MOTIVATION: MITTALI SETHI AIR 56, The Journey

of a Married, Working Woman into Civil Services

Truly Inspiring!
www.insightsonindia.com/2017/06/08/motivation-mittali-sethi-air-56-the-journey-of-a-married-working-woman-into-
civil-services-truly-inspiring/
INSIGHTS

The Journey of a Married, Working Woman into Civil Services

MITTALI SETHI

AIR 56, CSE 2016

Hello everyone!

My story of Civil services starts neither from childhood, nor from college. My life as a
doctor and teacher was pretty much settled and I had a good paying job when I decided
to take this exam. In fact, if you are someone who thinks you dont know enough to write
this exam, let me tell you a little story.

Until 2014, I did not know the full form of either UPSC or IAS. I was blissfully unaware of
the world apart from my dental (I am an orthodontist) books and my students. I walked in
a room one day, when someone was preparing for the exam and asked him what he was
studying for. When he said IAS, I asked him the full form of it! Over the next few days,
when I finally decided that I wanted to write this exam, my husband laughed at me saying
that my current affairs knowledge was not zero, but in negative. I hadnt read a single
newspaper in the past 6 years. He asked me if I was really serious about it.

When I turn back today, it seems like I really was serious. I failed two prelims
consecutively, maybe because I started at a different zero point from others. In my third
attempt this year, I got the 56th rank. I worked in a hospital for nearly 9 hours along with
my preparation. To top it off, I did not have my graduation subject as my optional and
had to start from scratch to study Psychology. To really top it off, I was married.

Before I go any further about the strategy for exam, let me answer a few common
questions/topics here:

1. Can I clear this exam? Do I have it in me?

After my journey, I truly believe that no matter what level you are on now, you can reach
there if you have the one quality you need in abundance in both this exam and life
GRIT. Do not stop believing in yourself, even in the times you fail. If you think you can do
it, you can do it, do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise.

2. Do I need coaching? Do I need to go to Delhi or any other place with good

coaching?

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No you dont. The times have changed and now you have sites like Insights on India,
Mrunal etc on the web to guide you in all the preparation. I have been an ardent
follower of Insights. I joined their Prelims test series in 2016 and 2017, and also the
Mains test series in 2016. The Insights Prelims test series is actually all you need to
revise everything you have read. I could not read the India Year Book, Economic Survey
last year before prelims but their test series covered these resources so thoroughly! Not
only that, their questions cover extensively the Ministry websites, the global organisations
and contemporary environment. This kind of curating is not possible for one to do by
oneself. For me, this was especially useful being a working candidate. I got such
amazing quality of questions at the ease of my computer along with the flexibility of
timings. I could score 144 in CSE Prelims 2016.

3. Which optional is scoring?

I believe this topic has been discussed multiple times, and I want to reiterate here that
there is no such thing. I can show you people this year who have got better marks than
me in the same optional paper and those who could not do as well. Your best bet is to
take up a subject you like and study it well, be well versed in it. Dont try to lower the
level of fight, be well prepared for it, that ways you will have more chances of winning!

The role of Insights:

I have mentioned about the Prelims and Mains test series earlier already. But apart from
that, for me, Insight has always stood out for the way it has chosen to do things. And in
many ways, they have led by example. I remember the article titled In this life full of
endless struggles, tomorrow is just another day. it helped me immensely to regain my
confidence a day before Prelims. Their Rajya Sabha TV summaries as well as Secure
initiative were of a lot of help for the Mains exam.

Preparing for Prelims:

Since Prelims is just round the corner, a suggestive book list, in my opinion is neither
required nor appropriate at this moment. Plus, it has been extensively mentioned and
discussed before.

In these last days, however, make sure you revise (and re-revise) your tests(Insights
Prelims Tests), and keep a diary with you. Note down things that you should read if you
think of anything. I am providing a small example of my list here:

1. Reports or indices and who publishes them.

2. National waterways number and where to where.
3. National highways how is the numbering done, longest highway etc.
4. Any famous/new/controversial GI tags in the last year
5. River tributaries, major hydroelectric projects
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 6. Biosphere reserves read about all of them briefly.
7. Differences between National park, wildlife sanctuary and biosphere reserve
8. Important military exercises of India with other countries.
9. Major bodies of UN what they do. How are members appointed.
10. Air quality indices, INDPs, Solar program, International Solar Alliance.

Keep adding smaller topics like these, and read a bit about whatever comes to your
mind. If you havent given any tests, make sure you read the solutions of the tests
nevertheless. That ways you can at least finish the syllabus.

My mark sheet:

Mains Marks

Prelims Marks

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For all the aspirants:

I will be posting the Mains strategy, as well as Essay and Psychology strategy very soon
here on Insights.

Since I am receiving a lot of queries, I have decided to answer these in two ways:

1. Please email me on [email protected], and I will get back to you at the earliest. And
I definitely will.
2. I have decided to write in a consolidated list of articles addressing multiple
dimensions of the exam here wordpress.com. Please tell me in comments what
issues/queries you would like me to address, and I will answer those.

Before Prelims:

I can understand that many of you must be feeling anxious at this point of time. Do not let
anxiety and nervousness get to you. Remember that your mind is everything. Do not
allow a negative thought to enter into it especially at this time. Stay calm, and no matter
how much you have read or not read, go out there with an open, positive thought. Enjoy
the journey!

I leave you for now with these beautiful lines that have sustained me in so many difficult
times.

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