Strategies For Beginners...

This article is an attempt to awaken the beginners to the ideas which are crucial in
the preparation for Civil Services Examination.

In fact we intend to focus upon some practical realities of the preparation. Much has
been written on how to prepare for the Civil Service Examination but little attention
has been given to the fundamental facets of preparation in the beginning. This article
will provide answers to a good number of questions which bewilder the beginners.

The beginners have varied perceptions about the preparation and a good number of
them are not aware of the realities of the same. They begin but on wrong lines, they
go astray and meet failures in initial attempts. It takes them a year or years to be
conscious of the realities and that too, at the cost of some attempts. Some take
attempts without preparation just to gain some experiences because they do not
have a good guide to suggest them that attempts are precious and must not be
wasted this way. This article has relevance in the above-mentioned context.

All the beginners have a great problem when they embark upon the
preparation that is how to begin. We provide you step-by-step guidelines as
regards how to go in for the preparation for the Civil Services Examination.

1. Buy the prospectus which is available in a booklet form in those

bookshops which sell books & guides on competitive exams. It
contains all the information required.

2. Go through it and know the pattern of the examination well.

3. Go through the syllabus of the optional subjects — consider five

things in selection of optional subjects.

i. The Subject interests you

ii. You have familiarity or background

iii. Subjects (two optional subjects) have common areas

iv. Subjects help you in General Studies

v. You get proper guidance for them (the most important)

4. Buy the booklets containing previous years' questions of those subjects

(Both Prelim & Main) and go through them. Proper idea
of the questions will also help you decide optional
subjects. 4. Buy booklets of previous years' questions of
General Studies, (Both Prelim & Main) and Languages
(Hindi & English) and be well-aware of the pattern of the
questions.
 5. After doing all these you come to know all about the
examination, the subjects, the nature of questions and of
course what you have to study. This way you take the first step
in the direction of preparation which is very significant.

6. Study on the basis of the syllabus and previous years'

questions. Just do not finish topics, as this is eventually
meaningless and make sure that study enables you to write
good and standard answers. This is essence of preparation.

7. Practise writing answers. Create answer formats of typical

questions and get the help of a guide.

8. Join any coaching after considering point (1) to (5). Coaching

before these considerations would not be meaningful. On the
basis of you would be in a position to assess the significance of
the coaching. In reality, coaching helps you in your preparation
when it makes you comprehend topics, makes available to you
standard study material and the most significantly it enables
you to write good & standard answers. And if in a coaching you
just work on topics and finish them, it has no value finally when
you are writing examination.

FOR THE BEGINNERS — HOW TO SELECT OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

New aspirants are usually in a dilemma in selecting the optional

subjects. After embarking upon the preparation this state of dilemma
is quite natural as well. Impact of mixed opinions like opinion on the
part of the friends, seniors, teachers, coaching institute etc bewilder
them and they are not in a position to take a right decision. Above-
mentioned opinions are at times influenced by individual outlook, at
times by wrong perception, at times by personal experiences, at times
by prejudice or bias and at times by vested interests.

We are presenting some of these opinions which new aspirants

come across and which do not have any rational basis. We are
presenting the explanation and the rational basis related to
such opinions as well.

1. Some subjects are very lengthy and their preparation takes a

lot of time.
The truth is that the syllabus of almost all subjects is equally
vast and comprehensive. The UPSC does not discriminate
among subjects. The commission has determined a standard
for each subject and has incorporated all important topics into
the syllabus of each subject. All popular subjects selected by
the candidates like History, Sociology, Geography, Public
Administration, Political Science etc. have comprehensive
syllabus.
One popular basis to determine the length of the syllabus of
any subject is the area it covers or columns it covers in the
 Employment News. Syllabus of some subjects cover two-three
columns, whereas some cover just one column or half the
column. This is completely irrational. Coverage of area / column
depends on the way syllabus is presented (like if only large
topics are mentioned this will cover less area while if topics,
sub-topics and description of topics are given it will cover more
area). If you pay attention to it, you will find the same as truth.

2. Two such subjects (having lengthy syllabus) should not be

chosen like History & Political Science, Geography &
Anthropology, History and Geography The rational view is that
there are other criteria to select the optional subjects (we shall
describe that later) for the syllabus of almost all subjects are
lengthy (we have already discussed).

3. Some subjects are more scoring like Geography or some are

not like Anthropology The truth is that the Commission /
Examiner does not discriminate among subjects in giving
marks. Fetching of good marks solely depends upon one's
performance, not the subject. One can get good marks in any
subject. The results of the Civil Services Examination every
year too establish the same fact. The only rational criteria for
the subjects being more scoring or less scoring is the stream
they are associated with. Subjects associated with science may
be more scoring than those of humanities because of greater
objectivity. Likewise subjects from humanities may be more
scoring than literature.

