https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Professional Basketball Player who Cracked UPSC CSE Twice, This Year with AIR 34 

Indian Masterminds Stories

It’s a general belief that UPSC CSE is too time consuming, and one requires 10-12 hours of studying to crack it. It is also believed that one needs to ditch all kinds of entertainment and focus only on studies as the syllabus is too vast. 

However, a topper has dispelled all myths around the preparation for this prestigious exam. He not only continued with a job but also played basketball all along his preparation period, and still managed to crack the tough exam twice! According to him, the hours do not matter, what really matters is efficiency.

He is Shashwat Sangwan, currently under training as an Indian Defence Estate Services officer. He secured AIR 34 this time and is all set to become an IAS officer. 

During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, he shared his mantra for clearing the tough exam and freely gave few important tips for aspirants. 

PLAYED BASKETBALL SINCE SCHOOL

Mr. Sangwan belongs to Bhiwani, Haryana, and grew up there till class 5th. His parents are doctors and after class 5th, he moved with them to Delhi and got admitted to Delhi Public School in RK Puram. 

After finishing his schooling in Delhi, he went to BITS Pillani for B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. However, all these years, he never stopped playing basketball. Talking about his interest in the game, he said, “In Haryana, we have a culture of sports and when my time came, I was inclined towards basketball. I played for my school and, also, represented the Delhi team at national level tournaments.” 

The national level player now plays for a club in Gurgaon. He never missed playing the sport for his UPSC preparation, or anything. “When you are studying for hours, you might get bored. You need some sort of recreational activities that will help to enhance your efficiency. For me, basketball worked but I will advise everyone to choose something that they enjoy and eventually it will help them focus better on studies.” 

JOB HELPED TO STREAMLINE PREPARATION

Mr. Sangwan used to work as a product manager in a private company and was getting good salary. However, started searching for a deeper meaning in life, which he felt was missing in his career. “I wasn’t satisfied with my work. So, I started looking for options and UPSC CSE seemed worth a shot. I gave my first attempt in 2019 and couldn’t get through pre. So, I wasn’t very confident that I will crack this exam, but still I tried again,” he said. 

Before starting the preparation, he decided to give only two attempts and didn’t leave his job. Explaining that decision, he says, “There were two reasons behind this. First, I didn’t want to feel the financial pressure because it could affect my preparation. Secondly, when you’re in a job, you follow certain routine and discipline in life. I think that helped me streamline my preparation. I decided that I will study 4-5 hours but will be consistent. I followed it and got the result.”

In his second attempt, Mr. Sangwan got 320 rank and just getting selected pushed him for another attempt, otherwise he would have given up.

CSE IS NOT THE REPORT CARD OF LIFE

According to him, UPSC CSE is just another test to get a job and the hype around is unnecessary. Sharing some advice for aspirants, he says, “I have met many successful candidates and some aspirants, too. They take this exam too seriously and are ready to give up everything for it. I think that goes against them and they feel extra pressure. If you’ll put every egg in one single basket, it is going to get exhausted. One must know that UPSC CSE just gives you job and is one of the many things that completes your life. It is not a test of your calibre or ability. It is not a report card for success or failure in life.” 

He also shares one of the unexpected questions put to him in the interview. “The panel asked me the height of Michael Jordan. I was taken by surprise with this but since I play basketball and follow it too, so I did know that!” he said. 

He said that these types of questions might be asked and “if you don’t know, then don’t think it will go against you. As far as you are honest with your answers, you will get good marks.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
UPSC CSE 2024 Marks
UPSC CSE-2024 Final Marks & Cut Offs Out, Topper Shakti Dubey Scored 1043; Anudeep’s Record Still Unbroken - Download Marks Here
NSE-resized
NSE Pledges Rs 1 Crore to Support Families of Pahalgam Terror Attack Victims
KK Pathak IAS
Who is IAS Officer KK Pathak, Relieved from Bihar, to Join as Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat?
moefcc-environment-climatechange-resized
MoEF&CC Issues Circular on Relieving of Transferred IFS Officers of AGMUT Cadre
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
132 Judges Transferred By Order of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Check Names Here
Naxal
289 Soldiers and Officers Transferred to Chaibasa to Strengthen Anti-Naxal Operations
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Madhya Pradesh Becomes First State to Launch Real-Time Forest Alert System
RITES_green_logo
RITES Ltd Secures Rs 28 Crore Work Order from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
No Icons to Follow Just the Urge to Solve Real Problems | Shivang Tiwari 
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha Sets A Goal Of Zero NPA, Rs 3 Lakh Crore Loan Book
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
A Davos-Like Media & Entertainment Summit in Mumbai
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Aayushi Bansal
From Loss to Legacy: Aayushi Bansal’s Journey to AIR 7 in UPSC CSE 2024
Losing her father at nine, Aayushi Bansal fought every odd, cracked UPSC thrice, and now stands among...
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
No Icons to Follow Just the Urge to Solve Real Problems | Shivang Tiwari 
Shivang Tiwari's journey from a village near Melghat Tiger Reserve to securing AIR 752 in UPSC is an...
Vibhor Bhardwaj UPSC AIR 19
From Physics to IAS: Bulandshahr's Vibhor Bhardwaj’s Cracked UPSC 2024 With This Master Strategy
Vibhor Bhardwaj’s UPSC journey highlights the power of perseverance and consistency. From a rural background...
Social Media
Rajan Singh Ex-IPS
Ex-IPS Officer Rajan Singh Shares Powerful Insight on Influence through Action
Mr. Rajan Singh is an ex-IPS officer of the 1997-batch (Kerala cadre) and founder of HabitStrong Org...
Exam Student Aspirant
'Bramhastra' For Aspirants Appearing for UPSC Prelims Exam 2025, ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Final Month Strategy
Officer Shaikh's practical and focused suggestions come as a timely morale booster for thousands of candidates...
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
UPSC CSE 2024 Marks
UPSC CSE-2024 Final Marks & Cut Offs Out, Topper Shakti Dubey Scored 1043; Anudeep’s Record Still Unbroken - Download Marks Here
Anurag Gupta Jharkhand
Getting Away With Circumventing Supreme Court’s Guidelines In Prakash Singh Case On DGP’s Appointment
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT