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A Simple Strategy For Cracking UPSC, IAS

Preliminary Examination
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By Vinay G.B.

Preliminary examination is intended to eliminate non serious candidates and

provide an opportunity for the serious students to contend in the main
examinations. Most of the aspirants think that preliminary examination is a
tough nut to crack and most of them feel that it is the GS paper which makes their
attempts miserable. It is only a wrong perception. The truth is that GS is easy to
score when it is prepared intelligently.

Every year coaching institutes fail to provide students with right guidance
regarding GS. Not a single question is asked from their material. Their model
question papers are crap. Even magazines do the same when they provide list of
expected questions, unfortunately they are always excepted by the UPSC.

UPSC wants candidates pregnant with facts regarding current and past events of
the world and India. It is evident from the past ten years question papers.
Questions regarding history, polity, geography are no more important from the
viewpoint of their historical perspective but with the present.

If you are serious enough to devote 6 hours every day for seven months before
prelims you must be able to clear prelims.

I am giving you a strategy for cracking GS based on last 8 years question paper

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pattern. If you are able to fallow this I assure you can score more than 80 with
ease.

- A total of 3,27,683 candidates had applied for this year’s examination.

While 1,61,469 candidates appeared for the preliminary examinations,
9,266 candidates qualified for the mains and of them 1,886 were selected
for the personality test. Finally 734 were selected for various services. This
shows that more than 50% applicants do not attempt prelims! Of those who
attempt my guess is that 30-40 percent are not very serious with their
preparation. Another 30 percent involve fresh candidates and remaining are
repeaters. It means that the competition is very narrow and those who work
hard are ultimately rewarded.

1. Number of Questions asked from different sections:

1. Current Events – 40-45 questions (43 in 2008)

2. Science & Technology – 30-35 questions (30 in 2008)
3. Geography – 35 questions (35 in 2008)
4. History – 15-18 questions (16 in 2008)
5. Numerical Ability – 10-15 questions (12 in 2008)
6. Government schemes, projects, committees – 5—8 questions (6 in 2008)
7. Polity – 5-10 questions (8 in 2008)

- This clearly shows that focus is shifting more towards current events,
science & technology and geography. Those who are strong in any two of
these sections can easily score more than 60 in GS paper.

 What to read for the above topics

1) For current events you must thoroughly read The Hindu, Economic
Times, Frontline and any other competitive magazine (CS times, CS
chronicle or Pratiyogita Darpan). Cometitive magazines should act as
supplements and ready reckoner’s only. While you read these always try to
focus more on people and places

2) At the end of every month revise important national and international

events by making very short notes (one liners). Two months before prelims
collect last 14 issues of competitive magazines and note down all important
events in single lines and read them repeatedly. For places you must look at
the atlas to store them in your long memory. This will cost you only two
weeks but earn you assured 40 marks.

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3) Additionally collect a diary of events released by the Hindu every January.

You can see it through out the year on their website
(http://www.hindu.com/revents/events.htm). This will alone earn you
around 6-10 marks for you!

4) Every time you read current events be proud of your widening knowledge
about the world around you this will help you in sustaining interest in
newspapers and magazines.

5) In the science and technology section UPSC is more interested in Space

and space missions, nuclear energy, wildlife, human body, chemicals
(currently debated example, melamine), environment , Nobel prizes and
inventions. You do not have to read heaps of books for this. Read elementary
science books first, watch discovery, nat geo, BBC whenever you watch TV
and be alert to science related news every day.

6) Geography has been given prominence during last 5 years with more than
30 questions being asked. Geography of India alone carries around 25
questions.

-to score maximum in this section focus more on:

- rivers, hydroelectric projects, coasts, lakes and dams (6 questions)

- agriculture, irrigation, crop productions (3-4 questions)

- wildlife sanctuaries, mountain ranges (4-5 questions)

- mineral resources - new discoveries, place and their states (2-3 questions)

- population, state boundaries, forest cover (4-5 questions)

- census 2001, literacy, density, health indicators (3 questions)

- power reactors-thermal, nuclear

- in world geography focus should be more on current events related place,

straits, seas, oceans and important cities- like those where G-8, G-20
meeting are held.

Two books you must read for this are; Geography of India by Khullar and
Certificate course in Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong.

