CSP 2013 Results Out

Hello there,

So, finally UPSC released the prelims result. And Yes, I have cleared this first stage. Now, preparation for Mains in December. But first let me tell you that I was very tensed these last 2 months. After the results are out, I checked the key for the first time. I am getting around 244 marks, 86 in GS I and 158 in CSAT. Most institutions tell that the cut off may have been around 220. Any way I am very very happy clearing this first hurdle. It is some thing like an upper. I was very down these last two months, not knowing what to do, tensely waiting for results and most importantly not preparing much. So, this is kind of a relief and a morale booster and now I am full of energy and enthu to continue my preparation.

"At Bernabeu, against Real Madrid, you can never say it's over, until the final whistle". These are the words of Pep Guardiola, the famous manager of FC Barcelona under whom the club won 14 titles in 4yrs. What he was trying to tell is that at their home ground, Real can turn the tables even with just 1 minute left. Same goes for me :) Just like my favourite team, I will fight (read prepare) till the end. Even though I've wasted 2 precious months, I've got 4 more months. I am not giving up yet, and with this boost from the prelims result, I will give my best effort for Mains.

The 4 questions, I had mentioned in my earlier posts, I got all of them right. Pretty Good, isn't it? Actually, the last three days of the prelims exam I wasn't really sure I would clear the prelims and sort of gave up preparing. But then, I recalled to myself that we shouldn't give up till the final whistle and decided to prepare. Because, I felt bored of studying anything new, I thought I'll revise my notes. So, these 4 questions are from some of the stuff I happened to read those last 3 days and I am really sure that I wouldn't have gotten all of them right, had I not revised them in the last minute. So, it's proved, not that last minute preparation matters, but don't give up till the final whistle. It's all about character.

Anyway, I've to tell you that I stopped reading Argumentative Indian some days back. I wanted to have some break from this prelims tension and this book with it's discursive nature is certainly not helping. That's when I started reading 'Yes, Minister'. Oh my God, I can't tell you how good this book is. I am not that good at English, but even I find it funny. I meant to say that I understand the sarcasm, humour, witty remarks everything. Anyway, the book is about a minister and his secretary, a civil servant and how they cope with govt administration. I have downloaded the sitcom also, but I am just reading the novel from this ebook thing. I prefer to read this book than to watch the serial. All civil service aspirants out there, must surely read this book. Its funny and informative.

I know I've said, I would write some sort of suggestions list and all, but I feel like it's already out there. Many institutes, experts, seniors have said it all. I feel like I don't have anything new to say. May be, if I find something important, I'll mention. But one thing that I already know, and personally experienced is 'It's not over until the final whistle'. Really, I believe those 4 questions I've revised at the last minute helped me. Later...

Monthly Update

Hello there....

Lets see what's happened this month.

I am still not fully into preparation mode and just passing time by watching TV, playing on laptop, visiting friends... May be once prelims results are out, then I will start taking things more seriously. By the way, prelims results are expected on 27th July. Then I am still reading this book 'The Argumentative Indian'. I must tell you that this is one difficult book to finish. It is not some story or some fiction that one can keep reading. It is a book about writings on Indian Culture, History and Identity. So, I hope you get the idea of how difficult it is finish such a book which warrants 100% attention every word and every page.

Then, Real Madrid's new summer signings. We signed Isco, Illarramendi, Carvajal. Then promised more first team opportunities to Morata, Nacho, Jese Rodrigez. This is clearly in contrast with our club's past transfer policies. Signing players on their reputation and marketing potential or Galactico Policy gave way to signing young promising players. It is said that Zidane, the new assistant coach was behind this new transfer policy. Anyway, it looks very promising. And what's the matter with ESPN, Star Sports and all other sports channels. Don't they telecast anything other than cricket. Its always Jai Ho or T20 Dhamaka or some other cricket junk. Please, for God's sake, spare us from this cricket mania. We have lot of other sports too, football for example. If not 2hrs a day, just telecast even 1hr a day some sport other than cricket. Anyway I can't wait any more for this summer break to get over and 2013-14 football season to kick off...

Then, I have said that I will write some tips for civil service aspirants out there, but I am still working on it. Trying to give those suggestions a shape. In case I don't qualify prelims, the list will be put on hold till the time I clear i.e. may be next year July...... Later

Monthly update

So, it is nearly a month since I have written any post.

And it is one year one month since I have started civils preparation after quitting my job. Now, what I have done in this last 13 months. Do I look back this entire year with satisfaction knowing that I have improved myself or do I need to do better? What about my preparation, my approach?

First, I can say, I have improved. Our sir told us that this preparation phase would change you. He was right, I couldn't exactly put down how I have changed, but I have changed. I am not talking about the maturity that one attains during the course of an year. Its about the changes in one's perceptions and understandings of his own country. He said one starts to appreciates things better. It really happened with me. Earlier, just like any youth, I was impatient. But now, even though I am not entirely okay with the country's progress or our state of affairs, conditions of poor, I wasn't going crazy about it. Its just knowing how the system works and accepting it, if it couldn't be made any better. Actually, its very difficult to pen down how my thinking or perceptions changed, but I can feel that. Having empathy for people's troubles now, whereas earlier I couldn't care less. Relating to every new development that I read in the newspaper, which in turn gives some feeling of knowing something about everything. You can only feel that feeling, when you know about something, people commenting passionately on the issue, you can involve in, tell your opinions.....Perhaps, it's very difficult to distinguish these subtle but significant differences in one's own personality and it is much more difficult to write them down without sounding like a phony.

