By clearing UPSC 2020 exam in his very first attempt, and that too, without any coaching, 22-year-old Adarsh Kant Shukla of Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, proved that one can crack a competitive exam without joining coaching classes.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the young achiever talked about his UPSC journey and, also, the places he would like to work in.
A CHILDHOOD DREAM
Adarsh Kant told Indian Masterminds that he dreamt of getting into civil services since the time he was young enough to understand its meaning.
“That thought had been at the back of my mind right from class 6-7. Just as any family would want to see their kid become an IAS officer one day, the same was the case with my family, too. However, as I was more inclined towards science, I decided to graduate in BSc,” he said.
Although he received a gold medal in BSc during graduation, his mind gradually started drifting towards civil services. Finally, in 2019, he made up his mind to sit for the UPSC examination.
SOLO PREPARATION
He started preparing for the ‘mother of all examinations’ almost immediately after he finished college. He focused on covering the entire syllabus of mains first, and prelims just three months prior to the exam.
“Right from the start, I focused on my optional subject, Sociology. I wasn’t aware that the exam would be postponed due to the pandemic, and, therefore, I had completed my entire preparation by May 2020. However, the postponement was helpful as I could assess myself more,” he informed.
The young aspirant did not join any coaching class and prepared for the exam on his own. “Initially, I was skeptical about my decision. But, as time passed, I became more comfortable with the subjects and could overcome all the hurdles that I faced,” he said.
FRIENDLY PANELISTS
To his surprise, he found the board members quite cooperative in the interview round. Hence, he advises candidates not to make any pre-assumption about the panelists and enter the room with an open mind.
“My interview happened in a very cordial and congenial atmosphere. The members were relaxed and made sure that I do not feel intimidated by their presence. They probed my hobbies and even asked for documentary recommendations from me, as I mentioned that I liked watching them,” he revealed.
WANTS TO EXPLORE
Adarsh Kant has not seen much of the outside world as he had hardly stepped out of Barabanki. Now that he has cleared UPSC and will soon get his first posting, he wishes to explore the country, especially the Northeast and South India.
“I am very intrigued by their culture and am looking forward with excitement to serve in those regions. I also want to analyze the nature of different problems that exist in different parts of the country, so that I can contribute towards alleviating some of them, at least,” he said.
TREAT UPSC LIKE ANY OTHER EXAM
Saying that aspirants should not lose themselves while preparing for the UPSC exam, he summed up with these words of advice:
“Don’t become someone else while preparing. Treat it like any other exam and don’t make it the sole purpose of your life. It is not the end of the world. Just keep hustling!”
