LAWXPERTSMV | UPSC 2025 Rank 304 Kirti | Law Optional Achiever
- Lawxpertsmv India
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
How Kirti Balanced a Full-Time Job with Preparation to Crack UPSC 2025 (AIR 304): An Inspiring Journey with Lawxpertsmv
“Success might not come in one go. You have to be patient, consistent, and show perseverance. If you have a goal in your mind, keep working for it. No matter how hard the journey is, you'll definitely sail through if you're honest with yourself, if you're honest with the preparation. So have faith in yourself and you'll be good to go in the whole preparation cycle.”
Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most demanding journeys an aspirant can undertake. Balancing this preparation alongside a full-time job makes the challenge even more formidable. Yet, Kirti, who secured All India Rank 304 in UPSC 2025, successfully navigated both worlds with precision, discipline, and a well-structured approach.
Her journey is not just inspiring—it is a practical roadmap for aspirants, especially those preparing with Law Optional while managing professional commitments.
Consistency and Discipline: The Core of Her Preparation Strategy
Managing a full-time job alongside UPSC preparation required an uncompromising level of discipline.
Kirti followed a strict daily routine. She woke up at 4:00 AM and studied for four hours before heading to work. After returning from her job in the evening, she resumed studying for another two-and-a-half to three hours. She maintained a fixed sleep schedule, ensuring consistency in her routine.
Weekends were fully utilized to consolidate learning and cover pending portions.
This structured approach ensured that she consistently put in 6–7 hours of focused study daily. As she rightly pointed out, discipline and consistency were the defining factors behind her success.
Managing the Emotional Demands of UPSC
The UPSC journey is as much emotional as it is intellectual. Kirti acknowledged facing phases of self-doubt and low motivation.
To overcome these challenges, she relied on her family support system and maintained clarity about her purpose. She also emphasized the importance of taking breaks and allowing time for mental rejuvenation. This balance between preparation and mental well-being helped her sustain long-term consistency.
Law Optional is low scoring: Breaking the Myth
One of the most important takeaways from Kirti’s journey is her perspective on Law Optional.
Contrary to the popular belief that Law is not a scoring subject, she highlighted that it offers stable and predictable scoring. More importantly, Law has strong overlap with General Studies—especially GS Paper II (Polity), as well as Ethics, Essay, and even Prelims.
Additionally, Law provides a strong professional backup. Her own career as a Law Officer stands as proof of this advantage.
Structured Preparation with Lawxpertsmv
She relied heavily on:
· Topic-wise test series
· Regular answer writing practice
· Model answers and topper copies for comparison
· PYQ-based preparation
This structured system helped her align her preparation with UPSC standards and continuously improve her answer quality.
A Methodical Approach to Law Optional
Kirti began her preparation by thoroughly analyzing the syllabus and previous year questions. This helped her identify important areas and prioritize effectively.
She followed a limited sources strategy, selecting one reliable source per subject and sticking to it. Importantly, she ensured that no topic was left uncovered—even those often considered insignificant.
She also prepared comprehensive notes for every topic, which later became essential for revision and answer writing
.
Answer Writing: The Decisive Edge
Kirti’s answer writing strategy played a pivotal role in her success. She followed a clear and structured approach that ensured clarity, precision, and relevance.
Answer Structure
Her answers typically followed a three-part structure:
1. Introduction
The introduction was precise and anchored in authority. She begin with:
Relevant constitutional articles, or
A quotation from a judge (especially in dynamic topics like Fundamental Rights or DPSPs), or
A contextual opening based on current developments
This ensured that the answer immediately demonstrated conceptual clarity.
2. Body
The body of the answer was structured and legally grounded:
In Paper II, she focused on the ingredients of the section or provision
This was followed by relevant case laws explaining the jurisprudence
Emphasis was placed on clarity and logical flow
3. Conclusion
Her conclusions were concise yet impactful:
Incorporating recent legal developments, or
A strong summarizing line that provided closure to the answer
She also emphasized the importance of keywords. Every subject has certain essential terminologies, and their correct usage significantly enhances answer quality.
Approach to Case Laws
Kirti did not follow a rigid numerical rule for case laws. Instead, her approach was qualitative and demand-driven.
Case laws that define the core jurisprudence of an article or section were essential
Not mentioning such foundational cases could weaken the answer
Additional landmark judgments were used wherever relevant
Her focus remained on relevance over quantity, ensuring that case laws strengthened the answer rather than making it ornamental.
Writing Both IPC & BNS
A practical and insightful aspect of her strategy was her approach to legal transitions, particularly in criminal law.
During the exam, when faced with the shift from IPC to BNS, she chose to mention both provisions. Her reasoning was simple yet effective. She did not want to risk losing marks based on examiner expectations. Writing both ensured completeness and demonstrated awareness of contemporary legal developments.
This reflects an important exam principle—when in doubt, choose the safer and more comprehensive approach.
Kirti’s story is not just about securing a rank—it is about mastering the process. It demonstrates that even with professional commitments, UPSC can be conquered through discipline, clarity, and structured guidance.
For aspirants preparing with Law Optional, her journey reinforces that with the right strategy and consistent effort, success is not just possible—it is achievable.
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