About the book:

The book is a reflective memoir that chronicles the journey of the 1974 batch of civil servants from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). It delves into the diverse experiences and challenges these officers encountered as they embarked on their careers in the Indian civil services. The narrative captures the impact of significant events, such as the Emergency, on their professional lives and their contributions to India's governance. The book highlights their diverse backgrounds, rigorous training, and the camaraderie, cultural life, and personal growth that defined their careers.

Beyond recounting their professional achievements, it serves as a tribute to the resilience, dedication, and idealism of a generation of civil servants who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. It provides not only a detailed account of their work but also offers a glimpse into the personal experiences and emotions that accompanied their journey. For readers interested in Indian civil services, governance, or the history of India's administrative framework, this memoir offers valuable insights and a unique perspective.

About the exam:

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). Also simply referred to as the UPSC examination, it is conducted in three phases - a preliminary examination consisting of two objective-type papers (General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II also popularly known as Civil Service Aptitude Test or CSAT), and a main examination consisting of nine papers of conventional (essay) type, in which two papers are qualifying and only marks of seven are counted followed by a personality test (interview).