Nikhil Srivas – in his own words – belong to an average middle class who loves watching comedy shows or daily soaps rather than some news channel. He went to an average English medium school, where even the teachers can’t speak English. But he is no ordinary guy.
Nikhil passed B.Tech from NIT Allahabad when he was just 19 years of age. He joined TCS as a Java Developer and simultaneously started preparing for various competitive exams. He cleared various exam conducted by SSC, SBI, IBPS etc before emerging successful in UPSC Civil Services Exam. Had he scored more marks in his optional, his ranking would have been even better.
Nikhil can share a lot of valuable tips – on success and failures with the ClearIAS readers. Let’s welcome Nikhil Srivasr to the “UPSC Toppers Interview” at www.clearias.com.
Brief Biodata:
- Name: Nikhil Srivas
- Age: 25 years
- Name of the Exam and Year: UPSC CSE 2016
- Rank: 1016
- Service: IP&TAFS
- Roll number: 0808976
- Category (General/OBC/SC/ST): SC
- Other examinations Qualified: Indian Forest Service ( Interview ) – 2016, SSC CGL 2016 – CAG AAO, UPSC EPFO APFC – 2015, SBI Bank PO-2014, IBPS Bank PO- 2012, IB – 2012, Cabinet Secretariat DFO – 2014
- Graduation Background and College: B.Tech. Civil engineering – 2008-2012 MNNIT Allahabad
- Work Experience: Organization and Duration (if any): Java Developer, Tata Consultancy Services Limited – ~1.5 years
- UPSC Optional Subject: Geography
- UPSC Mains Medium: English
- UPSC Interview Medium: English
- The number of attempts taken to achieve this feat: 3
- Performance in previous attempts (if any): Attempted mains – 2014, Personality Test/Interview- 2015
- State and Place of Residence (Permanent): Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
- Percentage of Marks in 10th and Board: 82.6
- Percentage of Marks in 12th and Board: 75.6
- Percentage of Marks in Graduation and Board/University: 6.6 pointers NIT Allahabad
- Extra qualifications or achievements (if any): Awards from TCS – Technical excellence award, ILP Kudos, On the spot award
- What’s unique about your profile: Knowledge diversity – Even a quick glance at the profile so far reveals a Civil engineer working as a software developer who took geography as an optional.
- Service Preference (Top 5): IAS, IRTS, IRS IT, IPS, IRS C&CE
- Cadre Preference (Top 5): UP, Rajasthan, MP, Uttarakhand, Gujrat
Background + Inspirational Journey So Far:
ClearIAS.com: Hearty congratulations from ClearIAS.com for this exceptional achievement! We are happy that your efforts are finally rewarded, that too in grand style! Let’s start from the beginning. How did you come across the idea of writing UPSC Civil Services Examination? Was it your childhood dream?
First and the foremost, everything written below, no matter how small or big or a fantasy it may seem, is true and honestly jotted down. Yes, it may be different than the traditional elite class or child prodigies, but it is simply what it is.
Secondly, since it might be long and could even be boring for readers who are not interested in details. For those who do not want finer details, it is thus advisable to scroll down to the segment which satisfies your need.
Everyone who aspires to be a civil servant has a compelling reason behind it – prestige, money or personality growth – there is always a fire that burns within. In my case, it was my parent’s wish (there is nothing to be ashamed of mentioning it, as against the popular misconception, and neither it’s a trivial reason, for someone who had brought you up to the one who you are today) and the sense that I am highly indebted to the society itself (explained below).
Being honest, I belong to a family which never had the privilege to have a sight of what an IAS officer actually do. All that I knew was that there is a big bungalow inside which lives a powerful man. I still remember noting down the words UPSC in my notebook when I first heard about it, as if I came to know about some secret key. Yes, it was a luxury to me, to someone who doesn’t even know the full form of IAS.
I belong to an average middle class who loves watching comedy shows or daily soaps rather than some news channel. Went through the same hierarchal subject categorization and thus opted and shown interest only in maths and science. Prior to my graduation, there was a silent tension hung in my home, so as to how we will be able to afford the engineering fee of 2 children, one being my elder sister. It was lucky for me that one of my targeted colleges NIT Allahabad came to my rescue and I did, wastefully and yet happily, my engineering. I was graduated in 19 years of age, being one of the youngest pass out from my college.
