Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

I'm in major dilemma. An acquaintance of mine said his GS 2 went very good and GS1 was avg. It was surprising because I found GS 1 doable compared to last year. So we discussed few questions. He said he divided questions into parts and addressed each part. So was able to write all parts. For instance, in Q on The need for cooperation among various service sector....., He said he first defined service sector as major contributor to gdp and related it to development.
There is growing divergence between poverty and hunger question, he said he defined each, wrote about various forms of malnutrition etc etc.
In AG question, he said he gave brief facts (laxmikanth) and wrote positives of AG, negatives of AG etc.
Aisa karna hota Hai Kya? I didn't follow this approach... Problem is he is extremely confident about mains being very good and started for interview full fleged with technical subject revision. This is getting me more nervous!

Khud ka average gaya. Static questions were good...above questions average. Optional paper 2 went bad esp 10 marks questions.

@Losttrue. Log ka confidence se apna confidence down ho raha Hai.

Last attempt hai (third one but further dedicated attempt not possible as probation period is ending and need to focus on work too (state service)). Even if I give, much improvement won't be there than this time (except maybe optional 2nd paper). So just searching solace here.

Nahi.. in state service, probation mein they give insignificant posting (without training) or attachment with senior officer. If seniors are good then it's easy. After probation period, you'll have to take responsibility plus, you start getting full and regular salary. So, focusing on studies only will mean missing out on many things including social life which gains more prominence now.
EoL depends on HoD and govt of the day. Some are even allowed 'informal' leave.

@Kira0705main toh Sikkim mein hu.
UP ka koi idea nahi hai.

@Kira0705similar. Essay mein thora kaam and ethics mein thora jyada. Overall, similar.

@Kira0705last year mera kharab gaya tha as I was giving at least 4 other exams (including PO ones). Jo bhi hai iss baar de diya hai. No more exams...so Dinn mein 3-4 baar analysis chaal raha hai

@K_9so kuch bhi ho sakta Hai. I recalled 'development processes' of GS2 syllabus and wrote NGO, shgs, donors and coop with govt, PRIs etc for development.

Do the 'toppers' write specific answers for questions? I found 10 markers in GS 3 very specific in their requirement like:

1. Enumerating indirect taxes (could list 5)
2. National watershed project - how many would have mentioned neeranchal? Importance of watershed and generic points all would have written..
3. Specific cases of coastal sand mining
4. Types of vulnerability as physical, economic social etc.

Aisa log hote hain Jo ye Saab questions main bhi acha likhte Hai?

Does UPSC provide Physical Attendance Certificate? My leave was sanctioned subject to production of physical attendance certificate after exams.
Seniors kindly suggest how to get it.

@atuljiwrote this one..started with Sartre 'hell is the other people'. Why he said that....tried to give context. Now I'm feeling it might sound too extreme. And then following main themes:

1. Historical perspective: individual...Galileo, Socrates and fate they met.
2. Currently, women rights, sabarimala etc. LGBTQ rights. Where social norms and individual best are antithetical.
3. Wrote on individual- potential etc.
4. Social best not necessarily against individual.
5. How can both be aligned... by adhering to constitutional morality etc.
   Don't remember what I wrote exactly but included these things. Could have concluded better. Also, might have been repetitive at times. Considering avg or below avg in previous attempts, not expecting much.

Second one on AI. Intro was ready. Had to conclude in rush.

@vvvikas0078212rights based approach I did. Didn't mention deontology.