Topper’s Talk with Garima Lohia AIR-2 | Vajiram & Ravi

Introduction

The speaker introduces Miss Garima, the all India's second ranking candidate in the civil services, and invites her to share her experience of having prepared for this exam.

Speaker Introduces Miss Garima

• The speaker introduces Miss Garima as the all India's second ranking candidate in the civil services.

• The speaker invites Miss Garima to share her experience of having prepared for this exam.

Interview Experience

The speaker talks about his interview experience with Miss Garima and how he was impressed by her maturity and clarity in answering questions.

Impressive Interview Experience

• The speaker talks about his interview experience with Miss Garima.

• He was impressed by her maturity and clarity in answering questions.

• He predicts that she will reach the highest position in the civil services and become the cabinet secretary to the government of India.

Preparation for Exam

Miss Garima shares her preparation strategy for prelims, mains, and interviews. She also recommends some books for each subject.

Prelims Preparation Strategy

• Miss Garima failed her first prelim attempt but passed on her second attempt.

• For GS paper 1, she recommends Lakshmi Khan's book for polity which should be covered enthusiastically cover-to-cover.

• For GS paper 2 (CSAT), she recommends practicing previous year papers and focusing on time management.

Mains Preparation Strategy

• For essay paper, she recommends reading newspapers and editorials to improve writing skills.

• For GS papers, she recommends referring to standard books like Bipin Chandra's India's Struggle for Independence for history and Ramesh Singh's Indian Economy for economics.

Interview Preparation Strategy

• Miss Garima suggests that candidates should be well aware of their DAF (Detailed Application Form).

• She advises candidates to practice mock interviews with friends or family members.

• She also suggests that candidates should be confident and honest during the interview process.

Q&A Session

Miss Garima answers questions from the audience about her preparation strategy, book recommendations, and interview experience.

Questions Answered by Miss Garima

• Miss Garima answers questions from the audience about her preparation strategy.

• She recommends practicing answer writing for mains exams.

• She advises candidates to focus on current affairs for prelims exams.

• Miss Garima shares her experience of facing a difficult question during the interview process and how she handled it.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes the session by thanking Miss Garima for sharing her experience and congratulating her on her success in the civil services exam.

Conclusion of Session

• The speaker thanks Miss Garima for sharing her experience and congratulates her on her success in the civil services exam.

Tips for UPSC Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for preparing for the UPSC exam.

Importance of Basic Books

• It is important to read basic books thoroughly before moving on to advanced material.

• An integrated approach of both prelims and mains helps in understanding analytical portions and applied knowledge.

Subject-wise Preparation

Polity and Economics

• Polity constitutes about 18 questions, while economics is also important for prelims.

• For economics, focus on the first four pillars and do them religiously. If time permits, go through pillar five as well.

• For beginners in economics, refer to 11th and 12th micro and macroeconomics notes.

Environment and Geography

• Stick to one source for environment preparation; do not refer to multiple sources.

• For geography, invest time only if you are comfortable with it. Otherwise, focus on other subjects like polity or economics.

• NCERTS are a must-read for geography preparation. Focus on river drainage mapping.

Science and Technology

• Science questions constitute around 10 to 12 questions in prelims.

• Biotechnology portion consists of five to six questions; refer to a book or notes covering basics about cells, cell organelles, etc.

• Do not underestimate yourself in science; practical application-based questions are asked.

Final Thoughts

The speaker advises against referring to too many sources while preparing for the UPSC exam. Instead, stick to one source per subject and revise thoroughly.

How to Study for UPSC Prelims

In this section, the speaker discusses how to study for UPSC prelims and suggests various strategies.

Understanding Quantum Technology

• Pick up any annual compilation in the market that covers quantum technology.

• Focus on understanding the concept of quantum technology and associated words like superposition and quantum entanglement.

• Use animated videos online, such as TED Ed on YouTube, to understand complex topics like car T Cell Therapy.

Studying History

• For ancient history, make notes using A4 sheets and add information from previous year questions.

• For medieval history, use Satish Chandra or any other compilation in the market.

