1) Preface 2) General Overview of the Exam Basics of the exam Nature of exam Choosing the optionals Relevance of coaching Indicative scoring pattern of the exam General Suggestions How should a fresher approach the exam? 3) Various Stages of the Exam Preliminary examination Main examination Interview My CS Interview 2011 4) Reference Books General Studies for Prelim and Main Exam Public Administration History 5) Exclusive inputs from Sri.R.Vineel Krishna, IAS regarding Hobbies Ideal Time Table Studying while doing a job How to study? How to prepare notes? Revision Where to prepare? How to write answers? How to remember? Stress management Long term orientation for school & college students Miscellaneous topics like Health, diary writing, books & cassettes & book shops
Preface Civil Services Examination is considered the most prestigious exam to enter into government service to man positions at highest level. They get an opportunity to take part in formulation and implementation of public policies and programmes that determine the development discourse of the nation.
Its many peoples dream, but, a few would make it to the final list. A look at the marks scored and backgrounds of several candidates reveals that its an ordinary examination. However, it requires nothing less than sustained hard work, unflinching determination and great passion to become a civil servant. Some people like me who hail from rural background have limited or little access to right kind of guidance and information about the requirements of the exam. Also, some people with superficial ideas about exam plunge in and bite the dust when face the hard realities. Right guidance from the right persons is indispensable to make preparation for this exam simpler and enriching.
It is this end in view, I have tried to compile this piece of information regarding various requirements of this exam so as to provide a basic guidance to those who wish to appear for this exam. I was privileged to get valuable guidance from Sri.R.Vineel Krishna, IAS (Orissa Cadre) during initial days of my preparation. Some of the inputs shared by him then are made use of in this document with a grand purpose of showing right path to those who are knew to this journey.
Some aspirants have misconceptions about various aspects of the exam and are ending up wasting time and energy. This document sheds some light on each and every aspect of the exam. It helps you approach the exam with confident and positive frame of mind. You are right in aiming big, but be right in choosing the means to achieve it.
With best wishes,
Basics of the Exam:
Before starting the preparation, it is important to have a complete understanding about the exam process, its structure and the various aspects related to the preparation.
The structure of the exam and related information can be obtained from the UPSC website. Go to www.upsc.gov.in -----> Examination -----> Archival then click CSE notification. The complete notification should be studied carefully. You will have a comprehensive idea about various stages of the exam, pattern of exam at each stage, optional subjects, syllabus, max. marks at each stage, eligibility criteria, no. of attempts, Services that come under this exam etc. One should have a basic idea of the exam including various stages, nature of various Services as part of this exam, scoring pattern, recent trends, efforts of successful candidates etc. This will have great impact on the course of your preparation.
Nature of the Exam
In any competitive exam, understanding the nature of the exam is the most crucial phase. The preparation will be more focused when you know exactly what the examiner is expecting. At the same time, the competition is relative. You only need to be better than the other aspirants to get a final place in the merit list.
Check yourself in following ways: - A thorough analysis of the previous years papers and the recent trends. - Discussing elaborately with teachers, successful candidates and seniors. - Carefully understanding the requirements of the exam as given in the notification.
The preparation should start only after having the basic idea about the exam. Later on, as you study, there should be a continuous analysis and comparison between your preparation and the requirements of the exam. This kind of assessment will help in being very focused and all the efforts can be channelised in the right direction.
Understanding the nature of the exam is very critical for success in civils exam. First of all, lets examine why it takes so much time for many in clearing this exam. There is lot of hype around the IAS exam. People have very ridiculous ides about the preparation for it. The coaching institutes, magazines and toppers almost everyone associated with the exam try to increase this hype due to vested interests. So a fresh aspirant comes with the idea that he has to do some hi-funda preparation and be like a scholar in the subjects. He starts his preparation on a high note and works hard in the beginning. For each topic he tries to do maximum and best preparation. In the process, he reads all the text books and the coaching material available in the market. Some spend 2-3 days on each topic and prepare 10-15 pages of notes. Gradually, he feels exhausted and the momentum slows down. Due to this approach, he is not able to complete the syllabus. So, he goes for a selective study as the exam nears. Now the pressure becomes unbearable, as on one hand
he has not completed the syllabus and on the other hand he prepared so much notes for each topic that revision becomes impossible within a short time.
People have a funny idea that civils can be cleared only in multiple attempts. So, the aspirant starts succumbing to pressure and convinces himself that it is only his first attempt and, therefore he can prepare better next time. Naturally, his performance in the exam affects and he is in no position to clear the exam. When the marks come, he will compare his marks with what he has written. Then, he will also compare the marks of toppers. With experience, he realizes that the exam does not expect him to be a master in the subject. But merely that the aspirant should be thorough in the basics. By that time, precious time is wasted.
The civils exam is all about the basics with lot of clarity. The exam process is complex, but the solution should be a simple one. If the aspirant complicates the preparation also, then he is in real trouble. To understand the exam, just observe the following facts: - The candidates who qualify for IAS (say top 80) get marks in the range of 55-60% and in CSE-2011, it was only 50-60%. - To make it to the final list, a candidate requires 50-55% and in the changing trend it is only 45-52% - To qualify for the interview a candidate requires 48-50% earlier and now it is only 43-45%
That means, it is sufficient to get a Second class to clear the exam. Even the toppers get only around 58% marks. The reason is due to the nature of the exam itself. The syllabus is so huge that it is not humanly possible to be a scholar in all the papers GS, essay and two optionals (preliminary, main and interview). In the final month, when revision has to be done, there will be around 2000 topics in all including various sub-topics from which questions can be asked. It is not possible for anyone to master that much syllabus. The exam can be written well when the preparation is simple and the aspirant is very strong in basics with clarity.
In Public administration, there is a theory on Decision making by Herbert Simon. Taking an analogy of that theory to exam preparation, the strategy should be a Satisfying approach. It means a preparation which is good enough for the exam. Whereas, many try to do a maximising approach where they want to do the best preparation without considering the requirements of the exam. The civils exam is all about basics and a Satisfycing approach not a maximizing one.
Anyhow, the exam process itself is psychologically very pressurizing. We should devise ways to reduce this pressure. By adopting a Maximizing approach, the revision becomes very difficult and the exam days will be a nightmare. When the preparation is complicated, there is a real danger of confusion with respect to clarity. Since, revision is difficult, remembering and reproducing in the exam hall will be affected. Therefore, the focus should be on getting clarity on the basics. When the foundation is strong there is no problem of revision and reproduction. Moreover, the exam only requires 50% marks, which is quite easy with good basics. The marks can be further enhanced with innovation in writing answers. That will take the scores beyond 55-60%, ensuring a top service. So, the real key to the civils exam is basics with clarity and innovation.
The creativity and innovation is not something that you will get in the text books. They have to be developed on your own. It requires lot of thinking and observation. By innovation in answers what is meant is catchy introduction, diagrams, graphs, flow charts, maps, case studies, contemporary touch and applicability & conclusion.
Basics with clarity will come when there is lot of questioning while studying. The topic has to be studied in a logical manner. Suppose you are studying a topic on Inflation. Think logically as a layman, then you should get the following sequence of questions - what is inflation - why should there be inflation, i.e., causes - So what if there is inflation, i.e., impact - If impact is negative, then naturally we should be doing something to reduce it, so what steps were taken and what happened - If still inflation is there, then whats wrong with the steps taken - How to control inflation , any suggestions by experts and recent developments. You can add innovations like say a simple graph showing how the inflation has been in recent times and also a flow diagram about the impact of inflation.
In this manner, the basics in the topic can be covered with clarity. And the topic should be remembered in this logical structured way for the exam. It should be understood that once you have done the topic in this comprehensive method through logical questioning, the preparation is over for that topic. You need not go through any journals or hi-funda text books for becoming an expert in the topic. This much of basics with clarity is sufficient for the exam. And, this is what is humanly possible in view of the huge syllabus.
