One of the most prominent and difficult exams in India is the Civil Services Examination (CSE) administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Gaining entry into prestigious roles like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other administrative services is possible with test clearance. But because of its extensive curriculum and stringent admissions procedure, it can appear daunting, particularly to newcomers. This book is intended for those who are just beginning their UPSC journey and are unsure about how to approach the preparation.
1. Recognize the UPSC Exam Format:
There are three stages in the UPSC CSE: Initial Assessment (Prelims): a screening exam consisting of the General Studies (GS) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), two objective-style examinations. Although they don’t factor into the overall ranking, the points earned in this phase are essential to move on to the next round.
Nine descriptive papers comprise the written Main Examination (Mains). These emphasize your in-depth knowledge and analytical skills and include essay writing, General Studies assignments, and optional subjects.
The last step that evaluates your personality, communication skills, and capacity for making decisions is the interview (personality test).
2. Become acquainted with the syllabus:
The UPSC syllabus is extensive and includes a wide range of topics. Get the actual curriculum from the UPSC website and make sure you fully comprehend it. This will provide you with a clear understanding of what to study and how to rank the various topics. To make sure you stay on course, it’s imperative that you consult the syllabus frequently.
3. NCERT Books are a good place to start:
Your preparation for grades 6 through 12 is based mostly on the NCERT books. These books offer a succinct and straightforward explanation of basic ideas in a variety of academic disciplines, including science, geography, history, and economics. Since NCERTs are simple to learn and serve as the basis for further in-depth study, it is recommended that you start your preparation by reading them.
Must-read NCERT books:
- History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and World History, Classes 6–12
- History:x Physical and Indian geography, grades 6 through 12
- Political science and the Indian Constitution are covered in class 9–12.
- Economics: Fundamental ideas of the Indian economy, classes 9–12
4. Select the Appropriate Reference Books:
After finishing the NCERTs, proceed to more in-depth reading with common reference books:
- Polity: M. Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity, D.D. Basu, Bare Act
- History: Bipan Chandra’s India’s Independence Struggle, Spectrum: A Brief History of Modern India, Medieval History By Satish Chandra , Ancient History By R.S Sharma, World History: NCERT(12th Class).
- Geography: Certificate in Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong, for mapping Oxford Student Atlas .
- General Science: NCERT(6th to 10th).
- Ecology: Some chapters of NCERT of Biology (12th class).
- Economy: Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy, Sanjiv Verma’s The Indian Economy.
- Current Affairs: Monthly Magazine Dhyeya IAS.
- News Paper: The Hindu and The Indian Express
Make sure you don’t cite too many books. Keep your resources to a minimum and concentrate on editing them several times.
5. Keep Up with Current Events and Read Newspapers:
The Prelims and Mains tests heavily rely on current events. You can keep up with current happenings on a national and worldwide level by reading newspapers every day. For UPSC preparation, The Hindu or The Indian Express are two suggested newspapers. Develop the practice of reading the editorial section to get thoughtful viewpoints on significant topics.
Consult periodicals such as Yojana, Kurukshetra, and other current events compilations from reputable coaching institutes in addition to newspapers. This will help you get better at writing essays and ready you for modern difficulties.
6. Organizing Your Schedule and Time Well:
The secret to passing the UPSC is dedication and consistency. Make sure your schedule is reasonable and breaks up your day into several study periods. Here’s how to effectively manage your time:
- Morning: Read mostly to gain a comprehension of new ideas.
- In the afternoon go over the material you covered in the morning and take notes.
- Evening: Spend time researching current events, reading newspapers, and watching news commentary.
Establish weekly and monthly goals to ensure you finish the syllabus on time. You should also modify your study plan in light of your strengths and shortcomings.
7. Write Your Own Notes
Take your own notes on each topic as you study. Important points are easier to remember and to revise after you’ve written them down. Make sure your notes highlight important information, statistics, and analysis and are succinct and direct.
Take notes on significant news stories and concerns on a daily or weekly basis about current affairs. Create easily editable notes for Mains and Prelims by summarizing articles from newspapers and magazines.
8. Sample Response Composing for the Mains
In the Mains exam, writing answers is essential. As you prepare, begin by writing answers in practice. Try to formulate and complete responses to each GS topic within the allotted time. As a result, your articulation and speed will both get better. Write organized responses that are precise, succinct, and backed up by data and examples.
Additionally, you can sign up for test series or assess your performance using previous UPSC exam papers. You may improve your preparation by going over your performance and taking lessons from your errors
9. Complete practice exams before exams
For the Prelims stage, mock exams are necessary. They assist you improve your time management abilities in addition to helping you assess your knowledge. You can improve your accuracy, decrease mistakes, and get comfortable with the format of the questions by taking practice exams on a regular basis.
Make sure you evaluate how well you performed on the fake test, pinpoint your weaknesses, and take steps to strengthen them. Building confidence and simulating the real exam setting are two excellent uses for mock examinations.
10. Get ready for the interview
During the interview phase, your personality, ability to make decisions, and mental clarity will all be evaluated in addition to your knowledge. Start your interview preparation well in advance by staying up to date on current events, particularly those that are relevant to your background and the state or nation you call home. Develop balanced opinions on social, political, and economic matters and practice speaking with assurance and clarity
11. Remain upbeat and follow a balanced schedule
It can be mentally and physically taxing to prepare for UPSC, thus maintaining your motivation and optimism is crucial. To help you decompress, incorporate frequent physical activity, meditation, or any other pastime. Maintaining your energy and focus for longer can be achieved with a well-balanced regimen that incorporates study, relaxation, and leisure time.
Conclusion
Passing the UPSC requires a lot of work, but it is not impossible. You can pass this test if you have the appropriate approach, are committed to the task, and put in constant effort. You can take the initial step toward comprehending the UPSC preparation process by using our beginner’s guide. Maintain discipline, stick to your study schedule, and keep writing on a regular basis. Remember that the secret to success in UPSC is persistence and patience.
