Dr. R. Rangamanju

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

NANDANA ETHICS_merged.pdf

I think this is an excellent collection of examples for ethics.

i think this is an excellent collection of examples for ethics. i think this is an excellent collection of examples for ethics.  dr. r. rangamanju notes upsc

Rangamanju Essay feeder ideas.pdf

I'll be uploading some of my essay material. It makes sense to me, but it may appear to be nonsensical to anyone else reading it. This could be a guide to how I have extracted tid bits from newspapers and the internet to create a repository of ideas I could potentially sprinkle , should the essay theme lead me there. 

How you could benefit from it? Perhaps observe 
1) How word play is done
2) How items of regular reporting in newspapers could actually translate to thought provoking content
3) Asking novel questions of simple observations from real life

some of my essay material i'll be uploading some of my essay material. it makes sense to me, but it may appear to be nonsensical to anyone else reading it. this could be a guide to how i have extracted tid bits from newspapers and the internet to create a repository of ideas i could potentially sprinkle , should the essay theme lead me there. 

how you could benefit from it? perhaps observe 
1) how word play is done
2) how items of regular reporting in newspapers could actually translate to thought provoking content
3) asking novel questions of simple observations from real life  dr. r. rangamanju notes upsc

Some of my essay material

path to 150 plus.pdf

I've retained the name of the document from when it was first coined. I didn't get the 150, let alone the plus. Since I've made multiple references to classical English literature texts, this may serve as an example for the sort of material one can build.

i didn't get the 150, let alone the plus i've retained the name of the document from when it was first coined. i didn't get the 150, let alone the plus. since i've made multiple references to classical english literature texts, this may serve as an example for the sort of material one can build.  dr. r. rangamanju topic-discussion upsc

I didn't get the 150, let alone the plus

It was after my third failed prelims that I penned this poem. It would be a full year before UPSC score card would show that I missed prelims qualification by 0.67 marks. I had no reason to hope, no reason to believe the next attempt would be any different from the last. Perhaps this is survivors bias that allows me to romanticise it, nonetheless I’m sharing this hoping someone else missing out in margins finds the courage to dream, one last time

                  I.

In ink I inscribe a lament
Of days past and present
For times lost in the current 
And paths forged in discontent

In solitude the nights spent
Failure clung like it was meant
A reversion in life to resent

A trial by fire? It wasn’t
Dying flames? They aren’t 
Not the fated end, it isn’t 

The heart pounds with intent
The spirit refuses to relent
The embers within, they foment
Bear witness to this ascent.

i penned this poem it was after my third failed prelims that i penned this poem. it would be a full year before upsc score card would show that i missed prelims qualification by 0.67 marks. i had no reason to hope, no reason to believe the next attempt would be any different from the last. perhaps this is survivors bias that allows me to romanticise it, nonetheless i’m sharing this hoping someone else missing out in margins finds the courage to dream, one last time

                  i.

in ink i inscribe a lament
of days past and present
for times lost in the current 
and paths forged in discontent

in solitude the nights spent
failure clung like it was meant
a reversion in life to resent

a trial by fire? it wasn’t
dying flames? they aren’t 
not the fated end, it isn’t 

the heart pounds with intent
the spirit refuses to relent
the embers within, they foment
bear witness to this ascent.  dr. r. rangamanju strategy upsc

I penned this poem

photo_2025-06-14_12-50-12.jpg

Abhyaas 2022 Essay.pdf

Essay- War, truth as first casualty .pdf

Essay- Flames burning twice.pdf

Essay- Science knows no country .pdf

Essay- Reflection in boiling water.pdf

Essay- Floor and Ceiling.pdf

Essay on Lingering Flowers .pdf

Essay - Nature is no saint.pdf

I'll be uploading my marksheet from earlier years and the essays that I had written in those years thereafter to serve as an indication of how relying on good essay scores to propel you into the final list is bad strategy ( the endless hypocrisy of qualified aspirants )

i'll be uploading my marksheet from earlier years i'll be uploading my marksheet from earlier years and the essays that i had written in those years thereafter to serve as an indication of how relying on good essay scores to propel you into the final list is bad strategy ( the endless hypocrisy of qualified aspirants )  dr. r. rangamanju strategy upsc

