Requirement of Classes for Civil Services Examination

Let me start at the outset by stating that I have attended several private classes in Delhi as part of my preparation for civil services examination. The classes have benefited me enormously.


When I decided to appear for the exam, I knew of very few people who had given this examination. As per common belief that the classes in Delhi were the best for civil services examination, I too decided very early on that I would go to Delhi.


Without any prior preparation for the exam I directly joined the classes in Delhi. The distinct advantage that I gained was the direction in my preparation. Lot of people in Mumbai Thane region still face the same problem of direction. As the Civil Services Examination involves vast syllabus coverage, it is important to be purposeful in one's preparation. In the absence of proper guidance and direction it is very easy to drift away from the goal. The classes in Delhi helped me realise the path I needed to take very early on.


Teaching has several benefits when compared to self reading. The classes helped me to build a strong foundation across various subjects. As a result during my entire preparation there was not a single area that I was weak in. I was able to handle all areas satisfactorily albeit some better than the others.


Selecting a class


I would not say that it is mandatory to join a class. I have friends who have cleared the exam without a single class. On the other hand there are those who have attended all kinds of classes but have been unable to clear the exam. So there isn't a co-relation between classes and selection. One has to gauge for oneself if he/she needs a class.


But should you think of joining a class, here are few guidelines that I would like to share from my own experience.

1. Do not select a class only on the basis of advertisement in various media. It is always advisable to ask people currently preparing for civil services for their opinion first. Ask a broad range of people before selecting the class. It will be better to get information on a particular class from a person who is studying in that city.
2. There is a difference between a General Studies class and Optional subject class. A general studies class involves number of teachers from different areas - polity, economy, geography etc. Whereas a optional class involves the entire syllabus coverage by a single teacher. Thus the reputation of a class is important in General Studies while the individual teacher is important for optional subjects. (Tip: A lot of optional subject classes are started by individual members and they are very good)
3. Who are the teachers? There are several types
1. University Professors - There is a slight catch here. The Professors are very good with their subject but often have very little idea of the demands of the Civil Services exam. As a result they may be excellent Ph.D guides but not useful for cracking Civil Services exam.
2. Aspirants who have exhausted their attempts - These often turn out to be the best guides as they have the knowledge of how to crack the exam and have also gained sufficient subject knowledge (of course not as much as the Professors but sufficient for civil services). The best teachers in this category are those who are running these classes on a full time basis.
3. Aspirants who have given several attempts and are still preparing - These can be very useful guides for starters and in the initial phases of preparation. But for advanced phases they are less reliable as they themselves are in the process.   

Government run Institutes

There are two institutes in the Mumbai Thane region

1. C.D.Deshmukh Institute for Administrative Carriers, Thane. It is run by the Thane Municipal Corporation.
2. State Institute For Administrative Carriers (SIAC), Mumbai CST. It is run by the Government Of Maharashtra.

These are guidance institutes and not coaching classes. However they provide a tremendous platform for a civil services aspirant. So if you reside in Mumbai Thane region and are thinking of preparing for civil services, then whether you want to join any other private class or not, you MUST definitely be a part of these institutes.

These institutes have limited seats and conduct an entrance exam for the same. I have been part of C.D.Deshmukh Institute since 2008. They provide very good support and help you to be part of a circle of fellow aspirants, something very essential if you want to prepare for civil services examination by staying in Mumbai Thane region. 

 

My Preparation

I started my preparation for civil services examination in June 2007. I had earlier completed my engineering in electronics from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Bandra, Mumbai in 2005. From 2005 till May 2007 I was working with Infosys Technologies Ltd at Mysore. I quit my job in May 2007 and started preparing for civil services examination.


I had gathered information about the examination during my engineering days. My mother played a major role in gathering this information. I had already decided that when I start my preparation, I will go to Delhi.


I attended various private classes in Delhi for General Studies, History and Public Administration. I was in Delhi from June 2007 till March 2008 after which I came back home. The classes had given me a strong foundation. Now it was up to me to build upon that foundation.


I gave my first attempt at U.P.S.C Civil Services examination in May 2008. As my preparation was not sufficient I could not clear the Preliminary Examination.


From June 2008 till December 2008 I kept preparing for the Main Examination. It is general practice in preparation for this examination that you need to be ready for the Main Examination before you give the preliminary exam. The gap between the Preliminary and main examination is too short to prepare for the Main Exam.


In September 2008 I gave the entrance exam of C.D Deshmukh Institute for Administrative Carriers, Thane and got selected.


From Jan 2009 I started preparation for Preliminary exam again. I had already analysed the areas I feel short in the last attempt and worked on them. To check my progress I joined the Preliminary Examination Test Series at C.D.Deshmukh Institute. The test series was a vital component in my preparation. It helped me evaluate myself well in advance of the U.P.S.C examination and rectify the shortcomings.


May 2009 was my second attempt at the civil services examination and I was able to clear the prelims.


