IAS Rajiv shukla
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Read out these 7 tips to on How to start IAS Preparation. For all IAS Preparation Resources let us know.
IAS Preparation Tip #1 – Work Smart Not Just Hard
Most of us are used to working hard. Our education system is such that unless we cram tens of books each year, whether or not we understand what’s inside the book is immaterial, we cannot progress to the higher level. So most of us are accustomed to working hard which in the context of IAS preparation refers to studying 10 hours or more, every day. So much for hard work.Now comes the smart part. Smartness could mean different things to different readers. It could mean reading selectively but reading well, reading many books selectively, mixing books and notes, making micro notes, proper time management, taking mock tests and so on.
Smart work is all this and more. In fact smartness is the approach you adopt in a particular situation. To prepare for IAS smartly requires you to be flexible as opposed to rigid, to experiment as opposed to sticking with the familiar, to plan ahead as opposed to the short term only.
The next step when starting your IAS preparation is to get familiar with the Prelims syllabus. Doing this you will know exactly what you need to cover within this time frame to crack the prelims. The good part about the new CSAT syllabus is that optional subjects have been done away with. So you can just concentrate on General Studies. And if you’re like me then studying GS is like listening to music; there’s no hard work involved. Just pure fun. Preparing for IAS need not necessarily mean monotony. The more you enjoy preparing GS the easier the Prelims goal will become. That’s smart.
Once you know the syllabus get started with the actual preparation. Obviously everyone can’t prepare for 10 hours, particularly working people. But even working people can crack the IAS. The exact time is not important here. Some can achieve in 6 hours what others can in 10 hours. It depends on you. If you’re just starting out I’d suggest you start with 4-5 hours and scale up gradually.
Prelims Smart Preparation Strategy
As you know that Paper 2 (CSAT) is now only qualifying in scope (as clarified by UPSC in 2015) and you require just 33% or 66 marks to qualify this paper. The marks obtained in this paper are not counted for preparing the merit of candidates who will qualify the Prelims and write the Mains exam.So your workload is considerably reduced, especially if you’re from a non-Science and non-Engineering background. You can now mostly focus on preparing the Paper 1 topics.
And you just need to prepare Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Interpersonal Skills and Decision Making well in Paper 2 to obtain 66 marks. These four topics are considerably easier to prepare and attempt as compared to mental ability and logical reasoning topics.
Also remember that there is no negative penalty for questions on Decision Making. At least 5 questions on Decision Making will be asked in Paper 2 so you can and should attempt these questions without any fear.
Also if you analyze the previous 3-4 year papers, you will know that at least 5 Comprehension passages are asked in every Prelims and these are easiest to score off in Paper 2. So you can easily score 50 marks from just Comprehension passages! Rest of the marks can be obtained from Data Interpretation, Decision Making and Interpersonal Skills questions.
IAS Preparation Tip #2 – Try Single-tasking it’s more efficient than Multi-tasking
Yes I know you need to prepare history, geography, current affairs, mental ability etc. Only thing is don’t prepare all at once. Chunk it down. Pick one subject, let’s say Polity and combine it with current affairs which you should cover for some time everyday. Current affairs preparation consists of reading the newspaper, a good current events magazine and a year book.You can read a good newspaper like The Hindu, magazine like Civil Services Chronicle or Pratyogita Darpan and the Manorama Year Book. Schedule a particular time for newspaper reading, but in any case, don’t read the newspaper for more than an hour. It’s not required.
Next, you can continue with the year book or start off with Indian polity. Whichever topic you choose get the right books only. Don’t refer more books than are absolutely essential. You don’t want a PhD in General Studies, just need to clear it.
But before you start with the topic get the past 5 year’s solved question papers and combine it with the syllabus as the question papers and syllabus are your best guide for IAS preparation.
Once you have started with polity or any other topic see it through completion. Don’t try to multi-task. Mixing polity with history and geography will lead to loss of concentration and lower your output. Besides it will make your progress lower. On other other once you’ve covered a topic in full you will gain confidence as you’ve pocketed x number of marks beforehand.
