In Madhya Pradesh, Dr Saloni Sidana orchestrated change as the District Collector of Mandla, a role she embraced after triumphing in the 2014 UPSC CSE, clinching the 74th rank in her first attempt.

Her ascent from diligent preparation to securing an impressive rank within a year is a testament to her dedication and strategic approach. Dr Saloni shares her blueprint for aspiring candidates embarking on this journey for the first time.

1. Do not follow what everyone else does “Figure out what works out best for you. You need to have a very customised approach for yourself. Some people prefer studying in groups, some prefer to study alone in a room. That is totally okay,” she says.

2. Be consistent What helped her crack the examination in the very first attempt, Saloni says, was her consistency.

“Every day, I would dedicate around six to eight hours to preparation. There was not a single day when I took an off. Usually, some people study for 12 hours one day and then waste time sleeping for the entire next day. I didn’t do that,” she says.

3. Analyse mock papers Dr Saloni would give mock papers once every three days and would dedicate one whole day to analysing the mock paper. She stressed that giving more mocks does not help if aspirants do not analyse them.

“Ultimately, their purpose is to teach you from your mistakes. The whole exercise is futile if you do not analyse them,” she points out.

4. How to craft a powerful essay The IAS officer says, “I wondered what kind of writing engages me as a reader. I would read the editorial section of The Hindu and write down my inference in the form of a story.”

“I incorporated that same style in my answer writing. Your essay should be crisp, engaging, and backed by facts. You can also include flowcharts to make answers interesting,” she adds.

5. No fancy answers in the interview The IAS officer says she did not give any fancy answers to the interviewers. “I was just myself. They are too senior; they understand when you are not being yourself. They do not appreciate it,” says Dr Saloni.