Arnav Mishra was undergoing training to be sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in UP, when he received the news that he had bagged All India Rank AIR-56 in UPSC Civil Services Exam this year- a rank which most certainly fetch him a place in the coveted Indian Administrative Services (IAS). He is soon going to quit his present training to pack his bags for LBSNAA, Mussoorie.
Arnav cleared UPSC CSE last year as well but with not such a good rank. He was allotted Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Police Service (DANIPS) cadre. At the same time he also cleared UP Provincial Civil Services (PCS) exam with 16th rank. Instead of joining DANIPS, he chose to be a SDM in Uttar Pradesh – his Plan-B.
TRAINING, STUDY, TRAINING, STUDY…
Juggling between training as SDM and studies, he hardly got enough time to prepare for UPSC. “I woke up early and had 10-5pm classes for SDM training. So, I studied two hours in the morning for UPSC and 3-4 hours in the evening,” he shared with Indian Masterminds.
Yoga and meditation had been one of the boons for him it helped him to be physically and mentally well. Along with this, he made a three-km walk as part of his schedule and read good books, played guitar which helped as a stress buster.
Since, he didn’t have enough time to prepare for the UPSC Mains this time, he focused a lot upon quality improvement be it in GS, essay, ethics, optional or in other components. “I made a subject wise list of key facts, terms, figures and made sure to not keep it bulky,” he shared.
PRACTISING BEFORE MIRROR FOR PT
10 days before the mains exam, he revised this sheet regularly just like breakfast. This helped him to have so much fodder points, figures, data, facts in his mind that helped him to add value in his answers.
For the personality test, this time Arnav worked hard and gave many mock interviews. “Simultaneously, I practiced in front of the mirror. Last year I scored 168 in the personality test and this time I jumped to 182,” he added.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Arnav who is already in the service as Deputy Collector was asked by the panelists that why he chose state service over DANIPS. There were other questions like, “If we make you Collector of a district, and there is a drug problem among students, how would he solve that. How would he improve the education delivery for the girl student.
Apart from this there were questions from China and Taiwan crisis along with the history of China and Taiwan, why the crisis happened, what is the role of India and how US is playing its card. There were other questions related to lifestyle for environment movement along with questions on millets were asked by the panelists.
DISBELIEF
For Arnav, it was an absolute disbelief. He says that I was so happy that I couldn’t believe that I cleared the exam. “One of my friends called me and said that the wait is over and that I don’t have to give the prelims again.”
Hearing the news his sister forest officer Arushi Mishra couldn’t control her emotions and started crying. “My sister was all along the journey as a friend philosopher and guide.”
WISE WORDS
Sharing message for the aspirants, Arnav urges them to focus on two pillars – consistency and patience. According to him if aspirants have these two qualities, they will do excellence not just in Civil services but in some other form as well.
“Failure plays an important role as it helps us improve in other attempts. It is as much part of our journey as much the success does. Take it as a motivating factor to improve your overall personality,” he advised.
ROOTS
Hailing from Raebareli district of Uttar Pradesh, Arnav completed his schooling from his home town only. He thereafter prepared for IIT-JEE and managed to clear it. This was the beginning of a successful competitive exams journey. He completed his four years of B.Tech from IIT Jodhpur and worked for nearly a year in Bangalore. However, he soon left his job and started preparing for the UPSC civil services examination.
