Once you have decided that it is the Indian Civil Services that is your calling and you want to give it a shot in the near future, it is time to start some training.
You might be wondering what kind of training am I talking about! Before you even start your preparation in earnest, you can start to train yourself to think like an IAS officer. If you are successful, you will have an edge even before you start preparing.
How to Think Like an IAS Officer?
Have you decided that becoming an IAS officer is your dream job? Do you simply want to put in the effort and be in that position as soon as possible? Please begin to train your mind!
Are you perplexed by what I just said? What is the nature of the training? It’s crucial even before you start studying for the UPSC exam.
From the start, train your mind to think like an IAS officer. So, the purpose of this article is to teach you how to prepare your mind for such a demanding career.
Also Read: What is the Minimum Rank for General Category Aspirants to Become IAS Through UPSC?
What is an Officer Supposed to be Like?
An IAS officer has to think constitutionally, taking immense care to not let personal opinion or biases cloud his / her opinion and judgement regarding any issue.
They have to be neutral, fair and abide by the constitution. You, as an aspirant, should also aim to develop these qualities. To be able to think, reason, and gather knowledge too. Unless you know, you cannot think, understand differing views, and reasons.
And if you do not reason objectively, you stand to lose out. You could be as knowledgeable as you can be, write and present your answers as best as you can, but you will lose out on critical scores if your opinions reek of personal bias or non-objective and non-constitutional reasoning on issues.
Example
Let me explain with an example
Let us talk about ‘Awarding Death Penalty in Rape Cases based on sentiments’ in India. Do you think it is constitutional to award the death penalty for every rape committed?
How should You be Thinking about this Issue?
As per the Indian Constitution, it is not. Every Indian citizen has the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, as per the honourable Supreme Court of India. We, as a nation, are law bound to provide every criminal with a fair trial.
Also, the Indian Legal System is not for revenge, it is for redemption. All punishments have protocols. Capital Punishment can only be granted in the ‘Rarest of Rare Cases’.
This kind of clarity and objective thinking will set you apart from every other candidate, and developing this form of thinking should be the first thing you should focus on.
Also Read: Want to Try Your Luck in UPSC IAS Exam While Working as an AGE in IDSE? Learn the Possibilities Here
So How Do You Develop These Skills?
#Varied literature, judgments, news and differing viewpoints. Then combine them all together and form your opinion and judgement.
#When you read about issues, try and analyze them from a social, political and constitutional point of view. Keep up with the developments and analyze (and form your opinion) what is happening vis-à-vis the Indian Constitution and justice for all. Then form your opinion and judgement on the issue.
#Discuss your opinions with your teachers and peers. Reading and talking to knowledgeable people and even the common man broadens your horizons and mind. Try to understand varied viewpoints. But remember not to get carried away by emotion.
Some More
#Try and pen down your thoughts. When you see your thoughts on paper, you will be able to analyze the efficacy of your point of view better.
I must tell you that UPSC questions are multi-dimensional and have many connected issues combined in each question. Unless you have the knowledge and the ability to think and connect the dots, you shall not be able to clear the exam.
Make these habits your own now and forever.
If you focus thus, you can definitely train yourself to think like an officer. Your knowledge and training will not only help you with the preparation, but it will also help you frame better answers in the Mains and the Interview.
Tips to Prepare for UPSC
It is simple to train your mind if you concentrate on the above skill development phase. It is used to assess an aspirant’s overall development. Find some helpful hints below to help you prepare for the UPSC exam.
Don’t Procrastinate
What are you waiting for if you are certain about your career choice? A strong piece of advice is to begin your IAS preparation as soon as possible.
It is not a problem if you are pursuing a college degree. It is possible to have a virtual experience prior to the actual event. However, how is this even possible? Let’s assume you’re going to sit for Prelims in 2022.
So, you’re free to use this concept! As soon as the 2020 Prelims question paper is available on the internet, download it. Attend the paper while keeping in mind the time limit.
After that, evaluate your answers and calculate your score. This way, you can get a feel for the exam without going over your allotted number of attempts. You’ve gained both practise and confidence as a result of this.
Build the Right Attitude
Prepare your mind to develop the attitude that an IAS officer requires. Have faith in me! During the interview stage, your attitude is very important.
There are, of course, 6 to 9 attempts. However, do not continue in this manner, try to get it done on the first try. It’s all about how you train your mind in this case.
