My Suggestions for Answer Writing in the Mains Examination..!!

Here is my opinion for the success in the Civil Services Mains Examination.
I shall try to give a rational argument for each of my suggestions. If u feel they may be helpful, implement them according to your needs and if you feel they were not helpful, pardon me for wasting your time. I implemented these measures and got a decent rank in the Civil Services Examination recently. Many, including myself, believe that the rank is not up to my expectations and my hard work but i and you all must remember that we have no idea how much hard others have worked and its a competitive examination. So if other person worked harder or smarter than you, you are defeated no matter how much effort you put in.

Also, remember Luck has its role in the making of a civil servant but it will come into picture only when you have given your best.

1) In my opinion, the most important thing is that you LOOK AT THE QUESTION (whose answer you are writing) AFTER EVERY 30-40 WORDS (or every para) you have written in the answer. Make it a habit to look at the question again and again. Do it for Essays also

Rationale: We generally read the question once, make an overview of the answer to be written, in our mind, and then start writing the answer, without looking at the question again because we believe that we have read everything that was there in the question and have even framed an answer and so there is no need to re-read the question again. Also we consider it to be a distraction and a waste of time to read the question again and again.
But this is not the case. It has happened with me a number of times that i read a question once, made an answer in mind and wrote the answer. Then after the examination, while discussing or while checking the answer sheets (in school and college exams), i came to know that i had written 'What' instead of 'Why' or 'How' instead of 'What' or such way. This is frustrating. Teachers have always guided us that read the question carefully, which can solve this problem. That is correct. But another problem persists where we deviate from the topic and start writing all we know about the topic in the exam rather than what is being asked. This especially happens in case of Essays and long question answers. In UPSC, though 60 markers were generally considered long but in my opinion, even 20-30 markers, wherein we have to write close to 200-300 words, we can deviate from the answer at every 40 words (or at every para) and thus, get less marks. By looking at the question again and again while writing its answer, you not only make sure that you don't deviate from the topic but also make sure that you only write relevant things about the topic and not everything that you knew. Similar is the case with Essay where we have to write so much that we can very easily get deviated. So by looking at the essay topic again and again, we stay stuck to the topic and write meaningful and relevant things. I hope i have clarified my argument.

2) As part of answer writing for Optionals, another suggestion that i consider stood out for me is that IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO START YOUR ANSWER 2 STEPS BEHIND THE QUESTION (what is being asked) AND END YOUR ANSWER TWO STEPS AFTER THE QUESTION (where the answer ends according to question)

Explanation through examples in a couple of optionals:
(a) PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: Question – “The success of Taylor’s Scientific Management theory led to the development of the Human Relations Theory.” Comment? (The question is only an example and not the real question)
Answer - In this case, you can not really start with How/How not the success of SMT led to the development of HRT. You have to first explain what is SMT and how it developed (this is what I mean by TWO STEPS BACK) and then when you have explained that how its success led to/ didn’t lead to the development of HRT, then I would suggest to end the answer with the contribution of HRT through the success/failure of SMT.
(b) GEOGRAPHY: Question – “The problem of urban waste management is a serious menace to overcome”. Comment? (The question is just an illustration and not the real question)
Answer – Here again, the answer (in my opinion) should ideally start from what do you mean by UWM and what are the various ways through which it is generated and then move on to the problems, rather than beginning the answer with the problems of UWM. And the answer should be concluded with what is being done to manage the menace of UWM and what further measures can be taken, rather than concluding the answer at the problems only. (Therefore TWO STEPS FORWARD)

HERE I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE SUGGESTIONS SHOULD FORM A PART OF ALMOST EVERY ANALYTICAL QUESTION, though not much of the factual questions. And therefore, ARC 2 is highly recommended for Public Administration students and while going through it, focus not only on the recommendations part but also on the problems that are aimed to be solved through those recommendations.

3) ALWAYS WRITE ALL THE POINTS IN THE ANSWER, BOTH NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE, WITHOUT TAKING MUCH INTO CONSIDERATION THE NUMBER OF WORDS YOU HAVE WRITTEN.

