[Topper's Interview] Mayank Agrawal (AIR 67 _CSE-2012) _ Electrical Engineering, Chemistry « Mrunal

5/31/13 [Topper's Interview] Mayank Agrawal (AIR 67 /CSE-2012) : Electrical Engineering, Chemistry « Mrunal

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[Topper's Interview] Mayank Agrawal (AIR 67 /CSE-2012) : Electrical Engineering, Chemistry

Bio

Coaching

Inception

Information

Study Momentum

Study Hours

Strategy: CSAT (Aptitude)

Strategy: General studies

Mains 2013

Optional: Electrical Engineering

Optional: Chemistry

Optional Subject in Mains 2013?

Compulsory papers

Essay

Previous Attempts

Insecurity about “Profile”

Backup

Interview

Marksheet

Wisdom

Bogus marketing propaganda

Bio

Name MAYANK AGRAWAL

Roll number 16178

Rank (CSE 2012) 67

Optional Subjects1. Electrical Engineering2. Chemistry

Number of Attempts 2

Medium for Mains Exam English

Schooling (Medium) English

Centre for Prelim exam Jaipur

Centre for Mains exam Jaipur

Name of home town/city Varanasi (UP)

Edu

% in class 10 91

% in class 12 82

Graduation course and % 93

Name of college and year of passing out Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 2011 Batch

PG (if applicable) M.Tech (as part of dual degree) in VLSI Design and Microelectronics

Any professional courses (if applicable) Electrical Engineering

Hobbies:

Reading (mostly fiction) and I have interest in teaching.

Work Ex

Not Applicable

Family background

HOMEHOME MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION MAY 28TH, 2013MAY 28TH, 2013 30 COMMENTS30 COMMENTS

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http://mrunal.org/2013/05/toppers-interview-mayank-agrawal-air-67-cse-2012-electrical-engineering-chemistry.html

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My father is an Engineer and mother housewife. My brother is studying engineering.

Coaching

Did you joinany Coaching?

Joined for a month then left (because those people were wasting my time and money)

Did you joinany postalcourses?

I got brilliant tutorial material. (as I had very peculiar optionals, these material though useless provided somesegregated question bank for my optionals.) My advice to future candidates is that if you have traditionaloptionals then you don’t need this. Better find some people who have cleared competition with similar subjects.

Did you joinany Mock testseries?

I came across some of the vision ias mock test series which my friend had subscribed.

Did you appearin any othercompetitiveexams?

No.

Inception

For most of my life I have been like a race horse and upsc examination was another race that Iran. Though it is ironical but my main motivation was to explore myself and know myself better,other than knowing myself as a race horse. Career as a civil servant provides you variety ofchallenges and while facing those challenges (both successfully and unsuccessfully) you cometo hone your skills and know yourself better. This is the same answer that I gave in the interviewand it is mostly true.

Information

Q. Outside Delhi, it’s hard to dig how to prepare for civil service. So How did yougather the necessary information / strategy / booklist?

In my opinion when the general studies is mostly current oriented it may not be very difficult forpeople outside delhi to prepare for this exam. You can get the standard text books on blogsand websites oriented towards this exam preparation (including mrunal’s) and I think regardingthe standard material they are mostly same. I have highlighted some of the books that I referred

to later part this questionnaire.

Regarding the non standard and current material coming these days in the exams I followed debates and discussions on Lok-Sabhanad Rajya-Sabha TV channels. I had the recording set-top box where I used to record those programs daily and in about 1-2 hourswent through the relevant programs daily. These programs are of very high standard (regarding anchors and panelists) and you couldfind quality discussions. These programs provide you non-biased complete picture of an ongoing issue or policy matter andstimulates you to form an independent opinion on them. Please note that even the newspapers are biased in their opinion and youcannot form opinion just on the basis of their analysis. (for example hindu has left tilt in its opinion and vice versa is economicstimes, etc) But I read Hindu daily.

