Navigating the UPSC Journey: Insights from Animesh Pradhan, AIR 2, UPSC CSE 2023

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A Resilient Mindset: Overcoming Adversity

Animesh Pradhan's journey to securing the second rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 was marked by immense personal challenges. As he shared, his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in December 2021, and he lost her just a month before the results were announced. Despite this heart-wrenching situation, Animesh remained steadfast in his determination, drawing inspiration from his mother's resilience and the dream of making her proud.

Animesh's openness about seeking professional counseling during this difficult period is a testament to his emotional maturity and the importance of maintaining a strong support system. He emphasizes that UPSC preparation can be a lonely journey, and it is crucial to surround oneself with people who can provide the necessary emotional and mental support.

Strategizing for Success: Animesh's Approach

Prelims Preparation

Animesh's prelims preparation involved a systematic approach, starting with building a comprehensive understanding of the core subjects through standard resources like Laxmikant for Polity, AR Sharma for History, and Spectrum for Modern History. He complemented this with weekly current affairs tests, which helped him organically build his notes and improve his answer-writing skills.

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Animesh also attempted prelims test series, religiously attempting 35-45 tests, which allowed him to identify his strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. He meticulously analyzed the test results, focusing on both his overall scores and the accuracy of his educated guesses.

Mains Preparation

For the Mains examination, Animesh adopted a strategic approach, starting his preparation as early as February 2022. He enrolled in a mentorship program that provided him with weekly current affairs PDFs, which he used to build his notes in a structured format, covering key aspects like issues, government initiatives, and value-addition material.

Animesh's note-taking process was meticulous, with each topic covered in an A4 sheet, ensuring he could easily reproduce the information during the exam. He also used resources like Mains 365 to identify and fill any gaps in his preparation.

Optional Preparation: Sociology

For his optional subject, Sociology, Animesh relied on a combination of resources, including previous toppers' notes, Nandini Sundar's book, and  test series. He made his own handwritten notes, focusing on incorporating diverse perspectives, including those from Indian Express columnists and philosophical frameworks.

Animesh's approach to Sociology was marked by a strong emphasis on answer-writing practice, with him writing two questions per day to build his skills and confidence. He also utilized Vision IAS's test series to identify and address his weaknesses, ultimately scoring 133 in Paper 1 and 153 in Paper 2.

Embracing Challenges and Adapting

Animesh's success is a testament to his ability to adapt to the evolving nature of the UPSC examination. He acknowledges the challenges posed by the 2023 Prelims, where the pattern of questions was significantly different from previous years. Rather than being deterred, Animesh embraced the changes, focusing on his strengths and capitalizing on his educated guesses.

His advice to aspiring candidates is to be prepared for surprises and not to be overly reliant on any single source or strategy. Animesh emphasizes the importance of maintaining a flexible mindset and being willing to explore alternative resources and approaches to ensure comprehensive preparation.

Holistic Preparation: The Importance of Balance

Animesh's journey also highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to UPSC preparation. While he dedicated significant time to his studies, he also emphasized the need to nurture social connections and engage in activities beyond the exam. This, he believes, helped him maintain a healthy perspective and avoid burnout.

Animesh's advice to candidates is to not make UPSC their entire identity, but rather to view it as an important part of their life. He encourages aspiring civil servants to pursue their interests, maintain their support systems, and find ways to rejuvenate themselves during the preparation process.

Parting Thoughts: Embracing Hope and Resilience

Animesh's journey is a powerful reminder that success in the UPSC examination is not just about academic excellence, but also about cultivating a resilient mindset and a deep sense of purpose. His story inspires us to face adversity with courage, to seek support when needed, and to never lose sight of the reasons that drove us to embark on this challenging yet rewarding path.

As Animesh eloquently states, "Hope is a very beautiful thing, and you need to attach yourself to that beautiful element." It is this unwavering hope, combined with hard work and a steadfast determination, that has propelled Animesh to the pinnacle of the UPSC examination. His story serves as a guiding light for all those who aspire to serve their nation through the civil services.

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