Strategy for IRDAI Assistant Manager Exam 2017

Declaration: This post is absolutely my view and you have every right to disagree. Accept only if you find slightest  possibility of some benefit or if you can relate with it

Tentative schedule so that you can design your study plan accordingly.

	Last year's dates (Based on memory)	This year's probable dates* (Based on last year's experience)
Phase 1	27th Feb 2016	4th Oct 2017
Phase 1 result	9th March 2016	Within one week
Phase 2	3rd April 2016	Around 5th Nov 2017
Phase 2 Result	3rd May 2016	Around 5th Dec 2017
Interview date	18th May 2016	By 25th Dec 2017
Final Result	27th May 2016	By 31st Dec 2017
Joining date	3rd July 2016	29th Jan 2018 or 5th Feb 2018

* I may be wrong in predicting this

From messages/queries, I realized that most of you have confusions and doubts mainly regarding phase 2. Even we also faced similar confusions last year especially about what to refer and what not to.

First of all understand that this exam demands very basic knowledge of insurance sector touching few important aspects of it. We are not here for doing PhD. 40 days of focused study is absolutelly sufficient to gain this basic knowledge of insurance sector. Try to cover every topic given in the syllabus but avoid too much depth in that particular topic. 

Resources & Strategy:

A) For Insurance related topics in syllabus (Paper 2 and Part 1 of Paper 3):

1.Internet:

Through Internet, I got relevant newspapers articles from past, PDFs on insurance topics,etc which were important for our exam.

(While using internet, always keep in mind that you are appearing for generalist exam and you are not becoming research professional. You need to know where to put full stop while searching for proper information relevant for exam. That is the skill.)

2.Books by Insurance Institute of India (III)

You can refer to following 

IC-01- Principles of insurance

IC-02 - Practice of life insurance

IC-11 -  Practice of General insurance

IC-14 - Regulation of Insurance Business

IC-90 - Human resource management

IC-01 will be Bible/Gita/Quran for all of you. Those who dont know A,B,C,D of insurance field can become familiar with Insurance through this IC-01. Few of the Insurance related questions in exam will revolve around this IC-01.

Have selective reading of IC-02, IC-11,IC-14, IC-90

3.Video lectures on youtube for Insurance topic by Mrunal and Learningspace. I watched them twice/thrice. Both these channels were really useful for both the phases especially for Essay part.

4.Part 1 : Policies and Programmes of Annual report by Honorable IRDAI.  

This will provide you latest statistics in Insurance market.This will add weight to your answers.

B) For English:

Writing practice is key in this paper. You can actually write few essays  till 20th or 25th September depending upon your convenience. 

In exam, you won't get time to think and then write. Especially you will have to write Essay spontaneously. So, more you practice, more qualitative writing can be produced even if it is spontaneous.

Essay topics were not related with Insurance only. I remember that I wrote essay on some analytical topic related with Budget 2016-17. There was another topic on social media also. Essay topic names themselves were long ones requiring us to read the topic again and again. We needed to be careful in not loosing focus from central theme of essay topic. 

C) Management:

I would suggest you to refer Edutap management material (Very comprehensive ) and Public administration book by Laxmikant (I read it for some other exams but you can neglect this choice). IC-90 is also useful for this section, according to few of my seniors.

Around 40-45 marks questions were from Management section. I remember there was one question regarding Theory X & Y and other was on JoHari Window. Both were for 15 marks each if I am able to recall correctly.Also, there was one case study which i skipped because of paucity of time.

You can also refer to Management questions asked in RBI Grade B phase 2 when descriptive pattern was there.

Every candidate faced few issues while completing English paper and Paper 3 last year . Hence, keep in mind about speed of writing. 

Speed of writing will come from easy recalling of points.Easy recalling of points comes from good preparation. Good preparation comes from frequent and regular revisions. Therefore, I reiterate. Keep your resources to minimum and revise as many times as possible. Ten point formula will be very useful for your preparation.I will explain this in following paragraphs.

How I studied:

Much of my study was through online mode. I will say it was like 70% through online mode and 30% through III books.I prepared notes for most of the topics in syllabus from both Online and offline modes. I applied Ten point formula.That is, I tried to prepare around 10 points for every topic mentioned in syllabus. (I skipped few topics and also I could generate only 5-6 points on few topics).

Pick a topic from syllabus e.g. Insurance sector contribution in economic development. Google it. You will find good material on that particular topic especially newspaper articles, few small pdfs (max 5 page). I used to prepare notes from whatever I read, filtering unnecessary data.

I revised my notes for around 4-5 times. In exam, you wont have much time to think. So everything must be ready in your mind. For this frequent and regular revision is very much necessary.

