‘AI or apps cannot replace handwritten notes’: Punjab’s Tanya secures 8th rank in Himachal Judicial Services Exam

Speaking with The Indian Express, Tanya said she always wanted to study law, as “it directly impacts people’s lives and safeguards their rights as citizens in a democratic country”.

“I had made up my mind since school days that I would join the judiciary. The primary responsibility of the judiciary is to safeguard and protect the rights of the general public. People in a democracy feel protected due to the law and the judicial system. I strive to serve them in a way so that their faith in the judiciary is strengthened,” Tanya said.

Her father Rakesh Kumar is an accountant, and her mother Rekha Rani is a homemaker. Tanya’s brother Udesh is also an accounting officer.

Despite studying at local schools, Tanya said she never stopped dreaming big.

Up to Class IX, Tanya studied at local schools in Maur Mandi and passed her Class X from Police Public School in Mansa and her Class XII in humanities from St. Xavier’s in Bathinda. She graduated in law from Panjab University in Chandigarh. She is currently pursuing her master’s in law.

Tanya started preparing for judicial services exams during her graduation and devoted nearly two years to cover every topic and prepare notes on her own. She first appeared in the Haryana judicial exam in 2022, but could not make it to the interview. She then appeared in the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Competitive Exam.

Relying mostly on her handwritten notes for the judicial exam, she devoted her entire time to preparing notes and revising them. “The key lies in handwritten notes. As you write them, you grasp them better. I did not read many books, just some basic ones. I revised my notes several times. I began preparing for the exam during my graduation. During the Covid-19 lockdown, I focused better and devoted more time to self-study,” Tanya said.

Tanya said an online coaching platform helped her refine her handwritten notes. “It took me nearly two years to prepare the notes, and by the time I finished, I knew most of the things written there. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and web apps cannot replace handwritten notes. They do help in a certain way to supplement your notes, but they cannot be relied on completely,” she said.

Hailing from the humble town of Maur Mandi, Tanya says that mostly youngsters move out if they want to achieve something big in life. “There aren’t many options here, so staying home isn’t possible after Class X. However, what I love about my hometown is the warmth and the brotherhood. More than my family, people in my town are celebrating my success,” she said.