Self-Preparation For UPSC
Many of you doubt whether it is possible to crack IAS on your own. Of course, it is possible. Although several IAS coaching centers have come, it is possible to crack UPSC on your own if you follow the right strategy. Every year, not everybody gets the chance to join reputed IAS coaching institutes. Lakhs and lakhs of candidates from several parts of India dream to become an IAS and prepare for it. Since these institutes are not present in remote parts of India, candidates have no other choice but to prepare for the UPSC exam independently. Therefore, here is a guideline that you can follow to prepare for UPSC on your own.
1. Start early Every candidate should first acknowledge the fact that UPSC is not a child’s play. It is a challenging exam and needs a lot of concentration and perseverance to crack it. Since you have none to monitor you or guide you, it is better if you start early. Prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the full-on journey that you will have to go through. Also, accept that none can pass UPSC at one go. So, even if you fail, you should not lose hope.
2. Make a timetable and stick to it Since you are studying independently, you should prepare a timetable and try hard and fast to stick to it. Many times it has been noticed that UPSC aspirants who are self-studying have prepared a schedule but have failed to follow it and eventually could not pass the UPSC exam. Remember, UPSC is a serious business, and you should not
take any aspect related to the exam lightly. In the timetable, allot a couple of hours for different subjects. For example, suppose you are practicing a sociology test series. Make it a point to allocate one day in a week to practice test papers.
3. Go through the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus If you know the UPSC exam, you will know that the exam is conducted in three phases. There are the prelims, the mains, and the interview round. The syllabus for both the prelims and the mains differs. So, when you know the exam pattern and the syllabus, it will be easier for you to concentrate on particular topics. Some suggest listening to hear the syllabus so that you do not go off the track.
4. Start reading the current affairs regularly Current affairs constitute an essential part of the UPSC exam. Hence, this is something that needs special attention. You need to go through the daily newspaper, magazines, and gazettes to ace the current affairs. Besides, you can search for materials on the internet. Thus, you will get a look at materials online. However, now you have to decide which ones are essential for you and which ones are not.
5. Study the NCERT books Initially, NCERT books were followed only by CBSE. However, from 2019 onwards, the ICSE board also accommodated the NCERT books in their syllabus. Therefore, procuring NCERT books is very easy. Further, many IAS coaching centers prefer NCERT books as the concepts are clearly explained there. Hence, you will not face any difficulty in understanding.
6. Choose the right optional subject Candidates appearing for the UPSC exam have to choose an optional subject for the UPSC Mains. Any prefer sociology optional test series as the syllabus is concise and can be covered easily. So, you get ample time to revise. Originally Posted: http://finaca.com/post/179461/self-preparation-for-upsc.html