My family for the first time expressed their wish for me to become an officer or someone who has a respect in the society. I thus started my quest of how a society actually works. Since I was ineligible for almost all the government jobs, owing to the minimum age criteria, I joined TCS. Yet I gave my 100% to the job and took out some time for the exams later in the evening. I came to know about the coaching centres and their hefty fee, so needed to have some savings to sustain it too. In Feb 2014 I finally made up my mind and took one of the boldest decision of my life, to prepare for an exam of which I had absolutely zero ideas of. It was a fantasy for me, I used to hear the tales about this service, I used to wonder how an IAS would look like, what they eat, what they do. I didn’t even know the difference between an MP and an MLA when I started my journey.
In 2014 I gave my first attempt, still in the preparation, cleared the prelims, however my father was diagnosed with subdural hematoma and thus needed immediate medical attention, so I went home to hospitals ( government funding for the medical expenses was vital and crucial here ), returning later only to find out that I have 10 days left for mains. Yet somehow to my surprise, I was just 30 marks short of an interview call.
In 2015, I cleared the mains and gave the interview, first time entering the building which literally makes the officers. I was nervous and was still doubting my calibre while sitting on a seat waiting for the door beside me to open. My first interview board was of Manvir Singh sir’s. The interview went on for about 25 min and was too pale to be awarded high marks. I got 149 which was on the expected lines.
In 2016, I already had faced 3 interviews at UPSC. At each time increasing my score and thus the confidence. This time my interview panel was of Vinay Mittal sir’s board. Seeing my father being employed in railways caught his eyes. My interview went for around 45-50 min, with a diversity of topics increasing with each passing minute, till the chairman interrupted and said, ok Nikhil, this would be the last question for this interview, hear it very carefully and answer it precisely. The words which still lingers in my mind, the question which I asked to myself each and every single day, Why Do I want to become a civil servant? I was never the one who cram up the words and vomit them in the interview. I told them the exact same line I wrote in the beginning, where it all started, he focused on the later half and asked me whether I was good at coding. The answer, being a yes, he asked me I could have contributed to the society being the next Narayan Murthy of India, why civil services? To which I narrated an incident from my place of work, so as to how being in a private company not only limits your available opportunities rather your capacity, both finances and time. He wished me good luck with a smile before I came out to see the sunlight once again.
ClearIAS.com: How did you feel when you came to know that your name is in the toppers list? Can you share the moments of happiness with our readers?
It was the 31st may when the result was declared. I sat in my room the whole day, browsing from forums to forums when the result will be released. Finally, a WhatsApp message from one of my friend, Harshit, came in. CONGRATULATIONS ! the words which I was eagerly waiting for. A pdf was thereafter forwarded to me, the pdf which had my name. I called at my home. I remember my parents asking about the result each day twice from the past one month, which finally came. My mother was happy beyond the bounds, so was my father, sister and brother. I took the first train from Delhi to Bareilly, reached at night, only to find out that my family was awake, waiting for me. It was a big and one of the most memorable moments in my life. I finally had something which could make my parents proud, the ones who gave everything to me without even me asking for it.
Getting in the civil services is not an end, rather a beginning to what my ambition is. It is the platform to serve, and yes this is what I honestly feel. And I intend to be like this in the service too. As for my competence for the service, I have experience from diverse fields, from civil engineering to software development, from the ground level vital problems to the macro level administration, I still have a lot to learn and gladly will, hopefully, finance management and accounting is the next.
Do you feel that the competition level of UPSC Civil Services Exam is on a rise? It seems that there is an increasing trend of candidates from IITs, IIMs and AIIMS attempting and clearing this exam. Is Civil Service the final destination /ambition of Indian youth, in this age of lucrative private sector jobs?
