UPSC aspirants encouraged to avoid negative influences

On Thursday, a new club for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants was launched at AVS Arts and Science College in Omalur. The event was organized by The Hindu and Shankar IAS Academy. Y. Saravanakumar, a manager from Southern Railway, was the chief guest. Mr. Saravanakumar highlighted how many civil servants inspire others through their achievements. He shared examples, such as a former college student who, after becoming a Collector, helped 8,000 others secure ₹110 crore in education loans. He also mentioned a civil servant who funded a 100 km road in Manipur using crowdfunding. He encouraged the students to keep positive influences around them and avoid negative people. Mr. Saravanakumar emphasized the importance of analyzing one's strengths and weaknesses. He reminded them that preparing for civil services exams requires different strategies, including reading books and newspapers to improve drafting skills. The exams are more like personality tests, with a focus on speaking during interviews. He reassured students that language is not a barrier, as many have succeeded using their mother tongue. Mr. Saravanakumar advised the aspirants to study NCERT and Tamil Nadu textbooks from their Plus One and Plus Two classes. He noted that UPSC exams are not tougher than TNPSC exams and depend on the aspirant's mindset. At the end of the event, he donated special publications from The Hindu Group to the college library, worth ₹30,000. Other speakers included faculty from Shankar IAS Academy and the college principal.