Do you believe coaching is essential to pass the UPSC CSE? IAS officers Sarjana Yadav and Pooja Elangbam proved otherwise!

They share their strategies for passing this difficult exam without any coaching assistance.

1) Be disciplined: One of the most important things is to make a schedule and be very disciplined in following it. Ensure that by the end of the day, you’ve covered whatever you set out to do that day.

2) Factor in breaks: Including breaks in the study schedule is crucial. As and when you finish portions in your list, give yourself a well-deserved break. This will also help you come back stronger.

3) Be 100% sure of the syllabus Have a printout of the syllabus handy. With that, find the prescribed book list to get started. Comparing the syllabus and investing in books accordingly will save you time and money going forward.

4) Focus on reading the newspaper While initially, it may take a while to get through the newspaper, with regular reading, the pace increases. When you find an article of interest, make bullet points in your diary. This helps during the later stages of the preparation

5) Digital note-making is a must In case you have made notes on a particular subject and you wish to add more details to it, like having the infographics, having a digital set on your mobile phone or computer system makes it easier and interactive.

6) Recollecting and drawing conceptual connections The key to this examination is revision and reinforcement. The more you revise, the better you will be while attempting the answer. The answer to each question should flash in your mind because of your repeated revisions.

7) Pair subjects after giving them some thought To be able to make use of the time you have in the best possible manner, Sarjana urges aspirants to pick two subjects at a time while studying. For example, you can pair polity with environment.

8) Study hours to dedicate each day While the answer to this may vary from person to person, spending six to seven hours a day studying should be beneficial.

With the right mindset, discipline, and smart strategies, cracking competitive exams without coaching is absolutely possible! Believe in your plan and most importantly, believe in yourself.