In spite of preliminary setbacks in UPSC CSE makes an attempt, Harsimran Singh Cheema persevered, attaining an All India Rank of 16 in his first try at UPSC IFS in 2022. He stocks the adaptation in preparation technique for IAS and IFS, sharing guidelines that labored for him.
Whilst scrolling thru Instagram, Harsimran Singh Cheema got here throughout a profile advice for an Indian Woodland Services and products (IFS) officer from Madhya Pradesh. As he explored the officer’s feed, he realized concerning the prestigious Indian Woodland Carrier.
“I used to be amazed via the varied tasks of a woodland officer in protective our forests and supporting the group. With the rising affect of local weather trade and heightened focal point on environmental problems, I realised there are lots of alternatives for significant paintings on this box,” he says.
“This realisation sparked my passion within the carrier, and it used to be then that I determined to take the examination,” he provides.
Previous to this, Harsimran had already tried the Union Public Carrier Fee Civil Services and products Examinations (UPSC CSE) 5 occasions with out luck. “I used to be additionally drawing near the age of 32, the utmost prohibit for a basic candidate within the UPSC. I sought after to present it one closing take a look at since I had not anything to lose,” says Harsimran, who used to be then running because the Inspector of Cooperative Society in Punjab.
After a couple of failed makes an attempt in UPSC CSE, Harsimran in spite of everything completed a outstanding feat on his first try within the UPSC IFS (Indian Woodland Carrier) exam in 2022, securing an All India Rank of 16 on his first try.
We sat down with him to grasp the adaptation between IAS and IFS and the preparation technique that led him to luck in his first try at IFS.
Decade-long adventure to turning into an IFS Officer
Initially from Jalandhar, Punjab, Harsimran stocks the tale at the back of his inspiration to enroll in the civil products and services. “When I used to be a kid, my mom would inform me tales about her dream of changing into an IAS officer. Then again, at the moment, the surroundings used to be now not conducive for girls to pursue upper schooling and jobs. Alternatives have been restricted, and fogeys basically enthusiastic about marrying off their daughters. She was hoping to fulfil her dream thru me, and I sought after to reach this for her,” he stocks.
After finishing his civil engineering level from the DAV Institute of Engineering and Era in 2013, Harsimran labored within the non-public sector for a 12 months. In 2014, he determined to go away his task and get ready full-time for the UPSC-CSE.
Harsimran cleared the Prelims on his first try however couldn’t transparent the Mains. This development endured in his successive makes an attempt in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, he controlled to transparent the Mains however didn’t make it to the general record after the interview spherical. “By way of that point, I used to be unemployed, and I used to be now not getting luck in my makes an attempt. I used to be disheartened,” he says.
He felt it used to be top time to paintings on his Plan B — securing a central authority place within the Punjab State Civil Services and products. “In 2017, I took up a role as an Inspector of Cooperative Society. This position allowed me to watch the functioning of the Govt on the grassroots degree. It used to be an eye-opener for me. I realised that whilst civil products and services are continuously glamourised, the paintings of presidency officials is very similar to some other task, with objectives and targets to fulfill,” he provides.
Speaking concerning the significance of getting a plan B, he says, “I wouldn’t advise aspirants to spend years and years only on examination preparation. This examination isn’t the whole lot. It’s essential to diversify and now not put your whole eggs in a single basket. That are meant to be your preliminary manner. Many of us waste years chasing glamour. As an alternative, commit two to 3 years of laborious paintings, and if you happen to’re not able to transparent it, it’s completely wonderful to discover different alternatives.”
“Along your task, you’ll get ready for this examination. Onerous paintings by no means is going to waste; I will be able to attest to this after virtually 10 years of my adventure, which thankfully culminated in luck on this box,” he provides.
In 2021, he started getting ready for woodland products and services along his full-time task. “As this used to be my closing alternative to get into the carrier, I used to be apprehensive. However in spite of everything, I tasted luck in my first try at IFS,” says Harsimran, who clenched an AIR of 16 within the 2022 exam.
IAS vs IFS — How other is the preparation procedure?
In UPSC, applicants can make a selection their most popular ranks, choosing both IAS, IFS, or each. They have got separate makes an attempt for each and every. To start with, Harsimran targeted only on IAS (CSE). Then again, on his ultimate try, he determined to pursue IFS, a call that proved fruitful as he effectively cleared it on his first try.
Speaking concerning the adjustments that he made in his technique prior to showing for woodland products and services, he says, “The cutoff for the woodland carrier examination is usually upper than that for civil products and services, requiring applicants to position in additional effort proper from the initial degree. I needed to raise my Prelims preparation to a complete new degree.”
He continues, “To organize successfully, I looked for UPSC query papers from the closing 10 years. This helped me perceive UPSC’s expectancies and gauge the adequacy of my preparation. Moreover, I enthusiastic about mastering topics that generally problem different applicants, giving me a aggressive edge.”
To realize an edge over his competition, Harsimran stressed out opposite engineering. “I known essentially the most difficult questions from earlier years’ query papers and diligently looked for related knowledge on-line. As soon as I discovered the right supply books, I caught to them to achieve a deeper working out of the themes,” he provides.
With this technique, he effectively cleared the Prelims and Mains phases in 2022. He mentions that he devoted roughly a month and a part to organize for the interview spherical. “It’s to be famous that the interview rounds for each CSE and IFS are other. Whilst the previous is on basic questions, the latter stresses on technicalities of the woodland carrier,” he informs.
“Whilst basic solutions would possibly suffice within the Civil Services and products Exam (CSE), the board for the Indian Woodland Carrier (IFS) expects medical and sustainable answers,” says Harsimran, who secured 210 marks out of 300 within the persona check spherical.
“Whilst getting ready for the interview, I lined elementary questions on my background, task revel in, levels, spare time activities, and pursuits. Moreover, I enthusiastic about technical sides associated with forestry,” he says, including that all the way through the interview spherical, he used to be requested about quite a lot of sorts of woodland fires and methods to strengthen groundwater high quality suffering from the overuse of chemical fertilisers in farms.
Edited via Pranita Bhat. All pictures: Harsimran Singh.