IAS Toppers Interview: Nagender Bhukya Rank 733

Name Nagender Bhukya
Rank in CSE 2015 733
Total Attempts in CSE 3
Optional Subject Anthropology
Medium English

Education

Class 10 percentage of marks 88
 Class 12 Percentage of marks 94
Graduation: College and marks JNTU Campus Hyderabad. 70% in Electrical stream.
Post graduation: College and marks N/A
Any other course

IAS Score: What were the basic mantras of your success?

Nagender Bhukya:

  1. Patience (It may take 3 to 4 years to succeed)
  2. Confidence (To not give up)
  3. (Fully involved)
  4. Dedicated hard work. (Shows commitment)
  5. (To abreast latest happenings.)

 

IAS Score: What were your strategies for the lengthy syllabus of General Studies for both Prelims and Mains?

 

Nagender Bhukya: Prelims: Concepts of basic subjects such as polity, history, economics, geography have been clear to me due to reading of standard books. Hence could focus on contemporary issues which were useful for both prelims and Mains. Preparing notes of Hindu newspaper fetched me 15 questions in last year prelims. GS Score current affairs material also helped me in IR related questions asked last year in prelims. (Thank you so much for this part……Because of this portion I secured 134 marks in Prelims paper1.)

Mains:

  1. As my basic concepts of subjects were clear I could focus more on Contemporary analysis. Here again HINDU newspaper and GS SCORE current affairs material were immensely helpful. (To put it frankly in GS2 mains from polity current affairs 8 questions have been asked last year. I had attempted them all within no time. It helped me a lot.
  2. Focused more on GS4 Ethics and secured 101 marks last year. I studied GS4 paper as one more OPTIONAL paper. Got rich dividends. Again here Late S.K. Mishra sir’s guidence helped me a lot. I can never be forget him in my life. Not just because of marks. My attitude got changed after attending his classes. This is the only time (25 days) I visited New Delhi for preparation.
  3. Spent 60% of preparation time on my optional subject (Anthropology). Rich dividends here seured 252 marks(3rd topper in India).

 

IAS Score: Did you integrate your Prelims or Mains preparation or was it separate in the changing scenario?

Nagender Bhukya: As I mentioned above basic subjects concepts should be in our blood. Once that is done Prelims and Mains preparation startegy are different. For that matter all GS mains papers are becoming contemporary in nature. As far as integration is concerned without concepts no one can answer a question holistically on contemporary topic.

 

GS Preparation for Prelims (Summary)

Nagender Bhukya:

Booklist:

  1. Polity: Laxmikanth.
  2. History: 1990 NCERT 3 books and 11, 12 Class Tamil Nadu NCERT and NIOS material for ART and Culture.
  3. Geography: 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11,12 NCERT
  4. Economics: Ramesh Singh and respective year Economic Survey.
  5. General Science: 8, 9, 10 NCERT
  6. Environment: 12 ncert biology book and NIOS material on E&Bd.
  7. Current Affairs: Hindu Newspaper and GS SCORE.

 

GS Mains Preparation (Summary)

Paper Study Material/Guidance Current Issues Source Answer Writing Practice
GS Paper 1 Same as prelims Hindu + GS SCORE n/a
GS Paper 2 Same as prelims Hindu + GS SCORE n/a
GS Paper 3 Same as prelims Hindu + GS SCORE n/a
GS Paper 4 S.K. Mishra sir notes, Lexicon by Chronicle, UNDP report on value education for Indian administrators. S.K. Mishra sir notes n/a

 

Optional Subject Preparation  (Summary)

Study material / Guidance Braintree Hyderabad Coaching
Basic Books 1)      Braintree material. 2) Telugu academy books on Anthropology. 3)Nadeem Hasnain books. 4) Social Anthropology by Majumdar & Madan.
Current Affairs Tribal ministry reports, policy decisions, etc.
Answer Writing n/a
Any other Relevant ACTS such as PESA, FRA, 5th and 6th Schedule, Forest policy, LAAR 2013.

 

IAS Score: How did your prepare for essay.

Nagender Bhukya: No special preparation has been done.

In 2014 I had 5 essays at home fortnightly and secured 125 marks.

In 2015 I went directly and got 85.

My sincere advice to aspirants is don’t neglect this paper. Please write at least 7 essays. It enhances our writing ability skills which gives rich dividends.

 

IAS Score: Did you adopt any specific strategy for GS Paper 4?

