Civil Services Mains 2020 Results: In or Out ? Way ahead, gratitude and Pain
The Civils Mains result has been declared. This thread is for sharing your grief , joy , mixed feelings - absolutely anything and everything.
Hello gentle friends of forum, can anyone recommend a good book on Indian agriculture? Its history, economy, problems etc. Looking for helpful analysis and suggestions related to the sector.Have heard good reviews about this one. (Can't certify personally. Have not read it. But isspey bohot din se nazar hai meri)
https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353333091/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3FNN37T6M9S87KBS4M6N
@12432TrivendrumRajdhani thanks for A Rural Manifesto, it has been lying there unread for a year by now.
Try,
- Everyone loves a good drought
- Poor Economics
Recommending these as Agriculture in general - being associated with Rural India & Poverty, and others.
Is Poor Economics worth the read?
Hello gentle friends of forum, can anyone recommend a good book on Indian agriculture? Its history, economy, problems etc. Looking for helpful analysis and suggestions related to the sector.Have heard good reviews about this one. (Can't certify personally. Have not read it. But isspey bohot din se nazar hai meri)
https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353333091/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3FNN37T6M9S87KBS4M6N
@12432TrivendrumRajdhani thanks for A Rural Manifesto, it has been lying there unread for a year by now.
Try,
- Everyone loves a good drought
- Poor Economics
Recommending these as Agriculture in general - being associated with Rural India & Poverty, and others.
Is Poor Economics worth the read?
It’s about how small changes can bring about compounded positive effects in the lives of the underprivileged. Banerjee and Duflo quote experiments (RCTs) and anecdotes from the world over to substantiate their point. It’s an interesting read. Whether it’s a book I would recommend for the exam, I’m not so sure. Unless there is a specific question on the potential of RCTs, randomly bringing up examples from the book in a GS paper might be a bit pretentious I feel. Can maybe be used in the essay paper.
Hello gentle friends of forum, can anyone recommend a good book on Indian agriculture? Its history, economy, problems etc. Looking for helpful analysis and suggestions related to the sector.Have heard good reviews about this one. (Can't certify personally. Have not read it. But isspey bohot din se nazar hai meri)
https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353333091/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_3FNN37T6M9S87KBS4M6N
@12432TrivendrumRajdhani thanks for A Rural Manifesto, it has been lying there unread for a year by now.
Try,
- Everyone loves a good drought
- Poor Economics
Recommending these as Agriculture in general - being associated with Rural India & Poverty, and others.
Is Poor Economics worth the read?
It’s about how small changes can bring about compounded positive effects in the lives of the underprivileged. Banerjee and Duflo quote experiments (RCTs) and anecdotes from the world over to substantiate their point. It’s an interesting read. Whether it’s a book I would recommend for the exam, I’m not so sure. Unless there is a specific question on the potential of RCTs, randomly bringing up examples from the book in a GS paper might be a bit pretentious I feel. Can maybe be used in the essay paper.
Agreed with @Patootie
+
Poor Economics documents what the poor can achieve? Why & where they need a push? Analyses private lives & policies - essential aspects of people's family lives, choices they make when it comes to food, health, education, savings, credit, insurance; how markets, state & other institutions work or not-work in fighting poverty.
What kept me studying this work?
"...it makes clear why hope is vital & knowledge critical, why we have to keep on trying even when the challenge looks overwhelming. Success isn't always as far away as it looks."
Not only in essay.I did this this in all gs papers and even optional.0 answers written.
Even in pre I wrote 0 pre tests.
I had decided f**k all coachings,all toppers advises as they led to my downfall in last attempt.
I decided I would write whatever I feel in whatever way I feel in the exam in all the 7 papers and even in pre.
Thanks to rishab pant and his coach.
Dekho kya hota hai.
Bhai, for all the good suggestions that you have given, I feel compelled to point out some problematic ones as well. I do this not to discredit your hard work or even your strategy, as you said, we don't know yet. You might end up with a single digit rank or even outside the merit list. Although, probability is in favor of the latter for each interview appearing candidate :) But I really wish that you achieve the former :) Your hard work of making hand written notes, mugging them and going through these long committee reports must've helped in scoring big in mains.
