What I did to get through to the IAS

Once I had made up my mind to appear for the CSE, I chose my optionals with care- as I had Indian History and Political Science during my graduation, and I was fond of Indian History, it was my automatic choice as the Preliminary optional.

For General Studies (Prelims) I would read at least two newspapers daily; the Competition Master, Yojana, Mainstream, Seminar, and a few periodicals of general interest, and a General Studies book by Mani Ram Agarwal. For Indian History, I read Romila Thapar, Percival Spear, AL Basham, Irfan Habib and Bipin Chandra. 

My Prelims studies took about four and a half months, but that also included an eye on the Mains.

I got through the Prelims in the first go, and for the Mains I dropped History because I could not relate to the World History part. Instead, I took up Political Science and Sociology. Political Science because I had studied it in college, and Sociology because it interested me after I had browsed through a few books. I had about the same time to prepare for the Mains as I had for the Prelims; and I devoted it to studies only to the extent that I was comfortable studying, that is, I did not over-work myself or tire myself out unnecessarily. The books I studied were standard texts I picked from various libraries and book-shops. For General Studies I simply continued what I did for the Prelims, though in a little more details.

I got through the Mains, too, and had far higher marks in Sociology than in Political Science! I did reasonably well in GS as well.

The interview needed no special study except to brush up on what I had already studied. I did not do as well as I expected in the interview, but did make it to the IAS in the first go!

You might ask what helped me in achieving this. First, I was sure this is what I wanted to do; second, I was fond of reading; third, I chose the optionals I knew I would enjoy studying; fourth, I did not over-exert myself; fifth, I did not listen to the prophets of doom; sixth, I read the books I enjoyed and not what others recommended; seventh, I believed in self-study so I did not join any coaching classes; and finally I approached the exam with confidence.

Success is actually a state of mind, coupled with confidence and serious study.