Interview - Shambhavi Tiwari

Csc: Heartiest congratulations to you from Civil Services Chronicle for your success. How are you feeling about it?

Shambhavi: Thank you so much for the wishes. More than anything, I'm just feeling immensely grateful. This was a dream I had cherished for a long time, and one that my family had dreamt of as well. I'm relieved, thankful, and honestly, it still feels a bit surreal. I gave it my best, and I'm happy that it all worked out. I only hope that I'll be able to do justice to the responsibility and serve with sincerity.

CSC: What inspired you to join the civil services, and whom do you credit for your success?

Shambhavi: The dream of joining the civil services took shape during my third year of college, though in many ways it was also my parents’ dream. Since graduating in 2021, this has been a long journey, and I am deeply grateful to my parents, teachers, friends, and everyone who stood by me.

There were moments of self-doubt when I considered giving up, but my parents always encouraged me to focus on giving my best and leave the outcome to God. Their unwavering faith, along with the blessings of my family and the support of my mentors and friends, kept me motivated throughout the journey.

CSC: What strategy should aspirants follow for General Studies preparation?

Shambhavi: I believe the UPSC syllabus should be the foundation of preparation. Every topic I studied was linked back to the syllabus, while previous years' questions helped me understand the nature of the examination and identify relevant sources.

Rather than treating Prelims, Mains, and the Interview as isolated stages, I followed an integrated approach. Initially, I focused on building conceptual clarity common to both Prelims and Mains. Closer to Prelims, my attention shifted to mock tests and PYQ analysis, while after Prelims I devoted greater time to answer writing. I also believe that interview preparation begins from the first day because personality, awareness, and perspective develop gradually over the entire preparation process.

CSC: How did you manage your time during preparation?

Shambhavi: This was my fourth attempt. Having cleared the examination in my previous attempt and joined the Indian Railway Management Service (Traffic), I refined my strategy with each cycle. I completed my optional subject well before Prelims while simultaneously preparing General Studies. As the examination approached, mock tests, revision, and PYQ analysis became my priorities. After Prelims, I concentrated on answer writing and presentation. Throughout the journey, I adapted my preparation according to the demands of each stage while ensuring regular revision and consistency.

CSC: How important are notes in UPSC preparation?

Shambhavi: Notes played a crucial role in my preparation, particularly for my optional subject. During my initial preparation, I prepared notes for almost every General Studies subject and gradually refined them into concise, revision-friendly material. Self-made notes are generally more effective because they reflect one's own understanding and organization of concepts. However, aspirants with limited time can also rely on quality notes available in the market. I also made extensive use of flowcharts, diagrams, and point-wise presentation, which not only simplified revision but also improved answer presentation.

CSC: Why did you choose Anthropology as your optional subject?

Shambhavi: Although my academic background is in Electrical Engineering, I chose Anthropology because I genuinely enjoyed studying it. Since UPSC preparation often spans several years, I felt it was important to select a subject that sustained my interest. Anthropology also offers a concise syllabus, overlap with General Studies, and good study resources. My preparation was guided by the syllabus, previous year questions, regular revision, and answer writing. I believe conceptual clarity and genuine curiosity matter far more than collecting numerous study materials.

CSC: How did you prepare for Ethics and the Essay paper?

Shambhavi: For Ethics, I limited my resources primarily to Smriti Ma'am's lectures and notes, supplemented by Lexicon for basic concepts. I focused on understanding every keyword in the syllabus with relevant definitions, examples, and practical applications. Ethics, in my opinion, is not merely about memorizing concepts but about developing a balanced and ethical thought process.

Essay preparation was integrated with my overall UPSC preparation. Initially, my essays were largely dimension-based, but over time I adopted a more philosophical and nuanced approach. I realized that UPSC values originality, balanced thinking, and depth of analysis. A good essay should reflect not only knowledge but also maturity of thought and the ability to connect diverse ideas meaningfully.

