Are you preparing for the UPSC 2018? What is your strategy?

By- Praveen Kante, studied at Vajiram & Ravi

Yes! I’m preparing very hard for 2018, Time is the most important resource for anyone! I started my UPSC journey on July 2016, the mistake I’ve Made was I joined in coaching (vajiram and ravi).

Mistake in the sense that really I didn’t have minimum time to prepare for the exam, so I don’t even have a time table, as i am in coaching ie time management is like:

general studies class—3 hours

Optional class—3 hours

CSAT class-3 hours

Sleep—7 hours

Food break—2 hours

Journey to my room and institute-1 hour

Total=19 hours

The only time I had was 5 hours (talking to parents, bathing etc and in the remaining time I’ve to study!!) And other than what they taught me in class, I’ve also prepared myself​ parallelly

I started NCERT books.

And this is my procedure and books I’ve Read:

1.Started with NCERT books(Basic)

I mean picked one Subject and took all the years subject books of that subject from 6–12th standard-tried to finish one book in one week with basic understanding of what you are reading.

I searched for questions based only on NCERT books so after reading a book tried to​answer them.

2. Then advance level; Bought a most reputable standard book for that subject and read that in 20 days(that’s based on your capacity)

MUST READ BOOKS

1) Introduction to the Constitution of India 20 Edition

2) India Since Independence – Bipan Chandra

3) India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra

4) Indian Economy : For Civil Services Examinations 6th Edition (2014) – Ramesh Singh

5) Laxmikanth- Indian Polity 5th Edition

6)Geography of India- Majid Hussain – 5th Edition

7) Ethics In Governance

8)India After Gandhi: The History Of The World’s Largest Democracy

9) Mastering Modern World History -5th Edition, Norman Lowe

10) Select Constitutions: 16th Edition – S Chand

11) Environment by Shankar IAS

12) Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong

13) India’s National Security – A Reader

14) Indian Social System – Ram Ahuja

After reading these books, all the static part of syllabus will get covered and revise these books as much times as possible!

3.Now I tested myself by doing McQ’s on that subject-i don’t get panicked after getting very less score coz that’s just the beginning

Now evaluated what happened wrong I mean in which topics I’m lagging then go through that again.

This is subject wise approach and general approach is also the same.

The most important thing is making a habit of reading newspaper (you have to master the newspaper to complete in an hour-i didn’t did that).

Took notes of important articles.Read monthly magazines for current affairs of vision IAS and did test series of vision IAS and insights on India, I didn’t​ got More than 70 marks in test series!

Finally my coaching completed in April 2017 and I’ve only 2 months so I thought I don’t give this attempt and i didn’t (I’m satisfied with my decision coz this year paper was very tough)

Now I’m preparing hard to get ready for next year 2018

Right now: As I got time I’m revising all the books I’ve Read and practicing answer writing a bit. Getting to know all the important issues around world, and trying not to repeat same mistakes again.

I made some mistakes during preparation, if anyone want to go through: How I wasted one year time and 5 lakhs Money during my Goal (IAS)achieving process by Praveen Kante on My journey to rock bottom

Thank you and all the best

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