Have you ever felt like giving up? Or wondered if your hard work is enough? Today, we bring you a story that will fill your heart with hope.
It’s about a very special student, Mr. Nagendra Sai, who recently cleared the tough NABARD Grade A exam. His journey is full of simple, honest advice, just like a big brother would give you.
Let’s see how he made his big dream come true, even when things looked tough. We promise, you’ll feel understood and ready to try even harder after reading this!
Let’s start from the very beginning, seeing where Nagendra Sai’s journey began and how his family helped shape him.
His Background, Big Dreams & Early Struggles
Nagendra Sai comes from a farming family in Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh. Can you imagine growing up close to nature, helping your family in the fields? That’s how he started! He studied in his village initially, then went to a boarding school in Indore for higher classes. After that, he did his B.Sc in Economics and Statistics.
“My schooling started in the village itself, then I studied in a boarding school in Indore. I did my B.Sc in Economics and Statistics.”
Nagendra Sai gave his 1st CSE attempt in 2020. In 2021, he cleared the Prelims! He kept giving Mains exams in 2021, 2022, and 2023. But do you know what happened? He just missed the Mains cut-off by a very small margin, sometimes just one mark!
I gave Mains multiple times, but missed the cut-off by some margin, like one mark.”
This can make anyone feel low, wondering if all the hard work is worth it. But Nagendra Sai didn’t give up. He knew he had to keep trying. He also started giving other exams like the RBI and Forest Service.
Imagine the pressure! Studying for one big exam, then trying another, all while keeping your hopes up. This is where his smart approach to study began to shine.
Now, let’s talk about how he changed his thinking and made a special plan for NABARD.
Mindset Change: Finding a Smart Way to Study
He was already studying for CSE, which is a huge exam. So, for NABARD, he didn’t start everything new. He decided to use what he already knew! He started preparing for NABARD in March and April, but then had to shift his full focus back to CSE Prelims in May. This meant he had very limited time for NABARD.
He had to be super smart. His NABARD Prelims were on September 1st, then CSE Mains were in mid-September, and NABARD Mains on October 28th.
Such a tight schedule!
He focused on what was most important for NABARD. He used his CSE knowledge for the overlapping parts and only gave about 25 days of intense focus just before the NABARD Prelims.
So, how did he know what was “most important” for NABARD? Let’s dive into his actual study methods.
Study Methods and Time Management: Your Guiding Stars
Nagendra knew he couldn’t study everything. So, he made a clever plan. His “guiding star” was the NABARD Grade A Previous Year Questions (PYQs).
Previous Year Questions are like a guiding light. You should not see them as just knowledge, but as a way to understand what to study and what to leave.
He analyzed 3-4 years of PYQs very carefully. This helped him understand:
- Which chapters are important.
- Which topics inside those chapters matter.
- Whether to learn things in deep or just a little bit.
- Whether the questions are about facts or understanding (conceptual).
Study Sources:
- CSE notes → Agriculture & Economy topics
- EduTap summary sheets → NABARD-specific ARD static topics
- EduTap Scheme-step → Current affairs & schemes (studied for 6 months)
I made EduTap’s summary sheets my base material for ARD. For ESI schemes, I revised Scheme-step for 5 – 6 months multiple times.
Short Notes:
- Made ultra-short notes, e.g., 5 pages covering 70-80 schemes
- Allowed quick revision before the exam
Revision Method:
- First Reading: Just read & understand; minimal highlighting
- Second Reading: Highlight more & start making short notes
- Multiple Revisions: Revise short notes repeatedly for retention
Practice Strategy:
- Solved PYQs first to identify strong and weak points
- Attempted 5-6 mock tests from various platforms (including Testbook)
- Helped him get used to the exam pattern
This smart way of studying and revising helped him cover a lot in a short time.
Now, let’s see how he faced the actual exam.
