Hello everyone, my name is Prince Sonu Mayank and I have secured AIR-499 in UPSC CSE 2024. I will try to post things that are useful for different stages of the examination, while recognising that there are plenty strategies that also work. So, you can pick up what you feel useful. Given prelims is so close, I’ll try to post prelims related stuff for now.

Compilation of Ancient and Medieval timeline with all necessary interlinkages and important events, prepared my me and my brother. Can also be used as short notes.

CSAT Strategy

This is Vipul Chaudhary AIR 348.
In 2021 and 22- I got 70+ but in 2023 I got 60 in CSAT and 2024- 98. So it's not wonderful scores like many have but I know the pain of those who have no rista for Maths since long time. Hence I have tried to compile my strategy for next 25 days.

Those for who are appearing this attempt

★ CSAT paper is divided into 3 parts: RC, Reasoning and Maths. Range of asking questions from 3 sections vary, so you must have to prepare for the worst scenario. All of you might have one component strong, second is moderate and third is weak. So basically identify your strengths and weakness in which areas you can get more marks with high accuracy.

★ Clearing CSAT is not just about knowing maths and reasoning but it's also about how to handle the paper. Hence Technique and Strategy are the fundamental things you must prioritize in next 25 days.

★ Once you know your core areas in CSAT paper, just prioritize how to handle the paper. It means, which section you would do first, second and third. For example,
I used to do RC in 30-35 minutes with moderate accuracy while my friend used to give 50-60mnt with higher accuracy, it depends how other two sections were easy or hard for you.

★ While doing RC, I used to attempt easiest maths and reasoning questions simultaneously, so in hour average, I would have attempted all RC and Maths/Reasoning 10 Questions. This gives you confident for the second hour.

★ Simultaneously while screening paper ( means when you are reading RC and checking easy and moderate questions of maths/reasoning for you), I used to mark ×/★ these symbols as for second round and if time permits, for third round. So develop your style of attempting paper, because it's essential that you go through entire paper at least once, so that no easy questions left.

★ RC: If you go through 2023 and 2024 papers, you will realise that how much RC should be attempted. This also highlights don't rely on one section to clear CSAT.
--> Try to attempt RC in PYQs format by doing all RC with key words in single go like Attempt assumption kind all PYQs in last 5 years, similar for inference, conclusion etc. So you will get idea, what exactly meaning of this words. (For this PW CSAT PYQs Book you can refer)

★ Reasoning: for the weak CSAT candidate, it's important that you must have gone through all important reasoning chapters, because this is your second pillar to clear CSAT.
--> Instead of just doing PYQs, try to attempt new questions for the reasoning. You can also refer All India Test of multiple classes for CSAT.

★ Maths : mostly students find this portion difficult. But don't worry, if you are working on above two sections very well, in this section you just need to prepare selective chapters only. Try to analyse last 5 years trend, in which chapters they are asking the most. And prepare only those chapters. It's not best strategy but I can say, to clear CSAT, it's advisable to do so. I did the same.

Things to keep in mind
1) Identify your style of attempting paper like (a) First RC in one go and Maths and Reasoning in letter time or vice versa or (b) Do RC first and simultaneously identify easy to moderate questions for letter time (c) Do RC first and simultaneously attempt some easiest questions of maths reasoning together and identify moderate questions for next round. I personally like 3rd approach.

2) Time management: many of you know maths or can give answer but time constraint is major hurdle. So while practicing maths questions, try to attempt within time limit. Time management also depends upon how much questions you are going to attempt. Hence so calculate it. If 50 Qs then divide by 180mnt/50 or accordingly.

3) Try to attempt about 45 or above questions in CSAT, if RC and Reasoning are your core pillars, because it has low accuracy compared to maths.

4) Try to practice GS and CSAT as UPSC do. Because GS mostly take away your energy, hence CSAT becomes more difficult because you already invested more than half of energy in GS. Also plan your diets and energy drinks to keep hydrated during summer time.

5) instead of thinking about how GS paper was, have launch and try to go through all formulas you have prepared and read 2-3 RC before going into exam centre. Always try to be familiar with for what you are going to do.

6) Prediction: This year CSAT paper might be on similar trends of 2024, but it would be difficult (my intuition only says) so prepare for it.

All the very best

CSAT advice by a selected friend who improved his score this time by a substantial margin.

In all my last 3 prelims, I have done one practice which I think has really helped me getting score 18-33 marks above cutoff. Just take print out of the last 10 years of UPSC prelims paper and solve them chronologically with an OMR in a simulated environment ( Timings 9:30-11:30, Fans switched off, No AC obviously). Even if you remember the answer, follow proper procedure, like explaining to yourself why a particular option is the answer and how you arrived at that option. This will help you cultivate the right kind of mindset in the last few days. Revision of static, current, CSAT and other things may be done in rest of the time. 1-2 simulators of any coaching can be done in this period. But emphasis should be mainly on PYQs and static for GS.

Since it is generally the case that none of the csat questions get deleted, it is always advisable to attempt 4n questions where n is an integer. Agar 4n-1/2/3 hai toh 4n tak tukke banaane me koi problem hai. This is for those people jo border pe rehte CSAT me. There is a mathematical rationale for this argument. If you are passing with 4n-3 questions, then even 3 more negatives will not harm. But if you are missing by 1 question, then getting one of these 3 questions right would land you above cutoff.

The game of elimination:
A lot of aspirants might be bombarded with tons of elimination techniques videos these days, and another plethora of messages guiding you not to trust these elimination techniques. The aspirant is thus faced with a dilemma of 'to do' or 'not to do'.

Well, elimination techniques should actually not be used as a singular path to arrive at the answer. Earlier techniques like, 'never' or 'always' kinda extreme words are NEVER correct, are futile now.

What you need to do is take an 'educated guess'. What that means is to have all the knowledge from various sources, not only books, at your disposal, use rational thinking and come to a conclusion. Put your critical thinking ability to work and do not just mark and answer on the basis of those elimination 'techniques'.

All in all, there is no linear way to come to an answer. THINK and ANSWER.

All the best💫

"The Man Who Fought Death and Then Cracked IFoS – Devanand Telgote's Unbelievable Journey"


In 2021, Devanand Telgote was not preparing for an exam—he was fighting for his life.

Struck severely by COVID-19, his condition deteriorated rapidly. He had to be airlifted from Akola, Maharashtra, to KIMS Hospital in Hyderabad. For 120 days, he was on life support—an ECMO machine, typically the last resort when lungs stop functioning. In that time, he also suffered serious heart complications.

But even on the edge of survival, his dream never gave up on him.

He was determined to become a civil servant. So determined, in fact, that the UPSC agreed to conduct his personality test (interview) via video conferencing—a rare exception. Arrangements were made between Delhi and Hyderabad. But his body wasn’t ready—he couldn’t physically sit through the 30-minute interview. He had to let that attempt go.

For many, that would have been the end.

But Devanand didn’t let his story end there.

He restarted. He rebuilt. Slowly, with the same grit he showed in the ICU, he turned his attention back to his dream.

And now, in 2025, he has cracked the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) with All India Rank 112.
His first real UPSC interview. His first chance. His big win.

His Story is More Than a Rank. It's a Message.
You may lose time. You may lose opportunities.
But don’t lose belief.
Because when your dream is stronger than your struggle, the result is destiny rewritten.

Devanand’s story is not just about clearing an exam—it’s about conquering life.

IFoS Cutoffs