Latest news with #TheHinduCivilServiceGatewaySummit2025
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Recent rank holders share their success stories
An exciting and impactful interaction with recent UPSC rank holders was one of the highlights of the second and final day of The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 held here in the State capital. The session provided valuable insights to young participants at the summit into personal systems, work ethic and strategies adopted by the winners for cracking the gruelling UPSC exam. Nandanaa G.P., ranked 47 in th UPSC 2024 exams, stressed the importance of strategic preparation. 'Aim to clear the exam in your first attempt with focused study and disciplined practice. If setbacks occur, don't be disheartened,' she said. Devika Priyadersini, who was ranked 95, said she had committed two straight years to her effort, dedicating eight to ten hours daily. 'It wasn't just about putting in long hours; it was about a strategic and logical approach, especially when it came to cracking CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). Tools like mobile apps played a crucial role in managing time efficiently,' she said. Commenting on the personality test (interview), Vaisakh C.R. observed that what truly sets you apart is how you present yourself before the interview board; your purpose, clarity of thought, and conviction matter, he said. An oft-heard question at the summit was whether one should have a mentor for preparing for the Civil Services exams or should one go it alone. According to Saumya Krishnan, having a mentor was immensely helpful for her. 'Their guidance not only streamlined my preparation but also saved valuable time since I could correct mistakes early,' she said. For repeaters, it is crucial to analyse past failures, she added. Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, moderated the session.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Indian Foreign Service offers an exceptional career path, says Jeeva Maria Joy
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) offers an exceptional career path where diplomacy, international relations, and national interests intersect, Jeeva Maria Joy, an IFS officer who cleared the Civil Services examination in her second attempt, said at The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 on Saturday. Exploring the intricacies of the IFS was one of the most rewarding aspects of her preparation, she said. Observing that the role of an IFS officer is multifaceted, she said the diplomatic world requires a unique blend of skills- strategic thinking, effective communication and a keen understanding of global politics. IPS officer Shahansha K.S. addressed a session on 'Civil Services preparation and the scope of IPS.' There's no universal formula for success as each journey is unique, he said. According to Mr. Shahansha, who cleared the exams in the seventh attempt, persistence, adaptability and a well-designed strategy are extremely useful ingredients for acing the exams. He described each failure as a lesson that sharpened his strategy and strengthened his resolve. Also, trying to imitate someone else's path would not work, he added. Nandanaa G.P., ranked 47 in the UPSC 2024 exams, addressed a session on 'How to read newspaper for cracking Civil Services.' The time between Prelims and Mains is best spent on thoroughly reading newspapers. It is crucial to stay updated with current affairs, as they play a significant role in both the Mains and Interview stages, she said.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bureaucrats guide Civil Services aspirants at The Hindu summit
Abraham Renn S., Special Commissioner, State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Department, on Saturday advised Civil Services aspirants not to view the personality test (interview) part of the UPSC examination as an insurmountable obstacle, but to approach it intelligently. 'It is not a quiz, but more of an open-ended conversation. One should keep in mind that it is wisdom that answers questions in a personality test, not knowledge alone,' the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer said. He was speaking on 'How to prepare for UPSC interviews' on the second and final day of The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 at Hotel Hycinth here. Change in approach Mr. Renn, who is also Director, State Lotteries, shared his own experiences at the personality test with the young participants at the summit. He explained how he changed his approach after his initial attempt had turned out to be a disappointment. 'The best way for tackling the personality test is to cultivate a good personality,' he said, interacting with the participants. While the prelims and mains parts of the examination test one's knowledge, success at the personality test hinges on how that knowledge has been used to develop one's personality. The interview panel is there to try and figure out who the candidate really is. A marathon, not a sprint Speaking on the 'Dos and don'ts for Civil Services preparation,' Alfred O.V. IAS, who is currently Sub-collector, Thiruvananthapuram, said the preparation was akin to a marathon rather than a sprint. He also shared 10 valuable tips with the participants on planning their preparation. These included gaining a clear grasp of the syllabus, building a strong foundation and ensuring a balanced preparation. He also underscored the importance of having a proper timetable and making revision an integral part of the preparation. Instilling confidence in the participants, Mr. Alfred said that while the examination is 'hyper competitive, it is not undoable.' He also underlined the need to have a Plan B in case the Civil Services plan doesn't work out. But Plan B should not be treated as an escape mechanism, rather as a safety net, he said. Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, moderated the sessions. K.K. Joshy, Assistant Vice President and Kerala Head (Advertisement), The Hindu was also present. The two-day The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025, designed to give valuable insights to young Civil Services aspirants, had opened on Friday. A galaxy of officers from various branches of the Civil Services led the sessions and interacted with the participants. Fortune IAS Academy was the presenting sponsor of the event. The event was powered by the State Bank of India (SBI) and Pathway IAS was the associate sponsor.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Civil Services officers share experiences, tips at The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025