Rationale: I will try to explain this point through the help of a common example (in the form of a story) which almost every aspirant faces during his preparation for the Civil Services Exam:

One day a New Civil Service Aspirant visits his friend who has recently scored a top rank in the examination, enough to be an IAS. Now the aspirant asks him “WHAT SUBJECT SHOULD I CHOOSE AS MY 2ND OPTIONALS FOR MAINS, apart from mathematics? I am confused BETWEEN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GEOGRAPHY.”

The IAS answers that “CHOOSE PUB-AD”
The Aspirant asks “WHY PUB-AD”
The IAS replies “BECAUSE ITS SCORING, SHORTER SYLLABUS AND HELPS UNDERSTAND THE JOB OF AN ADMINISTRATOR. ALSO HELPS IN GS”
The Aspirant goes back home but returns back and asks “MY FRIENDS TOLD ME THAT GEOGRAPHY IS ALSO VERY SCORING, HELPS IN GS AND ALSO IS VERY SCIENTIFIC, KEEPING IN MIND MY SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND (Engineering)”
The IAS replies ”YES ITS TRUE. BUT GEOGRAPHY IS VERY LENGTHY”
The Aspirant returns back the next day to ask ”BUT IN P.A. WE HAVE TO READ A LOT OF REPORTS AND I WONT BE ABLE TO READ THOSE REPORTS”
The IAS replies “BUT IN GEOGRAPHY YOU WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER A LOT WHICH IS NOT EASY WHILE IN PA, THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO REMEMBER”

Now, my story and the answers in it may not sound convincing but I hope I am able to make the point out of it. In this story, we realize that if the IAS had given the comparative Pros and Cons of each of the optional subjects, it would have saved both the IAS and the Aspirant a lot of energy and time. The similar is the case with our papers, the only difference being that WE WOULD NOT BE SITTING BESIDES OUR EXAMINERS AND EXPLAINING THEM EACH OF OUR POINTS. We need to explain everything that is asked in the question to save ourselves from losing any marks.

And the word-limit put by the UPSC for each question is only a guideline to the students to enable them to finish the exam in time. (There is no source for this information but I am saying this is because in any of my optionals, I never wrote a 20/30 marker in less than 300/400 words and still got enough marks to be somewhere in the final list. Had there been a word-limit, I am sure not to have cleared the mains even once. However, I was able to write this much and still complete the paper was because I write pretty fast and that too in decent handwriting. This applies in GS also, but the problem is that mostly we are short of material to write or have too less time to even reach the word limit)

4) Though I USUALLY PREFERRED WRITING IN POINTS, its your individual choice whether to write in points or paras because it hardly makes a difference to the examiner as all students who write good get marks.

I would like to share this that the quality of your answer matters the most and then only your handwriting. This is depicted as the examiners who are checking the exams are constantly insisted upon by the officials to be extremely careful in checking the answer sheets of all the candidates. (Again there is no basis for this statement but an observation proved correct again and again.)

5) Always end the question on a positive note. This can be done either by writing the importance of the topic/writer, or by suggesting ways for improvement, or by highlighting the measures taken by the government for the improvement.

6) I guess i missed it at point#2 but i should write it here. Answer writing is the most important thing for this examinations (the mains part). Write as many answers as possible. Show it to anyone - your friends, teachers, etc. But do also read it yourself. You will realize that you automatically become the examiner while going through your answer. Make it a habit to write at least an answer each day. You may start by writing with open notes and books but do write. I can not emphasise on anything more than answer writing. Thats why this should be Priority#2.
Rationale: When you write with an open book you will know that what can be the best answer to that question. Generally we dont know what can even be the best answer in our opinion. So writing with open notes gives us a benchmark towards which we can strive in our preparation. Further, we read and memorize so much information for this examination but whats the use if i am not implementing it. So writing is the method through which you test all your answer writing strategies (like whether writing in points or paras is beneficial,etc.). Also, you will be able to manage your time well.

