Let’s talk about the background of our Ashish Sir Indian polity!
Ashish Kumar, who ranked ninth in the UPSC exam 2014, feels that being in the top ten positions across India was a nice surprise. Kumar, a Kanpur native, has already aced the Engineering Services Examination in 2011, placing third nationally. He is currently employed by the Indian Railways and plans to join the India Administrative Services (IAS). With India Today, he discusses his journey.
To pass the exam, what approach and planning did you use?
There was no one-size-fits-all approach. As the preparation progressed, it changed and was revised. However, I made it a point to set long-term objectives, and within those objectives, I set weekly deadlines to meet the objectives. Goals and deadlines are beneficial because they help you focus better, assess your progress more effectively, and are positively reinforcing.
How did you maintain consistency and attention for a year of preparation for the UPSC?
It’s a good question, because this exam takes a lot out of you, both mentally and physically. Though I have now known as Ashish Sir Indian polity, maintaining consistency and attention over the years hasn’t been a cakewalk.
It is so simple to become distracted and stray from the path. To avoid this, it is critical to be clear about your objectives and to have reasons that encourage you to get up and study every day. Fixing timetables also helps a lot, as I mentioned earlier because it keeps you on your toes. Most importantly, having a decent support structure in the form of your parents and close friends with whom you can talk when you are down is beneficial.
Do you think your educational background aided you in studying for and passing the exam?
Yes, to some extent. It was a little easier to pursue the subject for civil services after having a decent background in Electrical Engineering. Aside from academics, the interaction and exposure to other ideas in college also contributed to the development of the viewpoint.
Who helped you along the way as you prepared for the exam?
My family was my biggest source of support. Throughout the exam, my mother, father, and older brother were always there for me. They were always available to help me overcome any reservations I had about my ability to pass the exam.
With my hard work and determination, today my students have known me as Ashish Sir Indian polity and I would like to spread my knowledge to my learners so they can succeed in UPSC and IAS examinations.
