to all my dear hard working friends,a very happy new year...may the coming year see us all achieving our dreams and aspirations.May god bless us all.
as for us who stand on the cusp of uncertainty thanks to the changing pattern,the new year brings new and unique challenges.heres to fighting spirit and hard work-the two things that will take us through!all the best!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Friday, December 10, 2010
problems of self study 2
the alternative cycles
the whole universe seems to obey the same mystical rule,life mirrors it,and we experience it when we study alone.what?the alternating cycles of the best with the worst,the lean with the peak.just like a sine wave there seems to be no respite from this wild ride,what should we do?
first,realize this is not just our own problem,but in fact a universal phenomenon.every candidate has to go through this,self-study or coaching class.
Gagan narang despite years of practice peaked in CWG and dipped in ASIAD didnt he?
its wrong to expect the cycles not to alternate because we are only human,and stressed out at that.then it is futile to imagine the cycling can be avoided.
But,what is achievable is reduction in the Lean time and increase of the peak time.
how you do that is again a personal affair,but here are my tips-
understand yourself-know what works best on you..In times of lean focus,do things you know will relax you..carefully observe your peak period and make a journal writing what all you did,read,studied and how you felt and so on..in lean times read the previous entries and try to emulate.if you notice,the oldest entries on this blog are of that type.it helps at time to recreate a burst or two of sustained focus.
also know how you get rid of stress the best,and do it in lean times.Use the lean period constructively and de-stress and re-motivate yourself.
personally i use the guilt-shock treatment..i leave my studies completely and indulge in a long time wish-watching a movie,going out to play a match,reading a novel,or just anything that tempted me earlier but i put it on hold.
i keep my books and scheduler both on the table,and at times open...i have learnt by experience that barely a day or two into the lean period guilt mounts...i drive that guilt higher.
at the same time i read interviews by toppers and other sites and blogs on civil services preparation online.Seeing these adds to my guilt and a feeling of being left out in the rat race.
i let both of the feelings grow till my tipping point is reached and its back to the books with a bang!
as i said the method may vary,but here you are no different from an out of form cricketer trying to regain his touch.its often said the best way to do that is spend time in the middle,and maybe for some thats the best way to maintain consistency.as i said,the cycles will come and go,but your goal and mind need both be steady and resolute,and the rest can be managed by self-understanding!
the whole universe seems to obey the same mystical rule,life mirrors it,and we experience it when we study alone.what?the alternating cycles of the best with the worst,the lean with the peak.just like a sine wave there seems to be no respite from this wild ride,what should we do?
first,realize this is not just our own problem,but in fact a universal phenomenon.every candidate has to go through this,self-study or coaching class.
Gagan narang despite years of practice peaked in CWG and dipped in ASIAD didnt he?
its wrong to expect the cycles not to alternate because we are only human,and stressed out at that.then it is futile to imagine the cycling can be avoided.
But,what is achievable is reduction in the Lean time and increase of the peak time.
how you do that is again a personal affair,but here are my tips-
understand yourself-know what works best on you..In times of lean focus,do things you know will relax you..carefully observe your peak period and make a journal writing what all you did,read,studied and how you felt and so on..in lean times read the previous entries and try to emulate.if you notice,the oldest entries on this blog are of that type.it helps at time to recreate a burst or two of sustained focus.
also know how you get rid of stress the best,and do it in lean times.Use the lean period constructively and de-stress and re-motivate yourself.
personally i use the guilt-shock treatment..i leave my studies completely and indulge in a long time wish-watching a movie,going out to play a match,reading a novel,or just anything that tempted me earlier but i put it on hold.
i keep my books and scheduler both on the table,and at times open...i have learnt by experience that barely a day or two into the lean period guilt mounts...i drive that guilt higher.
at the same time i read interviews by toppers and other sites and blogs on civil services preparation online.Seeing these adds to my guilt and a feeling of being left out in the rat race.
i let both of the feelings grow till my tipping point is reached and its back to the books with a bang!
as i said the method may vary,but here you are no different from an out of form cricketer trying to regain his touch.its often said the best way to do that is spend time in the middle,and maybe for some thats the best way to maintain consistency.as i said,the cycles will come and go,but your goal and mind need both be steady and resolute,and the rest can be managed by self-understanding!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
problems of self study 1
when i say self study i presume your optionals are set, because i meet many aspirants who are in a dilemma of which optional to chose and whether their choice is correct!please make up your mind and do not indulge in statistical wizardry as its a sheer waste of time in a rapidly changing exam.i can promise you,chose any two optionals,come in top 5 in both and irrespective of your optionals you will sail through with a modest performance in common papers.too much dithering on optionals confuses a person,and a confused person can not study.
now that i presume the optionals are decided let me address the problems that come with self study:
1.how to pace yourself to ensure you complete the vast portions in all papers.
