Choose the IAS Study Materials Which Cover the Latest UPSC Syllabus in Detail

Civil services are the most competitive examinations in India and immensely prestigious. They are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC also conducts various other examinations to fill other vacancies. The Civil Service Examination is also known as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam.

This examination is conducted in three phases: the Preliminary, the Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview). The Preliminary is objective in nature, with a total of 400 marks. The Mains consist of nine papers and are descriptive in nature.

Before gearing up for the examination, the following points must be considered:

• The dates of the examination are subject to fluctuation. Aspirants must always keep an eye on the official notifications.
• The Personality Test is very important. A candidate's performance is the key to success. Once they have prepared well, they can approach the exam with confidence.

Planning a schedule to cover the UPSC syllabus is very important. Continuous practice is essential to crack this most challenging examination. The estimated time required for thorough preparation is ten to twelve months.

When the Preliminary examination is about 150 days away, you can schedule your revisions in such a way to cover the entire syllabus once again. This revision will help you gain confidence before attempting the examination.

This study plan is for all students – whether you have covered the syllabus on your own or have attended an IAS academy. Mock examinations are the best way to revise. The following plan can be adopted:

For UPSC study materials and books, you can join a coaching centre like Chinmaya IAS Academy in Chennai, or seek advice from senior civil servants. Inputs from coaching centres and seniors are highly valuable. You can also refer to reliable internet sources. Once you have shortlisted your reference materials, start your scheduled preparation.

The ideal way to prepare for current affairs is by reading the newspaper from page one to the last. A standard English newspaper, along with one regional newspaper, is sufficient. Maintain a notebook to jot down all important points. This handbook provides an easy way to revise current affairs. The various coaching centre websites also provide links to current affairs. Apart from newspapers, ensure to check these web pages to be thorough with current affairs. This solid preparation is useful for both the Preliminary and Main examinations.

Taking two tests at a time, read the entire syllabus of the two subjects. For example, consider Polity and Modern India. Polity has seven topics while Modern India consists of about ten topics along with current affairs. Read the regular reference books thoroughly and mark the pages for revisions.

The schedule should be planned monthly, weekly, and daily. Calculate the effective hours you can study in a day, keeping contingencies in mind. Keep a combination of one interesting subject along with one less interesting subject to maintain momentum.

Always plan for around ten hours of study with effective breaks, and don't skip meals or sleep. Studying more than ten to twelve hours might increase stress and reduce confidence. Never study for more than three hours at a stretch; it hampers memory retention. Divide your time between two or three subjects throughout the day. It's also vital to engage in physical activity or a hobby to avoid mental blocks. This ensures you maintain good health.

Always keep an hour for revising the subjects studied during the day. Now that you have a rough schedule, you can start your preparations in full swing. All the very best!