UPSC Preparation for Beginners

Even though deciding to take the UPSC Civil Services Exam may be simple, what happens next
is intimidating and humbling. For a newbie, the first few months are devoted to comprehending
the UPSC Exam's nature and choosing the best course of action to take to succeed.
Before beginning with your UPSC Preparation Strategy, consider some of the following points.
• Mark the D-Day: It is crucial to mark the calendar with the exam date so it will constantly
remind you of the IAS Exam. Having a precise sense of how much time is remaining is
also helpful.
• Memorize the Syllabus: Before you begin the preparation, you should have the UPSC
Syllabus in your possession. You should carefully review the UPSC Prelims Syllabus
and Mains Syllabus and make every effort to remember them.
• Robust Study Plan: You should start writing down your daily IAS Study Time Table.
This will make it easier for you to remember the material you have studied during the
past week or month.
• Strong Mindset: You should mentally prepare yourself for the ups and downs and all
the future trials over the next few years until you succeed.

UPSC Preparation For Beginners: Tips and Tricks

From the best practice and UPSC Topper’s viewpoint, it is always suggested to have an
integrated preparation strategy for UPSC Prelims and Mains. Many candidates begin their study
for the UPSC Prelims first and wait to focus on the UPSC Mains until they have passed the
prelims. The only thing that differs between the two curricula is the test preparation.
• Read the syllabus carefully: Students who ignore the UPSC Syllabus get lost midway
when studying for UPSC Exam. You will be able to focus your preparation on the things
that matter if you follow the syllabus and know exactly what they expect.
• Time plan: Beginners should begin their preparations at least a year before the IAS
Prelims exam.
• Have a time planner: Planning should be your strong suit as an IAS official. Create a
plan of action for the remaining year. Don't rely on coaching organizations for this work;
you are the one who knows yourself the best. Plan your coursework so that you can
produce the best result.
• Division of months for Prelims and Mains: You should dedicate the first six months to
Prelims and Mains (General Studies) in an integrated manner. Give yourself three
months to finish your UPSC Optional Subject at least once before the preliminary
examination.
• Integrated Prelims and Mains Preparation: You should strive to cover the essentials,
primarily the NCERT Books for UPSC, in the first month of your preparations. You will
also benefit from knowing some fundamental facts in these areas. After a month, you
should begin practicing writing answers as soon as you have finished reading the first
NCERTs. You should not worry about the answer quality now; instead, concentrate on
producing daily answers.
• Divide the day: You should aim to study for at least 10 to 12 hours per day according to
your IAS study timetable. Those employed can dedicate 6-7 hours of quality time to the
preparation. You should resolve to study the following topics each day:
o Reading the newspaper for 1-2 hours
o Current Affairs: 2 to 3 hours
 o Static topics: 2 to 3 hours
o Practice writing answers: 1-2 hours
o Revision: 2 hours
• Zero down on sources: There is a tonne of reading materials for this coveted exam
and a tonne of publications for UPSC Beginners. Finding the most trustworthy, genuine,
and comprehensive source becomes a challenge. Here, it is advised to skim the UPSC
Books people have recommended and then select the ones you believe are most
appropriate.
• Save notes for last: Don't take notes as soon as you start a particular subject. Consult
at least two sources besides the NCERT, underline the key ideas as you read, and then
organize your notes. Spend as much time as possible taking notes because you'll be
using them to refer to in the final few months of your preparation. Additionally, create a
separate section after your notes for the trivia.
• Revision: When you start studying, you'll see that even the most straightforward
subjects have a wealth of knowledge. The secret to success is revision. You have a
tendency to forget the past as you read more. Make it a point to review your previous
day's notes before learning anything new about a subject.
• Practice CSAT: CSAT is now qualifying in nature. You should practice CSAT tests if
you have a science background and are confident in your abilities. However, if your
background differs, you should start practicing CSAT Syllabus at least two months
before the UPSC Prelims.

How to Start UPSC Preparation Strategy for Beginners

Check the UPSC Beginners Guide to crack the IAS Exam in the first attempt.

Newspaper Reading Habit for IAS Exam

• According to the new questions, reading the news and keeping up with current events is
essential and contributes to personality development.
• When you decide to participate in the UPSC Exam, download the PIB app and subscribe
to The Hindu/Indian Express. The newspaper is and ought to be a daily mainstay until
the interview stage; however, you may set aside separate days for other themes.
• This behavior will also help you perform well in the interview and produce better Mains
responses, regardless of the topic.

Curtailing the Use of Social Media and Television

• Not without cause, the UPSC Civil Services test is referred to as the ‘mother of all
exams’ or the Toughest Exam in India! Along with perseverance and hard effort,
changing your way of life is also necessary for preparation.
• Limiting your use of social media and your relationships with others would be a
significant change.
• Social media can be challenging to maintain track of time, which might cause you to
miss deadlines. You may set aside some time for these activities, but remember that you
have a time constraint.
Have Deadlines
• Setting daily and monthly goals for yourself is a great strategy to finish the UPSC
syllabus on time and make the most of each day. It was incredibly helpful and
advantageous for IAS Toppers as they prepared.
• Create a schedule for yourself, and you'll notice a difference in your studies' number and
quality.

Use Online Resources

• There may be instances when you struggle to comprehend a concept or grow bored
when self-studying.
• Watch videos for a variety of topics to get around this. They'll not only make it easier for
you to understand a subject, but they'll also save you time.

Don’t Miss Current Affairs

• The UPSC exam's current events part may be the most challenging. This is because any
question may be posed under this heading by the examiner.
• Despite the chaos, there is a method to the UPSC's surprising ways. You should
connect the news you read each day to the UPSC syllabus.
• As you read the newspapers, you should stay up with current affairs.

Always keep in mind that the race is won by the slow and steadily. Work diligently and
continuously until you succeed. You will succeed if you diligently and honestly adhere to the
advice in this article on UPSC Preparation for Beginners.