Mayank Bhardwaj Rank 3 UKPSC Lower PCS 2024: Excise Inspector
The UKPSC Lower PCS 2024 result brought good news for Chamoli. Mayank Bhardwaj Rank 3 UKPSC Lower PCS 2024 secured the post of Excise Inspector. Moreover, his strong scores in Essay and Hindi played a key role.
He shared his complete strategy in a detailed success talk with SAMVEG IAS. So, here are the key takeaways from his journey.
Major Highlights of Mayank Bhardwaj’s Interview with Samveg IAS
Background and Motivation
Mayank comes from Chamoli district, where he did his early schooling. Then, from Class 6, he moved to Dehradun and to English medium. Later, he completed his BSc from DAV PG College in 2019.
After graduation, he prepared for central exams for some time. In fact, he reached the final stage of SSC CGL but missed out. Then, the RO exam notification came in 2023. So, he turned to Uttarakhand exams. Above all, he wanted a chance to serve his own state.
Prelims Strategy
He found the 2024 prelims tougher than the 2021 paper. Still, he cleared it with a clear plan:
- Uttarakhand portion: He was also preparing for Uttarakhand Group C exams. As a result, his Uttarakhand section became strong. Out of 50 Uttarakhand questions, he estimates around 40 to 42 went right.
- PYQ option analysis: For the rest of GS, he studied UKPSC PYQs across many years. Also, he thought about all four options of each question. That way, he could guess how future questions might appear.
- A CSAT lesson: However, he cut down his aptitude practice midway. Consequently, he scored lower in that section.
So, he advises aspirants to make the Uttarakhand portion strong. After all, it now carries a large share of questions. For the full pattern, see our UKPSC Lower PCS exam guide.
Mains Strategy of Mayank Bhardwaj Rank 3 UKPSC Lower PCS 2024
The mains pattern changed this time. Broadly, the six GS papers of Upper PCS were condensed into two papers. Fortunately, Mayank had prepared for Upper PCS mains in 2024. He did not clear that mains. However, the same preparation helped him a lot in Lower PCS mains.
For new syllabus points, he collected material through Google and ChatGPT. Then, he added those points to his own notes. Also, he suggests short one- or two-page notes on such topics.
Essay and Hindi: His Scoring Papers
- Essay (68/100): There were two essays of 50 marks each. So, he kept every paragraph coherent and connected to the next. In other words, no paragraph should feel like a different topic.
- Hindi (62/100): Many Uttarakhand questions come from Hardev Bahri’s book, so he used it. Also, he avoided grammatical errors, where many students lose marks.
Writing to the Marks and Word Limit
Lower PCS mains had a new marks distribution. For example, questions carried 10, 8, 7 and 5 marks. Therefore, each answer had to meet its demand within the word limit.
He practised answer writing at SAMVEG IAS. After each evaluation, he analysed his mistakes and the feedback himself. Moreover, he solved UKPSC and UPPCS PYQs at home. Since time after prelims was short, he often framed only a quick outline in his mind. As a result, he covered more questions and slowly built his writing skill.
Interview Preparation
First, he attended the three-day interview orientation classes at SAMVEG IAS. Then, he gave two mock interviews here. Also, he gave mocks elsewhere whenever he got the chance. Moreover, he asked ChatGPT to act as his interviewer for speaking practice.
Since he studied in English medium, he prepared in both English and Hindi. In fact, some science questions in his interview came in English. So, he answered those in English and the rest in Hindi.
Advice for New Aspirants
- Prelims: Keep your sources limited. Instead of chasing many books, solve the last 8 to 10 years of UKPSC papers. Also, search each option and try to read the examiner’s mind.
- Mains: Most students now read similar content. So, answer writing makes the real difference. Then, get your answers checked by a teacher, a senior or friends. Also, keep your presentation and handwriting clear.
- Interview: Personality builds over many years. However, the last month can still sharpen it. So, give several mock interviews and practise with well-read friends. Also, try to organise each answer in your mind within about 10 seconds.
Association with SAMVEG IAS
Mayank first joined SAMVEG IAS in 2023 for RO prelims. Later, for Upper PCS 2024, he joined our Mains Guidance Programme (MGP). Then, for Lower PCS, he continued with MGP and also took our Interview Guidance Programme (IGP). In his words, his answer writing and interview preparation mainly took shape here. Indeed, Mayank Bhardwaj Rank 3 UKPSC Lower PCS 2024 shows how steady practice builds results.
Watch the full interaction with Samveg IAS:
Check out the results of Samveg IAS students in UKPSC Lower PCS 2024.