Crackingcivilservices.com’s Interview of successful candidates
Profile of the Candidate:
| Name | MONIKA SRIVASTAVA |
| Rank in 66th BPSC | 6 |
| Roll Number | 406989 |
| Age | 26 |
| Total attempts in BPSC (including present one) | 1 |
| Medium in mains examination (Hindi/English) | ENGLISH |
| Marks in General Studies papers (Mention marks in both GS Paper I and II) | Not published Yet |
| Marks in General Studies papers in previous attempts (Mention marks in both GS Paper I and II) | GS1: 191
GS2: 136 |
| Optional Subject | ECONOMICS |
| Home town/village | AURANGABAD |
| Any past Work-experience | WORKING IN MNC FOR LAST 6 YEARS |
| Were you preparing full time or working and preparing? | WORKING AND PREPARING |
| Your place of preparation | AURANGABAD |
| Details of other success and failure in competitive exams | FAILED UPSC PRELIMS |
| Details of coaching/ test series/ study material of any coaching used for General studies | VISION IAS FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS, CRACKING CIVIL SERVICES WEBSITE FOR MODEL ANSWERS, DRISHTI IAS MOCK TEST FOR BPSC PRELIMS |
Educational Background:
| Percentage marks in class X | 10.00 CGPA |
| Percentage marks in class XII | 92.4% |
| Name of the subject in Graduation course and percentage marks | COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, CPI 8.57 |
| Name of college of graduation and place | IIT GUWAHATI |
| Passing out year | 2016 |
| Post-graduation if any | NA |
Introduction
Tell us something about yourself.
I WAS BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN AURANGABAD, BIHAR. I COMPLETED MY PRIMARY SCHOOLING FROM DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, AURANGABAD. I COMPLETED MY SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLING FROM KOTA, RAJASTHAN. I GRADUATED FROM IIT GUWAHATI IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN 2016.
Questions related to your preparation:
Why did you choose civil services as your career and when did you first decide to appear in BPSC?
IT WAS A CHILDHOOD DREAM, BUT I STARTED PREPARING ONLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN I FELT HELPLESS DESPITE HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO HELP PUBLIC.
I DECIDED IN 2020 AND FILLED THE FORM FOR THE SAME.
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.
GS PAPER 1 –
- HISTORY – SPECTRUM, CRACKINGCIVILSERVICES.COM FOR ART AND CULTURE
- STATISTICS – PYQ
GS PAPER II
- CURRENT AFFAIRS – VISION IAS MONTHLY MAGAZINE
- POLITY – LAXMIKANTH
- ECONOMY – CRACKINGCIVILSERVICS.COM AND THE HINDU
- SNT – VISION IAS MAINS 365, CRACKINGCIVILSERVICES.COM
Did you do answer writing regularly? If yes, what amount of time you devoted to it and how did it help you?
I STARTED DAILY ANSWER WRITING 4 WEEKS BEFORE MAINS
Did you maintain self-notes? If yes, how did it help you?
YES, THEY HELPED ME A LOT FOR LAST MINUTE REVISION
How previous years questions helped in exam?
VERY HELPFUL. They helped me understand the demand of BPSC during my preparation stage.
How did crackingcivilservices.com benefitted you in your preparation of General Studies papers?
I USED THEIR MODEL ANSWERS FOR MAKING MY NOTES. I REFERRED THEIR PYQ SECTION AS WELL. IT HELPED ME SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE PREPARATION. THEY PROVIDE A WELL ORGANISED WRITING FORMAT, STRUCTURE.
Any specific thing you want to share about your strategy for different sections of General Studies papers?
GO THROUGH PAST YEAR QUESTIONS. PREPARE FOR BIHAR SPECIFIC CURRENT AFFAIRS. FOCUS ON DI IN GS-I.
What were the major questions asked in your Interview? If you can give brief overview of your interview?
HOBBIES, CURRENT AFFAIRS REGARDING MSP AND ETHANOL BLENDING, ECONOMY OF BIHAR, MY STRENGTHS AND 1 QUESTION REGARDING DEMONETISATION
What challenges did you face during your preparation journey?
TIME MANAGEMENT SINCE I WAS WORKING. ALSO, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR BPSC IN ENGLISH MEDIUM. SOMETIMES THE DELAY IN EXAM PROCESS CAUSES DEMOTIVATION, FAMILY SUPPORT HELPED ME A LOT.
Any message about the other aspirants?
PLEASE KEEP YOUR SOURCES FIXED. MAKE YOUR OWN NOTES, USE DATA POINTS IN ANSWERS. FOCUS ON STATISTICS AND YOUR OPTIONAL. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOURSELF.
