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How to self- prepare for UPSC Civil Services Exam
Nowadays most of the aspirants feel that UPSC cannot be cleared without proper coaching. Anybody can triumph this exam if he /she is determined and follow a streamlined strategy with hard work. Institutions are there to give the push to keep the aspirants going and to give them the right guidance. However, one can clear the exam successfully even without coaching if one follows the right methods. Let’s discuss some key strategies on how to self-prepare for Civil Services Exam.
Build your base
First and the foremost thing you got to do is to download the syllabus and rote-memorize it. Very important. 99% aspirants fail to do this. This is the first step to success in this examination. You need to clearly know what is there and what is not.
Now start reading NCERT books and The Hindu newspaper for strong foundation. We have already discussed about NCERTs in the previous article. Please click here for it.
For newspaper reading, focus on areas that are relevant to syllabus you already have memorised. They are ….
1. Indian polity and Governance
2. Social issues (Women, Minorities, Health, Education etc)
3. Schemes, Projects, Reports.
4. Economic and Social Development
5. Issues on Environment
6. Indian History
7. Indian Culture
8. Indian and World Geography
9. International Relations
10. Important International Institutions – structure and mandate.
11. Agriculture
12. Science and Technology
13. Security related
14. Optional Based.
Go deep
After 2-3 months of basic jump into water, dive deep. First download previous 10 years question and analyse them. There are some books in market, which provide chapter wise collection, which also can be bought. After you complete each chapter, try to solve these questions. Sometimes, results may not be as per your expectations, but gradually with practise and identifying own errors, you will reach at a standard level before preliminary. For mains part download last 5 years’ papers and try to answer the questions from static part. It may take 20 minutes at first. With more practise it will decrease. For mains answers, you may follow our previously discussed article. Please click here for it.
Basic sources
They are divided in two categories. Static part and current affairs.
For static part, follow these –
History: Brief history of Modern India (Spectrum publications) for modern India part + old NCERT books for ancient India and Medieval part
Polity: Indian Polity (M. Laxmikanth)
Economy: Indian Economy (Ramesh Singh) + Mrunal videos available on YouTube
Environment: Environment for Civil Services by D R Khullar
International Relations: International Relations by Pavneet Singh
Geography: NCERT + Mrunal videos available on YouTube
Art & Culture: Handwritten Notes by Nitin Singhania
For current affairs we have already told which areas to be focussed. UPSC prefers a good mix of basic and current affairs. The sources are …
Pulse Magazine published by Officers IAS Academy.
PRS website
Various government websites for newly announced schemes
Gist of economic survey and budget available online
The most important above all is limiting the sources. Read every basic book line by line until you feel 110% comfortable with that subject. If you need to read 20 times, read it 20 times. Make notes to revise while you travel. Revision is the key. Improvisation is the secret formula of success.
All Tips by R.A.Israel Jebasingh, Engineer ,Cracked UPSC(IAS) exams with AIR 59