Make your hardships your strength

A majority of UPSC aspirants attempt the examination to secure a rank good enough to get an IAS posting. The Better India caught up with Dr Aditya Prakash Bhardwaj, an Indian Revenue Service officer, who cleared the examination in his very first attempt with an All-India Rank of 250, without attending any coaching classes. And he studied for just around nine months!

Here is some advice he has for other aspirants.

1. Eliminate all hype

“The UPSC examination is one among many. Over the years, people have created so much hype about it, that one feels almost fearful while preparing for it,” says Dr Bhardwaj.

Growing up in a village, it was difficult for him to fit into an English-medium school when he made the shift. Sheer perseverance helped him study medicine and become the first doctor in his family.

“One of my early lessons was that I was my own competition. With every mock test, the intent was to be slightly better than the previous attempt,” he says.

2. Make your hardships your strength

Dr Bhardwaj

“After clearing the medical entrance examination and becoming a doctor, my family was shocked when I decided to appear for the UPSC. It was a decision that did not go down very well,” explains Dr Bhardwaj.

He recalls asking his father to grant him one chance to take the examination. “It was a very tough decision — knowing that my family was dependent on my income, I still went ahead and took a chance,” he says.

When he started preparing for the UPSC, he had nine months for the examination. “I shut everything and everyone out. My only objective was to work hard and clear the examination. I am glad that the chance I took on myself paid off so well,” he says.

3. Eliminate approaches that don’t fit into your schedule

Dr Bhardwaj did not make any notes or scatter his focus across many sources. If an aspirant has started preparing well ahead of time, making notes will help. However, given that Dr Bhardwaj did not have the luxury of time, he did not make any notes. “I only studied from the absolute basic (NCERT) textbooks. And instead of studying from ten books, I studied one book thoroughly,” he says.

4. Resources for preparation

“I relied on The Hindu for topics related to society, its changes and issues about human rights, tribal rights etc.,” he says. The editorial in The Hindu gave him a good understanding of the events in the world. It also helped in forming strong opinions.

For Polity, he relied on Lakshmikanth, the online portal Mrunal.org for Economics, NCERT books alone for Geography, and NCERT and Spectrum for History.

In addition, he pored over question papers from the last years. “I found patterns in the questions asked and prepared accordingly. Some topics like education, women rights, health etc. remained static, only the context changed.”

5. Be creative in your answers

During an interactive session.

“Be creative and original in the way you answer the questions,” he says. With examiners having to read hundreds of answers each day, some amount of originality in the answers will impress the examiners. “Write in such a way that when you re-read it, you enjoy what you have penned,” he says. Do not make your answers preachy or very heavy on statistics and numbers, he says.

“The answers,” says Dr Bhardwaj, “need not always be text-heavy. Also rely on pie charts, diagrams etc. to make the answers read better.”

6. In it to win it

“Look at the preparation for the UPSC as a marathon. The key to success in this examination is to stay focused and consistent,” says Dr Bhardwaj. An aspirant cannot decide to study for five days a week and relax on the weekends. The only thing that matters is sticking to your plan with discipline. It needs to be an on-going effort.

Dr Bhradwaj shares, “During my nine months in Delhi, I did not visit my hometown even once, whether for any festival or to meet my family. Consistency in preparation is important, and the result was beneficial to me.”

A question he is often asked is why he did not attempt the examination again to get a better rank. His answer is very philosophical: “I have come a long way from where I started. The fact that I am part of the services is an achievement in itself. My stream is inconsequential to the work I wish to do for society

IAS Topper Shares Strategy to Ace the Essay Paper In UPSC CSE Exam

@Kr.Deepak Sagar

2 hours ago

Nishant Jain, a 2015 Batch IAS officer has an inspiring story to share. With an All India Rank of 13, he also scored the maximum marks awarded in the essay paper.

An M.Phil. in Hindi Literature from the University of Delhi and a Master in Public Management from Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), he has also authored a book on UPSC preparation strategy titled All About UPSC Civil Services Exam.

Nishant explains the strategy you can adopt for attempting the essay paper. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) syllabus states, “Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given to effective and exact expression.”

Talking about focussing on the topic you choose, Nishant says, “You must stay as connected as possible to the basic idea of the topic. Make your essay presentation in an organised manner to fetch maximum marks.”

Nishant’s Seven Rules to Essay Writing

1. Flow

“Your essay must hold the attention of the examiner and that is possible only if there is an easy flow to your work,” says Nishant. Always remember that a good essay is a sequential presentation of ideas. “Therefore, while presenting your ideas, identify the interrelated ideas, and present these sequentially in your essay,” he adds.

