Drishti IAS Founder Vikas Divyakirti Shares Tips On How To Crack UPSC On First Attempt – News18

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) civil services exam is one of the most sought-after and challenging exams in the country. Every year, lakhs of aspirants take this test with the aim of serving the nation and earning the respect of the public. Here are some tips provided by Drishti IAS Founder Vikas Divyakirti that can assist candidates aiming to clear the exam on their first attempt.

Reports indicate that nearly ten lakh students appear in the UPSC exam every year but a significant number of them struggle to pass the preliminary examination. Dr Vikas Divyakirti is one such aspirant who managed to crack the UPSC examination on his first try. Subsequently, he left his job to enter the teaching profession. Vikas is the founder of Drishti IAS coaching centre and also hosts a podcast where he offers guidance to students on how to excel in the examination.

Vikas said that when preparing for the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) prelims, it is crucial to focus on mathematics and reasoning as these subjects are a significant part of the test. If you find mathematics challenging, there’s no need to panic. Simply stay focused and start by solving the comprehension questions, followed by the reasoning questions. Prior practice with these questions is highly important, he added.

According to reports, out of 80 questions in the examination, 35 are related to comprehension and reasoning. Vikas emphasises that consistent practice of mathematics is the key to overcoming any weaknesses in this area.

Candidates are allotted 120 minutes to solve the 80 questions in the exam. This means that you have only about 1 to 1.5 minutes to solve each question. Since this is only the preliminary examination, the marks obtained here do not contribute to the final UPSC exam score. It serves as an opportunity for candidates to qualify for the mains.

Vikas Divyakirti successfully cleared the UPSC examination on his first attempt in 1996. While he worked at the Ministry of Home Affairs for a year, he eventually left the job to teach.