[Strategy] LAVANYA GUPTA AIR 298, CSE 2017
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Pre-cum-Mains GS Foundation Program for UPSC 2026 | Starting from 5th Dec. 2024 Click Here for more information

Hello everybody.

My name is Lavanya Gupta. I have secured AIR 298 in Civil Services 2017.

This was my last attempt (6th) and hence all the more nerve wrecking. I managed to write Mains for the first time only in my 3rd attempt, which again was very disappointing as I could not finish my papers. In 2015, I reached the interview stage, but I missed the final list by 12-15 marks (fault in my own preparation strategy of course). In 2016, I skipped an attempt as I was not in the right mind to take the final attempt. I used that year to identify my mistakes and carve out a strategy that could help me in my last attempt. Here I would like to point out that the most important thing needed to become successful is to accept one’s own mistakes.  I was reluctant to do it when in my 2015 attempt I scored poorly in interview, constantly blaming the interview panel for their “poor” judgement. But in my 6th attempt, I realised I cannot blame others for my own follies and therefore I decided to keep my prejudice aside and started opening up to more criticisms (from friends, family, teachers….. although it was difficult still… But I tried to do better).

My Background:

I was born and brought up in West Bengal. I did most of my schooling in Kolkata and then moved to Bengaluru to pursue B.E. in Biotechnology. My father (my primary motivation) is also a civil servant (which is also why I decided to pursue civil services). I managed to clear my state civil service in 2015 and am currently posted as Deputy Magistrate & Deputy Collector (on probation) in West Bengal.

My strategy:

Since I have qualified mains and faced interview stage twice, it will be more appropriate to give out my strategy in a comparative format.