ANSWERS to other queries:

• No numericals were asked last year.
• Banking related questions were asked both in Phase 1 and phase 2. In phase 2, monetary policy tools related question was asked. Also, questions were there on one of the principles of insurance and Types of risk. Both these topics were covered in IC-01.
• Actually insurance related questions were not there in phase 1 last year. But, this might change this year.

My suggestions for Phase 2 Study:

Divide your study for phase 2 in two parts. First, before 20th or 25th September and Second, immediately after Phase 1.

Part 1:
During this part, get familiar with insurance related terms.Try to read maximum of the resources I have enlisted above. 

Also, few topics of phase 2 will be useful for phase 1. e.g. History of Insurance, Principles of insurance, Budget, Economic survey, current affairs,etc. Try to finish these overlapping topics first. Complete at least one readings of Management section. Start writing few essays and answers.

Part 2:
Write as much as you can. Writing practice will be crucial. More focus should be on writing. Get your answers/essays evaluated from your teachers/friends. Finish those topics which you could not complete in part 1 of your preparation.

Note:

I tried to find/recall questions asked in Phase 2 of last year for your reference purpose but could not recollect them. 

Phase 1 

This phase is the most important and most competitive of all the stages. Prepare current affairs for at least 6 months prior to September 2017 in reverse order. Budget and economic survey will be very important for both the phases.You can read summary of these documents. 

Phase 1 clear nahi karoge to main exam hi likh nahi paoge.

Hence, give much importance to phase 1 also. Solve as many Tests as possible. Don't predict difficulty level of any phase in advance. Try to solve difficult Tests also.Prepare everything and expect nothing

As told earlier, last year, insurance related questions in GK part of phase 1 were mising. Instead they asked few questions related with banking in phase 1. But, this may not repeat this time. Prepare for both banking and insurance basics/current affairs to be on safer side. 

All the best. I will be happy to give my further suggestions  on exam related aspects and solve your doubts / confusions. 

Also, if time permits, evaluation of few of your essays/answers can be planned. 

Thank you

Akshay Harishchandra Gholve

Some information provided above especially regarding last year exam is memory based. Pardon me if few mistakes are found in it.

This particular blog is in an attempt to reduce the disadvantages faced by aspirants especially those who can not afford coaching. I, myself , did not take/join any coaching or test series for cracking this exam. Also, I am not advertising any particular website,book,coaching class. I tried to share my experience of preparation for exam. I positively hope that it will help many of you serious aspirants.

IRDAI Assistant Manager: Job related details

Job Profile:

First, recently nomenclature for the post has been changed from Junior officer to Assistant Manager. We were recruited as Junior officers last year.

In any organisation, Job profile actually depends upon which department you are allocated to. But generally as an Assistant Manager, one imp common task performed on daily basis is Preparation office notes. Preparation of office notes and getting it approved from higher management is typical of most of the government organisation.

What is office note:
Official receives a file/documents containing around 50 to 200 odd pages on your table . Decision making on that particular file actually rests with Higher management. Due to paucity of time, Higher management can not read each and every thing from that particular file. Here, you become the eyes, ears and philosopher for your higher management. You need to simplify the complexities involved inside file mainly through your writing skills.You need to make management's life simple while arriving at decision.In short, Office note is an official document where you will summarize the issues involved in particular file.

Writing skills are very much important for this work. Hence, descriptive pattern of phase 2 of this exam is much more relevant  considering work you need to do as an Assistant Manager.

Work here is of very specialized nature and may become monotonous once you understand nitty gritty of your job.

Work-Life Balance:

Its typical 9.30 to 5.30 office job. Hardly you need to sit after 6 o'clock in office. Saturday,Sunday will be entirely yours. During office hours, you wont feel much pressure of work. You wont feel exhausted at the end of office.I will easily rank this job as Top job if work life balance criteria  is to be considered.

Salary:

You will get around 67500/month in hand. This is including HRA of Rs 27K. IRDAI wont provide any type of accommodation to you. 
If all other allowances like sodexo, maid allowance, petrol allowance, etc are calculated monthly basis, you will get around 20K to 22K additional per month.

Career Prospects:

Hierarchy is like below:
Assistant Manager - Manager - Assistant General Manager - Deputy General Manager - General Manager- Chief General Manager- Executive Director.
On an average after 5 years you will be eligible for promotion.

But these things are time dependent.This career progression may change in future.

Transfer Policy:

Last year, all 23 Assistant Managers joined at Hyderabad only. Currently IRDAI has offices at Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Opening up of offices in other cities is under pipeline and make take few years.
Very negligible chances of getting posted or getting transfer in Delhi. Chances of getting transfer in Mumbai are comparatively good.