4. One should not opt for subjects like Commerce & Accountancy,
Economics, Anthropology etc. because candidates do not get
marks in these subjects or candidates do not qualify with these
subjects The truth is that one can opt for any subject, provided
one fulfills certain criteria (we shall describe later). Basis of
selection is not subject rather performance in a particular
subject.

5. Some subjects are very good for Preliminary Examination like

History The truth is that every or any subject is good for both
Preliminary and Main Examinations. Besides one must not
select three subjects — one for Preliminary Examination and
two others for the Main Examination. The subject in the
Preliminary Examination must be a subject in the Main
Examination. To prepare two subjects itself is a difficult task —
to prepare three subjects may become an impediment in one's
success. One should give a serious thought to the selection of
the optional subjects. A wrong decision in the beginning might
prove an obstacle in one's success. There are a good number of
candidates who were capable of qualifying but only because of
wrong selection of the optional subjects they eventually failed.
Optional subjects play a decisive and crucial role in qualifying
Preliminary & Main Examinations. Don't be in a hurry in
selection, consider properly and give time to it.
There are certain rational criteria for selecting the optional
subjects. We are putting them forward in point form.

1. Every subject is good.

2. The syllabus of almost every subject is equally lengthy and

demand equal amount of labour.

3. The syllabus of all popular subjects like History, Geography,

Political Science etc. are equally vast.

4. One can get 340-350 level of marks (required to make one

successful) in all subjects through proper guidance and
adequate labour.

5. One may take into consideration one's interests in the subject

but this is not important. Success of many candidates has
proved it.

6. One might take into consideration one's background in the

subject.

7. One might take into consideration the similarities of topics of

subjects for example History and Political Science, Commerce &
Accountancy and Public Administration etc. This lessens the
burden of the candidates. This is an important criteria.

8. Go through the syllabus and previous years' questions of the

subjects, you are considering to opt.

9. One might take into consideration the fact that to what extent
the optional subjects help a candidate in General Studies.
Subjects like History, Public Administration, Political Science etc.
play significant role in this context.

10. The most important criteria is the guidance one gets in the
subjects. Guidance makes subject / subjects easy and enables
candidates to write standard answers. Experiences of a large
number of candidates have established the truth that any
subject is a good subject provided one gets a good guidance for
that subject. A good guidance does not mean teaching of
topics, rather teaching in such a way so that one comprehends
all the topics, one has adequate and quality content and more
significantly one is in a position to write good & standard
answers - which is the essence of the preparations.

FOR THE BEGINNERS — HOW TO PREPARE

MEANINGFUL PREPARATION

One has to perceive the meaning of real preparation. Real preparation

does not mean attending classes, procuring study material packages
and finishing the syllabus. Real preparation has an altogether different
connotation - it has to be a meaningful preparation. One need to
understand finer aspects of preparation — that is, to develop
comprehension of questions, to develop approach to write answers, to
practice answer-writing etc.

Meaningful and effective preparation which makes one attain

qualifying level subsumes various facets

1. Planning preparation

2. Formulation of strategy

3. Guidance for preparation of compulsory subjects

4. Adequate & revised study material packages

5. Analysis of questions

6. Expected topics / questions for forthcoming examinations

7. Answer - formats

8. Information related to strategy & approach

9. Information related to approach to answer-writing

10. Series of Questions

11. Examination and evaluation of answers.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PREPARATION

Success in Civil Services Examination calls for a holistic

development. We want to put forward some suggestions in this
connection.

1. Study all the relevant topics of various subjects, develop broader

understanding.

2. Study all the relevant topics of various subjects, develop broader

understanding.

3. Prepare topics on the basis of the trends & nature of the

questions.

4. Create answer-formats in point form so that they prove handy in

revising things.
5. Learn approach to writing. Think over ways & presentation of
answers. Take the help of some guides.

6. Practice answer-writing and get them evaluated.

7. Develop a good language & expression so that you might write

good answers.

RELEVANCE OF GENERAL STUDIES

In the overall preparation, pay attention to General Studies on a long

term basis because of the nature of syllabus, trends of the questions
and the significance of the subject in scoring higher marks.

What we have felt and tested is that gaining of 370-380 marks or

more in the optional subjects in the Main Exam calls for great efforts—
besides what I have tested is that just 25% of total efforts one makes
in the optional subjects has made one attain that level (370-380
marks or more) in the General Studies.

