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INSIGHTSSimplifyingUPSCIASExamPreparation

HowToPrepareUPSCCivilServicesMainsPaperIII(GS2)

ClickHereForMoreDetailedStrategiesForOtherPapersandMore!

HowtoprepareGS1(i.ePaperII)

HowtoprepareGS3(i.ePaperIV)

HowtoprepareGS4(i.ePaperV)

UPSChasbroughtchangestotheCivilServicesMainsexaminationinboththepatternandthesyllabus.Weknowthatnowthereare4GeneralStudiesPapersapartfromoneEssayandOptionalpapereach.

ThisarticlediscussespreparationstrategyforGeneralStudies2(i.ePaperIII)

Beforeyoustartreadingfurther,pleaserememberthefollowingimportantmantragivenbytheAlmightyUPSC:

Thequestionsarelikelytotestthecandidatesbasicunderstandingofallrelevantissues,andabilitytoanalyze,andtakeaviewonconflictingsocioeconomicgoals,objectivesanddemands.Thecandidatesmustgiverelevant,meaningfulandsuccinctanswers.

Thissentenceistheguidinglightforyourpreparation.Youdonthavetomasterthetopics,allyouneedisBASICUNDERSTANDINGandtheabilitytoanalyze.

Basicunderstandingcomesfromreadingandrereading.AbilitytoanalyzewhatyouhaveunderstoodfromreadingcomesfromWRITINGPRACTICE.

Twoimportantthingsfundamentaltoyourexampreparation:

Getfamiliarwithallthetopicsandsubtopicsbywritingthemmanytimestheyshouldbestronglyetchedinyourmemory.

Keepacopyofthesyllabusalwaysnearyounomatterwhereyouare.

Now,howtodealwithGS2?

AssumingyouarenowfamiliarwiththesyllabusofGS1,wewilldiscussatopicbytopicwhattoread,fromwheretoreadandwhatnottoreadforthesetopics.

BroadSyllabusOfGS2is:

Governance,Constitution,Polity,SocialJusticeandInternationalrelations.

Beforeyoustartpreparingforthispaper,pleasereadfollowingNCERTtexts,whichmighttake23daysofyourtime.

1. NCERTClassXIIndiaConstitutionAtWork

2. NCERTClassXIIPoliticalScienceII

3. NCERTClassXDemocraticPolitics

TOPIC1

IndianConstitutionhistoricalunderpinnings,evolution,features,amendments,significantprovisionsandbasicstructure.

ThispartisveryusefulbothforPrelimsandMains.BestbooktostudythissectionisD.D.BasusIntroductionToTheConstitutionOfIndiaFirst5chaptersinthisbookexclusivelydealwiththispartofthesyllabus.

ForBasicStructure,Thesetwoarticlesmighthelpyou.

1)BasicStructureoftheconstitutionrevisitedTheHindu(PDF)

2)TheBasicStructureoftheconstitution(PDF)

TOPIC2

FunctionsandresponsibilitiesoftheUnionandtheStates,issuesandchallengespertainingtothefederalstructure,devolutionofpowersandfinancesuptolocallevelsandchallengestherein.

OnegoodsourcetogetthecriticalperspectiveaboutthesetopicsisReportofthe2ndAdministrativeReformsCommission,namedOrganizationalStructureOfGovernmentofIndia(13thReport)

Fordevolutionoffinancestolocalbodies,ReadThis..(Dontlookanywhereelse)

FortheconceptpartreadLaxmikantsIndianPolity.Buythenewupdated4thedition.(Chapters12,1314and30).

ButMainsdemandsnotonlybasicunderstandingofthesetopics,butyourcriticalandanalyticabilitiestoanswerquestionsonthesetopics.So,trytorelatetheseconceptstocurrenteventtopicsandwritesmallarticles.ARCreportswillhelpyouinthisregard.

Eg.Thoughdevolutionoffunds,functionariesandfunctionsistakingplaceinthelocalgovernments,developmentisstillamirageinmanypartsofIndia.Criticallyanalyze.(youcanframemanyquestionslikethis)

TOPIC3

Separationofpowersbetweenvariousorgans,disputeredressalmechanismsandinstitutions.

BASICS:PublicGrievancesandRedressalMechanism

ThistopicisadynamicportionwereadlotaboutconflictbetweentheJudiciaryandtheExecutivetoanswerdynamictopics,oneshouldfirstunderstandtheconstitutionalprovisions,redressalmeasureswiththeconstitution,checksandbalancesprovidedintheconstitutionetc.

