That morning I woke up earlier than usual— not to the sound of my alarm, but because my subconscious seemed to sense the significance of the day. It was the day of my UPSC interview. I got out of bed, freshened up, did some push-ups and sit-ups to get the heart rate pumping. After the workout, soaking in… Read More »
I cherish this time of the year. For those who had a terrible past 12 months, the start of a new year rekindles a missing spark, offering hope, motivation, and positivity. For those who had a great time, the new year offers hope of something even better. In that sense, a new year offers a unique opportunity. No… Read More »
In 2024, I read some incredible books filled with enriching ideas ranging from personal productivity to public administration, quantum physics to mega infrastructure projects. Due to the generative AI revolution, many predict that the importance of reading and writing will diminish significantly. I strongly disagree. I am convinced that reading and writing will become even more essential in… Read More »
Some years ago, I briefly held the charge as a Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) for an important infrastructure project. The concerned officer was on leave and I was to hold the fort until he returned. I was new to the service and hadn’t had any experience with land acquisition. My knowledge on the subject was shallow, limited to… Read More »
Every now and then, when I find myself in front of the TV with some time to spare and don’t really know what to watch, I watch bits of Interstellar. It’s been 10 years since the film’s release , but the grandeur, the dazzle, and the profound sense of awe that I felt when I first saw the… Read More »
Note: My book, Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is an Amazon bestseller. Since its release, the book helped countless candidates master the art of crafting exceptional essays and answers and elevate their performance in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here. Novelist Stephen King put it beautifully when he said, “I write to find out… Read More »
Here are my marksheets for the Prelims and Mains of Civil Services Exam 2017. Along with these, I’ve attached my marksheet for CSE 2015 (I’ve skipped CSE 2016.) A cursory glance at scores from both these attempts should tell you that, with crisp and clear answers, you can drastically improve your Mains scores across the papers. You can read… Read More »
I recently came across an interesting quote on Twitter: “The best performers are not consistently great, but they’re great at being consistent.” (Brad Stulberg) It got me thinking and I have realised that any meaningful, life-defining endeavour comprises of the following traits: These small actions, taken in isolation, do not amount to much. But over time, what they… Read More »
This is a perennial question I get asked the most. And it’s understandable too. Many aspirants who begin their Civils preparation are clueless about this exam’s demands and most cannot simply afford to go to Delhi and take coaching. There are a lot of doubts and misconceptions regarding whether to take coaching for Civils Services. So let me… Read More »
Note: My book, Fundamentals of Essay and Answer Writing is available now. It’s a comprehensive guide that helps you write better Essays and Answers in the UPSC Mains Exam. You can know about the book here. In this article, we will go through my booklist for Civil Services Exam (Prelims). I’ve written this post keeping in mind an absolute… Read More »