Secondly, since the preparation will be simple with a Satisfycing approach, it is easy to complete the whole syllabus. The reason why many go for selective preparation is because they maximize each topic, spend 2-3 days on it and in the end there is no time for completing the syllabus. It becomes very risky in the exam if the paper is not favourable. So, its very important that no topic is left out in the syllabus.
It should be noted that completing the syllabus with basic clarity itself requires lots of efforts. But the hard work would be channelised in the right direction and there would be no reason why the candidate would not be successful.
So, to summarize, the following points should be kept in mind while doing preparation: - It is a Second class exam which requires a satisfycing approach - The focus should be on gaining basic clarity in each topic, which will come only through lots of logical questioning - The whole syllabus should be completed - More time should be spent on thinking about the topic and making innovations, rather than on reading too many study material. - The previous papers should be thoroughly analyzed to understand the expectations of the examiner. - The preparation should be focused and all the hard work should be channelised in the right direction.
Choosing the optionals
The most important step in the exam is chosing the optionals. There is a need to be really cautious about the optionals. The main problem is lack of level playing field between the optionals. In fact, the result depends a lot on the optionals that we take.
Some criteria which should guide you while chosing optionals are: - interest in the subject. This is quite important for sustaining the momentum in studies and completing the huge syllabus. - Availability of guidance in the form of seniors who cleared with the optional, coaching, material, etc. - Performance of the optional in the last few years. - Time gap between the two optionals. Chose the optionals combination so that there is some time gap between them.
Some of the optionals which a majority take are: Anthropology, Geography, Public Administration, History, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Sociology and Literature.
The main advantage with these optionals are: - availability of guidance, which reduces the efforts to a large extent - the knowledge also helps in GS, Essay and interview. - They are also relevant for an administartive career.
The reason why they are called scoring is not because the examiners give more marks here. The guidance helps a lot in understanding the exam quickly. So, we can prepare accordingly and score well. Also, because there is market for these subjects, the material available is olso of good standard. Moreover, there is no risk associated with these optionals.
If a person is from professional education background, which optionals should he choose? This is a basic question for many. There is a tendancy to opt for the graduating subject. Lets understand the problems associated with these subjects. o There will be no guidance available. So, lots of time will have to be spent in understanding the requirements of the exam. Then, searching for the material. It becomes a trial and error process. All the energies will be spent on this, while you get exhausted when really studying. At the same time, you will also have to complete the huge syllabus of another optional and GS. o Because of the above problem, it will take more time and more attempts. While, your friends in other fields go far ahead. So, both peer and social pressure starts. The exam is anyhow psychologically draining, if other pressures add to it, then it becomes unbearable. Finally, your goal of cracking the exam becomes impossible. o You will have to do every thing on your own. Initially it might be fine. But the exam is of long duration. It becomes difficult to sustain the momentum on your own. o Previously, science and engg. Optionals used to do very well. In top 20, there used to be 18-19 from IIT and engg background. But after 2000, UPSC has modified the syllabus. It became a very huge syllabus and even the exam questions are made tough. Thats the reason why, very few are writing the exam
from IITs now. Many engineers are taking Arts optionals instead of sciences. Just observe the background of the toppers and their optionals.
A person might be University topper, but we have to understand the difference between an academic exam and a competitive exam. Moreover, the optionals are not on the same platform. So it is very important to be careful, while chosing optionals, even though you might feel you are really good in a particular subject.
Still, if you are confident about your subject, then do take that optional. Because, there is nothing like a scoring or non-scoring optional. There are some people who cleared with optionals that others dont take generally. But take into consideration the following points - do you have a senior who has cleared with this optional and who can guide you well - do you have close association with professors who have good understanding about this exam. - Are you clear about the requirements of the exam? Study the previous papers thoroughly and assess yourself - Be clear about the books to follow. Dont do trial and error process. Do a focused exam oriented preparation. - Be aware that you have to put double the efforts compared to other aspirants. This should always be on your mind. - Do not neglect other optional and GS. Give equal importance. - Form a group of aspirants with same optional. If you prepare in isolation, then there will be no flow of information.
There are some succesful candidates with following optionals Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Commerce and Accountancy, Managemet, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Zoology.
Do not be in a hurry to decide about the optional. Be very cautious and consult the right people about the information. Analyse carefully all the pros and cons, and then take a decision purely based on your assessment.
Relevance of Coaching
Due to the complex exam procedure, the coaching assumes a crucial role. Unfortunately, it is a costly affair. But the coaching has the following advantages: - helps in understanding the requirements of the exam quickly, so that the preparation is focussed. - reduces the efforts in preparation, as subject experts teach the topics in exam orientation. Any how, the candidate has to prepare for atleast one new optional. - helps in getting many contacts with co-aspirants which is useful for exam related information. Never prepare for this exam in complete isolation. In any complex situation, information plays the key role.
It is advisable to go for some coaching classes. But remember that there are not many genuine teachers available. So be very careful while joining any institute. Please take into account the following points: - do not merely go by the advertisements, nor the claims made in magazines or the interviews supposedly given by the toppers.
- meet the successful candidates and the seniors who have taken coaching from that institute. - do not go by the advise of only one person. It is better to contact as many as possible and get a general opinion. - meet the teacher personally,ask for their programme details, results,etc, and assess yourself if it is worth joining there.
If you are working somewhere or economically under privileged, and therefore, cannot go for coaching, please do not get discouraged. There are many people who cleared the exam without coaching. You can device ways of getting the required information about the exam. But you should always be aware that you will have to work harder than others to clear the exam. So be prepared for that and believe that hard work will always be paid back in the end.
Check out the competition magazines to get the addresses of various coaching institutes.
Indicative scoring pattern at various stages:
The following data about the marks and the ranks will give a general idea about the efforts that are required. The marks and the ranks keep varying every year depending on the vacancies and the standard of the question papers.
In prelims, a score of above 200 out of 400 is desirable to be on the safe side. The 2011 CSAT paper (Paper-II) was relatively easier and GS was tough. But both the papers of 2012 are equally difficult. But if you practice well and sharp/smart enough, you will have edge in CSAT paper. Scoring rate in the Mains has continuously declined over the years as the toughness of the GS papers has increased. Once, good score in GS papers used to be around 320-350. But, now anything between 230-260 is a good score. However, there is scope for high scoring in optional depending on your strength on your own optional. Overall, the scores for the mains are in the range of 45-50%. Usually, a score of around 925-950 is better to ensure a place in the interview list. In the interview, a score around 150-180 is a normal performance. Some get a score of even 220-240. The UPSC has deliberately kept a wide range in interview (scores vary between 50- 240), so as to have the final say in who would get into the service. So, it is very important to make personality development a vital part in your preparation. The final rank is going to depend very much on the interview marks. In general category, the score should be around 1150-1200 to get into IAS. The actual ranks and the service placements can be obtained from the personnel ministry website with this link http://persmin.gov.in/ais1/WelcomeCSE.asp. However, it should be noted that the overall scores in CSE-2011 have drastically come down and hence, cut offs at various stages of the exam are also very low compared to any exam year in the recent past.
General Suggestions:
Observe the following points: Long hours of study and lot of other sacrifices are needed. You should have a very determined mental make up and a never-say-die kind of spirit.
The fortune favours the brave. So work hard with courage inspite of the failures. The final reward is bound to come. The luck factor does not help if you dont work hard to your full capacity. To err is human, but the one who rectifies is a champion. So, do lots of introspection as you progress in the preparation. This will help you in identifying the mistakes and rectifying them at the right time. Devotion and Determination are the keys to the success. Be ready to work hard. But at the same time, ensure that your efforts are channelised in the right direction. Plan your study and try to work it out within schedule. Set weekly targets and at the end of the week, do a self-appraisal. Patience and perseverence always pays. You should have the confidence and the killer instinct. Remember clearly that there are no shortcuts to success. There will be lots of temptation to give up the attempt, as you progress in the preparation. This is mainly due to the huge syllabus and the accumulating pressure. But be aware that these are the critical moments. You should face all these pressures with courage. Be determined to clear the exam in the first attempt.
