Upsc Toppers Strategy 
                               
                    ( 1)   T V Anupama (IAS) (All India Rank 4)2010 
                     
                    Anupama’s UPSC exam preparation was focused and intensive. 
                         •    Initially, she started preparing for UPSC Mains exam because that is where an 
                              aspirant needs to strengthen their concepts. 
                         •    She used to devote 13 to 16 hours a day with books and relevant magazines. 
                         •    She slept for six hours without disruption and used to take a 10- or 15-minute 
                              rest during studies. 
                         •    She relied on several magazines, The Times of India and The Hindu for 
                              preparing for the general studies paper for UPSC Mains Exam. 
                     (2) Kanishak Kataria (IAS) (AIR 1) -IAS Topper 2018 
                    Even an enviable salary and a plum job could not keep him from his homeland. 
                    Kataria returned to India and started his IAS preparation.  
                    He also started working at QPLUM in Bangalore as a data scientist.  
                    Since he did not have much idea about the exam and its unique challenges, he stayed 
                    in Delhi and took coaching for about 7 – 8 months.  
                    But from March 2018, he stayed back home and engaged in self-study.For the 
                    prelims exam, Kataria went through the previous years’ UPSC question papers and 
                    enrolled for test series. 
                    Kataria opted for mathematics as his optional subject out of genuine love for the 
                    subject. He spent more time for his optional since it has a huge syllabus. For the 
                    mains exam, Kataria spent 13 – 14 hours studying everyday.  
                    His dedication and determination is evident from the fact that for about 2 months 
                    before the mains, he completely shut himself off social media. He also reveals that he 
                    never gave much thought to the results, and focussed only on the exam and the 
                    preparation. 
                    His success mantra, in his own words, is hard work and staying positive. Having 
                    secured the first rank and having fulfilled his dream of becoming an IAS officer, 
                    Kataria now wants to work for the betterment of the country in his new capacity. 
       (3) ARTIKA SHUKLA( IAS )All India Rank – 4  2015 in her first attempt 
       General tips : 
       1. Do not spend more than 2 months exclusively in the preparation of prelims. It is a 
       qualifying exam. Instead use the time to increase your grip over your optional/GS 
       mains. 
       2. Choose an optional you’re comfortable with. Something you enjoy reading and 
       writing about. Optional marks can make or break your result. IT is the most crucial 
       part of the preparation. 
       3. Answer writing practice has two parts to it : 
       One is the ability to finish a paper within 30 mins, to improve your speed and  to 
       have a good handwriting. 
       The other is to build your content from diverse sources, collect and present the 
       information in an organized manner. 
       Both are required. Keep practicing until you’re good at both. 
       4. In the final exam, always write an introduction.. the content if possible in points 
       followed by an optimistic conclusion. Train yourself to write answers in this manner 
       quickly. 
       5.  Personality Test is the most whimsical part of the entire process. Try not to 
       depend on it at all. The Mains Exam is what gets you in the final list. Give it your best 
       shot!! 
       Motivation: 
       This is an exam not only of knowledge but also of strength,patience and focus. Work 
       hard. Be ambitious and do not be afraid to start. Start where you are. Start with fear, 
       with doubt, with pain. Start with voice shaking and hands trembling. Start where you 
       are, with what you have. You can.  You should. And if you’re brave enough to start, 
       you will succeed one day. 
        
       (4)  Mohd Nooh Siddiqui, (IAS) AIR 326 (2017 )  
       To last longer focused on the same objective for years and years require very strong 
       emotional and personal management. Few habits that differentiate the successful 
       candidates from striving candidates that I have observed and followed during my 
       preparation are, 
                    •    Habit of sitting for long duration -10-12 hrs daily that too on fixed time table 
                    •    Group work and healthy competition 
                    •    Writing more tests and working on mistakes rather than increasing information 
                    •    Use of internet,video/Audio resources,Websites,Youtube channels etc 
                    •    Ability to overcome failure through extracurricular activities,prayers,talking to 
                         friends and family and through strong inner motivation.The failure in UPSC is 
                         temporary and the success last very long. 
                    •    Positive attitude- maintaining distance from negative people 
                          
                          
                         (5)  Roman Saini (IAS)(CSE 2013 Rank 18) 
                          
                          Study Plan in General 
                             
                         Positive, optimistic, single-minded, ruthless focus. The strategy is to read as much 
                         as you can from the same source and revise it again and again. 
                          
                         Prepared for 2 years (more than sufficient). I was 21 when I gave Prelims. On an 
                         average, I put around 6-10 hours on daily basis.  
                          
                         And gradually increased the effort during exam time to 12 hours. Managing time 
                         was extremely difficult as I was pursuing MBBS from AIIMS. But if you have single-
                         minded focused on it, you will find a way. Preferred studying alone rather than 
                         combine study approach. Not in favor of group study, because of the different 
                         knowledge base that we have. That creates problems.