Eventful week

In that order...

Bayern beat BVB in the UCL final at Wembley.
I didn't see the match live that night, but watched the highlights the very next day just before going to the exam. Later I read the match report, and it said that, both teams played nice attacking brand of football and unlike many earlier finals, where either of the two teams parked the bus or played defensively, this final was entertaining to watch. Personally, I like both the teams and both BVB and Bayern are more or less equal in their capabilities and footballing style. Both the teams are well organised, they attack and defend collectively. Neither team is a superstar based team. But Bayern edged in the end courtesy of Robben's late late goal. Mario Gotze absence surely hurt Dortmund in the final, but still, they can be very very proud of their achievement.

Let me tell something about BVB. They won many hearts on their road to the final. They played good attacking football, they fielded mostly home grown players and they had fantastic crowd support. On the other hand, Chelsea had the money, they had the best players available, still played defensive type of football in the last year UCL. Of course, they managed to win, but they didn't win many hearts. BVB had a great run with their project and of all the other projects, I like their project the most. Other projects means, I refer to, PSG, Man City, Chelsea, Monaco. I am not talking about Real's Galactico policy and Barca's tiki taka as projects here. Because these two clubs are already legendary clubs. Very few will dispute these both teams' dominance of Europe, even though Barca dominated European Cup only recently. But the clubs I mentioned earlier were new clubs trying to make their name, trying to enter the competition. Among such clubs, I liked BVB the most. How can anyone not like BVB. Or, I will say like this, anyone who loves football, must love BVB. But the sad thing is, BVB is going to loose few of its important players and I can only feel sorry for them. I don't know how long they can go on without their best players. I feel like, all Chelsea, PSG, Man City supporters are laughing at BVB, reminding them the harsh truth, that the only way to compete at the top is with the money.

1 Day To Go

I wish everyone out there all the very best for CSP 2013 starting in less than 24hrs. I am sure every one would have taken necessary precautions, good sleep, pen, admit card, not carrying gadgets in the hall, visiting exam centre prior to the exam....

Stay calm, relaxed. Believe in the hard work you have put in till now. I am sure, you will do well.

By the way, I decided I will not watch UCL Final between BVB and Bayern tonight. It was an easy choice to make between tomorrow's exam and tonight's match. Why risk sleep on the day just before the exam. Had Real qualified, I might have watched the final, but not now. On another note, Arsenal, for the 16th consecutive time, secured a place in CL. They lost RVP in the start of the season, but with the squad he has, he still managed to make it to CL. Great Job Wenger. Tomorrow we (Real Madrid) have Liga match, IPL Final and then Copa Itallia Final between Roma and Lazio. Must see all of them. More on that later........

Once again, 'Good Luck'

IPL not untenable

Now, lets talk about IPL. So, news of the week is 3 RR players including Sreesanth were involved in spot fixing. Straight away we heard many comments, reactions, suggestions from ex-players, players, media, police, public. Few even argued that entire IPL is fixed, or IPL is bad for cricket. I know in democracy everybody can express how they feel, but seriously, it sounds silly to me. Let us take the issue of corruption in cricket, be it illegal betting or match fixing or spot fixing by cricketers or bookies. Those who say, since IPL involves huge sum of money and hence players are tempted for such activities must know that it isn't only in IPL where cricketers are guilty of corruption. There are many cricketers from different countries involved in corruption with few of them even banned for life. Our attention must be how to tackle the issue but not blame the whole IPL itself.

Monthly Update

Hello.....

So, not much happening. My preparation is going at a very slow pace even though exam is only 2 weeks ahead. Trying very hard to complete Polity, Modern India and Geography in time. But IPL isn't letting me to concentrate on my studies. Anyway, even if I manage to clear prelims, there isn't much hope for Mains. So, one can say, I am little complacent in preparing for prelims. Let's see what lies ahead.

On football front, Real Madrid is in a bit of crisis. In the 2nd leg, UCL semis against BVB, Real managed to score only 2 goals when they needed 3. Ozil and Higuain missed easy chances early in the game. Ronaldo too hit one straight at the keeper. How different it would have been had one of them finished their chances. Once knocked out of UCL, the differences in the team started to emerge. It has become a war between coaching staff and players. I don't mind if Mourinho or any other player leaves, but I want Ronaldo to stay. Now that SAF has retired, Real is the best place for him. Winning league back from barcelona, keeping Ronaldo in madrid, Manager selection for next season are few other problems. But then again, it is Real Madrid. Many teams rise and fall, but not Real. It is one of the very few clubs that stayed in the top since 1950s. Going ahead in this season, there is spanish cup final against city rivals. To not let this season be a failure, Real must beat Athletico. Then the next season 2013-14 is very important for Real. They had to win back la liga from barcelona. Win La Decima.

On entirely different note, I recently read an interview by Neeraj Kumar, Delhi Police Chief given to Indian Express. Here's the link. It gives a different perspective to what one infers from media about police, their attitude, their apathy and such stuff. Must read. Before you go on criticising police, just read his version. Only then, i.e. after hearing both sides of the argument, you comment on the issue. Later...