“Having a fixed goal in mind is vital to staying motivated throughout the journey”, says Priyanka S who secured an AIR 68 in the recently concluded UPSC Civil Services Examination. She graduated from CEG with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2017.

She was the Lady President of the Students’ Association of CEG during her final year in college and credits that her success to the exposure and opportunities she had at CEG. To sum up her experience at college she says, “CEG introduced me to UPSC. I was part of various clubs. This helped me to develop my leadership skills and my overall personality.”. When inquired about the general perception of the UPSC exam as one of the toughest in the country, she adds “I feel it’s a myth as we are only expected to have a basic understanding of the nation. If one puts consistent work and works smartly while studying, they can definitely crack this examination.”

With regards to the Detailed Application form (DAF) and the interview, she insists on having a positive outlook. “The interview is not really a Q&A session, it’s a discussion. The interview panel members base their questions on what one has written in the DAF so that they can understand your perspective. But most importantly, one should be very sincere and genuine while writing the DAF.”

Since there is a chance that one might not get selected despite their hard work, Priyanka talks about the importance of having a backup plan. When asked about her backup plan she says, “In my hometown (Panruti), jackfruit is famous but doesn’t provide high profit to the farmers. For their benefit, I'd planned to start a food processing business.”

She concludes with a motivating note to the UPSC aspirants by saying, “Don’t lose hope if you were not able to crack it on the first attempt. Take some time to put in the effort to rectify your mistakes since civil services are one of the best opportunities to serve our country. Through diverse opportunities, it provides one with the power to positively impact our society.”

The Guindy Times thanks Priyanka S for sharing her experience with us. We wish her all the best for her future endeavours.