I am doing this for other aspirants who are reading this thread. 2k views and hardly 30 contributors, so in the interest of this silent audience. The claim is not really accurate of writing 0 test, 0 essays, 0 answers. I understand that perhaps you are referring to not writing any test series. But, but, we have to be very careful with our words. You already have experience of one mains. Mains 2019. Which I am sure you must have analyzed and learnt from your past mistakes. This is important to highlight.
So, for others who are reading this, guys, it is not advisable to venture unprepared into mains examination. You don't compulsorily need to write any xyz coaching test series ofcourse :) But one must be well versed with UPSC PYQs and better get your answers verified by someone experienced. Just to know that you are on the right track.
Also, I want to highlight what Rishabh Pant said recently in a post match - "With experience I have learnt that there is nothing called as play your natural game. One needs to play according to the situation."
Practice is important to know how to react in different situations. Also Sunny might have done his struggles to reach the right sources, but following a test series can help a beginner in course correction in terms of targeting one's energy especially when there is abundance of coaching material, toppers, their strategies, their material, their notes, every year.
Nevertheless, his advices are really valuable. Originality is rewarded big time (experienced this myself) ; revision should be one's utmost priority ; some things you have to mug up, no alternative to this exists ; Intro and conclusion if prepared in advance for broader topics will help in saving crucial appox 15 mins in each paper.
Cheers@SunnyParashar just wanted to give a clearer picture of what I understood that you wanted to convey.
Can you please elaborate upon Originality part?
TLDR : My little experience of 2019 mains tells me this.
Originality in thoughts is appreciated. This practically means:
1)In Content- Showing your own thought. Drawing your own "reasoned" conclusions. Making sense of this world. Having that clarity in your head about issues of national and universal importance. One gets scope to do this more in Essay, ethics and optional, but also in GS papers sometimes.
How to do this? Read, think, understand more. Become a critical thinker. Not for every topic one can be so thorough. But choose your areas. BTW, this is no brainer right? Optional is our area. Develop expertise in it. It certainly helps if UPSC provides a topic from your domain. Philosophical topics closely resemble ethics, so ethics imho has become the most rewarding subject in UPSC CSE exam. 250+125 (one essay)+Interview( a big percentage of 275) marks at stake.
2)In Structure- Choosing a way in which one is best able to present their thoughts in the limited space. Diagram, flowchart, map, bullets, para, black, blue, italics, brackets, underline all are merely tools to be used in achieving the above said objective. Once this is realized, one becomes automatically original. We need to address the question. In doing so, do it in the best way possible under the given time and space constraints.
Well, this does not mean one shouldn't practice some innovative ideas of course.
Invoking Rishabh Pant again, one does not simply hit Jimmy Anderson for a six above Wicketkeeper's head in a test match without having done it in the nets.
The larger point is, don't copy AIR-x. Know the rules of the game, take cues from successful people, DIY and find your sweet spot.
Anecdote :
2019 Mains.
Essay paper. My optional is PSIR. Luckily, found a topic close to my area - biased media a real threat to Indian democracy. Wrote my heart out why is this so true. Originality in content and structure.
Talked about what do I understand by democracy. One of the meaning - A life of dignity to each individual. Then how biased media is a threat? Look at what they did to people by labelling as "Tukde-tukde gang". Wrote names. Kanhaiya then fought 2019 LS elections by taking an oath on Indian Constitution and media already declared their verdict as traitors, seditious etc.
Another example, 2019 LS elections held as if it is presidential form of democracy (Taking a dig at our PM | People suggested me to refrain from doing anything of this sort, there is a conspiracy theory going around that UPSC has been infiltrated :P However in that moment I just did it). We are a parliamentary form of democracy. Biased media is a real threat imho. But took more than 1hr 45min.
Now, is the catch, 0 prior experience of writing a philosophical essay. Completely fumbled. The topic did not make sense to me. Wisdom finds truth. The piece was largely a desperate attempt to fill the pages. However, could not even do it. 2 pages left, sheet got snatched. No conclusion. just ended the essay by scribbling that ultimate wisdom and ultimate truth is human dignity.