You will spend most of the time of your career in Hyderabad, considering recent organisational changes.

The training you will have after your selection will be one of the best training you would come across.

I can easily say that this job is definitely a dark horse amongst all the Finacial sector Jobs.This is one of the best jobs you can have considering work-life balance, Stability, Salary.

Request: Let us first crack this high profile,highly competitive exam and then discuss these issues in detail.Request you to focus now on exam related queries and avoid asking further on job related aspects. 

Thank you
Akshay Harishchandra Gholve

Sairat: Movie review

There are two ‪#‎SAIRATs‬ in movie and us

1.One Sairat represents for Freedom,Individualism,Idealism,Stretching the limits of Society and being REBELLIOUS.

First,those who have experienced this Sairatness already in their life feel vindicated. It feels like Yes,We were right and we are right. Afterall,Individual is honest and society is corrupt. Becoming mature in this corrupt society is trap.Because becoming mature is to loose your innocence, pure mind, accepting discriminations and becoming integrated with corrupt society.This Society discriminates (In Fandry,it was more caste based discrimination.Now in Sairat,it is more class based).So you as an individual must rebel against it.

2.Other Sairat is representing for wilderness,nomadism,then about realising Realities and getting crushed by them very easily. Now, those who could not rebel against restrictions feel vindicated at few points in movie. Because one quickly realises that doing romance is one thing and living life as a common man (getting two square meals) is another. Therefore,one can not be Sairat. If one still becomes it, then she/he must be forced.

Society has now turned its brutalness towards family. You sometimes start hating couple and develop sympathy for families. Because Family is also honest but society makes it nasty.Then why Families should suffer? Maybe, love has to be restricted hence.
So,what is the solution that comes from society. One should love by compromising. It is like this.First check caste,class, etc,etc and then tell yourself that Yes,this is safe zone (Zone of acceptance by society).Here I can fall in love without becoming transgressor.

Couple manages itself quiet well in this transition from being Idealistic to becoming Realistic. But their battle is against very old, experienced,harsh,rigid ,no-nonsense type player. This player defeats everyone including itself


In the end,What makes Nagraj brilliant is he tells you reality.Because there are no happy endings always.No doubt, NAGRAJ is the best finisher and not DHONI . Because hitting six on a ball is little easier than shaking the consciousness of society.

Few tips for UPSC Central Armed Police Forces 2016

UPSC Central Armed Police Forces Exam 2016 for the position of Assistant Commandant Of Police (A.C.P.)

First, I am sorry for the late post. I should have written this little earlier.
But when I remember my days of exam,I recall the last 2-3 days of exam of CAPF as the most confusing ones.You have read many things but dont know how to express it according to demand of every question.So I wont miss this crucial timing again for writing an important post . I am sure it will be useful to many future A.C.P.s.

I will talk mainly about Paper 2 (Descriptive paper) because I find that  here there are still many doubts in minds of aspirants. WIll try to address them.


Declaration:
I scored around 88 out of 175 attempted in my First exam of CAPF 2014 (Score of Rank 1 - 103).
In CAPF 2015, I scored 80 Marks out of 190 attempted (Score of Rank 1 - 79).
I have given scores of Rank 1 to make you realise the marking pattern and for comparison if you want to do any (Marking pattern actually changes every year). 80 was really a good score in 2015 exam.

And this post is absolutely my view and you have every right to disagree. Accept only if you find slightest possibility of some benefit or if you can relate with it.


Ok. Let me begin now. I will put few questions and will give answers for the same.

1. PRECIS:

Most of the candidates are confused about Precis. What is actually Precis and what students are supposed to write in it?

Precis is your own understanding of the given passage. What you actually inferred from the passage or what message you have taken from the passage. Precis is not summary. It is your takeaway from the passage in crisp but sharp words. It is simply expressing yourself precisely..

e.g. Excerpt from 2015 Precis question is below.

"The tradition of tolerance, not merely in a negative, but in a positive sense, that is an appreciation of other faiths, has been with us for centuries. Tolerance is not apathy, but is conviction without condescension. Aggressiveness is not an essential part of human nature. Combativeness can be replaced by meekness and gentleness. The Cross indicates that the love which suffers is more powerful than the force which inflicts suffering"

Precis will be like:-
Humans are actually peace loving,compassionate and constructive creatures.History shows that they can not only understand diversities but can also celebrate them.

Tips:
Read once or twice, the given passage. Comprehend it for 3-4 minutes. And then write it without looking again and again at passage.This will make your own understanding to reflect in the writing.

