I am Anudeep Durishetty, IAS officer of 2018 batch and All India Rank 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. I secured this rank in my 5th attempt. Over the course of my long tryst with UPSC, I had learnt a lot from my mistakes and I consciously worked to rectify them. I intend this blog to be a repository of my experience so that you don’t repeat the same errors. You’ll find posts on my journey so far, preparation strategy for GS, essay, optional, answer writing and other peripheral aspects relevant to Civils preparation. Aspirants may post their queries in the comments section.
Apart from these, I also plan to write about topics of general interest that fascinate me. I am a native of Telangana and my hobbies are football, reading and meditation. I love Arsenal, Lionel Messi and Roger Federer.
Your blog is going to be very useful. Thank you so much sir.
sir…a great doubt..can u just hep me to find somebody who wrote mains with LAW as optional?
Rank 9
Which meditation technique you practicing sir…?
You can find it here: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2018/05/17/law-optional-strategy-by-saumya-sharma-rank-9-upsc-cse-2017/
Sir, I know the question that I am putting is not in appropriate place but the question is worth it. Firstly , how you got job at google ?. Next, did you already decide during college days that you’ll first get a corporate job and then you’ll become civil servant ?
Hi Anudeep ,I had a passion to be part in system (upsc) but financially unable to spent on taking coaching..I’m Telugu guy with bad communication skills and depending on my hard-work. So give me suggestions on own preparation and reference books.sorry for the bad communication skills .thank you anudeep
Sir I have subscribed to email but am not getting any mail or notification.
Please help me
Sir,
You can prepare for this exam without taking any coaching. You can take help from internet. The only thing you need is focus and dedication. Start from NCERT and try to read English newspaper daily(You can read The Indian Express). And for improving your communication skills, you need to word hard on it. Start with listening. Then try to speak or write. You will definitely improve your communication skills. Just believe in yourself. You can do it.
Best of luck
Regards
Mridul.
Hi brother, I am very impressed that you were very honest .
You have patience Sir, and I learnt many things to you …… You are to help alwaye needy people, children, women, etc.
Yes, he is.
Sir I am 16 and Half year old. I want to buy your book. But I don’t know how to buy this sir can you helf mine. How to buy it although I check it on Amazon bot there are plothorio of books related to this and sir how to cover csat
Sir current affairs section in the blog is missing,please ensure it to be placed asap..
hello sir thank you……..
Sir…. Plz.. Recommend someone who wrote mains with chemistry optional….please sir it’s a request….
Sir my name is Nagendra I’m from Karnataka ba1sem how to crack upsc exam pls tell mi sir
Sir your preparation strategy tips really helpful for us.Thanku so much .
Thank you so much sir for give the right direction. Your blog is very useful of all over upsc aspinrants who’s are preparing this exam.
Saumya sharma rank 7
Congratulations ma’am for securing air 7
vaishali singh, who secured 8th rank in upsc in 2018.
she had her optional as law.
Sir,what steps would you suggest for beginners?like how to study NCERTs ? How to analyze NewsPaper? How to follow up with Current Affairs?
Sir please can you share with us what books you have read as you mentioned non fiction books…
It will helpful for beginners, after some books we can get an idea about which kind of books are useful to read…
Ms. Saumya sharma AIR 7 in UPSC CSE 2017 has cleared her mains with law optional and scored 287 marks in optional
Mam can you tell us any website where we could find exact correct information and syllabus for ias exam
VAISHALI SINGH AIR8 , 2020
Ayushi Singh, Rank 86,upsc 2018
Kanchan,Rank 35
You can find their mock interview on drishti IAS
AIR 8 OF 2019 is gradu
ated from NLU Delhi & she was having law as optional
Same query !
Good initiative sir.. Thanks for it
A very good initiative. Thanks…
A very good intivative sir,and journey as a aspirant inspired us ,Thank you.
It will help us.. Thank you, Sir!
Thank you much sir
THANK YOU SIR……….
Are you Sandhya Pal ?
Yes!! 🙂
Are You a Civil Servant ?
Thank you for your initiative sir, and this is how you wrote your mains answers……..
thank u sir … it will really helpful for us..
In one of your posts, you had mentioned about downloading the answer booklets of toppers. Are you talking about answer booklets of mock tests? Where do I download it from?
You can download from visions ias
Thanku so much sir to share these exact strategies as you would be follow for ye entire upsc journey.
Definetely, these strategies will help us.