PRELIMINARY

1
DateSubject",Faculty",Topics",Assignments",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,7:30,AM,-,8:00,AMCA",Class,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,5:00,PM,-,7:00,PM
2
June","18,",2018PolityG",BabuIndian",Polity,-,Introduction,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,What,is,Constitution?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Historical,Background
3
June","19,",2018PolityG",BabuMaking",of,the,Constitution,-,Briefly,"(Enactment,",Enforcement,&,Crticism,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Preamble,
4
June","20,",2018PolityG",BabuSalient/Outstanding",Feature,of,Indian,Constitution,
5
June","21,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Indus",Valley,Civilisation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Rig,Vedic,Era,
6
June","22,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Post",Rig,Vedic,Era,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mahajanpadas,&,The,Mauryas
7
June","23,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Central",Asian,Contacts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The,Age,of,Satvahanas,
8
June","24,",2018SUNDAY
9
June","25,",2018PolityG",BabuUnion",and,Its,Territory,
10
June","26,",2018PolityG",BabuCitizenship
11
June","27,",2018PolityG",BabuFundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(1)
12
June","28,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Sangam",Age,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Gupta,Empire,
13
June","29,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Gupta",Empire,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Harsha,and,his,Territories,
14
June","30,",2018Anciet",HistoryGarima",Tiwari,Spread",of,Civilisation,in,Eastern,India,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Formation,of,new,states,and,rural,expansion,in,the,peninsula,(Chalukya,and,Pallavas)
15
July","1,",2018SUNDAY
16
July","2,",2018Geography",Praveen",KumarReserved",for,any,Uncovered,Topic,
17
July","3,",2018PolityG",Babu,Fundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(2)
18
July","4,",2018PolityG",Babu,Fundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(3)
19
July","5,",2018PolityG",Babu,Fundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(4)
20
July","6,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Interior",of,Earth,-,Layers,of,Earth,
21
July","7,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Interior",of,Earth,-,Formation,of,Oceans,and,Continents,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Continental,Drift,Theory,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Plate,Tectonics,Theory,
22
July","8,",2018SUNDAY
23
July","9,",2018PolityG",Babu,Fundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(5)
24
July","10,",2018PolityG",BabuFundamental",Rights,and,Duties,(6)
25
July","11,",2018PolityG",BabuDirective",Principles,of,State,Policy,
26
July","12,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Forces",Affecting,Earth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Endogenic,Forces,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Diastrophic,Forces,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Catastrophic,Forces,
27
July","13,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Vulcanism",and,Earth,Quake,(1),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Intrusive,and,Extrusive,Landforms,
28
July","14,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Vulcanism",and,Earth,Quake,(2),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Introduction,to,Exogenic,Forces,
29
July","15,",2018SUNDAYCurrent",Affairs,Orientation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,11,AM,-,2,PM
30
July","16,",2018Polity",G",Babu,Amendments",and,Basic,Structure,of,the,Constitution
31
July","17,",2018Polity",G",BabuUnion",Executive,(1),
32
July","18,",2018Polity",G",BabuUnion",Executive,(2),
33
July","19,",2018GeographyG",Babu,Additional",Class,for,any,extra,Coverage/,Can,be,swapped,with,Geography,in,case,Polity,Class,Not,Needed,
34
July","20,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Exogenic",-,Weathering,and,Mass,Movement
35
July","21,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Exogenic",-,River,"Landforms,",Karst,landformsCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
36
July","22,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
37
July","23,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashRenaissance",and,Thinkers,(1),
38
July","24,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashThinkers",(2),and,French,Revolution,
39
July","25,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashFrench",Revolution,Contd.,and,Vienna,Congress,
40
July","26,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Exogenic","-Wind,",Coastal,and,Glacial,Landforms,
41
July","27,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Mountain",Building,-,Types,of,Mountains,and,Types,of,Plateaus,
42
July","28,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Rocks",,and,its,classificationCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
43
July","29,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
44
July","30,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashRevolutions",of,Europe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1870,-,Unification,of,Germany,and,Italy,
45
July","31,",2018Word",History,Satya",Prakash1870",-,Unification,of,Germany,and,Italy,Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Trends,1870,-,1914,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,First,World,War,
46
August","1,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashFirst",World,War,Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Rise,of,Nazism,and,Facism,
47
August","2,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Composition",and,Structure,Of,Atmosphere,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Insolation,and,Heat,Budget
48
August","3,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Temperature—Controlling","factors,",Variation,and,Distribution,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Atmospheric,Pressure,and,Pressure,Belts(1)
49
August","4,",2018GeorgraphyPraveen",Kumar,Atmospheric",Pressure,and,Pressure,Belts,(2)CURRENT",AFFAIRS,
50
August","5,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
51
August","6,",2018PolityG",Babu,Union",Legislature,(1)
52
August","7,",2018PolityG",BabuUnion",Legislature,(2)
53
August","8,",2018PolityG",BabuUnion",Legislature,(3)
54
August","9,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashRise",of,Nazism,and,Facism,Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Trends,1919,-,1939,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Economic,Depression
55
August","10,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashSecond",World,War,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,United,Nations,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Cold,War,
56
August","11,",2018World",History,Satya",PrakashCold",War,Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Colonlisation,and,Decolonolisation,(1)CURRENT",AFFAIRS,
57
August","12,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
58
August","13,",2018Polity",G",BabuUnion",Legislature,(4),
59
August","14,",2018Polity",G",BabuUnion",Legislature,(5)
60
August","15,",2018INDEPENDENCE",DAY
61
August","16,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Wind",System—Local,"winds,",Seasonal,winds,and
Permanent,"winds,
62
August","17,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Wind",System—Local,"winds,",Seasonal,winds,and,Permanent,"winds,
63
August","18,",2018GeographyPraveen",Kumar,Air",Masses,and,Precipitation,–,Types,and
Distribution
64
August","19,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
65
August","20,",2018PolityG",BabuState",ExecutiveCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
66
August","21,",2018PolityG",Babu,State",Executive
67
August","22,",2018World",History,Satya",Prakash,Political",Changes,in,Eastern,Europe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Industrial,Revolution,(1),
68
August","23,",2018World",History,Satya",Prakash,Industrial",Revolution,(2),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,American,Revolution,
69
August","24,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Cyclones",-,Temperate,and,Tropical,
70
August","25,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Cyclones",Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Biomes,of,Earth,CURRENT",AFFAIRS,
71
August","26,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
72
August","27,",2018PolityG",BabuState",Legislature
73
August","28,",2018Polity",G",Babu,State",Legislature,
74
August","29,",2018World",History,Satya",Prakash,Russian",Revolutuon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Chinese,Revolution,
75
August","30,",2018World",History,Satya",Prakash,Chinese",Revoution,Contd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Japanese,Revolution
76
August","31,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Ocean",Bottom,Relief,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Temperature—Horizontal,and,Vertical,Distribution
77
September","1,",2018Geography",Praveen",Kumar,Salinity",Of,Ocean—Horizontal,and,Vertical
Distribution		CURRENT",AFFAIRS,
78
September","2,",2018SUNDAYCURRENT",AFFAIRS,
79
September","3,",2018
80
September","4,",2018
81
September","5,",2018
82
September","6,",2018
83
September","7,",2018
84
September","8,",2018
85
September","9,",2018
86
September","10,",2018
87
September","11,",2018
88
September","12,",2018
89
September","13,",2018
90
September","14,",2018
91
September","15,",2018
92
September","16,",2018
93
September","17,",2018
94
September","18,",2018
95
September","19,",2018
96
September","20,",2018
97
September","21,",2018
98
September","22,",2018
99
September","23,",2018
100
September","24,",2018
101
September","25,",2018
102
September","26,",2018
103
September","27,",2018
104
September","28,",2018
105
September","29,",2018
106
September","30,",2018
107
October","1,",2018
108
October","2,",2018
109
October","3,",2018
110
October","4,",2018
111

