An Interaction with UPSC Topper Vikas Sangwan

Posted By: Kiran Prakashanon: December 30, 2018In: InterviewNo Comments

An Interview with Mr. Vikas Sangwan who has been finally selected in Indian Police Service (IPS) Exam. He has been ranked 123 in the final merit list.

KLA-IAS : What are the difficulties while preparing for Civil Services?

Vikas Sangwan : I believe challenges can be different for different types of people. For me personally it had been tough as I had been earning pretty good in a corporate office for six years.

KLA-IAS : What attracted you towards Civil Services?

Vikas Sangwan : I believe Civil Services is a prime service. One can do a great job by being part of the government machinery. It is little different from other jobs, though one can necessarily serve the nation by doing other jobs too. In the context of the impact one leaves upon people’s lives, the kind of diverse profile Civil Services offer; I don’t think any other job matches it.

KLA-IAS : There is a general perception among the candidates that this examination is based on a process of elimination and not the selection. Do you agree with this kind of perception after having successfully qualified in this examination?

Vikas Sangwan : I would not say is brought so, though it might appear like this as approximately 5 lakh candidates appear in Prelims and out of them it is brought down to 15,000. But I think the real competition is among those 50,000 to 1, 00, 000 only. So for serious aspirants I would not say it is an elimination process. It looks for a certain set of qualities, personality traits in you, if you possess them you are well suited to be an administrator.

KLA-IAS: How did you make this success possible? Is there any specific strategy which you would recommend for success in this examination?

Vikas Sangwan: Consistency is one thing and one should be very clear about it. What has been asked in exam for years is another thing. Whenever you start any journey, you should know what the objectives you want to attain are. One should check syllabus regularly, follow questions previous asked by UPSC, then one can easily crack the exam.

KLA-IAS : What was your source for inspiration? Whom would you like to give credit for your success?

Vikas Sangwan : The novel initiatives by the government like ‘Make in India’, ‘Clean India’ etc. inspired me. Firstly I would like to credit my parents as they made me capable of preparing for UPSC, providing opportunities and support. I would also like to give credit to Almighty, support of teachers, friends and above all my hardwork.

KLA-IAS : Did you integrate the lengthy GS syllabus for prelims &Mains preparation together or you prepared it separately?

Vikas Sangwan : The syllabus is designed such that prelim is a subset of what is being asked in Mains. There are areas which are only in Mains like World History, Ethics but substantial amount of syllabus covers both the aspects. An integrated strategy of preparation is certainly required.

KLA-IAS : Did you adopt any specific strategy for Ethics paper? How did you prepare for case studies in this paper?

Vikas Sangwan : Ethics is the easiest as well as the toughest. To be good at ethics, you need to keep your answer as basic as possible. In ethics, you opinions about social issues indeed matter. Discussing previous year ethic questions with teachers, peers helps a lot in preparing holistic answer.

KLA-IAS : How relevant is the newspapers reading for this examination and how did you try to link it with your GS preparation?

Vikas Sangwan : Newspaper is an important thing and a regular part of my journey. It keeps one updated. Newspaper reading is an art especially for UPSC. Making daily notes is important for retention.

KLA-IAS : How did you select the relevant material for the lengthy syllabus?

Vikas Sangwan : I took printout of last five year questions. By focusing on prevailing trends, one can decide the booklist to be followed. Finding common points in toppers strategies can help in deciding booklist.

KLA-IAS : How did you divide time between different GS modules & optional during preparation?

Vikas Sangwan : Time management is an important aspect. I devoted 50% time for optional and rest for general studied. I studies around 8 to 10 hours daily. I think after that concentration level goes down.

KLA-IAS : How many hours did you study on daily basis? In your opinion how much time does an average candidate require to prepare for this exam?

Vikas Sangwan : Sincere 6 hours is sufficient but it should be really a dedicated effort. Amount of hours does not matter is, what matters is quality of hours given. Having a self belief, faith in strategy will help to crack this exam.

KLA-IAS : What was your answer writing style? Was it a paragraph format or bullet point format?

Vikas Sangwan : Presentation is the foremost part. We need to have a proper structure to answer so that it looks organized and a well thought out response to the questions asked. The answer should be started with 2-3 lines introduction, in the body all the sub-points should be answered. Under sub-heading bullet points should be given. Analytical conclusion in the end needs to be given. The answer should be

Multi-dimensional answer
Keeping keywords in answer
Optimistic answer

KLA-IAS : How did you manage to stick to the 200 words limit while writing the answer?

Vikas Sangwan : Practising answer makes you prepare for the real examination. Regular writing strategy is a must.

KLA-IAS : Did you undertake any test series? Do you think these test series are helpful in preparing for this exam?

Vikas Sangwan : Test series keeps students abreast of latest questions that might be asked directly or indirectly. Test series provides an environment (simulation) in which you can write your answers.

KLA-IAS : What is your opinion regarding practising previous year question papers?

Vikas Sangwan : Previous year question papers are helpful in many ways. It helps you analyse the specific trends and help you catch the nerve of the UPSC.

KLA-IAS : How did you manage to maintain your tempo and concentration during preparation period? What you did to avoid usual distractions?

Vikas Sangwan : To keep yourself motivated, there should always be a goal. Involve yourself in some kind of hobby as I was going for running or playing chess online. Talking to some close friends, parents will help you keep motivated.

KLA-IAS : Did you find internet & online material useful? Which sites would you recommend?

Vikas Sangwan : I would recommend to read through topper strategies for how to select and what to read. I avoided social media sites as they distracted me while preparation. I was a regular visitor to government sites like PIB, various Ministry sites.

KLA-IAS : How important is the preparation for final interview? How did you prepare for it?

Vikas Sangwan : Interview is the last and very crucial stage. It can make or break your chances of success.

You must be very comfortable with your details in DAF (Detailed Application Form).
Keep yourself updated with current happenings
Remain composed, honest, optimistic looking and with a smiling face

KLA-IAS : What is your opinion regarding various comprehensive magazines and books published by Kiran publications for civil services examination?

Vikas Sangwan : Previous year questions are essential for UPSC preparation strategy and are of great help. Magazines on Current Affairs by Kiran publications helped me in motivating me during my preparation journey.

KLA-IAS : What is your advice for future civil service aspirants? How should they keep themselves motivated during the exhaustive and lengthy preparation for this examination?

Vikas Sangwan :