1. In history do not read ancient history if you have very less time. In 2008 not

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a single question was asked for this part. Thoroughly read the modern
history (1700 A.D. To 1947 A.D.). out of 16 questions in 2008, 13 were from
modern history and rest were from post 1947 events. Most of the questions
were related to important persons and their works. Therefore while you read
history give importance to the personalities and their contributions. There
will be a compulsory question on Mughals, Viceroys, moderate freedom
fighters, books written at that time, a newspaper of that time and important
places of historical interest.

1. In Indian polity concentrate on judiciary, DPS, FR and legislature.

2. At any cost do not forget to read about important schemes of govt. of India
(refer India year book), PSUs, public institutes which have been newly setup,
defence related issues such as new missile, air power technologies, and most
recent economic indicators (refer www.epw.in).

1. I have given this list based on my own experience and I got around 85
questions right in General Studies paper after negative marking in the 2008
prelims. Now I am waiting for my mains result. I have put all my mains
question papers here which are free for download.

1. If you want to realize your dream you must pass the prelims and here your
optional plays a crucial role. You must solve last 15 years question papers in
your optionals not once or twice but as many times as possible. This will
definitely help you in getting more than 60 questions right at least by
intelligent guesses.

If you have an internet connection; for world events see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events

and for Nobel prizes and related information see, http://nobelprize.org/

for geography try this site

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/today.html

I have tried to give you a plan in a concise manner. If it is little use for you I will
be very happy. Your comments will be valuable in improving this article.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

 2008 UPSC, IAS Mains General Studies Paper 1 Question Paper For Free
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15 Comments

Filed under Democracy, History, IAS, Inside India, civil services examinations,
education, education in inida, general studies, india, life, politics, politics in india,
random, thoughts, writing

Tags: civil services upsc strategy, general studies strategy for IAS prelims, how to crack
upsc prelims for IAS, how to prepare prelims general studies, prelims general studies
how to pass, strategy for clearing upsc prelims

15 Comments
 Srikanth
November 18, 2008 at 8:40 pm

Hello,

Your valuable suggestions are most use ful to use. May you achieve your target.

 Srikanth
November 18, 2008 at 8:43 pm

If you have to guide please send an email to srikanth.udatha@ubs.com or

srik1434@gmail.com.

I’m preparing for civils while working with an MNC, as earning is important for
me.

I’m completely dedicated to studies during weekends.

but during weekdays I can spend only 2-3 hours.

 Vinay
November 18, 2008 at 10:01 pm

Hi Srikanth,

thanks for the feedback.

i believe u can clear prelims even by studying during weekends. but i think u must
utilize every minute of those 2-3 hours.
good luck

 Mamatha Govianu
November 19, 2008 at 12:07 am

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Hi Vinay,

thanks 4 guiding us all with such valuable suggestions. All the very best for you.

 Vinay
November 19, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Thanks Mamatha

 shekhar
November 20, 2008 at 8:57 pm

A minor correction- The reason for ancient history not being asked is it is not there
in the syllabus itself.

Thanks a ton for uploading the Geography mains papers!

All the best for the results (and the interview) Vinay

 vinay
November 20, 2008 at 10:16 pm

Thanks Shekhar,

 Anupama M
November 21, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Information is very useful, thanks.

 vinay
November 21, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Thanks Anupama,

 Sandhya
November 24, 2008 at 4:26 am

Vinay,

Thank you very much for the wonderful tips. That definitely helps. If possible, can
you let me know if a different strategy has to be applied for General Studies
(Mains)?

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Thanks and good luck

- Sandhya

 Vinay
November 25, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Hi Sandhya,

I will definitely write about a strategy for GS mains, but i think i must clear mains
b4 i should guide someone, if i get good marks i will surely write about it.
thanks,

vinay

 vinoth
November 25, 2008 at 9:33 pm

hi, this is vinoth, your guidance are valuble and if possible kindly publish the same
for your optional papers also.All the best for your upcoming examinations.
with best regards
vinoth

 vinay
November 26, 2008 at 10:13 am

Thanks Vinoth,

I will definitely write about optional (prelims) very soon.

 sujayendra simha
November 29, 2008 at 5:10 pm

hi vinay,
iam great full to u…… thanks.thanks a lot……….

 vinay
November 29, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Hi Sujay,

You are most welcome

vinay

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