Clearing the UPSC exams while holding down a full-time job is undoubtedly a challenging endeavor, but it is not impossible, as demonstrated by the inspiring journey of Manish Kumar. Balancing the demands of a demanding career with the rigorous preparation required for the UPSC exams requires exceptional time management, discipline, and perseverance. Manish Kumar’s success serves as a testament to the fact that with dedication and strategic planning, individuals can navigate the complexities of dual commitments. Often, it involves sacrificing leisure time and maintaining a strict study schedule. Manish’s achievement not only showcases his intellectual prowess but also underscores the importance of resilience and determination in pursuing one’s goals. His story serves as motivation for aspiring civil servants who find themselves juggling professional responsibilities alongside their UPSC preparation, illustrating that with the right mindset and a structured approach, success is attainable.
There is a very famous quote that says “The journey is what matters the most”. Well, after reading about this great personality you will realize the inner meaning of this quotation.
Every year, out of 8 lakhs students, only 700-800 can qualify for the Civil Service Exam of
India is popularly known for the UPSC CSE exam. But, what Manish Kumar’s story highlighted is that it is worth the front page. For starters, Manish is one of those who have cleared the UPSC exam on the first attempt. Read the full article to know more about Manish Kumar Verma, an IAS officer, and his incredible journey.
Biography, early life, and background of IAS Manish Kumar.
IAS Manish Kumar Verma is originally a resident of Bihar. He is currently 46 years of age. In 2017, Manish Kumar Verma cleared the UPSC exam with AIR 61 in his first attempt. How incredibly amazing is that! The more shocking matter is, that he was not only preparing for this exam but also at the same time he was a working professional in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. Managing time for a professional job and preparing for one of the toughest exams in India simultaneously is not something found in every house.
Manish has been a brilliant student throughout his school life. He completed his schooling in his hometown, Bihar. Then, he went to the best engineering college in India, IIT to complete his graduation in Chemical Engineering.
Graduating from IIT, and clearing the UPSC exam with a rank of 61 on the first attempt while working a full-time job, Manish Verma does have a lot of calibers for the students to get inspired.
Prelims – the most important step in the exam
You must be thinking what about the interview round isn’t it the hardest part? But for an answer prelims is the exam that might decide whether you get to sit for the interview or not.
There are, myths that prelims might be easier than the other rounds itself but it is the exam of elimination, not selection this is also true that most of the students also aren’t able to clear the prelims than the whole point of the other rounds get irrelevant.
In this exam, an extremely small margin of marks also plays a huge part in your selection due to the high level of competitors.
There are cases where students with high marks in their mocks aren’t able to do well in their final paper and even there are students who solve 50 mocks but are still not doing as well as they are expected to in the final exams. These things happen unless & until you are consistent with your preparation.
Doing 100 mocks in the last 10 days will not make a difference.
Prelims are not like mains where you get to write something with your view or you get partial marks in this exam you have to give then appropriate answer that is required and moreover.
Ways by which you can increase your chances of selection in the prelims. – master tricks by Manish Kumar
- Previous year questions and UPSC insights are a gem, go through them to get a rough idea about the exam which are you up against
- Start focusing on the details and do not try to learn new things and go through new articles on the day before the exam this will make you more anxious and is very dangerous for the exam
- Try to recognize and recall anything you have previously seen any familiar phrase or word or section this will help you to select the correct option 99% of the time
- Well, there is a famous saying that applies to most of the exams and similarly goes for UPSC as well is that “the answer is within the question” it just needs to be identified, and here is the actual task comes where you need to recall any word or context that is similar to the question you have previously come by
- Risks are not always supposed to be bad, sometimes calculated risks might get you selected as well. Its quite natural to not know all the correct answers but if you have studied well you will know at least 2 of the wrong options and if that’s the case then 50% of your work is done now you just need to select that 1 answer which your mind and instinct both agrees onto.
Topper strategies, 5 top strategies which will make sure you will crack UPSC. – Manish Kumar
- Focus on multiple information and not multiple sources: It is a work of a fool if a UPSC aspirant tries to cover up all the topics from varied sources instead of just selecting a single or two trustable books with good explanations and points.
