Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time to study for a big exam? Do you sometimes worry that you started too late? If you feel this way, then you must listen to Ashutosh Patidar’s story. It is a story not just about hard work, but about smart work. Ashutosh cleared the NABARD Grade A exam by preparing in a very limited time, and his journey is full of simple, honest lessons that can help you too.
This is not a story of shortcuts. It’s a story of a different, clever way of working hard. So, let’s sit together and understand how a simple boy from a farming family made his big dream come true.
His journey begins in a small village, with a dream that was much bigger than his surroundings.
Who Is Ashutosh Patidar?
Let’s get to know Ashutosh a little better first.
Ashutosh comes from a farming family in Madhya Pradesh. Growing up, he saw his family work hard on the fields every day. His schooling started in his village, but he later moved to a boarding school in Indore. After finishing his B.Sc. in Economics and Statistics, he decided to prepare for the Civil Services Exam (CSE) in 2018. This was his big dream.
He was a serious student, but like many of us, his journey was not a straight line.
But things were not as easy as they sounded, and his real test was just beginning.
UPSC Attempts Before NABARD: The Struggles and Setbacks
Ashutosh worked very, very hard for his CSE dream. He even cleared the prelims and gave the mains exam three times in a row – in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Each time, he was very close, sometimes missing the final list by just one or ten marks. It can feel really heavy on the heart when you are so close, yet so far.
“I was reaching my saturation point. I was about to stop filling forms.”
This is a feeling many students face. You study day and night, but the result doesn’t show. It’s easy to feel lost.
But this is also where Ashutosh’s story takes a turn, showing us how a smart decision can change everything.
Why Ashutosh Switched Focus to NABARD Grade A Exam
While preparing for CSE, Ashutosh realised that he could also try for other exams where his knowledge could be useful. In March and April, he decided to study for NABARD. But soon, his CSE prelims exam came up in May, and his focus shifted back. The NABARD exam was on 1st September, and his CSE Mains was just after that. He had very little time.
He knew he couldn’t study everything. He had to be very, very smart. So, how did he do it?
Let’s see how Ashutosh built his unique strategy that helped him clear the exam in such a short time.
NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy: Clearing in Just 25 Days
This is the most important part of his journey, where you can learn a lot.
Ashutosh didn’t have months to prepare. He only had about 25 days before the Phase 1 exam to focus completely. So, he made a very clever plan.
PYQ-Based Preparation for NABARD Grade A Success
He calls PYQs his “guiding light,” and this is why.
Instead of reading everything, Ashutosh first looked at the last 4-5 years of NABARD question papers very carefully. He didn’t just solve them. He tried to understand what NABARD really wants from a student.
He asked questions like:
- Which chapters are most important?
- From which topics are they asking factual questions (like names and numbers)?
- In which topics do they want me to understand the concept deeply?
This helped him create a boundary.
“I used PYQs to decide exactly what to read and what to skip. This is the best way to study in a limited time.”
Best Study Material and NABARD Grade A Books Ashutosh Followed
He did not run behind hundreds of sources.
Once he knew what to study, he picked very few resources. For topics that were common with CSE (like Agriculture, Economics), he used his own trusted notes. For NABARD-specific topics, he relied on EduTap’s Summary Sheets and SchemeTap magazines.
His rule was simple:
“Don’t run after multiple sources. Pick one good source and revise it again and again.”
This is a golden tip for all of us, isn’t it? We often get confused with too many books and PDFs.
Revision Strategy with Short Notes for NABARD Grade A Exam
This is a trick that can save you a lot of time and worry.
Ashutosh believes that if you cannot revise something just before the exam, it’s like you never studied it. So, he made revision very easy for himself.
- First Reading: He would just read and highlight the important parts.
- Second Reading: He would make very, very short notes of the things he knew he would forget.
- Ultra-Short Notes: For schemes, he made notes so short that he covered 70-80 schemes in just 5 pages!
“I was reading those 5 pages just before entering the exam hall.”
This way, he could revise everything quickly without any stress.
Now that we know how he prepared, let’s see how he used this knowledge on the exam day itself.
Ashutosh’s NABARD Grade A Attempt Strategy
Preparation is one thing, but performing in the exam hall is another.