I sincerely hope that i did not waste your time. All the best. God Bless.

Do you think this is akin to bribery?

Today I went to Talkatora international swimming pool to give trials to do swimming at the venue. I had not carried all the required documents like the medical certificate, which would declare me fit for swimming. I talked to a coach who allowed me to give the trials on the condition that if I am successful in completing 100 meters in the pool smoothly, I shall produce all the remaining documents and thus be admitted for swimming.

(Trials are held only to certify that the person will not drown in the pool, though coaches are present at the sidelines of the pool.)

Though I confidently went into the pool but only after a lot of effort and repeated breaks could I finally complete the required 100 meters. I must admit that 100 meters is easy for any good swimmer. But since I was getting into the swimming pool after a very long time and that too without any practice, it was a difficult task for me.
The coach called me aside and told me that he thinks I swam decent enough and shall be admitted. I said ok. After I came back from the changing room, he said that he had cleared me in the trials and now I was only required to submit the remaining documents and the fee before I could become a member.

Then, on the way back to the gate, he told me that I needed some coaching. So I should visit him at a school in R K Puram and get my movements corrected before I become a member here. He also told me that his fees for the COACHING would be INR 3000 (though the fee here is 300 per month).

Marksheet for CSE 2011

Hi everyone,
 The UPSC has published the marks civil services main examination and personality test for the year 2011 for which I had appeared and got a rank of 437. I had appeared in the examination in 2010 also, though I did not get a rank. I would like to take this opportunity to compare my performances over the two years on the basis of my marks and my perception towards the papers that i undertook.

2010 marks:
Essay - 118
I had written just one essay before the final exam and shown it to my teachers whose views i had solicited and tried to include in the final exam.Since this was my first attempt and had little idea about the UPSC marking, I had no expectations of marks but thought that 100 would be a decent enough score.

General Studies - 136 + 98
I had no idea how i got such marks which were considered good that year. I had tried to follow THE HINDU throughout the preparation.

Public Administration - 169 + 133
I had Pub Ad as my optional in the prelims also that year and with 2 months preparation for the mains examination, I was happy to achieve the score of 302. But i was shattered to see every other person scoring around 350 in Pub Ad that year.

Philosophy - 132 + 147
The amount of hard work I had put in this subject's preparation, I was really annoyed to look at my marks especially when the highest score in the subject that year was 419.

Interview - 121
One of the worst interviews which I shall write about in my next post but i was the very hopeful of obtaining good marks from it.

The result was that I got 1054 marks out of 2300 while the cut off was 1133 marks that year.

The following year I expected very good marks in Philosophy and General Studies as their papers went good. The essay had not been up to the expectations and I prayed a score of 100 again. I expected comparatively lower scores from Public Administration as the paper did not go very good. Again the dampener was expected to be the Interview.

However, just like the last year's results, this years results are also completely against expectations.

2011 marks:
Essay - 97
General Studies - 112 + 115
Public Administration - 170 + 158
Philosophy - 158 + 136
Interview - 165
Total - 1111


The results depict how incorrectly I perceive my performance in the examination.

My body, My life...

We r born with two eyes in front bcoz
we must always look ahead and never behind,
We should see what lies beyond ourselves.

We r born with two ears: one left and one right
so that we can hear both sides: compliments & criticism,
And accept what is right.

We r born with a brain concealed in the skull
that always ensures that we are rich, no matter how we r and where we are,
For no one can steal what lies in our brain, packed more jewels than the world can contain.

We r born with two eyes and two ears, but one mouth:
for the mouth is a sharp weapon
that can hurt, flirt, & kill.

Remember our motto:
Talk less, see more and Listen most.

Alas, We r born with only one heart deep beneath our ribs
that reminds us to appreciate & give love from deep within...

She did it…!!!

