“When I am studying, I make sure every second counts,” says Sudhir Gahlot, the IAS officer who secured an All India Rank of 42 in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2017.

On Quora, he shares about his 10-hour daily preparation routine, which was a balanced mix of study sessions, breaks, and newspaper reading.

Sudhir studied in three sessions of three hours each, with a one-hour break between them. This added up to 10 hours of focused study every day.

His day began at 6 AM, with the first 30 minutes dedicated to reading the newspaper and making notes.

Sudhir followed a ‘guilt-free’ schedule. He kept Sundays for rejuvenation—deliberately avoiding all study material and spending time playing sports like football and cricket.

Every night, after his study sessions, he relaxed from 9 to 11:30 PM, spending time on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

Despite the rigour of his preparation, Sudhir maintained a healthy balance and a positive mindset. “It was never pressure,” he writes on Quora.

“I have also taken a few days off in between, where I didn’t study for seven to eight days straight. But I made sure that when I got back to the books, I would make every second count,” says Sudhir.

Power naps between study sessions, physical fitness, and a balanced diet were also integral to his routine.

He emphasises that consistent effort is key, and reminds aspirants that success in competitive exams comes with patience and discipline.