Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India.

Union Public Service Commission

Mohit Oberoi

cleared prelims 4 times. cleared mains 3 times. never got interview call. 4th mains attempt this year. sharing brutal learnings.

why i failed mains (analysis after much reflection):

attempt 1:
- wrote everything i knew, not what was asked
- ignored word limits completely
- optional paper 2 disaster (pub ad, ran out of time)
- ethics case studies theoretical, not practical
- total: 680-ish marks

attempt 2:
- better answer relevance but poor presentation
- handwriting deteriorated under pressure
- gs4 improved but gs1 dropped (time management issue)
- optional improved but not enough
- total: 720-ish marks (cutoff was 748)

attempt 3:
- best preparation objectively
- but prelims stress affected mains preparation timing
- current affairs gap in last 2 months
- essay was average, both essays middle road
- total: 735 marks (cutoff was 742)

7 marks. 7 marks separated me from interview.

STRATEGY CHANGES FOR ATTEMPT 4:

1. essay priority:

previously treated essay as "general paper". now treating it as highest roi paper. 250 marks for 2 essays. started dedicated essay practice 6 months before mains.

joined essay test series. getting it evaluated by different people. working on structure + content + presentation all three.

2. ethics overhaul:

case studies were my weakness. now maintaining case study bank from newspapers. practicing application not theory recitation.

added personal touch to answers. "in my view" "my approach would be" instead of generic points.

3. optional consolidation:

pub ad paper 2 needs current examples. building scheme database. administrative reform examples from last 3 years.

paper 1 theory is stable. focusing on paper 2 scoring improvement.

4. handwriting practice:

sounds silly but bad handwriting = bad impression. practiced writing 3000 words daily for 2 months. improvement visible.

5. time boxing in exam:

strict time allocation. timer practice at home. learned to leave incomplete answer and move on if needed. earlier i would spend 25 mins on 10 marker.

6. mental game:

most important change. stopped comparing with toppers. stopped checking results discussions. focusing on process not outcome.

added meditation and exercise to routine. exam day performance depends on mental state.

WHAT I WISH SOMEONE TOLD ME EARLIER:

- mains is about consistent good answers not few excellent ones
- 150 words means 150 words not 250
- examiner is checking 25 copies daily, make their life easy
- optional is 500 marks, dont neglect it for GS
- current affairs integration separates average from good

for fellow multiple attempters:

no shame in attempts. every attempt teaches something. if you have conviction, continue. but also be honest about improvement areas.

4th time hopefully last. but even if not, process continues.

fourth attempt mindset and strategy changes - what i learned after three mains appearances without success cleared prelims 4 times. cleared mains 3 times. never got interview call. 4th mains attempt this year. sharing brutal learnings.

why i failed mains (analysis after much reflection):

attempt 1:
- wrote everything i knew, not what was asked
- ignored word limits completely
- optional paper 2 disaster (pub ad, ran out of time)
- ethics case studies theoretical, not practical
- total: 680-ish marks

attempt 2:
- better answer relevance but poor presentation
- handwriting deteriorated under pressure
- gs4 improved but gs1 dropped (time management issue)
- optional improved but not enough
- total: 720-ish marks (cutoff was 748)

attempt 3:
- best preparation objectively
- but prelims stress affected mains preparation timing
- current affairs gap in last 2 months
- essay was average, both essays middle road
- total: 735 marks (cutoff was 742)

7 marks. 7 marks separated me from interview.

strategy changes for attempt 4:

1. essay priority:

previously treated essay as "general paper". now treating it as highest roi paper. 250 marks for 2 essays. started dedicated essay practice 6 months before mains.

joined essay test series. getting it evaluated by different people. working on structure + content + presentation all three.

2. ethics overhaul:

case studies were my weakness. now maintaining case study bank from newspapers. practicing application not theory recitation.

added personal touch to answers. "in my view" "my approach would be" instead of generic points.

3. optional consolidation:

pub ad paper 2 needs current examples. building scheme database. administrative reform examples from last 3 years.

paper 1 theory is stable. focusing on paper 2 scoring improvement.

4. handwriting practice:

sounds silly but bad handwriting = bad impression. practiced writing 3000 words daily for 2 months. improvement visible.

5. time boxing in exam:

strict time allocation. timer practice at home. learned to leave incomplete answer and move on if needed. earlier i would spend 25 mins on 10 marker.