Thanku so much sir to share these exact strategies as you would be follow for your entire upsc journey.
Definetely, these strategies will help us.
Thank you sir… This is really helpful for us.
Thank you sir .This is really helpful for us.
Thank you sir .This is really helpful for us.
Thank you sir.
Thank you so much sir… U stood as an achiever and inspiration as well.. I respect ur work of sharing ,ur experiences and guidance . This is very useful sir.
Thank you sir
Congratulations!
We’d be happy if you can you share your Anthro strategy? Like:- what books? Test series? can we see your mock test papers? Writing practice? anthro examples, diagrams, theories, case studies? Points vs paragraph? What structure? What conclusion? Are they looking for way forward or significance in present scenario even in anthro? How many questions did you attempt in mains? what was the quality of your answers?
Thanks and regards
Hi, I’ve written detailed posts on Anthropology. Find it under ‘Optional’ tab on this website.
Sir I have one doubt may be it is silly for you but my question is you opted offline Forum IAS TEST SERIES where you write these exams while you are working as IRS ?
Sir, I read your other post on UPSC Journey I got the answer that you write Forum IAS TEST SERIES at home with timer.
Yes, I entirely prepared while staying in Hyderabad and so I had to opt for online mode. I wrote all tests from my home.
sir please tell how to prepare economics?
AIR 19 Abhijeet Sinha wrote about it:
https://iasbaba.com/2018/06/economics-optional-strategy-abhijeet-sinha-rank-19-upsc-cse-2017/
Congratulations sir?
Your journey inspired us a lot…
Thanks for sharing your strategy through this initiative. This is so helpful..
Thank you sir
will you please share mains booklist Sir..?
First of all congratulation for your tremendous success Sir.
Sir, I’ve studied till 10+2 in UP and from UP Board, as far as I could remember I left essay writing in my 8th standard only because essay writing was in the syllabus till then. Now while I think to prepare for CSE, I’m stuck that how I should write an essay. Because my mind in essay writing is not developed since I haven’t written an essay for the last 7-8 years. And now if someone tells me to write an essay, I guess it’ll be written at the 8th standard level which is nothing in front of this large CSE- Mains essays. At this stage, I’m not able to decide where to begin with. It could be a problem for other aspirants as well. It’ll be a huge help if you could guide and let us know how to start for the essay writing i.e. read the essay, analyze them etc.. I would love if you could guide us in terms of strategy with some resources where to read up them.
I’ve written a detailed post on Essay writing.
https://anudeepdurishetty.in/writing-a-good-essay-in-upsc-mains-explained/
Hiii sir
I am your fan
I need your help
Please save my life
Mai apko bht msg ki hu email pe but koi reply nhi aaya so please contact me 7372088251 it’s my no please sir
Thank you
Sir, what are you recomanded book’s in CSE(MAIN)Exam? Kindlly you can tell about your CSE(main) book list please!
yes sir it will be very help full for us..
Arsenal???? man i m judging u now
Could you please share the strategy for mains general studies,book lists and material.
Sir,
I read the non-fiction books you recommended and they very interesting. Can you suggest more?
Great Initiative Anudeep. You wrote about meditation in the ‘about me’ Section.
We will be very gratefull if we got to read In depth about “Meditation , Preparation and You”.
and a direct Question for you.
Joining Online test series for prelims and mains , has its own pros and cons.
critically evaluate.
No word limit Sir 🙂
Amitkumar.
Gujarat.
8141031136
Sir,
Can you suggest which month current affairs are required for prelims and mains?
Congratulations Anudeep & thank you for all your articles, very helpful!
Could you please share your study schedule, it would be very useful for aspirants like me working full-time, to get an idea on how to plan prep and deal time crunch.
Thanks! 🙂
Many will ask you how you clear your exam and strategy but its been 2 weeks since result came out and yet no body talks much about how to deal with failure. How you dealt with your failure constantly. How will you convince yourself that you are not failure even you hit dead end.
Hello Sir,… I know you are definitely busy person but i want to take some more time of your. Please sir share booklist for mains so it will be helpful for me as well as many UPSC Aspirants. I am eagerly waiting for your reply sir…
Hello Sir…, Please tell me how to prepare for Commerce & Accounts as optional subject ?
And from where I can download Optional subjects previous paper …. Please sir help me as i am eagerly waiting for your reply…..
hello sir, please tell me name and writer of standard books for cse pre,qualifying subject,essay, gs.
hello sir, please tell me name and writer of standard books for optional subject agriculture.
