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TIPS REGARDING UPSC CSE PREPARATION
YOGESH KUMBHEJKAR AIR 8 CSE 2015
I am Yogesh Kumbhejkar. I am an Electrical Engineer from IIT Bombay. I secured AIR 8 in Civil Services
Exam 2015 with Mathematics optional. This article is a humble attempt to share my experience of
UPSC preparation. Please note that there is no fixed way of approaching this exam. Different
candidates adopt different strategies depending on their own strengths and weaknesses. So it is up to
the UPSC aspirants to choose which of the following tips to adopt.
PRELIMINARY EXAM
Sources:
Apart from above mentioned books, TMH GS Manual is helpful for such topics where you can’t find
good reference book. It also has lots of objective questions for practice.
It is necessary to cover the syllabus thoroughly from such reference books and revise them regularly.
A UPSC aspirant’s preparation should always be revision friendly. If you are reading a reference book,
either underline important points in the book only or make short notes. So that the next time you are
able to cover the same topics in much lesser time.
Aspirants should also solve lots of practice papers. The best source is previous years’ UPSC papers.
Apart from CSE prelims, objective papers of CAPF, CDS exams conducted by UPSC can also give good
idea about the kind of questions asked by UPSC. The aim should be to develop the ability to attempt
optimum number of questions keeping in mind the negative marking system. In prelims, I used to
attempt the easier questions first and then go for questions where I had to guess or spend some more
time. In many questions, even if you don’t know the exact answer, you can guess it by eliminating
some options. To develop this judgment, the aspirant should practice regularly.
CURRENT AFFAIRS NOTES
I used to follow both The Indian Express and The Hindu regularly. The Delhi edition of The Indian
Express now covers wide range of topics in great detail and it is very useful for this preparation. This
edition is available online at epaper.indianexpress.com. Especially the ‘Explained’ page and editorials
should be religiously followed by aspirants.
Readymade current affairs notes are now easily available and they are widely used. But my
experience has been that if you invest 34 hours daily in properly reading above 2 newspapers and
making notes yourself, you will have a much better understanding of current affairs. It will be a major
plus point in every stage of this examination. I didn’t have to follow any magazines including Yojna,
kurukshetra as this practice was enough to cover all major topics over a period of time.
Current affairs notes also should be made in a systematic order so that it would be revision friendly. I
had made 5 notebooks for different areas such as Economy, Polity, International Relations,
Environment – Science & Miscellaneous. Within each notebook, there were different sections made
as per the syllabus. So if there is any important news, editorial etc. in newspaper, I would write a very
brief summary in the relevant sections. Over a period of one year, I had notes on all important topics
in a chronological order. Since these notes were made according to my own understanding, it was
much easier to revise.
In the initial days. the notes will be quite lengthy since everything in the newspapers seems
important. But gradually you will develop the judgement about what is actually important to note
down and then the time needed for making these notes will reduce.
Those who are interested in starting similar notebooks can check the index of different sections at
https://goo.gl/qFx5rp
I have uploaded sample current affairs notes at this link
https://goo.gl/lfeisb
MAIN EXAM
Sources:
GENERAL STUDIES 1
Indian Culture Old NCERT 11th Ancient India + Medieval India,11th NCERT Intro to Arts
textbook
Modern India History Old NCERT 11th Modern India, Spectrum Freedom Struggle
Post Independence Bipin Chandra
History
World History B V Rao, Youtube channel 'Crash Course' Videos
Sociology Related syllabus Internet, newspapers, 12th Human geography textbook helps in
population, migration, urbanization etc. questions
Geography 10th, 11th, 12th NCERT textbooks,
G C Leonge for concepts not covered in NCERT
GENERAL STUDIES 2
Laxmikanth Indian Polity TMH,
Current affairs notes repeated revision as mentioned above
Big picture Rajya Sabha TV discussions available on youtube
FM Gold Radio spotlight news analysis
International Relations: Current Affairs notes sufficient
GENERAL STUDIES 3
Economic Survey,
Current affairs notes repeated revision as mentioned above
Big picture Rajya Sabha TV discussions available on youtube
FM Gold Radio spotlight news analysis
Mrunal.org Notes
Sriram Classes Economy notes
GENERAL STUDIES 4
Lexicon book by chronicle repeated revision
Remembering basic definitions
Solving case studies through previous UPSC papers, vision/synergy etc. test series
The static part of mains preparation should be done from limited standard reference books. Revision
is a very important part of mains preparation and it is often given much less attention. It is much more
beneficial to read a single good reference book and revise it 4 times rather reading 4 different books
on that particular subject.
ANSWER WRITING
Practicing answer writing in limited time is very important for securing good marks in mains.
Irrespective of whatever hard work you have put into this preparation, it is only your performance in
those 3 hours that is going to determine your result. Hence, aspirants should focus on following things
in this regard:
1. Improving writing speed so that you are able to complete all questions comfortably with
decent answers. This is possible with regular practice and can make considerable
improvement in your final marks. I experienced this difference myself between my first and
second attempt. Consider the case when the paper has 20 questions. You can score better
marks by writing decent answers for all 20 questions rather than trying to write high quality
answers for only 14 ~ 15 questions. Hence I would advise aspirants to try completing all mains
papers.