• For modern history, use Spectrum cover-to-cover and try to learn every fact including dates.

Current Affairs

• Make your static knowledge strong in subjects like quality, economics, and environmental science before focusing on current affairs.

• Don't spend too much time collecting current affair materials. Trust your coaching material or basic sources instead of becoming a collector of materials.

CSAT Preparation

• Practice with previous year question papers for CSAT preparation.

Prelims Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for preparing for the UPSC prelims exam.

Practice Papers and PYQs

• The speaker recommends practicing 5-6 papers if you are good in maths and reasoning.

• Divide your practice into reasoning, maths, and reading comprehension portions. Focus on easy topics like prepo ratio portion percentage age.

• PYQ is the most important thing to focus on. Do it extensively from at least 2001 onwards. Analyze other options as well to eliminate them during the examination.

Mains Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for preparing for the UPSC mains exam.

Essay Paper

• Solve and write previously asked UPSC essay papers. Write essays every alternate Sunday with a group of friends.

• Collect reference materials online or offline and make themes of it (e.g., education, health, tolerance). Keep revising it consistently for one month to improve your essay writing skills.

• Connect examples with real-life situations to make your essay more interesting and engaging.

General Studies Papers

• Read newspapers daily to stay updated on current affairs.

• Make notes while reading books or newspapers. Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.

• Revise regularly by making flashcards or mind maps.

Optional Subject Paper

• Choose an optional subject that you are interested in and have some background knowledge about.

• Refer to standard books and previous year question papers for your optional subject.

• Practice answer writing regularly to improve your speed and accuracy.

Interview Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for preparing for the UPSC interview.

General Tips

• Dress appropriately and be punctual.

• Be confident and honest in your answers.

• Read about the current affairs related to your DAF (Detailed Application Form).

• Practice mock interviews with friends or mentors.

Questions Related to Your Background

• Prepare a brief introduction about yourself.

• Be prepared to answer questions related to your educational background, work experience, hobbies, etc.

Questions Related to Current Affairs

• Stay updated on current affairs by reading newspapers and watching news channels.

• Focus on issues related to national security, international relations, economy, social issues, etc.

Tips for UPSC Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for UPSC preparation.

Syllabus Coverage

• Take a print out of the syllabus and cover every word.

• For culture, focus on diagrams in addition to content.

History and Quotes

• Learn 5-6 quotes from Spectrum that can be universally used.

• Use these quotes in modern history answers to add a personalized touch.

Society and Newspapers

• Make society answers dynamic by adding an element of personalization.

• Read newspapers or social media to stay updated with current events.

• Use examples and anecdotes from news articles in your answers.

Geography and Environment

• Add an environmental element to geography answers.

• Include environmental challenges in the way forward section of your answer.

Polity and Governance

• Analyze polity and governance portion enthusiastically.

• Refer to any compilation of GS2 from the market for case laws.

• Remember committees associated with particular topics.

Real Life Examples

• Mention one anecdote or example of real life experience in every answer's way forward section.

Tips for Answering UPSC Mains Questions

In this section, the speaker provides tips on how to answer UPSC mains questions effectively.

Clarity on Every Topic

• Have clarity on every topic, including accountability and transparency.

• Research examples related to the topic. For instance, if there is a question on citizen charter, research its implementation in different states.

• Use recent context to make your answers more relevant and easier to write.

International Relations (IR)

• Watch Shekhar Gupta's videos on YouTube for analysis and references.

• Refer to Pinnacle's current affairs classes and notes for IR.

• Include small maps in your answers when necessary. Practice making world maps quickly.

General Studies 3 (GS3)

• Security is a very scoring topic. Refer to IDSA and ORF websites for articles related to security issues in India.

• Disaster management, environment, and economics are also important topics. Revise material from prelims as it would suffice for mains too.

General Studies 4 (GS4)

• Use examples from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata in case studies related to underprivileged people or last-mile delivery.

Ethics and Case Study Preparation

In this section, the speaker discusses how to prepare for ethics and case study questions in the UPSC exam.