How should a fresh candidate approach the exam?
A new aspirant should keep in mind the following points: first try to understand the exam. Gather information from various sources, analyse the previous years papers, meet seniors and teachers, and think deeply about the exam and the way you should prepare. chose the optionals very carefully. Settle down in some place where you can study without disturbances, it is better to be isolated for a year during the preparation. select the coaching centers carefully after enquiring from various sources. Do not merely go by the advertisements. Do not be in a hurry to buy all the material available in the market. Be selective and chose only the best, based on advise of right seniors. Establish good relation with the teachers and make complete advantage of their experience. Remember always that you are going to have a tough period for next two years. So be well prepared for all situations. Keep working hard right from the beginning without any distractions. Believe strongly that you will clear the exam in the first attempt itself and do not compromise at any stage. If required work harder than ever before. Take care of your health aspects. Do not be in a hurry to complete the syllabus. Go slow when you read new concepts. Do regular revisions. make writing practise a part of your daily routine. The current affairs notes should be prepared every day. The preparation should be started atleast a year ahead of the prelims exam. Do not give the attempt unless you are confident of qualifying for the interview. The first attempt should be the best one, so work hard with determination.
VARIOUS STAGES OF THE EXAM:
Preliminary Exam:
This is the first stage of the exam and should never be taken lightly. The preparation should be such that you should not have any doubt about clearing the exam. The prelims should only be a passing phase. If you prepare well for the mains exam and be clear about the basics, then prelims should not be problem. The preparation for the prelims should start from January.
The prelims is a test of recognition. It is sufficient if you can recognise the correct answer from given choices. So if you are strong in basics this should not be problem. Do not spend too much time in memorising facts. Its fine if you can recognise it. Try to be thorough with the basic concepts in every aspect of General Studies. Practising previous papers and the tests is very important. It will help you in time management and also in identifying the weak areas. This practise should be right from the beginning and not in the final stages. The GS paper is feared by many at the prelims stage. There is an opinion that very difficult questions are asked from wide areas. While preparing for the GS paper, the first efforts should be to analyse the previous years papers and then start preparation. Even while studying, you should keep looking at past questions. This will help in a focused preparation. In GS, it is equally important to know what not to study.
The score around 90-110 out of 200 in GS paper (Paper-I) is safe to clear prelims. In the whole paper, 10-15% questions are really tough that none can answer. Many aspirants orient their preparation keeping in view those very difficult questions. This can be counter productive since it is not possible to master all areas in GS and while trying to remember too many facts, the basic clarity will be lost. Despite negative marking, one has to attempt atleast 65-70 out of 100 questions to be in competition. In CSAT (Paper-II) also, score around 100-120 out of 200 is safe. However, there is scope for better score in this paper. In that case, there will be cushion against GS paper and reduce your pressure on GS. The questions related to Decision making should be answered with balanced judgement. Basic clarity in arithmetical concepts and smartness in approach would give you good marks. Questions related to Comprehension test your ability to read and understand quickly and thorough practice would keep you ahead. Therefore, a cumulative score of about 200-220 (out of 400) is safe/sufficient to clear prelims.
Main Examination:
The main is exam is the most important stage of the exam. If you are well prepared for the mains, then a good foundation will be made. The risk involved with the interview can also be reduced with good main performance. The preparation should be mains- oriented right from the beginning. You should try to gather as many marks as possible in the main exam.
Note the following general points: Improve your handwriting The answer is the medium through which you are conveying to the examiner. So you
should think as to how to impress the examiner with the answer. Your pen, handwriting, writing style, logical presentation, innovations, relevance to the question, etc, everything matters. Be careful about these aspects right from the beginning. The final two months should be devoted to repeated revisions. The writing practise within time limit should be done from the beginning. This will help in understanding what you can remember and reproduce within the time limit. If you do this as the preparation progresses then the study will be exam-oriented. While writing answers, focus on good introductions and conclusions. The presentation should be logical. The introduction should introduce the reader about the path he is about to take and whats instored for him. It should raise the curiosity of the reader. While, the conclusion should sum up what the reader has gone through in the path. There should be a balanced judgement in the conclusions. You need not have a very good vocabulary or scholarly writing style. It is sufficient if you can present your answer in a simple logical manner. Your aim should be to score equally well in all the papers. In general, you should get above 350 in optional and as the GS has become a tough nut, aim for scoring above 250. Depending on your strong areas you should get more marks in some papers. The essay score should be above 100. In this way, if you can get around 1050, then the position will be very strong. At the end, you should be in a position to lecture 5-10 minutes on any topic. Then it means you have the basic clarity. The presentation is to be practised well. Do not dump the information, but present it in a logical and attractive manner. The point form can be used only for some factual areas. Other wise, paragraph mode with good analysis should be used. Read the question carefully and grasp the aspect being asked. The answer should be relevant to what is being asked.
General Studies: Since 2008 exam, the structure of the papers has been consistently changing year after year. Thus, no. of questions from different areas of the paper, nature of questions, type of questions in terms of marks allotted to each etc has become difficult to guess. Focus has shifted from basic concepts of various segments to contemporary relevance of these concepts in the light of the recent issues. The share of current issues and analysis has increased drastically. Pre-2008 score of 350 & above is an impossibility now. Score about 220-250 is good one and above 250 is excellent. History & culture focus now shifted to culture from traditional history. Questions on Music, dances, tribes, painting, architecture, literature, personalities are prominent now. Geography focus mainly on economic geography. Polity questions mostly on the issues of current relevance w.r.t. political developments. No more chocolate questions. Focus on recent legislations, pending bills and their evaluation. Current national issues and topics of social relevance focus on development dynamics, concern for ecology & sustainable development, health infra & concerns, inclusive growth and development etc.
India & the world focus mainly on Indias security concerns and strategic interests, emerging relations with our neighbours, Nuclear doctrine, Indias role in global issues etc. Indias economic interaction with the world focus mainly on Indias growth story i.e. FDI etc., India and WTO, India efforts at achieving energy security. S&T applications of emerging technologies like BT, NT, Stem Cell Research etc., emerging appliances in the fields of electronics, computers etc., technologies for ecological conservation etc. Intl institutions and issues focus on developments related to imp institutions, global issues of relevance. Thorough updation of current issues in all segments through news paper editorials, magazines and interaction with co-aspirants would help make you confident in answering the GS questions.
Essay: With some good preparation and writing style, it is easy to get a score of above 100. There is no standard material for the essay preparation. You will have to gather material from various sources. The preparation should be based on the topics. First list out the various topics from which questions can come. Then think logically, raising questions intensively, and try to find answers for them. The main purpose will be to gain clarity on the essay topic. Prepare a brief structure on the various topics which can be revised before the exam. Practise is essential for getting a good score. While writing in the exam, first prepare a structure in the last page and show it clearly for the examiner to follow. After selecting the topic, question intensely in various dimensions to get a logical structure. As you get the ideas, note them down in the structure. This process can go upto 45 minutes. Once you are satisfied that the topic has been covered in a comprehensive manner, then start writing. Try to give a good introduction. It should guide the examiner to what you intend to convey in the essay. Introduction should be followed by smooth succession of paras containing logical analysis of the topic. The conclusion should be good and satisfy the examiner. Always conclude on a positive note. The main focus should be on giving a good analysis of the topic. You need not use flowery language. Simple logical presentation is sufficient. Do not divert into areas which are irrelevant to the topic. Make sure that you have sufficient understanding and material to write, before chosing the topic.
