Copyright timesnownews
Hailing from Khairthal-Tijara district in Rajasthan, 21-year-old Bakul Gupta has secured an All India Rank (AIR) 3 in Chartered Accountancy (CA Final) in his first attempt. When the ICAI President called him up to deliver the news, Bakul realised that his years-long dream had finally come to reality as he not only cleared the finals but also featured in the top 3 list. The son of a businessman, Gupta has always been a brilliant student, scoring over 95 per cent in both his high school and intermediate exams. Initially inclined towards Business & Finance and Rocket Engineering, Bakul eventually had to pick one path. “I went with commerce and business studies to experience the ground reality," Gupta told Times Now Digital, while adding that his parents and teachers encouraged him to pursue CA after Class 12. Preparation Strategy and Study Routine Bakul enrolled in a coaching institute to expedite his preparation, but completed all of his classes before the study leave. When questioned about the strategy Bakul used to prepare for CA Final, he said, "Whilst doing the articleship, I completed all my classes and continued preparation during the five-month study leave." During this period, he revised all six subjects at least three times, solved previous years' question papers and mock tests to better understand the crucial topics, as well as to get acquainted with the exam pattern and learn time management. While he didn’t follow a rigid study schedule and kept his routine flexible, he still dedicated at least 10 hours a day to preparation. "I used to study at least one topic from every subject on a daily basis," he said. 'I Struggled With Audit': CA Finalist Bakul When inquired about the subject that he finds most challenging, he said, "I struggled with Audit as it is purely theory. Apart from this, Direct & Indirect Tax papers were also challenging as we had to learn provisions and apply them in real-life scenarios." To overcome these challenges, Bakul used to revise these subjects at least three to four times to have a better understanding of the concepts. "Earlier, I used to allocate equal time to all subjects, but as the exams came near, I started prioritising the challenging subjects by allotting additional time to them," he added. Like many others, the CA finalist also went through burnout due to consistent and monotonous studying. To cope with the same, he used to scroll through YouTube, have a conversation with his parents, or play chess to feel relaxed. As with many, Bakul isn't a fan of social media and doesn't even have an account on Instagram or Facebook. Whenever he feels like watching content, he resorts to YouTube. Leave the Uncontrollable to God: Bakul's Success Mantra Bakul never lets negative thoughts take charge of his mind, as his life mantra has always been, "You can control the controllables and leave the uncontrollable to God." If not a CA, Bakul would've pursued a law degree and practised in the High Court or Supreme Court. Sharing a piece of advice with CA aspirants, Bakul said, "Be consistent and believe in your hard work; everything else comes along." At present, Bakul is figuring out his future plans and is confident of landing his dream job soon. Recommended | 'The Call from ICAI President Changed Everything': AIR 2 Nishtha Bothra on Topping CA Final