It was my last day of stay in Delhi. I was to return home that day via train. The train was to depart from New Delhi railway station at 2:35pm. It’s not every time that you call up someone special and ask her if she can come to drop you at the station. It’s not because you don’t have any conveyance to the station because being in Delhi, you have metro – the best vehicle at your disposal which is the fastest, the safest as well as the cheapest. But you call because you know she is someone special and if she is there, you don’t need anything else. She said no. She had to take her mother somewhere and no wonder moms certainly come before friends.

I woke up at my friends’ place at around 12 noon. As the usual late comer that I am, I knew I will have to hurry up to be at the station by 2:35. Slowly and steadily, I had my bath, prepared my stuff and had my breakfast. I was up and ready to leave by around 1:40pm. A 10 minute auto ride to the metro station and a 5 minute check at the station meant it was almost 2 by the time I boarded the metro. I had estimated that the metro would take me around 25 minutes to the railway station as there were 7 stations to be crossed and I approximately assumed 3 minutes per stop (This actually forms a guess estimate problem which I had been fighting so bravely in my interview a couple of days back. So I guess if I were to get placed in that company that my estimate would be right- or the so-called approach would be correct and this only means that I will be missing my train. So either I miss my train but get the job or I get the train but miss the job :-P. But actually I was not willing to let anything go).

All this while from when I left my friends’ place till I reached the railway station, I was constantly talking to her and she was busy driving her car, taking her mom to her destination. So she was cutting my phone and I had thought that it is always difficult to talk on phone with your family around.

I reached the station at around 2:15. The metro was real quick and my estimates were certainly way beyond the reality. Now as I was moving towards my platform, I was talking. She said she was waiting in the car for her mother. I reached my coach. I kept my luggage. I got her call. She asked me where I am. At this time, there was this announcement going on the station about the departure of my train at the scheduled time of 2:35pm. Due to this I couldn’t hear her voice clearly. But more than that I also missed something else (I will tell this later).

The call was cut and I called her up again. The time was 2:30 already. Her phone was busy (Guess what- she was herself calling me..!!). I cut the call. I was in no hurry to talk to her as I knew that I could talk to her even once the train started running. But she was desperate. She was desperately trying my number. I picked up. She just asked”Have you reached the train?” I replied in affirmative. She said that then why can’t she see me at the station? I thought she must be kidding as she must be with her mom. So, I asked which platform was she at. I knew that if she could reply to that then she was there right in front of the train. She replied platform 10. I now knew she was already here. I now remembered that I had in the conversation that day, already told her that my coach was D7 and my ticket number was 007.

Now it was my turn to run again as she had earlier (She had come to station just around 2:25 and had just come from a couple of traffic jams on the busy Delhi roads). I asked her that in front of which coach was she standing and what was she wearing. As soon as I heard the words C4 and blue shirt, I ran. I knew where she was and didn’t want to miss meeting her – the girl who had especially come to see me off at the New Delhi Railway Station. It was after some 25 meters that she was so close to me as never before and a hug took all the tension out of our minds. The horn of the train rang and people thronged in numbers to enter the train. I was still with her. It was only when the train had achieved considerable speed and had even crossed the point where I was standing that I ran for one last time, leaving her arms to enter the train.

She had done it. And I fell for her…

Regards

Rahul…

The shock or surprise of the year…!!!

It was another of my trips to New Delhi. It had been a long time since I had been to Delhi. I had not seen her face for the past one month – not even on facebook. I had promised her to meet her in November only but could not find any opportunity of seeing her. I had a promise to keep but I had problems at my place myself. Being stuck, I had nothing that I could do. I was just at home passing my time idly and sometimes helping my family in shifting the entire load from the current house to the new one.

Then I decided to give her the surprise. I had already expressed my apologies for not being able to keep my promise and had felt bad. But now was the time to stand up and do something. I had already been at home for a long time now and Delhi was certainly calling.

I told my family about my decision to leave for Delhi. They gave the green signal. Booked my tickets for the last day of the month, that was just a couple of days later. Alongside helping my family in shifting, I also began my packing. I had to return my friend’s bag and attend a marriage too in Delhi. Finally my packing was over and so was the shifting. The L-day finally arrived.