Some of programs on Lok-Sabha tv which I found useful were:

Insigt: 1-2 pm mon-fri

Public Forum / Lok Manch: 3-4 pm mon-fri

Talktime: 8-9pm Thursday

One-on-One: 4-5 pm Friday

Science This week (some time on saturday, please check as its time has changed)

Talk with Rajiv Mishra 9pm: Sunday

Some of programs on Rajya-Sabha Tv: (NOTE: programs of rajya sabha could be found on youtube)

These programs are:

Big Picture

Law of the Land

State of Economy



Sarokar

To the Point

I prepared my general studies with the above said programs and newspaper the hindu apart from standard text books.

Regarding Electrical Engineering and Chemistry, I followed Prakash Rajpurohit and Abhijeet Agrawal’s blog respectively.

Study Momentum

I think this is the most important aspect of preparation especially for this examination. According to me the main problem is theabsence of feedback. It is an engineering principle: the world / systems work on negative feedback. I have already hinted above thatyou have to evolve your own system to your standard of your preparation and continuously update that standard according to theneed. For people having surrounded by serious motivated candidates there is little problem. They are always on the edge to competewith their peers. The only problem that I see in this case is finding serious candidates. (I am sorry but this is my personal opinion thatyou won’t find many serious candidates, most of the candidates are not themselves convinced what they want from their life and justpassing time dreaming without any action)

Now coming on other set of people who don’t have peers around them to compete with. I cannot make a general comment on it andI would just highlight my strategy.

Step1: you need to be aware of the scope of syllabus.

Step2: figure out materials to be studied. Try to fix the scope while allowing some flexibility for additional material.

Step3: figure out a plan to manage the syllabus with keeping in mind that revision would take at least 50% of the time that the mainsyllabus has taken.

Step4: Break the plan into monthly, then into weekly targets.

Step5: Now compete with yourself to achieve those targets. As you go on you would have better idea of your capacity.

Over a period of time with positive results you would gain confidence in your progress and would be away from negative thoughts.Remember when you are busy chasing your target you would have little time to worry about your shortcomings.

Study Hours

Q. On an average, How many hours did you study per day?

Ans. I am not sure how to answer this question. I was in front of books around 7-8 hours. I think around 60-70% of time I wasabsorbing the content of the book.

Q. How many months did it take you to complete the core syllabus of GS and optional subjects?

Ans. I used to give around 3 hrs to GS daily.

Around 3 hrs each to optionals daily.

Everything took 1-1.25 years to complete syllabus.

Strategy: CSAT (Aptitude)

I didn’t do any preparation for CSAT paper. But if people find reasoning, aptitude difficult they could refer some preliminary CATbooks.

Strategy: General studies

Book/ source

History

Ancient Left

Medieval Left

Modern India’s Struggle for Freedom by Bipan Chandra

Culture Ccrtindia.gov.in

Mains Same

Polity

Basics Lakshmikanth

Current Loksabha and Rajyasabha TV

mains Loksabha and Rajyasabha TV



Economy

Basics Hindu Paper

Current Loksabha Rajyasabha TV

mains Loksabha and Rajyasabha TV

Geography

Physical Little bit from NCERT,

Indian NCERT

World Left

mains Above sources, economic survey and 12th plan

Environment, Biodiversity

Basics NCERT biology classs 12

Current Science Reporter and Down to earth magazine,

Mains Above sources, economic survey and 12th plan

Science Tech

Basics Left

Current Science Reporter, down to earth, loksabha tv

Mains Above sources, economic survey and 12th plan

Yearbook / Govt. schemes etc. Economic Survey, 12th five year plan

IR/diplomacy Hindu, rajyasabha and loksabha tv

I didn’t prepare for prelims separately.For mains I covered the standard material. Followed the hindu newspaper and sincerely went over debates and discussions onloksabha and rajyasabha tv (I used to record programs and later listen to them).As I did general studies on a regular basis so I was mostly updated and didn’t competition magazines.I used to selected issues in Economic and Political Weekly (left research articles in it).

