Bharat SainiLast Updated on February 20, 2019 by Bharat Saini
“Positive thinking and continuity in devoted hard work are the secrets of my success.” -Mrs. Pushp Lata
“Pratiyogita Darpan” arranged an exclusive interview with Mrs. Pushp Lata who has been selected in Civil Services Examination-2017. She deserves high admiration and our heartiest congratulations on her splendid success. This important, thought-provoking and highly inspiring interview is being presented here in its original form.
PD—Achieving top slot in the coveted civil services examination is no small feat; accept our heartiest congratulations on your splendid success.
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Thank you.
PD—Medium for writing in the examination.
Mrs. Pushp Lata—English.
PD—Medium for personality test.
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Hindi
PD—In how many attempts have you achieved this success ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Third attempt.
PD—You achieved the desired success in this attempt; how do you visualise your previous attempts ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I started preparation in February 2015 and my preparation was not complete in this attempt. It took me almost one year to understand what to study and what to be left. In my second attempt I made mistakes like less emphasis on essay, ignoring option and less intensive preparation during interview. During this attempt, I recognised my mistakes, rectified these and worked upon these. I avoided multiple sources and emphasised on multiple revisions.
PD—What was your optional subject ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Geography.
PD—While making final choice for optional subject, what’s important and what’s not ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Interest in subject, availability of material and books should be important factors.
PD—What preference in services have you opted for and any particular reason for that priority ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I have given first prefence to Indian administrative service, as it not only gives us oppor-tunity to work in diverse areas but also provides resources and means to work for society.
PD—‘Success is sweet’ were you confident of your success with top ranks and how did you react to this news ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I was satisfied with my performance at all three stages of exam this year. But un-predictability and uncertainity are important factors with this examination. So there was a small fear in heart also. But I always believe “hope for the best and prepare for the worst.” And that helps in having resilience and facing failures.
After seeing my name in the list I was relieved. My family’s happiness made me realize it is something important. Otherwise I always took it just like another exam. Gave my best and along with fulfilled my other responsibilities as well.
PD—Today IAS toppers are icons and lots of media coverage makes them popular. Before your success, what was your opinion about these toppers ? Any particular success story which influenced your journey to this result ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I always thought these IAS toppers must be extraordinary persons with very high intelligent quotient and must be having something very special.
But now I realize these toppers are also ordinary persons just like you, me and others. Guidance at right time, right direction and hard work take them to podium of topper. CSE2015 fourth topper Artika Shukla inspired me to prepare for this exam. I took important points from her interview and accordingly made my strategy.
PD—Can you recall the exact moment when you realized the importance of civil services ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—While working in State Bank of Hyderabad, my office was opposite to collectorate office. There I met development officer. While interacting I realized availabilty of resources and gap between bureaucracy and people who should be benefited from it. Only civil services can provide opportunity to fill this gap and contribute positive to society.
PD—Finally, at what point of time did you make up your mind to make career in ‘Civil Servies’ ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I was not satisfied with my work in bank. I needed some more discretion and resources to help society and a more respectable job. Finally three years back, I made up my mind to leave present job and to prepare for civil services.
| Personal Qualities |
| Favourite Person—I admire former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam from core of my heart and his teachings (Dream, Plan, Act by Hard work and Achieve) that inspired me to move ahead.
Strong Point—I am self motivated and take my criticism positively. I am always ready to learn from others. Weak Point—I have habit of for-getting names. So sometimes struggle because of it. Hobbies— I like cooking in my free time and to freshen up myself. |
Mrs. Pushp Lata—My father is an army professional and my mother is a house-wife. But they never imposed their wish on me. Finally better late than never I could fulfill their dream.PD—Was CSE your planned decision or your parents’ wish ?
PD—Did you keep in mind some time-frame for the examination preparation and number of attempts ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I was determined either I would get through or my age limit will come. But till then I would be keep trying.
PD—‘Time management’ is a key factor. How did you manage things ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I agree with this completely.
For preparation I made my time table. I made best use of available time. As I have to do some other important works like managing family, kid and studies all together.
For writing in the examination, I attempted mock tests and test series at home only. I downloaded vision test series online and practiced at home.
PD—The first step is the most difficult. From where did you get the right advice ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Optional was a difficult decision. Being masters in zoology (2006-08) I took it as my optional in my first attempt. But as I studied it long time back, I needed to study it from scratch. And it also had very lengthy and unmanageable syllabus. It was difficult to complete it in limited time. So I took geography as my optional. Semi scientific in nature it was easy to understand and I developed my interest in it while preparing for general studies. It was a self assessment.
I read toppers’ reviews and their booklists.
