UPSC Exam-Indian Forest Service Exam 2013-14 Topper Ms.K.Kalpana’s Exclusive Interview

Indian Forest Service Exam 2013-14

 Topper Ms.K.Kalpana’s Exclusive Interview

NAME: KALPANA K

STATE: TAMILNADU

GRADUATION: B.E (Electrical and electronics)

WORK EXPERIENCE: Worked as programmer analyst in COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS for 2 years

IFoS ATTEMPT: 1st attempt

YEAR: 2013

 AIR RANK: 9

2. Your interest in Indian Forest Service Exam

The sole reason for taking the decision to get into this service was the way my parents brought me up telling every time that "anything that we do in our life should have a positive impact on the society and young men and women shouldn’t live for the sake of earning and spending" . Though my IT job was challenging and interesting I kept questioning myself whether I am living the way I had been taught to live. I quit my job when I decided that I wanted to be in a field that would enable me to be directly linked to my soil. Civil services and Forest service’s seemed to the perfect choice. Moreover Environment is the key factor that is going to decide the existence of man in the future. Forest resources and the green cover of our nation requires our immediate attention to ensure sustainable development.

3. Subject Selection

FORESTRY was an obvious choice because I had an inherent curiosity to know what the subject was about and was sure that the subject would create a good foundation before I enter into the service.

GEOLOGY was the next choice because it had  lots of geographical concepts in it and as an engineering graduate I  found it comfortable. My optional for civil services exam was geography, so it made my preparation easy.

4. Coaching if any

I took coaching for forestry after prelims result in SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY under Karthikeyan ramalingam sir.I had prepared geography optional earlier for civil services exam In the academy and so did self preparation for geology.

5. Preparation strategy

Prelims: Sticking to the syllabus that is mentioned and covering all the basics. Reading THE HINDU newspaper for current affairs and simultaneously solving multiple choice questions. Studying pattern and the hours that should be spent each day totally varies from person to person and it is in the hands of the candidate to analyze and establish his/her own convenient study timings and patterns.

Mains: English paper marks definitely counts and so a person must develop the capability to express in simple and clear language. We must only sharpen the ability to express clearly and expertise in English language is not required. Basic grammar must be practiced.

General studies paper can be easily managed when we are able to generate as many points as possible to the questions within the word and time limit. Kindly practice the same with previous years question papers.

Optional papers should be prepared with an open mind wherein an aspirant must be able to manage any type of question asked from the syllabus. Correlating the topics given under syllabus while preparing and writing practice would help in fetching good marks. Diagrammatic representation will help in simplifying the contents to be represented.

6. Book list :

General Studies: All syllabus related NCERT books from 9th to 12th,
 Polity-Lakshmikant, 

 Economics-Ramesh Singh and class notes.

 Geography- Shankar sir’s class notes, NCERT and  Savindra Singh

Environment by Shankar IAS Academy (a really good book)

Current affairs THE HINDU newspaper

Forestry: Indian forestry by K.Manikandan and S.Prabhu, IFS

Geology:Principles of Engineering Geology by K.M.Bangar

7. Examination Experience:

 Attending well known questions quickly and then spending more time for the doubtful ones helped in clearing prelims.

Difficulties faced in mains were the inability to finish the answers within stipulated time. It is better to attend all the questions instead of concentrating and giving more time only to those that are easy for us. Time management plays a great role in mains.

8. Interview experience:

Strategy for interview is being our own self. Knowing or not knowing some facts is not important here. The sincerity in our answers and the ability to stick to our views till the end without taking a contradictory stance will play a deciding role. The board was cordial and all questions were related to profile, hobby and situation based questions wherein they tested whether I was sensitive towards tribal issues, animal welfare and also being a woman they gave scenarios to check whether I was mentally strong to face difficulties.. One must be aware of the role played by tribal population,issues related to sustainable development,role of woman in forestry and basics related to our optionals.

9. Tips to share: 

I would like to share two quotes for all the aspiring candidates

                                                                                

   "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; True nobility is being superior to your former self"- Ernest Hemingway

    "You are the creator of your own destiny " -Swami Vivekananda