- “Do not focus on others and don’t get distracted” – might sound a bit generic but this is the hard truth there will be students who will get high marks in their mocks and there will be days when you barely pass in your mocks but that single test doesn’t define your results but instead if you work out our mistakes and solve them then there is no one more benefited from the test
- Revise- Practice – Revise – Practice: This should be every aspirant’s mantra during their preparation because doing 1000 MCQs without knowing them will not fetch confidence but rather will increase more confusion, but on the other hand, if you do a certain amount of MCQs, say 100, and then check them- find out your mistakes- revise the parts and then again continue to do the questions by this method you will gain more confidence and grip over the questions as well as the sections
- Law of attraction: this might sound absurd but Yes these works try to focus on the positive things going on, focus on the good amount of effort you are making, make good friends, hang out with good company, and not the ones who pull you back. “Positivity attracts positivity Start manifesting and stop cribbing.” Also do not make unrealistic goals as they are bound to fail and will welcome undesired disappointments and self-doubt.
- Time management: a pretty good amount of your selection depends on how you use your time in your preparation days
- Keeping a track of all your to-do lists
Manish Kumar did his UPSC preparations while he was doing his job, his work used to start at 12 noon till 8 pm and he used to manage his studies well with his full-time job,
Manish Kumar wasn’t sure if he was that confident leaving his job without being selected for the exam.
Also, Manish Kumar believed that sleep is a must for a healthy working brain, and without getting proper rest fatigue and tiredness will eventually harm your preparation time and will lead to more loss as time is one of the valuable assets an aspirant might possess.
Motivation- all you need to clear the toughest exam.
Panic-stress-tension three best friends of every aspirant right?
Well like every other aspirant Manish Kumar also considered them his best friends but soon enough he realized that they weren’t his best friends but rather his enemies.
So he made himself understand the importance of calmness and focus.
Manish Kumar had his ways of dealing with this
- Rewarding makes the human mind happy. And of course, a happy mind works well, after revising 4-5 insights or solving 2 mock papers “I used to treat myself with ice cream” and yes that worked well for me, not only did I take less time to complete the task but also I was eventually excited to complete my next 4 insight papers so that I could have another cup of ice cream.
- Self-motivation, of course, there are times when you would wanna quit and go back to living an ordinary life but that is the time that weakest point where you need to show up the courage and remind yourself what was the reason the first place you started preparing for UPSC and if you have rock-solid reasons then you will eliminate all those excuses to quit automatically.
So this was the ever-inspiring story of IAS Manish Kumar and the strategies that he believed in.
Hopefully, this has been helpful to all the aspirants of UPSC out there and as said previously by Manish Kumar “ Practice-Revise-Practice-Revise”
Keep practicing and keep revising.
FAQs
Q: Is it feasible to prepare for UPSC exams while working full-time?
Yes, it is possible to prepare for UPSC exams while holding a full-time job. Many aspirants have successfully managed both commitments by creating a well-organized study schedule and utilizing their time effectively.
Q: How can one balance the demands of a full-time job and UPSC exam preparation?
Balancing a full-time job and UPSC preparation requires meticulous planning. Aspirants can allocate specific time slots for study, utilize weekends efficiently, and make use of any available free time. Setting realistic goals and maintaining a disciplined routine are key aspects of managing both responsibilities.
Q: Are there any specific strategies or tips for working professionals preparing for UPSC exams?
Working professionals can optimize their UPSC preparation by prioritizing their study topics, focusing on high-yield subjects, and utilizing resources such as online classes and study materials. Regular self-assessment through mock exams and consistent revision are essential strategies for success.
Q: What are the potential challenges faced by individuals attempting UPSC exams alongside a full-time job?
Challenges may include time constraints, fatigue, and stress. Balancing work commitments with the rigorous demands of UPSC preparation can be mentally and physically taxing. However, effective time management, stress management techniques, and a positive mindset can help overcome these challenges.
Q: Are there any success stories of individuals clearing UPSC exams while working full-time?
Yes, there are numerous success stories of individuals who have successfully cleared UPSC exams while holding full-time jobs. These stories often highlight the importance of dedication, smart study techniques, and a strong support system. Learning from these success stories can provide motivation and guidance for aspirants in similar situations.
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