STRATEGY 2015 / TOPPERS / UPDATES / UPSC IAS GS STRATEGY

B. Fouzia Taranum Rank 31, How She Managed To Get Top Rank
While Working
BY INSIGHTS AUGUST 10, 2015

We are happy to know that our website was helpful to Ms Fouzia Tarannum
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during her UPSC civil services exam 2014 preparation. She wrote to us:
Thanks for your contribution in the form of your website. Was very helpful especially as I didnt have
any group/preparation peers this year. She was also very humble enough to personally meet and
thank us in Bangalore. She is an IRS officer and is currently working as Assistant Commissioner of
Income Tax in Bangalore. In the below article she shares her experience/suggestions.

B. Fouzia Taranum, IRS, ACIT, Circle 5(2)(1), Bangalore

Rank 31, CSE 2014

I do not know how helpful this brief write up is going to be, but since many had asked, and I have
benefitted from similar write ups of seniors, here goes.

I started preparing for UPSC in December 2010, having quit my job as a Business Analyst with Tata
Consultancy Services Ltd. In CSE 2011, I cleared with AIR of 307, thereby joining the IRS (IT). The
attempt in 2012 didnt see me improve my rank/service. I was under training in NADT, Nagpur, and
decided to go ahead and settle into the service, which I was beginning to like, understand and enjoy.

However once posted, from June 2014, I started feeling the difference in service IAS and IRS and
the job profiles. I felt that I should try one last time for my dream service, and give one last attempt.
So a few weeks before the prelims of 2014, I jumped into preparation mode. It helped that I was
posted at my hometown, so I had the support of my parents in this venture. In fact, the result was a
surprise to my family/relatives/friends, as not many people other than my parents, sisters and my IRS
batch mates knew that I was giving another attempt!

I reread the standard books, along with the sources available online like Insights on India. I think a
big part of the improvement in rank to AIR 31 this year was due to me growing as a person,
becoming more mature, having seen more of this world, and a creeping sense of practicality and
realism in approach, compared to an over-idealistic one earlier. UPSC is actually looking for more
rounded personalities with problem solving approach and an analytical mind. The UPSC journey
should be looked at in this light, and not merely reading of books.

Work + Study

It was very important for me that I do not compromise on my present work, while I gave this attempt. I
had to be more than justifying the salary that I was taking home.

At office, I would concentrate on work, and at home on preparation efforts and personal obligations.
While it was difficult and often tiring, I hope I did justice to both, my aspiration to be in IAS through my
preparation efforts, along with the requirements of my job as an Assistant Commissioner of Income
Tax.

The balance came from management of time. There will never be enough time, rather we have to
make time for everything.

General Strategy

No leave before prelims (no proper study before prelims either, thanks to strength in CSAT)
Focussed preparation after getting a fair idea that I will clear the prelims (having checked with
various answer keys available online)
30 days leave before mains
5 days leave for interview
Studying atleast 2 hours a day (working days) depending on my work day either early morning
or late night August to December 2014. Also managed to take a few Fridays off after the
prelims results, so as to get 3 days of continuous reading done, or to compensate for the days
when I had not prepared due to obligations at work.
Finishing weekly newspapers (piled up) and studying for about 4 hours a day (during
weekends/holidays)
A general study, unlike the crazy detailed study of 2011-12
 Focussed on revising my strong areas (economy, geography, etc) and re-preparing for my weak
areas (history, culture, sociology, etc) along with preparing for the newly introduced topics.
Focussed on current events and ensured that connected GS related gyan was revised (e.g:
LS elections were on read up all election related polity).
Chose Sociology as optional because pub ad wasnt performing too well, socio takes lesser time
to prepare in comparison and enjoyed reading this subject more, even though I have never
studied this subject academically.
Didnt read too many books, so as to not feel lost at the end of it all stuck to the books (or the
particular sections in the books) that I really enjoyed reading.
Use of YouTube videos for World History, as this was newly introduced.
Ethics GS Paper 4 Just read up a few solved papers on the Vision website and realised that
our UPSC orientation is sufficient Looked up definitions on all the terms used in the syllabus
and made short notes. Didnt read anything beyond that. Scored 113/250, and was largely just
giving true answers to most situational questions/case studies.
Couldnt practise writing due to lack of time I know that if I had, I could have really upped my
game.
Gave many examples in my answers, and tried to keep them interesting to whoever was to
read them.