One thing is very conspicuous and intelligible to almost all is that in

the General Studies the questions are plain & straight and do not
involve much analysis or explanation or examination etc what one
comes across in the optional subjects. The Second thing which too is
very distinct that questions comprising about 120 marks are very-short
answer-type questions. The third thing is also very simple to
understand that the part of statistics constituting 40 marks is scoring
in nature.

Finally what we can conclude is that one follows a plain and to-the-
point approach in full - length questions and one gets good marks —
that in very-short-answer-type questions comprising 2 marks each,
one can get full marks — that in statistics, right answers also fetch full
marks — and that in rest of the questions of 50 words, 75 words and
100 words there is always scope to get very good marks if one writes
well the essence of answers.

PREPARATION FOR OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

Preparation of the optional subjects calls for somewhat
different orientation. We are putting forward certain points
below which are relevant in this context :

1. First study the entire topics of the syllabus just to develop

ideas about them.

2. Develop conception about the inter-connections and relation

among the topics wherever required.
 3. Pick up all relevant topics from examination standpoint on the
basis of the number and type of questions put in the
examination.

4. Prepare the relevant topics taking into consideration the kinds

of questions put or may be put in the examination. Take help of
a guide.

5. Take different kind of questions into account is important in

the preparation; for only on this basis you will be competent to
write good answers which is key to getting good marks.

6. Prepare notes in brief or in point-form where topic or question

is typical or intricate.

7. Try to learn approach to write various kind of questions. Take

help of a guide.

8. Practice answer-writing and get them evaluated. For this

purpose you may pick up questions from previous years. Take
help of a guide.

ABOUT WRITING

Without writing preparation becomes meaningless. Writing is in fact a

part of the total preparation. In General Studies, optional subjects and
Essay effective writing plays a vital role. We are giving below certain
tips on good writing.

Candidates should follow them and put them into practice.

1. Read standard books — collect standard information.

2. Express in you own language — your answers should give

impression that they are your creation.

3. Elements of bias or prejudice must be absent from your

writing.

4. When you critically examine, you must examine a fact in the

light of socio-economic-politico circumstances — this would give
your answer a moderate tinge.

5. Use effective language but do not make it verbose.

6. Write a simple answer — do not use very long sentences and

paragraphs.
 7. Split your answers in various paragraphs — change paragraph
when you shift to a new subject-matter.

8. Do not quote views, opinions etc. frequently — at times you

can quote from original work.

9. Give major points of your answer in separate paragraphs and

put all the minor points in one paragraph at the end. — try to
give as many points as you can.

10. You need not write a lengthy introduction, you can even do
without it write the main body of the answer and a good and
very effective conclusion — in the answers where you analyze
or critically examine you must write a conclusion.

11. Write the answers (of full questions carrying 60 marks) in 600
to 800 words.

12. While writing, make sure your handwriting is legible — do not

be under the impression that whatever way you write the
examiner would make all efforts to go through that — help the
examiners read your answers comfortably.

13. Do not exceed the word limit — 200 words, may be 210 or
215, not more than that in any case.

14. Your answer must not lose coherence — points should be in

order so that the whole answer presents a balanced and
integrated view.

15. Practice writing answers of model questions and get them

evaluated.

And finally a piece of advice, that is, hard and diligent

work is a boon. Develop a habit of sustained reading. Do
study on a regular basis but be sure that you are doing
this on right lines

CourtesCareer Point IAS Academy, New Delhi

 Reference List of Books for Prelims and Mains

General Studies

Geography Optional

Optional History- Indian History

Public Administration-Optional

General Studies

A) Indian History

NCERT Books- 11th and 12th standard. (Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern
India (Old and New)

Modern India:-

1. India’s Struggle for Independence - Bipan Chandra

2. Modern India-Grover & Grover
3. Modern India- S.N. Sen.
4. Modern India - Spectrum Publication
5. TMH Guide-for Ancient India Medieval India Modern India

B) Geography

1. NCERT – 6th to 12th Standard.

2. Gohcheng Leong-Certificate Physical Geography.
3. India Year Book- For relevant Statistical data.
4. One Atlas (Standard) for Studying of the maps (Orient Longman)
5. Pratiyogita Darpan

