Guide to Cracking the UPSC Exam

Let's take a look at a foolproof 5-step plan for passing the Civil Service Exam.  

First, make sure you're well-versed in the material on the exam.

Two, fortify your base

Third, improve your understanding

The Fourth Action: Write Some Answers

Fifth, begin studying based on sample exams in March in preparation for finals.

Let's take a closer look at each of these processes:

First and foremost, study thoroughly for the test.

It is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the exam's specifics before beginning study.  

• Before sitting for the UPSC exam, prospective candidates should familiarize themselves with the exam's syllabus, exam pattern, exam timeline, and eligibility criteria by reading the exam's official notification.  

• When you're done with that, grab some old exams to get a feel for the types of questions asked.  

• If you set aside some time specifically to complete this task, you will gain back a lot of time later on in the process of getting ready.  

• Exam details can also be gleaned from the articles here on our site, which you can peruse at your leisure. You should also start perusing the newspaper around now. In order to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, read this article.

Second, fortify your base.

Whatever your educational or professional history, you must have a firm grasp on the UPSC's foundational subjects.  

• Therefore, consult the NCERTs, which are available for free download from the NCERT website.  

• Make sure to read them over and take notes on them before moving on to our NCERT collections.  

• If you join our Telegram Forum (cl_civils), you can obtain free copies of the NCERT collections. Save time by preparing your notes alongside these collections. Find out from this list which NCERTs you should be using.

Third, improve your understanding by reading canonical texts.

After completing the required reading for each subject area, students are encouraged to move on to more advanced texts.  

• The full UPSC reading list is available in the associated article.  

• Read each book at least twice, and then take notes by hand to use as a reference when it comes time to practice writing your answers.  

• To further your education, you can watch video lectures on key topics on our channel on YouTube.

Fourth, rehearse revising your written answers

Practicing and reviewing your answer writing is a crucial part of getting ready for the UPSC Mains Exam.

• The best time to practice writing answers is after you have finished a subject in both the NCERT and standard books.

• Until then, it's a waste of time since you'll have to consult books to find the information you need.  

• Consistent revision is also crucial at this stage. Don't schedule anything important on the weekends so that you don't have time to review what you've learned during the week.  

Method 5: Practice with Realistic Test Conditions

You should start preparing for the preliminary exam with a mock-test based learning strategy two months in advance. You'll be put in the testing mood Assuming you've had enough time to acclimate, you'll feel less anxious during exam time.

• Take a practice exam that simulates the format of a real exam and evaluate your results in real time.  

• Examine your blind spots and review any material you may have forgotten.  

• It will help you not only calm your nerves on test day, but also perform exceptionally well.

How to Study for the IAS Exam Subject by Subject

Listed here is a comprehensive plan for acing your preparation for the IAS exam, broken down by topic. Prepare for this highly competitive test the right way to increase your chances of success on test day.

A Guide to Cracking the UPSC Exam: Politics and Government

• The weight given to government policies on both the preliminary and final exam has increased significantly in recent years. Forecasts indicate that the current trend will continue. The questions are, on the whole, easy enough to answer with some time and thought.

• Questions are typically posed with reference to specific chapters in Polity. The Union Government, the Judiciary, Amendments, Local Governments, Federalism, and the Election Process are all examples of Constitutional Developments.

• Few of the books on the market address recent constitutional changes. In order to acquire a thorough understanding of the Constitution's provisions (for instance, one should be aware of the historical judgments of the Supreme Court of India, such as Triple Talaq, Right to privacy, Right to be forgotten, Adultery repealed, Aadhaar verdict, etc.), a regular practice of reading newspapers and magazines is recommended. )

Have a look at the micro topics and study tips for Polity here.

2 Tips for Studying for the UPSC Exam in the Sciences and Technology

• The topics of science and technology, biology, chemistry, and physics each have their own subsection here.

• This part is notoriously difficult for students with a history in the arts. On the other hand, a solid foundation in Science, especially one that includes extensive NCERTs coverage, can be a huge asset in tackling the vast majority of the questions. Over the past 15 years, Science and Technology have emerged as a crucial part of GS. With the increased emphasis on current events, most questions focus on happenings within India.

• According to recent research, the scope of General Science questions extends to everyday scientific literacy and appreciation.

• Consequently, it might be useful to observe and participate in the science of everyday life. In the 2018 Preliminaries, for instance, there was a question pertaining to NAVIC. Therefore, ISRO's future endeavors, such as Gaganyaan and other missions, assume a greater significance. A prioritization plan is thus required.

• The focus of Zoology is central to the field of Life Science. As far as Botany goes, not many inquiries have been made in regards to agriculture, biological diversity, or plant systems. Most of the time, zoologists are asked questions about the human body and various diseases. Nutrition and the prevention of communicable diseases are ever-important issues.

Read the linked article for Science & Technology preparation tips and a breakdown of the topic areas covered.

Getting Ready for the UPSC Exam: Step Three, "Economic and Social Progress"

• Sustainable development, poverty, socioeconomic inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

• While the majority of the questions will focus on the Indian economy, it will be important to stay current on international economic developments that could affect the Indian market, such as the recent trade war.

• A look at the most frequently asked questions over the past few years reveals that concerns about industry, agricultural output, export policy, monetary and banking institutions, public finances, and reforms dominate the conversation. About a third to a quarter of the questions concern initiatives from the prior and current fiscal years. Additional areas include economic reforms (government initiative in ease of doing business), infrastructure, and reform policies (e. g RERA) need to be attended to.

