Faraz Ahmad Qureshi, IAS Topper 2009: Internet Essential to Crack IAS

Faraz Ahmad Qureshi, who successfully cracked Civil Services examination 2009, talks to jagranjosh.com about the importance of Internet

Jagran Josh:Did you take help from Internet for your IAS exam preparation? What do you think about this medium? Often students complain about G.S. subject being very vast and lack of time to cover its syllabus.
FA Qureshi: Internet was crucial during my exam preparation (as an informative source as well as entertainment). In comparison to traditional sources like books, magazines etc, Internet has an edge as it provides all the required information at the same time and place. Because of Internet only I was able to make comprehensive notes on a particular topic.

As far as GS is concerned; its syllabus is vaguely defined. But the best way to prepare GS is to master current affairs as more or less all the questions (except History and Mathematics) in GS have a current orientation.

Jagran Josh:  In your opinion, how Internet can be a solution to this problem?
FA Qureshi: News papers only provide news. Fundamental information regarding a particular topic can be accessed through Internet.

Jagran Josh: How many newspaper and magazines did you read? Can internet become a substitute or alternative source of information, that student need for competitive examinations?
FA Qureshi: I habitually read two news papers, one civil service specific monthly magazine and one weekly general magazine (either Outlook or India Today)
Neither Internet nor traditional sources (newspapers, books, magazines etc) can substitute each other. Both sources have their own utility and limitations. Traditional sources are more popular and easily accessible. Internet will take some time to penetrate deeper into rural areas, small cities and towns. I must suggest a complimentary role for these two.

Jagran Josh: Don’t you think use of internet medium will save time and provide more clarity on relevant topics from student’s point of view?
FA Qureshi: Internet in itself cannot provide much help to civil service aspirants; rather it may create confusion thereby resulting into wastage of time. However, if appropriate websites are designed, then definitely there would be a win-win situation for aspirants. I must confess that I found none of the available websites (till May 2010) to have been designed keeping in mind specific needs of civil service aspirants

Jagran Josh: What is your opinion on the present state of Web Portals dealing with Competitive examinations? Are you satisfied with that? Or would you like to suggest some changes?
FA Qureshi: I feel that I have already answered this question. To be more elaborative, I may suggest that all competitive exams must not be clubbed together. Different exams like Bank PO, CAT, SSC, UPSC etc are very different in nature. So, there must be distinctive websites for different exams.

Jagran Josh: How do you think internet can help students living in far flung areas of India? And those students who are not financially well off.
FA Qureshi: Government is trying hard to bring about an information technology revolution in the country but Internet still has miles to go.