The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts one of India’s most prestigious examinations, the Civil Services Exam, which unfolds in three stages: the Preliminary exam, the Main exam, and the Personality Test (Interview), aimed at selecting candidates for various civil services across the country. The UPSC Civil Services do not need to follow a set timeline, but if you dare to do so, you can move forward towards it. Aswathy GG, from Murikkassery, Idukki, Kerala, is a prime example of her success. The pure determination and the strategic preparation can turn dreams into reality, even if you start late.
UPSC preparation started at the age of 26
Aswathy Jiji quit her corporate job at Infosys when she was 26 years old and started preparing for her civil services exam. Usually, people start preparing at the age of 19 or 20 years old, but she started late. She did her homework from the NCERT books and test series. Later on, she joined an academy for expert guidance and more thorough preparation for the exams.
Failed UPSC in 3 attempts
Aswathy failed to qualify in her two attempts. She cleared prelims and mains in her third attempt but missed the final list by 18th. Her hard work finally paid off in 2020 in her fourth attempt with an impressive rank of 41st in UPSC CSE, when she finally achieved her dream.
UPSC preparation strategy
Aswathy was clear and focused on her goals. She focused mainly on the prelims, daily answer writing practice for the mains, and the papers in which she could score well, like Essay, Ethics, and Geography as her optional subject.
She stresses that success in the Civil Services largely hinges on the Mains exam, and regular, dedicated practice is essential. He explained that the Mains score essentially decides a candidate’s fate, as the interview contributes very few marks. Therefore, aspirants must focus on consistent answer-writing practice to secure a strong performance in the Mains.
