FAQs

How do I prepare for UPSC CSE while working or studying in a college?

There would have been times when you started early for your holiday and you found more time to enjoy yourself in the boathouse. You had time to enjoy the rains and the water. Every bliss is welcome to an early starter. 

Now, if you are in college and IAS is your calling, here are 5 steps you

should take right now.

Step 1- Start following the NEWS!

Wait a bit, do not break your head with ‘The Hindu’ newspaper from day one. You will feel demotivated because of your inability to either read or comprehend. Let's take the baby steps first. Follow The Times of India or The Indian express or any local newspaper.

Your focus should be on ‘ understanding an issue, whether in English or in your mother tongue.’ Right now focus on understanding.

Other suggestions I would give are Rajya Sabha TV(The Big Picture Debate), AIR(9pm news), Doordarshan news. Start from wherever you are comfortable.

Also remember, start with issues you are comfortable with. If you are an engineer and you are trying to understand GST, then you are demotivating yourself. Start with issues like gender equality or Section 377 (or any social issue), elections in your state or country, cricket governance, etc. This will interest you to learn further. Keep building on your interests and slowly then expand your reading horizons to other areas like political , economic, etc

Step 2 – Look at the previous year Question papers

Isn't it too early? Definitely, not! You have to know what you got to face.

I am not saying try to check your knowledge, I am just asking you to read the question papers, understand the pattern, and ask yourself how is it different from your college question papers.

Step 3- Read basic books

You may start your preparation with basic books like NCERTs. Read them for the first time, just trying to understand what is being said. Do not mark anything, do not underline. Just read them once fully.

For your convenience, I can suggest you a few books to start with

1. India's struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

2. India since Independence by Bipan Chandra

3. NCERTs of Geography from 6 to 12th

4. NCERTs of Economy 11th and 12th standard

5. NCERTs of Science 6th to 8th standard

6. Medieval India(Old NCERT)

7. Ancient India(Old NCERT)

Step 4 – Read toppers blogs/ Quora answers on IAS preparation

Get acquainted with IAS preparation. Read answers on quora or toppers' blogs on different websites, for both inspiration and guidance. This is to get a fair idea about the preparation before you actually begin.

Step 5- Get in touch with a mentor/institute.

You have a dream, you got to protect it. You may need a source of inspiration/guidance. Find out if there are any IAS officers whom you can approach or any teacher who can guide you through. Be in touch with them, to guide you further.

How can I simultaneously prepare for competitive exams like UPSC IAS, IES, and NET?

 Yes,You Can prepare for UPSC and UGC Net exams simultaneously.

For Qualifying UGC NET, anyone Has to Clear the cutoff in a Particular Subject specialization.

Note: UGC NET exam Conducts two paper

Paper 1: Compulsory for All.

Paper 2 : (Subject specialization )Completed masters MA/MSC/MCOM/MBA…

Paper 1 have 50 question (50x2)= 100 marks

Paper 2 have 100 question (100x2 )=200 marks.

(All questions are compulsory and No negative markings )

For UPSC the CSAT Prelims are Mostly equivalent to Paper1.

For preparing paper 1 of UGC NET follow and Remember these points, so helpful in preparation.

Paper1 covers 10 topics …

1.teaching

2.Research

3.Communication

These topics are important for Qualify the exams.

Other topics are Also Similar and asked in UPSC exams.

4.Comprehension

5.Data interpretation

6.Environmental science

8.Higher education

9.Logical Reasoning

10.Mathematical reasoning

Note: These 7 topics (4–10) are mostly asked in UPSC prelims of Both General CSAT I and CSAT 2.

UGC NET Paper1 asked 5 questions from these 10 topics.

For Qualify the Paper 1, and clear the Cutoff for a NET score, Need 35 questions, So if anyone Left other three topics, then also easily crack the NET Paper1.

Note : (No negative marking, so also attend other topics question doesn't affect in your result)

The most important point for Paper 2, If anyone Decides to Take Optional in UPSC mains, then it will also help in the preparation of UGC NET paper2.

For Aspirants who completed the Post-graduation in a Particular Subject specialization then It's both help in UPSC and UGC NET simultaneously.

In some Cases, it creates difficulty for the engineering student, because not all subjects in UGC NET.

Ex: Electronics, Chemistry, Physics, Math and Statistics syllabus is somehow similar in UGC NET and UPSC Main Optional Paper.

It's very much a benefit to Humanities Aspirants, they Both Simultaneously Focus in UGC NET and UPSC exams.

Ex: English, Political science, accounting, Public administration, Sociology, Physiology, Philosophy etc.

 

• How should I prepare for the UPSC Main exam? 

   The best answer has been given by the Vajiram & Ravi - Click Here

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