Success Story

Srinagar doctor first Kashmiri to top IAS

A doctor from Srinagar,Shah Faisal,topped the Civil Services Examination 2009 as Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday declared its final result selecting 131 IAS,30 IFS and 150 IPS officers.Faisal made to the list in his first attempt.A total of 875 candidates 680 men and 195 women have been selected for the elite jobs,which also include Group A and Group B services,besides IAS,IFS and IPS. The second ranker, Prakash Rajpurohit,is an engineer;the third topper,Iva Sahay,has done her masters in geography from JNU.Sahay,topper among the women candidates,also made it in her first attempt.Besides IAS,IFS and IPS,there are 582 posts belonging to Central Services Group A Indian Revenue Service,Indian Railway Service and others while the remaining 96 seats are meant for Group B services. The number of candidates selected for IPS is more this year as the government,in view of increasing demand for senior police officers to meet numerous security challenges,including naxalism and terrorism,had last year decided to increase the total intake from 130 to 150.The intake of IPS officers will

continue to be high in coming years,considering the huge vacancies of senior cops in different states. Six of the top 25 candidates made it to the merit list in their first attempt and four in their second attempt.

UPSC Civil Services : Rank - 1 (Name: Dr.Shah Faesal, 26 years, Kashmir)

New Delhi/Srinagar: He comes from a remote village in Kupwara district of strifetorn Kashmir and studied in a village school.Eight years ago,his father was gunned down by militants. But Dr Shah Faisal,a 26-year old MBBS,has fought the odds and won. On Thursday,Faisal became

the first Kashmiri ever to top the civil services exam. I dont have words to express how I feel,I am not able to speak.I just wish I was with my family. I am just waiting to hug my mother, Faisal,who came to the capital before the results to get away from the stress of waiting,told TOI. Even through the elation,Faisal gets emotional at the mention of Kashmir.Describing himself as a victim of conflict,he says,I have watched the bloodshed in Kashmir very closely.I was devastated when my father Ghulam Rasool Shah was gunned down.It is him that I miss the most today.He used to dote on me and taught me English and maths when I studied in school, he says. In Srinagar,his mother Mubeena Begum,thrilled beyond words,says,Faisal has made every Kashmiri proud with his hard work and dedication.Her husband,she says,was killed because he refused shelter to militants.Ironically,it was the tragedy that opened a window to the wider world for the family.After the killing,I shifted from village Sheikh Nar in Lolab Sogam area of Kupwara to Srinagar with my children two sons and a daughter.My elder son Shah Faisal had done his matric from Sogam high school while my two other children were in middle school

there.I was a broken woman but never gave up and fought against all odds to bring up my children, says Mubeena,a teacher,like her husband.

UPSC Civil Services :Rank - 2 (Name: Prakash Raj Purohit, 24 years, DelhiElectrica Engineering IIT-Delhi)

He survived ragging at IIT to claim the second spotTIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Both Shah Faizal,who topped this years UPSC exam,and 24-year-old Prakash Rajpurohit,who came second,have quite a bit in common. Neither of them took coaching classes to crack what is thought to be the toughest exam in the country,and they did so after having taken up other professions.While Faizal is a doctor from Kashmir,Prakash is an electrical

engineer from IIT-Delhi.The only difference between them on Thursday was their level of excitement the latter did candidly admit that he was disappointed at coming second. Originally from Rajashthans Barmer district,Prakash did his schooling from DAV School in Delhi before joining IIT.His stay there however was something he does not like to remember. I joined IIT in 2003 to study electrical engineering but I was horrified right from day one.My seniors ragged me so severely that I had no option but to complain to the authorities.They were expelled for six months.Some of the things I was asked to do by my seniors cant be mentioned.I was psychologically affected but did not want to give up so easily.I disregarded all thoughts of leaving IIT and carried on.The credit for making me so strong goes to my parents, says Prakash who is an only child.His parents live in Ghaziabad,while he lives with his friends in Vasant Kunj.Prakash was working with a start-up IT firm in Noida before he began to explore the idea of becoming an IAS officer. Initially,I decided to become an engineer and joined IIT because I was very good at math,it was my favourite subject.I left my job in 2008 to prepare for the UPSC exam since I felt

the civil services were very diverse and more challenging.I reached the interview stage in my first attempt in 2008 but could not get any further.But I never gave up,that failure propelling me to forge ahead even stronger and achieve my goal.I never took coaching classes but studied on my own, he says. Success for him is not completely new.He came fourth in the All India IIT exam in 2003. I will be joining the services by August end, hopefully the Rajasthan cadre but before that I want to go back to Ghaziabad and be with my parents, he says,surrounded by his friends.