2.how to check your own progress in study.
3.how to keep your head about yourself though you lag behind on both counts(which most will).
the only advice i can offer is enumerated serially:
1.pace is personal.lots of things determine it.your potential,time on hand to study,your grasping,reading speed,retention,choice of optionals,stage of preparation,method of study and so on.however,i presume all of you have a copy of the syllabus(if not go to www.upsc.gov.in) and some books or notes to study from.check for yourself how much time a identifiable part (but important part) of the syllabus takes to complete.i will use an analogy of history,i may check how many days it takes to complete Indian national movement,or maybe rule of the Mughals by doing it,and then see how many such parts the syllabus entails.multiply the time taken by th number of such parts that remain,and as a safety measure add one third the final figure to come up with a conservative estimate.
repeating my example,i took say 10 days for Indian National movement,there are 20 such topics in the syllabus of history,means i will take,
20 *10= 200 days for the all the topics.since all are not uniform,as a safety valve i add 1/3*200= 70 (app) to the figure to come up with my final figure of 270 days(at current speed).
dont be scared by the figure,the example was hypothetical,but do up your calculations to invariably find you are lagging behind the ideal speed.
once you have figures for GS and both optionals squeeze them in the number of days at your disposal and you have a ready plan with signposts ready to follow to pace your study and complete the portion before the due time.
2.how do you check progress?first,if you prepare the above plan you have the pre-designated portions in place so you know instantly if you are on track.also,you may join a test series.but most are only active during a certain part of the year,are expensive,ask irrelevant questions,give shaky feedback,and take a lot of time for the feedback,what do you do?
download all the question papers you can,and make a folder.study each paper divide it into sectors of study from your syllabus.For eg In history,all questions asked on 1857 group aside,all questions on 1909 reforms group aside and so on.apply the same logic to your optional.that would mean you have prepared question banks from your syllabus on each topic from the questions asked thus far.
once you do feel like checking yourself,ask a friend or anyone else to pick some random questions from the relevant question bank,and jot down 5-8 questions.see how you answer them,and if you are happy with the answers.that should tell you what to revise and with what attention.
now that i presume the optionals are decided let me address the problems that come with self study:
1.how to pace yourself to ensure you complete the vast portions in all papers.
2.how to check your own progress in study.
3.how to keep your head about yourself though you lag behind on both counts(which most will).
the only advice i can offer is enumerated serially:
1.pace is personal.lots of things determine it.your potential,time on hand to study,your grasping,reading speed,retention,choice of optionals,stage of preparation,method of study and so on.however,i presume all of you have a copy of the syllabus(if not go to www.upsc.gov.in) and some books or notes to study from.check for yourself how much time a identifiable part (but important part) of the syllabus takes to complete.i will use an analogy of history,i may check how many days it takes to complete Indian national movement,or maybe rule of the Mughals by doing it,and then see how many such parts the syllabus entails.multiply the time taken by th number of such parts that remain,and as a safety measure add one third the final figure to come up with a conservative estimate.
repeating my example,i took say 10 days for Indian National movement,there are 20 such topics in the syllabus of history,means i will take,
20 *10= 200 days for the all the topics.since all are not uniform,as a safety valve i add 1/3*200= 70 (app) to the figure to come up with my final figure of 270 days(at current speed).
dont be scared by the figure,the example was hypothetical,but do up your calculations to invariably find you are lagging behind the ideal speed.
once you have figures for GS and both optionals squeeze them in the number of days at your disposal and you have a ready plan with signposts ready to follow to pace your study and complete the portion before the due time.
2.how do you check progress?first,if you prepare the above plan you have the pre-designated portions in place so you know instantly if you are on track.also,you may join a test series.but most are only active during a certain part of the year,are expensive,ask irrelevant questions,give shaky feedback,and take a lot of time for the feedback,what do you do?
download all the question papers you can,and make a folder.study each paper divide it into sectors of study from your syllabus.For eg In history,all questions asked on 1857 group aside,all questions on 1909 reforms group aside and so on.apply the same logic to your optional.that would mean you have prepared question banks from your syllabus on each topic from the questions asked thus far.
once you do feel like checking yourself,ask a friend or anyone else to pick some random questions from the relevant question bank,and jot down 5-8 questions.see how you answer them,and if you are happy with the answers.that should tell you what to revise and with what attention.