I'll be uploading my marksheet from earlier years

Now onto what i did specifically in this attempt that was missing in my previous attempts. I don't claim any of them necessarily contributed to the score, but perhaps there was a method in the madness 

1) Rewrite the essay statement in black, boxing it
2) Start the essay with a poem, end with a poem- both generated on the spot at the time of brainstorming 
3) Poem written in black to contrast with the writing in blue 
4) Every sub heading in the essay is in black, in block letters, boxed
5) Deleting the "thesis statement" that i was told is a trope that good writing does not need. So i fully deleted in my final essay paragraphs like " this essay intends to ...."
6) Underlining not more than 4 words per page that I wanted the examiners attention to be drawn to
7) Picking topics which in my opinion were not as likely to be picked by others.
8) Giving equal due to both essays ( we don't know which of the two essays the examiner will evaluate first)  
9) Thicker nib pen for easier reading because paper completion in essay is generally not a concern
10) Strict shift away from PESTLE approach in both essays. That is, even on thorough reading, evaluator would not have been able to see obvious headers such as political, economic etc.
11) Dimensions not usually explored by others given more significance. 
For instance in my final essay i used the idea of infinity to elucidate how all ideas having large consequences are always simple. My premise was that infinity as a concept has large consequences in physics, computing etc but it's summation equals negative 1/12, which arguably is an overt simplification( please Google this to have your mind blown). Similarly my essay on the final day referenced Beethovens 5th symphony, Golden ratio and Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven". 
12) Reduced the complexity of the vocabulary used, but increasing the use of similies, metaphors, allegories etc ( essentially literary devices)[ Refer to my Essay on Nature is no saint for how I use literary devices ] 
I intended for my final essay to have been understood by a 10th grader in terms of how simple the sentence construction was.
13) My strengths are philosophical essays, so even when the theme arguably sounded GS like ( eg- forests precede civilisation and deserts follow), I've interpreted them in a philosophical context - emphasis on greed as mankind's unyielding trait, man's destructive tendencies etc
14) For the first time in all these years, I got my school teacher to evaluate my essay and give me feedback on call. I incorporated some of the advice she gave as well. Her critique was a lot more nuanced. I don't mean this to be a scathing belittling of what coaching institutes do, but unlike GS which has some objective parameters, I can't imagine essay can be evaluated in bulk the way coaching industry does it. 

I've stated these explicitly because my writing capacity was not enhanced in any magical fashion in my last attempt that could account for sudden increase in scores; all re-arrangements made were largely cosmetic and have been documented above even if they appear to be trite. 

My pick in Section A "Forests precede civilisation and deserts follow them" and in Section B " All ideas having large consequences are always simple"

how not to attempt upsc now onto what i did specifically in this attempt that was missing in my previous attempts. i don't claim any of them necessarily contributed to the score, but perhaps there was a method in the madness 

1) rewrite the essay statement in black, boxing it
2) start the essay with a poem, end with a poem- both generated on the spot at the time of brainstorming 
3) poem written in black to contrast with the writing in blue 
4) every sub heading in the essay is in black, in block letters, boxed
5) deleting the "thesis statement" that i was told is a trope that good writing does not need. so i fully deleted in my final essay paragraphs like " this essay intends to ...."
6) underlining not more than 4 words per page that i wanted the examiners attention to be drawn to
7) picking topics which in my opinion were not as likely to be picked by others.
8) giving equal due to both essays ( we don't know which of the two essays the examiner will evaluate first)  
9) thicker nib pen for easier reading because paper completion in essay is generally not a concern
10) strict shift away from pestle approach in both essays. that is, even on thorough reading, evaluator would not have been able to see obvious headers such as political, economic etc.
11) dimensions not usually explored by others given more significance. 
for instance in my final essay i used the idea of infinity to elucidate how all ideas having large consequences are always simple. my premise was that infinity as a concept has large consequences in physics, computing etc but it's summation equals negative 1/12, which arguably is an overt simplification( please google this to have your mind blown). similarly my essay on the final day referenced beethovens 5th symphony, golden ratio and edgar allen poe's "the raven". 
12) reduced the complexity of the vocabulary used, but increasing the use of similies, metaphors, allegories etc ( essentially literary devices)[ refer to my essay on nature is no saint for how i use literary devices ] 
i intended for my final essay to have been understood by a 10th grader in terms of how simple the sentence construction was.
13) my strengths are philosophical essays, so even when the theme arguably sounded gs like ( eg- forests precede civilisation and deserts follow), i've interpreted them in a philosophical context - emphasis on greed as mankind's unyielding trait, man's destructive tendencies etc
14) for the first time in all these years, i got my school teacher to evaluate my essay and give me feedback on call. i incorporated some of the advice she gave as well. her critique was a lot more nuanced. i don't mean this to be a scathing belittling of what coaching institutes do, but unlike gs which has some objective parameters, i can't imagine essay can be evaluated in bulk the way coaching industry does it. 

