Bharat SainiLast Updated on August 15, 2019 by Bharat Saini
“The keys to my success are staying focused, keeping a laser-like focus on my objective, and devoting myself to preparation.”
-Akshay Agrawal
“Pratiyogita Darpan” scheduled an exclusive interview with Shri Akshay Agrawal, the UPSC-conducted Civil Services Examination, 2018 selection. We are really proud of him and send our best wishes for his success. This significant, thought-provoking, and very motivating interview is provided here in its original format.
PD—We would like to congratulate you on your outstanding achievement. Securing the top spot in the highly sought-after Civil Services Examination is no minor effort.
Akshay Agrawal – I really appreciate your kind remarks.
PD: Explain the rationale for choosing the optional topic.
Akshay Agrawal – My suggestion to all aspiring students is to choose a topic that they can study at the graduate level; this is similar to preparing for a three- or four-year degree programme all at once. Therefore, one should choose a topic that they can readily comprehend, stick with for at least two years, and for which study materials and exam series are accessible.
PD: Which services do you favour, and is there a specific rationale behind your choice?
Akshay Agrawal – IAS was my first choice, followed by IFS. My first choice in a profession has always been IAS since it offers the most variety of employment. IAS also offers better career and advancement chances.
PD—”Success is sweet”; how did you feel about receiving this news and were you confident in your accomplishment with top rankings?
Akshay Agrawal – Success is very delightful. This was my first go at the Mother of All Exams. Nobody can guarantee success with high rankings given the intense competition, and I wasn’t one of them. However, it felt weird when my buddy told me about my outcome. It took some time for it to become clear. I called my father to tell him the good news since I was so happy.
PD—IAS Toppers are now considered icons, and their widespread media attention contributes to their popularity. What did you think of these toppers prior to your success?
Akshay Agrawal – Yes, I think that a lot of aspiring students are really inspired by the winners of past years. Toppers provide an insight into the thoughts of those who passed this test. Not only may we take lessons from their achievements, but also from their painful mistakes. Toppers’ lectures and techniques go a long way towards clearing up the misunderstanding around resources and booklists for individuals who study from a distance as well. I used to follow Ms. Vishwanjali Gaikwad, Mr. Gaurav Agrawal, and Mr. Abhimanyu Gehlaut a lot, and their success stories inspired me.
PD: Can you pinpoint the precise time you came to understand the significance of the civil services?
Akshay Agrawal – It happened when I was in Singapore. I worked and studied in Singapore. While I was employed as a researcher at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, I had the good fortune to run across a number of Indian civil servants who had there for mid-career training. My interactions with them have opened my eyes to the outstanding job they have been doing and the vast amount of good that may be done in the civil services on behalf of society.
PD: Lastly, when did you decide to pursue a career in “Civil Services”?
Shri Akshay: I always had a tendency towards the civil services after completing my postgraduate studies in Singapore, but I never really gave it much thought. However, I made up my mind to give it a go after receiving my master’s.
PD: Did you decide to pursue CSE on your own initiative or at your parents’ request?
Akshay Agrawal – My father supported me when I developed a penchant for civil services throughout my time in high school. Ultimately, the family decided to give the civil service test a serious go.
PD: Did you remember how long you needed to prepare for the test and how many times you needed to try?
Akshay Agrawal – I felt that there was a significant opportunity cost involved in quitting a lucrative career in Singapore to take the civil service test. I had thus allowed myself a maximum of two chances.
PD: “Time management” is an essential component of exam preparation, whether it is for the main test or the preliminary exam. In what way did you handle things?
Shri Akshay: Given that the test has a Himalayan curriculum, it is very crucial. During the first six months of my preparation, I worked in Singapore. I used every single minute I had available to study. I had stopped going on all of my hangouts with pals, particularly on the weekends. Since time is the most significant resource in the preparation, it must be used very carefully in this way.
PD: The initial step is the hardest. Where did you get the appropriate guidance?
Akshay Agrawal – Yes, as I said before, one has to review the curriculum as well as the books and other materials that the top scorers recommend. Spend some time comprehending the exam’s requirements and allowing them to fully register in your memory. Next, create a schedule and your own reading list. Regarding optional, one has to choose a topic that they can study at the graduate level for at least a year. Several past test winners and my pals who have been studying for the last three to four years gave me the proper advise.
Name in biodata: Akshay Agrawal
The name of the father is Shri Sunil Agrawal.
Mother’s name: Lata Agrawal, Mrs.
Date of Birth: August 29, 1992
Credentials and Education:
Maharashtra State Board, 10th—2008, (90·67%)
12th—2010, Maharashtra State Board (93·17)
Gold Medal for Academic Excellence, CGPA of 9·7/10, Mechanical Engineering B.Tech., College of Engineering Pune, 2010–14
Master of Science in Economics, National University of Singapore, 2015–17; CGPA: 5/5; Gold Medal of Academic Excellence
Previous Selections: AIR 4, Indian Economic Service Exam, 2018.
PD: How did you prepare for the preliminary examination by approaching Paper I (General Studies) and Paper II (Aptitude Test) differently? How much time and effort did you put into each?
For GS Paper I (General Studies), Shri Akshay.
