IAS exam strategy

Civil Services Examination Strategy - 2009-10
Civil Services Examination is mother of all exams. Once you compete this, not only your world is changed, but you can change the world. No doubt new generation is more inclined towards private jobs. Availability of professional courses, liberalisation and very high salary are the main inspiration. But you can never comprise any post, any money and any thing with the power hub. Actually Civil Service is in the centre of power in India.
In the period of economic recession, when job security has become more important in the deciding of employment, no doubt Civil Services is now on number one. Along with this it provides prestige and power. After the sixth pay commission high salary, allowances and facilities like healthcare, palatial bungalow and blue-red beacon light car make it a lucrative profession. Civil Service is the backbone of the Central and States government machinery.
They constitute all the departments which runs the administration. A highly competitive and challenging area, it involves a variety of jobs in different departments and different levels.
To fulfill such big aspiration, you have need many things-determination, very hard work, a well planned approach etc. You can succeed through years hard work. After having above said all qualities, only few-one amongst hundreds of thousands succeed. Why? Because winners have some different approach, they choose the path according to changing scenario.
So you must become alert. Recent changes in syllabus is not a such change, which you can fulfill only through new study materials, books etc but this demands changes in your methodology, changes in your guides, magazines etc. Alas, many magazines, many guides are following the same old path. Who can never support your destination. So open your eyes, now we are with you, with changed strategy which suits you and we promise to fulfill all your needs in future…….
Nine Papers of Main Examination
· Paper I - One Indian language (selected by the candidate) 300 marks
· Paper II - English 300 marks
· Paper III - Essay 200 marks
· Paper IV&V - General Studies 300 marks each
· Paper VI-IX - Any two subjects (optional papers to be selected by the candidate) with two papers each 300 marks for each

List of Optional Papers:Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Telugu LiteratureZoology.
Be Familiar of the ExaminationCivil Services Examination comprises of two successive stages-preliminary and main examinations. There are two parts in main-written and personality test. Preliminary examination is of objective type screening test, through which suitable candidates are selected for main Examination. Main examination (written) is conventional descriptive test, which assess the overall depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory. The written exam is consists of nine papers – two language papers of qualifying nature, two papers in General Studies and two papers each of 2 optional subjects.
Marks of all papers, except language papers are added and play decisive role in final merit of selection. Each paper is of 3 hours duration. Second part of mains and final stage of Civil Services examination is personality test. It carries 300 marks and play very important role in the final selection.
In our inaugural issue, we are going to provide all information regarding first stage of exam ie. Preliminary Test.
The First StageAll India Combined Competitive Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at different centers spread all over the country for Preliminary test. A Notification for the civil services examination is published by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in all the daily newspapers and the Rozgar Samachar/ Employment News by the end of December each year. UPSC provides the application form along with an Information Brochure containing general instructions for filling up the form, an acknowledgement card and an envelope for sending the application through the designated Head Post Offices/ Post Offices throughout the country against a specified cash payment.
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The First CutPreliminary test is the first battle, in which candidate must survive to remain in long war of civil services examination. Its objective is to select the serious candidates for the main examination. At this level, approximately 12 to 13 times the total number of seats to be filled in particular year are selected for main examination. Preliminary Examination is consists of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 450. Paper first is of general studies in which 150 objective type questions of each one mark is asked. It is compulsory for all candidates. The candidate has to choose paper second is from a selected list of optional subjects for preliminary examinations. In the second paper, 120 objective type questions of each two and half marks are asked. Both question papers are set in Hindi as well as in English. Each paper is of two hours duration.
You have few attempts for civil service exam ie 4 attempts for general category candidate and when you appear at prelim, your one attempt is counted. So you should be very prepared in your first attempt. So take it seriously.
There may be few students around you, who were weak and insincere and without studying much, they qualified for main. You can also think that without any efforts, you also can do. It may be, but if you are serious about your exam, keep away such logic and misconception. Only you can do good for you that you get mastery in General Studies and on of your optional subject within a time frame.
Good Steps to SuccessWe are giving you some tips, if you follow them surely you will be succeed at preliminary level easily.
Syllabus of CSP General Studies- Preliminary
• General Science.• Current events of national and international importance• History of India and Indian National Movement• Indian and World Geography• Indian Polity and Economy• General Mental Ability
Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well educated person who has not made a special study of any particular scientific discipline. In current events, knowledge of significant national and international events will be tested. In History of India, emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic and political aspects. Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence. In Geography, emphasis will be on Geography of India.
Questions on the Geography of India will relate to physical, social and economic Geography of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources. Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the country’s political system and Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj, Social Systems and economic developments in India. On general mental ability, the candidates will be tested on reasoning and analytical abilities.
Relevant Study Material and Strategy: There is need of right balance in the selection of books, guide. Coaching and coaching notes etc. For the optional subject, candidates must read basic books related to the syllabus. Keep in the mind that there is no shortcut to success. Keep a guidebook, past years unsolved paper to test yourself. Note down important facts on separate sheets, so you can revise them easily. You can also highlight important facts are underlined them in your books. So you can recall them easily. If your optional is one of two optional, which you have kept at main, then you should make the proper notes of those areas which form the common portion in the syllabus of preliminary and main examination. If you find some friends having the same optional, my be advantageous. Make a group and solve the question papers, discuss the issue and topics which some one is feeling difficult.
Always give the importance over your weak portion. Some candidates leave the easy portion for last moment and always engaged in difficult portion of the syllabus and some other leave the difficult portion for the last moment. Both are not good. Avoid yourself from the such extremes and make a good balance in the study of easy and difficult portion of the styllabus.
Keep in Your Mind
• Test yourself with the revision-type Model Test Papers.• Do be nervous by initial low score.• Give emphasis and do hard on weak-section.• Have analytical approach.• Regular revision• Keep the patience and live in calm mental state.

General Studies (GS) is very vast subject which includes almost all the subjects. Indian History, Polity, Indian Economy, India and World Geography, General Science and Current Events are main components. For the GS always read NCERT and other school books for basic facts. Read daily news paper, competitive magazine and see various news channel. Don’t make lopsided study. Always read all the portion of syllabus. Like optional, here also you can write important facts on separate sheets or in a copy, so you can revise them easily. You can also highlight important facts are underlined them in your books for quick revision. You should concentrate on basics and acquire as much facts about basics as possible but avoid the element of excess in preparations.
Key Words : Note down the key words of important topics, sub topics and make a good practice to recall all the associated facts through the key words. Try to make an image in the mind which will reflect the details