ARCreportscometotherescueagain.7threportof2ndARCnamedCapacityBuildingforConflictResolutiontalkselaboratelyonvariousissuessuchasLeftWingExtremism,RegionalDisparities,LandandWaterrelatedissues,SCandSTissues,ReligiousconflictsandNorthEastconflictswhichinvolvenumerousinstitutionsintheconflictmanagementandresolution.

Later,scancurrenteventsandfindanylatestinstancesofconflictbetweenanyconstitutionalbodies,orbetweenaconstitutionalbodyandstatutorybody.

Again,conceptscanbestudiedeitherfromD.D.BasuorLaxmikat..

TOPIC4

ComparisonoftheIndianconstitutionalschemewiththatofothercountries

AbookbyS.ChandSelectConstitutionsoftheworldisfamousamongLawstudents.Thiscoversthistopiccomprehensively.Oneshouldbecarefultonottostudythistopicindepth.

IncaseyoucanaffordtobuycostlybookD.D.BasusClassicontheIndianConstitutionShorterConstitutionOfIndianotonlycoversallabovetopics,italsocoversthepresenttopic.

Fewlinksthatmighthelp:

Constitutionsaroundtheworld

EvolutionofIndianConstitution(Itiscomparedwithotherconstitutionsyouhavetosearchinbetween)

DifferencebetweenUSandEUconstitutions.

TrytoknowsomebasicsabouttheNewConstitutions/reformsbeingframed/broughtoutinNepal,Bhutan,MyanmarandPakistan.

(Again,emphasisshouldbeonrelatingallthesetopicstothecurrentevents)

TOPIC5

ParliamentandStateLegislaturesstructure,functioning,conductofbusiness,powers&privilegesandissuesarisingoutofthese.

Tocoverthistopic,onestopsourceisSubhashKashypsOurParliament.(Whythisbook?BecauseitiswrittenbysomeonewhoworkedinsidetheParliamentformostofhiscareer,andthisbookgivesadetailedideaaboutthefunctioningofourParliamentastheabovetopicsuggests,youshouldbefamiliarwithallaspectsofourParliament.Thisbooksischeap,andishighlyreadablewithlotofinsights)

TOPIC6

Structure,organizationandfunctioningoftheExecutiveandtheJudiciaryMinistriesandDepartmentsoftheGovernmentPressureGroupsandformal/informalassociationsandtheirroleinthePolity.

BASICS:

UnionExecutive

ParliamentofIndia

SupremeCourtofIndia

ExecutiveintheStates

StateLegislature

HighCourtsandSubordinateCourts

LocalGovernment:UrbanandRural

PressureGroups

Again,Laxmikantisenoughforthistopic.Regardingpressuregroups/informalassociationsrecentactivismshownbyCivilsociety,conflictwiththegovernmentandothersuchtopicsshouldbestudiedindepth.

TOPIC7

SalientfeaturesoftheRepresentationofPeoplesAct.

FirstreadthisbeautifularticlebyYogendraYadav.(PDF)

Thistopichasgeneratedmoreheatinthepastandpresenteg,officeofprofitbill,antidefectionbill,electoralreformsbilletc.

Thistopicshouldbe

RecentsupremecourtrulingdisqualifyingMPsandMLAswithcriminalbackground,andcurrenttopicslikethisshouldbestudiedcarefully.

TOPIC8and9

AppointmenttovariousConstitutionalposts,powers,functionsandresponsibilitiesofvariousConstitutionalBodies.

.Statutory,regulatoryandvariousquasijudicialbodies

ReadLaxmikantforthispart.PartVII,VIIIandIXofthisbookcompletelycoversthesetopics.

Thispartofthesyllabushasgivenrisetosomecontentiousissuessuchaspoliticalinterferenceintheappointmenttovariousconstitutionalpostsandstatutorybodies.EgEC,CBI,CVC,CAG,SC,Governors,Lokayukta,Lokpal(ifitcomesintoexistence)etc.So,readthistopickeepinginmindtheseaboveissues.

AsIsaidbefore,youneedtoreadalltheabovetopicswithananalyticalperspective.Toprovideyouwiththis,thereisawonderfulbookpublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressandauthoredbyPratapBhanuMehta,namedPublicInstitutionsinIndiaPerformanceandDesign,willbeimmenselyuseful.

Asitsbackcoversays,Thisvolumeanalyticallyassessesthedesign,performance,andadaptabilityoftheprincipalinstitutionsofgovernanceinIndiaandtheircriticalroleinademocraticpolity.Thatiswhatyouneedforthispaper.

