How to Prepare for UPSC 2019 | By Dr. Mahipal Singh Rathore

Table of Contents

UPSC Civil Services Exam Why CSE?

Why IAS?
Why IPS?
Why a government job?
Ask yourself and then begin the preparation Approach for 2019 according to your profile
• Fresher – Just Graduated
• Experienced player (1/2/3 attempts)
• Working Aspirant Schedule of CSE 2019
1. Preliminary exam – 2 June
2. Mains exam – 20 – 26 September*
3. Interview – Dec/Jan* *Tentatively Is 1 year enough to prepare and crack CSE?

The Beginning

• Do a little research on your own about booklist, pattern and rigors of the exam
• Watch toppers’ interviews.
• Figure out your place of prep for next 18 months at least (till mains/Interview)
• Make the environment conducive for studying
• Get the books and let the fun begin! Optional Selection Anthropology? Sociology? History? Public Adm.? Literature?
• Background /graduation
• Interest
• Availability of material nearby you/online
• Guidance by seniors in that subject
• Select an Optional within 2-3 months of reading GS Newspaper – The most crucial aspect of preparation

Hindu – vast coverage

• The Indian Express – explains – indepth
• Vocabulary • Current affairs
• Structuring essays – Editorials #Times of India – For light reading and staying upto date on Taimur and Bollywood Paper I – (200 marks) Duration : Two hours • Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science. Paper II-(200 marks) Duration : Two hours
• Comprehension; • Interpersonal skills including communication skills; • Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
• Decision making and problem solving;
• General mental ability;
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level);
• Paper-II will be a qualifying paper
• Minimum qualifying marks are 33%. Books – TMH , RS Agarwal, Arihant Booklist for Prelims Current events of national and international importance.

THE HINDU

• Yojana
• India Year Book •
Any one monthly current affairs magazines/videos – Vision, Focus, Civil services times, Chronicle, Drishti, etc History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Old NCERT for Ancient class 11
• NCERT 11,12 (New)
• Class 6-8 NCERTS (Themes of World History)
• TN board books 6-12
• Spectrum /Bipin Chandra’s India’s Struggle for Independence Indian and World Geography -Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• NCERT 6-10 – all world geo topics
• NCERT – 11,12
• G C Leong – Physical • Geography of India by Majid Husssain • Oxford Atlas – news –>
notes
•Maps Indian Polity and Governance-
• NCERT 11,12
• Laxmikanth – Indian Polity Economic and Social Development — Sustainable Development, Poverty, lnclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives,etc. • NCERT 11,12
• Indian Economy – by Ramesh Singh • Sanjiv Verma’s – The Indian Economy • Any good Coaching class notes*
• Economic Survey Summary General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization
• Biology NCERT 12 (Only Environment chapters)
• Shankar IAS / DR Khullar/ Dr.Ravi Agrahari’s book General Science • NCERTs 6-10 • Science Reporter
• Dr.Ravi Agrahari’s book (updated version releasing in july) Booklist for Mains **Books/sources mentioned in prelims booklist are not mentioned again GS 1- General Studies-I : Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
• Nitin Singhania for Art and Culture
• CCRT website/news articles
• World History- Norman Lowe / Study IQ world History series
• Post-Independence- NCERT 12 (Politics In India after Independence); 9,10 (India and Contemporary World); India Since Independence **if time then – India after Gandhi by RC GUHA Society – NCERT 12 (Indian Society) GS 2 – General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations • Polity – DD Basu • Governance book by Laxmikanth • Yojana
• 2nd ARC report
• IR – 12TH NCERT (Contemporary world politics)
• Study IQ videos GS 3 – General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
• Science Reporter • News about new developments in science
• Data/rankings from various reports
• Disaster management – IGNOU notes
• Internal Security – Book by Ashok kumar GS 4 – General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
• Lexicon book
• Book by G.Subba Rao
• Essay – Practice key topics beforehand like Social issues, Pollution, woman empowerment, Energy related issues, Digital India , 4th Industrial revolution • Optional paper 1
• Optional paper 2
• English
• Language Notes Make your own notes always – Concise – easy to carryü Easier to reviseü Things you write down will stick in yourü memory better Practice
• Knowledge gained by reading is put to test in a limited period of time.
• So practice in a simulated environment – time / environment
• Join any test series (online/offline) – evaluate where you failed in these tests
• Mains – answer writing – multiple platforms available Other Sources
• RSTV – Desh Deshantar/topic specific debates
• Down to earth magazine
• Mrunal.org, Livemint , BBC and AIR audio news
• IDSA website
• PIB updates
• Study IQ videos for Current affairs/ Daily MCQ series
• Social media accounts of various Ministries,UN organizations for info on different reports/new policies Timetable for CSE 2019 6 months – Complete GS static syllabus =ü NCERTS + standard books 4 months – Optionalü 3 months – Revision + Practiceü = 12 months to prelims Daily routine 2 hours for newspaper/Current affairs + 2 GS subjects for 4 hours each every day Or 1 GS subject for 8 hours each day