Can I prepare for UPSC while continuing my regular job or higher studies?

Yes, you can absolutely prepare for UPSC while continuing your job or higher studies. Many successful candidates, including toppers like Ira Singhal (AIR 1) and Anudeep Durishetty (AIR 1), cleared the exam while working full-time in demanding roles.
While challenging, this path offers strategic advantages like financial stability and real-world experience that can help during the Personality Test (Interview). 
1. Strategic Advantages

• Mental Security: Having a steady income reduces the "do-or-die" pressure and anxiety that full-time aspirants often face.
• Backup Plan: You maintain your career progression and have a safety net if you need multiple attempts.
• Interview Edge: Work experience provides maturity and practical insights into governance and workplace dynamics, which are highly valued by the interview panel. 

2. Practical Time Management (Weekday vs. Weekend)
The key is to shift from studying "long hours" to studying "consistently". 

• The "Golden Hours": Most successful working aspirants study for 2–3 hours in the early morning (e.g., 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM) when their minds are fresh and distractions are minimal.
• Micro-Learning: Use commute time and lunch breaks for "lighter" tasks like reading current affairs, listening to podcasts, or reviewing flashcards on your phone.
• Evening Routine: After work, dedicate another 1–2 hours for lighter revision, answer writing practice, or your optional subject.
• Weekend Sprints: Treat weekends as "full-time" study days, dedicating 8–10 hours to cover new material, take mock tests, and perform deep revisions.

3. Key Success Tips

• Limit Your Sources: You don't have the luxury of time to read everything. Stick to one standard book per subject (like Laxmikanth for Polity) and master it through multiple revisions.
• Choose an Overlapping Optional: Select an optional subject that has significant overlap with the General Studies (GS) syllabus, such as Public Administration, Sociology, or Political Science, to save time.
• Strategic Leaves: Use your casual or earned leaves judiciously. Most aspirants take 1–2 weeks off before Prelims and a longer break (about a month) before Mains.
• Avoid Socialising: To find time for study, you may need to cut down on office parties, social gatherings, and excessive social media use.