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Best Way to Prepare For UPSC Prelims 2022

UPSC is going to conduct its Civil Service Examination Prelims. 6-7 months to go. We are pretty sure, all the aspirants aiming for the Prelims 2022 must be by now engrossed completely in the vastness of the UPSC syllabus. Completion of syllabus is the foremost important thing for any aspirant. There are similar other tips and smart work strategies which you need to pay attention while you are attempting to ace the country’s most prestigious examination. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the strategies involved:

Basics First:
The UPSC conducts the Civil Service Examination in three phases i.e. Prelims, Mains and Personality Test. The Preliminary examination is basically aimed to filter out the non-serious candidates from that of the sincere ones. It consists of two papers of 200 marks each:

1. Paper 1: 100 questions × 2 marks = 200 marks
2. Paper 2: 80 questions × 2.5 marks = 200 marks

[**Each negative answers in both the papers 1/3^rd negative marking]

Before we move further, have a glance at what the UPSC syllabus includes regarding the Preliminary Examination:

SYLLABUS

Paper 1 (General Studies)

1. Current events of national and international importance
2. History of India and Indian National Movement
3. Indian and World Geography — Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
4. Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development — Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change — that do not require subject specialization General Science

Paper 2 (Civil Service Aptitude Test)

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision-making and problem-solving
5. General mental ability
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. — Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)

Tips and Strategies

• Try to cover the entire syllabus word-by-word. The syllabus is your most important reference document during your entire preparation.
• Start from the NCERT books and then preferably move to the standard and popular books of that particular subject.
• Although UPSC notes are readily available for every subject in the market, but it is advisable to prepare your own notes. It will help you in the long run if you consider the mains examination also.
• Devote 1-2 hours religiously for newspaper reading. UPSC has a notion of picking up questions directly from the newspaper. While reading the newspaper, trying connecting the topics with that mentioned in the syllabus.
• Start early, don’t wait for that ‘auspicious’ moment to start studying. The UPSC CSE is a long drain process, the early you start, the better for you.
• Collect and analyze the previous year question papers atleast of the last 5-6 years. This will give you an insight into the demands of the UPSC and as to what kind of question you can expect in the forthcoming exams.
• UPSC generally does not go for factual questions like the one you encounter in the banking or SSC exams. Rather it wants the aspirants to understand a particular topic comprehensively. So, when you go through the routine, make sure that you understand the core logic behind a particular thing.
• Keep a note of all the government documents published from time to time all throughout the year. This will not only help you in answering few of the prelims question but also help you prepare the draft answers for the mains examination as well. Documents like India Yearbook, Economic Survey, and Union Budget etc. are immensely important.
• Keep your booklist and references concise. No point in going through hell lot of bulky books and getting stressed by the view of the pileup. Instead trying finishing a particular book multiple times.
• Make sure that whatever you study is retained and imbibed in your mind. Try constructing mind maps, pneumonic anything to hold these portions in your brain for longer time. Revisions are must; preferably it should be done everyday once you are done with the day’s syllabus.
• Once you are done with the syllabus, go for as many UPSC Prelims Test Series as possible. This will give you the self-confidence required to appear the actual exam. Every successful UPSC candidate you come across will admit to the importance of mock test series. Vajirao IAS Academy is coming with its All India Prelims Test Series 2022 i.e. VIAPTS 2022.
• Make wise and efficient use of internet. It is advisable to stay out of social media in course of your preparation. Search over the internet for the topics you could not understand or to cover current affairs. Vajirao IAS Academy Blog section can be of immense help.

Guess, we have made ourselves loud and clear as to what all is required to ace the UPSC Prelims Exam 2022. Follow your routine, the grind religiously and success is bound to be yours.