Every year, lakhs of students answer the civil service exam of India conducted by UPSC. The exam acts as a gateway to esteem govt posts ofIAS (IAS full form : Indian administrative services), IPS (IPS full form : Indian Police services), IFS (IFS full form : Indian foreign services), and many more. These posts come with the authority and power of active governance and the lucrative benefits of job security, competitive pay, and many more.
With such a vast syllabus in tow, the biggest hurdle for many aspirants of this challenging exam is figuring out where to start their UPSC journey. That’s where we come in. Here are a few points to help you get the ball rolling in your UPSC journey.
- Know The Pros And Cons Of The Exams
Begin your preparation by knowing the very basics- the UPSC full form (Union Public Service commission), and also about the posts that this exam opens up, like IAS, IPS, IFS and so on.
The UPSC Civil Services Exam comprises three stages: the preliminary exam (objective), the main exam (written), and the interview (personality test). Understand the syllabus for each topic in each test, which is published in the exam announcements pdf each year.
To begin, gather all of the necessary books, such as NCERT 6th-10th, Laxmikant for Polity, and so on.
Examine prior year question papers to have a thorough grasp of the test format.
Now that you’ve covered the fundamentals, you’re ready to go on to the next stage.
- Strategy Is Essential
Before you begin your preparation, a sensible strategy should be drafted, taking into account the specifics of each stage that you must do. A true strategy is a detailed plan that entails what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, and what resources you’ll need.
The very first stage in developing strategy is to have a precise, in-depth grasp of the structure, coherence, and breadth of the curriculum. It assists you in determining what to read and what to skip.
Furthermore, supplement your fundamental books with study material resources for value addition and response writing.
Joining a coaching programme that specialises in IAS preparation is the best way to develop a foolproof plan. You can also download a strategy from any ex- toppers post.
Having said that, the best strategy is one that works for you.
- Practice Answer Writing
Practising answer writing can assist you in condensing a snippet of data or even a statistic from a book or newspaper into a single thorough answer.
After reading a topic multiple times, take brief notes and use current events to add value. Look for keywords when preparing for the exam and while giving it. Every answer, for example, will have a question tag like “critically analyse,” “discuss,” “elaborate,” “comment,” and so on. Each one of these questions necessitates a different approach to your response.
- Improve Your Communication Skills
Although the interview aspect of the civil service test is at the end, you must include oral practice in your UPSC preparation.
If you’re hesitant to speak in front of a crowd, begin by practising in front of a mirror, then go to public speaking. Consider enrolling in communication lessons, where you will also receive feedback on your performance.
- Develop A Hobby
Hobbies act as a two-way weapon in your preparation. One, they will help you destress. And two, they will help in building up your overall personality, which is an important part of this exam.
To conclude, there is no replacement for simply going all in and starting the preparation. From knowing the UPSC full form to formulating a strategy, the above five points will act as your anchor for everything CSE.
Shreyashi is a software engineer in the US. Along with her work schedule, she has managed to travel all the 50 States of the country and wants to pen down her experiences, journeys, and joys through her write-ups and share them with the world. You can find more details on https://www.travelthefoodforthesoul.com/about-me/
