No coaching just self-study helped AIR-20 Anoushka Sharma in cracking the UPSC CSE 2022. Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Sharma’s father works in Bank of India and mother is a housewife. Given the nature of transferable job of her father, the family has been constantly on the move because of which she has completed her 10 years of schooling from Bal Bharti School, Mumbai and later two years in Chandigarh.
Soon after her 12th, Anoushka’s father was transferred to New York and she did her four years BBA course in Economics from Baruch College, City University of New York. After completing her graduation in 2019, when she came back to India by October same year, she had decided to start preparing for civil services.
THIRD ATTEMPT
In her first attempt in 2020, she couldn’t clear prelims. In her second in 2021, she missed the final list by 7 marks. Finally, in the UPSC CSE 2022 she cleared with Rank 20.
“There was a disbelief that this rank has been achieved because there is a lot of unpredictability associated with the exam along with a lot of gratitude and satisfaction for the success which was achieved,” she shared with Indian Masterminds.
Anoushka believed in herself and worked hard towards her goal by doing constant revision. Mock test and interviews.
PREPARATION STRATEGY
Anoushka usually studied 8-10 hours a day. However, when the exams approached, she studied for 14-15 hours daily for prelims and mains. “My usual strategy was that I decided my booklist based on topper talks,” she added. Having a graduation from Economics, she chose her optional subject as economics as it was convenient.
Sharing her strategy, Anoushka said she made a list of booklists along with the concise notes of various subjects that have multiple books such as Geography, History and others. “I revised these notes consistently.”
For mains, she prepared a substance for 250 words answer which included key facts, definition, pros and cons and a way forward. This way, for any question she had a template in her mind. “Finally, I put everything in practice through previous years’ questions solving, mocks for prelims and mains,” she added.
INTERVIEW ROUND
She focused on Detailed Application Form (DAF), current affairs and her optional subject. For DAF, she prepared all the important keys like about her state, graduation subject, parent occupation and others. For current affairs, she read three newspapers and kept herself updated.
“I am now taking a break from studies, connecting with friends and family. Going ahead, I can plan some vacation with my family,” she said.
WISE WORDS
Sharing her advice for aspirants, Anoushka urged them to believe in themselves, have a strategy, and never get demotivated even if they fail. “Try to learn from your mistakes and keep working hard and you will get the fruits of your hard work,” she concluded.
