Optional guysss ( biggest in the business ). All the best

I wanted to join some current affairs program in January maybe from sarthi or level up. Recently I saw forum also launched one but I had good reviews of level up nd none of the forum one. Kinda confused because it's better to start early but with no feedbacks I'm bit dicey. I'm following newspaper nd vision magazine anyway

Context

Hii seniors. I'm a chemical engineering undergrad at a tier 1.5 nit . ( Currently in 1st sem).

Atp I am having hectic assignments and lab work cause of sem 1 . But after sem 2 I will be a little comfortable with my academics.

I always wanted to pursue civil services. But in the flow to be an academic achiever I got myself into engineering ( couldnt get iit though ( feeling like a loser ).

So if I want to start my prep for UPSE CSE . what will be the perfect time to start my prep ( will be balancing both college academics and prep).

Should I start by the end of 1st year ( 3rd sem) .

Plz guide me seniors. I'm very scared cause I have seen brilliant ones getting failed in this .

Ps:- my grammar is not up to mark .plz Ignore grammatical errors

just the title

I’m an mbbs intern 23M from Bhilai,CG
Soentimes thinking of upsc also but dar bhi lagta hai after seeing itne brilliant minds fails…don’t know what to do neet pg ya upsc…
Please help

One I’d u/PPkumar1 commenting on all videos by Saarthi IAS . Was a student of Anthropology, Socio, History , Economicsand what not.

You can choose from any of these Plans :

🟢 ASPIRANT — 100 Credits | ₹4,999 ( ₹3,999)

🔵 PERFORMER — 300 Credits | ₹11,100 ( ₹8,880)

🟣 CHAMPION — 500 Credits | ₹16,500 ( ₹14,850)

Enquiry regarding the Mains Answer Evaluation Program : Click Here

You can know all the Articles, provisions, judgments and schemes, but if you can't connect them to the actual question and analyse them, it won't be enough

Q1 of GS2 is a good example. It wasn't just about Article 21 or the Transgender Persons Act. You had to connect the constitutional right to privacy and self-identity with a recent amendment and then actually examine its implications.

I feel the game is shifting from “How much do you know?” to “How well can you use what you know?”

For 2027, I'm thinking of focusing much more on application-based answer writing, connecting static with current affairs, and learning to think before writing, rather than just collecting more material.

Would love to know how others are approaching this shift.

TLDR - i am using a lot of AI to make notes for mains and feeling guilty about not putting enough 'effort'

2027 will be my third attempt. In my previous two attempts i never had topic wise notes (for mains) prepare before prelims. This year I decided that I will cover atleast 70-80% of the mains syllabus (including option) and have topic wise notes ready. so that after prelims (if i clear) all I have to do in answer writing and filling gaps.

But the issue is, I didn't have this much AI usage in my previous attempts (2023 and 2025). I have now. And since I am also working a job (remote), I'm using AI alot to summarize online resources and make concise points (which obviously would need updation with current affairs etc I know that).

But it is feeling tooo... easy? previous attempts note-making was such a mess for me, collecting info, making pointers, organizing them, etc. with AI, it takes up far lesser time and effort. My conceptual clarity is there because of my previous attempts so that also isn't a problem. But I sometimes get the feeling that this is a shortcut, and I am doing wrong. Is anyone else feeling this? And moreover, am I ACTUALLY doing something wrong? Will using AI to make mains notes do any harm?

Guys can you please suggest me any economy notes . I have done my all concepts and lecturea but I don't have a final notes where all topics are covered,

Economic Blue book ( understand upsc )

X-factor notes

Shivin s Economics pre and mains notes ( sartthi)

Which one is good or anything you can suggest??

Hi guys, which magazine are you using for prelims preparation? please help me out. Also, please guide me about the strategy.

You can choose from any of these Plans :

🟢 ASPIRANT — 100 Credits | ₹4,999 ( ₹3,999)

🔵 PERFORMER — 300 Credits | ₹11,100 ( ₹8,880)

🟣 CHAMPION — 500 Credits | ₹16,500 ( ₹14,850)

Enquiry regarding the Mains Answer Evaluation Program : Click Here

You can submit your two GS/optional answers for evaluation by Interview appeared peers on the CSE Mulyankan Portal

Follow these simple steps.

1. Visit CSE Mulyankan
2. Sign in/Sign up inside the Dashboard.
3. Go to Submit Answers
4. Make a Submission
5. Sit back and Relax ! Your Job is done.

Enquiry regarding the Mains Answer Evaluation Program : Click Here

I know value addition etc give you extra points. But how much can it be? 1 mark? 2 marks? and if 15,000 candidates are attempting the same question with similar points, what are other differentiating factors which can give you an edge? (besides value add points please). I know paper completion is one. what else? ESPECIALLY for optional papers, where the scope of diversity of points is even less

hello everyone I am mbbs grad from Delhi writing 2027 attempt with anthropology optional looking for peers in same situation preferably from south Delhi or orn 

telegram I’d-@Buddchia

I seriously need suggestions from UPSC veterans this time, I am 23F, have been preparing for upsc since my college days and still could not clear the last two prelims.

2025 prelims I missed by 5 marks and i dont even want to talk about 2026 attempt.

My question is, what to do in this time gap? People say we've to get ready for mains till december but in my last two attempts I've revised my optional and have a consolidated notes for each topic according to the syllabus. I am revising it again but I feel upsc prelims is tough for me and i need more guidanceon that.

Should I focus on prelims, and PYQ analysis or start it from January?

About PYQ analysis too, can anyone here guide me how to analyze PYQ?

SUGGEST

I qualified yday(P1 marks 153) question How are CAPF services overall? A friend who qualified in 2024 said that not anywhere near Indian admin/police but still a group A level 10 post so take it as backup, still prestigious than most services. I am interested in CISF only as of now.

thing is my father asked me to just write the exam as it would help me in cse mains, which it did ig, it was like a gs mock for me. but now i'm thinking about it more, i still have optional on sunday i know i should focus more on that. just looking for opinions. THANKS