Ajay Prakash of Samastipur, Bihar, secured 9th rank in the UPSC exam 2010. He talks to Gulshan Sharma of jagranjosh.com and tips IAS aspirants on how to clear the Mains Written stage of the IAS exam
Q. When should a candidate start preparing for the Mains examination?
A. One should start preparing for the Mains exam immediately after the Prelims. The two months between these two exams are very precious and should be utilized effectively, irrespective of your performance in the Prelims.
Q. What were your optional subjects for the Mains exam? What was the basis of choosing them? Which books did you refer to?
A. English Literature had been my subject in Graduation, PG and now I am doing MPhil in English Literature. So it was the obvious choice. The other optional subject that I opted was Sociology. It is not a very difficult subject and a natural fit to English Literature as one has to study about the society, the period etc in English Literature as well as Sociology. Also, I prepared for Sociology in less than 3 months.
Q. How important is the role of current affairs in optional papers?
A. Current affairs plays a significant role in most subjects. Except for papers like Literarture or the Sciences, use of current affairs in your answers will fetch you high marks.
Q. Tips for English Literature?
A. Delhi University syllabus is very good and comprehensive. Also, the matter published by Delhi School of Open Learning is extremely helpful. A publication called Worldview will also help IAS aspirants prepare English Literature. Read specific texts instead of reading the history of English Literature, for instance. The candidate should focus on themes and analyse, for example feminism, post colonialism, etc. Answer to the point. Don’t prove yourself a pundit in the language.
Q. Tips for Sociology?
A. Read NCERT books. Develop a perspective. Use common sense. Write analytically and be original.
Q. How should a candidate prepare for the Hindi Language paper?
A. Remember not to commit grammatical mistakes. Handwriting should be legible. The idea of this paper is to check the basic understanding of the language. A good command over the language is always helpful.
Q. What was your strategy for the Essay paper?
A. Improve your writing skills. It is important to be able to express oneself and the ideas. Strong general knowledge is required to be able to write good essays. Reserve the first half hour during the examination for thinking. Jot down all your ideas on a piece of paper and then write a structured answer.
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