u/ConstructionAny8440

First of all, I wish all the very best to everyone appearing on 24th May 2026. These are the lust of things I believe should be carried on the exam day:

1. Admit card, preferably a colour printout if your uploaded photo is unclear or old.

2. The same Photo ID whose number you mentioned while filling the form. Most people use Aadhaar but check yours once.

3. 3-4 black ball pens. I would recommend thicker nib pens like Rorito or Reynolds so that filling OMR bubbles becomes easier and faster.

4. A transparent water bottle with ORS, glucose or lemon water (finish it within 4 hours). The heat during Prelims can become exhausting especially during CSAT.

5. A handkerchief because some centres have poor ventilation and summer heat can absolutely drain your energy.

6. Simple analog watch for time management. Avoid smartwatches or anything electronic.

7. An umbrella or cap because the heat is killing us 😭

8. Passport-size photos are usually not mandatory but carrying 2 extra photos is still a safe option in case of verification issues.

9. Some people carry dark chocolate or a protein bar for instant energy before entering the centre. (Many places don’t allow food inside so you can eat it during the break after GS Paper 1.)

10. A transparent writing board can help because desks at some government centres are uneven and uncomfortable for OMR filling. Only transparent boards are allowed.

11. An eraser can surprisingly help in CSAT for dice and cube questions 😭 You can mark its sides.

12. From now till 24th May try aligning your body clock with exam timings. Stay mentally active during 9:30-11:30 and 2:30-4:30 because your brain performs better when it is already used to functioning during those hours.

13. While solving the paper, try using a 3-round approach (or any other approach which helps you):

Round 1: Attempt only the easy and direct questions quickly.

Round 2: Return to marked questions and attempt what now feels manageable.

Round 3: In the final minutes take only calculated risks and avoid panic bubbling on the OMR.

14. Once GS Paper 1 is over let it go completely. Don’t waste the lunch break discussing cutoffs, answer keys or how many questions everyone attempted. Eat, hydrate, calm yourself and shift focus to CSAT.

15. Don’t stress about things outside your control:

“My centre is too far.”

“It’s in a government school.”

“Someone else got AC in a private school.”

None of this matters after the paper begins. You only need to survive a few hours not live there forever. Adapt and focus on clearing the exam not winning the comfort lottery.

16. Fix your sleep schedule before the exam day itself. Avoid caffeine after evening hours, go for a short walk if you feel anxious and try sleeping early instead of scrolling endlessly. Don’t take afternoon naps on 23rd May because it may affect your sleep cycle at night. Don’t experiment with medicines or supplements at the last moment unless you already know they suit your body. Melatonin effervescent tablets basically work like the sleep hormone (melatonin) that your body naturally secretes to induce sleep so if you already use it and know it suits you then that’s fine but don’t try it for the first time right before the exam.

17. These last 2 days are not for studying 14 hours. Sleep properly. Avoid cutoff prediction videos and panic discussions. A calm brain performs far better than an exhausted brain.

Oh haan, don’t forget to carry your confidence 😀 This exam doesn’t just test knowledge. It tests composure under pressure. So stay calm. Trust your prep and trust yourself.

All the best from r/UPSC family 💛

May our guesses be intelligent and our silly mistakes minimal.