Civil Services Mains 2020 Results: In or Out ? Way ahead, gratitude and Pain

@Villanelle @nerdfighter I thought I was the only one crazy about public policy podcasts but finally read familiar podcasts names.

Seen and the unseen has been my favourite due to his presentation style. If you all are interested in history podcasts, can give echoes of India a try. It's by anirudh kanisetti, loved his unique stories about historical events.

12432TrivendrumRajdhani,nerdfighter

abhishekprinceiit511 .

@12432TrivendrumRajdhani Thanks a lot :)

12432TrivendrumRajdhani,

Koro-Sensei .

nerdfightersaid
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Villanellesaid
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Villanellesaid
nerdfightersaid
Recommendation: https://publicpolicy.substack.com/
This is a public policy newsletter that has become one of my favourite things on the internet for past many months. You'll come across some new mental models to think about public policy issues in a big picture way.
Areh, he's one of the two from Puliyabaazi right? Have been listening to them for over an year now. Also, Takshila Institute has this podcast called All Things Policy too. Pretty good.
Yes, and it is co-written by a guy who goes by a pseudonym Raghu Sanjaylal Jaitley, who was recently on the seen and the unseen. I find his insights quite refreshing.
Yes, All Things Policy is great. I used to listen to regularly last year.
Episodes on Seen and The Unseen are soooo long. I doubt if I have ever finished one. I listened to a lot of podcasts last year too. After pandemic, podcasts + hour long walks were a staple. The hour long walks have thankfully survived, but its mostly music or Cut The Clutter nowadays :P
No walks for me. I used to go for long walks every single day for last 5-6 years. But I've essentially packed myself in our flat with my mom for the last two months. So, I haven't been listening to any podcast either.
Cut the clutter is perfect for short walks. I listen to it when I walk inside my house.
I am a big Amit Verma fan. Last year, Seen and the Unseen was my most listened to podcast on Spotify with some 100+ hours of consumption. He was in my town last year in February. He & Vivek Kaul. Vivek Kaul was quite cool.
Edit: This was something I had written for Vivek kaul which he posted on his twitter.
https://twitter.com/kaul_vivek/status/1226121811697586177/photo/1

Surprised by the common sources we refer. Another 100+ hours seen and unseen listener checking in :D

I usually pair it up with workout, washing dishes and pretty much all mundane tasks that do not require special attention. And cut the clutter with my brush time, all at 2x speed. Any idea when Amit Varma is releasing the books with the best excerpts from the episodes?

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nerdfightersaid
calvinhobbessaid
@Villanelle @nerdfighter I thought I was the only one crazy about public policy podcasts but finally read familiar podcasts names.

Seen and the unseen has been my favourite due to his presentation style. If you all are interested in history podcasts, can give echoes of India a try. It's by anirudh kanisetti, loved his unique stories about historical events.
I haven't heard much of it. I listened to like 2 or 3 episodes & I didn't like it. There is another, older history of India podcast by Kit Patrick. And also Incarnations by Sunil Khilnani if anyone is interested in pre-modern Indian history. I remember Anirudh Kaniestty once did a very "aesthetically appealing" course on unacademy.

Yeah, I've been following History of India podcast as well.

Kanisetti might've been another upsc aspirant turned think tank member xD. He also came in few episodes of All things policy, I remember clearly one being of semiconductor global supply chain.

nerdfighter,

12432TrivendrumRajdhani .

12432TrivendrumRajdhani .

@nerdfighter @Villanelle

I never thought I will ever meet a person who knew about Pulliyabaazi, and The Seen and The Unseen (TSAU). TSAU, is an favourite of mine, and I got bitten by this drug in 2020 January. Have almost listened to all of his" 420"="" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9kNXfU3rJDE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="click me to listen). It totally blew my mind. And I was immediately interested in socio linguistics. Linguistics pe koi suggestions hai to zaroor batana.

@SergioRamos these podcasts are kind of intermix of politics, economics, behaviour science, history, sociology, and obviously public policy, with an Indian perspective. For example- You can browse the amazing catalogue of the The Seen and The Unseen, and to quote Arvind Subramaniam who said "right now one is not considered as an public intellectual in India, until s/he appears on TSAU". I will highly recommend you to@Villanelle and@nerdfighter in case you ever thought wish there was a compilation of books suggested during the episodes of TSAU-

SergioRamos,nerdfighter

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......in case you ever thought wish there was a compilation of books suggested during the episodes of TSAU-here you go

nerdfighter,

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Patootie .

abhishekprinceiit511said
@Patootie @SergioRamos@12432TrivendrumRajdhani @whatonly @Sherkhan1428 @DeekshitaP@AzadHindFauz @Yo_Yo_Choti_Singh @Impavid_Girl
As I lack any constructive peer group and being a silent follower of your comments ,suggestions I request u guys to help me.
I failed to clear mains 2020. This was my 4th attempt and 3rd mains(first with sociology). The data for my attempts:
Age :28
Category: General
Status: working in govt sector
Year
Gs
Essay
Optional( chemistry
2017
430
125
160
2018
380
138
230
2019
Prelims failed by 2 marks

2020
Prelims score -125 around

Changed to Sociology

In my opinion i did all necessary things this time like test series( yearlong MGP with single digit ranks in majority tests) , value addition classes(Dipin sir) micro note making ,revision etc for GS,Essay and optional.
As the marks are not out yet and will only be out around September ,i am confused about the future strategy.I am planning to skip this attempt as
1.with the same efforts and strategy and without knowing the flaws ,recurrent mistakes i wont fetch good marks.
2.Compromised my departmental exam in last 2 years so this time I have to clear it anyhow.
3. confidence is at the rock bottom after giving it all in this attempt.
I feel there is some objectivity in mains as many people clear it every single time but the key challenges are -how to find that and how to approach now if I skip 2021 attempt.

Any suggestions from other members will also be welcomed.

Thanks

Looking for similar answers here about what works for mains. Quite clueless about a lot of things.

If I were in your position and if I really wanted to try again, I would do it in 2021. With postponement, you have plenty of time for improving your optional score. Your GS and essay scores of the past seem decent. I guess there's scope for improving your score by max 10-15 marks in each paper (GS, Essay), but the knowledge base for that is something you probably already have. Effective expression will get you those marks is what I feel. I think the little tweaks your answers need is something you can easily get right in the time that is available before 2021 attempt if you know what they are. I don't know what those changes are, and someone else would be able to guide you better. I hope you figure it out. :)

sjerngal .

12432TrivendrumRajdhanisaid
......in case you ever thought wish there was a compilation of books suggested during the episodes of TSAU-here you go

Link not working bruh !

@nerdfighter even I was surprised to stalk him on Linkedin, saw he was my college branch senior. Exchanged a couple of messages with him then.

@12432TrivendrumRajdhani @Villanelle @nerdfighter

Does anyone of you remember The seen and the unseen episode about Truck De India author episode. As obvious, I stalked him too. Turns out, he did engineering then corporate job. While on his job, he toured all India to write about the book then came and cleared CSE. He had AIR in some 200s

It's been just a month over this forum and it has been so much relatable :')

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abhishekprinceiit511 .

@Patootie Thanks a lot for ur suggestions :)

12432TrivendrumRajdhani .

@calvinhobbes Oh yes yes. Was surpised. Even imagined myself "mei bhi jaldi jaldi upsc nikal leta hu, aur koi book likh dunga, aur phir TSAU pe seat guranteed" :))