Civil services is not a job, rather a service, which comes with a huge respect in the society. You actually hold the power to bring a change, not only from your service but also by being an ideal for the rest to follow. An honest hardworking civil servant is always respected in every sphere everywhere. This is what attracts the quality youth most. I too have left my job even though having an H1b visa opportunity, not for the money, not to attain some NEELI BATTI but rather for the service. I have many friends from IIT and IIMs too, some preparing, some in the service already. Yes, the competition level in the exam has significantly increased in recent years but it is not because of the elite student’s entry, rather because of the motivation level and the sheer number of candidates itself. It is no longer an exam that you can prepare by being in isolation. Study material is not a luxury anymore, guidances are available online. On this platform it really doesn’t matter what your past is, what matters is how do you want your future to be.
Further, it is neither the final nor the only destination for an ambitious youth. The private sector too has a huge opportunity for personality and knowledge growth, it has professional, efficient and thus lucrative work environment. It offers incomparable financial growth opportunity, which is generally not available in the government sector. Also lately the startup culture is gaining prominence, which is more competitive and adventurous too.
So take some time, listen to your heart and then take the leap of faith.
A beautiful failure is better than an unwanted success, it is the journey that matters. 🙂
Study Plan
ClearIAS.com: What is the secret of your success? How did you approach this exam? What was your strategy in general (Prelims, Mains, and Interview)?Also, on an average how many hours did you put on a daily basis? How did you manage time?
Since everyone has its own style of studying, so do I. I never had a habit, nor felt a necessity for long study hours. I studied for almost 2 hours a day ( excluding newspapers, tests and online videos ). What I did differently was the way of studying itself. Whenever I used to study, I generally kept my phone on silent, even when I have to google something, I wrote it down for later, instead of getting swallowed by the internet. Revision is a must and should not be compromised. I would strongly suggest each student to make notes of whatever he/she reads before closing the topic. These notes are of immense importance just before the exams.
My strategy in general:
Prelims: Focus more on the factual details, whenever you read, write it down. Even if you don’t have the habit of making proper notes, do it in rough. Anything written by you personally will have a longer chance for you to remember it. Further, try to diversify your sources once you are done with your basic books and initial reading.
Mains: Mains is more of your understanding of each topic. Try to read topics in a cursory glance and figure out various dimensions associated with it. Even a question of history can be answered through different dimensions, say economics, polity, culture, etc. Try to include as many dimensions as possible in limited words. Reading the question carefully and understanding the context is of utmost importance. An answer which hovers around the question but does not address it is a sin. So give some time in reading the question to absorb the underlying context of it.
Interview: UPSC intentionally named its interview as the personality test. It is a general scrutiny of the candidate’s character. I call it the “Practical for GS paper IV”. They will try to analyse you from the various dimensions, with questions being the medium. Try to be crisp and honest in your answers, keep your base personality intact, do not BLUFF. You may take a guess if you want to but do ask for it politely. Also, there is a popular misconception that language plays a vital role here, No. Language is simply a medium to transfer the thought, as long as you can do it in easier words, there is absolutely no harm.
ClearIAS.com: How long (Years/Months) have you been preparing before you gave this attempt?
As told above, before entering into the preparation, I had absolutely zero ideas of what and how to do this preparation. So any candidate like me who wants to opt for it can safely do so. What really required is a dream and a reason to burn the fire!
ClearIAS.com: Were you a person who studied alone? Or a person who favoured the combined study approach?
I cannot be put entirely in either of those. I did study alone when the needs were and also in a group too. Though I would strongly suggest for discussions with other candidates while preparation. Different viewpoints present different ideologies thus different dimensions. Also at times, the discussion might heat up, learn to respect the shades of grey. Agree to disagree. It will take you miles ahead in your preparation.
ClearIAS.com: Did you attend any coaching institute or subscribe to mock tests for prelims or mains? If yes, can you provide the details for each stage (Prelims/Mains/Interview)? How helpful were the coaching institutes?
Coaching institutes are simply a tool for guidance. They are neither mandatory nor a waste. I attended to Vajiram and Ravi in my initial year, thereafter joined RCA CCCP Jamia Millia Islamia. As aforesaid, they were definitely helpful being a guide but the real effort has to be put by the candidate himself. I would specifically suggest to read/attend Ravindaran Sir’s notes (Polity), Zulfiqar sir’s notes (economics), KSG & HSC (interview) since they held great importance in my success.