Learning from Ramayana and Mahabharata

• The speaker suggests that even if one has not read Ramayana or Mahabharata, they can still learn life lessons by Googling "life lessons from Ramayana" or "ethics lessons from Mahabharata."

• Examples of ethical behavior can be found in these epics, such as Lord Ram asking Lakshman to learn the art of warfare from Ravana.

• The speaker suggests using examples from these epics to answer questions on women's dignity and empowerment.

Collecting Examples for Ethics Answers

• The School of Life YouTube channel has short videos on ethics theory that can provide useful quotes.

• Magazines like Better India and Hindustan Times have compilations of examples related to ethics.

• The speaker advises against a mechanical approach to answering ethics questions and suggests providing something for every stakeholder.

Using Knowledge from Other Papers

• The speaker encourages using knowledge from other papers, such as GS2, in answering ethics questions.

• Fundamental Duty, DPSP, and Preamble are examples of things that can be used in an ethics answer without extra effort.

Optional Subject Selection

In this section, the speaker discusses how to choose an optional subject for the UPSC exam.

Choosing a Familiar Subject

• The speaker suggests choosing a subject with which one is familiar, but not one that will take up all of their time.

• The speaker chose Commerce as his optional because he was familiar with it.

Availability of Good Material

• The availability of good material is important when choosing an optional subject.

• The speaker got a good score in his optional, but his score in GS was better.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes his discussion on preparing for the UPSC exam.

• The speaker advises against blindly following coaching institutes and instead suggests developing one's own strategy.

• He emphasizes the importance of consistency and hard work in achieving success in the UPSC exam.

Choosing an Optional Subject

In this section, the speaker discusses how to choose an optional subject for the UPSC exam and emphasizes the importance of selecting a subject that interests you.

Importance of choosing an optional subject

• It is important to choose an optional subject that interests you and that you can do justice to.

• If you enjoy your preparation, it will not be a waste of time even if you are unable to clear the exam.

• Take a conscious decision about which optional subject to choose based on your interest and comfort level.

Paper 1 and Paper 2

• Every optional subject has paper 1 and paper 2.

Importance of Answer Writing

• Answer writing becomes very important during mains.

• Practice answer writing by attempting questions in three hours instead of five hours.

• Attempt fewer questions in the beginning but aim to complete them within three hours.

• Completing papers is a prerequisite, but filling pages does not work. Write good quality content instead.

Interview Preparation

In this section, the speaker briefly discusses interview preparation for the UPSC exam.

DAF Form

• Fill out the Detailed Application Form (DAF).

Current Affairs Reading

• Read two or three newspapers daily, including one business newspaper if applicable.

• Watch informative YouTube videos, such as discussions on current affairs or IR by Shekhar Gupta.

• Participate in peer discussions with seniors who have cleared the exam to gain perspective on how to communicate answers effectively.

Reading Newspapers

• Reading newspapers is important for gaining a 360-degree understanding of current affairs.

• Don't make notes from newspapers; it's a waste of time.

The speaker briefly mentions the interview stage but states that it is not relevant at this point in time for the audience.

Newspaper Reading and Motivation

In this section, the speaker talks about how to read newspapers effectively and stay motivated during the preparation for civil services.

Effective Newspaper Reading

• Divide the newspaper into relevant sections such as GS1234 and only read what is important.

• Read Yojana and Kurukshetra selectively, focusing on important themes related to your syllabus.

• Underline or extract only what is important from the material you read. Don't blindly follow everything.

• Learn your syllabus by heart and collect only that portion of material which you think will be useful in answering questions.

Staying Motivated

• Self-motivation is key. You need to have a clear reason why you want to become a civil servant.

• Keep reminding yourself of your vision every night before sleeping.

• Your motivation should come from within, not from external sources like family or friends.

Art and Culture Preparation for Mains

In this section, the speaker talks about how to prepare for Art and Culture in Mains examination.

Selective Study of Book

• Only study selective chapters of book 'Indian Art & Culture' such as architecture, painting, theater, dance music etc.

• Not all lines are important so don't mug up all facts from that book.

Revision Schedule

• Make a schedule to revise one chapter of culture every day.

