How to Read?
How to read ( recommended approach ) 1st Reading The first time you’re reading the books, read them like a novel. Highlight the important points using a highlighter ( in case of ebook ) or a pencil ( Hard copy ) . Keep a dictionary handy. If you come across any difficult word, look it up immediately. If you don’t understand a specific concept, use Google and read up about it.
Note On highlighting ( how to know what to highlight )
It’s important that you know what information to highlight and what to ignore. This can be done by analyzing previous question papers. Analyzing previous year’s question papers will help you understand the type of questions asked under each topic. For instance, if you’re studying about the various Government schemes and policies, you should focus on advantages & disadavantages of the policy, need for that policy and its approach. if you’re studying about a specific industry, your focus should be on the location of the industry, the factors affecting its location, challenges faced, opportunities and its current situation
2nd Reading
Give a gap of about 2 to 3 days after your first reading, before you begin your second reading. During your 2nd reading, ignore the unwanted details and focus on the notes you had highlighted during your 1st reading. It’s a good idea to try and recall whatever you learnt your 1st reading before revising each chapter.
3rd Reading
Not that you’re done with your second reading it’s time to summarize what you have studies. The 3rd reading should be relatively faster than the 1st and 2nd. During the 3rd reading, glance through each chapters’ Highlighted parts. Try and relate the concepts you’re studying to current affairs, and connect the dots.
Quality Vs Quantity
An IAS officer is perceived to have ample and sufficient knowledge to deal with any sorts of problems ranging from daily chores to peculiar problems. He/She should be well l versed with all possible subject matters. Hence, in light of all these, it can be concluded that an elementary level knowledge pertaining to all themes and substances should be imbibed in an IAS officer. Therefore, subject matters of secondary level should from the foundation of an IAS aspirant.
Realistically specifying, there can never be a fixed number of prescribed books. Uniformity can never be maintained at least in mentioning the number of books to be referred. Some likes to read from internet, some likes to refer upsc coaching institutes, notes, even some would like to prescribe only standard NCERT books and some may go for amalgamation of all these sources.
What all books, which all sources and how many in number solely depends upon the comfort and ease of candidates. These vary from time to time from aspirant to aspirant and from experienced to naïve candidates.
How to Read the Newspapers?
Reading the complete newspaper – In a newspaper, there are hardly 5 -6 important news on daily basis which are relevant for Civil Services aspirant. But we tend to read even non – relevant news as well. Nowadays, UPSC has shifted its orientation from static portion to dynamic in which current affairs plays major role. Direct questions from newspapers are part of prelims as well as mains. Most significant role of newspaper is evident in GS2 and GS3 of main examination Few important pints related to newspaper reading:
News related to crimes, functions of political parties are irrelevant from civil services point of view.News related to Environment , Govt. Schemes, Economy, International Relations, Science and Technology are very important from civil services point of view.Editorial of news – paper – helps to build the view on recent affairs which is mandatory for civil services aspirant.Sources for the Civil Services Exam
Going through the exam syllabus will give you a brief idea about the kind of resources/ study material you will need for your preparation. Keep your sources minimal and follow the best source available.
Follow Government websites like, Income Tax Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, etc. for authentic information.
These websites are periodically updated with annual reports. Gather and analyze previous year UPSC CSE Exam question papers ( at least last 10 years )
Civil Services a Journey or a Destination?
If you measure the worth of the journey by the fact that whether you reached the destination or not, you are doing a great disservice to the journey itself. So whether you become an IAS or not, it hardly matters. But once you undertake this journey one thing is for sure, you will not be the same person again. Let us tell you why. This exam brings about a transformational change in person. It makes you aware of so many things that no other exam can. It makes you a far better person than you already are. It makes you empathetic to the plight of the downtrodden and needy millions. It makes you balanced in your outlook and approach You will always be ahead in life after preparing for this exam. You will be able to learn how our past affects our present and our future. You will become a highly intellectual person who could take about anything in highly effective manner. It changes your perspective on how you see things. You will not judge people on how they act, but will learn why they act in that manner Every side has two story. CSE will give you enough perspective to see both sides!
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