UPSC Civil Services Prelims exam 2021 is due on June 27. With only 150 days remaining to prepare for the UPSC IAS Prelims exam 2021, many aspirants must be in their final stage of preparation while many new aspirants might be struggling with the right strategy to prepare for the exams. This article is guided for these later aspirants. The new UPSC aspirants or the old ones who have just begun to prepare again can read the article to articulate the right strategy and find useful reference resources to commence the preparation.
Research Before Preparation |
It is evident that the thought of becoming an IAS officer brings a rush to begin preparing for the exam instantaneously. However, this hurry can prove to be the biggest mistake one can commit during the preparation. UPSC Prelims exam is a dynamic competitive exam and requires patience, consistency, and hard work throughout the year. Hence, it becomes important that before beginning to prepare for the exam, aspirants are well-versed with the exam pattern, syllabus, resources, and study material.
Devote a day for basic research: With less time available at hand, aspirants should not spend more than a day to prepare for the exam. It is necessary that you utilize this day to research the syllabus, exam pattern, watch toppers’ videos to understand the process.
Decide Your Optional Subject: Another important aspect to consider while researching is to decide an optional subject you would take up for the Mains exams. UPSC will release the application form for UPSC CSE 2021 exams in February 2021 and candidates need to mark their optional choice in the application form. It is essential that aspirants decide their optional subjects well in advance to avoid the last-minute pressure and ending up choosing the wrong optional.
Create a Comfortable Study Environment: Another important step is to create a peaceful and comfortable study environment. Aspirants should ensure that their study room or study area should be away from the hustle-bustle of the house. UPSC exam preparation needs extended study hours and immense concentration. Hence, your study space should be a comfortable spot equipped with all the required study material.
Preparation for UPSC Prelims GS Paper |
Once you are thorough with all the research work, the next step is to plan your study schedule for the next 5 months. With only 150 days available aspirants need to do a selective study to qualify the exam. Below we have provided a list of resources that should be followed for each subject:
➨ Current Affairs: There is no decided pattern for GS prelims and in any year the ratio of questions from each section may vary. That is why aspirants should prepare the current affairs for the last 18-24 months.
References for Current Affairs-
- Newspaper - The Hindu/ Indian Express
Do not devote more than thirty minutes to newspaper reading. Concentrate more on the editorial, national and international news sections)
- Yojana Magazine
- Jagran Josh General Knowledge Monthly E-book
- Jagran Josh Daily GK Quiz
Strategy for Current Affairs-
- Prepare current affairs of the last 18-24 months.
- International Relations, Science and Technology, Defence are some of the key areas to concentrate
- Editorial section is important for Polity and Essay papers in Mains exams.
➨ History
History of India covers ancient, medieval, and modern history as well as the Indian National Movement. The syllabus is vast however if studied well can help you solve 5-7 questions in the Prelims exams.
References for History-
- Class 6-12th NCERT books for History
- Spectrum - A brief history of Modern India
- Bipin Chandra’s Struggle for Independence
➨ Geography
UPSC includes Indian and World Geography. Maps are an important part of the geography syllabus and every year 1-2 map based questions are asked in the Prelims exam every year.
References for Geography
- Class 6-10 NCERTs - World Geography topics
- Class 11, 12 NCERT
- Oxford Atlas
- G.C. Leong - Physical Geography
➨ Indian Polity
There is only one book which is time and again suggested by all experts and aspirants. Indian Polity by Laxmikant should be read thoroughly. It may not be possible to cover the entire book before prelims hence, aspirants should read all the important articles thoroughly.
➨ Economics
Economics includes topics from the economy, social development - poverty, inclusive growth, social sector initiatives, etc.
References for Economics
- Class 11 and 12 NCERT
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh (reference only for important topics)
- The Indian Economy by Sanjiv Verma (for basics)
- Economy Survey Summary
➨ Environment
Environment and Ecology include topics related to biodiversity, climate change, etc. All the topics in news related to the environment should be carefully studied.
References for Environment
- Class 12 Biology (Only environment topics)
- Shankar IAS notes
➨ General Science
Most of the questions from General science are related to current events, However, some basic concepts should not be ignored.
References for General Science
- Class 6-10 NCERTs
- Science Reporter Magazine
UPSC Prelims 2021 Timetable for % Months Preparation |
Devote 4 months for Static GS syllabus: The first four months before the exam should be dedicated to the static syllabus. Read all the references thoroughly. Create a daily, weekly and monthly study plan to cover the given references in the next four months as per your time slots.
Prepare Your Optional Simultaneously: It is important that you are preparing your optional subject well in advance. Devote an hour every day to study your optional subject.
Revision and Practice: The last one month should be entirely dedicated to revision. Practice as many mock tests as possible and revise your core concepts and prepared notes.
Day-Wise Preparation Slots | |
Subject | Days for Preparation (approx.) |
Polity | 25-30 |
Geography | 20 |
History | 25-30 |
Economy | 15 |
Science & Technology | 15 |
Environment | 15 |
Revision | 30 |
Total | 150 days |
Apart from the given study plan, aspirants can also previous years’ papers to test their preparation level. Five months is a concise time to prepare for an exam this diverse, hence aspirants should refrain from notes making at this stage and focus particularly on studying and completing the syllabus before the exam.