IAS Preparation Tip #3 – Adopt the Just in Time Approach
The JiT (Just in Time) Approach says we should seek information only when required at that moment. In this hyper-connected world there is an overdose of information and if you seek to acquire all information and knowledge before starting a task, you can never get started as you will lose yourself in the information maze.Applied to IAS preparation what this implies is don’t try to cover all the books referred by your friends on a given topic, say GK. Since GK is so vast and constantly expanding you can never hope to “master” it. Rather, refer a good book like Manorama Year Book and a magazine along with the daily newspaper to build up your knowledge base.
If, while referring the past Prelims papers, you come across a new topic you can quickly refer the reference books at hand or head over to the library or internet and find out more. This way you retain the information for a much longer time rather than by trying to read everything at one go.
Smart IAS Preparation Tip #4 – Test Yourself Constantly
Taking the above JiT approach further let’s apply this to evaluating yourself. Instead of waiting till the last few days to take mock tests you should evaluate yourself right after completing a particular section in a topic. For instance refer the previous year’s question papers before starting Quit India Movement in Modern Indian History and after completing it. I’ve already written about the benefits of this approach so I need not repeat it here.Adopting this JiT approach you know exactly where you stand, which topics have been covered well and which require more consideration. But more importantly it removes the uncertainty and anxiety to a certain level, if not completely. Before entering the examination hall you know what kind of questions to expect and this will boost your confidence and calm your nerves so you perform better than expected.
But going through the previous years papers is just the first step, I recommend you enroll for a good test series to know the latest trend of questions and also to prepare yourself for the forthcoming Prelims in a better way by attempting mock tests that cover the entire Prelims syllabus.
Prepare for IAS Tip #5 – Make Micro Notes
Notes help us to revise quickly before the Prelims; the last 15 days that can determine whether or not you will appear for the mains that year. These micro notes can be on current affairs, GK, as well as other GS and optional topics. In fact I’ve already shown how to make notes for IAS exam preparation. Learn from it and profit.IAS Preparation Tip #6 – Shoot then Aim
Most IAS aspirants prefer to wait till the end moment to take mock tests or prepare for 2-3 years before making their first attempt waiting for the perfect preparation level. Unfortunately your preparation can never be perfect no matter how hard you try. The latest syllabus is such that questions will always be unpredictable. Gone are the days when you could rely on certain number of questions from a particular topic.So instead of preparing for 2-3 years during which time the pattern (not the syllabus) could change so many times prepare for a year and jump into the fray. You can improvise along the way.
This also holds true for taking practice tests. I suggested constantly evaluating yourself after going through every topic rather than waiting till the end hoping to finish the entire syllabus before going through the question papers.
Smart IAS Preparation Tip #7 – Read Only What’s Absolutely Essential
Your friend tells you to refer THM GS manual because that’s the best one around, another refers Unique, while a third one suggests XYZ classes notes. And you unwittingly jump from book to book hoping to cover every source that’s considered important for that subject. Stop taking this information overload that you will never be able to process within the limited time at your disposal.Refer the standard books and supplement the missing information from other book for notes. Instead of reading three books for polity stick to one for detailed explanation and one for the bare acts. Similarly, I suggest just NCERTs for Ancient and Medival Indian History. No need for epic titles.
Whether it’s books for prelims, or public administration, sociology, political science or geography books stick to the above strategy.
You’ll discover you can extract so much more by re-reading limited number of books than running after the next shiny book just launched.