• Reforms in the financial and banking sectors must be monitored closely. g , Bank Consolidation, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Regulation, the Twin Balance Deficit Problem, Nonperforming Assets, etc. )

• There has been a dramatic change in this part over the past few years. The majority of the questions are of a contemporary nature, but they call for knowledge of more established areas of the Indian economy.

• Paying close attention to the economic survey and budget is essential. The Indian Economy textbook for Grade 11 provides an excellent foundation for learning more about this topic.

See the linked article for a breakdown of the Economy into its component parts and a suggested study plan.

Topic Four: Environment and Geography Exam Preparation for UPSC

• This is an extremely important part of the preliminary exam, and it includes a substantial number of questions.

• In Indian Geography, the bare minimum is a familiarity with India's physical features and a firm grasp of its various geographic locations. It's useful for understanding the human and economic geography of India.

• Focusing on abstract ideas, General Geography seeks to transcend specific locations. Goh Cheng Leong's "A Certificate Course in Physical and Human Geography" is a good book to read in detail.

• As for World Geography, the discipline's relevance lies more with recent events. Every day, while you're reading the paper and using your atlas to find your way around town, you'll be much more efficient.

• The addition of questions about the environment adds a novel element to the Preliminary test. It's important to keep up with the latest news in ecology and environment, as well as recent initiatives and conferences focused on protecting the nation's and world's ecosystems and biodiversity.

• Reading the appropriate NCERT Geography textbooks (from grades 6–12), supplemented by Goh Cheng Leong and the Atlas, is more than enough to prepare you for any future studies in the subject.

Visit the links for more information on specific areas of Geography and the Environment.

Tips for Studying History and Culture for the UPSC Exam

• The number of questions has been decreasing, but the level of difficulty has been rising, according to an analysis of question trends from previous years. In recent years, questions have been raised from uncharted territories.

• The period between 1857 and 1947, which includes the uprising of 1857, social reform movements, Governor Generals, and national movements, is generating the most questions in the field of Modern History.

• Questions about the Vedic Age, the Mauryan Period, and the Gupta Period dominate discussions of Ancient India. The most significant parts of medieval history occurred during the Sultanate and Mughal eras.

• In recent years, the Marathas, Vijayanagara Empire, Bahmani Kingdom, and South Dynasties have all risen in prominence.

• The Indian culture's significance has grown immensely. To do well on the Preliminary Exam, you must have an in-depth understanding of the history of Indian culture.

Read up on specific areas of historical and cultural interest at the provided links.

Tip #6: How to Study for the UPSC Exam in Current Events

• The importance of current events in preparation for civil service exams has recently reached a peak. Since then, its significance has grown steadily.

• Events of national and international significance, multilateral developments, sports, and personalities from a wide range of fields, as well as honors and awards in those fields, all fall under the broad umbrella of "Current Affairs."

• Questions about general knowledge topics also make up a significant portion of the Current Affairs section.

• Therefore, it is erroneous to believe that answering such questions simply requires keeping up with the news and reading periodicals like newspapers and magazines.

• At the end of the day, it's easy to draw the conclusion that GS can be controlled with minimal difficulty if the appropriate precautions are taken.

Learn more about the relevance of the news and how to study for it here.

7 Tips for Cracking the UPSC CSAT Exam

• Since the curriculum shift and the implementation of CSAT, the second paper now consists of General Mental Ability and Reasoning.

• It has been observed that as the difficulty of tests measuring general mental ability rises, there is a corresponding rise in the total number of questions tested. In addition, questions are coming from unexpected areas, which makes it harder to prepare.

• Keep in mind that a passing score on this paper is required for qualification; specifically, candidates must achieve at least 33 percent. If a candidate does not achieve a minimum score of 33 percent, then he or she will not be considered for selection.

• Both reading comprehension and critical thinking questions are included in this paper. In order to get a high grade, all you need to do is study old test papers and practice questions from before.

What follows is a synopsis of the best ways to get ready for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) See this article for a CSAT study plan. In addition, by clicking the link, you can learn how much emphasis is placed on each UPSC subject. Now, we'll discuss how you can use UPSC Online coaching to ace the IAS exam.

Benefits of Online UPSC Coaching

When it comes to getting ready for the UPSC, Career Launcher's online UPSC coaching is where it's at. The UPSC Online Coaching offers a number of advantages, including but not limited to:

• You can save time by not having to leave your house to study for the UPSC exam, which means that you can focus on your studies instead of wasting time commuting.
• The guidance of knowledgeable instructors is like a beacon that makes the journey easier at any time. With the assistance of Career Launcher's UPSC Online Coaching, you can gain access to qualified instructors whose knowledge will aid you in passing the UPSC examinations.
• All of your live sessions will be recorded, so you can listen to them at your convenience and not worry about missing out.
• Career Launcher's UPSC Online Coaching includes access to the All India Mocks, a crucial part of preparing for the UPSC examination because they allow you to compare your results with those of students all over India.

See the referenced article for more details on UPSC Online Coaching.

The Best Way to Begin Studying for the UPSC Civil Services Exam

Learn the fundamentals of IAS preparation from our expert mentor as you begin your journey toward UPSC.