Nagender Bhukya:  A BIG YES. This is the only paper in exam with little efforts we can score maximum marks. I have made my notes for each and every topic mentioned in syllabus of 50 to 60 words. Whatever the question is I used to define the term and go to the context of the question. I made a notes of 60 odd examples (from our daily life) and quoted them where ever it was necessary.

CASE STUDY:  I used to choose options where there is scope for mentioning ETHICS terms in them.

 

IAS Score: What were the sources of information for general reading? How did you come to know that which sources of reading materials are standard?

 

Nagender Bhukya:  HINDU newspaper. My readings on general topics are relatively low.

 

IAS Score:  What is your advice on notes-making for other aspirants?

 

Nagender Bhukya: My day starts with notes-making from Hindu paper and I used to cut few important articles. For the rest topics I used to write important topics in the respective books itself.

 

IAS Score: How did you manage your time during the preparation?

 

Nagender Bhukya: In 2014 Mains preparation I could not manage it properly and could not cover entire GS syllabus but in 2015 I was able to complete entire syllabus because this time I prepared from syllabus point of view and not subject point of view. Please follow this approach. It gives you rich dividends. For Instance there is no need to study entire POLITY for GS mains from Laxmikanth. The Syllabus in GS2 is limited. Focus on it.

 

IAS Score: What was your style (paragraph or point format) of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

 

Nagender Bhukya: All my answers were point wise (even optional).

 

IAS Score: So much focus is being given to Test Series, both for Prelims and Mains, in your opinion how useful are they, in the course of a preparation process? Which Test Series did you join and how useful did you find it to be?

 

Nagender Bhukya: I have not joined any test series in 2015. But as I am in Hyderabad I joined in 2014 for GS mains at Sri Chaitanya IAS academy.

I personally feel test series role ends after giving two mains because later on we should focus on updating.

In my case for optional (Anthropology) I have not written even a single answer at home and also not joined any test series but my marks are quite good in it. 2014: 251 2015: 252

But for those who are preparing in New Delhi, they can opt for GS Mains test series

 

IAS Score: Civil Services Exam process is quite strenuous. It requires long hours of constant study. How did you maintain your tempo and what did you do to break the monotony of preparation?

Nagender Bhukya:

  1. I never studied for more than 7 hours a day for 6 days and took rest on Sundays.
  2. I am married and have two kids (Second one recently born). My preparation was entirely at my home. So no scope for monotony when we have KIDS at home.
  3. My aim to become IAS/IPS (for larger cause) made me to work hard consistently.
  4. From 2013 to 2015 there was improvement in my exam. It motivated me to proceed.

2013: Gave Mains but could not get Interview call.

2014: Got Interview Call and selected to IRS

2015: Improved my Rank and will get IPS.

2016: …………………………XXX

 

IAS Score: The trend suggests that professionals or working people are more successful in this exam. Does this exam prove difficult for Humanities and Social Science background candidates?

 

Nagender Bhukya: No way is that it helpful for some stream people and roadblock for others. All depends on our approach to exam and choosing of optional.

 

IAS Score: Which sources you referred to prepare for Contemporary Issues.

 

  1. Hindu newspaper
  2. GS SCORE. (From the bottom of my heart I want to say that it helped me immensely.)
  3. United Academic International Current affairs book. (Quite useful for IR related issues.)

 

IAS Score: Given the recent boom in online initiatives to support an aspirant, which were the platforms that you find useful enough during your course of preparation. Please list the sites.

1)    Mrunal.org
2)    Iasscore.in
3)    InsightsonIndia.com

IAS Score: What is your advice to the candidates who is still in the process of preparing for this examination?

Nagender Bhukya: There is no wrong in looking back. Try to analyze where you are doing mistakes. Speak to successful candidates. Reach out to your guides. But do not give up fight. Be confident and aim for high.

 

IAS Score: Your word for future aspirants

Nagender Bhukya: Believe in yourself. Never give up. Be consistent in your preparation. Do not run here and there for new resources. I believe 3 attributes are essential for success in Civil services for aspirants. 1) Patience. 2) Confidence. 3) Enthusiasm.

 

Nagender Bhukya Mark sheet

Paper Year 2015 Year 2014 Year 2013 Any other year
Prelims 134 235
Essay (Paper 1) 85 123
GS 1 (Paper 2) 85 81
GS 2 (Paper 3) 70 73
GS 3 (Paper 4) 86 57
GS 4 (Paper 5) 101 91
Optional 1 (Paper 6) 119 113
Optional 2 (Paper 7) 131 140
Written Total 673 673 475 n/a
Personality Test 179 165 n/a n/a
Total Score 852 838

 

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