3.the last of my questions was the most important of all.When you prepare on your own you are unaware of the competition,in an empty world of your own.
an empty mind is the devils workshop.you begin to worry if you not joining a coaching class was wise,was it the reason you are lagging behind,of miraculous coaching given to other candidates which gibes them an edge.your friends in coaching classes brag and discuss on topics irrelevant and not likely to come at all,but not knowing that adds to your pressure.this is the time when your productive time is being eaten away by stray thoughts.
how you check that is again a personal thing.Try meditation,talking to yourself,writing a journal of record or any such thing that emphasizes the rational side of your mind.accept your situation and bring out the fighter in you.instead of worrying about the edge gained by others,study to give yourself one.as i said methods vary,but each will have to do something to keep his mind in a stable frame to maximize his output in study.
i dint mean to scare anyone and push them to coaching classes,but to hint at what ordeals await if one takes this path.knowing in advance helps to factor in the problems and not be taken by surprise by them.these are by no means all the problems,just a small part of the common ones,and many others wait to vex your heads.after reading the problems if one feels they are too much to take,i advice them to go on and join a coaching class.what is paramount is a peaceful mind,so that it can absorb.if joining a coaching class does that for you,then by all means go ahead.
never in the whole time doubt your ability,and gods grace for these are the two things that will pull you through eventually.
all the best and happy studying!
Friday, November 12, 2010
political science mains papers 2010
Political Science mains paper 1 2010
Section A
1.comment in 150 words (15*4 =60)
a)power flows throughout the system like blood in the capilaries of our body (focault)
b)Robert Dahls concept of deformed Polyarchy.
c)'Personal is Political'
d)'Veil of Ignorance'
2 (a) Assess the deliberative theory of democracy.30
(b) Distinguish between Liberal Feminism and Socialist Feminism in detail.30
3.(a)Evaluate Marx's Instrumentalist approach to the state.30
(b)Compare and contrast Dharmashastra and Arthashastra with reference to state power.30
4.(a) Do you think the modern nation state has been declining in the wake of Globalization?justify your answer 30
(b)Critically examine the cultural relativist approach to human rights 30
section B
5.comment in 150 words (15*4=60)
(a) Indian nationalism as depicted in S N Banerjea's 'A Nation In The Making'
(b)Upsurge in Political participation among the marginalised communities in the Indian General Elections during the last two decades.
(c)Inter-state water disputes
(d)Economic liberalization and uneven development among Indian States.
6.(a) Assess the effectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission in redressing grievances pertaining to human rights violations in India.30
(b)"Minorities are the natural custodians of the secular state".DE Smith.Discuss 30
7.Critically examine and comment on the assertions below in 200 words
(a)"The Constituent Assembly was a one party body in an essentially one party country.The Assembly was the congress and the Congress was India"
Granvile Austin 20
(b)"Articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution are inconsistent with the spirit of federalism" 20
(c)"The principle of Collective Responsibility a la the Cabinet system of government has eroded in the context of the emergence of coalition governments in India"20
8.(a) In what ways do civil liberties and human rights movements influence the working if Indian democracy?Give your answer with suitable eamples.30
(b) DO you think that post-1991 reforms in India mark a significant shift from the Nehruvian model of Economic development?Justify 30
Paper 2
Section A
1.answer the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)How is the modern comparative politics approach different from the traditional legal-institutional approach?
(b)Examine the changing nature of security in the recent times.
(c)Explain the meaning and application of the concept of 'strategic engagement'.
2.(a)Examine the post modernist critique of Realism in international politics.20
(b)Assess in detail the prospects of emergence of a nuclear-weapons-free world.40
3.(a)Discuss the different perspectives on global environment that have emerged in the context of the Copenhagen summit.20
(b)Critically examine globalisation from a third world perspective.40
4.Bring out your perspectives on the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)Plausible aims of the NAM in the post-Cold War period.
(b)The indications of the emergence of a global civil society.
(c)Should National interest be viewed as a constant category or is it situation-specific?
SECTION B
5.Answer the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)Can Israel be termed as a natural ally of India?
(b)Examine Indias response to the Af-Pak policy of the US.
(c)Bring out the role played by Indian armed forces in UN peace-keeping efforts in various parts of the world.
6.(a)Examine the nature if the issues currently being debated with the EU.
(b)Assess the problems being faced by India on account of illegal migration into the country.
7.(a)Comment on the foreign policy trends in Russia's foreign policy.20
(b)"the UN today is more of a social service organization than an exclusively security oriented body".critically examine.