Languages: These papers are only of qualifying nature, but at the same time cannot be ignored. If you do not qualify then your other mains papers will not be evaluated. Note that every year there are some candidates who get disqualified. So ensure that you have the minimum knowledge about the languages. The score should only be above 40% and the questions are also set in such a manner that this is not difficult at all. There is no need for any preparation. But do practise previous years papers to gain familiarity. Those from non-English medium schools might face some difficulty in English paper. Then the preparation should be made from some standard book. Note that the grammar is not much tested, but it is only the functional knowledge in the language.
Similarly, some face difficulty with the Indian language paper. Ensure that you have functional knowledge in atleast one Indian language.
Optionals: Since 2008, no. of questions in each paper has gone up. Instead of 60 marks essay questions of yester years, now either 2 questions of 30 marks each or 3 questions of 20 marks each or sometimes more than 3 questions are being asked. This pattern has drastically reduced the choice and made to run after time even in options like in GS. Frequent change of topic for every 6-8 minutes put stress on your mind during the exam. Clarity in the basics of the optionals, intensive writing practice, discussing topics with co-aspirants, answering the previous papers, attending test series would help you getting good marks. Keeping little scope for scoring in GS, you need to score above 350 in optionals to get into IAS.
Interview:
The Interview stage has emerged as the most deciding phase of the exam. The range of marks awarded itself is a proof, it varies between 50 to 240. If the UPSC board feels that a candidate is unsuitable for administration, then it awards very low marks. As a result he may not get the desired service inspite of good performance in the mains exam. So it is very important to prepare for the interview right from the beginning.
The personality is something that cannot be developed in few days. It is a continuous process since your childhood. But, you can modify it suitably to get good marks in the interview. You will have to be conscious about this aspect throughout the preparation. The personality cannot be developed after the mains exam. The process should be started from the initial stage.
The UPSC is looking for some traits which can be summarised below: suitability to a public career mental calibre not only intellectual traits but also social traits interest in current affairs mental alertness critical powers of assimilation clear and logical exposition balance of judgement variety and depth of interest ability for social cohesion and leadership intellectual and moral integrity
In the words of former UPSC Chairman Surendra Nath, an ideal civil servant should be: Firstly, an officer must be a gentleman. He should possess good character qualities. He should have courage of conviction, intellectual and moral capabilities, leadership qualities and capable of taking the right decisions at the right time. He should have
in-depth professional knowledge, self confidence, good communication skills, analytical in his thinking, flexible and not rigid, must be able to inspire and motivate his colleagues and his sub-ordinates. There should be a balance of judgement in decision making.
So, you will have to improve these qualities as you progress towards the interview stage.
Note the following points: Start specific full scale preparation for the interview, immediately after the mains exam. The preparation should be at two levels- the subject matter preparation and the way you present yourself. Use a handy cam or a mirror to see how you speak, the facial expressions, mannerisms etc. Keep visualizing the interview scenario and modify yourself accordingly. In interview- you are assessed right from the moment you enter. So the following aspects are importantThe way you walk; the way you sit down; the way you are dresses; the enthusiasm and cheerfulness in your face; the way you talk; your mannerisms; facial expressions; politeness; behaviour; the way you tackle the questions; the confidence you display; the way you take leave and walk out of the room;etc. So in all these dimensions you should keep contemplating and put your best performance on that day. Be very careful while filling the mains application form. This form is the basis on which the whole interview depends. So, consult the seniors and fill the information carefully. Through this form, you can direct the board into your strong areas, The interview will go on expected lines and you can give well prepared answers. The preparation areas should be Biodata ; State issues; National issues; International issues; General issues(e.g. ragging) Keep in mind that you will get only 5-10 seconds to respond and only 1-2 minutes to tell the answer. So prepare in this direction for all the expected areas. You should be in a position to counter any other supplementary questions. The best way of preparation is to just sit and do brain storming intensively. Think what type of questions can be asked and how you can give a simple and logical answer. This will not come from reading many books. It requires lot of introspection. some areas to be focused are: name; why IAS; why optionals; background of the parents; places where you stayed; academic background and related aspects; optional subjects; graduating subject; service preferences; positions if held; job experience if any; hobbies; sports; Have good knowledge about civil services, general debate, reforms etc, Show a positive body language. You believe that you are suitable for the job. Convey to them the message that you are the person they are looking for. Speak slowly, clearly and audibly. Do not try to bluff Board. You cannot substantiate if they go into depth. It is not easy to fool such experienced persons. Do not entertain any rumours regarding the integrity of the board. The UPSC interviews are of the top class and the marks awarded are also proportional to what the candidate deserves. The rumours are mainly spread by people who do not clear the exam. Instead of criticising others, it is better to introspect and make efforts to
develop ones personality. So, go to the interview with utmost respect for the board and confidence in their integrity. Put your best performance on that day. The main aspect is to be calm and cool on the day of the interview. Go with high self- esteem and self confidence. Do only those things which will increase the feel good factor. Take good number of mocks to get used to interview conditions. Read the various original interviews given in the magazines to understand what the UPSC expects from you.
Go though my interview for instance.
My Civil Services Interview-2011
The Personality Test for the Civil Services Exam, 2011 was scheduled from 19.03.2012 to 27.04.2012 and my interview was on the last day i.e. 27.04.2012 in the Morning Session.
Pre-interview activity:
I reached Delhi on 26.04.12 at 6.30 pm. I stayed in AP Bhavan, New Delhi. I woke up at around 6 AM on interview day. I spent the first hour of that day on reading The Hindu and the ToI on internet. The big news was that Sachin was nominated to Rajya Sabha. Its important for me bcoz one of my hobbies is watching, playing and analyzing cricket. I have observed some other socio-economic issues concerning our nation reported the previous day.
I got ready by 07.45 AM and had light breakfast and took auto to reach UPSC and reached there by 8.45 AM. I am supposed to report there at 9 AM. We have entered the historic UPSC Round Hall where the candidates are made to wait and savour the last moments of our year long preparation. I was the 6 th candidate to our Board in the morning session. Of the remaining five, 3 are from Kerala, 1 from Karnataka and the other from Gujarat. Between 9.15 & 10 AM, certificate verification and then came the news that we were allotted Mr.Venkat Rami Reddys Board. My turn came at around 01.05 PM and reached his chamber to face the IAS interview one last time in my life. Since this is my last attempt and my 3 rd interview, I have already decided not to be tense and to go with free mind. The Board consists of a Chairman and 4 members. Here is my interview.
Ram : May I come in sir? Chairman : (began in Telugu very casually) Randi, randi. kuchondi.. i.e. Come.. take your seat. (I settled in the revolving seat comfortably and ready to face the interview) Chairman : (Turning over the pages of my bio-data) You are Rambabu Vavilapalli. Ram : Yes Sir. Chairman : So, you have done MBA (HR). Ram : Yes Sir. But it is actually MHRM which is equivalent to MBA. Chairman : Are you in Railway Service recruited thru UPSC. Ram : No sir. I am a Sr.Stenographer in Rlys recruited thru RRB.
Chairman turned towards the 1 st member asking him to proceed.
M1 : One of your optionals is History. Tell me why was Sarojini Naidu famous in
1930s. Ram : Sir, she was actively participating in freedom movement in the footsteps of Gandhiji and became the President of INC. She also led the salt march at Darshana Salt works which became violent and got broad coverage in the media for the reasons of brutality of the British. M1 : What is the significance of her name? Ram : Sir, she is actually the daughter of a Bengali Educationist Aghoranatha Chatopathyaya who settled in Hyderabad as a mulki. But when she was married to a Telugu reformer called Govindarajula Naidu, she became Sarojini Naidu. M1 : Pondicherry has been a French enclave for some time in our history and was merged into India after independence. Tell me why the natives of Pondicherry are still fond of French culture and longing for their traditions? Ram : Sorry sir, I am not aware of the reasons. M1 : OK tell me what is the difference between Archaeology and History. Ram : Sir, Archaeology deals with collection of material evidence for reconstruction of the past. It involves excavation of materials, inscriptions etc buried beneath the earth and conservation of historical monuments and antiques. Whereas history deals with the chronological description of our past based on the information gathered from various sources. Archaeology provides physical evidence for corroborating the events described in other sources like inscriptions, literature etc. Thus, it is an important component in writing history. M1 : Where is the Archaeological Society of India? Ram : I dont know sir. (though I know, I am not confident of it)
Then, Chairman asked M2 to proceed.
