Shubham Kumar: Strategy and Notes for UPSC(CSE)

Best wishes for tomorrow’s Paper All the hard work of last one year and more will be put to test tomorrow. It is very common to feel little anxious and stressed out. Try to calm yourself, talk to yourself and to someone who can boost your confidence Confidence and Active mind can make lot of difference. Focus on those most important 2 hours. Avoid blunders as much as you can. Give importance to each and every question. Don’t rush to solve when it is easy and don’t panic when it is tough. At the end, 3-4 questions can make a lot of difference. Whatever your strategy is, don’t change it in last moment. Few things that everyone should keep it intact - number of iteration/rounds, number of questions to attempt, which areas/subjects to attempt/leave, time management etc Also remember that if the paper is tough than it is tough for everyone. Best Wishes, you will do well !!

Kindly go through the EWS FAQs shared by DoPT. Also, I have updated few of my points kindly see and clarify your doubts !!

Lot of queries in EWS For EWS, few general points: 1) Family definition includes only your Parents and siblings below the age of 18 2) Land - if land is in the name of grand father- then Land will be distributed first among all the children of your grandfather (including bua (Father’s sister)) and then it will be divided among all the adult siblings (your brother and sisters)— after this see the limit provided for agricultural and residential plots. In most of the cases, it will be below the mentioned limit, means you would be eligible. Explanation: So even if your house has area more than what it is required for eligibility, first divide the area among your adult siblings and then see the limit 3) One general rule of thumb in case of EWS. If total income from your parents and you — is less than 8 lakhs, then generally the criteria of land for agricultural and residential is fulfilled once you divide the land among your father’s sisters and among your adult siblings. Remember the definition of family !!

I am posting this message again . Although it is very late since last date to registration for CSE 2024 is 5th March. There is lot of confusion with regards to OBC non creamy layer certificate. 8 lakh income criteria in 90% of times is NOT applicable and even if your family income is more than 8 lakh, you can be eligible. Also salary and income from agriculture is not included in 8 lakh test. Moreover your own income is not included for income test. Only income of your Parents (Mother and Father) OBC is given based upon your father’s and mother’s income and status. Some general guidelines: 1)Even if income is more than 8 lakhs, one is eligible for OBC non creamy certificate- for group B,C,D employees (except in case where both mother and father is in group B service) 2) Father/Mother promoted to group A after 40 yrs of age, children are eligible for OBC NCL 3) For PSUs/Banks/other government sector : If anyone’s parents are not involved at managerial post then you would be eligible for OBC NCL (even if salary is more than 8 lakh as income from salary is not included for income test) 4) For own business- here, if income is more than 8lakhs officially (income tax filed for more than 8lakhs)- from business/investments/good etc- one is not eligible. (This is a very small percentage) 5) All teachers/professors/Government employees belong to B,C and D categories are eligible (salary can be 15 lakhs) 6) Bank employees and PSU employees below rank of manager or promoted to manager after the age of 40 are eligible Kindly watch this video. Also all the pdfs of acts/rules are attached in the description of the video https://youtu.be/JzQLXgDceb0

Finally the result of Mains 2023 is out. Like last year it came after much anticipation. First of all congratulations to those who have qualified for the personality test. Those who have given interview before would be well aware that this is not the time of celebration. Surely, a satisfaction comes and gives positive hope for the final stage. Like previous steps of the examination, the final stage also demands preparation but in different way !! To all those serious aspirants who had put lot of hard work and sweat to this examination, I would say- DON’T LOOSE HOPE. The only thing in our control is our ability to fight back, our ability to work hard and our ability to maximise our probability for selection. No one can ever say for sure that he/she will get selected - That’s the unpredictability of UPSC exam that everyone has to go through. After every stage of UPSC exam, some people have to decide and take a tough call- whether to stop the preparation, or continue the preparation. Discuss with your friends and family but this decision has to be yours, nobody knows you better than you. Also it should not be taken in haste but should be a well thought of decision. Those planning to appear next year, should analyse their mains mock test papers. Compare it with the toppers mock test papers. Evaluate your strategy and try to work upon the weak areas. Now (2 months max) is the time to improve upon the mains. Try to include daily answer writing, writing some 3 hours GS/Optional mock tests into your preparation strategy. Remember that you are not alone in this preparation. And many times, somethings happen for a reason !! Best wishes !!