UPSC Civil Services : Rank - 3 (Name: Iva Sahay, UP , PG - Geography, JNU)

The Sangam citys Iva Sahay has done Allahabad proud by securing third position in the 2009 UPSC Civil Services exams,the results of which were declared on Thursday. Iva Sahay,meanwhile,is the only woman in the top three, and has topped among the women candidates. She attributes her success to her father,Vijoy S Sahay,who heads Allahabad Universitys anthropology departments,and her allout pursuance of the goal. I fancied IAS at an early age of four or five.It turned into an obsession by the time I reached high school, said Iva. My class teacher,Mrs Banerjee,apart from my family believed in my dream of becoming an IAS. Born at Darbhanga in Bihar,Iva has opted for the IAS,despite her familys insistence on

taking up the Indian Foreign Service. She says she wants to reform the bureaucracy and help people caught in a web of files,running haplessly running from one office to another. I will try to improve the bureaucracys functioning.People without any connections are never welcomed into our offices.That attitude should change, she said,speaking over the phone from Allahabad,her hometown. A postgraduate in geography from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Sahay topped the university exams in all four semesters.At the moment, she is studying for a doctorate from Allahabad University.

Kerala: 4th rank for Kerala girl in civil services examination (TV Anupama)

T’PURAM: T V Anupama of Malappuram came fourth rank in the Cvil Services Examination. Three other Keralites also came under the first 100 ranks. And 13 Malayali rank holders are there up to 727 ranks. P I Sreevidya of Kottarakara got 14th rank while Devi Gopinath of Pappanamcode (TVPM) got 81st rank. Eldose Mathew Punnus of Chengannur got 96th rank. 126th rank went to S Lakshmanan of Manacaud,Thiruvananthapuram. Divya V. Gopinath of Medical College and G Vishakh of Thodupuzha won 131st and146th ranks respectively. N M Veena of Vanchiyoor got 207th rank and K Nishanth of Thalassery got rank 261. Rahul of Thrippoonithura, Eranakulam won rank 303 while Jyothis Mohan of Kottayam got rank 358.

Patel tops Civil Services in Gujarat (Anand Patel, 24 years , All India 32)

Ahmedabad: Anand Patel, 24,comes from a typical family of Leuva Patel landowners of north

Gujarat.Thursday changed the course of his life for good,when he topped the civil services exam in the state at rank 32,and is sure to make it to the IAS in his home state cadre. This year 14 Gujaratis have cleared the UPSC exams,which is the highest so far from the state. A vidya sahayak teacher employed in the government school at Panthal village in Khedbrahma taluka of Sabarkantha since 2004,Patel earns only Rs 2,500 a month.Im quitting my job tomorrow! says the excited Patel who cleared the UPSC in the first attempt. Sardar Patel is my role model and I want to serve the country and free it from corruption, says Patel,who trained for the UPSC at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) here.This native of Hansalpur village,five km from Himmatnagar,scored 91% in class X and 80% in class XII board exams.He then did the primary teachers training course and simultaneously a BA with history major from the Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University.Although they own 10 bighas of land,the Patels are mainly a family of teachers,his parents were teachers and so is his wife,Nirmala,who,like him,is a vidya sahayak in a Chhota Udepur school. His brother and sister-in-law are doctors. Patel cleared the UPSC with history and Gujarati subjects.Says Patel,Gujaratis have lots of talent but lack of knowledge of English inhibits them. Asked how he felt about jumping to a salary scale he could never have dreamed of as a vidya sahayak,he says,money is not important,Gujaratis

can earn money anyhow!

