This propelled Saurabh to work out how to strike a balance between General Studies (GS), Optional, Ethics and Essays. “Optional has the potential to fetch 60 per cent or more marks, and the questions on ethics and essay are more technical-based. I focussed more on these subjects.”
Saurabh made sure he did not miss out on hospital visits or special moments with Pranav. He installed news apps on his phone and found interstices between putting his child to sleep or waiting at the clinic.
However, appearing for the Mains was a wake-up call for Saurabh, “I had almost forgotten how to write in a limited time. My answers were not structured well, they were lengthy and mainly were irrelevant to the questions.”
“Completing entire syllabus was not possible anyway, so I tried studying only a few important topics. It was my self-consolation mode that helped me remain calm and composed,” Saurabh adds.
Falling short of 50 marks, Saurabh did not clear the Mains. His first thought was to give up, “Preparation took a toll on me. I already had a stable job, but something told me to give it another try. This time I had to eliminate the wrongs.”
Sadly, Saurabh had lost his father during this time and found solace, assurance and encouragement from his uncle, Dilip.
Saurabh began preparing anew for UPSC 2018, and this time he had a more organised and practical plan which included spending time with his son, being with him during vaccinations, giving a 100 per cent at his job and looking after his family.
He began with attempting several online mock tests and wrote down all that he had learnt.
No matter how good you are, answering in a structured way is very crucial. Preparing diagrams and flowcharts helped a lot. Mock tests gave me the confidence to answer efficiently in a limited time. I told myself that I had to answer the same way in the exam hall.
While he tried to lessen the pressure on his studies, the work at his office increased. There were days when he had to skip his preparation altogether. Believing that he had nothing to lose, Saurabh trusted his instincts and appeared for the Prelims.
And he cleared it!
A few months later, he appeared for the Mains and sailed through with 814 marks out of 1750. His biggest fear was now over.
“I have given several interviews, and so the interview part was much easier for me than the Mains. I already knew all I had to do now was to clear the Interview round. Taking no risk, I joined classes,” he says. Fortunately, the teacher was flexible enough to accommodate Saurabh anytime during the day. He even made friends at classes who would sit together and help each other work on their drawbacks.
Finally, the interview day arrived. He left home fully prepared and confident. A bit of nervousness did creep in as he was the first to appear for the Interview.
I was hoping not to be the first one, but fortunately I gave the Interview without a nervous breakdown. For the first few minutes, I had goosebumps, but the people taking the Interview made me very comfortable, he shares.
“From asking about issues in West Bengal and Jharkhand to the solutions about improving India’s economy, the questions were like a jackpot!” he beams.
After the Interview, Saurabh focussed on his work and gave as much time as possible to his little one. “I had no expectations, and I knew I had my job to fall back on.”
On 9 April 2019, he received a news that changed his life, “I had cleared the Interview. In my wildest dreams, I had not imagined getting the third highest marks in the Interview round and an AIR of 113. It was overwhelming and unbelievable.”
Two months later, Saurabh quit RBI. For now, he is dedicating all his time to his family before he moves to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie by August-end.
Age and Status Are Not Obstacles
“It does not matter if you are a parent or a working professional. Taking out five hours is not impossible. All you have to do is sustain the momentum. Do not let a small headache or a family function come in your way. Willpower and discipline are two of your biggest strengths, exploit it wisely. Set your goal and embark on it without fear and doubts,” says Saurabh.
Tips & Tricks
Just like serving people, UPSC preparations cannot be on a blanket approach. Each problem has to be addressed subjectively. Always keep a backup option so that even if you do not clear it, it is not the end of the world. Be careful in choosing your optional and focus on the writing practice. Maintain the continuity, and you are halfway there.
Saurabh’s journey proves that age or even a time crunch is no bar to clearing one of the toughest exams in the country. Experience and the right mental attitude can prove to be your best assets.
Had it not been for my years of experience with which I took every step, I would not have cleared it in my second attempt. The struggle throughout has helped me in some or other way. Age was in my favour, Saurabh signs off.