ClearIAS.com: What websites (online preparation websites or government websites) will you recommend for future aspirants for UPSC preparation?
I would suggest you follow Insights on India or IAS baba or Mrunal or ClearIAS (remember its OR and not AND). Try not to overstress yourself by reading a topic from multiple sources unless it holds great importance. Also, do listen to Rajya Sabha TV debates- say big picture, they will provide you with viewpoints and factual details on a topic.
ClearIAS.com: What is your opinion/feedback about the ClearIAS.com website/ClearIAS app?
I have personally referred to ClearIAS website during my preparation, but since I got to know it quite late and was referring to a similar website, I did not spend much of my time here. Though a candidate may refer to it as a source, being a budding platform in this competitive field, they are doing some noteworthy effort in collating important information.
ClearIAS.com: Did you use Social Media like Facebook, Twitter or other forums for UPSC Preparation? Or did you say good-bye to the social media during preparation days? Any technology-tips (Eg: Mobile apps, Note making software etc.)?
I neither used social media as a tool to study nor abandoned it. It was simply there to entertain myself in my leisure time. Do not mix 2 things together, if you want to study, do it 100% if you want to pass time then do it the way you do not feel it’s wasted. I used Evernote for a limited time, but then again, I found handwritten notes much easier and more fruitful to share than digital ones.
ClearIAS.com: What were the Newspapers and Magazines (Eg: Yojana, Kurukshetra etc.) you followed? How many hours did you devote for newspapers? Any tips on newspaper-reading?
I used to read 2 newspapers: The Hindu and The Indian Express. I would recommend the candidates to read at least 2 newspapers, so as not to let their viewpoints shift on the either extremes. Also not each and every article in the newspaper is important, nearly 60% of the news columns are not relevant for the preparation. Also, there is no fixed time for reading it, there will be days when you would take hours to finish it up, then there will be those where minutes will be enough.
ClearIAS.com: What was your preference: Reading online (Laptop/Tablet/Mobile) or reading the traditional way (Books)? Or a mix of both?
A mix of both, I read the e-books as well as the hard copies. Reading e-books was tough for me since I did it on a smartphone ( didn’t have a laptop back then ). So I prefer taking a printout of it and then read it. A candidate who is comfortable on the screen can explore a larger content than what the traditional ones can. Thus it’s an added advantage if you want to have.
ClearIAS.com: Can you elaborate your daily timetable (When will you wake up, study, sleep etc. )
There was no fixed schedule. There were times when I slept 14 hours a day, and then there were those when I did for 2 hours. Being an engineer the habit of reading in the last moments never dies 😉
ClearIAS.com: How did you keep yourself motivated for this one-year-long exam?
It was almost 3 years in my case. Friends and family are the keys here. I was lucky to have my family being supportive and confident in me. And friends who were there to help me out with everything, from late night study & discussions to partying. To name a few Harshit, Ira, Prateek, Rahul, Vinay, I owe you guys a lot. 🙂
UPSC Prelims
ClearIAS.com: Can you elaborate on your preparation strategies/approach and study materials and books used for Prelims Paper 1 and Paper 2?(Please mention books/materials used for each subject)
- Books/Study Materials for History: Modern India: Bipin Chandra + Spectrum; Ancient India: RS Sharma + Baliyan sir’s Notes; Medieval India: Lucent + Tarrique sir’s notes
- Books/Study materials for Geography: 11th + 12th class NCERTs
- Books/Study materials for Polity: Laxmikant (the bible of polity) + yojana + Current affairs
- Books/Study materials for Economics: Zulfiqar Sirs notes + Economic survey (must read)
- Books/Study Materials for Science and Technology: Multiple sources
- Books/Study materials for Environment: Shankar IAS
- Books/Study Materials for Current Affairs: Newspapers + Monthly magazines + Online sources
- Books/Study materials for General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT): Was not required in my case, would suggest RS Agarwal and model tests if required.
ClearIAS.com: Any tips/pieces of advice especially for UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
Diversify your sources, increase your reach, revise what you read each day and be confident with whatever you have prepared. Don’t let the Anxiety ruin your performance.