West Bengal: Kolkata Girls Crack Civil Service Exams, Gear Up For Life As Public Servants

Kolkata: As a youngster, Joyoshi Dasgupta dreamt of working in war-ravaged Afghanistan.Pictures of destruction and civil war in Taliban land didnt rattle her. It would be a challenge,she felt,to work in a hostile environment like that and an immense achievement if she could do something for the battle-torn Afghan people. The Kolkata girl could be very close to realising that dream. Joyoshi,a teacher at Manindra Chandra College, has ranked 42nd in the civil service exams, the results of which were announced on Thursday.If I get into foreign service, I wont mind working anywhere in the world, she said. Though delighted,the levelheaded youngster looked composed and firmly focused on her priorities.An administrator,she said,has to be realistic and not just a dreamer.I am,of course,very happy and see this as an opportunity to do something for the country.An administrators job gives you the chance to work directly with the people and for them.Its an excellent opportunity to try and make a difference to the lives

of so many people.It wont be easy but I am not going to shirk or run away from trouble, said Joyoshi. A graduate in physics from Presidency College,she went on to do her MSc from Rajabazar Science College.She stood first in the MSc exam. While she cleared NET and qualified as a college teacher,Joyoshi had been bent upon a career in the civil services since her school days.I never seriously considered any other option,which is why I am pretty satisfied.It feels nice to have reached my first goal in life.As an administrator,there will be several more in the years to come, she said. Daughter of Jaya Dasgupta, an IAS officer who is now the planning and development secretary in Bengal,she didnt have to look far for inspiration.From an early age,she has been familiar with the job of an IAS and its pitfalls.I saw my mother do the job from close quarters. So,I knew it wont be a cakewalk.But the brighter side was there as well.For me,that outweighed the negatives by a long margin. So,I never hesitated, said Joyoshi. Joyoshi is not the lone qualifier from Kolkata this year.Jayita Bose,a former student of Jadavpur University,figured on the list as well.She ranked 171.Its an honour to join the civil services.It has been my dream and I am eagerly looking forward to the job, said Jayita. So is Joyoshi.Impartiality,patience and correct assessment of situations are needed to be a successful administrator in these troubled times,she said.I do appreciate that an IAS officers job has probably got much tougher than the times when my mother joined the service.But there is no substitute for honesty and commitment.It helps find solutions to any problem,no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem.If you ask me,I would prefer a posting in the Maoist belt, said a confident Joyoshi. I would try to stop her.But I know she wouldnt listen to me, said

Joyoshis mother. It has not been an easy journey,though.Joyoshi toiled hard for five years to qualify and this was her third attempt.You need to prepare intelligently.Just studying hard wont get you anywhere.said Joyoshi,who writes stories in her spare time and even plays the piano. For IAS aspirants,she had a word of advice. If you want prosperity,go for the private sector.Choose IAS only if you are bent on public service, she said.Her first priority as a civil servant would be to try and uproot corruption.Not just from the services,but from all segments of our social life.It may sound idealistic but its possible if we all join hands, she signed off.

Andhra Pradesh: Bharat Gupta, MBBS

Hyderabad: A doctor,a business analyst and a mechanical engineer were among the state toppers of the prestigious UPSC examination,the results of which were declared on Thursday.Around 40 students cleared the examination from the state this year. The state topper was Bharath Gupta,an MBBS graduate from Kurnool medical college, who secured 17th rank in this years civil service examination. Bharath,who hails from Anantapur district,completed his medicine course in February this year and cleared the UPSC examination in his first attempt. Another rank holder from the state,Karthikeya Goel,son of a retired IAS

officer,A K Goel,too left a vocation to appear for the exam.Karthikeya left his job as a business analyst with Wipro to sit for the UPSC exam where he secured 40th rank.He had cleared UPSC last year too but chose to sit for it again as he made it only into custom services in his last attempt.He is currently undergoing customs training in Delhi. Ranking 59th in the UPSC list was Bharathi Hollikeri who hails from Karnataka but is settled in Hyderabad.She is currently undergoing IPS training in the National Police Academy. Among others who qualified the exam were Laya Madduri,a mechanical engineer from Bits Pilani.Hailing from Guntur,she is currently undergoing training as deputy collector in the state government.She was earlier working in the software industry.I wanted to do something more peoplecentric and thus appeared for UPSC, Madduri said. So how did the topper prepare for the UPSC exam.I appeared for my preliminary examination while doing my MBBS course.Before my UPSC finals I took a

two months break and stayed in Hyderabad for preparation.After my mains,I completed my course, said Gupta,whose father works with the South Central Railway. This years result has been qualitatively different.There have been many candidates who left their lucrative jobs in the private sector to appear for the examination, said V Gopalakrishna of Brain Tree,that offers coaching to IAS aspirants.However,according to Raji Reddy,a civil service expert from R C Reddy coaching centre,the number of candidates who made it to IAS from the state has gone down from 25 last year to 17 this year.

