UPSC Myths Busted: Toppers Reveal the
Counter-Intuitive Secrets to Cracking the IAS
Exam
Every UPSC aspirant is familiar with the echo chamber of advice. Study 16 hours a day. Solve 200
mock tests. Make notes of every single word you read. The pressure is immense, and the advice is
often contradictory, leading to confusion and burnout before the real journey even begins.
Here at Excellent Mind Games Coaching Classes (EMGC), our entire philosophy is built on cutting
through the noise. Success in the Civil Services Exam isn’t about brute force; it’s about smart,
sustainable strategy. This article distills the surprising, impactful, and counter-intuitive wisdom
shared by successful IAS officers and renowned mentors to bust the most common myths holding
you back. You’ll discover a common thread running through their advice: a rejection of brute-force
burnout in favor of a sustainable, psychologically-sound, and deeply personal approach to this
marathon exam.
1. Myth: You Must Study 16 Hours a Day.
Truth: Embrace the ‘Triple-8’ Rule for Sustainable Success.
The culture of glorifying 16-hour study days is perhaps the most damaging myth in the UPSC
ecosystem. It pushes aspirants towards inevitable burnout. Renowned mentor Dr. Vikas Divyakirti
offers a powerful, sustainable alternative: the “Triple-8 Golden Rule.”
• 8 hours of focused study
• 8 hours of quality sleep
• 8 hours for recreation, friends, and life
This is a principle we champion relentlessly with our own students at EMGC, as we’ve seen
firsthand how it prevents the catastrophic burnout that often strikes mid-preparation. This balanced
approach is a direct counter-argument to the burnout culture. The UPSC exam is a marathon, not a
sprint, and this strategy is designed for long-term endurance and mental well-being.
“8 घंटे पढ़ाई करो, 8 घंटे अच्छी नींद लो और 8 घंटे का ब्रेक लो… तो आईएएस बन जाओगे।” (Study 8 hours, sleep
8 hours, and take an 8-hour break… then you will become an IAS officer.)
Dr. Divyakirti reinforces this by advising aspirants to not just read books but also to “read life.”
Engaging with friends, watching a film, or simply observing society are not distractions; they are
essential parts of developing the well-rounded personality required of a civil servant.
2. Myth: More Mock Tests Equal a Higher Rank.
Truth: Use Mocks for Knowledge, Not Just Strategy.
Aspirants often get trapped in the endless cycle of mock tests, chasing high scores and obsessing
over elimination techniques. IAS Pavandatta (AIR 22) offers a refreshingly counter-intuitive
perspective: he used test series primarily as a tool for knowledge acquisition, not for practicing
strategy.
Surprisingly, he reveals that he wrote only one full-length mock test close to the actual exam. His
focus was on using the questions in sectional tests to identify and fill his knowledge gaps. He
reserved his strategic practice—like logical guessing and elimination—for analyzing previous years’
actual UPSC papers, treating them as the only true simulation.
“…test series are very much hyped in the upsc exam… every test paper that I have attempted is for
the knowledge nothing strategy”
This is a liberating takeaway. It frees you from the pressure of performing well in every mock test
and reframes them as what they should be: valuable learning resources. Instead of judging your
entire preparation on a score, use mocks to learn new information and pinpoint weak areas in your
static knowledge.
3. Myth: You Need Meticulously Crafted Notes.
Truth: Become an Augmentor, Not a Scribe.
The advice to “make your own notes” has led countless aspirants to spend hundreds of hours simply
copying information from standard books into notebooks. Former IAS officer Anil Swarup offers a
radical and time-saving alternative, stating that traditional note-making is a waste of time.
“there is no need to prepare notes it’s a waste of time”
His alternative “augmentation” method is brilliantly efficient:
1. Select one “base book” for each topic. This book becomes your primary source and your
“notes.”
2. As you read other sources, add supplementary information (like updated statistics or concept
clarifications) on small slips of paper and insert them into the relevant pages of your base
book.
