Tips for Mains IAS

8/4/2019 Tips for Mains IAS

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How to Write a Good Answer

Civil Services mains examination is the most crucial

stage of the IAS examination because it carries a huge

weightage in term of total tally of marks. And in this

General Studies & Essay papers play an important rolefor the selection of the candidate. As the mains

examination is subjective in nature, So candidates

have to develop a proper Writing Strategy to get good

marks in the examination. Here one should follow

these points before writing the General Studies paper:

1. Write precisely and to the point.

2. Respect the economy of words

3. Show the depth of understanding of the question.

4. Different question requires different style of writing so understand the

requirement and follow that.

5. It is suggested to attempt all questions keeping in view the word limit.

6. Make rough work before answer writing.

7. Allocate your time for different sections of the General Studies Paper.

In this context let me discuss some key words which examiner uses in the General

Studies question and expect from you to answer accordingly, it is important for you

to understand the broad meaning of these words:

Comments: It is to give opinion/remark, on a person/topic etc.

Analyse: To look into different dimension of the statement and draw various facts to

support those dimension basically it is examining of different part of the question

that can be done by raising various alternatives of the given question and providing

their appropriate solution.

Examine: It is simply looking into the question closely and raise various aspects to

the statement

Explain: Just explain the statement in a more lucid term, so that any one can

understand the meaning and concept of the given statement.

Discuss: Here examiner assume that you know something in advance now you have

to tell the meaning and your point of view of the given statement with reason and

logic.

At last I should recommend one thing to the candidates that no matter how much

you study you should develop the habit of answer writing regularly.


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Roadmap & Strategy For General Studies UPSC Mains

Dear Students,

The objective of the Civil Services (Main) Examination is for the selection of

candidates for the various services and posts.

To achieve this U.P.S.C. has mentioned that the main examination is intended to

assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather

than merely the range of their information and memory.

So, to evaluate candidates this treat, the main examination will consist of a written

examination. And the written examination will consist of 9 papers, which carries

total 2000 marks. In this General Studies papers carries 300 marks each, Paper IV

and Paper V total 600 marks.

For the General Studies Papers, U.P.S.C. has clearly mention its level and range, It

stated that the nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers will

be such that a well educated person will be able to answer them without any

specialized study.

The questions will be such as to test a candidates general awareness of a variety ofsubjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.

The question are likely to test the candidates basic understanding of all relevant

issues and ability to analyze and take a view of conflicting Socio-economic goals,

objectives and demands.

Therefore the candidate must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

After understanding the overall aspects of General Studies Paper, now you may ask

why candidates score very low in this section? And what should be its solution?

Basically there are two reasons for this:-

Ist reason is, not completing all questions in the actual examination. There may be

various reason for this but the most important one is, not having enough

information, or knowledge about the question.IInd reason is that, If you have the knowledge, then you are lacking the approach.

That you may have faulty approach or wrong approach.

So, to overcome from the first problem, candidate must widen their knowledge base,

you should be aware of right sources of study materials. Since there are diverse

topics which you have to prepare. You should have crystal clear conception about

the issues or topic which you read. In this context analytical grasp of topic is must.

Here one must also give more emphasise to these following topics:-

I. Indian Constitution

II. Current Affairs

III. Science & Technology Specially Environment & Ecology

IV. Economy

Ist Problem: Regarding awareness of study materials for G.S. :

Now let me discuss about the sources or references from where you can cover your

General Studies (Main) paper. For this you must through with the Syllabus as

mentioned by U.P.S.C. and their references which you can refer are as follows:-


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1. History of Modern India and Indian Culture: The History of Modern India will cover

history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth century and would also

include questions on important personalities who shaped the freedom movement

and social reforms. The part relating to Indian culture will cover all aspects of Indian

culture from the ancient to modern times as well as principal features of literature,

arts and architecture.References:

I. Modern Indian History by Spectrum

II. Indian Culture by Spectrum or Wizard

III. Indian Culture Chapter of Indian Year Book

2. Geography of India: In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and

social geography of India.

References:

I. Class XI & XII Books of N.C.E.R.T. or Wizard.

II. For Economic and Social Geography of India. Selected chapter from Indian

Year Book & Economic Survey. They are:

Land and the People

Energy

Industry

Transport

Water Resource

Economic Survey

Industry

Energy Infrastructure and Communications

3. Constitution of India and Indian Polity: This part will include questions on the

Constitution of India as well as all constitutional, legal, administrative and other

issues emerging from the politico-administrative system prevalent in the country.

References:

I. For Constitutional Part M. Laxmikant

II. Class XI & XII N.C.E.R.T. Books

III. Editorial and Important articles of The Hindu, articles of Yojana. Important

articles of Press Information Bureau

4. Current National Issues and Topics of Social Relevance : This part is intended to

test the candidates awareness of current national issues and topics of social

relevance in present-day India, such as the following:

i. The Indian economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of

resources, growth, development and employment.


