How Madhav Bhardwaj’s Earned a Rank in UPSC While Navigating the 9-to-5 Hustle” 

– Anuj Jindal

The exam itself holds an unparalleled reputation, often regarded as the pinnacle of achievement, an academic could possibly attain.  

Yet, for the majority of us, the journey of a UPSC topper remains shrouded in mystery. And that’s the objective of this blog, to shed light on how this victory is achieved.  

We’ll be deep diving into the life and psyche of such an achiever, Madhav who cleared UPSC CSE 2022 in his second attempt with a rank of AIR 536 in an exclusive interview.  

Madhav’s Roots and Origins 

Hailing from Mussoorie, Madhav completed his secondary education from his home-town, pursued engineering in computer science at NIT Allahabad, obtained an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, and started working at Microsoft.

But his childhood dream of clearing the UPSC exam was always in the back of his mind. 

Balancing a full-time job with UPSC preparation

During COVID, his childhood dream of conquering the UPSC exam resurfaced and he made the decision of pursuing this passion.  

Juggling his demanding job with UPSC preparation was initially challenging for Madhav.

However, he eventually found a way to strike a balance by making necessary adaptations and prioritizing his preparation in the time between prelims and mains. 

Aspects to consider when choosing to pursue UPSC: Interests, Abilities, and Background  

According to Madhav, it is important to align your preparation strategy with your overall goals, which involve a strong foundation and genuine passion for the subjects.   

Conquering fears and being your own inspiration

There are much prevalent fears and apprehensions surrounding the civil services exam even for its aspirants who decided to dedicate years to UPSC’s preparation. And rig 

Instead of fueling anxiety, he aims to inspire and motivate aspirants by sharing his own experiences and insights.

Madhav’s positive approach instills a sense of belief and optimism, encouraging aspirants to face challenges head-on and overcome obstacles with determination. 

UPSC Prelims and how to conquer it

Considering the UPSC prelims, Madhav thinks the paper was tough but not overly so. His game plan involved thorough preparation and being sharp to handle tricky sections like history and law.

In simple words, take a holistic and smart approach to your Prelims prep. Focus on comprehensive study material and developing critical thinking skills. 

Selecting Optional Subject and the Value of Guidance

Madhav considered a few factors while choosing his optional subject. Time commitment, educational background, and the availability of guidance on that particular subject.

Madhav made the mistake of underestimating the significance of dedicated guidance during his first attempt and advises not to do the same in his attempt.    

Seek expert advice and leverage available resources. 

Study Routine and Effective Revision Techniques

Madhav started by diving into subjects he genuinely enjoyed, like history, geography, and politics. As the exam approached, he gradually cranked up his study intensity, focusing on taking comprehensive notes and incorporating helpful diagrams and examples for better comprehension.  

But here’s where Madhav really struck gold: his emphasis on effective revision techniques. He found that using separate sheets to jot down important points, case laws, and facts made a real difference.   

Answer Writing Practice

After not making it through on his first attempt, he took a step back and did some serious analysis. He focused on previous years’ papers to identify recurring questions, and trimmed down his notes to short yet solid points.   

His secret weapon was answer-writing practice. It played a key role in his preparation, allowing him to critically evaluate his answers and level them up with more content, examples, and those magical keywords.  

His ultimate advice? Be thorough and constantly strive for improvement. 

Self-Evaluation and the Role of Revision

Self-evaluation is the real deal according to Madhav. It made a big impact on his preparation. He took the time to scrutinize his answers, figure out where he could do better, and went out of his way to find extra resources to up his answers’ quality. 

To remember all those never-ending facts of the UPSC syllabus, Madhav’s revision game was on point. He honed in on effective techniques that let candidates truly absorb those concepts.  

His advice to revisit separate sheets of important points and reinforce your memory through multiple rounds of revision is a game-changer. 

Advice for Aspirants

Madhav’s journey from clearing the UPSC civil services exam on his second attempt to sharing his invaluable insights and strategies serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring candidates.

By emphasizing the importance of aligning interests and abilities with the exam, addressing common fears, and providing practical guidance on preparation techniques, Madhav inspires aspirants to embark on their path to success in the highly competitive world of civil services. 

The key is to analyze your abilities, strengths, and weaknesses and approach the civil services exam with confidence, resilience, and a determined mindset. Align your interests and abilities with the exam.   

 

After all, it’s all about finding that sweet spot where your passions and strengths meet the demands of the civil services.