Success Story of Amit Kumar Singh, UPSC 2010 Batch

IAS Prelims & Mains GS and Optional Lectures, Model Answers, and Notes at doorsteptutor.com.

Keep working hard and never panic and success will be yours

‘Pratiyogita Darpan’ arranged an exclusive interview with Amit Kumar Singh who has been selected in Civil Services Exam. 2010. He has achieved 75th rank. He deserves all admiration and our heartiest congratulations on his splendid success. This important, thought provoking and highly inspiring interview is being presented in its original form.

Name: Amit Kumar Singh

Father՚s Name: Shri Hansraj Singh

Mother՚s Name: Smt. Pramila Singh

Date of Birth: 17 − 08 − 1983

Educational Qualification:

10th: 1999, CBSE, K. V. Bamrauli Allahabad (67%)

12th: 2001, CBSE, K. V. Bamrauli Allahabad (76%)

B-Tech: 2002 − 06, Electrical Engg. IIT Madras, 7.

Previous Selections: Indian Forest Services Exam-2010, Rank-7

Personal Qualities:

Favourite Person: My Father and Mother

Strong Point: Hard Working

Hobbies: Cricket and Diary writing.

PD: Fantastic performance in the CS Examination; accept our heartiest congratulations on your splendid success.

Amit: Thank you sir.

Amit: I would like to dedicate my success to mother, father, my teachers and friends in IIT who have extended their cordial support to me, and my mentor for Civil Services-K. Siddhartha.

PD: Did you read IAS Toppers interviews in magazines? Were you inspired by any of the IAS toppers? What was your perception about toppers?

Amit: Yes, I always read about the IAS toppers in various magazines and was inspired by them. I also tried to follow the tips given by them.

PD: Describe the exact moment when you came to know about the importance of Civil Services?

Amit: After completing my B. Tech.

PD: At what point of time did you make up your mind to choose these services as career option?

Amit: After completing my B. Tech I joined a job in private sector; it was then when I first thought of preparing for Civil Services. I think one should ideally start preparing one year before the prelims examination.

PD: What was your first step when you were really serious about making a career in Civil Services?

Amit: The first step and an important step was to choose my optional subjects which took around a month. After that I prepared GS and my first optional simultaneously and then my 2nd optional subject. In my case I was fortunate to have K. Siddhartha as my mentor and throughout the tenure of my preparation he was supporting me, although he was not my teacher for Physics and Maths.

PD: Were you confident of your success this time and how did you react to this special news?

Amit: I was confident of my efforts and finally that Almighty blessed me with success. I was happy.

PD: Was CSE a planned thing for you? Had you thought of some time frame for this examination?

Amit: Yes, I had to plan for the exam as I was working and had little less time compared to those aspirants who prepared solely for this exam full time.

PD: Civil Services was this your ultimate goal or were you preparing for other career opportunities as well simultaneously?

Amit: Though I was keen on being a civil servant yet after B. Tech I was already selected for a job.

PD: While the changing economic environment offers immense lucrative career opportunities across various sectors, still what kept you motivated towards Civil Services?

Amit: Though I was in a very good job, I wanted to qualify in this Civil Services exam as a challenge of my life and also I was of the view that this job would open up many new areas where I could be a part of decision making policies of the Government. My studies and preparation also kept me motivated when we saw there was so much needed to be done in the country if only there was the will. This was repeatedly inspired by my mentor. K. Siddhartha.

PD: While making final choice for optical subject/s, what՚s important and what՚s not? Share your thoughts and opinions. And what were your optional subjects? Give the basis of selecting these.

Amit: A few things which one may consider while choosing optional are: Candidate must feel comfortable with subject. There must be sufficient gap between Exam of two optional in UPSC time table. Prelims: Physics.

Mains: Physics and Maths.

I took these subjects because I had technical background and I thought I could perform well with these subjects.

PD: In how many attempts have you achieved this success? How do you visualize your preparation/previous attempts? Did you keep the same optional subjects in all your attempts?

Amit: Three, I kept same optional in my all attempts.

PD: Can you list a few things which your preparation involved on a day-to-day basis?

Amit: I prepared notes for my optional subjects. Notes are helpful in two ways:

  1. During the process of preparation of notes we go through a thought process which makes concepts clear and helps in memorization.
  2. At the end one gets a handy material which can be quickly revised just before exam.

So I recommend notes making.

PD: It has been debated in recent articles in Pratiyogita Darpan that some candidates take G. S. Lightly in comparison to Optional subjects on the basis of marks attached to it, what was your approach and what would be your suggestion to future aspirants?

Amit: Yes, it is true that compared to G. S. The aspirants give more devotion to their optional. But I was guided by my mentor that whether in Prelims or Mains the preparation of G. S. Was the important part in this exam and must be dealt with on routine basis every day. Most of the portions are based on contemporary issues and preparing on those issues will naturally impress the examiner. Therefore, I devoted much time for G. S. Preparation apart from my optional.

PD: In your opinion at which Educational Level should one start preparing for Civil Services and what should be the minimum period of time required to prepare for Civil Services Examinations.

Amit: The sooner one may start, the better it will be. But one thumb rule for a serious attempt is both optional and G. S. Must be ready before prelims itself.

PD: What is your opinion regarding the general view that Science subjects have better chance to score than Humanities?

Amit: Command over the subject, its analytical ability and contemporary correlation ship all help in this type of exam. I don՚t think there is any partiality between Science subjects and Humanities.

PD: What is the importance of medium of examination for exams like CSE?

Amit: A candidate must take that medium in which he is comfortable in expressing himself. UPSC does not favour any particular medium.

PD: Does the educational, financial and demographic status of the family of an aspirant have any impact on the preparation?

Amit: Examination of UPSC is designed in such a way that these factors have minimum impact on result.

PD: In your opinion what role do these Competition Magazines play when you are preparing for an examination like Civil Services?

Amit: These are really helpful because syllabus of Civil Services exam is quite large and these magazine help to reduce efforts by providing important material in snap shot.

PD: As per a reputed survey report out recently, PRATIYOGITA DARPAN (Hindi) is the largest read and the only Career and Competition magazine in top 4 magazines in India. How do you rate Pratiyogita Darpan?

Amit: It is one of those few magazines which students can depend upon:

PD: Please give your comments on the PD Extra Issue Series on ‘General Studies’ and a few Optional Subjects?

Amit: PD Economics is very good for G. S.

PD: Did you refer to Pratiyogita Darpan Year Book? What is your opinion about the contents, size and the time of publishing?

Amit: I have found Pratiyogita Darpan-Year Book useful because: The issues and topics/news selected are really useful for exam. Way of presentation of material is good. Facts and data given in it are authentic which I was not able to find in other magazines.

PD: How did you find PD English?

Amit: Pratiyogita Darpan English has been a useful source of knowledge for English medium students. In past few years it has evolved in a better way.

Relevance of news/topics in PD are examination oriented plus authenticity of facts.

PD: What is the secret of your success?

Amit: Working hard in right direction.

PD: What preference in services have you opted for?

Amit: IAS, IPS, IRS (IT) IFS, IRS (Customs) , IRTS.

PD: Any suggestion/advice you would like to give to the future aspirants.

Amit: Keep working hard and never panic. Always remember that for any tough situation during your preparation/Exam you have to respond not react.

Thank you very much and wishing you all the best for your future endeavours.

Thank you.

Courtesy: Pratiyogita Darpan