M2 : As part of your subject, you might have studied modern European History. Tell me what lessons India can learn from European history? Ram : Sir, modern age began in Europe earlier than in India. In the late medieval phase, lot of developments took place in the realms of economy, polity and human thinking due to age of reason and enlightenment. European states systems has emerged and industrial revolution had set in. The process of modernization began late in India and was also delayed due to foreign occupation. (I was really not getting any specific examples..so, M2 intevened.) M2 : Its fine, you are providing the background. But, tell me specific lessons what we can learn. Ram : Sir, we are now in transition phase from a developing country to a developed one. The European nations had trials and tribulations during such phase earlier. The concept of European Union as a single market can be adopted for India and a large South Asian Union. M2 : (Looked surprised.keeping EU Crisis in mind) Should India learn from EU or EU from India? See, we have a successful federal system and many of our states are larger than some of the European nations. They were involved in several battles. If you see, Europe was the main battle ground for the two World Wars. Then what lessons we can learn from EU? Ram : Sir, My intention in saying this is that we can learn lessons from the process of
formation and evolution of EU while we are aspiring for a single market of South Asian Union with our neighbouring countries. The mistakes committed by EU would enlighten us in streamlining our efforts. We have SAARC and SAFTA in place but we have to reenergize them in the light of the European experience. M2 : Ok..what would you do to correct this if you are allotted Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Ram : Sir, knowing fully well that poverty and lack of development is a common factor in India and our neighbourhood, I would strive to promote convergence in development. I would try to revitalize South Asian Bank and South Asian Food Bank. My priorities would be to identify the complementarities in our aspirations and promote common endeavours.
Then Chairman asked M3 to proceed.i turned towards M3. He is very close to me on right side and felt it difficult to maintain eye contact with other members.
M3 : We have NREGS in place. We have been allocating huge resources for it. How much is the allocation for it in this budget? Ram : Sir, I dont know the allocation in the present budget. In the previous budget, it was Rs.40,000 cr and I read that it is reduced in the present budget. M3 : Is it necessary to allocate huge resources for a single program which is wasteful? Ram : Sir, in the history of our development administration, NREGS has for the first time conferred right to work as legal right. Besides creating employment, it has several objectives. It aims at creating sustainable community assets and sustainable agriculture. It emphasizes on undertaking water conservation measures, creation and renovation of infrastructure related to agriculture. It also aims at supporting the livelihood opportunities of weaker sections like SCs and STs. In a way, it helps in neutralizing the impact of agrarian crisis. Having said that it is also true that there allegations of corruption in the process of implementation. M3 : But, there are complaints from the farmers on this scheme. Ram : Yes sir. There are two specific complaints. One is regarding hike in minimum wage rate. Small and marginal farmers are facing difficulty as expenditure on account of labour is mounting. Second is regarding shortage of labour in sowing and harvesting season due to diversion of labour to NREGS works. In view of these complaints, GOI has been taking steps to mitigate this difficulty. M3 : Can you explain how our planning system has evolved in the last 60 years? Ram : Sir, the roots of our economic planning lies in pre-independence period especially in 1930s and 40s. The people like Jawaharlal Nehru, S.C.Bose, Visweswaraya have laid foundation for economic planning in India. After independence, we have established two important institutions of planning in the form of planning commission and NDC. The first one symbolizes centralized planning and the later ensures federal component in the planning. Plan priorities have changed from plan to plan but the basic objectives of our planning have remained the same over the years. The nature of planning had seen a sea change in the early 1990s. The directive planning has given place
to indicative planning. Now the role of the government and the public sector has confined to set the targets for development and resources are provided by the private sector. Government is more like a facilitator rather than a controller. M3 : In your opinion, what should be the focus of 12 th FYP? Ram : I strongly feel that inclusive growth and development should be prime focus. M3 : What is inclusive growth and development? Ram : Sir, inclusive growth refers to equitable contribution of all sections of our society to the economic growth. We have to create opportunities for all to participate in the growth process. Similarly, inclusive development means equitable distribution of fruits of economic growth to all sections. Simply speaking, the purpose of inclusive development is to eliminate socio-economic inequalities with the process of economic development. M3 : What is the share of defence in the total budget? Ram : It is around 15%. M3 : Should we spend that much of precious resources on defence when there is lot of demand for developmental priorities? Ram : Sir, there is no doubt that the defence spending is going up year after year. But, sir, I believe we have to consider the security aspects of our country. We have a very hostile neighbourhood. We have waged several wars with our neighbours. Some of our neighbours are harbouring terrorism and maintaining safe heavens for terrorists. Two of our neighbours are nuclear powers like us. Our nuclear doctrine promises credible minimum nuclear deterrence. We are close to Indian ocean which is a strategic sea lane and gaining economic importance over the years. Sir, one thing is certain that peace is essential for development. Therefore, both are important and consequential to each other.
Chairman has been watching me keenly throughout the interview. Now he has asked the last member to proceed.
M4 : You were speaking about Indian planning at length. Tell me whether the Planning commission is constitutional body? Ram : Sir, Planning commission is a non-constitutional body. It was created by an executive resolution of GoI. M4 : Then, how could Planning Commission outweigh the other bodies though some of them have constitutional backing? Ram : Sir, Planning commission formulates and evaluates plans and programmes. But the nature of planning being centralized and also the composition of the commission, planning commission is outweighing the other institutions. The Finance Commission though being a constitutional body, it recommends finance only to fill the revenue gap. Whereas the planning commission recommends funds for all plan activities. The chairmanship of PM also gives credence to planning commission. Though the composition of National Development Commission is federal in nature, its dominated by the ruling party and it has no institutional consistency. M4 : What is decentralized planning? Ram : Sir, it refers to devolution of powers of planning to local levels. It is a bottom-
up approach in planning. It enables the local people and the grass-root institutions to participate in planning their own development. After 73 rd and 74 th Constitutional Amdt Acts, we have created institutions in the form of DPCs and MPCs to ensure planning at local levels. However, we have not been successful in creating them as true self-governing institutions. There is a need for devolving funds, functions and functionaries to the grass-root institutions. M4 : Ok. But what about the powers and activities already devolved to them? Should finances be transferred from top to bottom or they be generated by themselves? Ram : Sir, the constitutional amendment Acts have provided great vision but the local bodies are not in a position to make it a reality. The activity mapping of powers, functions and potential financial sources at each level of local governments should be done. For this, the local institutions need to be strengthened with skilled and efficient man power. However, some local bodies made attempts to general finances on their own. M4 : Can you tell me which local bodies have made such attempts? Ram : Sir, some of the Urban local bodies like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, etc. have made some efforts to mobilize financial resources from financial markets by issuing municipal bonds. I have an interesting observation about my village which is a tiny village. We raise finances from different sources like tolls, commission from merchants, auctioning of fish ponds, grass etc. M4 : Thats ok. But did you find any panchayat raj institution making any attempt to raise finances from sources other than traditional ones. Ram : Sorry sir. I dont know. Chairman : Thank you Rambabu. Your interview is over. Ram : (looking at chairman and other members) Thank you very much sir.
I came out of the chamber quietly. It was around 01.30 PM. I felt relaxed and confident throughout my interview. Except for the question related to European history, I was never short of information and coherence. This is not a stress interview. I was given 190 marks out of 300 for this interview. Highest marks range between 225-250 and the lowest being 40-60.
