This year, Andhra boy Kolluru Venkata Srikanth from Bapatla topped the UPSC IFS exam 2022 and achieved the much coveted AIR 1. He did it in four years of preparation and three attempts.
As soon as the news broke, and everyone was curious to know about the topper, we immediately did a profile on him to let our viewers know who is Kolluru Venkata Srikanth.
To bring you more exclusive details about him, Indian Masterminds interviewed Kolluru Venkata Srikanth to ask him about his UPSC journey, struggle, and motivation to join IFS. Read the full interview to know him as a person.
How would you define Indian Forest Service?
As the name suggests, it’s basically for India’s rich forests. The IFS is one of the three All India Services of the Union Government, apart from IAS and IPS. It was constituted in the present form in 1966. It gives you opportunity to make your career in the vicinity of nature. For IFS exam, Prelims is the hardest step as its cutoff is very high, and one needs 15 marks more than CSE to to qualify for IFS. I have qualified IFS-2023 Prelims, too. But, now, there’s no need for Mains! (laughs).
Can aspirants prepare UPSC CSE and IFS together?
There have been many instances where people not only did this, but achieved top marks in Mains, with three optional subjects. One for CSE and two for IFS. Because, in those two months, if one concentrate and study like never before, taking notes and revising multiple times, then one can do it. There are many who did it with this formula. But, I believe that one should be clear about their goal. Focusing on one exam will increase the probability of success. I did the same, and the result is before you.
You got selected in 3 attempts in 4 years. There are many who work hard for years, give many attempts, but still do not qualify. What will you say to them?
I will say that they just need to pull themselves up more. Ask yourself, what you need to do, where you are lacking. Motivation from inside is eternal. If you are clear about your motivation for this service, you can do it!
In UPSC, there is always so much uncertainty and ups and downs. From the marks, you can easily find out where you need to improve. Then, you need to strengthen those areas. Asses your failures, know your mistakes, and improve yourself. So many students do unnecessary things. Keep away from such things. You must be clear about what and how much to read, and how much to write in the exam within three hours. Practice this and see the results.
Should there be a Plan B?
I think that it’s a personal choice. But I did have a plan B and cleared the Central Armed Forces Exam too, with 74th rank this year. I will not suggest that everyone should have it. But, if one is comfortable and can do it, then, they should go for it. It might ease their anxiety.
Is social media helpful for aspirants?
Personally, I did not use social media except Telegram. I used Telegram so intensively. I feel that aspirants should spend their time on YouTube and Telegram for study materials. I did not take any coaching, so these platforms helped me a lot in my studies. I watched many toppers’ interviews and their suggestions. Interestingly, I came to know about IFS through YouTube!
What were your and your family’s reactions, when the result came?
I was midway through a discussion on Telegram about IFS results, and suddenly someone dropped the result PDF there. My heartbeat started racing! I was nervous about whether my name will be there or not. Should I search just now? Somehow, I opened it and found my name in the first rank. Oh, damn! I can’t tell you the feeling! I was flabbergasted! I never expected that. Yeah, I thought that I will clear it, but topping the exam is a next level thing! My family members are so happy, still celebrating. Not only my parents, but all around them are also celebrating. They are calling up each and every known person and telling them about me. This hype is because of AIR 1, I think.
How has been your UPSC journey to AIR 1?
I started preparation in 2019 after my graduation. My UPSC journey started in 2020, when I gave my first attempt. Then, I had only attempted for UPSC CSE. Until recently, I did not even know about IFS. In 2020, I cleared Prelims, but could not pass the Mains. Then I came across IFS and got to know about the works done by the forest service, through YouTube uploads and Twitter posts by various IFS officers. This attracted me towards the service and I also have a natural inclination towards nature. So, this led me to IFS. It became my main goal and CSE a backup. I changed my optional from PSIR to Geology and Forestry for UPSC IFS 2021. But I could not clear even the Prelims that year. Then, in the next attempt in 2022, I finally cracked it!
After failing in Prelims in 2021, you topped in 2022. How?
After failing in UPSC-2021, I started focussing more on test series. I wrote many tests and practiced quizzes. I solved many PYQs, including those of last 10 years. With so much practice, I could clear Prelims in 2022. Because, I have already been preparing well for my optionals since March 2021, the month when I changed my optional, so I passed the Mains, too. And my Mains marks are really good. My Interview marks are average. But, because of my Mains marks, I got AIR 1.
What are your marks?
I got 819 marks in Mains and 174 in Interview out of 300. My total marks are 993.
Tell our readers about your preparation and the sources.
I focused on Prelims more as I had already failed in 2021. My strategy for Prelims was giving more and more test series, solving quizzes of various coachings, and attempting PYQs from 2009, along with the study of standard books. Read and revise was my main strategy. My strong point was that I wrote so many tests before the actual exam.
For Mains, I studied intermittently for my optional subjects, 3 months each. My main source for Forestry was Manikandan. I read and revised it 3-4 times. That is why my concept was clear and I was able to draw diagrams. For Geology, I studied Bangar’s book first, and then, went for IGNOU materials that explain from the basics. Last, I went for notes from Apoorv Dixit who got AIR 11 in IFS-2021, for consolidation. I made notes for hard questions, solved PYQs for Mains also, and practiced answer writing as much as I could. These strategies helped me score good marks.
How should aspirants prepare for Optionals in this exam?
I gave much time to the optionals. Generally, people study these in two months, between the time of CSE and IFS Mains. I would advice to make sure that you give enough time to study and revision of optionals. Conceptual clarity is a must! One should choose optional subjects for IFS very carefully.
How was your Interview and what kind of questions you were asked?
For Interview preparation, I had given more than 7 mocks. I analyzed myself on various parametres given by UPSC. The questions put to me were mainly from DAF. They asked about forest and environmental relation concepts, like climate change and nuclear energy. Cross questioning was based mostly on my answers. One member asked me about technical questions from Geology, like coal formation, etc.
Another member asked me some mixed questions, like: Why IFS should be an all India Service? If we have climate targets, then we are not emitting green house gases more, compare this to the development contexts? I could not answer some of the questions.
Tell us briefly about your background.
I hail from Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. My father is a retired SBI employee. My mother is a housewife. I have one brother only, who is preparing for state civil services as his UPSC attempts are complete. I studied till 12th at Guntur, then did graduation (B.Tech) in Electrical and Electronics from Shiv Nadar University, Noida, in 2019.
Any tips that you would like to give to the aspirants of IFS?
IFS aspirants should concentrate on Prelims as it is the toughest part of the journey. Don’t try to depend on elimination trick and prepare yourself by doing much practice with wide coverage of topics. Make your own strategy. Take inputs from toppers of this exam, this can help you a lot. You should also be prepared with your optionals from the starting, I mean before Prelims, so that you have an edge. Remember, in IFS, you have to be technical and write scientific terms.
So, get your concepts clear, so that you can draw diagrams to stretch your marks. For interview, give mocks and improve wherever you are lagging. You have to present a good analysis of asked questions or topics. And, lastly, always be honest and confident.
