Crackingcivilservices.com’s Interview of successful candidates
Profile of the Candidate:
| Name | Vijay Pratap Singh |
| Rank in 66th BPSC | 98 |
| Roll Number | 305957 |
| Age | 29 |
| Total attempts in BPSC (including present one) | 2 |
| Medium in mains examination (Hindi/English) | English |
| Marks in General Studies papers (Mention marks in both GS Paper I and II) | Paper I : 186
Paper II: 139 |
| Marks in General Studies papers in previous attempts (Mention marks in both GS Paper I and II) | Didn’t Qualify Prelims |
| Optional Subject | Sociology |
| Home town/village | Hardoi UP |
| Any past Work-experience | Software Engineer at Accenture in Bangalore for 3.5 years. |
| Were you preparing full time or working and preparing? | Full time |
| Your place of preparation | Delhi |
| Details of other success and failure in competitive exams |
|
| Details of coaching/ test series/ study material of any coaching used for General studies | Offline coaching for UPSC from Vajiram and Ravi Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi.
BPSC mains from Cracking Civil services. |
Educational Background:
| Percentage marks in class X | 90% |
| Percentage marks in class XII | 86% |
| Name of the subject in Graduation course and percentage marks | B Tech (IT)
77 |
| Name of college of graduation and place | Jaipur |
| Passing out year | 2013 |
| Post-graduation if any | MA Sociology |
Questions related to your preparation:
Why did you choose civil services as your career and when did you first decide to appear in BPSC?
Civil services provides diversity in job along with the opportunity to serve each and every strata of the society. There is ample scope in the field to observe and implement developmental schemes. It proves the highest joy of serving people and nation.
Mention booklist and sources which you followed for mains General studies papers (section wise). Also add about your strategy for different sections of both GS papers.
Paper I:
- Part 1:cracking civil services notes.
- Part 2: VisionIAS monthly current affairs selected topics.
- Part 3: Previous years practice.
Paper II:
- Part 1: Cracking Civil services (ccs) notes, Lakshmikant.
- Part 2: Economic Survey, CCS notes, self made notes.
- Part 3: CCS notes, self made notes, VisionIAS current affairs selected topics notes.
Optional :
- Sociology: Self handwritten notes.
Did you do answer writing regularly? If yes, what amount of time you devoted to it and how did it help you?
Yes, I wrote answers regularly after Prelims.
1 session of 3 hours daily. As mains is a written exam one needs to focus on writing as much as possible but not too much. Focus on revising written answers.
Rest time was devoted to making notes and revising them.
Did you maintain self-notes? If yes, how did it help you?
I made exhaustive self-notes. At the end one needs to know that it’s your handwritten notes that would help in Shaping answers in the mains, not the readymade one or books.
How previous years questions helped in exam?
Understanding the nature and mindset of the exam is very important. This could be done only by focusing on previous years questions. In case of BPSC, the importance of previous years questions increases manyfold. One can’t skip it at any cost.
How did crackingcivilservices.com benefitted you in your preparation of General Studies papers?
CCS provided me with the most authentic and impeccable answer to previous years questions. It shaped my understanding of BPSC mains. In a nutshell I owe a great deal in achieving such wonderful marks in the Mains exam.
Any specific thing you want to share about your strategy for different sections of General Studies papers?
Focus on writing your own answer rather than copying and reproducing by mugging.
What were the major questions asked in your Interview? If you can give brief overview of your interview?
Focus on Your profile and Bihar in general. Prepare schemes, political developments, Major international happenings etc.
What challenges did you face during your preparation journey?
Selection of books was very difficult as each and every person I have consulted recommended me the different approach and books. You need to find for yourself what’s good for you.
Any message about the other aspirants?
Management of high and lows in preparation is essential throughout the journey. There are days when you feel like quitting. But life is all about bearing the pain and moving ahead no matter how. Pain & failure is temporary. If you quit however you will be a failure for your entire life. You should move ahead with perseverance.
Best wishes from a person who has faced a lot of failure and ultimately emerged victorious.