Indian History & Culture: NCERT books for basic understanding Indias struggle for freedom by Bipin Chandra Modern India by Spectrum publications For culture relevant info can be had from various sources reg. music, painting, dances, tribes, architecture, sculpture etc. Spectrums Indian Culture.
Geography: NCERT Books on Physical, Economic & Social Geography Any good atlas e.g. Geography Through Maps etc.
Indian Polity: Indian polity by Lakshmi Kant Introduction to Constt of India by DD Basu
Indian Economy: Indian Economy by Dutta&Sundaram or Mishra & Puri An Evolution of Indian Economy by I.C.Dhingra (Sultan Chand & Co) Economic Survey of India (Annual publication by GoI get soft copy from Fin. Ministry website).
Current Issues: The Hindu esp Editorials, S&T edition, Business edition, Last page for envt conservation etc. for social social & economic issues. Frontline for cover stories on current issues Websites of Ministries for latest updates on govt. programmes, annual reports etc. One competitive exam magazine like CS Chronicle or CS Times etc. India Year Book Annual publication by GoI for govt. programmes, projects, latest initiatives, sectoral updates. Manorama Year Book & Yojana (English) Current Issues book RC Publications or Comp. Wizard NCERT book on Democracy & India for basic info on some social issues. Listen to Spot Light on AIR @ 9 PM daily.
India & the world: NCERT book on Democracy & India for basic info on Indias relations with neighbours and important countries. The Hindu very imp source for changing dynamics in foreign relations facts and analysis. MEA website (www.mea.gov.in) imp source for current updates India Year Book & website of Min. of Overseas Affairs for Indian diaspora. www.idsa.in for security issues
Indias economic interaction with the world: Annual report of Min of Petroleum & Natural Gas ministry for issues related to O&G policy Any GS guide for basics about IMF, WTO, WB etc. and Indias role Indian Year Book for India & IMF.
General Science & Technology: NCERT books on physics, chemistry and Biology ICSE books on biology
B.Tech book on Environmental Science imp source for envt concepts. Hindus S&T edition Hindu Speaks on Science Spectrums S&T Internet is the good source for refernece
Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams Spectrum publications on Statistics
CSAT Material of TIME Institute or Any other material relevant to CAT/Banking exams
Paper-I
Chapter-I: Introduction Mohit Bhattacharya: New Horizons of Public Administration Nicholas Henry : Public Administration and Public Affairs Laxmikant - PAd
Chapter-II: Administrative thought D. Ravindra Prasad, V.S. Prasad and P. Satyanarayana : Administrative Thinkers Laxmikant - PAd
Chapter-III: Administrative Behaviour Stephen P. Robbin : Organisational Behaviour Laxmikant - PAd
Chapter-IV: Organisations : Mohit Bhattacharya : New Horizons of Public Administration
Chapter-V: Accountability and Control: Mohit Bhattacharya : New Horizons of Public Administration Rajnish Goyal- Indian Admn. Laxmikant - PAd 2 nd ARC Report on Citizen Centric Admn
Chapter-VII: Comparative Public Administration: R.K. Arora : Comparative Public Administration
Chapter-VIII: Development Dynamics: Mohit Bhattacharya- New horizons + another book on Devp admn
Chapter-IX: Personnel Administration: Sadhana & Sharma OR Avasthi & Maheswari 2 nd ARC Report on Civil Services
Chapter-X: Public Policy : IGNOU Lessons on Public Policy R. K. Sapra : Public Policy
Chapter-XI- Techniques of Administrative Improvement Avasthi & Maheswari, Internet
Chapter-XII: Financial Administration Avasthi & Maheswari, Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn. M. J. K. Thavaraj :Public Financial Administration Laxmikant PAd.
PAPER II Indian Administration
Chapter-I: Evolution of Indian Administration Laxmikanth-P.Ad; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn.
Chapter-II: Philosophical and Constitutional framework of government: Laxmikanth-Polity Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn.
Chapter III- Public Sector Undertakings Laxmikanth-P.Ad, India Year Book
Chapter-IV: Union Government and Administration Laxmikanth-PAd.; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn.
Chapter V Plans and Priorities Laxmikanth-PAd.; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn.
Chapter-VI: State Government and Administration Laxmikanth-PAd Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn. 2 nd ARC Report on State & Dist Govts
Chapter-VII: District Administration since independence Laxmikanth-PAd.; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn. 2 nd ARC Report on State & Dist Govts.
Chapter-VIII: Civil Services Laxmikanth-Pad.; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn., 2 nd ARC Report on Civil Services.
Chapter IX - Financial Management M. J. K. Thavaraj :Public Financial Administration 2 nd ARC Report on Financial Management Laxmikanth-PAd.; Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn.,
Chapter-X: Administrative Reforms since independence Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn., 2 nd ARC Report on Civil Services history of reforms part Laxmikanth-PAd.;
Chapter-XI: Rural Development Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn., 2 nd ARC Report on Local Govt. 2 nd ARC Report on Human Capital Laxmikanth-PAd.;
Chapter-XII - Urban Development Rajnish Goyal Indian Admn., 2 nd ARC Report on Local Govt. Laxmikanth-PAd.;
Chapter-XIII: Law & Order Admn. Any notes, 2 nd ARC Report on Public Order
Chapter-XIV: Significant issues in Indian Admn. Values in Public Service- 2 nd ARC Report on Civil Services; 2 nd ARC Report on Ethics in Governance, Reg.Commissions Avasthi & Maheswari, 2 nd ARC Report on Govt Structure Reforms Citizen-admn interface Laxmikanth PAd, 2 nd ARC Report on Citizen Centric Admn. Disaster Mgmt 2 nd ARC Report on Crisis Mgmt Corruption & Admn Rajnish Goyal PAd. Admn in coalition regimes internet NHRC any std. source for basics and internet for assessment of its performance.
Note: 1. Issues of IIPA journals are of good use for all the chapters, but be selective.
Paper-I Ancient India: NCERT Class XI - Ancient India ** Ancient History of India LP Sharma A history of India RomillaThapar** Ancient India V.D.Mahajan Ancient India D.N.Jha A wonder that was India A.L.Bhasham IGNOU PG material** Social Cultural and Economic History of India S.C.Rayachaudary**
Medieval India: NCERT Class XI Medieval India ** Medieval India IrfanHabib** Advanced study in the history of Medieval India J L Mehta** History of Medieval India V.D.Mahajan Social Cultural and Economic History of India S.C.Rayachaudary** IGNOU PG material**
Paper-II Modern India:** NCERT Class XIIModern India Indias Struggle for Independence Bipin Chandra India since independence Bipin Chandra Modern Indian History- Grover & Grover Social Cultural and Economic History of India S.C.Rayachaudary IGNOU PG material
Modern World: ** A study of European History & Modern world (1453-1815) L.Mukherjee A study of European History & Modern world (1815-1950) L.Mukherjee Masterning Modern World History Norman Lowe IGNOU PG material
Note: IGNOU PG material is available online on egnankosh of IGNOUR website. For map pointing Prominent sites of Indian Subcontinent by Sanjay Sharma ** History Mains Q&A of Civil Services Chronicle good for previous question papers**.
** ----- Must read
Exclusive inputs from Sri.R.Vineel Krishna, IAS (Orissa cadre)
Hobbies: While filling up the mains application form, there is a column for the hobbies and other interests. It is better to cultivate some hobby rather than leaving it blank. So be prepared for this aspect from the initial stages itself. It helps a lot in the interview if the questions are asked from your interest areas. You can also think of some peculiar hobbies to attract the interviewer. But be careful that you have a genuine interest in that area and do gather good information so as to answer any question.