8.(a)Bring out Indias perspectives and concerns on reform in the UNSC.20
(b) Would i be to Indias benefit if it were to pursue a more serious relationship with south-east Asia?Critically evaluate.40
Section A
1.comment in 150 words (15*4 =60)
a)power flows throughout the system like blood in the capilaries of our body (focault)
b)Robert Dahls concept of deformed Polyarchy.
c)'Personal is Political'
d)'Veil of Ignorance'
2 (a) Assess the deliberative theory of democracy.30
(b) Distinguish between Liberal Feminism and Socialist Feminism in detail.30
3.(a)Evaluate Marx's Instrumentalist approach to the state.30
(b)Compare and contrast Dharmashastra and Arthashastra with reference to state power.30
4.(a) Do you think the modern nation state has been declining in the wake of Globalization?justify your answer 30
(b)Critically examine the cultural relativist approach to human rights 30
section B
5.comment in 150 words (15*4=60)
(a) Indian nationalism as depicted in S N Banerjea's 'A Nation In The Making'
(b)Upsurge in Political participation among the marginalised communities in the Indian General Elections during the last two decades.
(c)Inter-state water disputes
(d)Economic liberalization and uneven development among Indian States.
6.(a) Assess the effectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission in redressing grievances pertaining to human rights violations in India.30
(b)"Minorities are the natural custodians of the secular state".DE Smith.Discuss 30
7.Critically examine and comment on the assertions below in 200 words
(a)"The Constituent Assembly was a one party body in an essentially one party country.The Assembly was the congress and the Congress was India"
Granvile Austin 20
(b)"Articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution are inconsistent with the spirit of federalism" 20
(c)"The principle of Collective Responsibility a la the Cabinet system of government has eroded in the context of the emergence of coalition governments in India"20
8.(a) In what ways do civil liberties and human rights movements influence the working if Indian democracy?Give your answer with suitable eamples.30
(b) DO you think that post-1991 reforms in India mark a significant shift from the Nehruvian model of Economic development?Justify 30
Paper 2
Section A
1.answer the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)How is the modern comparative politics approach different from the traditional legal-institutional approach?
(b)Examine the changing nature of security in the recent times.
(c)Explain the meaning and application of the concept of 'strategic engagement'.
2.(a)Examine the post modernist critique of Realism in international politics.20
(b)Assess in detail the prospects of emergence of a nuclear-weapons-free world.40
3.(a)Discuss the different perspectives on global environment that have emerged in the context of the Copenhagen summit.20
(b)Critically examine globalisation from a third world perspective.40
4.Bring out your perspectives on the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)Plausible aims of the NAM in the post-Cold War period.
(b)The indications of the emergence of a global civil society.
(c)Should National interest be viewed as a constant category or is it situation-specific?
SECTION B
5.Answer the following in about 200 words each 20*3=60
(a)Can Israel be termed as a natural ally of India?
(b)Examine Indias response to the Af-Pak policy of the US.
(c)Bring out the role played by Indian armed forces in UN peace-keeping efforts in various parts of the world.
6.(a)Examine the nature if the issues currently being debated with the EU.
(b)Assess the problems being faced by India on account of illegal migration into the country.
7.(a)Comment on the foreign policy trends in Russia's foreign policy.20
(b)"the UN today is more of a social service organization than an exclusively security oriented body".critically examine.
8.(a)Bring out Indias perspectives and concerns on reform in the UNSC.20
(b) Would i be to Indias benefit if it were to pursue a more serious relationship with south-east Asia?Critically evaluate.40
Monday, November 8, 2010
strategy for CSAT paper 2-2
lets have a look at what remains in paper 2,and chart out basic pints on it.
the syllabus says
2.Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4.Decision making and problem solving
What strikes me first up is that not all things are taught and so not all things can be learnt.Some are to be grasped.
Taittriya upsanishad says that a great teacher is he,who when he teaches, "saha vishayam Prakashyante'.
or makes the topic glow(illuminates) and it is this glow that guides a student to greater endeavors academically.
Closer to our times,we hear that 'WE can take a horse to a pond,but can not make it drink'.
i guess many a teacher would agree with the second point,and so do i!
after all,interpersonal skills is all about how you behave in society.how you interact with various people in it,how you speak to me,how you respond when i speak to you and so on.simple thus far as its value free.now add to it simple things-how you speak to me when i am head of your department,how you speak to me when i am your junior who is slacking in work and refuses to follow orders,or how you speak to me when i as a government servant ask you for a bribe.
people vary,and so do their approaches to such things.I am most concerned about such questions as there is no correct answer to this as each is likely to pick what appeals most to him.Anyone who has given a situation reaction test in the SSB interviews knows what i speak of.
so this part you reveal what you have made yourself in response to society over your lifetime.not much to worry about correcting,but still enough material here to cause some anxiety.
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability : Look at Shane Warne Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting-three very different captains who played alongside for the same team for a long time.They still vary in their leadership and that should give you a hint on this section,and the next ie 4.Decision making and problem solving.
make no mistake,any sort of responsibility,any leadership role brings alongside a lot of decision making.What do you use to make decisions?