Mains 2013

UPSC has changed the GS syllabus for Mains 2013. So if you were to prepare for it, what’d be your approach/strategy/booklist?

I did start my preparation for mains 2013. I would just give the books for the portion which I had completed. (though most the booklist is similar to that provided by mrunal’s website.)

1. Sociology: Class 12 NCERT both books2. World History: Class 9 and 10 NCERT history books3. Post Independence: selected chapters from India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra4. World Geography: 6,7,8 ICSE geography books5. Public admin part: from ARC reports summary : http://www.4shared.com/folder/9YX5CWCf/2nd_ARC_Report.html6. Ethics: William Frankena [I am not sure whether it is required or not, I have found it generally useful.]

Other than that IGNOU material is a good source. (it has been highlighted by mrunal in his older older post).

Optional: Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering I followed books highlighted by Prakash Rajpurohit’s blog. http://prakashrajpurohit.wordpress.com/

The only challenge for this optional is course content is huge and you need to give time to practice questions. But questions are notunpredictable and candidates can achieve high scored easily

Optional: Chemistry

Chemistry from Abhijeet Agarwals blog: http://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in/

Similar comment as above about this optional also.

Optional Subject in Mains 2013?

I would have taken Electrical Engineering. As major syllabus has been covered I require just practicing questions and scoring highmarks is easier as few people opt for it.

Compulsory papers

Q. Your booklist/strategy for compulsory Regional language paper.

Didn’t do any special preparation

Q. Your booklist/strategy for compulsory English language paper.


http://www.4shared.com/folder/9YX5CWCf/2nd_ARC_Report.html

http://mrunal.org/2013/03/approach-upsc-2013-general-studies-prelims-mains.html

http://prakashrajpurohit.wordpress.com/

http://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in/




Essay

Q. How did you prepare yourself for the essay?


Q. Which Essay did you write in Mains-2012?

On Public Private Partnership

Q.Provide some keypoints/highlights of your Essay.

My essay was mostly based on one of the debate loksabha tv in the program Taktime

Gave general descriptions of investment models.importance and requirements of ppptechnicalities of ppprecent controversieslegal and auditing issuesremedypersonal opinion

Score: 86 marks in Essay

Previous Attempts

Q. When you look back in the past, what were the deficiency in your preparation in the previous attempt? How did yourectify them this time?

I was not able to complete my syllabus during my first attempt. I just attempted the prelims (2011) and due to csat was selected.

I do not think people would have optional like mine, but if by mere chance you have them, then just concentrate on completing thesyllabus and practicing old ias questions and text book questions.

Insecurity about “Profile”

Q. Many aspirants have the (unnecessary) fear of interview, thinking that “my profile is not good because I’ve low score in class10/12/college/ I’m from unknown college, I’ve no work experience etc.etc.etc.” What’s your take on this?

Ans. Remember: “It does not depend on the size of dog in a fight but the size of fight in the dog” ( some movie dialog, butdon’t know who said it originally).

I think your behavior should be coherent with your profile rather than having too much written in your biodata.

In the interview they asked me why I wanted to join civil services. I gave the answer which I have already mentioned somewhereabove in the questionnaire.

Backup

There was no backup but if not upsc then I would plan for Ph.D

Family and Friends

I dedicate this success to My family.

Interview

Q. How did you prepare for the interview?

I used to discuss regularly questions regarding current affairs and biodata with one of my friend.

Q. Who was the chairman of you interview board?

IMG Khan

Q. How long was the interview?

20-30 min

Q. Provide the list of questions asked (and if possible answers also)



I don’t remember exact questions but will try to give broad outline:

1. How do look for personally while making decisions.2. Reasons for terrorisms in india and outside india3. how useful is watching tv nowdays4. asked about my hobby5. unhrc voting on srilanka6. why dense planets are nearer to sun7. legacy of british rule in india8. sivasamudram project9. tidal change behaviour

Q. Was your interview on the expected lines of what you had prepared or

Did they ask you totally unexpected questions? If yes, how did you handle it?