6. mental game:

most important change. stopped comparing with toppers. stopped checking results discussions. focusing on process not outcome.

added meditation and exercise to routine. exam day performance depends on mental state.

what i wish someone told me earlier:

- mains is about consistent good answers not few excellent ones
- 150 words means 150 words not 250
- examiner is checking 25 copies daily, make their life easy
- optional is 500 marks, dont neglect it for gs
- current affairs integration separates average from good

for fellow multiple attempters:

no shame in attempts. every attempt teaches something. if you have conviction, continue. but also be honest about improvement areas.

4th time hopefully last. but even if not, process continues.  mohit oberoi strategy upsc

Fourth attempt mindset and strategy changes - what I learned after three mains appearances without success

this is my 4th attempt. no shame admitting that. 3 failures have taught me more than any coaching or book could. sharing my journey and lessons.

MY JOURNEY:

ATTEMPT 1 (2023):
- didnt clear prelims
- reason: underestimated exam, casual preparation
- lesson: upsc needs serious commitment

ATTEMPT 2 (2024):
- cleared prelims, failed mains
- reason: answer writing was terrible
- lesson: knowledge is not enough, presentation matters

ATTEMPT 3 (2025):
- cleared prelims, cleared mains, failed interview
- missed by 12 marks
- reason: interview preparation was weak
- lesson: every stage needs dedicated preparation

ATTEMPT 4 (2026):
- this is it
- changed everything based on failures
- most confident i have ever been

WHAT FAILURES TAUGHT ME:

LESSON 1: PRELIMS IS ELIMINATION NOT SELECTION

first failure taught me prelims is not about knowing everything. its about:
- accuracy over attempts
- elimination technique
- negative marking awareness
- time management

what i changed:
- started doing 50+ mcqs daily
- analyzed every wrong answer
- developed intuition for guessing
- practiced time-bound tests weekly

LESSON 2: MAINS IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION

second failure taught me mains is not a knowledge test. examiners check:
- can you STRUCTURE your thoughts?
- can you write RELEVANT content?
- can you present BOTH sides?
- can you give practical SOLUTIONS?

what i changed:
- started answer writing from day 1
- got every answer evaluated
- developed templates for each question type
- focused on introduction and conclusion

LESSON 3: OPTIONAL CAN MAKE OR BREAK

my optional scores:
attempt 2: psir 220 (disaster)
attempt 3: psir 268 (decent improvement)

what i changed:
- focused on answer writing not just reading
- reduced sources (quality over quantity)
- practiced previous year questions
- understood what toppers do differently

LESSON 4: INTERVIEW IS NOT LOTTERY

third failure taught me interview is systematic:
- daf is the script (prepare every line)
- current affairs of last 3 months
- hobby should be genuine
- optional should be connected

what i changed:
- joined mock interview series early
- worked on body language
- prepared stories for every daf point
- improved articulation

MENTAL LESSONS:

LESSON 5: COMPARISON IS USELESS

first 2 years i kept comparing with successful candidates. it only brought depression.

now i compare only with yesterday me.

LESSON 6: BREAKS ARE NECESSARY

i used to study 12-14 hours thinking more = better.
result: burnout before exam.

now i study 6-8 focused hours with proper rest.

LESSON 7: SUPPORT SYSTEM MATTERS

isolating yourself doesnt help. staying connected with:
- family (emotional support)
- fellow aspirants (mutual learning)
- mentors (guidance)

LESSON 8: BACKUP IS NOT BETRAYAL

i appeared for state psc and got selected last year. didnt join because upsc dream was bigger.

but having backup reduces pressure. gives confidence.

WHY THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT:

1. i know exactly where i failed before
2. i have addressed each weakness
3. i am mentally prepared for any outcome
4. i have backup secured
5. i am at my knowledge peak

MESSAGE TO FELLOW MULTI-ATTEMPTERS:

- your experience is your edge
- each failure is data point
- shame is useless emotion here
- persistence is the only strategy

first attempters have enthusiasm.
multi-attempters have wisdom.

both are valuable. use what you have.

this is my final attempt (age constraint). not because i am giving up, but because ive given it my all. whatever happens, no regrets.

to everyone still in the game: keep going. your time will come.

fourth attempt no shame - what failure taught me and why i am more confident this time about clearing mains this is my 4th attempt. no shame admitting that. 3 failures have taught me more than any coaching or book could. sharing my journey and lessons.