2. Any formal answer would have certain keywords that should be underlined. It makes job of
the examiner easier and thus helps in fetching more marks.
3. The answer would have better structure if it has some introduction & conclusion even if it is a
brief one line. Through the answer writing practice, the aspirant should make it a habit. That
way he/she wouldn’t forget it in the actual exam.
I had joined Synergy test series in Delhi. There are many test series which are available online also. It
is less important which particular test series you join. But it is more important to consciously try to
improve your answer writing skills by sticking to the test series schedule. When you get low marks in
any test, rather than getting discouraged please try to introspect and work on those weak areas.
I have uploaded sample GS answer sheets at this link
https://goo.gl/xvh28v
ESSAY PREPARATION
If you see essay marks of the selected candidates, you would realize that there is wide variation. Some
candidates score 140+ marks whereas some score around 100. This difference is naturally translated
into their ranks also. The candidate scoring 140+ need not have written something extraordinary in
his/her essay. It requires some practice beforehand and keeping in mind few basic aspects of essay
writing such as follows:
1. In essay paper, choose the topic on which you know sufficient number of different points. It is
not advisable to experiment with some abstract topic if you are not comfortable with it.
2. In the first 10~15 minutes, note down all the points you can think of on the last page. If you
are not able to recall enough points, there is a trick. Try to connect the essay topic with
different optional subjects.
For example, if you are writing an essay on India’s tourism sector. Then you can get some of
the points as follows
a. tourism + geography = Tourism potential due to geographic diversity
b. Tourism + economics = Tourism as an economic activity
c. Tourism + history = Importance of historical places for tourism
d. Tourism + Medical science = Medical tourism
e. Tourism + International relations = Ease of getting tourist visa etc.
3. Once you have enough number of points, then they should be put in a proper sequence so
that there is a natural flow to the essay.
4. Finally in the remaining time, your job is just to expand all these points in lucid manner.
It is not necessary to use flowery language in essay. Language can be simple but you should be able to
convey your idea properly. If you cover wide range of topics in your essay, that will fetch more marks.
If you are discussing some problems, then also write about possible solutions. Always try to be
optimistic in the essay.
I have uploaded some essays at this link
https://goo.gl/sBJ6wL
OPTIONAL SUBJECT PREPARATION
CHOOSING THE OPTIONAL
My optional subject was mathematics. Aspirant should consider following things while deciding on
the optional subject:
1. It is desirable if you have some genuine interest in the subject. You will be studying that
subject in depth and if you have some original inclination it will certainly help. If you are
comfortable with your graduation subject, then go for that optional as you will save
considerable time that way.
2. Go through the syllabus and previous years’ UPSC papers of that optional. It can give you
some idea about the subject.
3. Talk to candidates who are already preparing with that subject. They can tell you about the
trend in the performance of that optional in past few years.
4. Check the blogs of selected candidates who had that optional. Find out about availability of
good reference books/material.
The optional score can make or break your result and hence it should be chosen after careful analysis.
WHY MATHEMATICS
It is very important for a UPSC aspirant to have genuine interest in mathematics if he/she wants to
choose this optional. Maths used to be my favourite subject in school and in IITB also I had pursued
additional courses in mathematics out of interest. Since the syllabus is large & requires considerable
practice, it is necessary to have a genuine interest.
Apart from my inherent inclination, this optional offers certain advantages which made it an obvious
choice. In this optional, the marks you get are almost proportional to your efforts. With proper hard
work, a candidate can comfortably attempt all the questions in exam and expect to score around 50%
marks even after heavy scaling which can offer the necessary edge in this intense competition. Such
candidate generally would not find any question surprising in mains. This kind of certainty is not
present in humanities optionals.
THE SYLLABUS
The prescribed syllabus for maths is quite large which makes it necessary to stick to limited sources. I
relied on notes provided at IMS for covering the syllabus. Since these notes were very comprehensive,
I didn't have to spend time scanning reference books for relevant material. Initially I would underline
important theorems, formulae, results mentioned in the notes. Then I used to compile them in a
notebook and this was useful for revision. So eventually I had a notebook with just the crux of the
matter. I would advise all candidates with maths optional to prepare such a summary for all topics.
Due to large syllabus, there is a natural tendency to skip a few chapters. But for the sake of
compulsory questions, it is necessary to know at least basics of each chapter. The physics related
chapters of statics, dynamics, mechanics are generally left untouched while preparing maths optional.
Regarding these chapters, my preparation was such that I would be able to solve the compulsory 10
mark questions. They are quite manageable once you know the basic theory and there is no point in
unnecessarily losing marks. The real analysis/calculus & modern algebra chapters are time consuming
but candidates can't afford to skip them.
I have uploaded my mathematics notes at this link
https://goo.gl/ugRyAF
PRACTICE
Just knowing theory is not enough. It needs to be accompanied by consistent problem solving
practice. It is best to solve questions that have already been asked in mains. If some problem seems
very nonintuitive, it would help if the trick to solve such problem is written in your notebook.