Tamil Nadu: R Lalitha (Engineer)

State IAS toppers heart is in rural service

Chennai: My mission is to make a difference to the villages in the country.And congratulate me when I truly achieve my goal, says 26-year-old R Lalitha,who has been ranked 12th in the prestigious Civil Services exam this year.It is a moment of exhilarating triumph,but Lalitha chooses to be impressively modest. Daughter of a retired engineer of the Border Roads Organisation of the Army,Lalitha says she wants to root out irregularities and pilferage in the implementation of welfare schemes for the poor. As a fresh engineering graduate a few years ago,Lalitha saw how a steadfast bureaucrat had transformed her tiny Tiruvalarchipatti village in Tiruchi. The then district collector Ashish Vachani is my inspiration.He ensured the leather tanneries set up an effluent treatment system.He improved infrastructure,sanitation and roped in youth for village programmes.He showed how an IAS officer could make a difference. And

that was the spark for this civil engineering graduate to quit her job with the Airports Authority of India and prepare for the civil services.She had missed the civil services by a whisker in 2007 as she secured the 543rd rank and was put on waitlist.However,she refused to despair and went into a super-preparation mode.And in her fourth attempt,she notched up the 12th rank. When I saw my ranking on the internet today,I just couldnt believe my eyes, she says. Tamil Nadu continued to perform impressively in the civil services exams,the results of which were published on Thursday,with 127 of its candidates making it to the elite national list of 875,who cleared the final exam and the interviews. In 2008-09,620 candidates from the state appeared in the main examination and 190 candidates,who wrote the examination in Chennai,were selected for the interview. Around 43 candidates from the Manitha Naeyam IAS training

centre had been selected,said Saidai Sa Duraisamy,who runs the institute that offers free

coaching.Ninety-two students had selected Tamil language and literature as a subject for the main examination. According to Shankar of Shankar IAS Academy,the success of candidates last year had encouraged more candidates to enrol this year.The interest to study for civil services has increased.But the number of people attempting the examinations in Tamil medium has not improved, he said. Thirtyfive students who trained at the Ganesh IAS Academy have also been selected while 22 others,many of them from poor economic background,made it after being trained at the PL Raj Memorial Study Centre. In 2004,16,323 aspirants had appeared for the civil services preliminary exam but the number fell sharply to 9,514 in 2007,declining gradually every year.In fact,the number of aspirants from the state has dropped by a significant 40% in the last five years.

Maharashtra: Two rankers in top 25 slots

Mumbai: May 23 was probably more important for 25-year-old Anay Dwivedi than Tuesday the 6th when the UPSC results were declared. For, towards the end of this month, the Nepean Sea Road resident was ready to take the civil service exam yet again — this would be his fourth shot at the gruelling test. But as John Lennon would have said, life is what happens while we are busy making other plans. “I filled the form for the fourth attempt and was all set to take the prelims. As twice before, I qualified in the written exam but was not selected after the interview. After my engineering, I took my Common Admission Test too and was shortlisted for the interview round. But ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be a civil servant like my dad. Everything else was a back-up plan,” said this elated all-India rank five, which also makes him the Maharashtra topper. Friends nudged him to take up a job “and stop wasting time” after

his engineering at Sardar Patel Engineering College. “But this is what I wanted; so I studied, studied and studied all day long.” To get additional help in excelling in his subjects — psychology and public administration — Anay went to Delhi and signed himself under two private tutors. This time during his interview, Anay tackled questions with deft — from views on China and Afghanistan to farmers’ suicide and Bt cotton. According to statistics from the State Institute for Administrative Careers, Maharashtra saw 75 students selected from 875 candidates who took the Union Public Service Commission exam. “We are again witnessing more selections from our state,” said SIAC director S G Gupta. Purna Dharmadhikari,head, Chanakya Mandal, an institute that coaches students for the UPSC, said that in 1986, he was the only one from Maharashtra to clear the exam. “But now, there are many more candidates taking the UPSC. Also, the study material is now available in marathi, allowing a larger section of candidates to appear for the test.” Maharashtra has two rankers in the top-25 slot. At all-India rank 23, stands Rajiv