Decide number of paragraphs first and also its size. Have rough idea in mind or on paper for each and every paragraph. And then put it on paper. Make life of examiner easy e.g. Leave one line blank after paragraph. This looks little good while reading.Use Punctuations at proper places. Some words will be outside box. Dont worry. For articles like a, an, sometimes use separate box. Don't think much about minor issues.  More important is your own understanding and expression.

2. ARGUMENTS wala question:

Candidates have confusion whether to write it in 'one to one type argument' format or 'first separately  for FOR and then AGAINST' format

e.g. Statement asked in 2015 was "Democracy slows down the pace of development"

        One to one type:

        1st: Will of people is more important than pace of development because there is no point in constructing Bullet Train in record time when people do not want it
        2nd: But too much democracy stalls the development projects. Take the example of Land ordinance.Whether you want to pull more people out of poverty at faster rate or you want formalities of communication to take precedence over it.
     
         1: But Democracy is best possible system humans have developed till date. There is no other option. World has suffered a lot with world wars or revolutions because of other systems
         2: Yes Democracy is best possible system currently but it is not immune from flaws especially in time taken for decision making. Take example of China and India. And one will realise the differences in developments. No modern nation can allow lakhs of people to remain hungry just because of delay in decision making.

        1.But,In China there is suppression of rights. In India ,people enjoy various freedoms. And As Amartya Sen Puts it nicely, Development as Freedom
     
and so on


And now in another format of first for FOR and then AGAINST

FOR :

Will of people is important than pace of development because there is no point in constructing Bullet Train in record pace when people did not want it

But Democracy is best possible system humans have developed till date. There is no other option.

In China there is suppression of rights. In India ,people enjoy various freedoms. And As Amartya Sen Puts it nicely, Development as Freedom


AGAINST:

Too much democracy stalls the development project. Whether you want to pull more and more people out of poverty at faster rate or you want to be busy in formalities of communication to have precedence over development.

Democracy is best possible system but it also has few flaws. especially in time taken for decision making. Take example of China and India. And you will come to know difference in developments. Government can not acquire land even for national security projects.Take debates going on Land Acquisition ordinance.


I chose second format in my both the attempts (first FOR and then AGAINST).  Used separate paragraphs for every different argument I made . I personally was very satisfied with my approach and writing style of arguments.


Now, few more tips.

1.Use examples or relate it with the current affairs to endorse your argument whether it is FOR or AGAINST or One to One format.
e.g. In 2014 Paper, one statement for argument was 'Creation of jobs must take precedence over Social development'. There I used Sen Vs Bhagwati debate and Kerala model vs Gujarat Model of development with facts and figures.

2.Use of facts and statistics increases the value of your argument.
e.g. Instead of saying India is neglecting human development, one should say India is ranking 130th in HDI ranking which is lower than even small countries like Srilanka, Bangladesh, Maldives. This increases weight of your argument.

3. Both FOR and AGAINST should look integrated,related and coherent. Many people write different points in FORwala and then completely different points in AGAINSTwala.You have to relate FOR and AGAINST in counter-argumentative manner. This will be then justice to argument type of question making the answer more coherent.

4.Assume as if you are debating with examiner (democratic debate) and you have to convince him/her. Then you will write it more sharply.

5.Conclude with your own opinion taking into consideration all the arguments made.This must be balanced and short but sharp



REPORT WRITING:

1. Use facts and statistics.
2. Catch the intensity of the incident given and try to express it through formal writing
3. Use graphs or pie charts if you want to represent data. I had used one in 2014 for Domestic Violence in India to show how it is increasing.
4.Give references of Government figures/reports or other Renowned International documents while writing a report.
e.g. I gave NCRB statistics for acid attacks report asked in 2015.

Assume that you are a reporter of LOKSABHA TV or RAJYASABHA TV  or The Hindu newspaper (Don't be too leftist but....hehehehehe) and then you will write a good report


Below is copied but you can use such language and writing style while writing a Report.

Increasing Acid attacks in India:

New data on the number of acid attacks reported in India last year was published this week and campaigners say the figures represent a more accurate picture of the extent of the crime than has ever been painted before.    (Draw some figure/graph here)

Minister of state for Home  Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary in Parliament Wednesday, said that 309 acid attack cases were reported in 2014, based on provisional data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau. He did not provide a gender breakdown, but the majority wounded in such crimes are women. 

The 2014 figure is more than the total number of acid attacks on women registered between 2010 and 2013, according to NCRB data published by the home ministry.