• Art and Culture is an interesting subject if you revise it regularly.

Diagrams for Mains

• For Mains, refer to diagrams that can be found in the market or any notes provided by coaching centers.

Current Affairs Preparation

In this section, the speaker talks about how to prepare for current affairs for civil services examination.

Duration of Current Affairs Preparation

• Prepare current affairs maximum 1.5 years before your prelims exam.

• Don't start preparing from too far back as it will not be useful.

Priority Order for Prelims

• Prioritize polity, economics, environment, science and technology, history, geography and then current affairs for prelims preparation.

Note Making for Mains

In this section, the speaker talks about how to make notes effectively for Mains examination.

Importance of Note Making

• Note making becomes important because you need pointers on every topic even in security.

• A direct question was asked on linkages between organized crime and terrorism which could have been answered easily if there were pointers available.

Selective Study of Material

• Collect only that portion of material which you think will be useful in answering questions.

• Use sufficient diagrams provided by coaching centers or available in the market.

Reading Strategy for UPSC Exam

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of reading newspapers and magazines for improving communication skills, analytical skills, and essay writing. The speaker also provides tips on how to prepare for the essay and CSAT sections.

Importance of Reading Newspapers

• Reading newspapers is essential for improving communication skills, analytical skills, and essay writing.

• If you find it difficult to make notes while reading newspapers, just read them without making notes. At the end of the month, go through a current affairs magazine to revise what you have read.

• The speaker recommends trying to read newspapers every day for 20 days. After that period, you will become addicted to reading them.

Essay Preparation Tips

• For essay preparation, use previous year question papers (PYQs), which are available online. Read and interpret them on your own before referring to coaching centers' solutions.

• For reading comprehension in CSAT, PYQs are also helpful. No book matches their level of comprehension.

• For other parts of CSAT like maths and reasoning, there are many books available that can be referred to.

Preparation Tips for Specific Subjects

Polity

• Use NCERT's Political Theory book (class 11th). It has explanations of important words like Liberty equality State that are frequently asked in exams.

Comprehensive Notes

• Make comprehensive notes by using sticky notes or stapling pages together so that they can be easily revised later.

• Avoid making separate notebooks for different subjects as it becomes difficult to revise them later.

Analysis of Previous Year Questions

• Analyze previous year questions only after completing the entire syllabus for a subject.

Tips for UPSC Exam Preparation

In this section, the speaker provides tips for preparing for the UPSC exam.

Go Through Previous Year Papers

• Go through both prelims and mains papers.

• Write answers to previous year questions that get repeated or have similar themes.

• Even if you get only a few repeated questions, scoring well on them can make a huge difference.

Study Religiously

• Study every day and be honest with yourself about how much time you can dedicate to studying.

• Use focus apps or Pomodoro timers to block distractions and measure your productivity.

• Measure your output in terms of what you have accomplished rather than just the amount of time spent studying.

Handwriting and Syllabus

• Make sure your handwriting is clear and legible.

• There are no questions out of syllabus, but UPSC may surprise you with unexpected topics. Don't panic if there are one or two questions you don't know.

CSAT Preparation

• Analyze your current level of preparation for CSAT. If weak in math or reasoning, practice daily. Otherwise, practice one month before prelims.

Overall, the speaker emphasizes the importance of consistent study habits and focusing on subjects where you excel. Additionally, they suggest practicing previous year papers as a way to prepare effectively for the exam.

Time Management

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of time management during exam preparation. She shares her personal experience and advises on how to prioritize mental health while avoiding wasting time.

Importance of Good Time Management

• Good time management is crucial for exam preparation.

• Wasting time can lead to stress and anxiety.

• Prioritizing mental health is important for long-term success.

Personal Experience

• The speaker stayed at home during her exam preparation to avoid distractions.

• She avoided spending too much time with friends who were not contributing to her preparation.

• She prioritized completing study tasks over socializing.

Advice for Effective Time Management

• Make good friends and have a supportive family but avoid wasting time with them.

• Politely decline invitations that may waste your study time.

• Take strong decisions in life, starting with small ones like managing your time effectively.