NEW DELHI: The Union Public Service Commission recently announced the final results for Civil Services Exam 2023. While Aditya Srivastava grabbed the top slot, Ayan Jain is the 16th rank holder. Apart from the fact that both of them did well in UPSC CSE 2023, there is another surprising similarity between Aditya and Ayan. Both are IITians. Aditya is from IIT Kanpur and Ayan is the alumnus of IIT Delhi.Hold on, there’s more. Both had cracked IPS. Interestingly, Ayan’s brother, Arth Jain, who is presently serving in the Indian Police Service in Madhya Pradesh cadre, had also secured AIR 16 in the UPSC CSE back in 2020. Both the brothers, Arth and Ayan have graduated from the coveted Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. In a free willing chat with TOI Education, Ayan spills the beans about his preparation strategy as well as challenges and shares his journey from being an UPSC aspirant to a Civil Services Exam topper.
What was your motivation behind taking the civil services examination?
My parents inspired me. I have seen them work. My father was in the Indian Police Service. He has retired now. And then, once I started college, many of my friends went into civil service. During my IIT tenure, I worked in NSS (National Service Scheme is a large-scale Indian government initiative that promotes youth development through volunteer community service), which confirmed that this is the type of work I want to pursue. After further discussion with my seniors about career options, I decided on Civil Services.
Did you struggle to cover the UPSC syllabus?
UPSC has a vast syllabus. Preparing for the exam is very challenging and tricky. To overcome the current affairs part, I decided to opt for a minimal approach, focussing more on static portions, which are bound to come later in life.
What were the most difficult aspects of your preparations?
The revised preliminary exam pattern poses significant challenges, particularly with its tough multiple-choice questions (MCQs). This is where the luck factor comes into play.
My Mains optional was Maths, which was also very vast, in terms of syllabus. Managing time for GS, MCQs, and the optional paper requires time optimisation.
How did you manage your time during preparations?
I began preparing for the UPSC Prelims when I was in my third year of college. So, back then, I was not able to devote much time. However, over the last two to three years, I have worked approximately nine to ten hours per week. However, it varies sometimes. I tried to study as much as possible while also being careful not to overdo it and become exhausted.
What was your daily routine like, during the preparatory stage?
I did not do much micro-planning. At times I would plan out my breakfast, lunch, and dinner times and stick to them. My break times were also aligned to these. Apart from that, I tried to study as much as I could and schedule breaks according to my preference. However, daily planning also depends on the individual. Many people benefit from having a very strict schedule.
How many attempts did you make at UPSC? What have you learned from your attempts?
Three attempts. In my first attempt, I was not able to clear Prelims. My biggest learning was that the static portion requires a lot of focus. During those two hours of the exam, there is a tendency to feel very anxious. So, practising a lot of mock tests helped me. In my second attempt, I secured rank 87 and I joined the Indian Police Service. Despite that, I was constantly improving on my shortcomings.
What would be your top 5 tips for UPSC aspirants this year?
First, I would say, UPSC aspirants should regularly look at previous sessions’ analysis, whether it’s present or news or even interviews. Secondly, they should have a very good idea of exactly what kind of questions are being asked. The third important aspect is to write a concise note. You may not have a concise note, but rather one that is small enough to be easily revised. Next, one should focus on mock tests. Once can learn from previous news interviews and also mock interviews. Lastly, I would like to say that you should be selective in whatever we are studying. Do not try to study everything. Rather, focus on the usability of whatever you are studying. I was also an online learner at Unacademy where I took the platform’s interview guidance and Unacademy Plus programme to prepare for the exams.
What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy playing chess and listen to music a lot. At other times, I like to watch movies or TV for relaxation.
Which service do you prefer, and when will your IAS training begin?
I would like to work in the Indian Administrative Services in Madhya Pradesh. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) will contact the shortlisted candidates, and training is expected to begin within a period of two to three months.
What was your motivation behind taking the civil services examination?
My parents inspired me. I have seen them work. My father was in the Indian Police Service. He has retired now. And then, once I started college, many of my friends went into civil service. During my IIT tenure, I worked in NSS (National Service Scheme is a large-scale Indian government initiative that promotes youth development through volunteer community service), which confirmed that this is the type of work I want to pursue. After further discussion with my seniors about career options, I decided on Civil Services.
Did you struggle to cover the UPSC syllabus?
UPSC has a vast syllabus. Preparing for the exam is very challenging and tricky. To overcome the current affairs part, I decided to opt for a minimal approach, focussing more on static portions, which are bound to come later in life.
What were the most difficult aspects of your preparations?
The revised preliminary exam pattern poses significant challenges, particularly with its tough multiple-choice questions (MCQs). This is where the luck factor comes into play.
My Mains optional was Maths, which was also very vast, in terms of syllabus. Managing time for GS, MCQs, and the optional paper requires time optimisation.
How did you manage your time during preparations?
I began preparing for the UPSC Prelims when I was in my third year of college. So, back then, I was not able to devote much time. However, over the last two to three years, I have worked approximately nine to ten hours per week. However, it varies sometimes. I tried to study as much as possible while also being careful not to overdo it and become exhausted.
What was your daily routine like, during the preparatory stage?
I did not do much micro-planning. At times I would plan out my breakfast, lunch, and dinner times and stick to them. My break times were also aligned to these. Apart from that, I tried to study as much as I could and schedule breaks according to my preference. However, daily planning also depends on the individual. Many people benefit from having a very strict schedule.
How many attempts did you make at UPSC? What have you learned from your attempts?
Three attempts. In my first attempt, I was not able to clear Prelims. My biggest learning was that the static portion requires a lot of focus. During those two hours of the exam, there is a tendency to feel very anxious. So, practising a lot of mock tests helped me. In my second attempt, I secured rank 87 and I joined the Indian Police Service. Despite that, I was constantly improving on my shortcomings.
What would be your top 5 tips for UPSC aspirants this year?
First, I would say, UPSC aspirants should regularly look at previous sessions’ analysis, whether it’s present or news or even interviews. Secondly, they should have a very good idea of exactly what kind of questions are being asked. The third important aspect is to write a concise note. You may not have a concise note, but rather one that is small enough to be easily revised. Next, one should focus on mock tests. Once can learn from previous news interviews and also mock interviews. Lastly, I would like to say that you should be selective in whatever we are studying. Do not try to study everything. Rather, focus on the usability of whatever you are studying. I was also an online learner at Unacademy where I took the platform’s interview guidance and Unacademy Plus programme to prepare for the exams.
What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy playing chess and listen to music a lot. At other times, I like to watch movies or TV for relaxation.
Which service do you prefer, and when will your IAS training begin?
I would like to work in the Indian Administrative Services in Madhya Pradesh. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) will contact the shortlisted candidates, and training is expected to begin within a period of two to three months.
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