Raushan (30); he took history and Sanskrit as his optional subjects. Nashik’s Nitin Yeola, at rank 106 is third in the state. Following him is Prerna Deshbhratar, rank 113, who also always wanted to be an IAS officer. She had taken the UPSC earlier, but had been selected for IRS. Despite being posted in Faridabad,Prerna did not give up her desire to pursue an IAS, so she sat for it again “This is a highly competitive exam and you can’t predict your performance, but it feels real good to have finally made it,” said the 27-year-old daughter of an IPS officer. IPS was Prerna’s second option, but the work profile for administrative services interests her the most. Thirty-two-year-old Chhaya Burudekar, an OBC candidate,from Jogeshwari, stood 265th in the all-India list, but she is not happy with her performance, and will be taking the UPSC exam again this year. “I’ll probably end up getting into the Indian Police Service, but I want to take up IAS. So I’ll be taking the exam again,” she said. Burudekar who has a seven-year-old daughter now has been taking the UPSC exam since the last three years and next time, will be her last

attempt. Her parents, who have not had the opportunity to even complete their schooling, said they were extremely proud of their daughter.

IAS Mains : 10 Success Sutras to Crack Mains

1. What makes one successful and another failure in Mains?

All the candidates are having books, all the candidates are dedicated to work and most of them attend coaching institutions, take guidance from seniors and friends but what makes one success and another failure. Students say they studied for 18 hours and still they couldn't make mains. Others say they studied only for 8-9 hours and could make mains. Why these differences. The difference between successful candidates and the failure candidates is same as differenc between ordinary and extra-ordinary persons. One who is able to make mains never counts the hours and how many books he/she has read. But they know what to read, what not to read, how much to read, how to use when required writing the answers. Civil Service exam never wants one to be ideal. It requires creativity, innovativeness within the candidates, who lack to use his/her

knowledge properly they feel tough to clear the exam. Before starting the preparation find out properly what to read, what not to read, what types of question are asked from particular topics. After taking guidance from others put your own strategy, don't follow their strategy it may not be suitable for you, Better strategy makes one success in mains.

2. Going through Syllabus

This year there is change in the syllabus of General-Studies and also optional paper.

Don't get tense when somebody says there is change in syllabus. Civil Service exam

tries to select candidates who are creative and innovative and aware of day to day life.

Accordingly, syllabus has been changed.

First go through General Studies syllabus thoroughly and try to be perfect with the

syllabi. If you know syllabus, 20% of your work is over. It helps you what to read and

what not to read. Don't neglect the added syllabus. Always questions will be asked from

the new syllabus. Try to think what type of questions may come from particular topic.

What is the relevance of particular topic in today's life?

In the same way go through the added topics of both optional and try to cover them first.

Old candidates may know other parts of the syllabus only added syllabus they have to

be perfect. New-comers have to know whole syllabus before starting their studies.

3. Having balanced approach towards Optional

Candidates have to select too optiona1 for mains. Most of the candidates take one

optional same for both prelims and mains. Some may have different optional papers for

prelims and two different optionals for mains. Both the optional papers should be given

same weightage. Don’t neglect the optional which you were having for prelims.. Don't

think already that you have studied for prelims and can give less time for mains. There

are many students who are unable to score more than 300 marks in first optional but

easily they can score more than 300 marks in second optional. This is because way of

approach for study differs. Student might know concepts but unable to use where it is

required. Therefore study both optionals simultaneously. Marks of both optional are

important to be successful in exam.