i've stated these explicitly because my writing capacity was not enhanced in any magical fashion in my last attempt that could account for sudden increase in scores; all re-arrangements made were largely cosmetic and have been documented above even if they appear to be trite. 

my pick in section a "forests precede civilisation and deserts follow them" and in section b " all ideas having large consequences are always simple"  dr. r. rangamanju strategy upsc

How not to attempt UPSC

Essay Abhyaas 2024.pdf

Essay - Truth Can Kill.pdf

Essay on Resentfulness And Appreciation.pdf

Essay on Multilateralism.pdf

Essay On Bravery And Time .pdf

Since essay appears to be my saving grace, here's my attempt to upload my essay copies in reverse chronological order, that is, the earlier posted essays being more reflective of what may have appeared in the final paper.

essay tests since essay appears to be my saving grace, here's my attempt to upload my essay copies in reverse chronological order, that is, the earlier posted essays being more reflective of what may have appeared in the final paper.  dr. r. rangamanju notes upsc

Essay tests

Prelims Score card. Always nice to get nearly twice the required cut off in CSAT.

prelims score card. always nice to get nearly twice the required cut off in csat. prelims score card. always nice to get nearly twice the required cut off in csat.  dr. r. rangamanju strategy upsc

Sarcasm aside, given the high number of attempts I've made, and considering the possibility that the exam can be aced in far fewer attempts, I urge the first time attempters to look away.
 And for the veterans that remain, welcome to my channel that will dwell on what not to do in UPSC. It'll serve as a record of all of my mistakes, forced and unforced errors, and perhaps pearls of wisdom from a winding road.

culmination of 6 years of toil sarcasm aside, given the high number of attempts i've made, and considering the possibility that the exam can be aced in far fewer attempts, i urge the first time attempters to look away.
 and for the veterans that remain, welcome to my channel that will dwell on what not to do in upsc. it'll serve as a record of all of my mistakes, forced and unforced errors, and perhaps pearls of wisdom from a winding road.  dr. r. rangamanju strategy upsc

Culmination of 6 years of toil

About me: 

I've attained Rank 24 in UPSC CSE 2024. It was my sixth and final attempt. Naturally, this makes me the authority on how one can crack the exam in the first attempt.
I couldn't qualify the Prelims leg of the examination in my first 3 attempts(2019,2020,2021). I cleared the equivalent of the IFoS cut off in Prelims in the next 3 attempts (2022,2023,2024).
I was unsuccessful in my first 2 Mains attempts, qualified for interview in what would be my only shot at the interview. As fate would have it, I secured a fairly good rank, much to collective dismay of my haters.

about me: about me: 

i've attained rank 24 in upsc cse 2024. it was my sixth and final attempt. naturally, this makes me the authority on how one can crack the exam in the first attempt.
i couldn't qualify the prelims leg of the examination in my first 3 attempts(2019,2020,2021). i cleared the equivalent of the ifos cut off in prelims in the next 3 attempts (2022,2023,2024).
i was unsuccessful in my first 2 mains attempts, qualified for interview in what would be my only shot at the interview. as fate would have it, i secured a fairly good rank, much to collective dismay of my haters.  dr. r. rangamanju topic-discussion upsc

Dr. R. Rangamanju

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