HOW I Prepared for UPSC from home?
I got AIR 848 in the recently declared UPSC CSE 2022 results. I come from North East India-born brought up studied and worked for a while all in different areas of this part of India.
This blog is to put up a basic outline of -
WHEN and HOW’s of my UPSC preparation strategy.
QUESTIONS
1- WHEN?
always wanted to, didn't take any initiative. But finally after a year of working, left my job in around august-September 2020. I have been at my home in Guwahati since then. failed pre 2021. this was my 2nd attempt.
2.HOW ?
a. immediately after coming home-
deciding optional (watching videos of different subjects)
deciding primary resources
b. in the process-
TRIAL & ERROR
(watching XYZ video say for polity, like it proceed. don't like, change)
SPECIFIC RESOURCES-STATIC-
GS I-
HISTORY & Indian Heritage and Culture:-
Indian Heritage and Culture- Indian Art And Culture By Nitin Singhania
ANCIENT-OLD ncert & Tamil Nadu Board history textbooks
MEDIEVAL-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ti9LbQSiqM
(didn't read any book for medieval, 1 video+ complement with any info I got in any test series for pre and mains)
MODERN- Spectrum
(for history &Indian Heritage and Culture, read all new ncert’s too-relevant esp for prelims)
WORLD HISTORY- Pratik Nayak Sir’s videos and notes (unacademy and youtube).
GEOGRAPHY
class 11+12 NCERT’s
PMF IAS booklet
Sudarshan Gurjar Sir’s classes and videos at UNACADEMY
SOCEITY-
had sociology optional, complemented with-
GS II-
POLITY-
LAXMIKANTH
+ATISH MATHUR SIR’s videos and notes (youtube+unacademy)
google how?
Say , SELF HELP GROUP:
Type SHG UPSC on google-get links , example-
https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/self-help-groups-4
make your own notes.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-
say , INDIA- US relations upsc.
(IR is very current affairs oriented, so jis saal jo news me hai esp wrt INDIA-thats relevant)
GS III
ECONOMY-
mrunal SIR’s videos and notes (UNACADEMY)
SCIENCE & TECH —
NCERT’s and google syllabus words. say nanotechnology upsc.
ENVIRONMENT-
SHANKAR IAS
SECURITY-
book- Challenges to Internal Security of India (ASHOK KUMAR)
GS IV
Notes from UNACADEMY + ATISH MATHUR VIDEOS (To be or not to be- YOUTUBE)
ESSAY-
watch videos on what essay really is, evolve my own style and practice.
OPTIONAL-SOCIOLOGY
Books-
- HARALAMBOS & HOLBORN SOCIOLOGY:THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES (blue book)
- NITIN SANGWAN — Essential Sociology.
Understanding-
Sleepy Classes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIhqqQQilTA&list=PLYSuG-KZy7JDFWh1oAMvzNLbaLZGY5Ina
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Read “THE HINDU”
downloaded vision ias monthly magazines for notes.
STAGES-
PRELIMS-
- finish syllabus (static)
- Do PYQ’s subject wise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1_A82_bYx0&list=PLYSuG-KZy7JCSCE8us9mwXYfu2xtb8XWw
3. practice a lot of questions in the 3 months before prelims(you can buy test series/ get them in telegram groups for free).
4. read PT365 for current affairs(vision ias) or any other coaching institute.
http://visionias.in/resources/all_programs.php?c=pt365
5. be confident on the day of exam.
6. do the paper in two phases- 1st mark things you know sure shot say 35Qs, then mark another say 40 in the next phase(not sure shot, but have to mark, use elimination technique etc.)
This 2nd phase no will vary depending on your accuracy . you will know during your practice. for me, 75 Qs in total works fine.
7. for csat, do 1 Previous year paper. If not comfortable scoring around 90, practice more, watch youtube videos.
MAINS:
- See how toppers write.
http://visionias.in/resources/toppers_answers.php
2. do PYQs
3. practice
while writing at home initially, focus on content+structure, and then time.
in the 3 months before mains, as well as on the exam day, focus on time 1st, content+structure 2nd.
4.take test series and get feedback and improve.
INTERVIEW:
KSA (KNOWLEGE + SKILLS + ATTITUDE) TESTED.
what to read-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkzaVa5Z5Dg&t=2679s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EUl13aJaTA&t=13s
I AM FEELING LIKE I CAN’T IN THE MIDDLE OF PREP, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Everybody does.
what you should do, only you will know.
maybe sing if that is your language of frustration release. or write. I don’t know.
But i know “WHAT Shouldn't BE DONE”
- DON’T seek external validation. khud se khud ka khushi dhundo.
- ‘A man can be destroyed but not defeated’: Ernest Hemingway. never be defeated. tum bade aadmi ho, hamesha rahoge, chahe ye exam ho ya na ho.
I would try to update the blog , if i find that i missed anything really important.
All the best!
