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

Harshita Goyal

PSIR PAPER 2 FULL_copy.pdf

PSIR PAPER 1 FULL_copy.pdf

2B PSIR Sectional_copy.pdf

2A PSIR sectional_copy.pdf

1B PSIR Sectional_copy.pdf

1A PSIR Sectional _copy.pdf

Hello everyone,
Many of you have asked me to share my PSIR mock test copies 

As a commerce student, I consider my PSIR score of 269 marks (Paper 1: 117, Paper 2: 152) to be a decent one.

My mantra: Focus on conceptual clarity with limited but crisp notes. Solving previous year questions played a crucial role in refining my answers — I made sure to cover the last 10 years of PYQs thoroughly.

Hope this helps you in your journey! 😊

psir mock test copies hello everyone,
many of you have asked me to share my psir mock test copies 

as a commerce student, i consider my psir score of 269 marks (paper 1: 117, paper 2: 152) to be a decent one.

my mantra: focus on conceptual clarity with limited but crisp notes. solving previous year questions played a crucial role in refining my answers — i made sure to cover the last 10 years of pyqs thoroughly.

hope this helps you in your journey! 😊  harshita goyal notes upsc

PSIR mock test copies

Hello everyone,

I hope you’ve all taken a well-deserved break and are feeling refreshed to dive back in for your Mains preparation.

For those of you who appeared for this year’s Prelims — whether you’re feeling confident or have a few doubts about clearing — don’t wait for the results. Start preparing for Mains now.

👉 Aim to complete one thorough reading of your Optional subject and Ethics by 15th June. Yes, it might feel challenging, but trust me — it’s not just possible, it’s necessary. This head start will ensure that as soon as the results are out, you’re already ready to tackle tests and practice with full focus.

For the next 15 days, don’t get distracted by Essay practice. I’ll be sharing my detailed Essay strategy, along with mock test copies, around 15th June.

So let’s get going. Don’t let these 15 days slip by — they could make all the difference.

Start strong. Keep moving. And remember — Mains is where the real game begins. All the best!

for those of you who appeared for this year’s prelims hello everyone,

i hope you’ve all taken a well-deserved break and are feeling refreshed to dive back in for your mains preparation.

for those of you who appeared for this year’s prelims — whether you’re feeling confident or have a few doubts about clearing — don’t wait for the results. start preparing for mains now.

👉 aim to complete one thorough reading of your optional subject and ethics by 15th june. yes, it might feel challenging, but trust me — it’s not just possible, it’s necessary. this head start will ensure that as soon as the results are out, you’re already ready to tackle tests and practice with full focus.

for the next 15 days, don’t get distracted by essay practice. i’ll be sharing my detailed essay strategy, along with mock test copies, around 15th june.

so let’s get going. don’t let these 15 days slip by — they could make all the difference.

start strong. keep moving. and remember — mains is where the real game begins. all the best!  harshita goyal strategy upsc

For those of you who appeared for this year’s Prelims

Hey friends,

By now, I’m sure your inboxes are full of do’s and don’ts for today — and rightly so😃! But I just wanted to share a few things that personally helped me, hoping they’ll help you too.

You’re just one sleep away from the exam you’ve poured your heart into for months. Today isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about calming your mind and centering your focus.

Here’s a quick checklist to end your day right:

✅ Keep it light – Don’t overload yourself with revision. Trust your hard work so far.

❌ No new PDFs or last-minute notes – however tempting, they add more stress than value.

🚖 Sort your travel plans – Book a cab in advance or ask a friend/family member to accompany you. Avoid driving yourself if you can — keep your mind exam-focused.

📍 Visit the centre – Either go yourself or ask someone to check it out. The goal is simple: no surprises tomorrow.

🎒 Pack your bag tonight – Admit card, photo ID, 2 black pens, transparent water bottle, analog watch, and maybe a couple of chocolates for a sugar boost.

🍽️ Eat light for dinner – Something easy on digestion. I preferred South Indian food — light, tasty, and filling. But go with what keeps you comfortable.

Pro tip:
✨ Try to wind up everything by 6 PM. Yes, 6! After that, relax. Watch a feel-good movie, take a walk, talk to family, or just be with yourself. A clear and rested mind tomorrow can make all the difference.
And finally — get a good night’s sleep.
Your best asset in the exam hall isn’t your notes — it’s a calm, rested YOU.

You've got this. Sending strength and belief your way!
All the very best for tomorrow! Go own that OMR sheet tomorrow 🌷🌷

do’s and don’ts hey friends,

by now, i’m sure your inboxes are full of do’s and don’ts for today — and rightly so😃! but i just wanted to share a few things that personally helped me, hoping they’ll help you too.

you’re just one sleep away from the exam you’ve poured your heart into for months. today isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about calming your mind and centering your focus.

here’s a quick checklist to end your day right:

✅ keep it light – don’t overload yourself with revision. trust your hard work so far.

