Profile Snapshot

Saima Khan, AIR 165 (CSE 2023)

The Journey of Resilience: A Four-Attempt Marathon

Saima’s path to success was a testament to perseverance through failure.

Attempt 1 (2018)

Unsuccessful due to an unstructured preparation strategy relying on random online resources.

The Turning Point (2019)

Instead of moving to Delhi, she joined Educrat IAS Academy in Kolkata, which provided the structured guidance, mentorship, and competitive peer group she needed.

The Near Miss

Cleared Prelims for the first time in her third attempt but failed Mains. She credits her mentors for motivating her to restart the cycle after feeling dejected.

The Victorious Attempt (2023)

Her final attempt was defined by an intense focus on answer writing. She appeared for 28 Mains mock tests in 3 months, which proved to be the game-changer, leading to her eventual success.

The Winning Strategy: Smart, Focused & Consistent

Core Philosophy: The UPSC Mantra

Limit Resources, Revise Multiple Times

Master a few standard books instead of chasing new material.

Syllabus is the Guide

Use the syllabus as the ultimate map for your studies.

Practice is Paramount

Mock tests for Prelims, Mains, and Interview are non-negotiable.

Smart Work > Hard Work

Focus on quality of understanding, not just the number of hours studied.

Peer Learning

Use a strong peer group to discuss, learn, and stay accountable.

Stage-wise Action Plan

Prelims

Master basic concepts from NCERTs and standard books

Appear for weekly mock tests to track progress

Read the newspaper daily for current affairs

Mains

Intensive Answer Writing: 28 mock tests in 3 months

Multidimensional Analysis Essays from multiple angles

Practical Ethics Case studies with realistic solutions

Daily Class Quizzes

DAF-Centric Preparation Meticulous DAF preparation

Comprehensive Mocks: Multiple mock interviews

Personality Development Focus on diplomacy and balance

How I Aced my Mains Exam! Download My Answers to Know More

Essay	GS Paper I	GS Paper II	GS Paper III	GS Paper IV
Essay Mock Test 1 & 2	GS Paper 1 – Mock Test 1	GS Paper 2 – Mock Test 1	GS Paper 3 – Mock Test 1	GS Paper 4 – Mock Test 1
Essay Mock Test 3 & 4	GS Paper 1 – Mock Test 2	GS Paper 2 – Mock Test 2	GS Paper 3 – Mock Test 2	GS Paper 4 – Mock Test 3
Essay Mock Test 5	GS Paper 1 – Mock Test 3	GS Paper 2 – Mock Test 3	GS Paper 3 – Mock Test 3	GS Paper 4 – Mock Test 4

Interview Experience Highlights

The interview was a comprehensive test of her DAF, optional subject, and awareness of national and global issues. Key themes covered were:

Sociology & DAF

In-depth questions on sociologists (Srinivas), sociological analysis of social issues (poverty, elderly), and her DAF entries (hobbies, background).

Administration & Polity:

Questions on All India Services, the role of bureaucrats, and judicial appointments.

International Relations:

India's global position, the Russia-Ukraine war, and UNSC membership.

Economy & Infrastructure:

Technical questions on economic corridors, Gati Shakti, and CBAM.

Ideology & Current Affairs:

Questions on the ideologies of terrorist groups and concepts like "liberal theology.