advice to upsc aspirants?

As a UPSC qualifier, what is your advise to the UPSC aspirants?

I am NOT a qualifier, but Yes based on my experience of preparing for UPSC CSE for 5 years I can give you few suggestions regarding what NOT to do.

Don’t let the “hype” around this exam bog you down. I have seen many people fail because of this(myself being an example).

Take this exam as a “job” that you are doing. Invest time that you would allot to a job (8–10 hrs daily) and you are through. The best part is, in a job you generally tend to perform for others, here you have to perform for yourself.

Inculcate a habit of enjoying what you study. This will make you more curious and inquisitive. The best way to do it is to “be proud” of yourself for learning so much about India and world.

Try to develop the personality traits of a civil servant. This will be the most difficult part and more or less everything revolves around it. Avoid being a book worm. Try to explore what is happening around you (newspaper becomes a very important source here. Also if time permits you can travel to some places.

Dont just study, but pursue some other activities as well. Sports, music, some social work etc are good things to build your profile and for recreation.

Remember there is NO perfect strategy for this exam. The best strategy is what you evolve and what you stick to throughout your exam preparation. Talk to some candidates who have qualified, and some serious candidates who have failed. Do your own strength and weakness analysis and then try to find out what all things you can relate to and try to rectify them. A strategy will not form overnight. You will have to work for it on a daily basis for 2–3 months and then with all trial and error and experience you will get a strategy that suits you. Follow that NO matter what.

Try to achieve a state of emotional stability. Neither too much excitment nor anxiety. Try to be patient throughout this journey.

Start early if you can, because changing personality is easier in early 20s than in later ages.

These are all that I can think of now. The best part is you dont have to work on each one of them individually, but these all are interrelated. Working on one will also mean working on other.

Will try to update in future with further learnings of mine.