Considering question number 1 and 5 is equally important Question number 1 and 5 play

very important role in getting good score. From both the optionals we have 480 marks

for these questions. Therefore, practice writing short answers while preparing. Study

previous year questions and analyze what type of questions has been asked from

particular topics. Try to cover all the points within 200 words. Read the questions

properly and answer according to the nature of the question. While studying try to note

down topics where short notes can be asked and write points for that topic and keep.

That will help during revision.

4. Exclusive skills for presenting answer

After the prelims exams and till the exam date everyone study. But, in Civil Service main

exam only studying is not important. But here important is how one is using his

knowledge to write particular paper within three hours. What one writes during these

three hours makes one topper and anther failure. Here how much you studied it doesn't

matter, but how you are using your knowledge to write particular answer. Therefore while

studying, always think what type of questions may be asked from particular topics and

what points to be included to make different from others.

Many times we hear students saying they have done their exams very well. Question

paper was very easy. But still they are unable to make mains. Why? When question

paper is given they never try to read full question. If they come across the words they

know they start writing answers. They might have written wrong answer also. There they

make mistakes. First, study questions properly and understand what has been asked.

Then think what to be written for that answer. Write up to the point answers. While

writing 60 marks answers follow one strategy. When you read question, take always last

page of your answer booklet and start writing the points what all to be included in that

answer. Because while writing suddenly you may forget the points, these points give

hints to continue the answer and make to be within the track. .

Don't repeat the paragraphs. If graphs, pie-charts, flow charts are required draw them to

make examiner know what you have written. Always follow word-limit. If you think you

know more about that answer and start writing more on that answer, you cannot

complete the paper within a given time. Always try to give positive points. Don't mention

anybody's name. Write such type of inputs which makes your answer different from

others.

5. Current Affairs

Current Affairs play leading role in the Civil Service main exam. Students try to buy many

current affairs magazine and they think they studied more instead of that studied from

one magazine and be a regular reader of newspaper. Whatever you read, try to make

note of it, It helps to revise. Without revising you cannot remember the points. Study

previous years question paper and try to analyse what type of questions have been

asked from current affairs. See whether there is any change in asking questions from

one year to another.

General Studies first paper contains national affairs, social issues, geographical issues

and etc. And General Studies second paper includes international affairs, economics,

science and technology, statistics. All these topics are related to current affairs.

Therefore concentrate more on current affairs. The students having stronghold on

current affairs are able to score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Current Affairs

also play leading role optional. Same of the optionals like Public Administration, Political

Science, Science, and Sociology require current trends. Therefore one must be aware

what type of current affairs is required for particular topic. Here one should remember

only reading current affairs never give marks. Try to revise it again and again and you

will be able to recollect during the exam. Preparing current affairs should be continuous

process and don't think some days can be allotted for it.

6. Two marker questions and 20 words

Always small things make great thing happen. That means, too marker questions are

very important to score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Usually students think,

it's only two marks, they can write them without any strategy. But when you really sit for

writing you will understand how much difficult are those. To write these questions you

must evolve good strategy. While reading newspaper you may come across some

personalities, places and terms try to write on them about in 20 words. Keep on

practicing. If answer is written up to the mark you can get full marks. If you ask any

topper, he always says that he gave importance to two markers.

To make yourself different from others, prepare your own strategy in order to study these

two marks questions. Go through previous years questions and try to write yourself for

those questions. While reading any newspaper, magazine or book, note down the words

and write on that topic.

In exam hall, write up to the point. This can come only by practice. Questions will be

from Indian polity, economies, history, culture, science and technology, geographical

concepts, personalities. While studying, make different note on different topics thus it

helps to revise properly.

7. Selective Study

All the candidates who are preparing for civil service main examination know the

importance of selective study. Being selective is how much useful in preparation how it

makes one comfortable.

When students, who are preparing for examination, see the vast syllabus, they find

themselves in confusing state. It is like throwing one into the sea; That means syllabus is

so vast if they sit for preparing simply without making any selection. One needs

complete one year to read whole syllabus. By that time exams are on the head,

candidates are not fully prepared in each topic and after reading the entire syllabus they

are not even in position to tackle anyone question perfectly. Therefore, selective study is

very important in civil service preparation. One should know what to study, what to be

given more importance, what not to be studied and etc.

