The question is how to effectively use Laxmikanth?

For that, dont study the book in linear fashion (chapter 1,2,3,4) Instead I suggest you move in following direction 1. First you read the chapter on President, Vice President and immediately move to the chapter on governor. Then read on Emergency provisions. 2. Read chapter on PM and cabinet, then move to CM and state council of Ministers. 3. Chpater on Parliamentary system and then directly to parliament, but after budget topic is done pause this chapter and move to on CAG. Then come back and resume the chapter on parliament. 4. Once parliament is finished, move to State legislative assembly. 5. Same way Supreme Court and then High court, tribunals. 6. Attorney Gen =>Advocate General 7. UPSC =>State PSC 8. Finance Commission =>Planning Commission=>Nat.Development council 9. Now Centre State and Interstate relations. 10. Election Commission=> chapter on election, Anti-defection 11. All the National Commissions on Women, SC, ST,OBC, CVC, Lokpal and so on.

Once ^this is done. Move to 1. 2. 3. 4. Citizenship, Fundamental rights, DPSP, duties. Amendment of Constitution=> preamble Jammu Kashmir => Scheduled and Tribal Areas. UT, Panchayati Raj, municipalities

After ^this is done. Read whatever chapters are remaining. Note: the short explanations given in appendix of every chapter= should be read.

Q. Should I make notes out of Laxmikanth?

M.Laxmikanth has the skill of writing book in a note-format. So whether it is his book on polity or on Public Administration, there is no need to maintain a special note out of his books. Just highlight/underline important lines. Note down keywords on the margin. And keep revising it as many times as you can. When youve done enough revision, solve mock questions given at the end of his book (around 300). Then solve another 400 Mock Qs given in the GS manual. So total 700 questions practiced. Then UPSC MCQs on polity will not give you much trouble.

Anyways ^this is only the static polity.

What about the current affairs on Polity?

Womens reservation bill = explicitly polity topic. But at times polity related current affairs and possible questions are subtly hidden in the current affairs. So be vigilant. For example, Nuke power plant issue would superficially appear as environment/yearbook but can be well asked from Centre-State relations point of view. Supreme courts order on Ganga/Yamuna clearing would appear as environment topic but can be asked under Centre-States responsibilities in water Management also. Same goes for 2G scam, mining scams and so on. (Judicial Activism, Seperation of power, CAG Activism and so on)