MAINS

1
DateSubject Faculty Topics Assignments 7:30 AM - 8:00 AMCA Class 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
2
June 18, 2018PolityG BabuIndian Polity - Introduction What is Constitution? Historical Background
3
June 19, 2018PolityG BabuMaking of the Constitution - Briefly (Enactment, Enforcement & Crticism Preamble
4
June 20, 2018PolityG BabuSalient/Outstanding Feature of Indian Constitution
5
June 21, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Indus Valley Civilisation Rig Vedic Era
6
June 22, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Post Rig Vedic Era Mahajanpadas & The Mauryas
7
June 23, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Central Asian Contacts The Age of Satvahanas
8
June 24, 2018SUNDAY
9
June 25, 2018PolityG BabuUnion and Its Territory
10
June 26, 2018PolityG BabuCitizenship
11
June 27, 2018PolityG BabuFundamental Rights and Duties (1)
12
June 28, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Sangam Age Gupta Empire
13
June 29, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Gupta Empire Harsha and his Territories
14
June 30, 2018Anciet HistoryGarima Tiwari Spread of Civilisation in Eastern India Formation of new states and rural expansion in the peninsula (Chalukya and Pallavas)
15
July 1, 2018SUNDAY
16
July 2, 2018Geography Praveen KumarReserved for any Uncovered Topic
17
July 3, 2018PolityG Babu Fundamental Rights and Duties (2)
18
July 4, 2018PolityG Babu Fundamental Rights and Duties (3)
19
July 5, 2018PolityG Babu Fundamental Rights and Duties (4)
20
July 6, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Interior of Earth - Layers of Earth
21
July 7, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Interior of Earth - Formation of Oceans and Continents Continental Drift Theory Plate Tectonics Theory
22
July 8, 2018SUNDAY
23
July 9, 2018PolityG Babu Fundamental Rights and Duties (5)
24
July 10, 2018PolityG BabuFundamental Rights and Duties (6)
25
July 11, 2018PolityG BabuDirective Principles of State Policy
26
July 12, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Forces Affecting Earth Endogenic Forces Diastrophic Forces Catastrophic Forces
27
July 13, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Vulcanism and Earth Quake (1) Intrusive and Extrusive Landforms
28
July 14, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Vulcanism and Earth Quake (2) Introduction to Exogenic Forces
29
July 15, 2018SUNDAYCurrent Affairs Orientation 11 AM - 2 PM
30
July 16, 2018Polity G Babu Amendments and Basic Structure of the Constitution
31
July 17, 2018Polity G BabuUnion Executive (1)
32
July 18, 2018Polity G BabuUnion Executive (2)
33
July 19, 2018GeographyG Babu Additional Class for any extra Coverage/ Can be swapped with Geography in case Polity Class Not Needed
34
July 20, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Exogenic - Weathering and Mass Movement
35
July 21, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Exogenic - River Landforms, Karst landformsCURRENT AFFAIRS
36
July 22, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
37
July 23, 2018World History Satya PrakashRenaissance and Thinkers (1)
38
July 24, 2018World History Satya PrakashThinkers (2) and French Revolution
39
July 25, 2018World History Satya PrakashFrench Revolution Contd. and Vienna Congress
40
July 26, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Exogenic -Wind, Coastal and Glacial Landforms
41
July 27, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Mountain Building - Types of Mountains and Types of Plateaus
42
July 28, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Rocks and its classificationCURRENT AFFAIRS
43
July 29, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
44
July 30, 2018World History Satya PrakashRevolutions of Europe 1870 - Unification of Germany and Italy
45
July 31, 2018Word History Satya Prakash1870 - Unification of Germany and Italy Contd. Trends 1870 - 1914 First World War
46
August 1, 2018World History Satya PrakashFirst World War Contd. Rise of Nazism and Facism
47
August 2, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Composition and Structure Of Atmosphere Insolation and Heat Budget
48
August 3, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Temperature—Controlling factors, Variation and Distribution Atmospheric Pressure and Pressure Belts(1)
49
August 4, 2018GeorgraphyPraveen Kumar Atmospheric Pressure and Pressure Belts (2)CURRENT AFFAIRS
50
August 5, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
51
August 6, 2018PolityG Babu Union Legislature (1)
52
August 7, 2018PolityG BabuUnion Legislature (2)
53
August 8, 2018PolityG BabuUnion Legislature (3)
54
August 9, 2018World History Satya PrakashRise of Nazism and Facism Contd. Trends 1919 - 1939 Economic Depression
55
August 10, 2018World History Satya PrakashSecond World War . United Nations Cold War
56
August 11, 2018World History Satya PrakashCold War Contd. Colonlisation and Decolonolisation (1)CURRENT AFFAIRS
57
August 12, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
58
August 13, 2018Polity G BabuUnion Legislature (4)
59
August 14, 2018Polity G BabuUnion Legislature (5)
60
August 15, 2018INDEPENDENCE DAY
61
August 16, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Wind System—Local winds, Seasonal winds and
Permanent winds,
62
August 17, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Wind System—Local winds, Seasonal winds and Permanent winds,
63
August 18, 2018GeographyPraveen Kumar Air Masses and Precipitation – Types and
Distribution
64
August 19, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
65
August 20, 2018PolityG BabuState ExecutiveCURRENT AFFAIRS
66
August 21, 2018PolityG Babu State Executive
67
August 22, 2018World History Satya Prakash Political Changes in Eastern Europe Industrial Revolution (1)
68
August 23, 2018World History Satya Prakash Industrial Revolution (2) American Revolution
69
August 24, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Cyclones - Temperate and Tropical
70
August 25, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Cyclones Contd. Biomes of Earth CURRENT AFFAIRS
71
August 26, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
72
August 27, 2018PolityG BabuState Legislature
73
August 28, 2018Polity G Babu State Legislature
74
August 29, 2018World History Satya Prakash Russian Revolutuon Chinese Revolution
75
August 30, 2018World History Satya Prakash Chinese Revoution Contd. Japanese Revolution
76
August 31, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Ocean Bottom Relief Temperature—Horizontal and Vertical Distribution
77
September 1, 2018Geography Praveen Kumar Salinity Of Ocean—Horizontal and Vertical
Distribution		CURRENT AFFAIRS
78
September 2, 2018SUNDAYCURRENT AFFAIRS
79
September 3, 2018
80
September 4, 2018
81
September 5, 2018
82
September 6, 2018
83
September 7, 2018
84
September 8, 2018
85
September 9, 2018
86
September 10, 2018
87
September 11, 2018
88
September 12, 2018
89
September 13, 2018
90
September 14, 2018
91
September 15, 2018
92
September 16, 2018
93
September 17, 2018
94
September 18, 2018
95
September 19, 2018
96
September 20, 2018
97
September 21, 2018
98
September 22, 2018
99
September 23, 2018
100
September 24, 2018
101
September 25, 2018
102
September 26, 2018
103
September 27, 2018
104
September 28, 2018
105
September 29, 2018
106
September 30, 2018
107
October 1, 2018
108
October 2, 2018
109
October 3, 2018
110
October 4, 2018
111

INTERVIEW:

In my final attempt I gave 60 percent focus on my bio-data (DAF) and 40 percent on current affairs which was just the opposite in 2015. And fortunately my strategy worked and I managed to score quite a high score in interview this time (marks obtained have been mentioned below). Also, I got nearly two and half month gap after mains to prepare for the interview and I made sure I used most of this time to prepare my bio-data and current affairs. I also made a small notebook of relevant issues in news and wrote down my personal opinion for each (trust me you will be glad you wrote it down as in two months’ period you tend to forget many points)

MARKS OBTAINED:

Here I would like to make a special mention to the efforts of ForumIAS and its faculty for the guidance they gave me for my mains preparation which finally culminated to my success in civil services examination. To be more specific, I benefited immensely from the structure writing guidance given by the Institute.

Friends, I hope the strategy I have shared can help you in anyway. All the best and have confidence in yourself.

GS Test 2C 

GS Test 5C 

 

Entrance Test 07 and 11th June 2018

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