Brunch With Toppers | Season 2 | Episode 1 | Strategy, Struggles & Success Stories

"Brunch With Toppers" is back again. In this special podcast, I will interact with some of the successful UPSC candidates on preparation strategy, failures, mindset, optional, interview journey and what truly works in this exam. If you are preparing for UPSC CSE 2026/2027/2028 this discussion can change your approach. 0:00 Mental Health & the UPSC Ecosystem 1:13 Candidate Introductions & Sarrthi IAS Association 6:49 Mental Health, Social Pressure & UPSC Preparation 10:00 Managing Preparation with Work & Personal Life 11:42 Handling Failures & Building Resilience 12:56 State PCS Exams as a Safety Net 16:41 Social Isolation & Post-Selection Mental Health 18:27 Reality of Being a Public Figure/Educator Aspirant 21:30 Socio-Economic Background & UPSC Success 28:27 Dealing with Uncertainty in UPSC Mains (GS4 Examples) 31:39 Overcoming Spotlight Effect & Self-Criticism 42:43 Truth About Coaching, NCERTs & Current Affairs 48:47 Strategy: Mastering Syllabus & PYQs 50:52 Why Perfection is a Myth in Answer Writing