PD—What was your approach towards Paper 1 (general studies) and paper 2 (aptitude test) during preliminary examination ? How long time and how much effort did you divide for each ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—In starting phase it was integrated study for prelims and mains. But 2 months before prelims exam I devoted my full time for prelims exam in my second attempt. For CSE 2017. I revised basic books and current affairs within stipulated time. I practiced one vision test series fully twice within limited time of 50 days.
For paper 2 I did not do any extra efforts because I am good at aptitude part.
PD—How did you manage to tackle the negative marking in prelims ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I attempted only limited questions. I attempted only those questions where 2 options were eliminated.
PD—What shift did you adopt in your strategy for mains examination ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I made concise notes of whatever I read so that it took less time while revising. I wrote mains marathon exercise of forum IAS for daily practice. I practiced one test series also for time management and practice. I limited my sources and did multiple revisions for better output.
PD—Was there any special effort for effective preparation for essay paper ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—To improve my essay I wrote 2 essays per week. I got it reviewed by my friend. After writing around 20 essays from previous years’ papers I was prepared for exam.
Essays I picked :
1. Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for majority of farmers in India.
2. Fulfillment of ‘new women’ in India is a myth.
I felt linked to these topics from my heart. Farmers and women are my area of concern. So I could better express myself on these.
PD—How did you prepare yourself for interview (personality test) ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—For interview preparation I and Anu Kumari (2nd rank) we both made group and on daily basis did discussions. We asked each other interview questions based on home state, DAF, current affairs, situational questions etc. We assessed each others’ answers and gave inputs to improve them. Other than this I watched Rajya Sabha debates regularly, and read 2 newspapers daily. I gave mock interviews in 4 different instituions to get assessment of my performance.
My interview was on 12th April, 2017, afternoon session in Dr. Manoj Soni Board. My interview was mostly on expected lines. There were many questions we discussed during our preparation discussions. It went for around 30 minutes.
Questions asked from me included like difference between culture of Haryana and Hyderabad, lower sex ratio in Haryana, corruption in Haryana, bank mergers and their advantages and disadvantages, India-Israel relations, farmers’ conditions in India, water crisis and how to improve it etc.
PD—Were you preparing for other career opportunities as well while preparing for your ultimate goal i.e., career in civil services ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—No, I did not have any other alternative in my mind. I thought it as my ultimate goal and gave my best for it. In case of failure I would have gone in teaching profession but after getting over my age limit only.
PD—While the changing economic environment offers immense lucrative career opportunities in various sectors, still what kept you motivated towards civil services ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Lucrative career opportunities provide better monetary benefits but do not give internal satisfaction. Contibution to society gives immense satisfaction and thus a meaning to life. Seeing others happy can give utmost satisfaction and that was my aim only.
PD—In your opinion at which educational level should one start preparing for civil services and what should be the minimum period of time required to prepare for Civil Services examination ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—After graduation one can prepare for CSE. Around 2 years dedicated preparation is sufficient to crack this exam.
PD—What is your opinion regarding the general view that science subjects have better chance to score than humanities ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—In my opinion it is a misconception. Humanities also have many advantages like coverage with general studies. And UPSC provides parity to all subjects.
PD—What is the importance of medium of examination for exams like CSE.
Mrs. Pushp Lata—In my opinion medium does not make a bigger difference. What is checked is clarity of ideas and problem solving attitude. Some problem may be there in finding resource availability.
PD—Does the educational, financial and demographic status of a family of an aspirant have any impact on preparation ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Internet connectivinty has filled this gap. So even in rural areas candidates from poor family also have equal chances to crack this exam. There may be some problems like lack of guidance but UPSC provides level playing field. Internet has made this dream possible for village aspirants also and it is not a must to shift to Delhi for preparation.
PD—In your opinion what role do the competition magazines play when you are preparing for an examination like civil services ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Competition magazines are good sources for preparation. They provide concise and valuable information at one place. These not only save time but also easy to revise.
PD—How do you find Pratiyogita Darpan ? Do you find it close to your expectations ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—PD is a good source. Toppers’ interviews motivate you. Important articles are good when one needs to prepare one particular topic. Topic on international relations also provides good fodder for general studies. Essay topic can brush up essay writing skills. Over all it is a good magazine for preparation.
PD—What is secret of your success ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—For me, hard work, positive atitude and perseverance are a key to success.
PD—To whom would you like to give the credit for your success ?
Mrs. Pushp Lata—I want to give credit of my success to my family specially my husband and my friends. More importantly it is blessings of Almighty which were showered on me and I could succeed.
PD—Any suggestion/ advice you would like to give to future aspirants.
Mrs. Pushp Lata—Nothing is impossible but success has no short cuts. To achieve your goal, hard work and perseverance are required.
“Arise, awake and stop not till goal is achieved.”
PD—Thank you very much and wishing you all the best for future endeavours.
