Aman Mittal (AIR 20 CSE
2014) shares his tips on preparing for the Mains examination by providing his thoughts on Electrical Engineering optional and also discusses about the UPSC reforms below:
Q. What was your approach
in the exam (I wrote all, I only focused on the questions where I could answer
perfectly, I just not to high quality points to reach the word limit etc.)
Because the UPSC aspirant community is divided over what counts as a
‘good’ paper. Some experts claim you should attempt all- even if it involves
“making up” an answer with filler lines, some claim attempt only those
questions you know perfectly. Where do you stand on this? [Based on your
experience and of your seniors/buddies]
I prepared well enough to
finish the paper in time. Given the exam, it is recommended that best questions
are attempted first, but there is no hard and fast rule for the same.
Q. How was your
experience with the ‘fixed space’ answer sheet?
It is a very good thing
done by the UPSC. There is sufficient space that allows sufficiently big
handwriting people(like me) to utilize it effectively without being lulled into
writing too much on a single question.
Q. Did you write answers
in bullet points or in paragraphs? Some players (who cleared mains and got
interview call letter) were claiming that they wrote entire paper in bullet
points, so it doesn’t matter….whether examiner is asking ‘examine, comment,
discuss or xyz’….simply write in bullets and points.
Write appropriately as
per the demands of the question. Some questions are better in paragraph,
generally those with few points and many examples(mainly GS 2 and GS 3), while
those with many points must be in point format.(GS 1 and GS 3)
Q. Did you follow the
“introduction-body-conclusion” format? because some mains-qualified candidates
claim they simply wrote the points they could recall within the time, instead
of bothering with proper introduction and conclusion.
Yes. Proper structure in
every question.
Q5. Did you use
highlighters / sketch pens in your answers?
No
Q6. Did you draw any
diagram in any paper? (e.g. in GS1 Geography)
No
Q7. If yes, Did you draw
diagrams with pencil or pen?
N.A.
Q8. Did you use ruler to
draw the lines in diagram? Or did you just make it by hand?
No
Q9. You wrote the answer
in blue
pen or black pen?
Blue
Mains Optional Subject (Electrical Engineering)
Q. What’s your optional
subject and why did you chose it and not something else?
Electrical Engineering.
This was also my graduation subject and hence more of a natural choice for me.
Q. If a new player wants
to pick this subject, would you advice for it or against it? (e.g. every senior
player in Public Administration seems to be advising against pub.ad)
I endorse it. Completely.
In fact I advertise it. But be prepared to work hard with fruitless years
cursing yourselves for not working hard during engineering. But at the end of
the day, you can go back to your college and say that the fault did not lie
with you.
Q. First the essential
book/resource list. (Also mention which one is the “Base book” for covering the
theory? + Whatever comments you’ve for a particular book e.g. “my seniors said
read xyz book but I found that ABC book was better”. “xyz topic not given properly in this book,
so prepare from xyz website or book…” OR and so on.)
Refer to Prince Dhawan
Sir and Prakash Rajpurohit blog.
https://prakashrajpurohit.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/electrical-engineeeringmains-booklist/
Q. How much of
internet-research / current affairs is necessary for this optional? OR can one
simply rely on the books and be done with this subject?
Internet research is
needed for many topics that are not generally taught in engineering.
Q. How many months did it
take to finish the core optional syllabus?
About 7 to 8 months. I
was lucky that my father is an Electrical Engineering professor and he taught
the entire course.
Q. How many days/ weeks
before the exam, you started answer writing practice?
After the prelims.
Q. Do you maintain
self-notes for revision of optional? In which format- electronic or paper?
No.
Q. Your observation about
the difficultly level of 2014 mains vs previous papers. And what precautions /
rectifications are necessary in the future strategy for given optional subject?
Same. Similar paper is
being repeated year on year for this optional. Given the marking is similar,
one can expect electrical engineering score to go much higher.