UPSC Mains
ClearIAS.com: Can you elaborate on your study materials and books used for each topic of Mains Papers? (Please give a detailed view, especially for sub-topics in all the general studies papers like books/materials used for each subtopic like Disaster Management, Internal security, Indian Society, Biodiversity etc.)
- Books/Study materials used for Essay Paper: None. And honestly never felt the need to. The essay is all about your understanding and depth in a topic. There is none a good way or bad way to express it. Be confident in your writing style and keep on improving it the way you want.
- Books/Study materials used for General Studies 1 (Indian History, World History, Indian Society, Indian Geography, and World Geography): As stated above, but the orientation changes. You need to focus more on understanding the causes and aftereffects of each event, analyse the details and reasons for a war, glance over the importance of various events in history making. Try to include various dimensions in your answer. For geography, though a diagram or a map is not mandatory, it will definitely provide an edge when relevant. Be creative in your writing.
- Books/Study materials used for General Studies 2 (Constitution, Polity, Governance, Social Justice, Foreign Relations, and International Affairs): Here you have to be precise. You may also quote references and data to defend your viewpoint or to provide substance to your answers, though avoid quoting unrelated data just to show off.
- Books/Study materials used for General Studies 3 (Indian Economy, Biodiversity, Science and Technology, Internal Security and Disaster Management): Increase your horizon and try to attempt an answer from all the possible dimensions. Include as many factors as you can in your answers. This paper is the most scoring among all, so make a good use of it.
- Books/Study materials used for General Studies 4 (Ethics + Case Studies): Be honest. Fancy words won’t fetch marks. Being ethical does not mean being an idiot and if you are not ethical then you are not fit for the service. This is an exam which actually tests what kind of a person you are. You can lie for maybe an hour, but when it’s a race against the clock, honesty always wins in the end. So introspect and always improve yourself, it’s never too late to change. 🙂
ClearIAS.com: ClearIAS.com: Did you prepare hand notes or participated in mock answer writing before mains? What was the strategy for preparing current affairs topics in general?
Yes. In fact, I strongly advise for preparing handwritten notes. They really are a saviour during the final hours. For current affairs, I read multiple sources though not holistically, for which I paid dearly too. I would advise to read the newspaper daily, be it The Hindu or The Indian Express. Also, follow a monthly magazine for CA, anything which suits u, be it Vision IAS or Vajiram. Do follow a website too, IAS baba, Insights on India, ClearIAS, any one of them will do the job.
ClearIAS.com: What are the government reports that aspirants should go through, before giving Mains Exam?
There is no fixed list for it. It is the findings which are more important, even the state of forest resource report can become crucial if some major finding is there.
ClearIAS.com: What was the colour of the pen you used for writing mains (Blue Ink/ Black Ink)? Also, the company and brand name of the pen used:
This was my stronghold, I have a habit of using both blue and black pen. I automatically write the keywords with black thus giving a presentable look to my answers. I used the Rs.10 gel pens, I guess the name was Rrorito.
ClearIAS.com: What were your writing style in GS and optional subject? Bullet Points/ Essay style or a mix of both styles?
I always write in numbered bullet points. It gives a clarity to the answer. In fact, when mixed with the black and blue combination, the examiner can read my answer in 30 sec and could know what I would have written.
UPSC Interview
ClearIAS.com: Can you elaborate on your approach and preparation for Interview? Did you attend any mock interviews?
Jamia RCA, HSC, Khan Study Group
ClearIAS.com: Can you elaborate a bit on the things mentioned in your DAF (Detailed Application Form) like your hobbies, extracurricular activities or prizes won:
Hobbies: Reading manga and playing online games
Prizes: Technical excellence award, On the spot award and ILP Kudos – all by TCS
ClearIAS.com: What was your interview dress?
Raymond Black suit with light blue shirt and blue tie.
ClearIAS.com: Who was the Chairman of the board you faced? How long was the interview
Board: Vinay Mittal. 40 to 45 min.
ClearIAS.com: Can you share with our readers your UPSC Interview experience? Our readers would be really happy to hear those questions and replies in the UPSC Topper’s Interview.
Entered, wished afternoon, chairman interrupted in between and asked me to sit down.