The two-day The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 which opened at hotel Hycinth here on Friday saw a galaxy of IAS, IPS and IA&AS officers sharing their experiences and valuable tips for acing the gruelling Civil Services exams with young people hoping to follow in their footsteps. K. Vasuki, an IAS officer of the 2008 batch, underscored the importance of smart work, strategisation in preparing for the exams. Speaking on 'Mastering the art of time management for UPSC preparation,' Ms. Vasuki said the preparations were all about stress management and adequate planning. She also urged aspirants to incorporate some form of meditation in their daily schedule. 'Be clear about purpose' At the same time, an aspirant should be clear about his/her purpose in choosing to enter the Civil Services, Ms. Vasuki said. 'Do not come here for the glamour or power of being an IAS officer. If you come here to become a successful officer in the eyes of others, you will be in for a great disappointment,' she said. Divya S. Iyer, Managing Director, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd, spoke on 'How to build a comprehensive study plan for UPSC.' She said there are no shortcuts for cracking the exams. While ingredients may be the same, the recipes will be different for each person, she said. Speakers at Friday's sessions also advised that it was important for young people to understand that not getting into the Civil Services is not the end of the world. ADGP S. Sreejith, who spoke on 'Life during UPSC preparation and good habits to cultivate,' said one should not be disappointed for failing to get through after preparing for a long time. The preparations itself equips a candidate for bigger, better jobs later on. Prove advantageous Arun S. Nair, IAS, who spoke on 'Strategies to crack UPSC with IAS as your goal,' advised aspirants that starting the preparations at an early stage could prove advantageous for them. One should also practice good handwriting and time management as early as possible while preparing for the prelims, he said. The choice of optional subject should be a well-thought out decision, he added. Mohammed Danish, an IA&AS officer, spoke on 'Cracking the civil services and why IA&AS might be the apt choice for you.' Around 1,000 students attended the six sessions on the first day of the event. Saturday's sessions will cover 'Dos and Don'ts for Civil Services preparation' by Alfred O.V.; 'How to prepare for UPSC interviews' by Abraham Renn; Interactive session with 2025 rank-holders moderated by Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu; 'Civil Services preparation and the scope of IPS' by Shahansha K.S; and 'Unlocking the UPSC exam code and importance of IFS' by Jeeva Maria Joy.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan inaugurates The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan said here on Friday that the business of a bureaucrat is to 'speak within the system, not outside it.' Ms. Muraleedharan was speaking on the role of bureaucrats in governance in her keynote address after inaugurating the two-day The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 at hotel Hycinth here. 'Within the system you have got to be bold; you have got to bring out the multiple manifestations and implications of various decisions that can be taken; you have got to point out the potholes and the law and you need to be able to stand by what is right,' Ms. Muraleedharan, who retired from service on April 30, said. Ms. Muraleedharan's remarks about speaking 'within the system' were made in an apparent reference to the suspension of IAS officers in Kerala and the controversies that erupted over it. The ability of bureaucrats to play transformative roles is what can set them apart in the Civil Services, she said. 'The bureaucrat is a cog in the wheel, but whether that bureaucrat is a transformative cog in the wheel is up to the bureaucrat. It is not up to the system. The system would actually like you to be transformative. The system would like you to make things happen faster, make things better,' she said. Perseverance, hard work The 1990 batch IAS officer, who described herself as a 'mistake in the service' as her dream was to become a teacher of English Literature, underscored the importance of perseverance and hard work in getting admitted into the Civil Services. 'You want to make it, you cannot afford to give up,' she said. She termed the ability to persevere as the common element that binds officers who make it into the services from diverse backgrounds. Ms. Muraleedharan interacted with young Civil Services aspirants on the first day of the summit. The two-day summit features 11 sessions handled by a line-up of serving civil servants, UPSC toppers, subject experts and premier coaching institutes. K. Sasikumar, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, presided. Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu; K.K. Joshy, Assistant Vice-President and Kerala Head (Advertisement), The Hindu; and Munidarsan V.G., Director, Fortune IAS Academy, also spoke. The summit is open to pre-registered aspirants who reserved sessions. Fortune IAS Academy is the presenting sponsor of the event. The event is powered by the State Bank of India (SBI) and Pathway IAS is the associate sponsor.
