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Expert Talk | UPSC Prelims CSAT Challenge: Why aspirants fail and how to prepare better

January 10, 2026 5:18 pm

UPSC Prelims 2026: CSAT may be only a qualifying paper, but it has derailed the UPSC journey of thousands. Why does this paper continue to trouble even well-prepared aspirants? CSAT expert Dr. Mansoor Agha Siddiqui explains where candidates go wrong and how to approach the paper differently for Prelims 2026.

upsc essentials interview special expert talk sharad mallik

UPSC Interview Special | What it takes to score 180 plus in the UPSC personality test, expert decodes (Part 3)

January 06, 2026 1:16 pm

Expert Talk : How do UPSC interview boards assess emotional intelligence? What sets candidates scoring 180 and above apart? Sharad Mallik, former IRAS officer and UPSC interview expert, explains how boards evaluate aspirants through behaviour, responses, and attitude, often without asking direct questions.

upsc essentials expert talk interview special part 2

'Around 45 years ago, when I faced the UPSC interview…' A veteran shares his experience and addresses key FAQs (Part 2)

January 05, 2026 11:31 am

UPSC Expert Talk: What should candidates keep in mind upon entering the UPSC interview room? What body language should they maintain, how should they handle stress and tricky questions, and how can they balance honesty with diplomacy in opinion-based answers? Here are answers to your questions.

UPSC Interview Special | Expert Talk: 'Your real self, not your rehearsed one' — What Civil Services Personality Test really judges? (Part 1)

January 04, 2026 2:22 pm

UPSC Civil Services Personality Test Part 1: How should an aspirant answer the classic question— “Why Civil Services?” Expert Sharad Mallik answers and reveals how to turn your DAF, hobbies, and experiences into your strongest assets for the interview.

upsc expert tips self study ai mentorship

UPSC Expert Talk: Classroom, Online, Self-Study, Mentorship, or AI — Which works best for aspirants, and how?

December 07, 2025 2:38 pm

Too many resources, too much advice, too little time. UPSC prep isn’t what it used to be. UPSC classrooms and toppers’ tips now share space with YouTube influencers, AI tools, and hybrid mentorship programs. The way aspirants prepare has changed radically, but does new always mean better?

UPSC Expert talk how to restart preparation

Expert Talk: How to restart UPSC preparation for Prelims 2026, and why are November–December crucial for aspirants?

November 22, 2025 11:53 am

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026: How can aspirants turn November to January into the most productive phase of their UPSC journey? How should they balance microthemes, current affairs, and optional prep in the countdown to prelims?

UPSC building with civil service aspirants gathered outside. (File Image)

100 Years of UPSC | ‘Stop judging aspirants only by marks’: Nanditesh Nilay on ethics paper and civil services reforms

October 12, 2025 3:03 pm

UPSC Essentials Expert Talk : Why did UPSC introduce the Ethics paper in 2013? Has it made any visible difference in public administration? Expert reveals the deeper purpose behind civil service reform.

Former LBSNAA director Sanjeev Chopra during an interview discussing UPSC’s 100-year milestone and civil service reforms.

UPSC celebrates 100 years | ‘Civil servants are not celebrities... young officers should avoid excessive self-promotion on social media': Sanjeev Chopra, former director of LBSNAA

October 01, 2025 10:31 am

UPSC@100: In a candid conversation, Dr Sanjeev Chopra, veteran IAS officer and former director of LBSNAA, shares his insights on UPSC, the spirit behind initiatives like Pratibha Setu, reforms needed in civil services exam and the urgent need for ‘Plan B’ to become ‘Plan A’ for UPSC aspirants.

former dgp uttrakhand expert talk upsc essentials part 2

Expert Talk | 'With just 1 in 1000 cracking UPSC, a solid Plan B is essential,' says former DGP of Uttarakhand

September 07, 2025 12:28 pm

"While I trust the integrity of the UPSC exam process, the misuse of documents in categories like EWS and PwD warrants urgent attention,"says former Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar. In Part 2 of our interview, he opens up about the real weight of the uniform, tackling corruption, modern-day governance challenges, cinema’s take on civil servants, the importance of Plan B for aspirants, and the growing social media obsession among young officers.

UPSC Mains exam 2025 social issues tips expert talk

UPSC Mains Exam 2025 Special Expert Talk: How to master Social Issues in General Studies papers?

August 18, 2025 2:02 pm

UPSC expert Pranay Aggarwal shares strategies to tackle Social Issues in Mains — an often neglected yet most important area — using the '7Cs' and 'FRIENDS' frameworks. To show real-world application, we break down a key recurring theme: Women’s Issues. A must-read for UPSC Mains aspirants before appearing for the exam.