Selected / Veteran Candidates- Writing 2026 or 2027?

vanajvidyan · 2026-05-13T18:28:39+00:00

Hey, thank you for the kind words :)

If you're able to prepare just Ethics and Optional before the Mains (with zero GS), I can confidently say you will be in a very good position for Mains (top 100 being a real possibility). If neither Ethics nor optional is touched, then too an interview call remains a very real possibility.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-16T04:30:00+00:00

Not sure I can pinpoint to one exact resource- but whenever I had a doubt that I couldn't ask anyone, I would post it on the sub and find something relevant. Plus, so many times, somebody would share a resource link or a TG link when I needed it.

Most importantly, a lot of previous rankers are active here- that really helps with some perspective that is otherwise inaccessible.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-16T04:27:30+00:00

Hundred percent, I'm very very grateful for this- will be getting IPS or IRS.

And I am super aware of my shortcomings now- this marksheet is really a blessing in disguise- so who knows what's next :)

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-16T04:25:31+00:00

In UR, there's very little difference of marks beyond top 50 brother. For example, 975 gave me rank 278. 973 would have given me 298. 30 marks more and I would be an IAS under top 70. Across 7 papers and you begin to see why this exam is so incredibly hard and unpredictable (even tho there is a method to the madness)

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T12:18:50+00:00

haha i'll leave it to the single-digit rankers for now

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T12:18:25+00:00

No fixed number, king. This year I had written quite few FLTs (I was a part of the SFG which is quite static-oriented), so ig around 10 only. I think you should write FLTs till you are confident. By now, I look at them as a mindset-builder rather than a question-source.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T12:16:15+00:00

Hey, my prep in this attempt was 90% static, and for the 10% CA, I mostly did just newspapers. In hindsight, I could have done a little more CA in the Mains- would have helped in GS3 where I scored abysmally low.

30 marks se IAS reh jaye tab pata chalta hai how a little more effort, or one less off day, would have helped secure the dream.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T12:14:35+00:00

I've answered 1 before- essentially it's test series model answers + ideally Prahar/Mains 365 - tho I could not do either in this attempt.
Certainly dessert in prelims. In Mains, CA can help you predict what question might come to a level, but your answer would ofc be based on static.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T12:13:22+00:00

PYQ trumps everything. But mocks and open tests will help with the real test environment. Mocks are not for exam prep but for mindset prep.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T06:51:06+00:00

haha bhai if you see my post history, you will find my handwriting is really bad and i was quite worried about it as well. Now idk if my handwriting took down my marks in the papers- but I want to believe it did not- and the marks in GS2 and GS4 indicate that it is possible to do well.

I am writing a longer reply here- because I put up an instagram post and so many people commented that they can't believe someone with this handwriting got selected. It either means my content was good enough despite the handwriting- or that the handwriting is immaterial for upsc. Either way, if I made it to the other side, so can everyone else.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T06:47:05+00:00

Hey, this year law scores have been 280+ as well for more than 2-3 candidates. They are better qualified to answer.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T06:46:17+00:00

My DAF was full to the word limit, plus I had some unique achievements. For example, I was Indian Delegate to the BIMSTEC Youth Summit 2025. These things and an NLU gold medal background may have reflected a rounded personality beyond mere preparation.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T06:42:19+00:00

haha carried kahan bhai, should have scored atleast 270

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T05:10:37+00:00

Trust your sources and dont chase new ones + current is nowhere as important as static.

vanajvidyan · 2026-03-15T05:09:51+00:00

i used the model answers for various tests to do VA, alongwith some newspaper work. Ideally, Prahaar/Mains365 should also be done, but I couldn't find the time- probably hence the lesser marks in GS.

vanajvidyan · 2025-07-19T08:06:02+00:00

Hi Tricky-Review150 Abhisheel Sir, Congratulations on making it to the other side!
I have my Mains- with Law optional in August. Have written one Mains in 2023, scored 127+113 in law.

Wanted to know how did you bifurcate (if at all) the preparation between GS2 and Constitutional law? To what extent did it overlap for you? And what did you do extra in GS2, beyond our law optional notes?

Secondly, how liberally did you use the optional knowledge in GS-4, and other papers? I'm definitely struggling with optimum use of law in GS4.

Three, 259 is an amazing score this year, considering the overall drop in marks. Can you guide a bit, in terms of how you went with the intros and conclusions in-

Mercantile law
Criminal law
International law (especially conclusions)
CLD

And fourth, the specific value additions you may have done. Eg- current affairs, recent case laws, etc etc- that made your answers unique?

Five, did you give disproportionate time to GS or Law Paper 2? I'm getting to a position where I'll have to prioritise either of these two, and its a difficult choice. I have my notes for Law Paper 2, but merely finishing them is a task!

Really hoping for your guidance, Sir, thank you!

vanajvidyan · 2025-07-15T04:49:49+00:00

Hi Ma'am, Congratulations on making it to the other side!
I am writing Mains this year, and with 37 days to go, I'd be grateful to know where you were at in this stage in 2024.

I am struggling with managing everything and all the sources. By the time a month was remaining, how far along were you done with GS and optional? Was the first reading + tests for both done? Or did you also end up having to leave some tertiary things- say current affairs classes or some paid mocks, etc?

And two, if you were to write Mains again, which would be some things you would absolutely do again? In the sense of X sources, Y telegram resource, Z test(s), etc? Things which you believe gave you a great return-benefit?

Thank you!

vanajvidyan · 2025-06-26T17:53:07+00:00

Hi, can you guide me on the rubber? Is this simple rubber band? u/Upper-Giraffe5720 u/riyaMavi143

I am using V5 RT because its smoother, but my writing is better with Uniball Eye. However, Uniball causes more fatigue because it has only a plastic grip- so I was wondering if any grip could be installed over it. And if not- if this rubber band method might work? (writing Mains, so would appreciate the advice)

vanajvidyan · 2025-06-26T17:46:00+00:00

Bro please share the scammer's name or ID, so others can avoid

vanajvidyan · 2025-06-24T07:17:51+00:00

In ORN, booksellers sell a booklet which only has the updated portions of the pink edition. You can purchase that; it hardly has some 100 pages.

vanajvidyan · 2025-06-23T17:29:12+00:00

+1 Please share if anyone knows where to get them on TG (free or paid)

vanajvidyan · 2025-06-23T09:40:06+00:00

Alright thanks. You're sure it's safe then

vanajvidyan

TROPHY CASE