This is the worst thought I’ve ever had! It fills your mind with negative energy. Begin preparing in such a way that you will be able to pass the IAS exam on the first try.
Always keep in mind that your energy level decreases with each attempt. It is always preferable to win on the first or second try.
Also Read: Does the Interview Round Differ When IPS is First Choice Instead of IAS? Here’s the Answer!
Learn to Face Your Fears
Exam anxiety is completely understandable! However, learning how to avoid the same is a difficult task. The majority of candidates are terrified of exams.
Except for one thing, there is no way to get rid of exam anxiety. It’s all in your head! Participate in as many mock tests and online exams as possible. As a result, you’ll have a lot of practice sessions.
You’ve probably heard the popular saying, “Practice Makes Perfect.” Please remember this adage. In essence, it’s a chain reaction.
You will gain maximum confidence if you practise. There are no more fears once you gain the confidence required to pass the UPSC exam.
Delete Negative Stuff!
Delete all of your doubts! Do not believe that candidates who only attempted one attempt will have more knowledge. It’s only a minor benefit. Such doubts must be dispelled right away by first-timers.
Furthermore, new candidates have a higher level of energy and a fresh mind. Make full use of it in order to be successful in your career. Take control of your thoughts and don’t let negative energy derail your UPSC preparation.
Visualise and Imagine
Imagine yourself sitting in the exam hall even while you’re studying. Make a positive attitude about the exam. When you think of UPSC exam halls, what comes to mind?
Do you envision yourself calmly sitting in the exam room? Do you feel tense and have some negative thoughts running through your mind? It’s fine to feel it in the beginning.
Gradually shift your perspective to a more encouraging one. Feel at peace and tension-free on the day of the exam. Learn how to deal with your anxiety. Consider it this way. You’re not scared at all!
You’ve spent months preparing for this single day. You have successfully completed the preparation. All you have to do now is put on a show.
Also Read: Salary of an IAS Officer: How Much You can Earn per Month after Clearing the UPSC Exam?
Some More of Imagination
You are now in front of the exam paper. It’s fine if you feel tense for the first few minutes. Read through the questions thoroughly and don’t be in a rush to answer them quickly.
Take a deep breath before responding. Make sure you follow through on all of your plans. Of course, some of the questions appear to be difficult. It’s all right! You were anticipating the difficult questions.
You have two options for visualising. One is to envision yourself as a successful individual. You’ve completed your preparations. It is now the appropriate time to seek positive outcomes.
On the other hand, you can easily control negative thoughts. It’s fine to have a bad day on the big day. You should, however, be aware of how to overcome it. Simply take a few deep breaths and get to work.
Study Well
Apart from studying according to the UPSC syllabus, you have a lot to learn. Let me begin by saying that you will be taking the Prelims exam very soon. It appears that learning the syllabus in depth is stressful.
Prepare only as much as is required. Before you begin, figure out what you need to prepare and how much you need to prepare. Before you begin, please keep the following points in mind.
Answer the simple questions with utmost care. The majority of IAS candidates are capable of providing correct answers to simple questions. Without a doubt! You, too, will benefit.
However, there’s a good chance you’ll make a silly mistake. If the question appears simple, double-check your answer before submitting it.
Study More
Please don’t be alarmed if you come across a difficult question. It’s actually a good sign. Why? The vast majority of students would have been unprepared. As a result, even they will be unable to deal with the difficult questions.
Remember to give it your all when answering difficult questions. Only then will you be able to stand out from the crowd and get the desired results. The difficult questions are, of course, the unique differentiating factors.
It is almost certain that you will advance to the next stage of the exam if you focus on answering difficult questions correctly.
It’s perfectly fine if you think the question is difficult. Simply unwind. Try to think about the question calmly. If it appears that you will be unable to respond, simply move on.
Do not allow such dreadful questions to undermine your self-assurance. Above all, your mindset will determine your success.
Conclusion
Are you fascinated by an IAS’s way of thinking? UPSC Pathshala is a one-stop shop for all of your UPSC needs. What you get is a personalised platform with personal mentors guiding you through video lectures, quality notes, and plenty of practise for the most competitive exam. Thousands of aspirants have succeeded thanks to UPSC Pathshala’s guidance. Simply visit the UPSC Pathshala for more information.
Hopefully, this article has given you an insight and also preparation tips which will help you to crack UPSC with your desired score.
Also Read: All About the Curriculum of IAS Training : A Glimpse the Journey of an IAS Officer