Ch:
- So Nikhil I can see that you worked in the software industry, are you still in touch with it? Asked questions about one app which I developed.
- Infosys pointed out that there is enough potential for growth of software in India despite scepticism by world industries, why?
- Recent Tata controversy.
- H1b reform and impact on India
M1:
- Tangible benefits of the digital transition in India.
- Use of mygov.in
- My suggestion for improvement in e-governance implementation
- Highlighted my father’s employment in railways and questioned what are the improvement I could suggest
Ch:
- Problems of the railways?
- Suggest reform from personal experience.
M2:
- Types and width of rail gauges in India.
- Why 1.676 meter in broad gauge and why we adopted it?
Ch:
- what is the world standard? Is broad gauge unique to India?
M2:
- Railways recently announced 2 of its biggest projects, what are they?
- Where is the highest railway bridge planned located?
M3:
- Fake and paid news, impact and remedy
- Regulatory authority for it
- Remedy for defamation in India
- Nexus and ownership by specific political parties
- Exit and opinion poll
- What is digilocker?
- What is digital depository and why two schemes for the same purpose
M4:
- Vulgar and misleading advertisement, should all adds be banned (an obvious no)?
- Responsibility and measures that should be taken for misleading adds.
M3:
- It is often said we Indians are bad at humour. (Initially, I smiled with him, after some moments realized that he was actually expecting some reply on it)
- So we Indians are sensitive indeed
M4:
- India has low teacher to student ratio, should it adopt digital education?
- Potential of digital education.
M3:
- Will you suggest using it in your college?
- What improvements do you suggest in civil engineering in your institute?
Ch:
- Barriers in use of the digital platform.
- Is behaviour change and infrastructure are the only reason of its limited use
M4:
- What are the problems of tertiary education in India
- What is the national knowledge network
Ch: Highlighting that it will be the last question for this interview
- Are you good at coding?
- You could have become the next Narayan Murthy of India so why choose this path?
- By being an entrepreneur you could have contributed too for the society, why civil services?
Told me my interview is over.
I thanked and left 🙂
Duration: 40 min approx.
Previous Attempts/ Backups/ Others Jobs Qualified (if any)
ClearIAS.com: Comment on your previous attempts on UPSC Civil Services Exam, if any? What have you learned from the mistakes/failures?
2015-Interview
ClearIAS.com: What was your backup plan in case you didn’t qualify?
I always created a backup since my college ended so there were a few in hand always.
ClearIAS.com: Did you write/clear any other exams (like Bank exams/State PSCs/ Private Jobs) during the preparation period or before:
Indian Forest Services – Interview – 2016
Qualified:
SSC CGL AAO -2016
Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner – 2015
Cabinet Secretariat – 2014
SBI Bank PO – 2014
Intelligence Bureau ACIO – 2012
IBPS Bank PO- 2012
More on Work Experience (if any)
ClearIAS.com: Details of your organisation, name of the post and the duration of experience:
Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Java Developer – 1 year 5 months
ClearIAS.com: Did you leave the job to prepare?
Yes, as at the early stage it needs more time and effort.
ClearIAS.com: What is your advice to working professionals who’re preparing for IAS exam simultaneously?
Take out time to read newspaper in the morning, rest for some time after the office, a power nap preferably and do dedicate at least 2 hours daily for reading. Also, take out more time on the weekends. Try to be disciplined, if this is what you really want.
Marks – Prelims, Mains, and Interview
Preliminary Exam (Just for Qualification)
- General Studies Paper 1: (Out of 200)
- General Studies Paper 2: (Out of 200)
Mains:
Please also indicate the approximate number of attempts in each General Studies paper and the optional paper. For how many marks did you attempt in each paper?
- Essay (Out of 250): 139
- GS1 (Out of 250): 105 (18)
- GS2 (Out of 250): 096 (17)
- GS3 (Out of 250):110 (17)
- GS4 (Out of 250): 100 ( left 65 marks)
- Optional Paper 1 (Out of 250): 85 ( left 45 marks )
- Optional Paper 2 (Out of 250): 127 ( left 15 marks )
- Written Total (Out of 1750): 762
Interview (Out of 275)
- Marks for Personality Test: 179
- Final Marks (Out of 2025): 941
ClearIAS.com: After looking at the mark sheet, suppose if you are going to write prelims and mains this year, what changes will you make in your preparation, answer writing, and interview?
