Approaching Mains 2022

 Approaching Mains 2022

1. First of all, if you are sure of clearing prelims join a test series for GS and Optional. 

2. General Studies - Start writing tests - if your notes and coverage is full in terms of syllabus, you can start with full length tests. Otherwise, start with sectional tests and cover each and every point of sectional syllabus for that test. Dont procrastinate writing of tests. If you are writing sectional tests then by mid august, you must be done with all sectional tests. Dont be afraid of writing tests, consider it as a part of improvement and learning process. And if you dont have all notes, keep on making notes in  between as per availability of time.

3. If you find it suitable for you, finish tests of static of Gs-I and whole GS-IV before doing GS 2 n 3. It is because these portions are static ones and you have just studied most portion of GS 1 during your peims preparation.

4. After evaluation of your answer sheets, sit with the mentor aand understand where and what improvements are expected from you. Do this at least for tests in beginning. 

5. Current Affairs - If you have already made notes of current affairs, then revise them as per the syllabus of the tests you are appearing for. Else revise things from monthly magazines which you might have read. Dont wait for mains 365 or any other compilations. If you are planning to read Mains 365 or any other compilation, do it as soon as it comes in market. You have to do it at least 3 times before actual exam. Extract data points out of monthly magazine or mains CA compilations in separate notebook, that too syllabus wise.

6. Optional - Start with tests of your optional subject as well. Write sectional tests of optional as you need in-depth knowledge of each topic in optional. By 15th july finish any one paper and then by 15th august finish second paper. Then write full length tests of optional on weekly basis. At least, 4 full length tests you should write for optional. Keep these evaluated answer sheets handy, as they will be useful for quick revision and identify your mistakes during answer writing as per the comments of evaluator.

7. Dont take marks awarded in tests series on their face value, just identify your mistakes and learn to not repeat them in upsc exam.

7.. And understand, 85 days is a long time, particularly when you have already apeeared for mains earlier. Make notes during this period as well wherever you feel necessary if you dont have sufficient notes for the mains syllabus.

8. After writing 2-3 tests of GS, you would have built momentum for writing. Now you are ready to write essays. Join a test series for essay also, as you will need discipline to write it on time, otherwise you will keep on postponing it. You can start writing essays from July onwards.

9. For ethics, I hope you would be having notes as it is a static subject. If not, then try to make very short notes whatever time permits and write tests.

10. Whatever happens you have to write 12-16 GS Tests + 8-10 Optional Tests + 4-5 essay tests.  Because this is a written exam and you cant afford to have it as your weakness. You also have to finish your papers, without panic. This would happen only when you practice it enough.

11. After 15th August, you should write only full length tests as you would have one month for the exam on 16th sep. You have to reach at your peak performance during the upsc exam, not before, not after.  So dont fatigue out yourself  before the actual exam.

12. write two tests in a day for at least two times before upsc exam. It would give you confidence of writing exams continously on consecutive days.  

13. Also keep on reading newspaper, not thoroughly but any prominent  news or article should not miss your eyes.

Timeline:

Till 15th July- GS 1 & 4 and one paper of Optional (Half day to GS and Half day to optional)

15th July to 15th Aug - GS 2 & 3,essay and other paper of optional (Half day to GS and half day for optional, weekly essay tests)

15th Aug to 5th sep - write full length tests of 4 papers of GS, Essay and Optional. In this period you should write test every sevond day. If you are comfortable you can write GS tests till 10th sep also.

6th Sep to 15th sep - revise whole GS syllabus through your notes and evaluated answer sheets.

During the gap in GS n Optional exams - revise optional papers and go through your evaluated answer sheets.

Write, Write & ...........Write !! 

This is the most important thing before mains.

All the best !!

Regards

Minding our minds during UPSC CSE Preparation

Tacking care of mental health during CSE Preparation

 

First of all, I appreciate your courage to share your feelings and mental status. Its rare due to stigmatization in our society. Prolonged ignorance of feelings may lead to mental health issues. So I encourage all of you to share your feelings timely with your friends and family.

1. Distance from social events is fine, anti social feel is not desirable.
2. Learn to control your desires. Eg. You will finish a ncert book in a week and then you will go on a ride.
3. Consider that your aim is not only to become a civil servant, but to do public service as a civil servant. You are there for people, not for youself.
4. Make yourself resilient to social events which affect you mental peace.
5. Also make small target, on the fulfilment of which you get satisfaction and happiness. And do whatever you wish after completion of target. It will keep you motivated.
6. Divide full syllabus into small sections and make section wise targets. It will make you disciplined.
7. Remember its just an exam, nobody is going to put you behind bars, if you dont qualify it.
8. And I have no hesitation in saying that luck plays a significant role in final result. I myself is fortunate to have qualified it. Never take pressure of qualifying it at the cost of your physical or mental health.
9. Do your best of the efforts and leave it to God or any other power which you belive in.
10.There are many factors which are beyond your control, so dont take stress about factors which you can not control.