Upon completion of one paragraph, there should be a very organic transition into the next paragraph. “The examiner must not be left with any unanswered questions in their mind,” says Nishant. This can be achieved with regular essay writing practice.

2. Balanced and Comprehensive View

Nishant Jain

“It is advisable that you choose a middle path while writing answers, rather than take sides or present an extreme point of view,” advises Nishant. Avoid having a very narrow point of view about the subject, the broader your vision, the better the impact.

Do not look at the topic only via one prism. Explore all aspects, which include social, cultural, economic, political, philosophical, religious, scientific, historical, geographical, and environmental.

3. Present A View That Is Respectful To Others

“Always look at the topic in totality. Refrain from focusing on just one aspect and making your essay one-dimensional,” says Nishant. It is also important that you respect all views and present the essay in such a manner only.

4. Strong Introduction and Conclusion

While there is no clear-cut formula on how to frame the introduction and conclusion, you can keep in mind the following points.

“Some prefer introducing the topic with the help of quotes and statistics, while others start with an anecdote or facts. Pick what you feel works best for the topic and go with that,” explains Nishant.

In conclusion, you must leave the examiner with a balanced and tactful point of view which captures the essence of the article.

5. Writing Style and Presentation

All About UPSC- a book authored by Nishant Jain. Essay writing and more.

“Spend some time sprucing up your essay and making it look good,” he says. The Commission’s guidelines lay emphasis on a ‘legible hand-writing,’ so that is important to follow.

In Nishant’s view, a few points to remember to improve presentation include:

(i) Write in small paragraphs
(ii) Minimise grammatical errors
(iii) Use simple vocabulary
(iv) Maintain good legible handwriting
(v) Underline and highlight important points

6. Use of Quotations

In Nishant’s opinion, “Quotes should be used according to the context. It should not appear as if it is being imposed; rather it should suit the essay’s topic. Also, do not make controversial statements.”

7. Selection of the Topic

“Half the battle is won if you choose the right topic,” says Nishant. When asked what to consider while choosing an essay topic, Nishant shares:

– Select a topic you are most familiar with. Citing his own example, he shares, “I chose to write on the topic – ‘Is sting operation an invasion on privacy,’ because I had a reasonably good understanding of this topic.” Similarly, look for familiarity and level of comfort while picking your topic.

What To Do And What Not To

Nishant Jain

• Develop and maintain the habit of reading, writing, discussing and thinking.
• There is no other substitute for writing practice. If you want to make it better, practice the writing of essays every week and get them evaluated so that you can improve your writing skills.
• Participate in group discussion as it will enhance your understanding of the topic and will always leave you with new points to ponder over.
• Stay positive and believe in your preparation
• Pay attention to time-management. It is compulsory to write both essays in the paper. Therefore devote equal time to them.
• Do not exceed the word limit, as you will not get any credit for it.

Nishant went from a group ‘C’ government job to group ‘B’ and finally to group ‘A’ by cracking the UPSC civil service exam. He imparts this advice with the hope that it will help other aspirants too.

English Worksheet for Pre Nursery & Nursery

Worksheet for juniors @LockDown

Pre. Nursery & Nursery

English

1. Copy and say to yr ward for make round on it.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

2. Match the following.
A                          C
B                           D
D                          G
E                           A
F                                   B
G                                  K
H                                   L
C                                    E
I                                     F
J                                    H
K                                     I
L                                    J          

3. Write it in 10 times on your copy in good writing.
Ant ,    Aeroplane ,       Axe
........     .................        .........



4. Write Capital Letter ( 5 times)

A        B        C         D..........


5. Write Small letter ( 5 times)

a          b         c          d..........

Hindi Worksheet for Pre.Nursery & Nursery

Worksheet for juniors @LockDown

Pre. Nursery & Nursery

Hindi

1. लिखे हुए वर्णों को बच्चे के कौपी में लिख कर उन्हें उस पर दोहराने को कहें।

क

ख

ग

घ

2. नीचे लिखें वर्णों को मिलाएं।

क                        ख

ख                        क

ग                          घ

घ                          ग

3. इसके बाद क्या आएगा ?

च - .......         ख - ........         ग -..........

ग -........          घ - .........        क - .........

छ - .......          झ - .........       च- ..........

ट - ........          ड -..........       ढ -..........

त- ........          द - ...........      न - .........

प - ........          ठ - ..........       थ - ........

फ - .......          म - ...........      ब - .........

भ - .......          य - ..........        ल - ........

र- .........           व - .........        श - ........

स - .......          ष - ..........        ह - ........

क्ष - ........         ज्ञ - .........         त्र - .......

4. इसके पहले क्या आएगा ?