As there was no test series for Main Examination at C.D.Deshmukh institute then, I went to Delhi again. I was in Delhi from June 2009 till October 2009. I attended test series for Main Examination in General Studies, History, Public Administration and Essay. The test series' were quite extensive and helped me in vital aspects of answer writing like time management, answer writing techniques, word limit management etc.


I gave the Main examination in October 2009 and cleared it too. After the Main Examination, I kept preparing for next year's Main Examination as one is not sure of the result and the result too comes out in March, after which the Personality Test is still to follow.


Same process, as the previous year, was repeated in early 2010 with prelims preparation and Test Series. At the same time interview preparations were on side by side. I attended several guest lectures organised by C.D.Deshmukh Institute as part of the Interview preparations.


I appeared for Interview in April 2010, however got very poor marks in it and as a result was not selected in the final list. I fell short of selection by 16 marks.


My third attempt was all about repeating and if possible improving my good performance of previous Main Examination and working hard on Interview. I gave the prelims in May 2010. This time joined the Main Examination Test Series in C.D.Deshmukh Institute itself. I gave the Main Examination in Oct 2010. Had lot of discussions on various topics of General studies, History and Public Administration with my colleagues in C.D.Deshmukh Institute.


As Interview was my weakness I took special efforts towards it. Attended a six days course on public speaking in December-January. Then after the results in March attended a week long course for Interview Preparation at YASHADA, Pune. Again the interview preparations involved discussions with my colleagues.


Starting my preparations in June 2007, I was finally selected and recommended by U.P.S.C for civil services in May 2011. 

How to start?

Lot of people keep asking about how to start preparations for U.P.S.C Civil Services Examination. Most of the people are from Mumbai Thane region and have had limited information about this examination. This post is mainly for those who are starting their preparations or want to start and don't know how. 


The examination is a year long event involving Preliminary Exam in May or June, Main Exam in Oct-Nov and Personality Test in March-April. The detail information regarding the exam can be found at the U.P.S.C website www.upsc.gov.in One can view the notifications uploaded on that site.


I shall just put forth approximate timelines associated with the preparation for the exam. The exam requires minimum 1 and half to 2 years of full time preparation before the preliminary exam in May/June. This period will involve preparation for General Studies, Optional 1 and Optional 2. The optional subjects require graduation level preparation while General Studies require matriculation level preparation.

Rough guide for new aspirants

Target Examination - June 2013

May 2011 - Graduation completion. 

June 2011 till Dec 2011 - Read all NCERT books and create a strong foundation. Also select your optionals during this period. Get hold of all material that will be required for the optionals. I will post regarding the optionals separately.

Jan 2012 till Dec 2012 - Prepare for optionals and General Studies with the aim that one can write the main examination with 3 months revision.

Jan 2013 till June 2013 - Prepare for the preliminary examination. Give Preliminary Examination Test Series.

June 2013 till Oct 2013 - Prepare for Main examination. Give Main examination Test Series.

Nov 2013 onwards - Prepare for Personality Test. At the same time prepare for Prelims and Main examination, in case another attempt is required.

(These are rough estimates for aspirants who want to start now. If you have already been preparing for the exam, the timelines will change accordingly)

Starting with Preparations
Broadly the preparation involves 2 types of content - static (including foundation building in General studies, Optional 1 and Optional 2) and dynamic (Current Affairs). Static content as the name suggests does not change with time. So once you prepare, you only have to revise it later. The dynamic content keeps changing. Therefore one has to keep abreast of the latest happenings around us.


The best way to prepare for the exam is to create a strong foundation. So if one is confused of how to start, first thing to do is pick up NCERT 9th 10th 11th 12th standard text books. (NCERT books are the school text books used in CBSE schools). It may be a challenge to get these text books in Mumbai-Thane. Try to locate a CBSE school in your locality and make inquiries. One location is outside Matunga Central Station (East).


Try to get hold of as many relevant NCERT Books - History, Geography, Polity, Science, Economics etc. Start with 9th standard and then move forward. NCERT books are going to be the base and one has to read them a number of times to ensure one's preparation is on a strong footing. This is part of the static content of General Studies. It is advisable that if you are still doing your graduation or in junior college or school you start reading these books right now itself.


Newspaper reading is a MUST. Pick up any newspaper. Make a habit of reading the newspaper everyday. Make notes of what you think is important. It may happen that initially everything appears important but as time goes on and one has a look at the question papers, our focus improves. But for starters note down whatever you think is important. The idea is to revise things over and over again.  
Tip: Crime, stock exchange can be eliminated.


To compliment the newspaper, read any current affairs magazine like India Today, Outlook, The Week etc. It helps in developing an analytical approach to current affair issues.


NCERT, Newspaper and current affairs magazine is a good way to start preparations. This can be done before you decide to enter into the exam preparations on a full time basis. Although current affairs keeps on changing still it is necessary to cultivate the habit of reading newspaper at an early stage.