Shakti Dubey Background
- Achievement: All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) in UPSC CSE 2024.
Attempts: Her fifth attempt.
- UPSC Optional Subject: Political Science & International Relations (PSIR).
Cadre: Uttar Pradesh.
Education (Shakti Dubey)
Schooling: Attended St. Mary’s Convent (SMC) in Ghoorpur, Prayagraj.
Undergraduate: B.Sc. (Honours) in Biochemistry from the University of Allahabad, where she was a gold medalist.
Postgraduate: M.Sc. in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where she also topped her class and received a gold medal
Hometown: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Table of Contents Shakti Dubey
UPSC Journey Attempts:
UPSC Journey Attempts: On her fifth try, she cleared the test. Her path was characterised by a great deal in his life; before clearing the UPSC, she made it to the interview stage once and failed the preliminary stage 4 times.
Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is an optional subject.
Scores: She received 1,043 points overall (843 in the written Mains test and 200 in the Personality Test/Interview).
Motivation: Her main sources of motivation have been her father’s police work and the influence of witnessing how public service can make people feel protected and bring about change.
Weak Foundation
Weak Foundation in History: In her first attempts, Shakti struggled with History because it was vast and hard to master. She spent too much time on it without earning high marks.
Later, she decided to focus only on basic NCERTs and standard sources to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Resource Diversification
- Resource Diversification
Shakti admits that she failed her third attempt mainly because she spread her study materials too thin.
The Mistake: She had a fear of History, which led her to read about ten different books on the subject.
The Lesson: She learned that there is no definitive list of books. She adopted the rule of “one subject, one book.” Sticking to a few books is essential for revising them multiple times.
Solving vs. Analyzing PYQs
She points out that many candidates use Previous Year Questions (PYQs) only for information, which is a missed chance.
The Mistake: Not focusing enough on the “how” and “how much” of studying.
The Lesson: PYQs should help you grasp the language UPSC uses, the key topics, the important words, and the repeated themes. While the syllabus indicates what to study, the PYQs show how much you should read.
Neglecting the Basics and NCERTs
- Neglecting the Basics and NCERTs
She warns against the mistake of pursuing fancy book lists before mastering the basics.
The Mistake: Rushing after too much material and advanced reference books without a strong foundation.
The Lesson: A solid grasp of the basics and NCERTs is vital for good content quality.
Insufficient Revision and Retention
- Insufficient Revision and Retention
Shakti notes that the extensive UPSC syllabus can cause students to feel overwhelmed if they don’t concentrate on retaining information.
The Mistake: Focusing on new materials instead of solidifying old ones.
The Lesson: Retaining information matters more than just covering it. This retention comes from repeatedly going over the same material, even if it feels tedious.
Fleeting Study of the Optional
- Fleeting Study of the Optional
Regarding the Mains examination, she identifies a common mistake in how students approach their optional subject.
The Lesson: Do not study the optional subject casually. She suggests incorporating PYQs into the very first reading of the optional subject. From her experience, themes in the optional papers often repeat.
Summary of her Strategy for Success:
Syllabus: Keep it visible to avoid getting lost in the material.
Resources: Stick to a limited, fixed set of materials from the start.
Direction: Knowing how to do things is more important than just knowing what to do.