In 2018, Akshay Agrawal returned from Singapore to his homeland India; but it wasn’t a casual visit. As he stepped out into the Mumbai airport terminal, he knew the uncertainty that lay in front of him. He had decided to leave the comforts of his job, the allure of an international career, to pursue a goal that had lived in his heart since childhood.
It was a pivotal moment in Akshay’s life as he stepped into the uncertain yet exhilarating world of preparing for the Union Public Service Commission exam.
Inspired by a friend’s success in the UPSC, and the ever-present encouragement of his father, Akshay made the bold decision to resign from his job and return to India with nothing but a suitcase full of books, and an enduring determination.
“Beneath the calm facade of Singapore was a growing restlessness. I longed for home and yearned to pursue a dream of service to the nation. This was where I was meant to be,” he shares.
The very same year he cleared one of the most challenging examinations in his first attempt, securing an All India Rank 43. He says, “The first attempt is probably the best, as you come with a fresh perspective and energy.”
Currently, Akshay is the district magistrate of Nayagarh in Odisha. As we sat down for a conversation, the 2019 batch IAS officer shed light on how he cracked the UPSC exam.
The secret weapon: Past question papers
With a background in engineering from the College of Engineering Pune and a gold medal in economics from the National University of Singapore, Akshay worked for more than a year in the corporate. While holding a demanding job, he managed to allocate 40 hours a week for study.
“I ensured that I take out some three hours every day and 12 hours on weekends. When I came back to India, I quit my job. So, this allowed me to study for 10 to 12 hours every day,” he adds. After seven months of studying while working, he finally quit his job to focus entirely on his preparation.
His success mantra includes clearly chalked-out goals, a fierce determination to meet study targets, comprehensive revision plans, and a refusal to succumb to distractions.
The factor that stands out as the pivotal secret weapon in Akshay’s arsenal was analysing Previous Year Questions (PYQs). For him, these weren’t just questions; they were a treasure trove of insights and patterns that guided his study strategy and sharpened his acumen for the exhaustive UPSC syllabus.
“Understanding the syllabus is crucial,” Akshay emphasises. “And you can only truly grasp it by doing two things: reading the syllabus and studying the previous question papers as much as you can.”
For every aspirant standing at the threshold of this gruelling journey, Akshay showcases how the previous year’s questions can be their guiding light.
1. Why PYQs are indispensable
Akshay recalls his rigorous preparation where he scoured through 20 to 25 years of previous question papers. This exercise helped him discern not just what the questions were but the underlying themes and intents of the syllabus, shaping an effective study strategy.
2. Spotting patterns and trends
With over 20 years’ worth of data, Akshay began to see patterns — topics of historical importance, the nature of questions, and changing trends. Though the pattern evolved over the years, understanding these nuances helped him predict the kind of important topics, and likely to appear again.
His strategy was systematic — starting with individual subjects, he would solve corresponding PYQs immediately after completing the study material, iteratively revisiting them to solidify his understanding.
“Initially, you can solve questions subject-wise and later on, you can start solving the full-length UPSC papers. This was my rule of thumb. In total, one should solve a minimum of 5,000 questions before the prelim exam,” he explains.
3. Strategic preparation & note-making
PYQs offer a framework for targeted study, enabling aspirants to identify ‘hot topics’. Akshay found that certain historical patterns inevitably resurfaced, whether in the context of geopolitics, economics, or social issues. This allowed him to focus his energies on areas with higher yields.
He adds that it is very important to strengthen notes after collecting additional information from PYQs. “For instance, if a question is on the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) treaty which was a free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its free trade agreement partners, then you should know the names of those countries. What are the other countries with whom ASEAN has already signed a treaty earlier? Did India sign it? So, you have to prepare every possible aspect around it,” he informs.
Akshay’s approach of revisiting solved PYQs served as a tool for consistent revision. This reinforced already acquired knowledge and uncovered areas that required additional attention. “Remember, structured targets, effective revision, and consistency beckon success in UPSC,” he says.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All photos courtesy IAS Akshay Agrawal