Some of the hobbies of candidates are: - reading books - listening to music, even some specific variety say telugu old songs. - reading short stories - Philately and numismatics - bird watching - cooking - conducting alcohol de-addiction camps - social work - teaching -yoga and meditation - weapon systems - physical fitness - world war 2
Ideal Timetable: Many candidates give their first attempt without even properly chosing the optionals or completing the syllabus. This is a wrong step which will have severe consequences later on. This exam can be cleared in the first attempt itself with focused preparation and Satisfycing approach. Mainly, the thought that the exam requires multiple attempts should be removed from the mind. With right information and proper material, and sustained hard work for an year, there is no reason why someone should not clear the exam.
The preparation with full momentum should start atleast one year before the prelims. Ideally, the preparation should be started in May and by December the mains syllabus should be completed to a large extent. Then from January, prelims preparation should be made, while consolidating the mains knowledge. After the prelims, the preparation should be continued with out any break. The next 5 months will be very crucial and the preparation should be at full momentum. The syllabus in any case should be completed by July. Atleast two months are required for the revisions.
After the mains exam, interview preparation should be started. Simultaneously, prelims preparation should also be made. This is important since the final result will be given only days before next prelims. In case of failure, you should be in a position
to give next prelims. So, from the beginning it is better to be prepared for this possiblity. After the mains result, more focus should be made on interview preparation.
Studying while doing a job: The exam requires complete devotion for an year. So it will be difficult if some one wants to manage both the job and the exam. Also, it might be difficult to get leaves for various stages of the exam. It is better to make the preparation full-time.
However, if there are any financial problems, then please continue with a job. But be aware that you will have to work harder. So be prepared for tough time. Ensure that you do not waste time on any other activities. There are quite a few who cleared the exam while doing a job.
Whether doing a job or studying post graduation, the only requirement is to get sufficient time for preparing well for the exam. So take a wise decision based on the personal situation and requirements.
How to Study? The main requirement when you sit for studying is total concentration. Without 100% focus, whatever time you spent on study will only be a waste. You should not do things which will be distracting when studying. The room should also be neat as it has an impact on the mental conditions. So you should always ensure that the situation should be tuned to have a concentrated study. Even what you do when not studying is also quite important. Suppose you go for a movie because of boredom, then after coming back when you sit for studying then there is every possibility of not focusing completely as all the scenes from the movie starts flowing in your thoughts. Thats why its important to ensure that you dont do distracting things even when you are not studying. If you feel tired, you can go for a walk or listen to some lecture or calm music. So, first requirement for study is the context which you create for youself to have 100% concentration.
Then, you should go very slow while reading trying to understand the core concepts.The technique which can be applied is called SQ3R.
Scan- first scan the material and try to get an awareness about what you are going to read.
Question- Then question the topic intensively in all possible dimensions. The questions should be logical, which will give you the clarity on the subject.
Read- only after above steps, you should start reading the material slowly and with proper understanding. You should try to get the answers for all the logical questions that you raised. Simultaneously, you should prepare notes for the topic.
Remember- You should try to remember the basic logical structure and the important facts. You can use mnemonics to improve memory. You should not try to remember the sentences, but should have a structure in the mind with the key
terms. Based on this, you should be able to expand it into an essay. Note that you should be very careful while trying to memorise. You should spend more time in memorising them the first time itself. Do not postpone it, as you will be wasting more time lateron in understanding it again and remembering. While, memorising it ensure that it is memorised in such a way that it can be recollected in the exam hall. The memorising should be done as in a computer, with files and folders system. You should guide the information to be placed in various folders of your brain memory.
Revision- It is not possible for anyone to remember everything that they read. Lot of revision has to be made at regular intervals. In fact before exam, you should be able to do 3-4 revisions. You should try to improve the efficiency of the revision. So the notes should be prepared in such a manner that the revision becomes easy. How to improve efficiency of revision- should be always on your mind.
Using this technique, the study can be made very productive. The hard efforts made can be channelised in the right direction.
How to prepare notes? The notes has to be prepared for every topic in the syllabus. This aspect is the most crucial stage in the preparation. Finally what you write in the exam only matters. You write only what you remember. You remember only that which you revise just before the exam. Note that you will have to revise some thing like 2000 topics including all the sub-parts in GS and optionals. Therefore your efficiency in revision matters a lot for your performance in the exam. The revision efficiency depends on the notes that you prepare. So you should always be aware of this practical aspect while you prepare notes for the exam.
The notes should not be prepared as if writing a thesis paper. For any topic, you should have a brief synopsis. Do not even use sentences while writing notes. Note down the key terms and the logical structure with side headings. Also note down the figures and diagrams in a simple manner which can be reproduced in the exam within time limit. For most topics, one or two pages of notes is sufficient. Write them down in a logical framework using different inks, so that your efficiency in revision increases. Finally, when revising just before the exam, you cannot spend more than 5-10 minutes for each topic. So keep that in mind always.
Do not spend days together on any topic. The exam only requires a basic clarity which can be obtained by studying one or two standard books and spending more time on thinking. Usually, 3-4 hrs sufficient for each topic. Just be cautious if you are spending more time on any topic inspite of availability of good material.
Revision: This a very important for the performance in the exam. The efficiency with which you do revision determines the grip on the subject matter. It should not be postponed till
the last phase. As you keep preparing, some time should be spent in revising and consolidating what you read. Otherwise, when you start revision in the end, everything will appear new and lot of time has to be spent in deciphering the notes made. This will be very counter productive and all the hard work will be a waste.
So, revision should also become a part of your everyday schedule. Dont think its a waste of time, since finally you will save a lot and the pressure will also reduce. Therefore, revise what you read next day. Then keep coming back to it at regular intervals.
Finally, before the exam you should keep two months for the revision. It has to be done again and again, as many times as possible.
Be very careful while preparing notes, keeping in view the requirements of the revision.
Where to prepare? In any complex situation, the right information at the right time plays a very key role. Similarly, for this complex exam, information has a role. So, you should have the information channels throughout the exam preparation period. This will ensure that you are on the right track.
In this context, the place of preparation becomes important. It is better to be close to where many aspirants are preparing. The main places of exam preparation are Hyderabad and Delhi. There will lot of study material and information circulating in these areas. Also, psychologically it is better if you have co-aspirants with whom you can share your experiences and the mistakes.
In case you are not in a position to do so, do not worry. But ensure that you are getting the right information. So try to establish some contacts with persons in those areas.
How to write answers? Your answer is the medium through which you are communicating with the examiner. Your final marks depend on how best you can convey to the examiner. Otherwise, all you study and hard work is irrelevant. So ensure that you perform the best while presenting the answer.
The important steps are: o the pen that you use. Please spent some time in identifying the right pen using which your efficiency increases and the written matter looks like a print. o the hand writing can influence the marks by 5-10%. It is the first impression on the examiner and matters a lot. It not just sufficient to have a mere legible hand writing. This is a problem area for many and quite difficult to change it at this stage. But contact some hand writing experts and make suitable changes in your writing so that it looks better.
o You can contact: Mallikarjun, National Handwriting Academy, Hyderabad. Ph.no. 55579800, www.ymallikarjun.com, write2nha@rediffmail.com o Next the matter that we write in the answer is important. It is about how logically we present the answer.You will have to structure the answer in such a way that it becomes easy for the examiner to identify the various dimensions in the answer. o concentrate on the introduction and the conclusions. o underline the important terms that you use. o make innovations like diagrams etc to impress the examiner and to convey the concept better. o for analysis type use the paragraph form, while for the factual answers you can use point form. But remember that the examiner is not interested in your memory, but in your analytical and intellectual abilities. So try to include them in your answer. o you can use different colours for the diagrams. o for long answers, you can make a brief structure in the end before writing the answer. This will help you in ensuring that all the points are written.
How to remember? This is the common question before a civils aspirant. There is such a huge syllabus and so many facts to memorise that some times it seems impossible. Anyhow, remembering is some thing that has to be done well for good performance in the exam.
