70th BPSC Success Story | ‘Awareness of Current Affairs and Good Communication Skills Crucial for Cracking BPSC Interview’ – Supriya Patel

After three determined attempts, Supriya Patel has secured success in the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and has been selected as a Block SC & ST Welfare Officer. Passionate about social service and committed to the upliftment of marginalised communities, Supriya sees her new role as an opportunity to create meaningful change at the grassroots level. From overcoming setbacks in the examination process to dealing with societal pressures and continuously refining her preparation strategy, her journey is a story of perseverance, discipline, and self-belief. In an exclusive conversation with BiharConnect, Supriya shares insights into her preparation strategy, the challenges she faced, the importance of family support, and her vision as a future administrator.
Edited excerpts from the interview:

Please tell us about your hometown, family background, and educational journey.

I live in Patna with my parents and four siblings. My father runs a small business, while my mother is a home maker. I’ve done my schooling from St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli till matriculation, and St. Joseph’s Convent High School, Bankipur till 12th. I’ve pursued B.Sc. in Physics (hons.) from Patna Women’s College.

What motivated you to pursue a career in civil services?

During my college days, I used to volunteer for an NGO. While volunteering, I realised my passion for public services. A career in civil services could give me an opportunity to bring an impact in the society.

How many attempts did it take for you to achieve success, and what were the biggest challenges you faced during your preparation journey?

I cleared BPSC in my 3rd attempt. The biggest challenge was clearing Mains. It required a lot of answer writing practice and good writing skills. Apart from that, I also faced a few societal challenges, like marriage pressure.

Could you walk us through your preparation strategy for the Preliminary Examination? How did you manage current affairs, revision, and mock tests?

For prelims, I first developed my foundation in GS through reading NCERTs during my preparation for UPSC CSE. For BPSC specific, I did my revision from Lucent GS. For Current Affairs, I studied annual compilations as well as monthly updated notes from different institutions. I didn’t take any mock test for prelims, rather I only stuck to PYQs. My prelims preparation was fully based on self-study. I did everything in a planned and time-bound manner.

What was your approach to the Mains Examination, particularly regarding answer writing, optional subjects, and time management?

For Mains, I referred to a daily answer writing initiative by IAS Corridor. Everyday, I read a few topics shortlisted from PYQs, made notes using AI, then I practiced two questions at night, using a timer. Every weekend, I attended Mains mock tests of Perfection IAS. For Optional, I prepared crisp notes of PYQ themes, using AI.

How did you prepare for the personality test/interview? What, according to you, are the qualities that the interview board looks for in a candidate?

For personlity test, I made a group with some Mains selected candidates, we discussed Optional-related and Current-related topics regularly. I also gave mock interviews in a few institutes. The interview board, according to me, looks for candidates who have confidence, command over their graduation and optional subjects, awareness about current events and good communication skills.

Looking back, what do you think were the key factors behind your success—discipline, consistency, mentorship, family support, self-belief, or something else?

Key factors behind my success – most important was family support, then hard work, patience, consistency, discipline and proper guidance from mentors and friends.

Every aspirant should remember that this exam demands a lot of patience and perseverance. They should be prepared to face a few failures before achieving success. Taking good care of physical and mental health during preparation journey is also important.

Preparing for competitive examinations can be emotionally demanding. How did your family and friends support you during difficult phases, and how did you stay motivated?

My family always stood by me during my failures. My parents helped me financially as well as emotionally. My friends have always guided me during my preparation journey. There has also been a role of good teachers and mentors throughout my journey. My constant motivation was my passion for public service and my interest in gaining knowledge.

Were there moments of self-doubt or failure during your preparation? How did you overcome setbacks and keep moving forward?

In my first attempt, I cleared prelims, but failed mains. And in the second attempt, I couldn’t even clear prelims. That was a major setback and made me doubt my preparation. In my third attempt, I was able to clear prelims. After this, I decided to change my approach towards the Mains examination. I read a few topper copies, analysed Pyq themes, made quick revision notes. This strategy helped me clear Mains, which was my biggest hurdle.

What are the three most important lessons you have learned from your BPSC journey that every aspirant should know?

First, take good care of your health and have a sufficient amount of sleep and a good diet. Second, plan your day and study schedule everyday in the morning. Third, have confidence and faith in yourself and your preparation.

What advice would you like to give to students who are preparing for BPSC, especially those who have faced repeated failures or are struggling to stay motivated?

Every aspirant should remember that this exam demands a lot of patience and perseverance. They should be prepared to face a few failures before achieving success. Taking good care of physical and mental health during preparation journey is also important. Some days could be lonely, some could be tiring. Discipline and consistency is the key. Aspirants should not isolate themselves completely, rather they should have a good circle of friends and family who could constantly support them.

Some days could be lonely, some could be tiring. Discipline and consistency is the key. Aspirants should not isolate themselves completely, rather they should have a good circle of friends and family who could constantly support them.

As a future administrator, what do you think are the most pressing challenges facing Bihar today? Which areas would you particularly like to work on and why?

The most pressing challenges of Bihar is lack of proper education facilities, rising unemployment and backwardness and marginalisation of a few sections of society. I’d particularly like to work on the social aspects. I would like to work on improving life conditions of vulnerable sections and provide them scheme benefits and government incentives. My goal would also be to work for their education.

What does becoming a civil servant mean to you personally, and what kind of administrator do you aspire to be?

I aspire to become a non-biased, empathetic and efficient administrator. Becoming a civil servant has given me an opportunity to work on ground-level and make impactful changes in Bihar.

Finally, if you had to describe your entire journey from aspirant to successful candidate in one sentence, what would it be?

If have to describe my journey in one sentence, I’d say “Dreams do come true if you work hard for it and don’t give up.”