Hello Sir, how to start preparation and from where. What is the book list for mains.
Hi Anudeep
This is Rakesh Murarka from RVG Education Foundation Mumbai. We need your contact details urgently.
Hii sir..this is soundarya from adilabad..i have completed my graduation only in English medium. I want to write civils in Telugu language..is materials are available in Telugu medium..is it possible sir…please suggest any name who wrote in Telugu .and their link .
Thank you sir
Sir, how did you get job at google, could you please help me
Hi, sir, cleared my pre. 2018, I never practiced answer writing. I have 40 days, what should I do. I know answers but could not write.
HI, sir you are a big inspiration to me and i love your hole entire beautiful journey
Hi Sir, first of al
Hi Sir, first of all I would my like to extend my heartiest greetings to you for cracking the most prestigious and toughest exam,
Sir can you please recommend me about the detailed strategy and booklist for Maths as an optional subject?
Hello sir,
Good evening
Sir, tell me how to prepare current affairs are required for Exam?
Hi bro,
Hearty congrats to your success.
Can you help me to find somebody who wrote mains with MATHS optional?
Sir help me with Agriculture optional
Hi.. Could you also advise that when you are out of race, but you still have fire for something to do great, but you are unaware of it that what good you can do with it.
Sir do you know anyone who had taken history optional and ranked in top 100?
Thank you sir…
Your blog is very helpful for me.
Hi , Sir have you joined ALS IAS classes for UPSC training , as on their website your name is there so asked . Me too was thinking to join ALS Coaching institute so is it better
sir i have a doubt…. if i want to take a gap in my attempts…..will the gap year be counted as an attempt by upsc. i.e. does 6 attempts means 6 consecutive attempts?
No, if means if you appear in prelims.
Sir right now.i am in B.tech(metallurgy) 1st year. From now onwards ,how should I prepare for UPSC & which optional subject should I take.
Sir I want to be ur blog follower….bt I can’t ….how it could be possible…..plz sir
congratulation sir,
we are proud to say that , to secure 1st rank in upsc from telangana ,my self vamshi from warangal ,present I am working as network engineer , and i am planing to write civils exams while doing job,please can you suggest how to plan ,and how to execute the plan perfectly ,and i want start from zero level,thanks in advance
thanks & regards
N.vamshi
Congratulations sir really ur blog is very useful for zero knowledge aspirants….keep blogging sir thank you
Dear sir,
Congrats and your great anudeep sir you make your parents happy when saw this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NYXH3EEhMU) i am very emotional that i wanted to make my parents so happy.After abdul kalam sir and my great dad you are my great role model.
Thanking you,
Regards,
Vaishnavi
Congrats……. for your cadre allotment in our home state telangana .Have a nice days sir.
congratulation sir, do u know anyone who wrote in mains with physics optional ? Please help me sir.
You honoured the souls who believe in you…Congrats Sir =)
Sir why did you shift your optional from Public Administration to Anthropology?
Sir plz give ur notes .. it will be great help …
Sir I have chosen Commerce stream with Math and now I am gng to enter in 2nd year so what is the next step after 2nd year sir and please provide me few guidelines and help me out sir .
Dear sir,
if possible,please reply to the queries sent to your gmail. upsc exam is very near no sir so that.I also wont ask many doubts .i am preparing myself.
Regards,
vaishnavi
THANK YOU SO MUCH SIR .FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US . IAM GOING TO TAKE MY ATTEMPT IN 2025 .
Sir give me a anthropolo books author..
Sorry “anthropology” book
Sir is it well to prepare at the age of 27 for upsc?
Inspiring words kudos dear buddy
Sir, How to choose the regional language paper.Apart from English,I had left the Hindi subject on 10th standard only and now I am on the verge of completing my masters. Do I have to learn again from beginning?
Hello sir, l am a complete beginner for upsc preparation. I want to know, is it necessary to read 6 to 12 ncert of geography, economics ,history ,polity or reading only 11and 12 will be enough.
Sir can you post or share link, good article related to Geography optional covering all details
Respected Sir can you please guide me regarding query of” is it necessary to stay in old rajennder nagar”. If not what do you know other places for preparation? Where did you prepare for this exam when you gave your last 2 attempts?