Before the interview
Q1. How did you prepare
for the interview? – for college grad, hobbies, place of origin, current
affairs at national and international level?
First of all, do not try
to exaggerate on the DAF. My form was very simple and the pointers were thus in
my zone of comfort. For the above mentioned topics, internet and discussion
with peers is the best method that even I adopted during the course of my
preparation.
Q2. Did you attend any
mock interviews by coaching classes? How were they similar / different than
official interview? Do you believe it is necessary to attend such mock
interviews?
Yes. They give good
confidence before the actual interview. Though not necessary later, it is
recommended for first timers(like me).
Q3. Describe the formal-dress
worn by you in interview.
Formal black pant, blue
shirt, formal tie and black shoes.
Q4. Where did you stay
for the interview? (Hotel / friend’s home …) and what books/material did you
bring for the ‘revision before interview’?
My home. No revision notes.
During the interview
Q1. Who was the chairman
of you interview board?
Vice Admiral (Retd.) D K
Dewan
Q2. How long was the
interview?
45-50 min
Q3. Why do you want to
join civil service? Why don’t you continue in your graduation field? Social
service can be done from private sector too.
[Since I don’t know whether they ask you this question or not. But if
they had asked- what will be your reply?]
Civil services offer a
career that one can look forward to for the challenges as well as giving you
the platform to create visible changes in the society. It is just individual
preference where one feels the satisfaction from and there is no hierarchy as
to which field will allow oneself to do maximum social services etc.
Q4. Please narrate your
entire interview- what questions did they ask and what did you reply and other
pleasant or uncomfortable experiences during the interview. (Earlier some
toppers only tell me their question but not their answer. I would appreciate if
you give both Question + your original answers)
It was a long interview
and I don’t feel inclined to write the entire thing right now. Will send the
link if I decide to post the transcript somewhere.
Q5. Was your interview on
the expected lines of what you had prepared or did they ask you totally
unexpected questions? Was it a stress
interview, did they ask any uncomfortable questions? If yes, how did you handle
it?
No. In fact the interview
went tangentially into US politics, Indian foreign policy etc. for a long time
(I had gone to US for a competition)
Q6. Any side details
about technicalities like “make sure you bring xyz document or do xyz thing, or
you’ll face problem”?
Bring whatever is
mentioned in the form. For the medical, please bring many extra photographs.
Q7. Any word of wisdom /
observations about medical checkup?
Be relaxed.
CSE-2014 Mark-sheet
Q1. Please attach both
prelim and final mark sheet. (when it comes)
Prelims – GS 101.34
CSAT 155
Mains –
Essay – 136
GS 1 – 91
GS 2 – 96
GS 3 – 91
GS 4 – 91
EE 1 – 128
EE 2 – 163
Interview – 19
Q2. After looking at the
marksheet, suppose you had to prepare again next time, what changes will you
make in your studies?
If I was to prepare
again, I would focus on ethics, essay and optionals again as they are more
scoring.
Career Backup
Q1. If you were not
selected, what was your career backup plan?
Not decided yet.
Q2. When were you going
to “execute” that backup plan? (e.g. after __ failed attempts/ after I cross __
age/after dad retires/ after girlfriend dumps me etc.)
Not decided yet.
Views on UPSC reform
Q. Optional subjects
should be removed altogether. The present stalemate is helping no-one, except
coaching-owners, book publishers.
It is the prerogative of
UPSC, but in my view at least the emphasis should not be too high on optionals.
In the long run, it will be beneficial for the exam to be based on general
studies, essay and interview only.
Q. Your views on the
decision to make CSAT paper 33% qualifying?
It would certainly help
many candiates, but the qualifying criteria must be set a little higher so that
the paper does not become a cakewalk.
Q. Despite what UPSC has
done in recent years, it has failed to curb the nuisance of Delhi’s coaching
factories. In fact it’s increased under the new syllabus in 2014. Let’s face
it, most candidates who gave Mains-2014 have relied on (authentic OR Xeroxed)
coaching notes because there was hardly any time left to prepare so many topics
in such short time. This system work against an individual preparing from
far-away area, without any financial resources, high-speed internet or contacts
in Delhi.