Current Affairs Updates for February First Week
Migration Economic Survey states that Labour migration Increased to 90 lakh over past 5 years
Social Welfare Economic Survey recommends introduction of Universal Basic Income
Economy Highlights of Budget 2017-18
Discovery Existence of lost continent under Indian Ocean confirmed
Health Consuming litchi fruit may kill children
Innovation NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index
Defence Integrated Underwater Harbour Defence and Surveillance System Launched by Navy
Health Measles Rubella vaccination campaign launched
Agriculture To curb threat to global supplies wheat rust FAO calls for International collaboration
Conservation Odisha census confirms 181 Irrawaddy dolphins
Regional Cooperation 4th BIMSTEC Summit 2017 to be held in Nepal
Technology Scientists develop terahertz transmitter to send data 10 times faster than 5G
Cashless Payments Lok Sabha passes Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Current Affairs Updates for February Second Week
Ecology Scientists discover the evolutionary reason for carnivorous nature of pitcher plants
eGovernance e-Cabinet Solution introduced for First time in North East in Arunachal Pradesh
Digital Literacy Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan sims to increase Rural Digital Literacy
International Trade India hopes for WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation in Services
Economy GI tag to be conferred upon Kerala’s Nilambur teak
Empowerment India develops world’s first Braille Atlas for visually impaired
Defence Defence Procurement Organisation to be setup for Defence Acqusitions
Intellectual Property India placed at 43rd position in International Intellectual Property Index 2017
Appointment Ajay Tyagi appointed as new SEBI Chairman
Defence Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile Ashwin successfully test-fired
Banking Indradhanush 2.0: Second PSB recapitalisation plan
Nuclear Energy DAE plans to mine uranium deposits in Meghalaya
Defence Project Reliance Defence and US Navy sign pact to repair US ships
Animal Cruelty Karnataka passes Bill to allow Kambala and bullock-cart racing
Also check out IAS Kracker’s Current Affairs CourseCurrent Affairs Updates for February Third Week
Pollution Study says India’s air pollution is more severe than China’s
Science Thubber: Stretchable Rubber material with high thermal conductivity Invented
Women and Child Health To reduce new born and maternal deaths, India joins UN network
Defence Indigenous Early Warning System NETRA Inducted in Air Force
Space Tech ISRO successfully launches record 104 satellites in single mission
Banking Associate Banks of SBI to be Merged with Parent Bank
Science Scientists identify protein that shields superbugs
Legal Remedy Middle Income Group Scheme Intrduced by SC to Provide Legal Services
Award Hindi Scholar and writer Surendra Verma selected for 2016 Vyas Samman award
Economy Multilateral FIs Permitted by RBI to Invest in Masala Bonds
Economy India ranks 143rd in 2017 Economic Freedom Index
Volcanic Activity India’s only live volcano, Barren Isalnd, is again Active
Discovery Zealandia: A newly discovered submerged continent in Pacific Ocean
Ecology Four new Miniature Frog Species Discovered in Western Ghats
Current Affairs Updates for February Fourth Week
Regional Investment Investment in Arun 3 hydropower project in Nepal Approved by Union Cabinet
Solar Energy Proposal to Increase Solar Power Capacity to 40000 MW Approved
Outer Space 7 new Earth-sized Exoplanets Discovered that could Sustain Life
Railways Indian Railways unveils Antyodaya Express, fully Un-Reserved Train
Defence India and Israel to Jointly Develop MR-SAM Missile System for Army
World Trade Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO comes into Force
Indo-Bangladesh India to provide Financial Assistance to Bangladesh for Development of Historic city of Sylhet
Foreign Investment FDI inflow increases by 18% to $46 billion in 2016: DIPP
Economic Development ADB to provide $375 million loan for East Coast Economic Corridor
Food Security High Crop Wastage in India as Pests eat away India’s 35% of total Crop Yield
Awards 89th Academy Awards (Oscar Awards)
Transport India’s first Integrated Heliport inaugurated at Rohini in New DelhiHi,
Yes, this is possible if you regularly dedicate a specific time for your preparation. See the below tips which can help you to prepare for IAS exam.
IAS Preparation Tip #1 – Work Smart Not Just Hard
IAS Preparation Tip #2 – Try Single-tasking it’s more efficient than Multi-tasking
IAS Preparation Tip #3 – Adopt the Just in Time Approach
IAS Preparation Tip #4 – Test Yourself Constantly
IAS Preparation Tip #5 – Make Micro Notes
IAS Preparation Tip #6 – Read Only What’s Absolutely Essential
IAS Preparation Tip #6 – Gives some IAS preparation tests.
