'4-Hour Of Study Is Enough, IF...': Meet IIT Kanpur Alumni Who Choses Civil Service Over Engineering

UPSC Success Story: For many UPSC candidates, the goal is to pass the UPSC IAS Exam on their first try. With a wise combination of diligence and commitment, it is achievable. We are sharing with you the experience of Arunraj, an IAS topper who cleared the exam on his first try.

IAS Arunraj: An IIT Kanpur Alumni

Arunraj is a native of Uttar Pradesh and excelled academically in school. After finishing his school education, he applied for admission to IIT Kanpur. According to reports, his aim was to become an IAS officer and clear the UPSC, not to become an engineer. Therefore, he began preparing in his final year of college. His decision to devote more time to UPSC preparation and concentrate on self-study following his engineering degree was made in lieu of taking a job. To understand his basics, he solely relied on NCERT textbooks.

34th Rank Holder Arunraj: Facts

Along with using web tools appropriately, he conducted numerous mock interviews. He eventually saw results from his self-belief, as he scored an outstanding AIR-34 on his first attempt to pass the UPSC CSE 2014. He was appointed Executive Director of Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (ELCOT), Government of Tamil Nadu, and is a 2015 batch IAS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre.

• Rank: 34
• CSE: 2014
• Optional: Anthropology
• Attempt: First
• Age while clearing the exam: 22 

If you are really committed to your objective, IAS Arunraj has shown you don't need to spend thousands of your parents' hard-earned money on coaching establishments.

Arunraj: Preparation For IAS 

Arunraj used Evernote to take online notes. In a line or two, he added any intriguing things he came across online that he thought were significant enough to be revised to the online notes. This proved beneficial for him during the revision process, as all the reading material he did not need to use was consolidated into one online source. He used electronic and paper resources equally. Reading the Hindu for the day is usually his first step in the preparation process. Afterward, he proceeds to the optional or GS static sections. He always takes notes, since all of his work would be in vain without revision.

Arunraj stated in an interview, "This exam is all about consistency. It is not advisable to study for twelve hours in a single day and then take a three-day break to avoid burnout. 4 hours of study is enough, if every day we give our full attention. Mood fluctuations are normal. At that point, unwind. See a film or go out with companions. That's a fact of life."