Use of Time

There is a dire need for short, productive periods of reading through the day. For instance,
reading up the news feeds after returning from lunch at office, listening to the news/saved videos
while travelling to and from office, etc. Such reading of 15 minutes in short bursts 4-5 times a day
really adds up and contributes immensely to our efforts.

Also, I used to take up a subject I like and enjoy when I felt like I have a lost cause in my hands and
was feeling depressed. This really helps make our efforts more productive. However, we need to be
cautious that we do not let other subjects suffer from neglect. Be judicious in the time you allot to
various sub-subjects.

Writing style

Short, to the point, bullet points, covering as many dimensions and aspects as possible
Didnt focus on word limits too much some answers I looked for more space and for some I just
jotted down half a page
Didnt really fill pages, wrote as much as I knew
Interlinking of topics
Use of diagrams/charts
Underlining of important points as I write
Points in the margin (like a summary box, to help me and the evaluator)

Booklist:

GS (scored 405):
 History Bipin Chandra, Spectrum
World History Norman Lowe, YouTube Videos, Online resources
Geography NCERT (11th and 12th), G C Leong, Atlas
Art and Culture Insights on India questions and answers, NCERT History pdfs online
Polity Lakshmikanth, Online resources
Economy Newspapers, Frank ISC Economics (11th and 12th), Economic Survey
Environment Newspapers, ICSE Text book, Online/Wiki for all the various protocols,
committees, etc.
Ethics Just read up definitions online and read some answer scripts put up on Vision IAS
website.
Current Affairs Newspapers, Insights on India Daily Current Events (daily + revision 2 weeks
before Mains), Vision IAS monthly Current affairs notes, Sriram IAS summary Current affairs
notes, general reading online on relevant topics
Newspapers The Hindu, Times of India, Editorials from Economic Times
Magazines None this year due to paucity of time (used to read Frontline and Wizard in 2011-
12)

Sociology (Scored 257 L)

Paper 1

1. C N Shankar Rao Intro to socio

2. Crack IAS notes ppr 1
3. Haralambos very important book according to me (understood Mead thanks to this book!)
4. IGNOU BA Notes selectively. (Did all units on thinkers thoroughly)
5. Ritzer for Thinkers
6. Upendra Notes for thinkers and introduction only
7. Collins Dictionary for Sociology for concept clarity

Paper 2

1. C N Shankar Rao Indian socio

2. Crack IAS notes ppr 2
3. IGNOU BA Notes selectively
4. Nagla for Indian Thinkers
5. Upendra Notes for movements only
6. Nadeem Hasnain Tribal India selectively
7. Ram Ahuja very few topics
8. Year Book for programmes/schemes
9. Spectrum History for national movement
10. Online resources for few topics
11. Newspaper articles/editorials on social issues

In conclusion
A lot of resources available online, have a look and settle for what works best for you, but dont waste
time on the internet unnecessarily.

Never lose focus, never lose faith. Stay consistent in your efforts. Believe in yourself! Dont forget to
keep learning and to keep improving!

Though a certain amount of luck is required, hard work does pay! I have not studied in big Ivy
League institutions, nor do I have any civil servants in my family. I come from a very simple,
ordinary, loving household, where education has never been very important. Still thanks to my
parents support and my efforts, I could make it. So can anyone who sets her mind to it.

All the best for Prelims 2015 and the journey ahead! I hope you realize all your dreams.

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MUST READ BOOKS

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2) India Since Independence - Bipan Chandra

3) India's Struggle For Independence Bipan Chandra

4) Indian Economy : For Civil Services Examinations 6th Edition (2014) - Ramesh Singh

5) Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations 4th Edition - Laxmikanth

6)Geography of India- Majid Hussain - 5th Edition

7) Ethics In Governance

8)India After Gandhi: The History Of The World's Largest Democracy

9) Mastering Modern World History -5th Edition, Norman Lowe

10) Select Constitutions: 16th Edition - S Chand

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13) History of the World from the Late Nineteenth to the Early Twenty First Century - Arjun Dev

14) Social Problems in India 2 Edition - Ram Ahuja

15) Politics and Ethics of the Indian Constitution

16) Public Institutions in India: Performance and Design - PRATAP BHANU MEHTA

17) Certificate Physical and Human Geography - Goh Cheng Leong

18) Indias National Security A Reader

19) Indian Social System - Ram Ahuja



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