Hi, I am very much inspired by you. Thanks
Sir can i prepare optional without coaching?? Is it possible specially for anthropology
Anudeep sir….i am biggest fan of yours
My idol is only you…
Jab bhi padhne ka man na kare to sirf aap ko yaad kar leta hu…apne aap josh jaag jaata he.
Apse bahut hi jyada prerna milti he….
Agar samay ho to please ek reply jarur kar dena …
sir please say or paste the link of toppers strategy for geography optional
Sir, how did you get job at google, could you please help me ?
Congratulations sir ?
You create this blog usefull many aspirants and inspired
Sir…….plz telugu medium background
Students how to prepare this exam and
How to improve English
Plz reply sir ?
Sir thank you
Respected sir your guidance is OXYGEN for me and my peer groups.Sir I belong to a small village in BHOJPUR DISTRICT which is in Bihar.None of them(I and my peer groups) afford in a metropolitan cities because bad economic conditions your guidance is extremely important for us.Sir I have a problem related to optional subject POLITICAL SCIENCE. The guidance available ON INTERNET is superfluous just like as some books name OR ONE -TWO VIDEO, REQUESTED TO YOU PLEASE TRY TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE ABOUT POLITICAL SCIENCE .HOW TO APPROACH POL.SCIENCE, CHECKED TOPPER TEST COPY ,ANSWER WRITING STRATEGY IN DETAIL JUST LIKE AS YOU EXPLAINED ANTHROPOLOGY.SIR PLEASE ACCEPT MY QUERIES ???
Sir can you help me in public administration optional
Thanku so much sir.
sir how write from nvert book and please sent me sample notes
sir,
how write notes from ncert books and please sent your sample notes
Sir,which test series should I join for anthropology optional and gs respectively.
Sir, Did you have taken any coaching
Sir, you have studied electrical engineering in IIT. I believe you are excelled in electrical subject.
My question is why you didn’t adopt electrical as your optional??
Can you please help me out of this?
Sir, you have studied electrical engineering in IIT. I believe you are excelled in electrical subject.
My question is why you didn’t adopt electrical as your optional??
Can you please help me. I also did my graduation in electrical engineering
Sir iam from telugu medium background but I can give my first attemt in english medium how can I manage my english writing skills,reading skills and speaking skills?
Sir now I am studying (B.sc)mpc degree first year in acharya nagarjuna distance education,i want to prepare for upsc from this year and how to start my preparation and where to start please give me some guidance please sir…I don’t have money to take coaching.
Hello sir, What do you do if you aren’t a IAS officer?
Dear sir,
Tell me about other professions you know?
Sir help me for statistics optional..
Sir, I am a native of Telangana. I wanted to know about the Telugu Language booklist you have prepared from as I am completely unaware of where to start this from. Also, I’m studying law and this will Be my first attempt.
Please give some tips to score more marks in public administration and give us some information regarding this sir ..
Sir is this effects doing graduation from a normal college vs doing bteach from IITs ?
Sir I am doing bsc presently.should I prepare for IIT jam first then UPSC preparation or just after graduation.
Anudeep sir Ur my inspiration pls give me Ur booklist
Sir pls tell who have cleared UPSC with animal husbandry as optional in your batch
Sir choosing bipc and mbbs as degree for upsc a useful move.
Sir as am from science background I did my graduation on B.Tech poultry technology i have a little confusion on choosing optional as zoology or anthropology and I have analysed that am confident after seeing previous year question papers.can u give me some suggestions to pick best optional in this two
Hello sir
Sir is it possible to clear Anthropology optional without coaching ? It’s my first attempt sir . And I am from biology background
sir,
please say about ur success manthra in studying the fresh book of ncert
from which class i need to focus more? next year i need to clear my examination and i will…
can we judge how much current affairs issues were asked?
i didnt even take any online course tests due to finnancial problems but am in pracitise with previous year question papers..please help me sir…..
Anudeep sir I completed my 10 class .In inter which group is useful to crack IAS. It is
necessary to take inter+IAS coaching.
Hiiii Sir….what did you do for Economy. ..books and current affairs? ?
Hello Sir,
My name is Arushi Jhawar and I’m a big fan! I just wanted to know if you could help me with someone who has taken psychology as their optional as I’m a beginner and I have very little idea.
Thank you,
Arushi
Dear sir u are guiding me as a big brother i don’t know how much i thankful to you for guiding me i don’t know bro u r reading it or not but i pray may god bless you and help you in achieving your eminence when i clear my upsc i will definitely meet u dear brother thanks again for your help
Hello Sir ,
I just completed my graduation in Bsc maths , i want to become civil service officer
I have interest in anthropology can I choose as optional subject and I want to do MSC in anthropology
Is this good choice or bad ?
