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

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Thank you! I am very happy that my endeavors and hard work paid off.

CSC: What is you inspiration for becoming a PCS officer?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: The nature and scope of work provides job satisfaction and one can significantly contribute to the society.

CSC: What is the role of family and others (teacher, friends) in your preparation and success?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Guidance, direction and moral support was provided by family and friends.

CSC: How much time did you devote for this exam?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: (a) Prelims - 3 months

(b) Mains - 6 months

(c) Interview - 1 month

(d) Optional - 3 months

CSC: How did you manage your time in both prelims and mains examinations?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: I had allotted time for various portions I had to cover in a day, and prepared time-table accordingly. I ensured to adhere to the time-table prepared.

CSC: Did you integrate your Prelims and Mains preparation or was it separate?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Separate.

CSC: Did you prepare notes? How helpful are the notes? What is your advice on notes-making?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Yes, I had prepared notes. Notes should be concise and should be revised multiple times.

CSC: Tell us something about preparation of the essay paper.

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Prepare the flow of essay for various topics, current issues should be incorporated while writing essay.

CSC: What was your style of writing in the exam? How was it distinct from the general writing style? How did you develop this writing style?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: My handwriting as well as speed is good. It helped in getting down my views in answer writing.

CSC: What was your optional? What was the basis of selecting this optional?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Public administration & social work. Both these subjects will be able to help me to serve the society as a civil servant, as it provides in-depth knowledge of administration & society.

CSC: How did you prepare for the interview?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Dr. S.S. Chaudhary Sir of Vajirao & Reddy Institute provided me individual guidance in mock interview, which was very helpful.

CSC: Which types of questions were asked in the interview? Did you answer all of them?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Several questions based on current issues, polity and questions related to my academic background were asked.

Yes, I answered all questions.

CSC: Was there any specific area they emphasized upon?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Current issues, polity, academic background.

CSC: Importance of coaching in the preparation of exam.

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Dr. S.S. Chaudhary from Vajirao & Reddy Institute provided me the required guidance to crack UPPCS-2016. He helped me in mock interviews and in GS preparation during the course of preparation.

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

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Civil Services Chronicle helped in GS preparation analysis of current issues and subject based special editions were very helpful in preparation.

CSC: Were you confident of your success? How did you react to this special news of your success?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: I was confident of selection, but first rank came as a surprise. I was happy when I got the news of my achievement. It gave me immense pleasure that my endeavors and hard work paid off.

CSC: Before knowing your own result, what was your perception about toppers?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: My perception about toppers was that they are good strategists, hard working and dedicated towards their goal.

CSC: Was only Civil Services your ultimate goal or were you preparing for other career opportunities as well simultaneously?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: I was preparing only for civil services.

CSC: In how many attempts have you achieved this success? How do you visualize your preparation/ previous attempts? What preference in services have you opted for?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: I achieved this success in my first attempt.

CSC: What are the ingredients of you strategy in preparation for Prelims, Mains & Interview?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Prelims- Studied the previous years’ questions asked in UPSC and other state services exam; it helped in increasing the scope of knowledge.

Mains- Solved previous years’ questions and prepared notes and revised them multiple times, did lot of writing practice.

Interview- Dr. S.S. Chaudhary Sir of Vajirao & Reddy Institute provided me individual guidance in Mock interviews, which was very helpful.

CSC: List some of the Magazines, Newspapers, and Books etc. which you consulted for the preparation of 'General Studies' papers.

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Prelims: Civil Services Chronicle, The Hindu newspaper.

CSC: What is your opinion regarding the general view that Science subjects have better chance to score than the subjects in Humanities?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: In my opinion Humanities subjects are more scoring than science subjects.

CSC: What is the importance of medium of expression in the exams like CSE?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Medium does not matter as long as you are able to express your views in any language.

CSC: What is the secret of your success?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Strategy, hard work, dedication and a positive attitude.

CSC: Your strong point?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Good writing skills, hardworking.

CSC: Your weak point?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: Impatient.

CSC: Any suggestion/advice you would like to give to the future aspirants?

Jaijeet Kaur Hora: There is no substitute to 'Hard work along with good strategy'.