......- ख           ....... - च         ...... - घ

...... - प           ....... - थ         ...... - ग

...... - घ           ....... - छ         ...... - झ

...... - ट            ....... - ड         ...... - ठ

...... - त           ........ - थ        ....... - म

5. क"से ज्ञ" तक लिखें।

Daily GK Update 21st March 2020: Read Daily GK-Current Affairs Update

21 March 2020
-------------------------------
Daily GK Update 21st March 2020: Read Daily GK-Current Affairs Update

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about the banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 21st March 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. RBI to infuse Rs 30,000 crore to boost liquidity

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will infuse liquidity of Rs 30,000 crore by purchasing of Government securities under Open Market Operations (OMOs) to maintain financial stability in the Indian economy. RBI has took this decision to boost liquidity in order to ensure that all markets segments function normally with adequate liquidity and turnover, as certain financial market segments are facing stress due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Ranks and Reports

2. UN releases World Happiness Report 2020

The United Nations has released World Happiness Report 2020. The World Happiness Report ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. The report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness. This is the 8th edition of the World Happiness Report.

Agreements

3. APEDA signs MoU with SFAC for development of agriculture sector

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium has signed an MoU for the development of agriculture and allied sectors as well as its exports for bringing better value to the stakeholders.

Key takeaways of the MoU signed by APEDA and SFAC:

• As per MoU, APEDA and SFAC will jointly work to link up the FPOs with the exporters.
• They will also work towards capacity development, awareness programs, outreach programs and workshops of various stakeholders.
• APEDA will facilitate certification of organic produce/areas by the Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) assisted or identified by SFAC.

Important Days

4. International Nowruz Day celebrated globally on 21 March

International Nowruz Day is being celebrated globally on 21 March every year. International Nowruz Day is being observed to celebrate "Nowruz" which is an ancestral festivity and marks the first day of spring which is celebrated on the occasion of the astronomical vernal equinox that generally occurs on 21 March.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.
• Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Audrey Azoulay.

5. World Poetry Day celebrated globally on 21 March

World Poetry Day is observed globally on 21 March every year. World Poetry Day is being observed annually to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities. UNESCO recognized 21st of March as World Poetry Day during its 30th session which was held in Paris in 1999.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.
• Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Audrey Azoulay.

6. World Down Syndrome Day observed on 21 March

World Down Syndrome Day is observed every year on 21 March to raise public awareness of Down syndrome. Down syndrome occurs in an individual when he/she has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. The theme of World Down Syndrome Day 2020 is "We Decide".

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

7. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 21 March

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed globally on 21 March every year. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2020 is focused on the midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

8. International Day of Forests celebrated on 21 March

International Day of Forests is celebrated every year on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On this day, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees. The theme for International Day of Forests 2020: Forests and Biodiversity.

Collection by : Kr.Deepak Sagar Sir

                          @dronstudytutorial

Daily GK Update 15th and 16th March 2020: Read Daily GK-Current Affairs Update

16 March 2020
-------------------------------
Daily GK Update 15th and 16th March 2020: Read Daily GK-Current Affairs Update

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about the banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 15th and 16th March 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairspart. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. GoI pledged $10 million for Covid-19 emergency fund

Government of India has pledged $10 million towards a Covid-19 emergency fund. India has also planned a rapid response team of doctors and specialists for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations. India suggested Integrated Disease Surveillance Portal (IDSP) that is currently being used to detect infected patients and contact tracing.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• SAARC founded: 8 December 1985
• Headquarters of SAARC: Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Members country of SAARC: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

2. Cabinet hiked dearness allowance of central government employees by 4%

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a 4% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from January 1, 2020. This will be applicable above the existing rate of 17% of the Basic Pay/Pension. The decision is expected to benefit 48 lakh employees and 65 lakh pensioners.

International News

3. Niue declared as world's first 'Dark Sky Nation'

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has recognised Niue as a 'Dark Sky Place'. With this, Niue has become the world's first whole country to be recognised as a 'Dark Sky Place'. Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Niue Capital: Alofi; Currency of Niue: New Zealand dollar.

State News

4. "Phool Dei" festival commences in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand celebrates the traditional harvest festival “Phool Dei”. Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra or in mid-March (according to Gregorian calendar). On this traditional festival young girls pluck the first flowers of the season to decorate their houses with flowers and the term ‘Dei’ refers to ceremonial pudding which is the key food in the festival that is made from jaggery, Whiteflour & curd, are offered to everyone.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.
• Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.