Getting familiar with all the ideas included in NCERT books and other foundational works like Laxmikant, etc. is the best method to get ready for this. After that, test-solving is required.
I didn’t prepare much for the GS exam II (Aptitude Test). I have completed the UPSC exams for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017.
PD: Could you elaborate on how you addressed the “Negative Marking” in the preliminary exam?
Akshay Agrawal – It is necessary to start by answering questions that one feels comfortable answering. On questions when there is a good chance of getting the answer correctly, one may make educated guesses.
PD: In your Main Examination (Written) approach, what change did you make?
Akshay Agrawal – Since we must write about 4000 words in three hours at this point, one needs to have a strong writing pace. The most important thing to remember for the Main (written) test is to provide a thorough response that addresses all relevant angles while also offering a well-reasoned solution to any potential issues raised in the question.
PD: Did you make any extra efforts to effectively prepare for your essay paper?
Akshay Agrawal – The only extra effort I made was to really take up a pen and begin writing articles on certain subjects. utilise quotations, exquisite lyrical words and phrases, and, if you can, try to utilise some flowery language.
PD: How did you get ready for the in-person portion of the interview?
Shri Akshay—Preparing for an interview requires a two-pronged approach. First, one must thoroughly complete their detailed application form, or DAF.
Bharat Bhushan Vyas Board was the opponent I fought. The interview took place on February 11, 2019. The duration was thirty minutes. Given that economics was an optional subject, the interview was quite friendly and consisted of very basic questions about my life and the Indian economy. You may get my interview transcript online at my blog, “India Rising.”
PD: In addition to preparing for your ultimate goal—a career in the civil services—did you also prepare for other job opportunities?
I wasn’t, Shri Akshay.
PD: Despite the very lucrative employment prospects in a variety of industries provided by the shifting economic landscape, what drove you to choose a career in the civil services?
Akshay Agrawal – My motivation was sustained by the idea of working for the nation. One cannot use money as a source of motivation throughout their lives. It is necessary to pursue a job where there are more compelling reasons to get out of bed in the morning and go to work. This is what the civil service, I think, guarantees.
Personal Characteristics Ideal Person: Someone who fulfils their responsibilities with integrity. However, the biographies of Madame Curie and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, our own, have inspired me. Dr. Manmohan Singh is another person I really like.
Maintaining my goals is my strong point.
Point of weakness: Food.
Interests: Baking, Teaching, and Blogging.
PD: When should a person begin studying for the Civil Services, in your view, and how long should it take to prepare for the exams?
Akshay Agrawal – There’s no general rule of thumb. However, if one is committed to it as a profession, I think studying for this test shouldn’t take more than 10–12 months, or roughly a year. During the last year of a degree programme, comprehensive preparations might begin. On the other hand, reading habits may and need to be developed sooner. This is quite beneficial.
PD: What do you think about the widespread belief that science courses are more likely to get high marks than humanities subjects?
Akshay Agrawal – That is the general consensus. However, it seems that humanities have also performed very well this year. Thus, it truly shouldn’t be taken into account.
PD: How important is the examination medium for tests like the CSE?
Akshay Agrawal – It is not really important. However, because most terms we are familiar with are in English, most individuals take the test in that language since it is comparatively simple to compose answers in that language.
PD: Does an applicant’s preparedness depend in any way on the financial, educational, or demographic standing of their family?
Akshay Agrawal – Absolutely, they do, if an aspirant’s thoughts are plagued by these thoughts all the time. These ideas will cease troubling you once you eliminate them. This test is about devotion and disciplined effort alone.
PD: How important, in your perspective, are the competition magazines while you are getting ready for a test like the Civil Services exam?
Akshay Agrawal – Because they showcase so many success stories, they serve as a great source of encouragement for aspiring individuals. Additionally, they are great resources for covering current events, which are important for this test.
PD: What is your impression about Pratiyogita Darpan? Do you think it comes close to what you were expecting?
Akshay Agrawal – When I first started getting ready, I used to read PD. Scholars and government employees have written some very lovely and elegant pieces for it. Excellent resource for information on government economic policies, social challenges, and ongoing national development initiatives. Very helpful for writing mains answers since they also include information and facts that are often difficult to find.
PD: Could you share the key to your achievements?
The two keys to success, according to Akshay, are to consistently maintain focus on the objective of passing the test and to go above and beyond what was originally anticipated.
PD: Who do you want to share the glory of your accomplishments with?
Akshay – Thank you —Almighty, for keeping me well during the whole preparatory process. Second, my family, which has been very supportive throughout and consists of my parents, sister, and brother-in-law. In addition, my friends and mentors have been excellent resources for knowledge and guidance.
PD: Any recommendations or words of wisdom you would want to share with aspiring candidates?
Akshay Agrawal – Set modest goals in order to accomplish larger ones. Respect your own goals and due dates. Every day, go above and beyond what you have scheduled. Find the sweet spot between the exam’s competitiveness and information-seeking. While having knowledge is beneficial, keep in mind that this is a competitive test. Thus, “optimise things.” Maintain a safe distance from social media as well.
PD: I appreciate you very much and wish you well in all of your future undertakings.
