Good morning from Mussoorie 😊✨
Hope you are all well.

As you may know, my training (99th Foundation course) is on.

This is why I haven't posted in a while to focus on training.

In the meantime I hope my 2024 friends are feeling good about Mains 😊✨. You will do great!

I also hope my 2025 friends are working in integrated preparation and have their eyes on their plans.

I am seeking your go-ahead to shut our discussion group till the time I am able to reply to you better. I would open it for your one to one queries on a day whenever we have some better bandwidth, relatively.

The reason for this is so that you know that, for now, you don't have to be pulled into chat on the discussion group. You can focus on your prep without wasting much time on TG.

Same goes for me to focus on my training 😊🙏🇮🇳

I might post sometimes with my key learnings that I believe may help you too.

Mental health tools will always be something I will keep sharing tools our channel.

Praying for each of you, keep going! 😊✨

Mains 2024 Ethics

Do prepare a framework for a case study question on "Bulldozer justice" given the current importance of this issue.

Ethical principles like Audi Alteram Partem, due process, right to be heard, justice.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-to-ratlam-flicker-of-hope-for-lives-razed-as-sc-questions-bulldozer-justice-9546974/

Dear family,

Every year in mains there are 1-2 questions with terms you may have not heard. You are not the only one, these questions are hard for everybody.

Hope you aren't letting such questions bring you down.

Mains is not a sprint but a marathon, keep your eye on the target and just rest and recover to perform tomorrow.

Do well in GS 3 and GS 4. Remember to use graphs, data and diagrams and keywords for GS 3

For ethics, make sure you don't take too long for any question or any section. Start strong, start quick and don't fixate over any one question/ case study/ section. Finishing your paper is key here. Include the keywords, diagrams and thinkers in your ethics answers.

Apologies again for being missing here during such an important period for us. I've immersed myself in training and am striving to do justice to my duties here as a trainee.

Hopefully we'll connect soon

For now, wishing you all the best and praying for your resilience.

most importantly do not torture yourself with mains analyses or with losing sleep over any question- focus on the target lying ahead

Like I said for Prelims: you've sent your mains answers to the universe and the universe will take care of you.

You'll do great

Hope you are all well. ✨

"Remember how hard you studied for the exam, and keep that in mind throughout the tenure of your service. It shouldn't be just about getting the foot in the door and becoming complacent once in...Never forget your UPSC journey and let that be your internal motivation for working ten times harder in service"


Blessed and grateful to have interacted with Hon' PM yesterday on the eve of National Unity Day.

----

Keep going! Praying for each and every one of you ✨🙏🇮🇳

My friend Anupam Singh (IPS, 2024) is currently doing a session on his strategy. He is one of the most positive people in our batch, I had the privilege of knowing. His strategy too would be quite constructive

Join him here:
https://meet.google.com/eqs-hjgs-yic

Hope you are all well!

This is the first weekend I got free after wrapping up Foundation Course at LBSNAA, so was looking forward to reconnecting with my community.

We are now continuing our training at the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics (NACIN) at Palasamudram which is an incredibly breathtaking campus.

Sending all of you my best wishes and prayers.

Congratulations to everyone who cleared Mains 2024 and are appearing for the Personality Test.
Just one last lap remains, keep your eyes on the target
The stage is one of the most enjoyable parts of the exam.

My warmest regards to my friends for whom it may have not worked out this time. Remember that this exam doesn't determine your true worth and potential.
Take some time to unwind, you deserve it!

For those who are studying for Personality test I'm sending some of the things that helped me

1. Some mocks were helpful:
Khan sir, Chanakya Mandal (Dharamadhikari sir especially), Sunil Oberoi Sir (99 notes arranges for Sunil sir's panel)

2. Some mocks try to change who you are eg. they'll tell you to smile less/ more, how to move your hands etc. You can ignore any advice that is trying to make you into some kind of a factory product. You'll have to apply your judgement and filter advice that is not good for you.

3. Panel sessions with my friends truly helped me:
We would schedule daily meetings at 10 and ask each other questions on our DAF and current affairs. This in fact was more helpful than many of the mocks.

4. *Study the transcripts*.
Just like we did PYQs. Transcripts help.

5. *Practice speaking in front of the mirror* Record your videos and review them. You'll be able to see areas of improvement from this exercise

6. Reading the news is indispensable for this stage. It will be the most important component of your resource materials. Do not neglect this.

Some tips:
1. Don't forget to pause and take a breath when you speak. You don't have to jump at the answer.
2. It is completely okay to request time to process your thoughts "Sir/ ma'am, may I take a few seconds to collect my thoughts".
3. Ending your answer with a forward looking, solution-oriented outlook can be very impactful
4. Include examples, best practices in your answers in an organic manner to support your argument

Prelims 2025

We'll be discussing what you need to do once December ends and you go into Prelims exclusive mode from Jan.

I'll be discussing in my Prelims mentor Rakesh Dalal sir's class
(https://t.me/Mentor_Rakesh_Dalal)

Saturday, 6 pm.

Session started at 6

Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81227307946?pwd=AzbhdWkOJuaQpJnbTI6bFLeiVAf96P.1

Happy Republic Day to all of you. 😊🙏🇮🇳

"Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity an obligation; every possession a duty"

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFS4G2HymaH/?igsh=YXBmeGlvYWVkNzB2

Visual recall

Usually helps you remember better.

From Salar Jung museum, Hyderabad

We just arrived on our NPA attachment late last night. Spending the Sunday holiday at this museum is incredible :)

Recall: what are the different PYQs that UPSC has asked in relation to Buddha postures/ mudras

Sometimes, just this simple thought used to be a huge boost to my morale during my long journey...

Recently visited the Karla Caves in Lonavla Maharashtra

Visualization helps with recall:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DH47qsAIGmC/?img_index=3&igsh=b2xhamFieXR4cnJz

Some factoids:
1. Karla caves belong to the 2nd C BC to 5th CE period
2. Satavahana rulers also played a role in the development
3. best known for having the largest Chaitya (prayer hall) of its times. Also for being one of the best preserved Chaityas

I know you are all anxious. Just over a year ago, I was anxious too...

So I had to tap into an inner voice that was kind to myself. A lot of these words are what my parents and family would tell me.

Sending this out, in case anyone needed to hear this today...

You truly are worth it, and no exam or outcome can take it away from you.

Celebrating your courage for taking on this challenge
✨✨✨

Sending you all my best wishes

PS: I have no idea when it will come. Only sending this out to pay forward the support I had in these anxious times last year...