Information is to be stored as done in a computer. You will have to direct the information to store it in your brain system. Do not merely mug and memorise facts. You will have to develop inter linkages based on what you already know.
Do not try to remember unnecessary numerical facts.
Use mnemonics for remembering facts or some points. The popular mnemonic is the VIBGYOR to remember the colours sequence in a rainbow. Prepare similar mnemonics based on innovations. Your real intelligence depends on how efficient you become in this area.
Regular revision is essential to ensure that what you remember stays in your mind till the exam date. So keep a regular revision schedule.
Stress Management: The civils exam is highly stressful and pressurising. It is in fact testing the mental strength of the candidate. The administrator in the Indian context has to deal with very complex and testing situations. So the exam structure and the process is aimed at preparing the candidates for the real administration. Therefore, take the process as a learning experience. The stress cannot be avoided, you will have to learn how to manage stress. There are no hard and fast rules for stress management. It is individual specific and has to be developed on your own based on observation. Some of the following points may be helpful: o Stress means a disharmony between the mind and the body. The body is in the present moment while the mind keeps fluctuating. It is either regretting the
past, anxious about future or dreaming an imaginary situation. This disharmony between the mind and the body is the main reason for the accumulation of stress. So, it is important to live in the present moment, i.e, concentrate 100% on what you do. In this context, the breath techniques, pranayama and Sudarshan Kriya will help a lot. o Take deep slow breaths whenever you feel stressed or tensed. Close your eyes and observe the breath. Keep doing this till you feel light and focused. o Go out for a long walk . o if you feel agitated in the mind, dont do things which will aggravate the agitation. For e.g. dont go to a movie. That will only worsen the situation. The idea is to calm down the mind, so do things which will reduce the agitation. In fact, these are the critical moments which have a major impact on your preparation. So, be very careful during these phases. o talk to some one with whom you can share your emotions without any inhibition. o Go out for a marathon running whenever you feel depressed or psychologically low. This a very practical method of overcoming emotions. Put all your frustration in running harder and harder. At the end of it, you will feel great mental calmness. o Meet people who can give you inspiration and motivation. o listen to good music or lectures by great people. o Practise meditation. This is a very effective way of improving the energy flow.
For aspirants in the long term: There are many school and undergraduates who have the target of joining the civil service. At this stage there is not much to be done for the exam. However they can note the following points: o build a good academic record o chose such subjects which will be helpful for the exam later on. o if interested and if there are good reputed colleges then join the arts courses. However, even if you have to join the professional courses, do not worry. They will act as an alternative, since this exam has less vacancies and is often risky. But, do concentrate on your courses and excel in the field. o Read the newspapers and good magazines like the Frontline regularly. You should have a good awareness of whats going on around you. o Cultivate a habit of participating in extra-curricular activities especially those involving organising abilties, GK, quizzes, etc. o Develop some good hobbies o Improve your personality traits o learn to spend lots of time reading books and studying o you should read the life stories of great people as an inspiration. Also, meet the successful people in various fields. o listen to good programs on radio and TV.
Health: The importance of good health should be understood very clearly. This exam is of very long duration, under severe psychological stress. If suppose you become sick at
any stage, you will have to write the exam again and lose out on another year and half. Say, you are not well on the day of the interview, then you cannot put your best and fall back in final ranking. The UPSC will not shift the date of the interview. It is you who will be at loss finally. And, who knows what will happen in the next attempt. So, it is very important to take care of the health throughout the exam preparation period.Remember - Healthy mind in a healthy body. Please note the following points: o Get up early in the morning. It is the best time to make the body vibrations in tune with that of the natures. o spend the first few hours in fitness activities. This is not a waste of time, but an investment. It ensures that the whole day is active and focused. o take care of the water and the food that you eat. Do not eat junk food which will not help in anyway. o practise jogging everyday o learn and practise yoga, pranayama and meditation. They will develop the mental fitness, which is most essential in studying for long with concentration, to excel in the exam.
An important dimension in life which is grossly ignored is the breath. A person can live for a few days without food or water, but cannot exist for a few minutes without air. We take unnecessary care about food and water, but ignore the breath. The more oxygen we take the better will be the burning efficiency of carbohydrates in the cells. With more energy, the cells perform to their maximum capacity and the body becomes very active. This is also important to have good focus on whatever we do. However, we use only 25% of the lung capacity. That is the reason why we do not function to our potential. In India, there were ancient techniques which have been developed to increase the capacity of the lungs and to use them to their full potential. They are called the Pranayama techniques.
In fact, the breath can be used to control the emotions in the mind, like using a thread to control the kite. There is a direct relation between the breath and the emotions in the mind. Observe the breath as the emotions change. If you are angry or depressed, the breath is shallow, short and rapid. If you are in a cool and happy serene mood, then observe that the breath is deep and of long duration. Normally, the breath is involuntary and its rhythm depends on the emotions. But through some techniques, you can reverse the process. That is by controlling the rhythm of breath, you can control the emotions in the mind. It is important to learn these techniques since they help a lot in preparation for the exam. You will have to sit and study for long durations throughout the year. Above that there will be lot of pressures both social and psychological. To face them all, it is important to manage the emotions in the mind.
In this context, the Sudarshan Kriya taught by the Art of Living Foundation assumes significance. There is a basic course organised in various centres under which the kriya and the pranayama techniques are taught. This is highly recommended for the civil services aspirants. There are also many advanced yoga courses under the foundation. They are also useful for stress management and personality development. There will also be a remarkable improvement in the health. You will become very active and the efficiency and productivity increases.
Website: www.artofliving.org Address: 5 th Floor, RK Plaza, near Punjagutta Cross Roads, on left side in the route from Punjagutta towards Begumpet, Hyderabad. Ph.No.23400782, 55218418
Marathon/Jogging - There are many similarities between the civils exam and the marathon running. Both require lot of patience, determination, hard work, mental strength and physical stamina. This marathon is a practical way of developing the required capabilities to become successful in the exam. It will help a lot if the aspirant can go to a ground every morning and practice this technique. It will not only keep him physically fit, but also make him mentally tough and prepare him for the psychological stresses during the exam.
Diary Writing The candidate will be going through a lot of emotionally fragile moments due to the pressure of the exam. These are the real turning points since they determine whether he can handle that pressure or succumb to it. So, in order to manage the stress at that time diary writing is an effective technique. Normally, such moments can be managed well if you can talk to some one with whom you can talk freely without any inhibitions. But since the preparation would be mostly done in isolation, this may not be possible. So, the diary can come to rescue during that period. This is nothing but ventilation therapy which will help you reduce the emotional burden. Another advantage of diary writing is that every day you will have some time for introspection. It can be analysed how best you utilised that day for your studies and in case it has not been productive, then find out the reasons and eliminate them. In this manner, every day you can be very focussed on the exam and tackle effectively all distracting tendencies.
Books and cassettes: You should make it a habit to read good books and listen to good talks or music. The exam preparation is all about how you make the mind calm so that you can study with full concentration. There will be occasions when you will feel frustrated and depressed. During that phase, you can gain motivation or inspiration from books or talks or music.
Some of the following can prove to be useful: o Talks by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living, especially the talk on The Four Pillars of Knowledge o The Mind and its control by Swami Buddhananda (Ramakrishna Math) o Books by Swami Vivekananda o Life stories of Gandhi, Patel, Nehru, Abdul Kalam, Marie Curie, o The Alchemist by Paoulo Coelho o Talks by Swami Ranganatha of Ramakrishna Math o Carnatic music o Music by Bismillah Khan, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, etc which are help in calming down a disturbed mind. o Books on meditation. o India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
Book Shop: Most of the books that are required can be obtained from the following shops Book Square - near Kachiguda cross roads, Near Maheshwari-Parameshwari theatres. Jawahar Book Depot - Ber Sarai, Near Old JNU, New Delhi. The exact address and phone no. can be obtained from the ads in competition.