my journey:

attempt 1 (2023):
- didnt clear prelims
- reason: underestimated exam, casual preparation
- lesson: upsc needs serious commitment

attempt 2 (2024):
- cleared prelims, failed mains
- reason: answer writing was terrible
- lesson: knowledge is not enough, presentation matters

attempt 3 (2025):
- cleared prelims, cleared mains, failed interview
- missed by 12 marks
- reason: interview preparation was weak
- lesson: every stage needs dedicated preparation

attempt 4 (2026):
- this is it
- changed everything based on failures
- most confident i have ever been

what failures taught me:

lesson 1: prelims is elimination not selection

first failure taught me prelims is not about knowing everything. its about:
- accuracy over attempts
- elimination technique
- negative marking awareness
- time management

what i changed:
- started doing 50+ mcqs daily
- analyzed every wrong answer
- developed intuition for guessing
- practiced time-bound tests weekly

lesson 2: mains is about communication

second failure taught me mains is not a knowledge test. examiners check:
- can you structure your thoughts?
- can you write relevant content?
- can you present both sides?
- can you give practical solutions?

what i changed:
- started answer writing from day 1
- got every answer evaluated
- developed templates for each question type
- focused on introduction and conclusion

lesson 3: optional can make or break

my optional scores:
attempt 2: psir 220 (disaster)
attempt 3: psir 268 (decent improvement)

what i changed:
- focused on answer writing not just reading
- reduced sources (quality over quantity)
- practiced previous year questions
- understood what toppers do differently

lesson 4: interview is not lottery

third failure taught me interview is systematic:
- daf is the script (prepare every line)
- current affairs of last 3 months
- hobby should be genuine
- optional should be connected

what i changed:
- joined mock interview series early
- worked on body language
- prepared stories for every daf point
- improved articulation

mental lessons:

lesson 5: comparison is useless

first 2 years i kept comparing with successful candidates. it only brought depression.

now i compare only with yesterday me.

lesson 6: breaks are necessary

i used to study 12-14 hours thinking more = better.
result: burnout before exam.

now i study 6-8 focused hours with proper rest.

lesson 7: support system matters

isolating yourself doesnt help. staying connected with:
- family (emotional support)
- fellow aspirants (mutual learning)
- mentors (guidance)

lesson 8: backup is not betrayal

i appeared for state psc and got selected last year. didnt join because upsc dream was bigger.

but having backup reduces pressure. gives confidence.

why this time is different:

1. i know exactly where i failed before
2. i have addressed each weakness
3. i am mentally prepared for any outcome
4. i have backup secured
5. i am at my knowledge peak

message to fellow multi-attempters:

- your experience is your edge
- each failure is data point
- shame is useless emotion here
- persistence is the only strategy

first attempters have enthusiasm.
multi-attempters have wisdom.

both are valuable. use what you have.

this is my final attempt (age constraint). not because i am giving up, but because ive given it my all. whatever happens, no regrets.

to everyone still in the game: keep going. your time will come.  mohit oberoi topic-discussion upsc

Fourth attempt no shame - what failure taught me and why I am more confident this time about clearing mains

law grad here doing upsc after practicing briefly. sharing how legal background is both blessing and curse.

WHERE LAW BACKGROUND HELPS:

1. POLITY IS HOME GROUND
- constitution feels familiar
- fundamental rights, dpsp already done
- parliamentary procedures make sense
- supreme court judgments are second nature

2. LEGAL REASONING
- structured thinking
- argument building skills
- case analysis comes naturally
- can cite landmark judgments confidently

3. GOVERNANCE AND ADMIN LAW
- statutory bodies and their powers
- judicial review concepts
- quasi-judicial understanding
- right to information, service laws

4. ETHICS PAPER
- legal ethics exposure helps
- case study analysis is similar to moot courts
- constitutional morality concept clear

5. PSIR OPTIONAL SYNERGY
- political thought overlaps with jurisprudence
- comparative government connects
- international law chapter is easy

WHERE LAW BACKGROUND CREATES PROBLEMS:

1. OVER-COMPLICATION
- we tend to write answers like legal drafts
- upsc wants simple, accessible language
- legal jargon actually hurts marks

2. NARROW FOCUS
- think everything from legal angle
- miss social, economic, administrative dimensions
- upsc wants holistic answers