I boarded the train in the morning. I had already messaged her in the morning that I would be a little busy today. Plus I already had a commitment to her that I will talk to her today at 2 in the afternoon to decide when she can meet me in Delhi, that is when I should plan my trip to Delhi the next month.  All through the journey I kept toying with my new phone, trying to catch the idea network (Certainly an idea can change your life but not this one..!! :-P). With no network on the phone, I passed my time in the train sleeping. I had to sleep having slept the previous night at 3am and waking up at 6am. And that day I really enjoyed the train’s sleep – maybe either because I was too tired or I was just preparing for the ‘L’ovely surprise that waited ahead.

I reached New Delhi station at around 12:30 and called one of my very dear friends to know the metro to south Delhi. Having been guided by him, I boarded the metro. All I knew was just the address. I deboarded the metro at the Hauz Khas Metro station. Now I had to get a bus to the destination. As I sat in the bus, waiting for the bus to start, there came a voice from my behind. It was the conductor saying – “Sir ji, gaadi to chalane ke liye Dhakka lagane ki zarurat hai. Zara niche utar ke dhakka lagayen.”

So we around 5-6 people along with the conductor got down to push the bus. After a couple of efforts, it finally started. Fully soaked in sweat, I took my seat alongside my luggage that consisted of two bags. Finally the bus dropped me at the stop. The last time I was at that destination, her place was just 20 meters from the stop. But not every day is your day and I understood it fully that day. This time I had got out from the bus some 2.5km from her place. I started walking towards her place with a bag on my back and another in my hand. I kept asking someone of a different address every 100meters I covered. I could not ask her address directly because what if someone from her home or her known-to was the person, he would have started questioning me there only like an inspector questions an accused. I thought I better save myself from such harassment.

But there was another trouble that could have happened and actually happened which I had not thought of earlier. I was asking a lady of the address and she said whom you want to meet there. I understood it might be that either it’s her home or she knows someone there. I told her that I am actually looking for Mr. X from whom I have to collect something but I just know that he stays somewhere around there only and I have been trying his number but he seems to be busy somewhere. So asking some address close to his place.

At these times, a little bit of luck can do wonders for you and I realized it that day.

Firstly it was Delhi and not Chandigarh where people there is a lot of interaction in the neighborhood and people generally know there nearby’s.

Secondly that aunt was not going to her home but actually coming from home and going somewhere. So she could not accompany me to the place.

By now, I had travelled around 1.5km and now I thought that I could try her number and ask if she is even home or not.

I called her. It rang once. It rang twice. Then thrice. Then fourth time. Then fifth. She wasn’t picking up. I was now feeling the burden of my luggage due to the thought that she might not be home. She might be sleeping. In short, she might not just be able to meet that day. I felt like a beggar who is helpless and all he can do is just hope for others to do mercy. Similarly all I could do was just hope for her to respond. I knew there were still some 500meters to be covered, so I tried to call a few of my other friends. Nobody seemed to pick up. That was really strange. But I could not do anything about it.

With a bag on back, another in one hand, and the mobile in the second hand, I kept walking towards her place. Some 150 meters away, as I was still trying to call her, she finally picked up. I had a sigh of relief that at-least she picked up. Now I was thinking how to reply if she asks that why am I calling her from my Delhi number.

The conversation got underway liked this:

Me: Hello

She: hello

Me: What were you doing? Why didn’t u pick up the phone for so long?

She: I was in the kitchen preparing food and phone was in the room. I saw your missed calls. So many of them. Why were you calling so much? What happened? Where you? You didn’t even reply to my message in the morning.

Me: Ya I was calling because I wanted to talk to you. What have you made? Won’t you invite me to lunch?

She: Sure. But you are in Chandigarh Mr., and also you cannot come to my home. It’s banned for you. Your packing done? What you doing now? Where?

Me: Ya packing is done. Me walking towards your home.

She: oh come on. Stop Kidding. That’s impossible. Don’t joke around. Acha why didn’t you reply in the morning?