❌ no new pdfs or last-minute notes – however tempting, they add more stress than value.

🚖 sort your travel plans – book a cab in advance or ask a friend/family member to accompany you. avoid driving yourself if you can — keep your mind exam-focused.

📍 visit the centre – either go yourself or ask someone to check it out. the goal is simple: no surprises tomorrow.

🎒 pack your bag tonight – admit card, photo id, 2 black pens, transparent water bottle, analog watch, and maybe a couple of chocolates for a sugar boost.

🍽️ eat light for dinner – something easy on digestion. i preferred south indian food — light, tasty, and filling. but go with what keeps you comfortable.

pro tip:
✨ try to wind up everything by 6 pm. yes, 6! after that, relax. watch a feel-good movie, take a walk, talk to family, or just be with yourself. a clear and rested mind tomorrow can make all the difference.
and finally — get a good night’s sleep.
your best asset in the exam hall isn’t your notes — it’s a calm, rested you.

you've got this. sending strength and belief your way!
all the very best for tomorrow! go own that omr sheet tomorrow 🌷🌷  harshita goyal strategy upsc

do’s and don’ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxf21I3fFQ

upsc topper - harshita goyal-air 2 upsc | podcast | symbiosis ias | vivek thakar sir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoxf21i3ffq  harshita goyal strategy upsc

UPSC TOPPER - HARSHITA GOYAL-AIR 2 UPSC | PODCAST | Symbiosis IAS | Vivek Thakar Sir

Q. Do mock test marks matter? Should we focus on mocks or PYQs in the last 12 days?

Mock test marks themselves do not matter; what matters is your learning from them. The purpose of mocks is to build stamina, improve time management, and identify gaps in knowledge and strategy.
In the last 12 days, your approach can involve a mix of the following:

1. Previous Year Questions (PYQs): MUST-DO
- PYQs are the most authentic source to understand UPSC's pattern, mindset, and recurring themes.
- Try to understand the language of questions to identify how Upsc plays with the words to set traps 
- Focus on why the correct option is right and why others are wrong.
- Prioritize PYQs of at least the last 7–10 years.

2. Mock Tests: Practice with Purpose
- Do 1 paper every alternate day or every 2 days.
- Focus on revision-based mocks rather than new content-heavy ones.
- More important than attempting mocks is doing quality analysis:
• Why you made errors.
• Which topics are weak.
• Are your guesses working or backfiring?

3. Revision > New Material
In the last 12 days, shift focus from learning new things to revising what you already know.

Use mocks to test retention, not to learn completely new content.

In these final days, prioritize PYQs and revision, and use mocks selectively for practice and confidence-building, not for marks.

q. do mock test marks matter? q. do mock test marks matter? should we focus on mocks or pyqs in the last 12 days?

mock test marks themselves do not matter; what matters is your learning from them. the purpose of mocks is to build stamina, improve time management, and identify gaps in knowledge and strategy.
in the last 12 days, your approach can involve a mix of the following:

1. previous year questions (pyqs): must-do
- pyqs are the most authentic source to understand upsc's pattern, mindset, and recurring themes.
- try to understand the language of questions to identify how upsc plays with the words to set traps 
- focus on why the correct option is right and why others are wrong.
- prioritize pyqs of at least the last 7–10 years.

2. mock tests: practice with purpose
- do 1 paper every alternate day or every 2 days.
- focus on revision-based mocks rather than new content-heavy ones.
- more important than attempting mocks is doing quality analysis:
• why you made errors.
• which topics are weak.
• are your guesses working or backfiring?

3. revision > new material
in the last 12 days, shift focus from learning new things to revising what you already know.

use mocks to test retention, not to learn completely new content.

in these final days, prioritize pyqs and revision, and use mocks selectively for practice and confidence-building, not for marks.  harshita goyal strategy upsc

Q. Do mock test marks matter?

A Special Note for My Mother, this Mother's day 🌷

Dear Maa,

It’s 2025… and your little girl has now achieved her dream.
But I wish — more than anything in the world — that you were here to see it.
To hold my hand. To smile with pride.
To say, “I always knew you could do it, beti.”

You left this world in 2014, but you never left me.
Your voice still whispers strength into my soul.
Your love still surrounds me like the warmest hug.
Your dreams for me became my mission.

Every late night I studied, every time I broke down, every time I wanted to quit —
I thought of you.
And I stood back up, because I knew you’d want me to.