I didn’t prepare anything specifically for the interview. I prepared on my Biodata and opinion on current affairs. So, I was notexpecting anything special from the interview panel.

Marksheet

Essay 86

GS 107, 124

Electrical engg 114, 167

Chemistry 113,124

Written Total 835

Interview 198

Final Total 1033

Wisdom

Q. Through this struggle and success, what have you learned about life and competition? What is your message to future aspirants?

Ans.

There are some quotes by some people (which I don’t know) have been a source of inspiration for me.

1. Success of a person does not depend on how high a person rises but high he bounces after touching the ground.2. Being courageous does not mean having no fear, but it is an understanding that something is more important than fear.3. There is very little difference between a winner and looser and that difference is of attitude.

Bogus marketing propaganda

You are well aware of the unwritten golden rule of conducting toppers’ interview: Final question has to be about the bogus marketingpropaganda. So,

Q1. Were you a subscriber/ regular reader of Mrunal.org. If yes, since when?

And You can even say “no”, I’ll publish it without editing.

Ans. Yes I was a subscriber of mrunal.org since 2011.

Q2. How did Mrunal.org help you in your preparation?

Ans. In the initial phase it helped to grasp some economic concepts easily. Later helped to remain updated.

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30 comments to [Topper's Interview] Mayank Agrawal (AIR 67 /CSE-2012) : Electrical Engineering,Chemistry

PrasunReply to this comment

Thanks Mrunal for another inspiring intw…

VikramReply to this comment

Sir,Sir it is necessary to get the passing marks in both the papers of csat.


Sir,Is it necessary to get the minimum passing marks in both papers of csat or more in one & less in the other.

MrunalReply to this comment

upsc will combine your score from both papers and then prepare the list of succuessful candidates.

amitReply to this comment

make correction to gs paper 2 marks…it should be 124..not 24

kumari rajniReply to this comment

CONGRATES ON THIS HUGE SUCCESS…. AND OF COURSE UPSC IS ALL ABOUT SMART WORK RATHER THAN HARD WORK…UR INTERVIEW WILL B A GREAT HELP FOR OTHERS,, THANKS

AspirantReply to this comment

“”"Being courageous does not mean having no fear, but it is an understanding that something is more important than fear”"”"— Kya baat…kya baat…kya baat…!!! Excellent !! :)

Priyanka TawdeReply to this comment

I have a small request. Please upload an interview of any of the average student like who has scored around 60-50% in there boards andgraduation level and is still able to crack UPSC.. I m asking you because most of the interview i can across are of all intelligent people whohave scored arund 85-90% till there graduation.. It will be great to boost my moral..

Beside this you are doing AWESOME job..!! God Bless You

ShashankReply to this comment

+1

sameerReply to this comment

priyanka tawde, it seems ur from maharashtra.. go to youtube and watch Bharat Andhale’s speeches they are in Marathi, he was aguy never gone passed 55% in any of his exams and still cleared UPSC thanks to his will…. hope it will motivate u … best of luck foryour preparation

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http://mrunal.org/2013/05/toppers-interview-pratibha-singh-air-407-cse-2012-hindi-literature-geography-working-professional.html

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/interview-cpf-topper-kartikeya-mishra-air-4cpf-2011-shares-his-strategy-tips-success-mantra.html

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/interview-central-police-forces-topper-gangavarapu-vikram-air-137capf-2011.html

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/interview-central-police-forces-topper-dharmendra-singh-air-25-capf-2011.html

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Yes.. I m from a Maharashtra and Maharastrian also :PI have seen his interview. That guy has created a landmark.. I wont even wish to take so much attempts.. Beside this i belong toGeneral Category If i wont qualify in 2 attempts than i would take up some other job..

swamiReply to this comment

MAYANK’s roll no. was after me in chemistry paper , he took 3-4 extra sheets in both paper , that may be reason of his low chemistrymarks , I was unlucky that couldn’t qualify ENGLISH qualifying paper , I am hindi medium student.