Score : 131. What does this mean? Originality of the 2nd essay was rewarded. This is the only plausible explanation I can draw out of it. Originality here does not refer to not practicing essays before but in my thoughts regarding the section-B topic.
Optional - IR Paper.
Could not recall content from SR Mam's notes in the exam hall. So started pouring down my own thoughts (IFS as 1st choice ; IR is my area). Repeatedly used 2 names (for the sake of doing it) in almost every question who must have been used by many to substantiate. HV Pant and CR Mohan. Could not answer 1 factual question ; 17th NAM summit. Was confused was the recent one 17th one or..?
Score to my surprise : 143. The only reason - originality in thoughts :)
GS Papers.
GS2 left 1 10-marker blank. 2 15-markers were filled namesake with some rhetorical content (Attorney-G), even wrong article number (not to be done ever). Score 97.
GS3 attempted 19.5 questions ; in the format prescribed by toppers, proper sub-headings, writing 5 points under each. Score 70.
Reason? - Lacked clarity in understanding. Copied topper's advice without substance. Artificial partitioning and points. But GS2 contains IR. Here, I was able to reflect my own understanding, displayed them in a logical flow.
A question here, as you talked about biased media, my frustation level goes to its peak. As you said you mentioned tukde tukde gang and all examples( many more can be given), can we write such things in the essay? I always feared going into these topics considering they are somewhere sensitive and not pro-government. Would you suggest 'writing our mind' in essay?
Well, I am experiencing an ethical dilemma - a case for moral hazard. I do not really know how it might turn out for you.
Hence, I am unable to suggest you a binary answer.
I did it in 2019.
Have done it again in 2020. Gave criticism this time where I felt it was due - EIA, RTI. Not really sure, what will happen.
But I for one believe, UPSC respectsreasoned opinion. So, no problem in dissenting. But, the grounds on which one does it, should be valid. Also, criticism should be followed by suggestions to solve the problem at hand.
Max Weber ke shadbo mein kahein toh... "ek bureaucrat wo hota hai jo RATIONAL hota hai. Reason ke saath baat kehta ho" (German translation pending).
This is actually an issue. I am one of those who believe pro-govt people have infiltrated each and every organisation and how muchandar seyou are critical of govt , just never show it on paper.
But I do believe what you said about reasoned criticism , but I always play safe and criticism is never extreme(I can't even think of mentioning tukde-tukde gang in my answers) . I fear doing it.
Others who have written mains do tell, how many of you would be willing to write to such an extent?
I wrote that biased media essay arguing for more stringent editorial control and accountability from media organisations to protect democracy. Talked about how defence deals take years to reach completion, how differences between ideas and people are widened instead of being bridged, how media can be used as a tool of psychological warfare by enemy nations, fake/incorrect news spread for the sake of breaking news etc. At the end of the essay I wondered if I was being too harsh on media. Even I got 131. My philosophical essay did not go too well. So I am also of the opinion that as long as you justify what you are writing you won't be penalised.
I used ratta last time in 9th and 10th like around 10 years ago and whatever I have done later on in my life, never required rote learning.
My optional already has lot of things which I need to rattafy and I am not able to do that satisfactorily. And now I am realising need to rattafy in GS too ? What all I need to rattafy ? data? committee ? what else ? as already it is huge size. And if i am not seeing it month later, definitely I am going to forget.
On a lighter note
might be useful for essay
"Never memorize something that you can look up." ~ Albert Einstein
I find this constant debate on ratafication a bit misplaced. My personal opinion is that it's just a matter of time.
When you are starting a topic don't bother about the data/committee parts. Just try to gain conceptual clarity on that issue. In your subsequent readings those data will automatically fit in your mind. No extra labour needed.
Like for example if you are starting with Laxmikant don't bother about the articles and other related data on first reading itself. Try to understand what is polity? What makes India federal? Why and how secularism? Crystal clear definition of words in preamble and so on. After you understand the book completely, come back and now focus on the articles and data.