This success is not mine alone.
It’s yours, Maa.
Your sacrifices, your values, your blessings — they shaped me into who I am.

I hope you’re smiling today, wherever you are.
I hope you’re proud.
Because I did it, Maa.
I made your little girl shine… just like you always said she would.

I carry you in my heart, forever.
This one is for you.
With all my love,
Your daughter

a special note for my mother, this mother's day 🌷 a special note for my mother, this mother's day 🌷

dear maa,

it’s 2025… and your little girl has now achieved her dream.
but i wish — more than anything in the world — that you were here to see it.
to hold my hand. to smile with pride.
to say, “i always knew you could do it, beti.”

you left this world in 2014, but you never left me.
your voice still whispers strength into my soul.
your love still surrounds me like the warmest hug.
your dreams for me became my mission.

every late night i studied, every time i broke down, every time i wanted to quit —
i thought of you.
and i stood back up, because i knew you’d want me to.

this success is not mine alone.
it’s yours, maa.
your sacrifices, your values, your blessings — they shaped me into who i am.

i hope you’re smiling today, wherever you are.
i hope you’re proud.
because i did it, maa.
i made your little girl shine… just like you always said she would.

i carry you in my heart, forever.
this one is for you.
with all my love,
your daughter  harshita goyal topic-discussion upsc

A Special Note for My Mother, this Mother's day 🌷

Institutes that I have been associated with, over the course of my preparation of 3.5 years:

Vision IAS: online foundation course (Oct 2021)

SRIAS (Shubhra Ranjan ma'am): Tablet course for PSIR

Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (Gujarat): Autonomous training institute under the Govt of Gujarat (From Jan 2023)

Symbiosis IAS Ahmedabad (Vivek Thakar Sir): Mains test series and Interview guidance (2024)

IAS Hub (MK Yadav Sir): Quality Enrichment program (2022), his free resources such as mains booster series, DAF questionnaire (2024)

Target UPSC (Sudarshan Lodha Sir): Sankalp mains program (2022), video lectures on YouTube (marathon series)

Sarrthi IAS: Ethics module by Mudit Jain Sir

Mrunal Patel Sir and Sudarshan Gurjar sir's free videos on YouTube (no other direct association with unacademy) 

PWOnlyIAS: Free resources such as its udaan and prahaar booklets, Free Srijan programme for mains (2024), DAF questionnaire (no other association)

ArjunaIAS (Shubham Pawar Sir): Power of PYQ program (2023)

Vajiram: Power up test series for current affairs, mock interview

Samkalp, Drishti IAS, Vajiram and Ravi, Next IAS, Chahal Academy, Chanakya Mandal: associated for mock interviews (2025)

One to One for personality test preparation: Mahesh Bhagwat Sir, Shubham Sir (Vidyapeeth IAS), Vivek Thakar Sir (Symbiosis IAS), Jaymin Patel Sir (Gujarat Administrative Services), Ravindran Sir (Vajiram)

institutes that i have been associated with institutes that i have been associated with, over the course of my preparation of 3.5 years:

vision ias: online foundation course (oct 2021)

srias (shubhra ranjan ma'am): tablet course for psir

sardar patel institute of public administration (gujarat): autonomous training institute under the govt of gujarat (from jan 2023)

symbiosis ias ahmedabad (vivek thakar sir): mains test series and interview guidance (2024)

ias hub (mk yadav sir): quality enrichment program (2022), his free resources such as mains booster series, daf questionnaire (2024)

target upsc (sudarshan lodha sir): sankalp mains program (2022), video lectures on youtube (marathon series)

sarrthi ias: ethics module by mudit jain sir

mrunal patel sir and sudarshan gurjar sir's free videos on youtube (no other direct association with unacademy) 

pwonlyias: free resources such as its udaan and prahaar booklets, free srijan programme for mains (2024), daf questionnaire (no other association)

arjunaias (shubham pawar sir): power of pyq program (2023)

vajiram: power up test series for current affairs, mock interview

samkalp, drishti ias, vajiram and ravi, next ias, chahal academy, chanakya mandal: associated for mock interviews (2025)

one to one for personality test preparation: mahesh bhagwat sir, shubham sir (vidyapeeth ias), vivek thakar sir (symbiosis ias), jaymin patel sir (gujarat administrative services), ravindran sir (vajiram)  harshita goyal strategy upsc

Institutes that I have been associated with

harshita goyal harshita goyal rank-2   harshita goyal topic-discussion upsc

A lot of you were asking for my CSAT strategy.