True. The focus of UPSC
should always be to select good candidates. It is the nature of
capitalist-oriented society that coaching institutes will always adapt to the
changed pattern.
Q. Half-merger of IFoS
with CSE is a bad move because it has raised the cutoffs for players who’re
solely dedicated to IFoS only (and not to IAS/IPS). Adding salt to the wounds, many
who had applied for both jobs, cleared the prelims- they did not even bother to
appear in all the papers of Mains-IFoS. (atleast that was the scene in 2013).
It is partially true.
Those dedicated to IFoS are at a disadvantage at prelims. But here again UPSC
needs to simply ensure that good candidates are selected.
Q. UPSC should disclose
official prelim answer-key and cutoffs, immediately after prelim is over,
instead of postponing it till interview phase is over.
It would be a good idea.
Q. UPSC should be
conducted online like IBPS and CAT exam to shorten the duration of exam.
No. The format and
inclusive nature of the exam do not permit such change at this stage.
Q. If you are made the
UPSC chairman, what other reforms would you initiate for the civil service
exam?
I guess UPSC official key
should be released soon after the prelim exam. The time between mains and
result should be reduced and separate exams should be conducted for AIS and
other allied services so that the process can be significantly shortened.
Payment for the forms of mains should be done online rather than by fee stamps.
Insecurity about profile
Q. Many candidates
prepare sincerely but constantly live under fear about ‘profile insecurity’. I’m
not from a big college, I’m not from English medium, and I don’t have
work-experience. What if they ask some stressful questions in the interview
about this? Did you suffer from such insecurities? What is your message to
these candidates?
These are all unfound
fears and one should realise that UPSC board members are experienced enough to
look beyond such ‘insecurities’.
Wisdom
Q. Through this struggle
and success, what have your learned? What is the wisdom of life and
competition? What is your message to the new aspirants?
Hard Work, perseverance
and faith are the most important friends in the UPSC exam. There are moments of
anxiety throughout the course of preparation. I always advise aspirants to
learn some form of de-stressing activity, like meditation.
Q. Many hardworking
candidates have failed in Mains/Interview of CSE-2014. They’re feeling cynical,
hopeless and depressed- what is your message to them?
UPSC exam is a lot about
luck and perseverance. Sometimes we feel that life is harsh on us, but connecting
the dots backward we would realize in the future that those moments are
important learning points in our life. Analyse what went wrong in this attempt
and move on to the future, next attempt or a new venture, whatever you may
choose. Never lose hope.
Credit: Friends/family
Q. Behind every topper
are many people who stood by during those uncertain times when he/she was
merely an ‘aspirant’. Would you like to tell the world, who were those people
in your case? Any specific incidence that you would like to share with the
readers?
My success is 10% due to
me and 90% due to the people who stood by me during the course of preparation.
First of all, I am
thankful to God who blessed me with such great friends, family and teachers
along the way. My parents and my elder brother were my biggest source of
inspiration and guidance throughout the journey. I would also like to thank my
entire family for standing by me during this time.
My teachers as well as my
guides (Kak Sir and Rajib Sir) at Samkalp and GS Score were immensely helpful
to me. They formed the part of my extended family on which I could rely on
throughout the preparation for anything – personal or course related.
Lastly and most
importantly, I can only count my blessings for having such great friends in my
life. They not only stood by me, but they also gave the right piece of advise
for preparation. I have to admit that I was literally counselled into studying
by my friends. I know it is not enough, but thanks a lot for all the support.
There is only one
specific incidence that I would like to mention. After my GATE result, I was
extremely depressed as it seemed that my entire preparation was in doldrums. I
could not even properly study. This was the time when I was thinking of leaving
this attempt altogether. However, it was only due to the advise of my friends
and family that I could gather the strength to work hard once again.
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