Hello sir, can you suggest a few IAS officers names those who are especially working in technology and governance fields?
Sir ,I have liked to ask about how can I ace the Public Administration as my optional ?
Sir I am studying intermediate 2nd year. My dream to to crack upsc mains sir what are the books I have to read what is the procedure I have to follow please guide me. I have read all your replies. Please leave me solution sir from which subject I have to start
Sir I am so glad
Sir your cadre
Sir, your book is in english or hindi ,because i am a hindi medium aspirant . It is available in hindi ??
Sir, I am a passout student in electrical engineering from AMIE .I enrolled in the year 2016.Will I be eligible to apply in UPSC EXAMS ?
As the case hearing is still going on the court .And all the students like me are in doubt whether to apply or not.
A kind request you to reply me the answer as soon as possible .And for this i will be very thankful to you.
Jai hind sir
Jai. Hind. Sir…
Sir,
Just curious why your previous experience in IRS doesn’t find mention in any part of your blog (not even in ‘About Me’)? Is it not an achievement worth mentioning!
Thanks,
Sanjay
Sir can you help me how to decide optional
Hi Sir What is your Secret of Managing Time
This guy is a cheat!!! Although being an Income Tax Commissioner at the time of appearing for UPSC CSE 2017, he has marked himself as OBC-NC category.
Sir, can you please describe your life as an IAS officer?
Hello Sir,
Just got done with a marathon of your blogs. I’ve got to thank you for such a balanced, and detailed blog. Truly inspirational for anyone who is struggling, and not just IAS Aspirants. 🙂
Hello sir,is upsc cse preparation along with phd is fine?or directly giving full fledged preparation?please kindly help me out regarding this sir.
It’s an awesome experience sir congratulations for making it happen. Keep it up
this is entirely motivating blog not only for IAS but for all the other folks who want to win the battle with themselves. Thanks a lot for putting up this on web. We really admire you and hope to see your work or world through your eyes.
Hi sir
I admire you alot sir
Sir for non maths students like isme CSAT not that easy to me for that what can I do sir how to approach please answer it sir and
Shall I know sir where you got guidance from? For UPSC CSE
Hi Sir,
Can’t understand hoe to make currents note online.
Can you share your evernotes Current affairs note if they are available?
Hi Sir,
Which languages u opt for writing all the exams?..
Sir is it possible to crack upsc without coaching…if not how coaching if helpful
Sir when we will start note making on one topic during mains preparation
Sir I’m taking Electrical and Electronics Engineering Optional..How to prepare UPSC CSE and what is the strategy..
Sir which test series to practice for anthropology and from where I will borrow the Braintree material?
sir, if a candidate is obc in his own state and his community is not mentioned in the central list then he should apply as general or obc?
Your words give Hope.
.
Sir can i secure A.I.R 1 in upsc cse by chosing botany as my optional subject?
Can i give my all GS in English and Language Papers (Assamese language and English) but i want to give interview in Hindi is it possible or not.
Pls reply
You know what sir..
I feel my days are not productive
Even with time table
I’m end up with tasks left.
But I never procastinate
Sir it helps a lot sir thank you sir for sharing your experience
Hello sir . I’m not good enough in English specially in essay writing (framing long sentences) .. which medium should I choose hindi or english ..please guide me sir
Hii Sir !
I have confusion with my current situation.
I came to delhi for GS course(offline) and I thought that here would be good supportive environment for UPSC study but I didn’t found good environment here and costs are too high
I am thinking to come to Hyderabad and take online coaching for GS from same Institution. My optional coaching will be completed by April 2022. I want to give my first attempt in 2023.My question is In Hyderabad can we get peace and encouraging atmosphere for upsc study with low cost compared to delhi
Good afternoon Sir. I am really inspired by your achievement. I have a doubt. I am a beginner. Now, I am going to read NCERTs. When should optional subject be started? Do we have to read it along with the NCERTs or after their completion? When you had started studying optional subject? Thank you Sir.
After 10th which group we take to become like u sir…
After 10th which group we take to become like u sir pls reply…
sir shall i take sociology as my optional….more confusion about that..i went through syll
bus and question papers i am understanding that but dont know how to approach
Sir I will give 2025 exam so should I make ncert notes if I start preparation from now??