Me: Oh yes, this is such a joke. Of course, it’s impossible. Sorry. By the way, I couldn’t reply in the morning since I had slept again after messaging you. Plus, my balance got over. So I am calling you from the other number.

She: Oh are you? I can only see your number on the screen and not the number.

Me (thinking: wow, she can’t see my number. Why the hell I had to tell her this. Damn me…!!): oh, is it so?? Nice. Anyways, just think if I am actually outside your place right now.

She (running towards the window of her room): oh plz Mr., stop kidding. And if you are actually here then tell me where you are? I can’t see you anywhere. Plus, tell me what’s to your left.

Me (still just on the way and walking): I am just on the way and haven’t yet reached your place. Plus I have already been to your place once. So I can certainly answer your question that there is a park to my left.

She: ha-ha... Very funny. Tell me what’s there around you, wherever you are and what’s happening in this park.

Me: You don’t trust me. Ok. There is a white swift desire to my left and a red pulsar 150. Plus in front of me on the road, there is a chowkidaar in the middle of the day, on the middle of the road with two other people and a stick in his hand.

She (thinking: these things are generally there every day. Could he be actually here?? Impossible.) (A few seconds silence.): Mr., please stop this. You can’t be here. (Shivering) Dude this is not possible. I beg you. Plz stop now. Don’t come. Or stop joking.

Me: Ok. Now the finale. There are 5 ladies sitting on the chairs and chatting to each other in the park just to my left and a couple of children are playing with a ball there.

She (Silence, I am dead. GOD SAVE ME.)

Me: And now you can finally see me. Can you??

She: Shit. Impossible. Plz say I am dreaming. No. No...

Me: I am definitely not coming to your place. Just walking past. Do turn up at one of the windows. I have come travelling more than 300kms now, passing through I don’t know how many small rivers, bridges, flyovers and lastly walking for more than 2kms. I am really tired and just one glance would really enable me to forget this whole lovely journey that I have undertaken with these light bags in comparison to a heavy heart that has waited for long.

She: I am there. Don’t do anything crazy guy.

AND THAT ONE LOOK WAS ALL IT TOOK TO MAKE ME FORGET ALL THE SWEAT AND PAIN I HAD.

Regards

Yours RAJ…

A poem written in memory of my country, of which i am so proud of...!!! Happy Independence day...

hum sab main hero hai,
bas pehchan ne ki zarurat hai..
hum sab ek hain,
bas samajhne ki zarurat hai..
hum sab main dum hai,
bas aazmane ki zarurat hai..
Aur ye desh mahaan hai,
bas banane ki zarurat hai...

We all need to contribute:

boond boond se talaab bharta hai,
eent eent se imarat banti hai,
haath haath se desh banta hai,
aur insaan insaan se bhagwaan banta hai..

Aaj hindu muslim main kyon ladai hai,
hum sab to bhai bhai hain,
kyon hum pade hain dusron ke khoon ke piche,
rang to laal sab main behta hai...

kyun mujhe lagte ho tum paraye,
jab rehte hain hum ek hi ghar main bhai,
kya le jaoge mujhe dhoka de kar,
aaye the khaali haath, jaaoge bhi khaali haath le kar...

Aaj lagta hai ki hum azaad hain,
phir bhi kyun aadha desh bimaar hai,
agar sab ko rahegi apni padi,
to kon karega desh ki sewa badi...

Aaj kyun main dukhi hota hun,
dusron ki bajaaye khud par rota hun,
kyun kuch karne main hun mai asamarth,
na haath bandhe hain, na bhavnayen hain pasth...

Main bhi bol kar chala jaunga,
kuch to desh ka bhala kar jaunga,
par kya tum kabhi khud se puchoge,
ki agar tum nahi to kaun sochega...

Ye waqt kisi ke liye theherta nahi,
ye hawa kisi ke liye thamti nahi,
aane waale chale jayenge,
bas kuch itihaas ke panno main reh jayenge...

Happy Independence day to my country...

Hope it achieves the real independence within my lifetime..

By:
Chetan Taneja

Proud to be an indian.