5. Manipur CM announces CMAST & CMAT scheme to encourage athletes & artists

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has announced the scheme for the welfare of sportspersons and artists of the State. These schemes are namely: ‘Chief Minister’s Akhannaba Sanaroising gi Tengbang (CMAST)’ and Chief Minister Artist Sing gi Tengbang (CMAT)’. These schemes would provide benefits to thousands of sportspersons and artistes of the State who have brought laurels to the State and Country.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur. The only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.

Banking News

6. RBI lowers single & group borrower exposure limit for UCBs

The Reserve Bank of India has revised the single borrower and group exposure limit for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). The exposure limit for UCBs has been lowered to reduce the concentration risks originating from large loans. RBI has lowered the single borrower exposure limit for UCBs to 15% of tier I capital. This limit was earlier 15% of tier I and tier II capital. RBI has lowered the group of borrowers exposure limit for UCBs to 25% of tier I capital. This limit was earlier 40% of tier I and tier II capital.

RBI has also decided to increase the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target for UCBs from 40% to 75% of the Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC), or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure (CEOBSE).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

Appointments

7. GoI nominates Debasish Panda as director on RBI central board

The Central Government has nominated Debasish Panda as a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India. He is a Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi. The nomination of Debasish Panda is effective from March 11, 2020, and until further orders.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

8. Prashant Kumar becomes new MD & CEO of YES Bank

Prashant Kumar has been appointed as Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Yes Bank. Sunil Mehta has been appointed as non-executive chairman of YES Bank. Mahesh Krishnamurthy will serve as a non-executive director of the bank, while Atul Bheda as a non-executive director.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Headquarters of Yes Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Yes Bank established: 2004.

Ranks and Reports

9. India ranked 12th globally in 'Women On Board 2020' study

India has been ranked 12th in the world as per study titled 'Women On Board 2020'. The list was topped by Norway with 40.72% women on board. A study on 'Women On Board 2020' has been done jointly by global recruitment tendering platforms MyHiringClub and Sarkari-Naukri. The study was based on the presence of women in companies' board globally.

Key results of study on 'Women On Board 2020':

• Norway topped the list with 40.72% women on board
• Around 54% of employees in Asia and 39% in India are women
• India ranked 12th in the world in women member presence on board
• Among 628 listed companies from India, 55% companies were having women directors

Sports

10. Viktor Axelsen & Tai Tzu Ying wins All England Championship

Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei have won the men’s and women’s singles title respectively at All England Championship held in Birmingham, England. Viktor Axelsen of Denmark defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen by 21-13, 21-14 to win the men’s singles title of All England Championship. Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei defeated Chinese Chen Yu Fei by 21-19, 21-15 to win the women’s singles title of All England Championship.

11. Achanta Sharath Kamal wins men's singles title in Oman Open

Achanta Sharath Kamal has won the ITTF Challenger Plus Oman Open men’s singles title. He defeated Marcos Freitas of Portugal by 4-2 in the final match.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Oman Capital: Muscat; Currency: Omani rial.

Important Days

12. National Vaccination Day: 16th March

India observes National Vaccination Day every year on 16th March which is also known as National Immunization Day. The  day is being celebrated to convey the importance of vaccination to the people of the country. The prime purpose behind the celebration of National Vaccination Day is to make all people aware of arming against polio and eradicating it completely from the world.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• World Immunization Week 2020 celebrated in the last week of April (24 to 30 April).
• The theme of World Immunization Week 2020: VaccinesWork for All.

13. World Consumer Rights Day observed globally on 15th March

World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated globally on March 15 every yea to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs. Celebrating World Consumer Rights Day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.

Theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2020: "The Sustainable Consumer".

Miscellaneous News

14. Maharashtra approves renaming of Mumbai Central station

The Mumbai Central station is going to be renamed as Nana Shankarseth Mumbai Central railway station. The Maharashtra state government has approved a proposal for renaming the Mumbai Central station as Nana Shankarseth Mumbai Central railway station. Nana Shankarseth was a Maharashtrian philanthropist and an educationist who contributed a lot for the development of Mumbai.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

15. Microsoft launches website to track COVID-19

Microsoft has launched a web portal to track the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. The web portal has been launched by Microsoft's Bing team. The portal aims to track the spread of novel coronavirus in the world. The website is accessible at "bing.com/covid" and provides up-to-date infection statistics for each country. The web portal displays the information by aggregating data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella.
• Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters of Microsoft: Washington, United States.

10 ways to become a good person.

10 ways to become a Good Person...

🤞Judge less , 🙏accept more.

👆Complain less , 💓love more.

👀Watch less , 💪do more.

✊Spend less , 🤝earn more.

😁Quit less , 🏃try more.

🤐Talk less , 😌listen more.

😂Frown less , 😄smile more.

😑Sleep less , ✍️work more.

🤔Think less , 🤗feel more.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