Mains Exam Strategy , Answer Writing and Book list
Civil Services Main Examination consists of following papers divided into 2 categories – qualifying & papers to be counted for merit.
Qualifying Papers
Paper-A One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (300 marks)
Paper-B English (300 marks)
Papers to be Counted for Merit
Paper-I Essay (250 marks)
Paper-II General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) 250m
Paper-III General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) 250m
Paper-IV Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) 250m
Paper-V General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250m
Paper-VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 250m
Paper-VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 250m
Sub Total (Written Test) 1750m
My Approach:
An integrated approach is needed for both Prelims & Mains. I went through the standard books maximum of two to three times.
First Reading:
Read on prelims perspective by analysing the Previous Year Papers in detail.
Second Reading:
To understand the concepts.
Third Reading:
Revision Purpose.
Strategy:
#Start with Toppers Answer Sheets to know the perspective of the people who cracked the exam.
#Pattern is as important as the exam, know the pattern for the past years, learn the changes and accommodate your answers accordingly.
#Decoding syllabus- Each word & each sentence is important. UPSC has listed down each & every topic gun point in here, so preparing every topics will push you one step ahead.
Eg: Maintain a notebook with a minimum of 2 to 3 pages of notes for each topic along with updating current affairs for the factual part.
GS 1-Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
The topics enlisted(mostly static) except for society cover from recent trends in current affairs .
Eg: COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment.
GS 4-Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Situations, current scams, corruption, case studies, etc-topics like these from current affairs should be covered.
Eg: Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley bond by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with unforeseen contingencies.
GS 1 & 4 has a set of concrete books to be covered while GS 2 & 3 has limited set of books & content has to be enriched from Current Affairs.
How to make notes for UPSC:
How to start Answer Writing?
#Content gathering is very important before starting to write, else the fear will consume us.
#After gathering content & following current affairs along with note making, start practising with previous year question papers(Geography, History- go with the static part initially).
#Practicing on daily basis, the learning & revising part will become useless if we don’t answer to the question that has been thrown to us, decoding the question & answering accordingly will fetch us the right marks.
#While on exam- give to the point answers & don’t push your examiners to search for the content. Each mark counts, hence give a subtle view in your paper.
#GS 1 2 3 & 4- We all might not know the answers for all the questions, among 20Q, if 10 are known (that’s great), keep up the pace & try answering the remaining (minimal content & creativity necessary).
Hunt For Questions:
Websites-IAS Baba, Insights Etc offer a lot of Daily answer writing initiatives . Check your answers along with other aspirations in the comments session, by this you can evaluate yourself.
Drawbacks & Fears:
#At the beginning I was not confident enough while writing answers, like it’s a process, we start building something from scrap we have to work hard for it.
Eg: To improve my vocabulary I had a separate note where I used to jot down the words I’m not familiar with along with the meaning, & these words got reflected in the answers I wrote further.
#Keywords: I downloaded toppers answer sheets & found a pattern for each subject to incorporate the keywords in there wity my answers.
#Handwriting & Presentation:
Mahatma Gandhi said, "Good handwriting is a necessary part of education”.
I was not a personal fan of my handwriting, hence I’d to make amendments. Started improving day by day. The pen you use plays a strategic role, back the I used a pen( Pilot -V7 )which had quite big circumference, to reduce the stress. Fast writing is an essential component, you can’t compromise with the timing- each answer should be completed within 7 to 7.5 minutes.
Overall - Preparation (50%) Answer Writing (50%)
Last But Not The Least: Mains Book List:
General studies 1:
HISTORY
1. Modern Indian History and the Freedom Struggle:
• A Brief History of Modern India- Spectrum Publications.
• India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra [Read selectively for topics not covered in the first book].
2. Post Independence India:
• India Since Independence by Bipan Chandra.[Only chapters Chapter 6 to Chapter 12 if paucity of Time ]
3. World History:
• Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe(Read only topics relevant to syllabus)
• NCERT world history book Class IX & Class-X
GEOGRAPHY:
1. NCERTs
2.Certificate Physical and Human Geography: GC Leong
SOCIETY
1.Read Sociology Std XI and XII NCERTs for understanding the basics.
2. Any coaching material
General Studies 2:
POLITY:
1. For static portion read ‘Indian Polity’ by Laxmikanth.
2. Refer DD Basu – Introduction to the Constitution of India.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:
1. Vision IAS material
SCHEMES:
Following up schemes – their implementation , consequences from everyday newspaper, debates would help.
General studies 3:
Indian economy:
1. Understanding Economic Development Class 10th NCERT
2. Indian Economic Development Class 11th NCERT
3. Introductory Macroeconomics Class 12th NCERT
Internal security:
Challenges to internal security of India – Ashok Kumar IPS
Agriculture:
Basic idea about cropping patterns, soil pattern , forward and backward linkages . Most questions will be current affairs based.
General studies 4
Ethics:
1.Ethics by Lexicon
2.Ethics By D. Balaji
MY MODEL ANSWERS:
