvatkar says

    May 24, 2016 at 11:03 am

    now i had completed 10th from this point i want to start my UPSE ………….FROM WHICH BOOK I SHOULD START

    Reply
  12. angel says

    May 29, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Hello sir i m new here and i don’t have any idea about ias exam so pls guide me ..and i wants 2 study in hindi so pls suggest me books name so that i can purchase from market for pre. Exam..pls help me i really need it..

    Reply
  13. deepak dubey says

    May 31, 2016 at 5:31 pm

    hello everyone , i m new here so pls suggest me how can i start my preparation for prelims. its my first attempt.

    Reply
  14. Jyoti says

    June 5, 2016 at 11:26 pm

    Hello mam, good inspiration.

    Reply
  15. S AMBIGAPATHI says

    June 6, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    hello mam, this is Ambigabathy from Tamilnadu. i am 24 yrs old and working as Assistant Professor in an Engineering College. i want to start my IAS preparation. i kindly request you to suggest me for selecting optional subject. i did my UG in English Literature. (not confident enough to chose it as optional)

    Thank you,

    Reply
    • anonymous says

      August 23, 2017 at 11:06 pm

      UG from English and assistant prof. at engineering
      How on earth that possible? time to leave earth

  16. irshad khan says

    June 10, 2016 at 4:18 pm

    mam i am 28 year old but not completed my graduation…i want to crack this exam….what should i do plz plz plz tel me…

    Reply
    • suvan says

      May 7, 2017 at 3:32 pm

      You should remain in patience ..

    • anonymous says

      August 23, 2017 at 11:04 pm

      Bhai 28 and didnt graduated yet?!!!!
      Iam hearing it for the first time……

  17. Rohit singh says

    June 19, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    Hi ira mam i am read in class in 12 and i prepared for a ias please guidence me how to prepared

    Reply
  18. Sagar Srivastava says

    July 24, 2016 at 1:02 pm

    Hello mam..I am bsc 3rd year student. I m going to prepare for upsc from next year. so would u tell me how to go through to make it in first attempt.

    Reply
  19. deepakkumar says

    August 23, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    hello mem good insprition s

    Reply
  20. Shaiv Ranjan says

    November 26, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    hi ira mam I am 12th student but wants to clear the ias so ap mujhe mains ki taiyari kaise karu plz mam kuchh advise dijiye

    Reply
    • anonymous says

      August 23, 2017 at 11:02 pm

      Aagey prelim to clear karlo

  21. Braja says

    February 26, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Sir I have completed degree in science
    .I want to do IAS .Then suggest me how can I prepare.

    Reply
  22. Aniruddh Kushwaha says

    May 6, 2017 at 10:52 pm

    Very nice mam, you are motivational​ person for us.

    Reply
  23. indra pratap singh says

    June 20, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Jabra fan
    May be I’ll do it also

    Reply
  24. lekshmi vs says

    September 24, 2017 at 1:10 pm

    Sir I am doing Bsc statistics in final year. I want to become an I A S. But i didn’t preapare any thing.and suggest me a way to become an IAS.

    Reply
  25. Baljeet kaur says

    November 26, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    very nice mam, you are a motivational person for me.

    Reply
  26. MAHESH JOSHI says

    May 15, 2018 at 10:42 am

    I BELIEVE YOU STRATEGY . THANK YOU SO MUCH.

    Reply
  27. Pawan says

    September 14, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    Mam,which standard book follow for geography optional subject and I also read ncert 6 to 12

    Reply
  28. Mohammad chandini says

    February 27, 2021 at 9:41 pm

    Hai sir I gave already 3 attempts for upsc … I born Oct 21 1990… M from oc category … I am thinking to give attempt for 2022 … At that time i would be eligible or not for upsc according to age limit ?

    Reply

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