How should I start preparing for IAS from scratch? - pravinnath/upscpreparationguide GitHub Wiki

ias bungalow

upsc exam books

ias english paper

I get asked this question a lot. I have also answered this question in myriad ways till now. So for what is like the ‘n’th time I will try to answer this question using material from my previous answers. You can also go to the original answers and read them for detailed information here and here.

Clearing the UPSC CSE exam requires well-read and rounded personality, general awareness of the day to day happenings around you, analytical skills and a solid grasp over fundamentals. The UPSC CSE is a generalist exam par excellence which means that it requires one to be well versed in “almost everything under the sun” but not in depth knowledge.

But one thing that is of utmost importance in this exam at all the three levels (i.e. Prelims, Mains & Interview) is crystal clear concepts and solid fundamentals and hence anyone aspiring for this exam should aspire to build solid ground of all the subjects at least initially. So here are a few tips to put your preparation on a solid footing.

essay writing for ias

how to prepare for gs paper 3

ancient history of india ncert book

Focus on building a general understanding of the day to day happenings around you. For this start reading a good quality newspaper at the earliest. Choose from either The Hindu or Indian Express. To know in detail about an issue one must use internet effectively. By effectively I mean just google the keywords and read the first 2-3 top links about that issue. UPSC doesn’t require more in depth study than that. The focus should be on understanding the concepts and not mugging up.

  1. One also must have a basic understanding of a no of subjects to clear prelims as well Mains. The subjects which one should have a decent grip on are: Geography, Polity, History, Basic Sciences, Economics etc. For this the best sources are NCERTs. They are concise, to the point and conceptually sound. One should start with class 6-10 NCERTs first and then move on to reading class 11-12 NCERTs of Geography, Polity, Economics, and History. There is no need to read 11-12 NCERTs of science as that level of understanding is not required for UPSC preparation.

  2. “Know Your Enemy”: It means that one should do a thorough research about the exam, its requirements, the skill sets being tested and how your skills and strengths are aligned to it etc. There are a no of websites offering a ton of useful information about this exam and one should have thorough understanding of all the levels.

  3. After one is well versed with information about this exam one should read a few topper’s blogs, their strategies, Interview Transcripts, Quora Answers etc to have an idea about how to go about the preparation. Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." So, one should learn from the wealth of information offered by previous toppers and people who have been selected as well as those who have a decent understanding of this exam. But remember one thing about this exam: There is no universal/one way to prepare. So, use these blogs as a guiding light and use what suits you and discard the rest.

  4. The exam has changed so much today as in it tests skills now whereas in the past it used to test knowledge. So, understand thoroughly what skills are required at different levels of this exam and ask yourself the most pertinent question: “Do I have the requisite skills?” If the answer is yes, then move on to developing other skills. If the answer is no, then work to build that skill. For example, Mains exam demands excellent writing skills. So, if you feel you lack in that somehow then immediately start writing answers on any of the websites and get them checked by seniors and peers. No one has all the skills and no one is completely devoid of skills. So, find out your areas of strengths and work to make them stronger while simultaneously try to improve your weak areas.

  5. Start to form a balanced opinion about issues. Don’t take extreme views. Be a centrist in your political views. UPSC doesn’t want someone who is bereft of ideology, rather it wants people who have centrist ideology so that being part of the permanent executive they can serve any political dispensation of the day be it right or left wing. So always look at both the sides of the coin. Be appreciative of the views of others. Take part in debates online or otherwise. Try to from a well-rounded personality.

  6. Last but not the least, Read. Apart from your syllabus and what is required. Because that will always help you in the preparation as well life in general.

These things take time. Learn at your own pace. Build Skills. Become a better person. Build a strong foundation.

indian history notes for upsc pdf

promotion of ias officer