Similarly, I approach the monthlies also. Vision monthlies are dense. So in my first reading I just try to understand the why, how, when and background of the issue, simultaneously highlighting the data part(No emphasis on data here). I do this for first 2 readings. Then in subsequent readings I come back and emphasise on data mugging. This time its easy.
It may sound cool to do both understanding and data mugging at one go, but plz understand that our minds are designed to focus only on one thing at a time. MULTITASKING IS A MYTH. Additionally, in our initial days of preparation most of us don't have that much brain capacity.
So my advice to you will be just be a bit more patient with yourself and keep slogging. I have myself made all those mistakes and hence advicing you on this.
On a lighter note, I absolutely love your username@babu_bisleri
All the best!
I wrote that biased media essay arguing for more stringent editorial control and accountability from media organisations to protect democracy. Talked about how defence deals take years to reach completion, how differences between ideas and people are widened instead of being bridged, how media can be used as a tool of psychological warfare by enemy nations, fake/incorrect news spread for the sake of breaking news etc. At the end of the essay I wondered if I was being too harsh on media. Even I got 131. My philosophical essay did not go too well. So I am also of the opinion that as long as you justify what you are writing you won't be penalised.
I also wrote the same essay with pol sc optional in 2019
That was almost the first or second essay I was writing in around 1k words. I actually wrote 750-800 words in both essays. But I did fill all the pages. Day before this day, I was revising section A of paper 1 (PSIR). It was very well reflected there.
I started with Nehru’s quote on role of media in Democracy. Then after some time I introduced Gramsci’s three layered base and superstructure model, explaining role of media there. Then somewhere I introduced Allegory of Caves by Plato. Then towards the end, I wrote Hannah Arendt’s Banality of Evil. I also wrote what Critical School Scholars feel without writing name, etc. I wrote many few dimensions and worked more on depth. All this while I was thinking I am writing a masterpiece. At the end, when I read it out, I realised the blunder made,
so, in second essay I wrote in very simple manner, trying to hide I have PSIR optional. I got 112 then.
I used ratta last time in 9th and 10th like around 10 years ago and whatever I have done later on in my life, never required rote learning.
My optional already has lot of things which I need to rattafy and I am not able to do that satisfactorily. And now I am realising need to rattafy in GS too ? What all I need to rattafy ? data? committee ? what else ? as already it is huge size. And if i am not seeing it month later, definitely I am going to forget.
On a lighter note
might be useful for essay
"Never memorize something that you can look up." ~ Albert Einstein
I find this constant debate on ratafication a bit misplaced. My personal opinion is that it's just a matter of time.
When you are starting a topic don't bother about the data/committee parts. Just try to gain conceptual clarity on that issue. In your subsequent readings those data will automatically fit in your mind. No extra labour needed.
Like for example if you are starting with Laxmikant don't bother about the articles and other related data on first reading itself. Try to understand what is polity? What makes India federal? Why and how secularism? Crystal clear definition of words in preamble and so on. After you understand the book completely, come back and now focus on the articles and data.
Similarly, I approach the monthlies also. Vision monthlies are dense. So in my first reading I just try to understand the why, how, when and background of the issue, simultaneously highlighting the data part(No emphasis on data here). I do this for first 2 readings. Then in subsequent readings I come back and emphasise on data mugging. This time its easy.
It may sound cool to do both understanding and data mugging at one go, but plz understand that our minds are designed to focus only on one thing at a time. MULTITASKING IS A MYTH. Additionally, in our initial days of preparation most of us don't have that much brain capacity.
So my advice to you will be just be a bit more patient with yourself and keep slogging. I have myself made all those mistakes and hence advicing you on this.
On a lighter note, I absolutely love your username@babu_bisleri
All the best!
Thanks ! Hopefully it will settle with subsequent revisions and answer writing.
Jai Shree Ram !
Usain_bolt,Hello everyone. Does anybody have any idea/opinion about Insights Mini IPM 2021? I'm thinking about joining it. I'll really appreciate your inputs.
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