Happy studying !!

Feel free to discuss your issues with me.

Tackling unpredictability in UPSC CSE Prelims

 How to tackle the increasingly unpredictability in UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam:

1.Keep your fundamentals strong they always pay
2.Attempt more and more mock tests
3.Diversify your secondary sources
4. Read newspaper in depth
5. Take interest in general happenings around you
6. Keep alive your curiosity about things near you ( I remember Bisphenol question from Milk bottle of my niece)
7. Do hard work and believe your intutions in exam.
8. Discover a perfect way and optimum no. of question to attempt, for yourself to attempt the paper where you get maximum marks
9. Keep your abreast of general science concepts as its weightage is increasing
10.Trust your subconscious mind and mark answers with confidence on the basis of first intution you get while reading question.
11. Always mark all of the above, when the question is about applications of a technology in whatever area of study.
12. Never ignore importance of CSAT paper. Attempt at least 2 previous year upsc csat question paper in defined 2 hours, to be sure about your qualifying it.

It will help you to a large extent.
Fortunately, I cleared all 3 prelims in my 3 attempts at CSE.

How to choose optional subject for UPSC CSE

 Optional Subject Selection:

Things to kept in mind while choosing optional subject

1. First of all , if your graduation subject is there, then think seriously over it whether you are comfortable with it. It will save a lot of time.
2.Go through the syllabus and identify whether you find a natural interest in it.
3. Syllabus overlapping with GS papers, even in prelims. ( Every year I find 2-3 questions which are directly or indirectly from syllabus of anthropology i.e Halbi, Ho; PVTGs)
4. Dont over-emphasis on size of syllabus, because syllabus of none of the subjects is short.
5. Available of guidance through online or offline mode.
6. Intensity of effort you are expecting to put

GS-IV Ethics book list for UPSC CSE

 Ethics book list

1. Lexicon - important for Human Values
2. Lukmaan IAS case study compilation
3. Vision IAS case study compilation
4. Vajiram - Life of great leaders
5. Vajiram Yellow book - Public Administration part

6. Decode Ethics

Strategy:
1. Focus on understanding basics of ethics rather than rote learning of concepts.
2. After understanding things, mug up any one definition of all the concepts like Integrity, empathy along with an example
3. Examples have to be quoted extensively in this paper. So,
4. Try to attempt first 8-9 theory questions in first one hour, then case studies in next 1.5 hrs and then 5 remaining theory questions in last 15-20 minutes whatever you have.
5. In theory part, focus more on questions from Public administration part as they are more objective.
 5. Ethics paper is more about understanding the questions properly and time management in those 3 hours when you are attempting the paper.
6. Reproduce your knowledge in answer sheet by modifying it so as to answer the question asked.
7. End your answers, by focusing on larger role of values in society, country, world.

Anthropology Optional Book List for UPSC CSE

 Anthropology Book List

I. Socio-cultural anthropology
1. Theories- Gaya Pandey and Upadhyay, and Vajiram Printed Notes
2. Basics - Brain Tree
3. Basics- N K Vaid
4.Ember and Ember (selective examples and concepts)
5. Ignou sociology (selective chapters)

II.Physical Anthropology
1.Basics-P. Nath
2. Ember and Ember - Human evolution
3. Ember and Ember (other selective examples and concepts- focus on information in boxes)
4. Vajiram Printed Notes

III. Indian Anthropology
1. Basics-Nadeem Husnain
2. Ignou Sociology (Selective Chapters)
3. Gaya pandey and Upadhyay
4. Brain tree
5. Vajiram Printed Notes
6. L2A case study booklet

IV. Tribal Anthropology
1. Basics-Tribal Anthropology by Nadeem Husnain
2. xaxa committee report go through complete report (dont overstress yourself to remember data, focus on issues of tribals and innovative solutions given in report)
3. Case studies from various sources like Xaxa committee report and Mentor4IAS booklet

V. Archaeology
1. Basics-General Anthropology by Nadeem Husnain
2. Basics-Brain Tree - Printed notes
3. Standard NCERT - Ancient History books (selective chapters)