Cities like Delhi and Allahabad have become the UPSC Civil Services coaching hubs. Many people would guide you to move to one of these cities and join one of the institutes providing coaching for CSE, once you begin your preparation. It is a common notion in the Civil Services candidates, that if they do not attend coaching classes, their chances of selection in the IAS exam are grim. Breaking these myths, Nidhi Siwach became an IAS officer in 2018. She did not move to Delhi or Allahabad or join any coaching classes. Check her success story below.
IAS Nidhi Siwach: UPSC Success Story
In an interview, Nidhi spoke about how people manipulate the aspirants regarding coaching classes, forcing them to join them in fear of failure.
She said that joining a coaching institute is not compulsory even there is no one to guide you at home. There is enough material available on the internet to pass the Civil Services exam.
IAS Nidhi Siwach: What Motivated Her To Start UPSC Preparation?
Nidhi Siwach belongs to Gurugram. She is an engineer specializing in mechanical engineering. She was a design engineer in Tech Mahindra before beginning her Civil service Exam preparation. During her college days, Nidhi wanted to join the Indian Airforce. She appeared for the FCAT exam, clearing the initial two stages. During her SSB interview, the interviewer convinced her to start preparing for Civil Services. It was a turning moment in Nidhi's life. She took his advice and started her Civil Services preparation.
Nidhi took her first attempt after this interview. Although she did not prepare, she scored better than many other candidates. She could not make the final cut that year. Nidhi did not want to quit her job at Tech Mahindra and prepared along with it. In the second attempt, she could not even finish her syllabus. She failed Prelims again. She did not lose hope. By then, her family started looking for marriage proposals for her.
Nidhi convinced her father to give her the last chance, as she was very sure of clearing CSE. Nidhi says, " The paper was not tough in both the previous attempts. I failed because I did not prepare well." Her father granted her the last chance on one condition, if she failed, she would have to get married to the person he chose for her without any issues. Nidhi agreed to this condition and returned home to start her preparation afresh.
IAS Nidhi Siwach: Final Attempt
Nidhi moved back from Hyderabad to Gurugram in November 2017. Her major struggle was when she had to choose her optional subject. Nidhi knew that the optional subject played the lead role in her Civil Services exam preparation.
After analyzing the past 5 years' question papers, she shortlisted four optional subjects, namely, Public Administration, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and History. She found that mechanical engineering as an optional was doable. So she decided to go with it.
She tells in an interview that she did not see the main gate of her house for the next six months. She just studied, ate and slept in one room for the next six months.
She started with NCERTs and the basic books. She asks the candidates not to run after resources. Nidhi Siwach just focused on clearing Prelims first. She made her CSE strategy based on this goal. She cleared Prelims, after which she started her Mains preparation. For Prelims, she targeted only 80-85 questions and did not give in to negative marking.
For Mains, Nidhi solved as many numerical problems as she could. She started writing answers after that and focused on her speed and accuracy while she wrote. Nidhi Siwach tells candidates in an interview that it is not essential to practice answer writing all year long. One can also start their preparation once they appear for the Prelims.
Nidhi went through one book per subject and studied current affairs extensively. She thought from the perspective of the copy checker that helped her write unique answers.
Nidhi Siwach scored good marks in UPSC Mains that year and got through CSE Interview. Nidhi secured AIR 83 in Civil Services Exam 2018.
For the interview, she asks the candidates to maintain their cool during the process.
Nidhi guides the candidates to study continuously and not run after resources. Her preparation strategy is a learning for all the candidates of Civil Services.
Also Read|
Comments