Ashutosh had a very clear plan for attempting the paper. He didn’t just start answering questions randomly.
NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Strategy: Accuracy and Smart Guessing
He knew where he could score the most marks.
In Phase 1, he first attempted the merit section (ARD, ESI, and GA). He gave proper time to ARD because he felt he could be very accurate there. For other questions, he took calculated risks.
“Unless I am completely clueless about all four options, I will attempt the question. Risk is necessary in these exams.”
This confidence came from a lot of practice with mock tests.
NABARD Grade A Phase 2 Descriptive Paper: Answer Writing Tips
Here, his Civil Services preparation was a big help.
For the descriptive paper, Ashutosh already had a strong base from his CSE mains practice. He didn’t write long paragraphs. Instead, he wrote answers in points.
“For a 10-mark question, I would try to write 10 points. I used a lot of data, committee names, and facts to make my answers strong.”
This made his answers stand out. Even though he was typing, he made sure his answers were well-structured with an intro, body, and conclusion.
After clearing the mains, the final step was the interview, and he prepared for it just as smartly.
Getting Ready for The NABARD Grade A Interview
He made his interview preparation very predictable.
Ashutosh knew the interview would be mostly about him. So, he prepared every single point from his DAF (Detailed Application Form).
- He predicted questions: Based on his background (farming family, economics degree), he knew what questions could be asked.
- He used AI: He used tools like ChatGPT to ask him 50 questions based on his DAF and helped him frame answers.
- He did certificate courses: To show his interest in banking, he did short online courses on sustainable finance and banking.
- He gave mock interviews: He gave mock interviews at EduTap and another institute.
“Mocks help you understand your weak points. A sir told me to smile a little, and I made sure to do that in the real interview.”
His real interview went exactly as he had predicted, with questions about his family, his optional subject, and NABARD.
Throughout this journey, he also got some timely help, which made a big difference.
How EduTap Became a Helping Hand In His NABARD Journey
Ashutosh used EduTap’s resources very smartly. He didn’t just read everything. He picked what he needed most.
- Summary Sheets: For quick revision of ARD and ESI static topics.
- SchemeTap Magazine: To cover all the important government schemes in one place.
- Interview Guidance Program: He discussed his DAF with the faculty and took a mock interview, which gave him real confidence.
He knew that with limited time, he needed crisp and exam-focused material, and that’s where he found help.
Finally, Ashutosh has a very simple and honest message for every student who is feeling a little lost.
Key NABARD Grade A Preparation Lessons from Ashutosh’s Journey
- Hard work never goes to waste: Ashutosh’s 5 years of CSE preparation became the foundation that helped him clear NABARD.
- Don’t fear vacancies: Instead of worrying about numbers, focus on the syllabus and your genuine interest in the exam.
- Revision is everything: Create ultra-short notes that can be revised completely in just a few hours before the exam.
- Plan your exam attempt: Decide which section to attempt first based on your strengths to maximize your score.
- Make descriptive answers rich: Add points, data, and facts to make your answers stand out.
- PYQs are your best guide: They show you what to study and how deep you need to go into each topic.
- Less is more: Stick to one or two trusted sources per subject instead of collecting multiple PDFs.
- Prepare for the interview smartly: Use your DAF to predict questions and practice honest, well-thought-out answers.
So, after reading his story, what can you do right now? Let’s make a simple plan.
Your Simple Action Plan For NABARD Grade A
You can start with these small steps today.
- Pick Up PYQs: Before you start any new topic, spend one hour looking at the previous year questions. Try to understand the pattern.
- Choose One Source: For one subject, decide on just ONE book or PDF you will follow. Stick to it for the next 15 days.
- Make a 1-Page Note: After studying a chapter, try to write down the most important points on a single page. This will be your revision sheet.
- Be Honest with Yourself: Just like Ashutosh, know your strengths and weaknesses. It’s okay to be weak in some areas, as long as you make your strong areas even stronger.
Ashutosh’s journey teaches us that success is not always about studying for 16 hours a day. It is about studying with a clear mind, a smart strategy, and a heart full of hope. Even if you feel you have less time, a clever plan can help you win.
Remember his words: your hard work never, ever goes to waste. Keep believing, keep trying, and one day, you will also have a beautiful success story to tell.