3. Jot down key recall points and keywords directly in the book’s margins.
The primary benefit is the enormous amount of time it saves. You are no longer a scribe, mindlessly
copying content. Instead, you are an active learner, consolidating and augmenting information at its
source. Just as Pavandatta reframed mock tests as a knowledge-gathering tool, Anil Swarup
reframes note-making as an active process of augmentation, not passive transcription. Both
strategies shift your role from a mere content consumer to an active, strategic learner.
4. Myth: A Rigid Daily Timetable is Non-Negotiable.
Truth: Be Consistent in Your Inconsistency.
The internet is filled with color-coded, minute-by-minute timetables from toppers, creating
immense pressure to adhere to a rigid schedule. However, IAS Pavandatta confesses that he is
“completely against” such rigid daily plans.
His approach was to set broad, medium-term goals, such as finishing Geography and Polity within
15 days, but allowing for complete flexibility in his daily routine. He didn’t force himself to study if
he wasn’t feeling productive and even took time to binge-watch TV shows close to the exam to destress.
His work style is best captured in his own words:
“I am very consistent in my inconsistency sir.”
This mindset is crucial for mental health. It replaces the guilt of missing a scheduled study slot with
the confidence of meeting larger goals. Notice the pattern? Dr. Divyakirti’s ‘Triple-8 Rule’ provides
the structure for a balanced life, while Pavandatta’s ‘consistent inconsistency’ provides the
psychological flexibility within that structure. Both are powerful tools against the same enemy: the
guilt and burnout that derail countless aspirants.
5. Myth: Success is All About IQ.
Truth: Your ‘Perseverance Quotient’ (PQ) Matters More.
While a sharp intellect (IQ) is helpful, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti argues that it’s not the deciding factor in
a long-duration exam like the UPSC. The true mantra for success, he suggests, is a high
“Perseverance Quotient” (PQ). PQ is composed of three essential pillars:
• Persistence: The ability to put in continuous, regular effort.
• Perseverance: The willpower and strong determination to keep going despite setbacks.
• Patience: The capacity to wait for results without giving up hope.
Dr. Divyakirti uses a powerful metaphor to explain this: success is like food cooked on a “धीमी आंच”
(slow flame). It tastes better and is more wholesome. A short, intense burst of preparation is like
cooking on a high flame—it leads to quick burnout and a half-baked result. True success in this
marathon requires the slow, steady flame of perseverance.
6. Myth: You Must Be Obsessed to Win.
Truth: Master the Arts of Ignoring and Graceful Rejection.
The high-pressure UPSC journey is filled with external noise: unsolicited advice, criticism from
relatives, and the distracting success of peers. Dr. Vikas Divyakirti advises that a key component of
emotional intelligence for an aspirant is cultivating the “art of ignoring.” You must learn to filter out
negativity and distractions to protect your mental energy and focus.
“दूसरे मेरे बारे में क्या सोचते हैं अगर यह भी मैं सोचूंगा तो वो क्या सोचेंगे” (If I also think about what others think
of me, then what will they think?)
Related to this is the skill of handling rejection with dignity. Whether it’s a low score in a mock test,
a failed attempt, or even a personal setback, framing rejection as a learning experience rather than a
personal failure is essential. This builds the mental resilience needed to stay in the race and keep
your eyes on the ultimate goal.
Conclusion: Your Journey, Your Rules
The core lesson we at EMGC want you to take away is this: the path to cracking the Civil Services
Exam is not a one-size-fits-all formula. As these insights from toppers and mentors show, success
often lies in defying conventional wisdom and building a strategy that is smart, sustainable, and,
most importantly, personalized to you. This journey is a marathon of self-discovery, discipline, and
intelligent work—not a sprint of self-punishment.
Which of these myths has been holding you back, and what is the one change you will make to your
preparation starting today?