3. POLITY TRAP
- think "i know this" and skip preparation
- upsc polity is different from law syllabus
- laxmikanth covers things law school didnt

4. TIME MANAGEMENT ISSUE
- law exams allow long answers
- upsc wants 150 words, not 500
- brevity is a struggle

5. CURRENT AFFAIRS GAP
- law school focused on precedents
- upsc wants current applications
- needs adjustment in approach

HOW I ADAPTED:

1. UNLEARNING LEGAL WRITING
- simple sentences, no latin terms
- point format over paragraph
- examples over citations (mostly)

2. WIDENING PERSPECTIVE
- read beyond legal angle
- understand policy, not just law
- administrative and social dimensions

3. POLITY FROM SCRATCH
- did laxmikanth cover to cover
- many things were new or different perspective
- dont skip based on "i know this"

4. ANSWER LENGTH DISCIPLINE
- practiced 150-word strict answers
- painful at first but essential
- quality over quantity

OPTIONAL CHOICE:

- took PSIR, not law optional
- law optional syllabus is boring and outdated
- psir has better synergy with GS2
- many law grads do pub ad or sociology instead

ADVANTAGES IN INTERVIEW:
- legal issues discussion comes naturally
- can handle judiciary related questions
- current legal controversies awareness
- constitutional interpretation questions

ADVICE FOR LAW GRADUATES:

1. dont assume polity is sorted - study it fresh
2. actively unlearn legal writing style
3. focus on policy not just legal provisions
4. dont take law optional unless genuinely interested
5. your skills will shine in ethics and interview

the biggest shift is from "what is legal" to "what is right" - upsc cares about the latter more.

law grads in upsc - connect below! what optional did you choose? 📜⚖️

law graduate doing upsc - how legal background helps in polity and also where it creates problems law grad here doing upsc after practicing briefly. sharing how legal background is both blessing and curse.

where law background helps:

1. polity is home ground
- constitution feels familiar
- fundamental rights, dpsp already done
- parliamentary procedures make sense
- supreme court judgments are second nature

2. legal reasoning
- structured thinking
- argument building skills
- case analysis comes naturally
- can cite landmark judgments confidently

3. governance and admin law
- statutory bodies and their powers
- judicial review concepts
- quasi-judicial understanding
- right to information, service laws

4. ethics paper
- legal ethics exposure helps
- case study analysis is similar to moot courts
- constitutional morality concept clear

5. psir optional synergy
- political thought overlaps with jurisprudence
- comparative government connects
- international law chapter is easy

where law background creates problems:

1. over-complication
- we tend to write answers like legal drafts
- upsc wants simple, accessible language
- legal jargon actually hurts marks

2. narrow focus
- think everything from legal angle
- miss social, economic, administrative dimensions
- upsc wants holistic answers

3. polity trap
- think "i know this" and skip preparation
- upsc polity is different from law syllabus
- laxmikanth covers things law school didnt

4. time management issue
- law exams allow long answers
- upsc wants 150 words, not 500
- brevity is a struggle

5. current affairs gap
- law school focused on precedents
- upsc wants current applications
- needs adjustment in approach

how i adapted:

1. unlearning legal writing
- simple sentences, no latin terms
- point format over paragraph
- examples over citations (mostly)

2. widening perspective
- read beyond legal angle
- understand policy, not just law
- administrative and social dimensions

3. polity from scratch
- did laxmikanth cover to cover
- many things were new or different perspective
- dont skip based on "i know this"

4. answer length discipline
- practiced 150-word strict answers
- painful at first but essential
- quality over quantity

optional choice:

- took psir, not law optional
- law optional syllabus is boring and outdated
- psir has better synergy with gs2
- many law grads do pub ad or sociology instead

advantages in interview:
- legal issues discussion comes naturally
- can handle judiciary related questions
- current legal controversies awareness
- constitutional interpretation questions

advice for law graduates:

1. dont assume polity is sorted - study it fresh
2. actively unlearn legal writing style
3. focus on policy not just legal provisions
4. dont take law optional unless genuinely interested
5. your skills will shine in ethics and interview

the biggest shift is from "what is legal" to "what is right" - upsc cares about the latter more.

law grads in upsc - connect below! what optional did you choose? 📜⚖️  mohit oberoi topic-discussion upsc

Mohit Oberoi

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