Logic,Rationale,Information(which you filter from a mine of relevant data),and finally principles(whats right and whats wrong).this is what these two inter related points will check.
Logic can be practiced with definite results due to the simple fact that tests to check logical thinking are numbered,and practicing them enables good scores.Analysis is how your thought process works-this cant be taught and only a vague direction can be shown to you.rest of course is up to you.
making decisions comes naturally to us-we have been making them throughout our lives,so do not lose sleep over this.its just that the ones we will need to take in CSAT will be in imposed conditions with varying constraints needed to be filtered in.This is easy,only if you process things quickly and 'think on your feet' as they often say.
In short,after the veil of mystique has been removed from paper 2,it comes across a regulation paper that only tests what your thought process is like along with proficiency in english and ability to communicate-the basic trait of our species.
one need not worry-just gear up for it mentally!
all the best!
the syllabus says
2.Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4.Decision making and problem solving
What strikes me first up is that not all things are taught and so not all things can be learnt.Some are to be grasped.
Taittriya upsanishad says that a great teacher is he,who when he teaches, "saha vishayam Prakashyante'.
or makes the topic glow(illuminates) and it is this glow that guides a student to greater endeavors academically.
Closer to our times,we hear that 'WE can take a horse to a pond,but can not make it drink'.
i guess many a teacher would agree with the second point,and so do i!
after all,interpersonal skills is all about how you behave in society.how you interact with various people in it,how you speak to me,how you respond when i speak to you and so on.simple thus far as its value free.now add to it simple things-how you speak to me when i am head of your department,how you speak to me when i am your junior who is slacking in work and refuses to follow orders,or how you speak to me when i as a government servant ask you for a bribe.
people vary,and so do their approaches to such things.I am most concerned about such questions as there is no correct answer to this as each is likely to pick what appeals most to him.Anyone who has given a situation reaction test in the SSB interviews knows what i speak of.
so this part you reveal what you have made yourself in response to society over your lifetime.not much to worry about correcting,but still enough material here to cause some anxiety.
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability : Look at Shane Warne Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting-three very different captains who played alongside for the same team for a long time.They still vary in their leadership and that should give you a hint on this section,and the next ie 4.Decision making and problem solving.
make no mistake,any sort of responsibility,any leadership role brings alongside a lot of decision making.What do you use to make decisions?
Logic,Rationale,Information(which you filter from a mine of relevant data),and finally principles(whats right and whats wrong).this is what these two inter related points will check.
Logic can be practiced with definite results due to the simple fact that tests to check logical thinking are numbered,and practicing them enables good scores.Analysis is how your thought process works-this cant be taught and only a vague direction can be shown to you.rest of course is up to you.
making decisions comes naturally to us-we have been making them throughout our lives,so do not lose sleep over this.its just that the ones we will need to take in CSAT will be in imposed conditions with varying constraints needed to be filtered in.This is easy,only if you process things quickly and 'think on your feet' as they often say.
In short,after the veil of mystique has been removed from paper 2,it comes across a regulation paper that only tests what your thought process is like along with proficiency in english and ability to communicate-the basic trait of our species.
one need not worry-just gear up for it mentally!
all the best!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
strategy for CSAT paper 2-1
The syllabus for paper two is
(Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs
1.Comprehension
2.Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4.Decision making and problem solving
5.General mental ability
6.Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
7.English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
in this fist post of the series on strategy,lets deal with-point numbers 1,5,6 and 7.
now those that are used to defense exams like CDSE and NDA/NA would realize that these parts form syllabi's of the said exams and would figure prominently in all papers.those not familiar would do very well to walk up to the nearest store (or Google) to find some previous years papers of these two exams and have a look at the said portion.
1.Comprehension: guys note a fact,this is simple comprehension.Means the ability to folllow and infer from given information on any subject.You may be given a table from the Economic survey and asked to answer questions involving interpretation of given data.Alternately the data may be a sociology field study or geographical tables and so on.The normal comprehension most of us have been exposed to comes under point 7 ie English language comprehension skills (Class X level).
there are a large number of small books teaching how to interpret tables and stuff,but i will not recommend them blindly,having never used any.so pick and chose according to your preference.
lastly,
7.English language comprehension skills (Class X level):is a tricky thing.not always will you find straightforward here.So practice with defense entrance exams question papers.and generally improve your hold of english-after all both mains and interview demand it after all.
on the whole i would say do not panic if all this is new to you.try getting used to this.Upsc has announced that prelimns will be delayed by a month.so you have time,and you know whats coming,just get yourself to accept and then face the situation.
attitude determines your altitude in life,so dont let yourselves down guys!!!
all the best!
(Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs
1.Comprehension
2.Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4.Decision making and problem solving
5.General mental ability
6.Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
7.English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
in this fist post of the series on strategy,lets deal with-point numbers 1,5,6 and 7.
now those that are used to defense exams like CDSE and NDA/NA would realize that these parts form syllabi's of the said exams and would figure prominently in all papers.those not familiar would do very well to walk up to the nearest store (or Google) to find some previous years papers of these two exams and have a look at the said portion.
1.Comprehension: guys note a fact,this is simple comprehension.Means the ability to folllow and infer from given information on any subject.You may be given a table from the Economic survey and asked to answer questions involving interpretation of given data.Alternately the data may be a sociology field study or geographical tables and so on.The normal comprehension most of us have been exposed to comes under point 7 ie English language comprehension skills (Class X level).
this difference is important so do not expect all the comprehension to be from story like english passages.
5.General mental ability :this was already part of GS paper in prelimns and one would do well to check up previous years papers. RS Sharma and RS Agrawal are two veery common books used by the community of students to improve this part of the paper.not only this,R S Agrawal is often useful for point number 6 ie
6.Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level).
we used it in NDA exams and found the book sufficient to answer all questions that came.
as for second half of point number 6 ie Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
this has been traditionally asked in Bank PO exams conducted the year round.A magazine called Mahindra caters solely to Bank PO exams,and has some stray information on this segment though its a waste to buy it solely for this,whats useful is the various previous and current papers of various banks,which give a clear idea of how questions will turn out to be.there are a large number of small books teaching how to interpret tables and stuff,but i will not recommend them blindly,having never used any.so pick and chose according to your preference.
lastly,
7.English language comprehension skills (Class X level):is a tricky thing.not always will you find straightforward here.So practice with defense entrance exams question papers.and generally improve your hold of english-after all both mains and interview demand it after all.
on the whole i would say do not panic if all this is new to you.try getting used to this.Upsc has announced that prelimns will be delayed by a month.so you have time,and you know whats coming,just get yourself to accept and then face the situation.
attitude determines your altitude in life,so dont let yourselves down guys!!!
all the best!
History mains papers
Paper 1
Section A
1.Mark the following places on the map provided and write short descriptive notes on them. (3*20=60)
1.Korkai
2.Eran
3.Birbhanpur
4.Rakhigarhi
5.Sannathi
6.Isipattan
7.Dhanyakataka
8.Junnar
9.Edakkal
10.Paithan
11.Pandu Rajar Dhibi
12.Karle
13.Vatapi
14.Porkalam
15.Kalanjar
16.Multan
17.Bairat
18.Chanhudaro
19.Rajim
20.Tripuri
2.(a)To what extent archaeological materials are useful in understanding the progress of Neolithic man in India?30
(b) Examine the significance of the Deities depicted on coins of the Kushanas.30
3.(a)Examine the view that sacrifice was a ritual and a form of Social exchange in Vedic India.30
(b)Assess the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy.30
4.What light do early inscriptions and literature throw on the status of women in politico-socio-economic spheres?60
Section B
5.Write short notes in 200 words on any three. (3*20=60)
(a)Provide a comparative analysis of the development of Arabic and Persian historiography.
(b)Discuss the social dynamics in the Vijayanagara empire.
(c)G=Discuss the different types of Karkhanas in Mughal India.How was the production organized in the different Karkhanas?
(d)Critically evaluate various approaches to study medieval Indian towns.
6(a)examine the increasing importance of maritime trade of India during 13-15 centuries.30
(b)To what extent 'monetary anaemia' afflicted the erstwhile commercial economy during the early medieval period?30
7.(a)Comment on the Turko-mongol theory of sovereignty.To what extent was it adopted by Babur and Humayun?30
(b)How did Shivaji organize his administration and finances to consolidate his power?30
8.(a)Wat was the Indian response to European technology?30
(b)How far do you agree with the view that temples in early medieval period were catalysts in spreading education?30
paper 2
section A
1.Critically evaluate in 200 words-(3*20=60)
(a)."the educated middle class in the 19th century often found the domain of reason to be oppressive, as it implied the historical necessity of 'civilizing' colonial rule".
(b)."Railway development in India provides an interesting instance of private enterprise at public risk".
(c)."The active participation of Aruna Asaf Ali in 1942 movement symbolized the role of women in India's freedom struggle".
2.(a)"In terms of administrative structure,the government of India act of 1858..meant more continuation than change."do you agree?substantiate.20
(b)."Punjab's fate after Ranjit Singh was foredoomed as the impulse of Neo-Victorian Imperialism was bound to overwhelm it".Elucidate 20
(c)."The developments during 1937-39 greatly undermined the ability of the Indan National Congress to push through the agenda of National Unity."comment.20
3.(a)What role did economic ideas play in the early phase of the British rule in the shaping of land tenure policy?30
(b)Discuss the extent to which the Indian Renaissance movement contributed towards the rise of national consciousness.30
4.(a)To what extent did the process of commercialization of agriculture affect the rural scene in India?30
(b)Discuss the factors that lead to the growth of Dalit consciousness and mention the major movements aimed at their empowerment. 30
Section B
5.Critically examine in200 words (20*3=60)
(a)"..he (Voltaire ) was living in the Age of Enlightenment....The age itself was not enlightened."-E.Kant.