Facing Exams and Interviews: Playing it Smart on Exam Day
Nagendra Sai had a very clear strategy for the NABARD Prelims. Since there’s no separate time for each section, he decided to attempt the “Merit Section” (ARD, ESI, GS) first. He started with ARD, making sure to get good accuracy, even if it took a little more time. Then ESI, then GS.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Strategy: Cracking the First Step
- Nagendra attempted the Merit Section (ARD, ESI, GS) first since there’s no separate timing.
- He began with ARD, focusing on accuracy over speed, then moved to ESI, and finally GS.
- For English, DM, Computer, and QRE, his aim was only to clear the sectional cut-off, not maximize marks.
- In Reasoning, he skipped lengthy puzzles to save time.
- He attempted almost all ARD and ESI questions, skipping only the ones he was clueless about.
- In GS, he avoided very long or overly factual questions but took calculated risks when he had partial knowledge.
I attempted the merit section first. In ARD, I focused on accuracy and did not compromise on time.
NABARD Grade A Mains Strategy: Writing with Impact
- His CSE answer writing practice gave him a big advantage in NABARD Mains.
- He structured answers with introductions, conclusions, and multiple points, filled with facts, committees, and data from his factbook.
- He kept answers concise and to the point, avoiding lengthy explanations.
- To improve typing speed, he practiced using EduTap’s tests and notes.
NABARD Grade A Interview Preparation: Building Confidence
- He prepared for the interview for about two months.
- He used the EduTap Interview Guidance Program to refine his DAF and anticipate possible questions.
- To strengthen his profile, he completed certificate courses in Sustainable Finance and Basics of Banking.
- He used AI tools like ChatGPT to generate 50 likely questions from his DAF and practiced answering them.
- He studied NABARD’s annual report and website, and watched YouTube case studies to understand practical ground-level work.
NABARD Grade A Mock Interviews and Final Touch
- He gave two mock interviews (EduTap & Clarity) and received helpful feedback.
- He was advised to revise his graduation subject (Statistics) and to smile more instead of appearing too serious.
- He applied this feedback in his real interview at Bhopal, and it worked perfectly.
I should revise my graduation subjects. Also, to smile and not be so serious.”
NABARD Grade A Result: Smart Planning, Big Success
- With clear strategies for Prelims, structured writing for Mains, and focused preparation for the Interview, Nagendra achieved his dream.
All this planning and support helped him reach his goal. Let’s hear what kept him going.
Motivation and Real-Life Tips: Never Give Up on Yourself
Nagendra Sai’s journey was long, with many close calls. Missing Mains by just one mark, repeatedly, can break anyone’s spirit.
But he had a secret: internal motivation.
This decision was mine to prepare for CSE. We know the success ratio is low, but if we decided, we should back that decision.”
He believed in himself and his hard work. His family and friends also supported him, seeing his dedication. They kept telling him he was close, which kept his hopes up.
He also made sure to test himself regularly with PYQs and mock tests. If he saw he was performing well, it gave him confidence that he was on the right track. This self-belief is so important!
He was actually nearing his “saturation point,” almost thinking of not filling any more forms, when NABARD came through. What perfect timing!
He strongly feels that hard work never goes to waste. His five years of CSE preparation ultimately helped him clear NABARD.
Hard work never goes to waste. My hard work for CSE paid off in NABARD.
This is his story, full of hard work, smart choices, and a never-give-up attitude.
Key Learnings and Action Plan: Your Path Forward
Nagendra Sai’s journey teaches us a simple truth: start with what you already know and build from there. Don’t waste time reinventing the wheel. When time is limited, focus only on the most important areas, and let Previous Year Questions be your guiding star. They tell you exactly what to study, what to skip, and how deep to go. Make smart choices by creating ultra-short notes after a couple of readings and revising them again and again.
On exam day, strategy matters as much as knowledge. Decide which sections to attempt first, know when to take a calculated guess, and when to skip. For descriptive exams, practice typing regularly so speed doesn’t hold you back. And most importantly, don’t let one exam stop your journey; keep trying similar opportunities until success is yours. Believe in yourself, stay consistent, and trust that your hard work will pay off.