TOPIC10

Governmentpoliciesandinterventionsfordevelopmentinvarioussectorsandissuesarisingoutoftheirdesignandimplementation.

ThispartiscoveredwellinthesamebookImentionedabove:PublicInstitutionsinIndiaPerformanceandDesign

Also,referEconomicSurveyforgovernmentpoliciesandPIBsiteregularly.

TOPIC11

DevelopmentprocessesandthedevelopmentindustrytheroleofNGOs,SHGs,variousgroups

andassociations,donors,charities,institutionalandotherstakeholders

[PleasenotethephraseDevelopmentIndustryitreferstoaidindustrydevelopedaroundNGOs,UNbodies,Charitiesetcandtheirroleinthedevelopmentprocess.]

Planningcommissionhasvariousarticlesonthesetopics.

ThisreportgivescriticalaccountofsuccessandfailureofSHGsinIndia.(justreadthesummary,conclusionandrecommendationsNEVERreadfullreport)

ArticleonNGOtheirevolutionandrole.

TOPIC12

WelfareschemesforvulnerablesectionsofthepopulationbytheCentreandStatesandtheperformanceoftheseschemesmechanisms,laws,institutionsandBodiesconstitutedfortheprotectionandbettermentofthesevulnerablesections.

NotethewordSTATEschemesbythestatesarealsoimportant.

FocusontheschemesbeingimplementedbytheMinistryofWomenandChildwelfare,MinistryofSocialJustice,MinistryofRuralDevelopmentandMinistryofTribalaffairs.

ListOfGovernmentSchemesIndiaWikipedialink.

ListofAllstateandcentralschemeGovt.ofIndiaWebsite(hereyoucanfilterqueriesbytheministryitisnoteasythough,govtsiteyouknow..)

OnemoreoptionisvisitthislinkonmysitetogotothesiteofanyMinistryandfindschemesthere.

TOPICS12and13

IssuesrelatingtodevelopmentandmanagementofSocialSector/ServicesrelatingtoHealth,Education,HumanResources.

.Issuesrelatingtopovertyandhunger.

Wereadlotaboutthisthesedays:Foodsecuritybill,PDSreform,Povertyreductionschemes,Povertylinecontroversy,Malnutritionfigures,reportonmalnutrition(rememberHungMareport?)etc.

TOPIC13

Importantaspectsofgovernance,transparencyandaccountability,egovernanceapplications,models,successes,limitations,andpotentialcitizenscharters,transparency&

accountabilityandinstitutionalandothermeasures

Thisintroductoryarticleon2ndARCsiteand2ndARCreportonPromotingeGovernance:TheSMARTWayForwardwillbeveryusefultocoverthistopic.

EgovernanceConceptandSignificance(IGNOU)

TOPIC14

Roleofcivilservicesinademocracy

Again,2ndARCreport(10threport)RefurbishingofPersonnelAdministrationhaswholechapter(ch4)onthistopic.

InternationalRelations

TOPIC15

Indiaanditsneighborhoodrelations.

Twosourcesforthistopic:

1. IndiaanditsneighboursMEAWebsite

IndiaAfghanistan

IndiaPakistan

IndiaNepal

IndiaBhutan

IndiaBangladesh

IndiaSrilanka

IndiaMaldives

IndiaChina

IndiaMyanmar

2.ForcriticalanalysisThisBookbyRajivSikriChallengeandStrategyRethinkingIndiasForeignPolicyismustforreadingthispartofthesyllabus.

TOPIC16

Bilateral,regionalandglobalgroupingsandagreementsinvolvingIndiaand/oraffecting

Indiasinterests

ForIndiasrelationswiththeothercountries,clickhere.(readonlyimportantcounriesUSA,UK,EU,SA,Brazil,Japan,Russia,Australiaetc)

MinistryofExternalAffairshasbriefsonallbilateralrelationsofIndiawithregionalandglobalgroupings:

AndeanCommunity(CAN)February2013

ASEANRegionalForumAugust2012

AsiaEuropeMeeting(ASEM)May2013

BRICSApril2013

CaribbeanCommunityandCommonMarket(CARICOM)January2013

CentralAmericanIntegrationSystem(SICA)February2013

CommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica(COMESA)August2012

CommonwealthAugust2011

CommunityofLatinAmericanandCaribbeanStates(CELAC)August2012eractionandConfidenceBuildingMeasuresinAsia(CICA)August2012