TEST SERIES
Test series is very important for this optional. I had joined IMS test series which helped me in
identifying my weak areas. In both CSE and IFoS mains, there were many questions similar to those
covered in IMS test series.
With enough practice, a candidate can achieve the ability to complete the maths paper in 3 hours. It is
important to assess your performance after each test. Necessary steps should be taken to rectify
common mistakes that you are committing in the test series. You should be alert not to repeat the
same mistakes again & again. As your performance improves with every test, the actual mains paper
will seem just like any other test & you will be able to comfortably complete it.
Presentation of your answer matters a lot. Your aim should be to make examiner's life as easy as
possible so that he/she will award you maximum marks. Only the final answer doesn't matter. Writing
proper steps is also important to show the logical flow with which you arrived at the solution.
Specifically mention whichever theorem or property you are using in a particular step. Wherever
possible, draw neat diagrams with proper labelling. Such small things will collectively fetch you the
extra marks that you are expecting from this optional.
The habit of writing such detailed answers will not develop overnight and hence you have to
consciously work through the test series in this direction.
I have uploaded a sample maths answer sheet at this link
https://goo.gl/Fe2Kgh
DURING MAIN EXAM
The mains exam schedule does not provide much gap between General Studies & Maths papers. You
will generally have 1 day in between. Your notebook containing important formulae & theorems will
be very useful at such times. You will be able to go through this summary of each chapter and it will
provide much needed confidence before the actual paper.
During the main exam, I would advise completing the compulsory questions 1 & 5 first. Then you can
choose 3 out of remaining 6 questions. Easier questions like those from topics like linear
programming, numerical analysis, linear algebra etc. should be the priority. Even if you don't know the
complete answer to any question, write as many steps as you can since partial marks also matter.
Once you finish paper 1, don't start immediately analyzing your performance. Irrespective of whether
you are very happy or deeply unsatisfied about paper 1, try to forget about it and stay calm for paper
2.
MATHS RELATED QUESTIONS IN INTERVIEW
In the interview, you can expect some questions related to mathematics optional. Generally you
won't be asked to solve a problem because that ability has been tested in mains. They would like to
see whether you have a genuine curiosity regarding mathematics outside what is mentioned in
syllabus. In my interviews, I was asked about Ramanujan's work. There were questions on Vedic
Mathematics, National Mathematics Day, important Indian Mathematical Institutions, Field medalist
Manjula Bhargava etc. Hence while preparing for interview, try to be aware about these
nontheoretical aspects of maths as well.
SHIFTING TO DELHI
I spent two & a half years in Delhi for UPSC preparation and many aspirants ask me whether it is really
necessary to move to Delhi. My opinion is that it depends entirely on the candidate whether Delhi is
the ideal place for him or her. You should be able to adjust to a new city, new food, new weather
which is not always easy. Places like Old Rajinder Nagar put considerable financial burden on the
candidate if you look at the rent etc. You also need to have some selfdiscipline so that you use the
free time mainly for your preparation and not in other unproductive activities.
Now, if a candidate is able to manage above aspects then Delhi does provide a conducive
environment for a sincere aspirant. You can focus on your preparation away from other distractions. If
you find a group of sincere friends/roommates like I was lucky enough to have, then it can be really
helpful. Such group is useful especially when you don’t realise that you need to make a course
correction in your strategy.
If a candidate can’t shift due to any reasons such as financial constraints, please note that there is no
disadvantage in it due to the internet nowadays. All the important books can be ordered, Hindu &
Indian Express can be subscribed online, test series can be availed through post and you can try to
form a group of sincere aspirants in your place itself for discussions. No coaching can guarantee
success in this exam since most of it depends on your self study. Coaching class just helps in
maintaining some momentum in preparation and hence coaching should not be the sole reason for
shifting.
A decision can be made taking all the above points into consideration.
MAINTAINING POSITIVE ATTITUDE
A UPSC candidate goes through many ups and downs during the preparation. There will be a few days
where you don’t feel like studying and that is fine. But what is important is that how quickly you can
get out of that phase and get your preparation back on track. Don’t disconnect from rest of the world
just because you are preparing for UPSC. Stay in touch with family, relatives, friends as it is very
helpful in maintaining a cheerful attitude. But at the same time, value your time and use it judiciously.
I liked watching lot of movies/TV series and listening to music before starting UPSC preparation.
During the preparation, I may have reduced the time spent on these activities but never completely
stopped them. I used to jog daily in a nearby park. Regular exercise helps in dealing with the stress of
the preparation.
Last but not the least, always keep reminding yourself of why you want to join the civil service. As long
as you have that honest burning desire inside you, you will be able to overcome such temporary
obstacles.
All the best!
DOWNLOADS
Link of overall folder
https://goo.gl/ycCIbT
Sample GS answer sheets
https://goo.gl/xvh28v
Sample essays
https://goo.gl/sBJ6wL
Notes on all mathematics topics
https://goo.gl/ugRyAF
Sample maths answer sheet
https://goo.gl/Fe2Kgh
Current Affairs Notes Index
https://goo.gl/qFx5rp
Sample Current Affairs Notes
https://goo.gl/lfeisb