Once study whole syllabus completely. They should take some 3-4 previous year

question .papers and study the topics thoroughly. This help to decide on which topics

frequently questions are asked and on which topic analytical questions are coming, on

which topic short questions are coming and so on. By going through previous year

question paper one can understand what to study' in current affairs. This makes one to

be selective while reading newspapers.' Otherwise one has to spend more time on

newspapers.

Syllabus of optional subjects are also vast, sp candidates often have many books to

cover the topics but they cannot read all of them so here also being selective is very

important. Try to read standard books and recollect the points what you have read and

how it is useful in writing the answers. Selective study hopes you to answer any question

asked on that topic.

Most of the toppers follow strategy of being selective. It is not wise to waste time in

reading which is not required for the exam. One should have proper approach towards

study the optional subjects to get success at mains.

8. Importance of Compulsory Papers

English and any other Indian language and one essay paper are compulsory for civil

service main examination. Its nature is of qualifying nature so often candidates think that

hey easily can write them and clear these papers. But after each result actually we see

that many students are unable to clear language papers. Even some candidates await

there result positively and actually they did very well at there exam but finally language

papers create a big hurdle. So never underestimate these too language papers and do

not neglect them. Here their importance is more. Without qualifying these papers, you

cannot at mains. Therefore, they cannot be neglected. These are considered as first

step to clear mains. Therefore, be perfect with grammar, essay writing, precise writings.

The students who are getting good marks in essay can definitely get success in mains.

Essay paper plays important role in getting good rank. This paper is for 200 marks. One

Who writes good essay can get upto 140 marks. This makes great difference between

an ordinary student and an extra-ordinary student. To write essay one should have

comprehensive thinking. While preparing, don't prepare a few topics. Prepare general

way. Select topics like global warming, social change, and development-oriented topics,

globalization, terrorism, democracy' and prepare on these' topics in general way.

Particular topics won't be asked in the exam. But whatever you have studied can be

used in anyway while writing essay. Read all the topics of essay at least once, and then

select which topic you feel comfortable. Then take last page of your answer booklet and

note down all the points you know so that you will not forget the main points while you

writing the essay. Then arrange the points in accordance with their importance and there

should be continuation of paragraphs. . .

Always write common language, don't use complicated words and don't bring optional

concepts into the essay.' Essay paper also marks the assessment of your personality.

Therefore be careful while choosing the topics and while writing the essay paper.

9. 2600 Marks to be covered in 100 days

Civil Service Main Examination is an examination of 2600 marks. In that two compulsory

language papers have 300 marks each. They are qualifying papers and are important to

clear the main examination. After preliminary examination there will be 150 days

available for preparing for mains; But while choosing second optional and collecting

books candidates waste some 40 to 50 days. Only reaming will be 100 days to go far

mains. these 100 days are crucial for everyone. Aspirants have to cover some 100 topics

in optional and some 100 topics in General Studies.

To achieve one's goal within 100 days, one has to follow proper strategy. Planning is

very important to complete studies. 100 days can be split into two parts: first 80 days for

studying and remaining 20 days for revision. Main examination requires how you

analytically think over the .topic. Therefore, revision helps one to know how one can

recollect the points. Study all the subjects simultaneously. Equal weightege should be

given to all the papers. According to your comfortability with subject allot your time for

study and make planning every week. Change the planning according to the topics to be

covered.

Planning helps to use 100 days fruitfully to achieve the goal.

10. What to follow: during preparation and in examination hall

(a) Read limited books. Don't try to read more books. Read fewer books and gain more

from them. Read only one or two newspapers and follow anyone book on current affairs.

Reading more books make you what to remember or not.

(b) Be selective while reading a newspaper. From the beginning of your preparation build

the habit of reading what is important from the exam point of view. Spend only 45

minutes to 60 minutes for newspaper daily.

(c) Always plan your studies. For a week and also for a day. This helps to complete the

syllabus within a time.

(d) In the name of selective study don't leave what to be studied. Don't go only for

popular topics study what may be asked in the mains.

(e) Prepare your own notes. But don't spend more time in preparing notes. Make pointwise

notes which can be reversed very easily with less time.

(f) Don't run from difficult topics. Get clarified from somebody else and simply don't leave

difficult topics. Don't give importance to what you know. Give less time for what you

know and more time for studying difficult topics.