EastAfricanCommunityApril2011

EastAsiaSummitJanuary2013

G20August2012

GulfCooperationCouncilFebruary2013

IndiaAfricanUnionRelations

IndiaASEANRelationsApril2013

IndiaEURelationsJuly2013

IndianOceanRimAssociationforRegionalCooperation(IORARC)March2013

IndiaUnitedNationsRelations,January,2013

MekongGangaCooperation(MGC)May2013

PanAfricaneNetworkProjectJanuary2013

SouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunityCooperationApril2012

TOPIC18

EffectofpoliciesandpoliticsofdevelopedanddevelopingcountriesonIndiasinterests,Indiandiaspora

Thisisadynamicparteffectsofglobalization,WTOpolicies,domesticpoliciesofdevelopedcountriesandtheireffectonothercountries(lotofexamplesfromUSA,UKcanbegivenvisarow,waronterrorism,immigrationpolicies,economicpoliciesetc)

IndiandiasporatheircontributiontoIndia,Indiascontributiontothem,Theircontributiontotheworldetc.Theirproblemsintheresidingcountries,theirrightsinIndiaconstitutional/statutoryprovisionsifany,theirparticipationintracktwodiplomacy,theirroleinIndianeconomyetcetc.

NewspaperisthebestsourceIguess.Formoreinfo,visittheofficialsite.

TOPIC19

ImportantInternationalinstitutions,agenciesandforatheirstructure,mandate.

UNOanditsvariousbodies,agenciesmustbestudiedwithrespecttotheirstructure,role,relevanceandreforms.UNreformsisthehottopic.

InternationalOrganizations(noUNbodies)suchasAPEC,ADB,ASEAN,OECD,NATOshouldbestudied.

Forlinkstoalltheseorganizations:clickhere.

Finally,forsomearticlesfromYojanamagazines(2013)thatarerelatedtomanytopicsfromthisPaper,clickhere.

FiveIndispensableBooksForpaperIII

1. D.D.BasuIntroductiontotheConstitutionofIndia20Edition

2. IndianPolityforCivilServicesExaminations4thEditionLaxmikanth

3. SelectConstitutions:16thEditionSChand

4. ChallengeAndStrategy:RethinkingIndiasForeignPolicyRajivSikri

5. PublicInstitutionsinIndia:PerformanceandDesignPratapBhanuMehta

TWORECOMMENDEDBOOKS(OnlyIfYouHaveMoreTimeAtYourDisposal)BothByGranvilleAustinClassicsOnIndianPolity

1)TheIndianConstitution:CornerstoneofANation(ClassicReissue)Review

2)WorkingaDemocraticConstitution:AHistoryoftheIndianExperienceReview

ASMALLLECTURE

Untilnowwesawwhatbookstoread.Nowthequestionishowtoremembermostofthethingswereadandhowtotranslatethemintobetteranswers.

Acommonmistakemostoftheaspirantscommitisreadingsomanybooksforasingletopic.Thismistakecostsbothyourtimeandabilitytorememberthingsclearlyandconcisely.

Sticktoasinglesourceandreaditagainandagain.RememberTheSameSource.AvoidthetemptationofdoingResearchonatopic.

AlwaysRememberUPSCtestsBasicUnderstanding.Notmasteryoveratopic.

Makeshortnotesoneachtopic.ItiswhilemakingnotesthatreaderstendtodoRESEARCHandscoutvarioussources.Sticktoonebookevenifyouarenot100%satisfiedwithit.

Rememberthatoldsaying?Jackofalltrades,masterofNONE.IfyoutrytodoResearch,mostprobablyyournamewontappearintheFinalList.Iguaranteeit.

ForPaperII(i.eGS1)beingthoroughwithCurrentEventsplaysacrucialroleinenablingyoutoacquireanalyticalskills.

VeryImportantPartInThePreparation

Writing.Writing.Writing.

Butwhat?OnemustpracticeanswerwritingtoPreviousyearquestions,ortakeaMockTest.Whatever,beforeyouenterexaminationhall,youmusthavespentlotoftimeonanswerwriting.

MostImportantPartInThePreparation

Revision.Revision.ReRevision.

YoudothisandyouappearforthePersonalityTest.

IfyoudontRevisewhatyoureadallthesemonthsyouslightlymissthePersonalityTest,orYounarrowlymissappearingintheFinalList.

Well,tosumup.Togettheinterviewcallallyouneedtodois:Read,Rereadthesamesource,WriteandRevise.

Preparationforthispapercanbefinishedin20daysprovidedyouarefocusedanddetermined.

Ofcourse.Eatwell,SleepwellandKeepagoodhealth.Ifyougetarunningnoseonthedayoftheexam,2hoursoutof3hoursgoesindrainingitanddryingit.

STRATEGYFORGENERALSTUDIESPAPERII

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