Campaigners for acid attack survivors say the huge annual rise is because there are now better mechanisms in place for recording the crime.

In response to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a woman on a bus in Delhi, along with stiffer penalties related to rape and other assaults on women, the government for the first time made attacking someone with acid a specific offence with a minimum prison term of 10 years. Previously, the offense was clubbed with other crimes like stabbings, making it hard to get an accurate number of cases. In 2013 for instance, there were just 66 acid attacks reported, and that year 13 states and union territories did not provide data. 

Essay:

1. Use catchy intro and conclusion. Marks will depend on these two.
2. Use current affairs so that examiner will understand that u have knowledge and its applications too.
3. Use facts and figures or maps.e.g. I drew map of Kashgar to Gwadar CPEC in an essay of 2015 relating to Sino-Pak and India.
4. I used the song "Give me some sunshine, Give me some Rain" in Child Labour Essay in 2014. You can use few informal writings. But should be very few and not in every essay.
5. Try to use constitutional principles and articles especially DPSPs,FR,FD and Preamble.
    I knew many articles of Governor and used them In Role of governor essay in 2015.
    Used the case of P. Sathasivam in the same essay.
6. Use speeches of Honourable PM Modi Sir or Budget announcements or new schemes.
7. Use important incidences e.g. Honourable CJI broke down during speech or Water Train, etc
8. Give reference of famous books,authors or thinkers.Use thoughts and views of important personalities e.g. Raghuram Rajan Sir's remarks or Narayana Murthi Sir's views on India etc
9. Use famous quotes but again not in every essay and should be relevant.

Write essays as fast as possible. Don't give too much time for thinking. Be more spontaneous. Civil Services Essay writing has ample amount of time.Here in CAPF,it is not the case.Your attempt will be very less for sure if you think too much. Essay bahot lamba mat kheechana. Time is very crucial.
Also,I did not write all essays at once. I left some pages aside for writing one or two essays in next round. (Purely personal issue.You can reject this entirely)



Paper 2 me jyada se jyada attempt karna.Try for 200 marks attempt.  Attempt is crucial because every single mark is important.
Avoid spelling mistakes and be crisp in reading comprehension questions.
Do grammar questions as fast as possible. Don't miss any.
Objective me Defence ke questions kar lena. Few are repeated from earlier question papers and few are current related.There are around 7-8 questions on defence (I am not sure)


Format of Paper 2 of CAPF exam , I personally consider as excellent. It checks your every ability whether it is your writing style or your democratic thinking or your knowledge or its applications.
I wish , UPSC civil services mains also picks few formats of  questions from CAPF exam.

Visit my earlier blog on SBI recruitment. I think few tips written there are relevant for CAPF exam too.


Enjoy the process. Enjoy the pressure then you will not feel the pressure.

Thank you
Akshay Harishchandra Gholve
UPSC-CAPF 2015 with AIR 147
Selected as SBI Probationary Officer ,
Selected as General Insurance Corporation Scale-1 Assistant Manager .
Selected in L&T, IBM & Maharashtra State Power Generation corporation
Working in Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Of India as Junior Officer.
Joining Reserve Bank of India as Manager in Aug 2017.

Definition of goal

What is the most important goal one would like to achieve in life?

Every individual will provide you with a  answer and one will realise that there will be as many different answers as there are individuals. Difference in the answers is not only limited to difference between individuals but is also moulded by time factor. As time passes,there are changes in goals (as there are changes in some values from experience,by prevailing conditions or by force in some cases)

Does this mean that one can not provide single anser which will encompass all the above mentioned factors?
No.It has a answer which will touch every aspect of life (short term ya long term,macro or micro,etc)

"THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL THAT PERSON LIKES TO ACHIEVE IS FULFILING HER OWN POTENTIAL"

This potential changes with time,experience,situational contexts,etc. And accordingly human being adjust their goals to satisfy their self .


So, everyone will have to analyse their own self and plan accordingly. I feel there is no other disastrous thing than to copying others. Living in this world with your own self ,when that world is trying to make you someone else is the real achievement.

 So,BE YOURSELF.



Fine. But there is prevailing belief that being yourself is equivalent to selfishness and selfishness is equivalent to crime. What about this argument?
people have created wrong impressions about selfishness. Actually,human beings can not be happy if they are not selfish. Selfishness does not create zero sum game. Selfishness can very well be practised by considering interests of society at large.

I agree with Adam Smith for his thoery of invisible hand. If every person tries to satisfy her own self by giving same opportunity for others,it will create much happier individuals and hence much more happier society.

Hence be selfish in your goal setting and its achievement.
Stay hungry.Stay Foolish.Stay Selfish too.