(b)"all long marches begin with small steps".
(c)."The essence of Perestroika is for people to feel they are the country's master"-gorbachev.
6(a)"How far is it correct to say that every feature of the American Constitution was ultimately of English Origin?20
(b)What do you understand by imperialism?state briefly its unique features in the case of Africa?20
(c)To what extent did Napoleans economic war with England become his undoing?20
7.(a)Critically examine the Dutch colonial policy in Indonesia.30
(b)"Europe faced peace in 1945 politically disorganized and economically crippled."elaborate.30
8.(a)"The eastern question has always been an international question".Elucidate 30
(b)Explain the circumstances leading to the emergence of Third world and analyze its impact on world affairs.30
Section A
1.Mark the following places on the map provided and write short descriptive notes on them. (3*20=60)
1.Korkai
2.Eran
3.Birbhanpur
4.Rakhigarhi
5.Sannathi
6.Isipattan
7.Dhanyakataka
8.Junnar
9.Edakkal
10.Paithan
11.Pandu Rajar Dhibi
12.Karle
13.Vatapi
14.Porkalam
15.Kalanjar
16.Multan
17.Bairat
18.Chanhudaro
19.Rajim
20.Tripuri
2.(a)To what extent archaeological materials are useful in understanding the progress of Neolithic man in India?30
(b) Examine the significance of the Deities depicted on coins of the Kushanas.30
3.(a)Examine the view that sacrifice was a ritual and a form of Social exchange in Vedic India.30
(b)Assess the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy.30
4.What light do early inscriptions and literature throw on the status of women in politico-socio-economic spheres?60
Section B
5.Write short notes in 200 words on any three. (3*20=60)
(a)Provide a comparative analysis of the development of Arabic and Persian historiography.
(b)Discuss the social dynamics in the Vijayanagara empire.
(c)G=Discuss the different types of Karkhanas in Mughal India.How was the production organized in the different Karkhanas?
(d)Critically evaluate various approaches to study medieval Indian towns.
6(a)examine the increasing importance of maritime trade of India during 13-15 centuries.30
(b)To what extent 'monetary anaemia' afflicted the erstwhile commercial economy during the early medieval period?30
7.(a)Comment on the Turko-mongol theory of sovereignty.To what extent was it adopted by Babur and Humayun?30
(b)How did Shivaji organize his administration and finances to consolidate his power?30
8.(a)Wat was the Indian response to European technology?30
(b)How far do you agree with the view that temples in early medieval period were catalysts in spreading education?30
paper 2
section A
1.Critically evaluate in 200 words-(3*20=60)
(a)."the educated middle class in the 19th century often found the domain of reason to be oppressive, as it implied the historical necessity of 'civilizing' colonial rule".
(b)."Railway development in India provides an interesting instance of private enterprise at public risk".
(c)."The active participation of Aruna Asaf Ali in 1942 movement symbolized the role of women in India's freedom struggle".
2.(a)"In terms of administrative structure,the government of India act of 1858..meant more continuation than change."do you agree?substantiate.20
(b)."Punjab's fate after Ranjit Singh was foredoomed as the impulse of Neo-Victorian Imperialism was bound to overwhelm it".Elucidate 20
(c)."The developments during 1937-39 greatly undermined the ability of the Indan National Congress to push through the agenda of National Unity."comment.20
3.(a)What role did economic ideas play in the early phase of the British rule in the shaping of land tenure policy?30
(b)Discuss the extent to which the Indian Renaissance movement contributed towards the rise of national consciousness.30
4.(a)To what extent did the process of commercialization of agriculture affect the rural scene in India?30
(b)Discuss the factors that lead to the growth of Dalit consciousness and mention the major movements aimed at their empowerment. 30
Section B
5.Critically examine in200 words (20*3=60)
(a)"..he (Voltaire ) was living in the Age of Enlightenment....The age itself was not enlightened."-E.Kant.
(b)"all long marches begin with small steps".
(c)."The essence of Perestroika is for people to feel they are the country's master"-gorbachev.
