How consistency, planning, and the right strategy can make the difference between succeess and failure in civil services exam, has been proved by MPPSC-19 Topper Anupam Sharma. After he started his preparation in 2018, he started giving exams continuously, from UPSC to state civils. However, he was neither getting his dream post or nor making it to the final list.
So, he slightly changed his strategy and focussed on prioritising the exams according to their needs and dates. And, this worked, as he cracked MPPSC-2019 with rank 12 and got a post he wanted -that of Deputy Collector.
Speaking exclusively to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Anupam Sharma narrated his journey.
JOURNEY SO FAR
His journey has been a roller-coaster ride. There were times when he got instant success. But, again, there were also times when he had to wait long for what he truly desired.
In the final year of engineering, he started preparing for UPSC exam. In the first attempt, he cracked UPSC CSE prelims and mains, but could not make through the final interview round. Next year, he cracked prelims again, but could not clear mains. In UPSC-2020, he again failed to clear mains. By this time, he has written mains exam three years in a row.
All these while, he was also giving the state MPPSC examination. In the first attempt in 2018, he cracked the exam, but got Forest Ranger post, which he did not want. In his second attempt in 2019, he cracked the exam with top rank 12 and got the deputy collector post, which was his first choice.
In his third attempt in 2020, he cleared again and got the post of Assistant Director, School Education. But, as the result of MPPSC-2020 came earlier than MPPSC-19, he joined this post and is training. It is pertinent to note that for various reasons, MPPSC-2019 exam procedure got delayed and its result came out after four years, after the result of MPPSC-20.
Mr. Sharma is also sitting for UPSC CSE examination this year. It will be his fourth attempt as he did not give UPSC CSE-21, 22 and 23, in order to focus solely on MPPSC exam.
BACKGROUND
He belongs to Bhind district in the Chambal division of MP. His father is a primary school teacher, while his mother is a homemaker. His elder brother is a Panchayat Secretary.
He studied till 12th in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bhind, and, thereafter, completed B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Shri G. S. Institute of Technology and Science (SGSITS), Indore in 2018. He also cleared the GATE examination.
CIVIL SERVICES PREPARATION
His exam preparation strategy was focussed fully on the syllabus. He always kept the syllabus with him and covered each and every topic point wise accordingly.
He said, “One can look into the minds of examiners through the syllabus. If you have covered the syllabus properly, then, I don’t find any reason for not getting any rank. Read according to the syllabus only. Don’t go for too many sources.”
He made short and crisp notes for every topic, as they are easy to revise at the time of exam. He focussed on solving test series and PYQs as well.
He did not join any coaching institute for any of the exams. His optional in CSE was Electrical Engineering.
But, how was he able to crack both the state civils and UPSC in his final year of graduation in 2018, with such a short time for preparation? He said, “I was quite good at my engineering option for civil services exam. I scored very well in my first attempt.”
He advised that one should prioritise the civil services examination according to their dates, if preparing both state civil and UPSC together.
INTERVIEW
His interview went well. Interestingly, the board was same for both his interviews of MPPSC 19 and 20. So, as he entered the room for MPPSC 19 (which was held a later date because of procedural delay) interview, a board member recognized him. And, then, started an interesting conversation.
The board member asked him what happened to the previous interview (MPPSC-20)? Then Anupam replied that he got the post of Assistant Director, School Education. The member then told him that he had given him 150 marks so that he could get the deputy collector post. “Why did you not get it?” the member asked.
To this, Anupam replied that he got less marks in mains. The member now asked what’s the guarantee that this time he will get the deputy collector post. A confident Anupam answered, “I did better this time in mains, sir. I will get it.” The member smiled.
Apart from this conversation, Anupam was asked about his home town Bhind and some situational questions as well. He got 141 marks out of 175 in this interview.
One very interesting hypothetical question he was asked about was on ‘wife’. The board member asked, “Suppose that you are married and your wife is so beautiful. She meets me in a party. Then, I ask you if I could take her out for dinner. What will you say to your wife and to me?” Anupam replied, “I can pass on the message to my wife that she has been invited to dinner by a MPPSC member. But, it will be up to her whether she wants to go or not.”
The member seemed well satisfied with the answer.
SUGGESTIONS
Giving suggestions for aspirants, Anupam said, “Prelims is tough and it is also key to your success. If you could not crack it, don’t be disappointed. But, if you pass the prelims, then make sure you make it to the final. So, make up your mindset that the year you clear the prelims, you will pass the mains and interview as well.”
Other than this, he advises practising consistency in study, and reiterates that whatever one reads, it should be from reliable sources and according to the syllabus.
