1. Carefully read the Syllabus
One of the main reasons why students go far and wide while studying for the UPSC is that they ignore the curriculum. You don’t require a lot of expertise or a lot of understanding. UPSC requires employees who are generalists rather than specialists. You’ll be able to focus your preparation on the things that matter if you stick to the syllabus and understand exactly what they expect.
Furthermore, each subject has dynamic components, some more than others, so knowing the syllabus will aid you in selecting the appropriate news and putting a stop on your current affairs preparation. Current events can be overwhelming on their own, but when you combine it with the syllabus and last year’s questions, you won’t have any trouble deciding what news to read.
2.Get into the habit of being the planner.
Planning should be one of your strong suits as an IAS official. Put that ability to the test right away by devising a plan to follow for the next year. For this work, do not rely on coaching institutes; remember, you are the greatest judge of yourself. Plan your study so that you can maximise your output. Once you grasp the exam’s syllabus and format, this should be simple. You can get ideas from other toppers, but make adjustments to fit your individuality.
3. Reduce the number of sources
There are numerous publications available for UPSC newcomers, as well as a wealth of study material for this coveted test. As a result, locating the most trustworthy, original, and complete source becomes a difficult endeavour. The recommendation here is to skim through the books mentioned by others and then pick the ones that appeal to you the most. Do not purchase books online until you have physically read them and determined that they will be useful in your preparation. There is no substitute for NCERTs, no matter whatever supplemental books you use. Always begin with them and work your way up from there.
4. Keep your notes until last.
Do not start taking notes as soon as you begin a new subject. Apart from the NCERT, consult at least 1-2 other sources, underline key aspects as you read, and then consolidate them into notes. Many people make the error of taking historical notes solely from the old NCERT and reference books like R.S Sharma, Bipin Chandra, and others, only to learn later that the Tamil Nadu NCERTs and other books also contain a wealth of significant material. As a result, he or she will have to rewrite all of their notes. Make the most of your time by taking detailed notes, as this is what you will be referring to throughout the final months of your preparation. You won’t have time to read all of the books at this point, so make a list of everything that’s relevant in your notes.
5. Make it a habit to revise.
When you start learning, you’ll notice that even the most basic topics have a wealth of information. You tend to forget the old as you read more. As a result, before acquiring fresh information on a topic, make it a point to review the previous day’s notes. It will take you less time to revise every day than it will to finish an entire topic and then read it again.
6. A solid foundation is essential. There will be many occasions during your preparation when you would wish that you had paid more attention in school! For those who did, the preparation gets easier because they only need to add to it rather than starting from scratch. There are numerous issues that one may encounter, and for which one only must learn the advanced portions. But don’t give up if your ideas aren’t obvious
