u/Sleep_study_sleep

I do understand that reddit is not actively used by a lotta alumna's so go on! ask anything and I'll answer to the best of my capabilities.

So,

I don't really know how people might react to this one, but I dated an IPS officer for considerable time before I ventured into the civil services path myself. I couldn't qualify the prelims this time despite scoring 76 in my GS and qualifying the CSAT.

I was wondering if the beginners in this community might need some guidance regarding what life looks like post UPSC since I've lived with one. PS- I so write this because all of us have seen topper talks, and we fancy them a lot but this is how it looked from a second person pov who saw someone personally.

General personality traits (which might be helpful for the exam), I know its not universal so perhaps don't come at me but these are a few things that i noticed in him. He qualified the paper at the age of 23, so quite young there but here it goes-

1. Read the newspaper every single day (religiously)- He loves to read the newspaper- Indian express specifically and now local ones because they help him know about his area.
2. Is really good at picking up topics related to the civil services mains syllabus and can active recall those editorials and explained sections very quickly. We were once discussing about the US visas and he could recall all the visa types from a single newspaper article. Memory served.
3. Is very patient about things in general- doesn't react too quicky, handles situations with a lot of calmness including our fights. He understands that things take time.
4. He was a tech fanatic- used to make digital notes on his Ipad and revised it multiple times for mains. He said he could add/delete v easily. He rather chose to devote those handwriting hours to answer writing. (I dont know if I agree to that personally)
5. Crammed the static- He's 7 years into service and he can still recall all the articles from Laxmikanth without revising once.
6. He can guess- I DONT KNOW HOW!! but he has a flair for guessing. I was asking him about this doctrine yesterday and man o man he didn't read about it but was able to guess what it could've meant by his general knowledge and news skills.
7. Asks me to do mapping- He says the mapping is that extra point of pre and mains which can take you to places.
8. Asked me to do a lot of self study- I eventually decided to ditch coaching because I was already well versed with all the humanities subject being a DU geo hons student along with a post grad in public policy.
9. Never backs off from curiosity- wants to know anything and everything around him. He's a birder and loves to be with the nature.
10. Quick decision maker- I've never seen him hesitating before taking quick decisions. He just knows himself too well inside out. He knows that he wants to appear once again to live his IFS dream and i think he will.
11. English- He's an engineer and honestly acknowledged that my english is better than his (I won't comment) but despite that, his flair for essay and ethics got him the top most marks in UPSC due to the simplicity of thoughts. He didn't try to do anything extra.
12. He just understood how govt. exams worked- He knew that diversification meant stupidity and NCERT'S were heaven sent. Despite being an engineer he never took coaching (cause of financial strains) and depended entirely on the NCERT's and other standard books. He was able to clear other exams too, didn't appear for the interview though.
13. Optional- He took an optional that idek no one takes, rare, super rare. I mean now I get it, I think the subject is a part of IFoS too, he was just super smart.
14. Never gave up- he failed interview in his second attempt yet he knew he had to stand up again. When I failed my prelims this time (my very first) he asked me to prepare for mains the next day.
15. Confidence- Man woke up this one day, was shaving and literally said "I can give it again, I'll qualify prelims for sure".
16. Night guy- he can never wake up early in the morning, used to study till 4 am-5 am. I think this told me that UPSC is not time bound, you don't need a 4 am routine rather work how your brain works and the world will be your oyster!

I don't know how many of you might get help by this, but honestly looking at his confidence, I'm super perplexed every single time but I guess that is exactly how this exam works for people who qualify it early with some luck on their side. :)

Summary- things that I noticed in my IPS partner.

PS- I understand that he has those gifted skills of memory/retention etc etc. Neither of us can help it. I cannot justify that aspect.