Sandeep SinghReply to this comment

Any one knw bolgs for zoology and botany?

Sandeep SinghReply to this comment

@priyamka tawade: ru frm pune?


Its Priyanka .. Dont tell me you are the same guy which i met on UPSC group on FB .. hahahhahaha World is definitely shrinking :P

Sandeep singhReply to this comment

@priyanka tawde yes..)

tensed for mainsReply to this comment

hats off to you … i know its very tough to prepare two science optionals … IITian spirit … salute..

GNReply to this comment

Guys….Somebody who has cleared the exam with law optional please give a detailed description of how to go about with the preparation..

Mahesh MeenaReply to this comment

Thanks for sharing your experiences ..sirji

deepakReply to this comment

congrats Mayank!!!!!i am not able to download\Public admin part: from ARC reports summary : http://www.4shared.com/folder/9YX5CWCf/2nd_ARC_Report.html

can somebody help me out?


Sir,APFC Ke cutoff pata karveye please.

Sunil KumarReply to this comment

Sir,

Culture from -Ccrtindia.gov.in











http://www.4shared.com/folder/9YX5CWCf/2nd_ARC_Report.html





Culture from -Ccrtindia.gov.inGreat news.

Please do the next favour-how to extract material from this site.Being Govt. site they saling the material in many Volum of CD’s.

Any way out please ???

Thanks in advance.(Beacuse you may not be in position to deliver the answer immediately but will deliver the answer certaily)

Ateeq AbdulReply to this comment

I don’t have TV connection in my room. Can you please help me out finding lok sabha programmes on internet ?Thanks.

subramaniyanReply to this comment

Sir,

That race course part and last quotes are really Awesome !!! Motivating !!!

Rajesh KumarReply to this comment

Good evening Mrunal Sir,

I am from a small town, i am a graduate in B.Sc(MPC)with very less subject knowledge, and i want to crack civils.I am unable to spend much money, i am doing little jobs while studying from the completion of my X class for financial support.Now i want to pursue Post Graduation from IGNOU/BRAOU. I am interested in ‘Library Information science’ and ‘Sociology’.

First i want to get any govt.job for regular monthly income, after getting i want to focus more on civils,

i request you sir, plz guide me to choosing subject for PG, which will use in civils and my future career, i am in very confusing state,

plz give reply or suggest some ‘links’

thanking you.

NandanReply to this comment

congrats Mayank for huge success!!Can you share the book and author names for ICSE geo 6th, 7th & 8th for world geog.as mentioned in this blog.There are many ICSE books i could find written by different authors.

Sandeep singhReply to this comment

ICSE Text books….

PankajReply to this comment

Dear Sir,

Its great to see people impartial interviews shared by you . Thanking you for that.

I would like to ask you about choice of optionals, as i have prepared pub-ad , but after looking at people score in binary numbers ( singleor double digit but not triple digit) , it seems that i have to leave that optional. Kindly share your view , which option to go for , and anymaterial that you would like to suggest.Thanking you again for your useful and innovative notes , which helped me for this year prelims.

With Regards,Pankaj

NeerajReply to this comment

Mayank, Please provide me your contact info .. need some help regarding electrical engg.

NikitaReply to this comment

Hi Sir!! U are doing a Great job & has become one of the major sources for all Aspirants.Please suggest books,materials,etc for newlychanged Mains pattern esp G.S-Ppr 4.











changed Mains pattern esp G.S-Ppr 4.Thanking U in advance for the Same.Will be eagerly waiting for Ur Reply.

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[Topper's Interview] Mayank Agrawal (AIR 67 _CSE-2012) _ Electrical Engineering, Chemistry « Mrunal