Competition Success Review Provides Detailed Study Of Current Affairs And Factual Knowledge For General Studies
—Ms. Anuj Malik, IAS Topper 2016-17 (16th Rank)
Ms. Anuj Malik has secured the 16th Rank in the 2016-17 Civil Services Examination (CSE). She is a resident of Delhi. Ms. Malik has achieved the rare distinction of clearing and even topping the arduous Civil Services Examination in her first attempt. She credits “persistent hard work and perseverance towards my goal” as the secret of her success in CSE. In her view, one year of preparation along with self-study is the optimum time to prepare for the CSE. Ms. Malik credits her parents, especially her mother for motivating her through her journey of Civil Services. She has completed B.Tech from Bharti Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering and schooling from Air Force Bal Bharti School. Scoring 100% marks in Social Studies in school motivated Ms. Malik to go for a career in the Civil Services. To prepare for the CSE, she did self-study and read material from General Knowledge Today and Competition Success Review. “Work hard and stop not until your goal is reached. Patience always gives great results”, is her advice to Civil Services aspirants.
Here, we publish an exclusive interview which she gave to Competition Success Review.
CSR : What is the secret of your success in the Civil Services Examination?
Ms. Anuj Malik : My secret for success is persistent hard work and perseverance towards my goal.
Q. How much time do you think one requires for serious preparations for this examination?
A. One year of preparation along with self study.
Q. Which journals have you been reading for the General Studies and other papers?
A. Apart from Competition Success Review, General Knowledge Today
and CSR Year Book,I am a regular reader of The Hindu,
The Indian Express and Economic and Political Weekly (EPW).
Q. Do you remember any remarkable incident in your life that motivated or prompted you to go for a career in the Civil Services?
A. 100% score in Social Studies in school motivated me to prepare for Civil Services.
Q. Competition Success Review, the largest selling youth magazine in English for the last 35 years, has been extremely helpful because
A. It provides detailed study of current affairs and factual knowledge for General Studies.
Q. How did your parents, family and friends contribute to your success?
A. My parents, especially my mother motivated me through my journey of Civil Services.
Q. Had you not been selected in the Civil Services Examination, what would have been your reaction? Which other service/career would you have gone in/opted for?
A. If I would not have been selected then I would have prepared for another attempt for Civil Services.
Q. How do you visualise your success?
A. I visualise my success as the fruit of my hard work and a dream come true.
Q. What were your strong points which enabled you to achieve spectacular success in the Civil Services Examination?
A. My writing skills were structured and well presented which helped me score 473 marks in General Studies.
Q. What was your optional at the Civil Services Examination?
A. Psychology.
Q. How many attempts had you made earlier before you got selected?
A. No. It was my 1st attempt.
Q. What was your criterion for the selection of the optional subject?
A. My general interest and aptitude for Psychology.
Q. How did you prepare for your compulsory papers?
A. Through standard books, newspapers and other magazines.
Q. What is your impression about the Interview Board?
A. Interview Board was friendly and supportive.
Q. Competition Success Review has been the largest selling ABC-certified magazine in English since 1981. How do you visualise the role of this magazine in moulding the careers of the youth.
A. It helps to give a complete picture of the competitive exams.
Q. How did Competition Success Review help you in your preparation for the interview?
A. It made me aware of the latest current and international affairs. Also it provided great inputs for the economy.
Q. How do you look upon the publication of CSR magazine in Hindi? Do you think that the mindset and basic approach of English medium students are fundamentally different from those of the Hindi medium students ?
A. CSR magazine in Hindi is the ultimate guide for Hindi medium. It is the best source for Hindi medium. The mindset and approach for both mediums is almost the same.
Q. What is your opinion about Competition Success Review?
A. Competition Success Review is a well-structured magazine. It covers every topic in detail. It provides previous years’ questions and motivational articles.
Q. Since when have you been reading Competition Success Review ?
A. I began reading CSR in 2014 when I began my preparation for Civil Services.
Q. Did your father and/or mother also read Competition Success Review when they were of your age ? If so, who read and when ?
A. No.
Q. What is your opinion about General Knowledge Today ?
A. Yes, it gives great inputs for General Studies preparation in Civil Services.
Q. To prepare for this Civil Services Examination, did you join any Coaching Institute(s)? If so, name them.
A. I did self study and read material from General Knowledge Today and Competition Success Review.
Q. What do you think is a better way of preparation between selective intensive study and wide extensive study?
A. Selective intensive study for GS. Extensive study for optional.
Q. Have you been studying alone or in a group ? If you were studying in a group, have your other friends also succeeded ? If so, name them.
A. No. I studied alone.
Q. Is this pattern of the examination appropriate for selection? Would you recommend any other improvement?
A. Yes it is appropriate but more transparency is needed.
Q. Do you feel that there should be no restriction on the number of attempts ?
A. There should be a restriction of 4 to 6 attempts.
Q. We have been awarding CSR Gold Medal to top Fifty Rank Holders of CSE who have been our readers. Do you think that our gesture has been a source of inspiration for the Civil Services aspirants?
A. Yes it is a source of inspiration. A medal helps boost our morale and motivates for further hard work.
Q. We have been publishing essays every month under Current Issues and CSR Essay Contests and CSR Super Brain Youth Contest by adding eight more pages to encourage our readers not only to write better, but also to know what the top competitors could be writing. Besides, we offer CSR Gold Medal & Trophy to the winners of the CSR Super Brain Youth Contest. Is this focus-oriented approach helpful for the IAS aspirants?
A. Yes it is as it gives direction and motivation to new aspirants. It helps to collect new ideas also.
Q. We have been publishing Mock Tests in every issue prepared by India’s Top IAS Coaching Institutes as IAS Special Supplements in Competition Success Review to help aspirants in CSE preparation. Were these helpful to you ?
A. Yes they were helpful to me as they help prepare better for Civil Services and also channelise our efforts in right direction.
Q. How do you think Competition Success Review could be more useful to the candidates appearing in the Civil Services and various other competitive examinations ?
A. Competition Success Review can be more useful by providing mock tests and interview of selected candidates
Q. Do you think that the UPSC needs to be more transparent in its examination and evaluation ?
A. Yes, it can be by declaring marks of not selected candidates earlier.
Q. What is your advice to the future aspirants?A. Work hard and stop not until your goal is achieved. Patience always gives great results.