UPSC PREPARATION STRATEGY1. History

a) NCERT 6th to 12th std. (old & new)b) Understand the social processes behind facts; concentrate

equally on other spheres of life in a given era; understand the causes and effects

c) Bipin Chandra Pal – India’s struggle for Independenced) Norman Lowe - World History (Spectrum version can also be

efficiently used)2. Geography

a) NCERT Textbooksb) Mapsc) Go into the geographical details behind everyday news

3. Politya) Prepare tables while studying the post of a President &

Governor or Supreme Court and High Courts (Similarities and Differences)

b) Prepare for 600 words of a good quality answerc) Laxmikanth – Indian Polityd) Read the 12th Planning Commission reports/economic survey

reports4. Economics

a) Tata Mc Graw- Indian Economyb) Focus on current issues as well as the broad economic issuesc) Purchase SRIRAM’S IAS Economics notes

5. Ethicsa) Ethics for Dummiesb) Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude; important to solve

case-studies6. Biodiversity, Environment

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a) SRIRAM’S IAS notesb) The Hindu’s issues on this topic

7. Newspaper Readinga) It is not compulsory to make notes of newspapersb) Newspapers must be supplemented with Yojana Magazine,

which gives better insight into the rural and urban developments in the Indian society

8. Science & Technologya) Issues from ‘The Hindu’b) http://www.insightsonindia.com/

Other general tips:

1. To opt for coaching is a very subjective matter.2. Law as an optional subject is viable as it comprises the basics of

IPC, Law of Torts, Constitutional Law, International Law etc, which already get covered in a law school.

3. Solve past year papers.4. Keep a tab on the historical events referred to in ‘The Hindu’.5. Read the NCERTs over and over again, rather than purchasing a

number of books and concentrating on none of them.6. Go into the minute details of news.

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