Shaurya Arora, a 24-year-old from Bahadurgarh, Haryana, has aced the coveted UPSC CSE exam in his second attempt, securing AIR-14. Shaurya’s journey to civil service wasn’t fueled by his father’s four unsuccessful UPSC attempts, but by a deep desire to make a tangible impact, especially at the grassroots level. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Shaurya shared his strategy for the UPSC CSE aspirants. 

FROM ENGINEERING TO CIVIL SERVICES 

Shaurya, a 2022 graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious IIT Bombay, surprised many with his career shift.  However, his decision stemmed from a strong belief in the power of civil service to bring positive change. “The level of impact in civil services is unmatched,” says Shaurya, “Especially at the grassroots level, where you can directly serve the most marginalized sections through scheme implementation. That kind of satisfaction is unparalleled.”

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND FINDING SUCCESS 

Shaurya’s path to success wasn’t without hurdles.  He faced disappointment in his first attempt, failing to clear the prelims. Dejected but not defeated, he analyzed his mistakes. “In my first attempt, I underestimated the importance of previous years’ question papers,” he admits.  This time around, a focus on core resources, thorough revision, and in-depth analysis of past UPSC questions proved to be a winning formula.

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PHYSICS: A PASSIONATE CHOICE 

He chose Physics as his optional subject, a subject he loved since his school days. “I had an aptitude for it,” he explains, “and it’s a high-scoring optional as well.”

PREPARATION STRATEGY 

For aspirants aiming to crack the UPSC CSE, Shaurya offers valuable advice. He emphasizes the importance of focused preparation and time management. “Mocks are crucial for practice, focus on content and time management, not just marks,” he advises. 

For the Mains exam, the answer presentation is the key. “I found the Sunya GS Mains books very helpful for developing strong answer writing skills,” he shares. 

Finally, for the interview, thorough preparation of the DAF (Detailed Application Form) and daily practice with mock interviews are essential. Shaurya himself participated in 18 mock interviews to hone his interview skills.

SUPPORT SYSTEM 

Shaurya acknowledges the unwavering support of his family in his journey. “When I felt demotivated after failing the prelims in my first attempt, my parents were my pillars of strength,” he says.  He highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy balance, “Unlike many youngsters today, I made sure to spend quality time with my family.”

WISE ADVICE 

Shaurya had set a clear goal for himself – three serious attempts at UPSC CSE. “I had decided to give three serious attempts. After those attempts, if I couldn’t clear the exam, I would have pursued something else like starting a startup,” he shared with Indian Masterminds. 

In conclusion, he shares that UPSC is a long process, so aspirants must be prepared to put in the hours. Also, it is very important that along with hard work, aspirants do smart work. “You must understand the demand of the paper, the pattern of the exam, and after that, apply yourself with full focus by minimizing your distractions.”