How to prepare for Civil Services Exam by Dr. Vivek
Bhasme (IAS)
Dr. Vivek Bhasme (IAS)
I’m writing this post as I get many requests about how to
prepare for Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. So here
are some tips
1. Get basic information about upsc exam pattern and syllabus
through reading UPSC planner book of any good publication or
referring to websites like mrunal or insightonindia etc.
2.Choose exam medium in which you are comfortable. Here I
would like to mention that you can give interview in regional
language or Hindi even if you appear for mains in English.
If you are not sure whether you should opt for English medium
for mains or not then try reading NCERTs through English and writing answers for questions given after each topic
and get them reviewed. If you are comfortable enough in understanding the subject and writing then you may opt for
English.
3.Choose optional subject
Criteria to select optional subject
A. subject which is related to your graduation subject
B.subject which is related with general studies syllabus like history, geography, pol science etc.
C. you should have genuine interest in the subject you are choosing as you devote considerable time of your
preparation in optional.
D. If you are not able to choose an optional then try reading NCERT books for general studies syllabus for
history/geography/sociology/pol science/psychology etc and see which subject you are comfortable in.
E. Subject you are choosing should have enough study material available at the place where you are preparing. Also
you should have access to seniors or friends or experts in that subject to consult them for your difficulties at the
place of your place of preparation.
F. If you happen to join class fr optional then it should be available at the place of your preparation or you should be
ready to move to place where the coaching is available for the optional.
4. Decision to join classes for general studies.
I recommend to read NCERT books ( detail booklist I have shared on my page) for gs syllabus and see if you can
understand it and can write answers to questions given at the end of each topic.If yes then don’t join class. If you are
not able to comprehend then you should go for coaching.
While joining coaching you can join module wise classes if you don’t want to join class for entire gs.
If you are not in mood of experimenting with self study and have financial capacity to join classes then you can
directly join classes.
5. Alternatives for private coaching.
In many states, state government runs institutes for pre-IAS coaching which selects students through entrance test.
There you get free coaching, accommodation, food and stipend.
For example in Maharashtra following govt. institutes provide free coaching
A. Ambedkar Competitive Exam Centre , YASHADA, Pune
B. State institute for administrative career( SIAC) at Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad,Kolhapur.
C. BARTI, Pune.
Also some of the political parties give free coaching such as Shiv Vidyaprabodhin run by Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
It has branches in each district and students are selected through entrance test.
You should search for similar institutes in your state and try to get into it.
6. Book list…I have shared on this page earlier. please refer to it.
7. Starting reading
Before starting reading any subject of gs or optional you should read previous years questions on that subject to get
an understanding of demand of the exam in that particular subject and focus accordingly while reading. For this you
can purchase book on previous years questions for prelims and mains by Arihant or New Vishal Publication for the
same. Here I would recommend to purchase solved question bank book.You can also get the questions on various
websites such as mrunal , upscmantra etc.
8. Answer writing or practice of MCQ tests.
You should practice mock tests periodically to test your progress and find out your weak areas.
For this you can join test series by good classes offline or online or you can refer to free mock tests available on
various websites like insightonindia, mrunal etc.
Remember that practicing mock test n getting them reviewed is must for upsc preparation.
9.Interview preparation.
It’s in itself is a separate topic but I will give some tips in short
A. Prepare your Detail Application Form thoroughly.
B. Prepare current affair well
C.Prepare opinion on conflicting issues in news
D. Give enough mock interviews.( At least 3-4)
E.Practicing answering questions in group.
That’s all from me about basics of upsc preparation. I will come with more posts about details of 3 stages and any
other part of preparation if you need.
I wish you all highest success. Best luck.
Best of luck
Bhasme (IAS)
Dr. Vivek Bhasme (IAS)
I’m writing this post as I get many requests about how to
prepare for Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. So here
are some tips
1. Get basic information about upsc exam pattern and syllabus
through reading UPSC planner book of any good publication or
referring to websites like mrunal or insightonindia etc.
2.Choose exam medium in which you are comfortable. Here I
would like to mention that you can give interview in regional
language or Hindi even if you appear for mains in English.
If you are not sure whether you should opt for English medium
for mains or not then try reading NCERTs through English and writing answers for questions given after each topic
and get them reviewed. If you are comfortable enough in understanding the subject and writing then you may opt for
English.
3.Choose optional subject
Criteria to select optional subject
A. subject which is related to your graduation subject
B.subject which is related with general studies syllabus like history, geography, pol science etc.
C. you should have genuine interest in the subject you are choosing as you devote considerable time of your
preparation in optional.
D. If you are not able to choose an optional then try reading NCERT books for general studies syllabus for
history/geography/sociology/pol science/psychology etc and see which subject you are comfortable in.
E. Subject you are choosing should have enough study material available at the place where you are preparing. Also
you should have access to seniors or friends or experts in that subject to consult them for your difficulties at the
place of your place of preparation.
F. If you happen to join class fr optional then it should be available at the place of your preparation or you should be
ready to move to place where the coaching is available for the optional.
4. Decision to join classes for general studies.
I recommend to read NCERT books ( detail booklist I have shared on my page) for gs syllabus and see if you can
understand it and can write answers to questions given at the end of each topic.If yes then don’t join class. If you are
not able to comprehend then you should go for coaching.
While joining coaching you can join module wise classes if you don’t want to join class for entire gs.
If you are not in mood of experimenting with self study and have financial capacity to join classes then you can
directly join classes.
5. Alternatives for private coaching.
In many states, state government runs institutes for pre-IAS coaching which selects students through entrance test.
There you get free coaching, accommodation, food and stipend.
For example in Maharashtra following govt. institutes provide free coaching
A. Ambedkar Competitive Exam Centre , YASHADA, Pune
B. State institute for administrative career( SIAC) at Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad,Kolhapur.
C. BARTI, Pune.
Also some of the political parties give free coaching such as Shiv Vidyaprabodhin run by Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
It has branches in each district and students are selected through entrance test.
You should search for similar institutes in your state and try to get into it.
6. Book list…I have shared on this page earlier. please refer to it.
7. Starting reading
Before starting reading any subject of gs or optional you should read previous years questions on that subject to get
an understanding of demand of the exam in that particular subject and focus accordingly while reading. For this you
can purchase book on previous years questions for prelims and mains by Arihant or New Vishal Publication for the
same. Here I would recommend to purchase solved question bank book.You can also get the questions on various
websites such as mrunal , upscmantra etc.
8. Answer writing or practice of MCQ tests.
You should practice mock tests periodically to test your progress and find out your weak areas.
For this you can join test series by good classes offline or online or you can refer to free mock tests available on
various websites like insightonindia, mrunal etc.
Remember that practicing mock test n getting them reviewed is must for upsc preparation.
9.Interview preparation.
It’s in itself is a separate topic but I will give some tips in short
A. Prepare your Detail Application Form thoroughly.
B. Prepare current affair well
C.Prepare opinion on conflicting issues in news
D. Give enough mock interviews.( At least 3-4)
E.Practicing answering questions in group.
That’s all from me about basics of upsc preparation. I will come with more posts about details of 3 stages and any
other part of preparation if you need.
I wish you all highest success. Best luck.
Best of luck
No comments:
Post a Comment