(g) Make more and more practices for writing answers. Don't be lazy. At least p1ake the

habit of writing points to be included in that answer.

(h) While writing answer in examination hall, I don't cross the word-limit. If you cross the

word I limit, you cannot manage to write all the answers.

(i) Statistics carries 40'marks in General Studies. Give importance to this section while II

preparation and also in the examination hall. In the examination hall, keep last 20

minutes for statistics and don't take it first. Practice makes you to solve the problem

within a time limit.

(J) Last point is very important. Don't be hurry while reading the question paper. Read

slowly word by word and you can understand what is asked. Otherwise, there is a

chance of writing wrong answer. Therefore, follow questions' properly.

RBI Governor Subbarao is an IITian and IAS topper

Finance Secretary Duvvuri Subbarao, 59, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre who topped the 1972 batch, will be the new governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He will take over from incumbent Yaga Venugopal Reddy, whose five-year tenure ends September 5.

Announcing this here on Monday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said Subbarao had been appointed for three years, though the norms allow a tenure of up to five years. By implication, Subbarao term could be extended by two years.

The appointment comes after considerable speculation over who would take over from Reddy, a retired IAS officer who became governor on September 6, 2003.

A key contender for the job was RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan, who met the finance minister last week. There was also some talk of Reddy being granted an extension.

Today, Chidambaram praised Reddy for his stint at the central bank. “His stewardship of the RBI saw some major changes and improvements. He led the RBI with distinction through a period of change and rapid growth. We warmly thank him for his services,” the finance minister said.

Subbarao has wide experience in public finance and has held important posts in this area. He had joined the finance ministry in May 2007, before which he worked as secretary of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council.

An IIT Kanpur alumnus, Subbarao was among the first of its graduates to join the civil services. He took a Master’s degree in economics from Ohio State University (1978), was a Humphrey Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1982-83) and later picked up a doctorate in Economics from Andhra University. Among other stints, he was also the lead economist at the World Bank from 1999 to 2004.

Widely seen as a reformer, he is credited with having authored a turnaround of Andhra Pradesh’s finances in the late nineties when the state slipped into an unprecedented fiscal crisis.

He takes charge at Mint Road at a time when inflation is ruling at an uncomfortable high of 12.4 per cent and monetary policy is focused on curbing the price rise and tackling inflationary expectations.

Subbarao is currently overseas on official business and was scheduled to return to New Delhi late tonight.

Subbarao’s appointment as RBI governor means a new secretary, department of economic affairs, will have to be appointed soon because he also held that post. Since he was the senior-most among his peers, he was appointed finance secretary.

Sources said Ashok Chawla, currently civil aviation secretary, may be appointed secretary, economic affairs. Chawla was additional secretary, economic affairs from April 2005 to January 2007. Chawla is an IAS officer of the 1973 batch from the Gujarat cadre.

Meanwhile, Sindhushree Khullar, currently additional secretary in the department of economic affairs, has been empanelled to pick up the secretary rank. She is an IAS officer of the 1975 batch of the AGMU cadre.

The finance ministry has five secretaries. Revenue secretary P V Bhide and financial services secretary Arun Ramanathan are from the 1973 batch. Disinvestment secretary Vivek Mehrotra and secretary expenditure Sushma Nath both belong to the 1974 batch. Even after Chawla joins, Ramanathan would be the senior-most among the secretaries at North Block. He is slated to retire in April 2009. Sources suggest Chawla may eventually be appointed the new finance secretary once Ramanathan retires.

Technocrat Mohan joined the RBI as deputy governor in July 2005 for a five-year term. Before joining the central bank, Mohan, 60, worked as secretary, department of economic affairs, finance ministry, for less than a year. In this position, he was alternate governor of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Immediately before this, he was with RBI as deputy governor between September 2002 and October 2004.

It is not yet clear whether Mohan will continue in his present charge. He has two years to go as deputy governor and there is a suggestion that he may be headed to the World Bank at Washington. It is likely that Arvind Virmani, currently the chief economic adviser in the finance ministry, may be appointed as deputy governor in Mohan’s place. (Source: Business Standard)