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ii. Issues arising from the social and economic exclusion of large sections from

the benefits of development.

iii. Other issues relating to the development and management of human

resource.

iv. Health issues including the management of Public Health, Health education

and ethical concerns regarding health-care, medical research andpharmaceuticals.

v. Law enforcement, internal security and related issues such as the

preservation of communal harmony.

vi. Issues relating to good governance and accountability to the citizens

including the maintenance of human rights, and of probity in public life.

vii. Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural

resources and national heritage.

References:

1. Following chapters of Indian Year Book:

I. Agriculture

II. Education

III. Food and Civil Supplies

IV. Health and Family Welfare

V. Planning

VI. Rural and Urban Development

VII. Welfare

VIII. Youth Affairs and Sports

Economic Survey:

Human Development Equity and Environment

2. Editorial and Important articles of The Hindu

3. Important articles of Press Information Bureau

4. Important articles of Yojana

5. Magazine like Civil Service Times or Chronicle

5. India and the World : This part will include questions to test candidates

awareness of Indias relationship with the world in various spheres such as the

following:-

I. Foreign Affairs with special emphasis on Indias relations with neighboring

countries and in the region.II. Security and defense related matters.

III. Nuclear policy, issues, and conflicts.

IV. The Indian Diaspora and its contribution to India and the world.

References:

I. For Historical background one can refer V. N. Kanna


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II. For Current Affairs: The Hindu (News, Editorials & Articles)

III. News from Press Information Bureau

IV. Foreign Ministry website or refer any competition magazine like Chronicle or

Civil Service Times.

6. Indias Economic Interaction with the World : In this part, questions will be oneconomic and trade issues such as foreign trade, foreign investment; economic and

diplomacy issues relating to oil, gas and energy flows; the role and functions of

I.M.F., World Bank, W.T.O., WIPO etc. which influence Indias economic interaction

with other countries and international institutions.

Reference:

Following chapter of India Year Book & Economic Survey:

I. Basic Economic data

II. Commerce

III. Finance

IV. Corporate Affairs

V. Industry

Economic Survey:

a. State of the economy and prospects

b. Micro-foundations of macroeconomic development

c. Fiscal Development and Public Finance

d. Price and monetary Management

e. Finance Intermediation and Market

f. Balance of Payment

g. International Trade

h. Agriculture and food management

i. Industry

j. Service Sector

VI. The Hindu to (News, Editorials & Articles)

VII. Wikipedia to understand Various Economic concepts.

VIII. Chronicle Special Issues

7. Developments in the Field of Science & Technology, IT and space: In this part,

questions will test the candidates awareness of the developments in the field of

science and technology, information technology, space and basic ideas aboutcomputers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and related issues regarding

intellectual property rights.

References:

I. Science & Technology by Wizard

II. Science reporter


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Following chapter of Indian Year Book:

i. Communication and Information Technology

ii. Defence

iii. Environment

iv. Mass Communicationv. S&T Development

8. International Affairs and Institutions: This part will include questions on

important events in world affairs and on international institutions.

References:

I. The Hindu (News, Editorial & Articles)

II. Chronicle or Civil Services Times

III. International Institution by Pushpesh Pant

9. Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams: This part will test the candidates ability

to draw conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical or

diagrammatical form and to interpret them.

Reference:

(I). Class XI Books of N.C.E.R.T. (II). or Spectrum

So, it is evident from the above fact that, if a candidate read only The Hindi,

Yojana, Science Reporter & Some Important Articles of Press Information Bureau

then he will be in a position to answer 60% of the questions in G.S. paper but you

must have the conceptual clarity here one can refer Internet. Whatever terms and

concepts are in news, you must know about them, because now a days U.P.S.C. is

not asking any direct question.

IInd Problem: Regarding Approach:

So, in this way you can solve the first problem now let me discuss about the second

problem that is approach. Right approach here means, target the question and give

whatever is associated with the question to understand better let me give you an

example.

Suppose you are writing regarding the powers of President. Here the right approach

should be:

I. Introduction of President

II. Executive Power

III. Legislative Power

IV. Judicial Power

V. Military Power

VI. Diplomat Power

VII. How Power Exercise

VIII. Discretionary Power

IX. Extra Constitutional Power


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Now, I hope you have clear idea regarding approach however there are still some

points which I want to make you aware, those are:

i. The statement of your answer should not be general statement, all

statements must be fact based and information based.

ii. In G.S. no Introduction, no Conclusion, because it is repetition.iii. Where ever possible give Flowchart, Diagram, Figure.

By following these above simple techniques you can enhance 30-40 marks in General

Studies Paper.

However the most important aspect of all this is, depend on your hard work, your

dedication because without that, there is no chance to crack this exam. Just

remember one thing what you do now will shape where you go forward from here

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