CSC: How did your answer writing evolve over time?

Shambhavi: Coming from an engineering background, answer writing was initially challenging because UPSC demands analytical explanations supported by examples rather than objective responses. Early feedback encouraged me to elaborate my answers and provide better illustrations.

Over time, I shifted from paragraph-based answers to more structured formats incorporating headings, bullet points, flowcharts, and diagrams wherever appropriate. I believe answer writing evolves through continuous practice, feedback, and refinement rather than by following any fixed template.

CSC: How did you prepare for the Personality Test?

Shambhavi: I consider interview preparation to be an extension of the entire UPSC journey rather than something that begins after Mains. I attended several mock interviews to improve articulation, confidence, and composure. Since many interview questions arise from the Detailed Application Form (DAF), I prepared extensively on my educational background, hometown, hobbies, and current affairs related to them.

During my interview, several questions focused on the power sector and renewable energy because of my engineering background. There were also questions I could not answer, and I honestly admitted my limitations. I believe sincerity, honesty, and calmness are valued more than attempting to answer every question.

CSC: What is your opinion on coaching?

Shambhavi: Coaching is a personal choice. Aspirants who require guidance, mentorship, or a structured approach should not hesitate to seek it. However, coaching alone cannot ensure success. Ultimately, consistent self-study, disciplined revision, and individual perseverance determine the final outcome. Coaching can provide direction, but the responsibility of sustained effort rests entirely with the aspirant.

Csc: What is the role of Civil Services Chronicle in your success?

Shambhavi: I referred to Civil Services Chronicle at various stages of my preparation, particularly for its concise revision notes and detailed current affairs coverage. I found its quick revision sections quite useful, especially for subjects like Geography, as they helped me consolidate concepts effectively.

I also appreciated the way the magazine linked current developments with static General Studies topics, which is crucial from the UPSC perspective.

Overall, I found Civil Services Chronicle to be a reliable resource, and I believe aspirants can certainly benefit from incorporating it into their preparation.

CSC: Which resources did you rely upon during your preparation?

Shambhavi: I primarily studied through online classes, faculty notes, and a few standard books. For Polity, I referred to M. Laxmikanth; for Geography, NCERTs and G.C. Leong; for Economics, Ramesh Singh; for Environment, Shankar IAS; for Art and Culture, Nitin Singhania; and for Ethics, Lexicon. Current affairs were covered through Vision IAS monthly magazines, Civil Services Chronicle,

The Hindu, and The Indian Express, while Mint proved useful during the interview stage. I also benefited from coaching websites, editorial analyses, Vajiram and Ravi's Mains Recitals Programme, and selected online lectures. Throughout my preparation, I consciously limited my resources and focused on repeated revision rather than constantly adding new material.

For Anthropology, I referred to standard books such as Ember and Ember, P. Nath, and Nadeem Hasnain, along with classroom notes and supplementary resources. However, my own notes, continuously refined through repeated revisions, remained my most valuable resource. I also supplemented my preparation with government reports, committee recommendations, and contemporary developments relevant to the syllabus.

CSC: Finally, what message would you like to give to UPSC aspirants?

Shambhavi: UPSC preparation is a long journey that demands patience, consistency, and resilience. There will inevitably be setbacks, but every attempt offers valuable lessons that help refine one's strategy. Aspirants should avoid comparing themselves with others, keep their resources limited, revise consistently, practise answer writing regularly, and maintain faith in their efforts.

Success is rarely the result of a single factor; it is the outcome of disciplined preparation, continuous learning, honest self-assessment, and the unwavering support of family, mentors, and well-wishers. Most importantly, one should enjoy the learning process, remain grounded, and remember that perseverance ultimately leads to success.

CSC: Thank you for taking the time to share your inspiring UPSC journey with us. Your insights, experiences, and valuable guidance will undoubtedly motivate and help countless aspirants in their preparation. We wish you great success in your career as a civil servant.