How To Prepare UPSC Civil Services Mains Paper-III (GS-2) | INSIGHTS

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INSIGHTS
JULY 23, 2013 4:51 PM

How To Prepare UPSC Civil Services Mains Paper

Click Here For More Detailed Strategies For Other Papers and More! UPSC has brought changes to the Civil Services Mains examination in both the pattern and the syllabus. We know that now there are 4 from one Essay and Optional paper each. This article discusses preparation strategy for General Studies -2 (i.e Paper-III) Before you start reading further, please remember the following important mantra given by the Almighty UPSC: The questions are likely to test the candidates basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view o goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

This sentence is the guiding light for your preparation. You dont have to master the topics, all you need is BASIC UNDERSTANDING Basic understanding comes from reading and re-reading. Ability to analyze what you have understood from reading comes from WRIT Two important things fundamental to your exam preparation:

Get familiar with all the topics and sub-topics by writing them many times they should be strongly etched in your memory.

Keep a copy of the syllabus always near you no matter where you are.

Now, how to deal with GS-2? Assuming you are now familiar with the syllabus of GS-1, we will discuss a topic by topic what to read, from where to read and what no Broad Syllabus Of GS-2 is: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

Before you start preparing for this paper, please read following NCERT texts, which might take 2-3 days of your time. NCERT Class XI India Constitution At Work

NCERT Class XII Political Science II

NCERT Class X Democratic Politics

TOPIC-1 Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

This part is very useful both for Prelims and Mains. Best book to study this section is D.D. Basus Introduction To The Constitution O book exclusively deal with this part of the syllabus. For Basic Structure, These two articles might help you. 1) Basic Structure of the constitution revisited - The Hindu (PDF) 2) The Basic Structure of the constitution (PDF) TOPIC-2

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Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of local levels and challenges therein.

One good source to get the critical perspective about these topics is Report of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission, named Of Government of India (13th Report) For devolution of finances to local bodies, Read This.. (Dont look anywhere else) For the concept part read - Laxmikants Indian Polity. Buy the new updated 4th edition. (Chapters 12, 13 14 and 30). But Mains demands not only basic understanding of these topics, but your critical and analytic abilities to answer questions on these t concepts to current event topics and write small articles. ARC reports will help you in this regard. Eg. Though devolution of funds, functionaries and functions is taking place in the local governments, development is still a mirage Critically analyze. (you can frame many questions like this) TOPIC-3 Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

BASICS: Public Grievances and Redressal Mechanism This topic is a dynamic portion we read lot about conflict between the Judiciary and the Executive to answer dynamic topics, one constitutional provisions, redressal measures with the constitution, checks and balances provided in the constitution etc. ARC reports come to the rescue again. 7th report of 2nd ARC named Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution talks elaborately on Extremism, Regional Disparities, Land and Water related issues, SC and ST issues, Religious conflicts and North East conflicts whic in the conflict management and resolution. Later, scan current events and find any latest instances of conflict between any constitutional bodies, or between a constitutional body Again, concepts can be studied either from D.D. Basu or Laxmikat.. TOPIC-4 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

A book by S. Chand Select Constitutions of the world is famous among Law students. This covers this topic comprehensively. One s this topic in depth. In case you can afford to buy costly book - D.D. Basus Classic on the Indian Constitution Shorter Constitution Of India not only cov the present topic. Few links that might help:

Constitutions around the world Evolution of Indian Constitution (It is compared with other constitutions you have to search in between) Difference between US and EU constitutions.

Try to know some basics about the New Constitutions/reforms being framed/brought out in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Pakistan. (Again, emphasis should be on relating all these topics to the current events)

TOPIC-5 Parliament and State Legislatures structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of thes

To cover this topic, one stop source is Subhash Kashyps Our Parliament. (Why this book? Because it is written by someone who work of his career, and this book gives a detailed idea about the functioning of our Parliament as the above topic suggests, you should be f Parliament. This books is cheap, and is highly readable with lot of insights) TOPIC-6 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pres formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

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BASICS:

Union Executive Parliament of India Supreme Court of India Executive in the States State Legislature High Courts and Subordinate Courts Local Government:Urban and Rural Pressure Groups

Again, Laxmikant is enough for this topic. Regarding pressure groups/ informal associations recent activism shown by Civil society and other such topics should be studied in depth. TOPIC-7 Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act.

First read this beautiful article by Yogendra Yadav. (PDF) This topic has generated more heat in the past and present eg, office of profit bill, anti-defection bill, electoral reforms bill etc. This topic should be Recent supreme court ruling disqualifying MPs and MLAs with criminal background, and current topics like this should be studied ca TOPIC-8 and 9 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. . Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

Read Laxmikant for this part. Part VII,VIII and IX of this book completely covers these topics. This part of the syllabus has given rise to some contentious issues such as political interference in the appointment to various constitu Eg EC, CBI, CVC, CAG, SC, Governors, Lokayukta, Lokpal (if it comes into existence) etc. So, read this topic keeping in mind these abo As I said before, you need to read all the above topics with an analytical perspective. To provide you with this, there is a wonderful boo Press and authored by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, named Public Institutions in India Performance and Design, will be immensely use As its back cover says, This volume analytically assesses the design, performance, and adaptability of the principal institutions of g critical role in a democratic polity. That is what you need for this paper. TOPIC-10 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementati

This part is covered well in the same book I mentioned above: Public Institutions in India Performance and Design Also, refer Economic Survey for government policies and PIB site regularly. TOPIC-11 Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities stakeholders

[Please note the phrase "Development Industry" - it refers to aid industry developed around NGOs, UN bodies, Charities etc and the process.] Planning commission has various articles on these topics. This report gives critical account of success and failure of SHGs in India. (just read the summary, conclusion and recommendations Article on NGO their evolution and role.

