“To achieve success in Civil Services exam, focus on writing skills”
-- K. Lalbiakchhunga
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BRUCE K. THANGKHAL
NEW DELHI, MAY 15, 2013
“To achieve success in Civil Services exam, focus on writing skills”, says one of the Mizos, who have captured the 971 spot in the final results of Civil Services Examination 2012.
UPSC Civil Services is regarded as the most coveted job in India. In CSE Prelims 2012, Out of 5,36,506 applicants 2,71,422 actually appeared in which 13,092 candidates qualified for the Mains, out of which 2674 candidates were selected for the Personality Test in March-April, 2013. Finally 998 candidates (753 Male and 245 Female) have been recommended for appointment to the IAS, IFS, IPS and other Central Services against 1091 reported vacancies. Among the successful candidates, our correspondent had a chance to interview this young Mizo lad, K. Lalbiakchhunga,
the 971th Rank in CSE 2012, aka Biaka for over an hour at his JNU Brahmaputra hostel in New Delhi. Here is an excerpt.
K. Lalbiakchhunga, the youngest son among the two brothers and two sisters, of K. Lalhmuaka and Awichingi, of Ramhlun North, was born in 1983. His father is a retired fourth grade employee under state Education Department and his mother is a simple housewife.
Biaka completed his primary schoolings from Ramhlun PS II and middle schools from Ramhlun North Govt Endala Middle School. Since he was a brilliant student, his parents enrolled him in St Paul Higher Sec School, Aizawl and passed out the matriculate examination 2000 in I division and also came out in I division in 10+2 (Arts) exam from Govt Chaltlang HSS in 2002.
Keeping Civil Service in mind, Biaka went to Delhi and studied BA Political Science in Dayal Singh College (DU) from 2002-05. He said, “My initial years in Delhi were like a nightmare. Everything seems difficult. I was really weak in writing and speaking, too. So I give more importance of writing and took practices every day by writing down a small paragraph, or whatever I learnt”.
Biaka first attempted Civil Services in 2009. Though he managed to through the Prelims but he couldn’t in the Mains. In his second and third attempt, he was plucked out in the Mains as if lady luck disfavoured him. Still he dreams on, he never lost his tempo and keeps on leaning towards his goal. This time, something new struck him. He ranked 971 out of 998 in his fourth attempt. “My previous failures were due to scoring low marks”, he guessed with a humble smile.
Interestingly, Biaka, is a scholar while pursuing civil services. How could he manage his academic research and CS preparations is quite amazing and astonishing to everyone, who heard his success story. The truth is, JNU students are rigorously trained in research and hence, they hardly have leisure time or time for such toughest exam.
Biaka completed his MA Politics (with specialization in International Relations) and MPhil from Jawahar Lal Nehru University in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Since then he is busy with his research works on “The Role of U.S. in Dismantlement of Weapons of Mass Destruction in former Soviet States: 1991-2000”. He is due to submit his thesis in the month of July, if not he’ll extended, he said.
“I could not simply depend on my family. So I utilized the scholarship which I received from the university in pursuing my goal”, Biaka said. This was the only source to support himself.
Regarding IAS coaching, he said he joined the coaching classes for about six months which charged Rs 30,000 as the course fee. “Coaching Class is not mandatory, it only guide us the direction and it is upto an individual who take an extra mile in travelling throughout the length,” he added.
“During college days, I managed with Rs 3000-4,000 pm. Those were hard times. My brothers and were also studying at home. My parents were not in a position to support me financially”, Biaka told our correspondent. With one of my friends, we shared a small room, that’s making easier for me to stay in Delhi, he added.
On asking about IAS, he came to know it while he was in XII standard when some of his teachers advised him to go for CS exam. “I have been among the first class-holder during my school and college days. That is why my teachers encouraged me for this. From that onwards, my passion for CS exam began burning inside me,” Biaka shared.
Recollecting the past, Biaka said he had failed his first attempt in Mizoram Civil Service exam in 2011. But he neither quit nor disappointed, yet he gave another hard blow and cleared both Prelims and Mains in 2012. Unluckily he failed the interview. His optional subjects were Geography and Sociology. In CS exam for three consecutive years, he took Geography and Political Science as Optionals. In his fourth try, he made a slight change, that is, he replaced Political Science with Sociology. This time he succeeds.
On sharing about what he reads, Biaka testified Yojana, Frontline, Civil Service Chronicles, and Georgraphy and You, are his daily breads for Civil Service exam, which are piling up one another on his table and also found laying on the floor of his tiny hostel room. His room is decorated with books! He reads two dailies, The Hindu and Times of India, which he never missed early in the morning.
“Writing is his biggest weakness”, he pointed out, “It is by writing we have to express our thoughts and opinions in the exams”, Biaka lamented. When asking about the negative impact of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, and internet, “It depends on person to person, I make it useful by collecting study materials and gathered information,” he responded positively. One may wonder, he says, Social networking is now my hobby.
This young lad, who spends eight to night hours in reading a day, also hardly missed Sunday worship services in Mizoram House, Vasant Vihar. He is not only a bookworm; he had also involved extra curriculum activities. He holds the Academic Secretary of Delhi Mizo Zirlai Pawl (student body) in 2006-07 and as Secretary, Delhi Mizo Thalai (Church Youths) in 2007-08. Besides, he is also a football lover, who plays regularly. “In my case, writing skill is important to achieve success in Civil Services. I have to develop it”, Biaka emphasized at the later part of the conversation with our correspondent. This lad is still eyeing for a better rank in the next Civil Service exam, staring this month.
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