Honestly, even I struggled with CSAT a lot (it was the reason I couldn't clear prelims in my 2nd attempt). Here is a list of a few things which I did to improve my CSAT score:

1. Find your strengths. In csat, you need not attempt all 80 questions as it is a qualifying paper (though it has become an eliminating paper in recent years). Be smart about question selection. 

2. Abide by the clock. You need to find your comfortable range of questions based on your accuracy. For me, it was 45-50 questions.

3. Don't rely on a particular section too much. In my 2nd attempt, I somewhat neglected Quant as I felt that I could score in Reading comprehension and Reasoning. You need to balance all the three sections and work on your weak areas.

4. PYQs, PYQs and PYQs. Yes, in CSAT also, you can improve your confidence and accuracy through practicing the PYQs. They are your best friend. 

5. As Reading comprehension holds significant weightage (25-28 questions), you can improve your accuracy with less time and effort. Many YouTube videos are available to explain the approach for corollary, inference and crux based questions. After that, practice the PYQs. 

6. One thing which helped me in Reading comprehension is that, I used to read the questions and the options first, before reading the paragraph. You may find a lot of options with negative or extreme statements which you can eliminate without even reading the para. Followed by quick reading of paragraphs along with underlining the relevant things based on the questions.

7. Don't panic. It is very important to remain calm in csat paper. It may happen that you might not be able to solve the first few questions back to back. But remind yourself that you will find your set of questions, you just need to keep calm and focused, as again, you need not attempt all the questions.

8. Doubt solving with friends help a lot. Don't feel shy to ask them in case you have any queries, as silly as they might be. 

My resources for csat: lectures of Vision IAS, few YouTube videos, lectures at SPIPA (Bhavik Thakkar Sir - BTitude Channel on YouTube and Parimal Vadhvana Sir), PYQs for practice, doubt solving with friends.

CSAT is manageable, provided you have done your bit with utmost honesty and hardwork. 

All the best🌷

csat strategy a lot of you were asking for my csat strategy.

honestly, even i struggled with csat a lot (it was the reason i couldn't clear prelims in my 2nd attempt). here is a list of a few things which i did to improve my csat score:

1. find your strengths. in csat, you need not attempt all 80 questions as it is a qualifying paper (though it has become an eliminating paper in recent years). be smart about question selection. 

2. abide by the clock. you need to find your comfortable range of questions based on your accuracy. for me, it was 45-50 questions.

3. don't rely on a particular section too much. in my 2nd attempt, i somewhat neglected quant as i felt that i could score in reading comprehension and reasoning. you need to balance all the three sections and work on your weak areas.

4. pyqs, pyqs and pyqs. yes, in csat also, you can improve your confidence and accuracy through practicing the pyqs. they are your best friend. 

5. as reading comprehension holds significant weightage (25-28 questions), you can improve your accuracy with less time and effort. many youtube videos are available to explain the approach for corollary, inference and crux based questions. after that, practice the pyqs. 

6. one thing which helped me in reading comprehension is that, i used to read the questions and the options first, before reading the paragraph. you may find a lot of options with negative or extreme statements which you can eliminate without even reading the para. followed by quick reading of paragraphs along with underlining the relevant things based on the questions.

7. don't panic. it is very important to remain calm in csat paper. it may happen that you might not be able to solve the first few questions back to back. but remind yourself that you will find your set of questions, you just need to keep calm and focused, as again, you need not attempt all the questions.

8. doubt solving with friends help a lot. don't feel shy to ask them in case you have any queries, as silly as they might be. 

my resources for csat: lectures of vision ias, few youtube videos, lectures at spipa (bhavik thakkar sir - btitude channel on youtube and parimal vadhvana sir), pyqs for practice, doubt solving with friends.

csat is manageable, provided you have done your bit with utmost honesty and hardwork. 

all the best🌷  harshita goyal strategy upsc

CSAT strategy

Q. What would be the safe range for the number of questions to be attempted in Prelims?

In my opinion, there is no standard safe range. You come to know your "safe range" through experimentation and trial & error in various tests. As my accuracy in Prelims was decent, I focused on attempting more no. of questions to be in a comfortable zone (above 85). 
Attempting too few may risk falling short of the cutoff, while too many can increase negative marking. A balanced approach with calculated risks is key to maximizing your score.

what would be the safe range for the number of questions to be attempted in prelims? q. what would be the safe range for the number of questions to be attempted in prelims?

in my opinion, there is no standard safe range. you come to know your "safe range" through experimentation and trial & error in various tests. as my accuracy in prelims was decent, i focused on attempting more no. of questions to be in a comfortable zone (above 85). 
attempting too few may risk falling short of the cutoff, while too many can increase negative marking. a balanced approach with calculated risks is key to maximizing your score.  harshita goyal topic-discussion upsc

Harshita Goyal

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