NPSC exam guide: ‘Whether prelims or mains, a strong foundation is key’

DIMAPUR — Almost every kid born in the 1990s era remembers the hype around slam books. Similarly, Dr. T Desela Sangtam recalls filling up the “Aim in Life” section with aspirations of becoming a doctor or a civil servant. When she started preparing for the NPSC CSE, subject familiarity became crucial, as she had lost touch with many topics after pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Regional Dental College, Guwahati.

Fast forward, Desela is now serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police after clearing the NPSC (NPS) on her first attempt in 2022. She admitted that she didn’t strategically plan to become a police officer, but once she took up the profession, she began to appreciate the discipline it requires. To this day, she remains grateful to her teachers—including those from Don Bosco Hr. Sec. and Pranab Vidyapith Hr. Sec. schools—for believing in her and encouraging her to work hard.

In an interview with Eastern Mirror, the 30-year-old Dy. SP shares her exam preparation, and training at the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) to help aspiring candidates in their journey for the same post.

For first-time candidates, what initial approach should they take for the NPSC (NPS) exam?

Firstly, understand what the exam demands. Study the syllabus and the Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs). Commit yourself fully to the preparation. Build yourself mentally along the journey. Any type of examination requires a lot of learning – both easy and difficult, so one needs to be open to the challenges ahead with a belief that it can all be conquered.

Based on your experience, what study methods or routines proved most effective during exam preparation?

Every aspirant has their own style of studying and I think the best technique is at one’s own comfortable pace. It is the discipline to be consistent that supplements the effort greatly.

In the beginning, subject familiarity was crucial for me since many subjects/topics I had lost touch with since I took up science-related studies after my 10th standard, like for example, History subject, I had to start from the basics .

So for me, I primarily utilised the free YouTube lessons/videos for subjects and topics that were new to me, as repetitive exposure helped me retain the topics. I also enrolled in a coaching institute and attended the classes regularly, where experienced teachers provided valuable lectures, advice, and constant support throughout my journey.

Could you recommend any helpful study materials for the prelims?

Prelims or mains for that matter, the basic foundation has to be good. Always stick to the syllabus, study the PYQs, and appear in as many mock tests as you can.

Try to cover every subject in the syllabus, give extra effort on the ones you struggle with. Regular revision is a must. I read from the standard textbooks and the coaching materials, along with syllabus-bound resources and daily study habits.

What study practices worked best for you in the mains exam, and what tips can you offer to aspiring candidates?

For NPSC mains, there is both objective+descriptive. For the former, it is the same preparation as the prelims with some change in the syllabus. And for the descriptive, it is the answer writing skills and quick thinking.

Answers with quality content: I would collect points/notes (associated with any related subject) from the newspapers and jot them down in a separate notebook, memorise them, to include them in my answers or essays. Those were the embellishments to the descriptive answers.

Regular practice greatly helps with the speed and the handwriting as well (Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a neat handwriting).

Again, mock tests: nothing like assessing one’s preparation and knowledge and receiving valuable feedback from experienced mentors.

What does the interview assess, and how did you prepare? Any key takeaways for students?

I believe the NPSC interviewers would look for a competent and capable candidate for this responsible position.

My mentors would say that the knowledge part has been tested in the prelims and the mains, so the viva-voce is to assess one’s personality.

Mock interviews really taught me a lot of things: to be mindful and to have the presence of mind, to familiarise myself with the tense environment. One needs to be acquainted with a viva-voce like environment before facing the actual interview.

Hence, confidently be yourself and turn your ‘chill-mode’ on. It is basically an interaction with seasoned and reputed government officials so, put effort into dressing smart and presentable, speaking clearly and respectfully. Work on your communication skills, not just for any interview but for life as well.

The training period is crucial for aspirants—what was your experience like, given the demanding schedules?

I knew we had to undergo one year training at NEPA but had little to no idea about the whole picture of the training. Not many days had passed since the NPSC results were declared that one fine evening; we got a call that we had to leave for NEPA the next morning itself. So you could imagine the level of ‘preparedness’ we carried on. In the academy, we had indoor and outdoor classes. It was tremendously challenging physically and mentally. So even with zero preparation for the training, inside the campus itself, the activities will build you and mould you.

But I would advise to carry a positive mindset towards the training, to be adaptable, to be mentally strong enough to believe that you are capable of change and becoming better. But it is a good place to tap your potentials which you weren’t even aware of, the training greatly increases your endurance and strength.  

Post-NEPA training, what tasks and responsibilities are assigned?

After completing NEPA training, we undergo district practical training for several months, including army attachment. This experience familiarises us with the workings of various offices (administrative and judicial), police station functions, case-related exercises, and field duties. The exposure has been both adventurous and inspiring, especially meeting dedicated senior police officers and personnel, which has greatly motivated us newcomers.

What tips would you give to aspirants aiming to pass the exam on their first attempt?

I wasn’t expecting to clear in my first attempt. But in the back of my mind I really prayed to God to guide me through and hoped to get through somehow. And as I began my NPSC journey, God really guided and led me on – from picking out the necessary contents (given the vast pool of resources out there), sending me the required mentors, building me along the journey and the incessant love and support of my family. What I did was I simply followed the basic conventional exam preparation method as any other aspirant and reminded myself everyday of my goal. For the upcoming exams, I would advise the aspirants to study seriously, believe in your capabilities, your hard work, and put the rest to God.

How can one manage pre-exam stress?

Stress is a natural physiological response. Everybody experiences stress. I guess so far, I have tried to control it by not overthinking (which seldom helps).

A good family time is a wonderful stress buster. Or I would distract myself by listening to songs or engaging in some physical activities. And making sure to deal with the primary cause of the stress (E.g. If the fear of covering the syllabus is stressing me out, I deal with it by getting back to reading and learning once my mind is fresh and ready).   

RAPID INSIGHTS

Must-have items inside your bag 

Mini diary and a pen, handkerchief/tissues, lip balm, eye drops, water bottle, wallet.

Favourite book character

I don’t have any specific favourites at the moment, but I do enjoy fantasy books. It is a universal answer, but I am particularly drawn to strong-willed characters who never give up. Their stubbornness and ability to persevere and grow are qualities I find very attractive.

An unforgettable moment from your training in NEPA

The entire training experience is unforgettable, but the most vivid memory for me is definitely our 30 km route march. Toward the end, it was dark, and we were all exhausted, lost in a sort of trance. We dreamed of our cosy beds, convinced we’d earned a warm sleep in our mess room. However, we never even made it to the mess perimeter; instead, we halted midway, lying on the cold concrete under the vast night sky, catching a few hours of sleep. It was a remarkable sight to behold.