• Wizard Special issue

1. Relevant Manorama Year Book Matter

2. Hindu-Special issue on- Industry, Agriculture

C) Indian Polity

1. NCERT-10th and 11th Standard

2. Our Parliament-Subhash Kashyap
3. Our Constitution –Subhash Kashyap
4. Introduction to the
 D.D.Basu.

Constitution of India

1. Indian Constitution-Bakshi
2. Special issue- Wizard
3. Special issue-Pratiyogita Darpan.

D) Indian Economy

1. Evolution of Indian Economy-NCERT Book

2. Indian Economy – Dutta and Sundaram
3. Special issue-Pratiyogita Darpan. (Yearly)
4. Economic Survey
5. Chronicle – ‘Economy Watch’ section
6. Wizard- Economy update

Sections

Economy Watch

1. Special articles from Economic Times.

2. ‘ET Classroom’ From Economic Times.
3. Yojana - Monthly

E) General Science

NCERT =-5th to 10th

TMH Guide

‘Science Reporter’- Monthly

F) Mental Ability

Mental Ability Book- R.S. AARWAL

G) Current Affairs -

Chronicle, Daily Hindu, One Marathi Daily Newspaper.

Special issues – Civil Service Times (CST)

Wizard, Yojana, Kumkshetra, Lokrajya,

H) Apart From this,

 I) Analysis of Last Five years UPSC- Prelims.

G.S. Questions is essential to use reading (Books)

material very effectively.

Geography – Optional

Reference Books

NCERT’S are useful for everything except Thought Portion and must be read
thoroughly before going

for any specialized book.

Physical Geography: NCERT.

Certificate physical geography by Goh-Cheng-Leong

Physical Geography by Savindra Singh

Physical geography (made simple) by Rupa publication (Biogeography Section)

Interaction Notes.

Geography of India: NCERT (old and new version both)

Comprehensive Geography of India by

Khullar (New Edition)

Human Geography: NCERT (old and New)

MAJID HUSSAIN – HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

Made Simple series Rupa publication

(Social and economic geography only for Settlements topic)

K.Siddhartha Vol. 1 for objective type of information e.g. population data.

Economic Geography: NCERT ( Old and new )

 Human and economic geography by

Leong and morgan (Whole book)

(Factual data- updated through internet)

Vol. 1 of K. Siddhartha- For recent economic data.

Made simple (Social and economic)

of Rupa publication.

Regional Geography of the world: land and peoples NCERT’s

6th , 7th and 8th std. NCERT’s.

World Regional geography by Manku.

Study of the maps Orient Longman and TTK.

Geography through Maps by K. Siddhartha.

Geographical Thought: Evolution of geographical Thought by

Majid Hussain (must) K.Siddhartha Vol.1

(for additional information)

Geography Thought- Majid Hussain

Evolution of Geographical thought –Adhikari

Cartography: NCERT’s of 11th and 12th std.

Practical Geography by R.L.Singh.

Cartography portion of Strahler and Strahler

Physical Geography.

Vol.1. of K. Siddhartha.

After reading all the basic books you can see for extensive converge vol.1. K. Siddhartha.
 Here the additional information will be available to supplement. But don’t strictly rely on this

guide use it as a ready reckoner.

Map-Orient Long man.

Oxford -India
ttk Map

Optional History- Indian History

Reading List

1) NCERT – 11th & 12th

Ancient, Medieval, Modern (Old 7 New)

2) History of Early India-

Romila Thapar

3) Ancient India

R.C. Mujumdar

4) Ancient India-

D.N.Zha.

5) History South India-

K.Nilakanth Sastri

6) Medieval India-

Vol I, II, III –J.L. Mehta

7) Medieval India-

Vol I, II, III –Satish Chandra

8) Wonder that was India-

A.L. Basham
 9) Wonder that was India-

S.A. Rizvi

10) India’s struggle for Independence-

Bipan Chandra

11) Modern India-

Grover and Grover

12) Modern India-

Sumit Sarkar.

13) India after Independence-

Bipan Chandra.

14) Indian History-

V.K. Agnihotri Guide

15) Indian History-

K. Reddy Guide

16) Gazetteer of India-

Vol II.

17) IGNOU-

Ancient, Medieval, Moden

Public Administration – Optional

1) Public Administration –

Maheshwari and Awasthi

2) Indian Administration –

Mahershwari
3) Administrative Thikers-

Prasad & Prasad.

4) Public Administration- Reader-

Mohit Bhattacharya.

5) Financial Administration-

Thavaraja

6) Administrative Theory-

S.R. Maheswari.

7) Public Administration (Mains)-

Fadia and Fadia

8) Indian Administration (Mains)-

Fadia and Fadia

9) Public Administration (Pre.) –

Laxmikant Guide

10) Public Administration: Concept and theory-

Rumki Basu.

11) Public Administration & Public Affair- Nicholas Henry.