Lecture Notes on UPSC Journey by Arushi Sharma

Introduction

• Speaker: Arushi Sharma
• Achievements:
  • All India Rank 402 in Civil Service 2022
  • Probationer in Indian Information Service through Civil Service Exam 2021
• Purpose: To share her journey and learning from 5 years and 4 attempts at UPSC

Key Phases of the Journey

Decision to Pursue Civil Services

• Initial Reluctance: Engineering background, preferred other career options
• Influenced by family, particularly father, to consider Civil Services
• Vision for the future: Desire to make a larger impact on society

Early Preparations

• Started in 2018 after graduation
• Lacked guidance: No family or friends in Civil Services
• Common Beginners' Mistakes:
  • Difficulty transitioning from Engineering to Arts subjects
  • Inadequate revision and neglecting previous year questions
  • Overconfidence due to academic background

First Attempt (2019)

• Prelims failed by 7 marks
• Resulted in a week of depression and isolation
• Needed unconditional support from family and friends

Second Attempt

• Prelims failed by 2 marks
• More resilient mindset developed: “Okay UPSC, you wanna play with me? Let’s play.”
• Realized progress despite failure

Golden Phase of Preparation (Third Attempt)

• Timeline: 2020 May - 2021 May
• Focused entirely on studies, secluded from distractions
• Developed a systematic study approach
  • Focus on previous year questions
  • Incremental progress tracking via tools like Excel and study apps

Mains Preparation

• First time attempting mains, lacked complete guidance
• Utilized topper videos and peer support groups for strategy

Interview Preparation

• Confident yet realistic approach
• Importance of guidance and maintaining confidence
• Scored high in the interview by leveraging strengths

Key Learnings and Advice

Role of Support System

• Essential to have a loving and supporting family and friends
• Parents and friends played a crucial role during tough times
• Importance of staying motivated and not letting external pressures get to you

Small Progress Tracking

• Compete with oneself, not others
• Utilize tools to track study progress and improvements
• Keep away from distractions consciously

Handling Failures and Setbacks

• Learn from mistakes, avoid repeating them
• Develop resilience and a positive outlook towards failures
• Crying and emotional breakdowns are part of the process, but persistence is key

Final Advice for Aspirants

• Be prepared for a long journey: Mentally prepare for up to 6 attempts
• Focus on creating a supportive study environment
• Use tools effectively to track progress and manage time
• Stay grounded even after success
• Luck plays a significant role, along with hard work and preparation

Scholarship Announcement

• Arushi announced a scholarship for talented individuals facing financial issues
• Aimed to aid those who cannot afford quality training and support for Civil Services

Conclusion

• Continual self-improvement and maintaining motivation are crucial
• Celebrate small victories and maintain a positive attitude
• Groundedness and resilience are key to overcoming the challenges of UPSC

For more details on the scholarship, refer to the given link.