From Pradeep Kumar Jha; All India Rank : Sixth (6) , Civil Services Exam 2005-2006, this talk has been delivered by him.

The desire to join the civil services was a very conscious one as I was always aware as a student of political science as to what all is expected out of a civil servant. The fact that the bureaucracy as the permanent executive plays an immense role policy formulation and execution makes it very challenging as well as prestigious. It, very truly, is called a service and is different from any other job or profession as it offers to an individual great opportunity to work at different levels of society and governance. It provides a person with the positive power to bring changes that are beneficial to the people at large. In the era of growing privatization and ‘shrinking of the state‘ an efficient civil servant can play a great role in helping India to continue having the nature of a welfare state. These were the aspirations that I wanted to fulfill by becoming a part of the civil services. The basic idea to success is ‘ NEVER LET YOUR DREAMS DIE ’ and also to hold on to ideals.
Here I also must congratulate Threeauthors.com for providing aspiring students with one stop source for getting information regarding the preparation. It is doing a commendable service and I wish it well in future.

Personal Details

Strategy:

Political science (prelimns)

• Andrew Heywood: Politics, Political Theory
  
• O.P. Gauba: Introduction to Political Theory
  
• S.P. Varma: Modern Political Theory
  
• Ronald Chilcote: Theories of Comparative Politics
  
• J.C. Jauhari: Comparative Politics
  
• D.D. Basu: Introduction to the Constitution of India
  
• B.L. Fadia: Indian Government and Politics
  
• Sabine: History of Political Thought
  
• International relations: Mahendra Kumar, and Bookhive
  

General Studies

• NCERT text books for history and geography (class 11th and 12th)
  
• India year book
  
• Economic survey
  
• Magazines like frontline, yojana and some competition specific magazines.
  
• Newspapers like the Hindu
  
• D.D. Basu: Introduction to the Constitution of India
  
• Watching news on TV is also very helpful
  
  For interview, talking to self is the best preparation. As the questions asked are generally related to the person’s social and educational background, one can always make a list of possible questions and prepare accordingly. There are always few questions asked that may put you in bind but the key to it is giving short, crisp and honest answer. A little bit of humour always helps. Going for mock interviews prepares the candidate to get used to interview like situation.