I will definitely change my optional 😀
ClearIAS.com: We like to express our heartiest congratulations once again for this grand success. We are happy that you chose ClearIAS.com to share your happiness on this special occasion. ClearIAS.com sincerely thank you, on behalf our readers and ourselves, for the spirit and benevolence to find time to write answers to our detailed questionnaire. Wishing you, all the very best in career and life.
indrajeet Kumar says
मै अभी बीबीए कर रहा हुॉ पहले साल का student हुॉ मै आनलाईन तैयारी कर रहा हुॉ अभी किस चिज से अपडेट रहा चाहिए किया मे बीबीए करने के बाद आइएस बनना सकता हुॉ
Nikhil Srivas says
Good to hear that u r aspiring for civil services. Since you already are referring to online sources, I would suggest you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topics you read. Go through the basic books suggested above. Read atleast one newspaper daily, I would suggest Hindu or the Indian express. And do not lose hope if you fail to get in your first few attempts, each attempt is a new attempt and you get the same service irrespective of its count. All the best for your preparation !!
IRA says
Dis is d most modest interview of a selected candidate dat I ever came across. Thanx for sharing ur experience dis is definitely going to add strength in our preparation. Awsum article no fake words.
Nikhil Srivas says
Thanks dear
Akash Narwar says
I am an student of class eleventh. my aim is that to an IAS,
so how should I study for this.
Please reply
Thank you
Nikhil Srivas says
Class eleventh is a bit too early for preparation, I would rather suggest you to first explore your interest, but if you aspire for civil services then choose your education path accordingly. Go for humanities if you want to opt for humanity’s subject. Also get in a habit to know things, everything that you see, develop a curiosity to know it. UPSC CSE is nothing but knowing India.
Sethu says
Sir how to prepare notes from newspapers? How can we improve our writing speed? Is it necessary to make notes from pib?
Nikhil Srivas says
Firstly, sorry for the late reply, i have been undergoing the foundation course meanwhile. As to your multiple questions :
Prepare notes from newspaper : Only write things which are of utmost importance or you can use it in the answers. If you jot down everything then you will simply be adding the bulk. Make it concise so that you can revise it easily in the end.
Improve writing speed : Something that always cost me grossly. The only solution is to have a writing practice and stick to the word limit. Time is apt if you follow the word limit.
Notes from PIB : Not mandatory if you are covering the same topic from other sources. But since PIB is the glance of the government itself, it makes it important to atleast have a read of it
Nikhil Srivas says
Depends upon your job profile and time management. If you have a common timing of 9-5 then i would suggest you to read the newspaper in the morning when u wake up, make concise notes , thereafter when u return from your job, rest for an hour and then have a read of atleast 3 hours. Also try to utilize your weekends and have a revision of what you did the whole week
navneet says
Sir best books and chapter name ncert books old or new please sir
Wait for your valuable response
Nikhil Srivas says
Dont get yourself in this hoax of old or new ncert. Both are good enough, though in the newer ones you will get the updated facts, thus i will recommend you to go for new ones.
Chinmay Bajpai says
sir,
i’m in first year of my engineering and i want to pursue a career in the indian foreign services.
but, i recently got an ATKT in my chemistry paper, could you tell me if it has an impact on my presentation as a candidate.
also, in your knowledge what are some subjects that i should start focusing on in order to strengthen my knowledge about foreign policies.
SHIVAM says
Sir I have done bsc in chemistry and now I want to achieve my goals by doing IAS ,sir plz suggest me that which subjects should I select for it.
Sagar Tiwary says
Sir, I am doing b.tech at mnnit.my branch is pie.being in 2nd year what can I do that can really help me for upsc.
Nikhil Srivas says
Feel free to send me a message directly on quora or FB 🙂
P. Manasa says
I completed my tenth standard I have a doubt that which group I should select to become a civil servant? Please give me reply soon
Swapnil Raghuvanshi says
Is it necessary to have any backup plan for Civil Services Exams?