TOPIC-12

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Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechan Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Note the word STATE schemes by the states are also important.

Focus on the schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child welfare, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of R Tribal affairs.

List Of Government Schemes India Wikipedia link. List of All state and central scheme Govt. of India Website (here you can filter queries by the ministry- it is not easy though, govt site One more option is visit this link on my site to go to the site of any Ministry and find schemes there. TOPICS 12 and 13 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. . Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

We read lot about this these days: Food security bill, PDS reform, Poverty reduction schemes, Poverty-line controversy, Malnutrition (remember HungMa report?) etc. TOPIC-13 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, an transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures

This introductory article on 2nd ARC site and 2nd ARC report on Promoting e-Governance: The SMART Way Forward will be very u E-governance Concept and Significance (IGNOU) TOPIC-14 Role of civil services in a democracy

Again, 2nd ARC report (10th report) Refurbishing of Personnel Administration has whole chapter (ch-4) on this topic. International Relations

TOPIC-15 India and its neighborhood- relations.

Two sources for this topic: 1.

India and its neighbours MEA Website India Afghanistan India Pakistan India Nepal India Bhutan India Bangladesh India Sri lanka India Maldives India China India Myanmar

2. For critical analysis This Book by Rajiv Sikri Challenge and Strategy Rethinking Indias Foreign Policy is must for reading this TOPIC 16 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting Indias interests

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For Indias relations with the other countries, click here. (read only important counries USA, UK, EU, SA, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Au Ministry of External Affairs has briefs on all bilateral relations of India with regional and global groupings:

Andean Community (CAN) February 2013 ASEAN Regional Forum August 2012 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) May 2013 BRICS April 2013 Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) January 2013 Central American Integration System (SICA) February 2013 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) August 2012 Commonwealth August 2011 Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) August 2012 eraction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia ( East African Community April 2011 East Asia Summit January 2013 G-20 August 2012 Gulf Cooperation Council February 2013 India-African Union Relations India-ASEAN Relations April 2013 India-EU Relations July 2013 Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) March 2013 India-United Nations Relations, January, 2013 Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) May 2013 Pan African e-Network Project January 2013 Southern African Development Community Cooperation April 2012

TOPIC-18 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Indias interests, Indian diaspora

This is a dynamic part effects of globalization, WTO policies, domestic policies of developed countries and their effect on other coun UK can be given visa row, war on terrorism, immigration policies, economic policies etc) Indian diaspora their contribution to India, Indias contribution to them, Their contribution to the world etc. Their problems in the India constitutional/statutory provisions if any, their participation in track two diplomacy, their role in Indian economy etc etc. Newspaper is the best source I guess. For more info, visit the official site. TOPIC- 19 Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

UNO and its various bodies, agencies must be studied with respect to their structure, role, relevance and reforms. UN reforms is the h International Organizations (no UN bodies) such as APEC, ADB, ASEAN, OECD, NATO should be studied. For links to all these organizations: click here. Finally, for some articles from Yojana magazines (2013) that are related to many topics from this Paper, click here. Five Indispensable Books For paper-III

D.D.Basu - Introduction to the Constitution of India 20 Edition

Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations 4th Edition Laxmikanth

Select Constitutions: 16th Edition S Chand

Challenge And Strategy : Rethinking Indias Foreign Policy Rajiv Sikri

Public Institutions in India: Performance and Design Pratap Bhanu Mehta

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TWO RECOMMENDED BOOKS (Only If You Have More Time At Your Disposal) Both By Granville Austin Classi 1) The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of A Nation (Classic Reissue) - Review 2) Working a Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience - Review A SMALL LECTURE

Until now we saw what books to read. Now the question is how to remember most of the things we read and how to translate them int

A common mistake most of the aspirants commit is reading so many books for a single topic.This mistake costs both your time a clearly and concisely. Stick to a single source and read it again and again. Remember The Same Source. Avoid the temptation of doing Research on a Always Remember UPSC tests Basic Understanding. Not mastery over a topic. Make short notes on each topic. It is while making notes that readers tend to do RESEARCH and scout various sources. Stick to 100% satisfied with it. Remember that old saying? Jack of all trades, master of NONE. If you try to do Research, most probably your name wont app it. For Paper-II (i.e GS-1) being thorough with Current Events plays a crucial role in enabling you to acquire analytical skills.

Very Important Part In The Preparation

Writing. Writing. Writing. But what? One must practice answer writing to Previous year questions, or take a Mock Test. Whatever, before you enter exam lot of time on answer writing.

Most Important Part In The Preparation

Revision. Revision. Re-Revision. You do this and you appear for the Personality Test. If you dont Revise what you read all these months you slightly miss the Personality Test, or You narrowly miss appearing in th

Well, to sum up. To get the interview call all you need to do is: Read, Re-read the same source, Write and Revise. Preparation for this paper can be finished in 20 days provided you are focused and determined. Of course. Eat well, Sleep well and Keep a good health. If you get a running nose on the day of the exam, 2 hours out of 3 hours goes in STRATEGY FOR GENERAL STUDIES PAPER -II

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