6(a)"How far is it correct to say that every feature of the American Constitution was ultimately of English Origin?20
(b)What do you understand by imperialism?state briefly its unique features in the case of Africa?20
(c)To what extent did Napoleans economic war with England become his undoing?20
7.(a)Critically examine the Dutch colonial policy in Indonesia.30
(b)"Europe faced peace in 1945 politically disorganized and economically crippled."elaborate.30
8.(a)"The eastern question has always been an international question".Elucidate 30
(b)Explain the circumstances leading to the emergence of Third world and analyze its impact on world affairs.30
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
correction
Mains still on but i hastened to write this post.
guys dont do what i said,it is wrong-i mean going through previous years papers.
only two years-09 and 2010 are valid anyway for your next mains.
so drastic has been the change that many including me were caught off-guard,in this UPSC attempt to dislodge the coaching class menace.
i suggest only last two papers be seen as a guide for changing pattern-for those that have joined coaching,i pity you,money time effort all a waste.What was asked was what we did when not studying and reading for general!
not 100 marks worth was coached,and that was a fact.
still my mistake has to be undone.do please not waste time on previous papers like me.
sorry for the error,but i never claimed the powers to read the mind of those at the UPSC.
happy studying!
guys dont do what i said,it is wrong-i mean going through previous years papers.
only two years-09 and 2010 are valid anyway for your next mains.
so drastic has been the change that many including me were caught off-guard,in this UPSC attempt to dislodge the coaching class menace.
i suggest only last two papers be seen as a guide for changing pattern-for those that have joined coaching,i pity you,money time effort all a waste.What was asked was what we did when not studying and reading for general!
not 100 marks worth was coached,and that was a fact.
still my mistake has to be undone.do please not waste time on previous papers like me.
sorry for the error,but i never claimed the powers to read the mind of those at the UPSC.
happy studying!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Taking on CSAT
so finally the long wait is over and we are in possession of the tentative syllabus for CSAT. A number of aspirants are troubled by this change- a break from the past,a variation from the usual and known.The result has been to view this change as another imposed obstacle to clear the exam instead of a scintillating opportunity to make hay while the sun shines.I am sure many will be confused as regards my previous statement,but the answers reasonably simple.
No one wins or loses a race before it starts.each has just the same probability to win.The course is changed things are unsettled and no one is absolutely sure of the result-including the Self professed Pundits of Rajendra and Mukherjee nagar.some say calamity-i say the best of opportunity.What happens when a foreign invader plunders and retreats??
Bands of robbers swoop in and finish off the job!this has always been the case in India.A glance in history will prove me right.What do you do when a change in syllabus leaves conditions unsettled in CSE preparations?Whosoever you are,whatever your level of preparation-the stage is set for you to ride in and plunder away
glory,once and for all!!no one to stop you,no one at an advantage,all at the same spot the same time,the same paper and no one with a added advantage-however minuscule!!!what are you waiting for then?
as you think that over,here is the syllabus
From Civil Service Examination 2011, Preliminary Examination would consist of two papers- Paper I and Paper II. The syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination would be as under :
(Paper 1) (200 marks) - Duration : Two hrs.
· Current events of national and international importance
· History of India and Indian national movement
· Indian and World Geography- physical, social, economic geography of India and the world
· Indian Polity and governance – constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc.
· Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc.
· General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change-that donot require subject specialization
· General science.
(Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs
· Comprehension
· Interpersonal skills including communication skills
· Logical reasoning and analytical ability
· Decision making and problem solving
· General mental ability
· Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
· English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
******
i will come up with a strategy for each segment of the syllabus in due time,busy for now with my mains that begin in a weeks time,Till then dont lose heart,dont listen to doomsday predictions of how this is engineer friendly,how this will be swept away by MBA aspirants etc.Dont read those special adds by dubious coaching classes waiting to rip you off.Just get mentally ready to clear the exam no matter what syllabus and achieve your dreams.
No one wins or loses a race before it starts.each has just the same probability to win.The course is changed things are unsettled and no one is absolutely sure of the result-including the Self professed Pundits of Rajendra and Mukherjee nagar.some say calamity-i say the best of opportunity.What happens when a foreign invader plunders and retreats??
Bands of robbers swoop in and finish off the job!this has always been the case in India.A glance in history will prove me right.What do you do when a change in syllabus leaves conditions unsettled in CSE preparations?Whosoever you are,whatever your level of preparation-the stage is set for you to ride in and plunder away
glory,once and for all!!no one to stop you,no one at an advantage,all at the same spot the same time,the same paper and no one with a added advantage-however minuscule!!!what are you waiting for then?
as you think that over,here is the syllabus
From Civil Service Examination 2011, Preliminary Examination would consist of two papers- Paper I and Paper II. The syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination would be as under :
(Paper 1) (200 marks) - Duration : Two hrs.
· Current events of national and international importance
· History of India and Indian national movement
· Indian and World Geography- physical, social, economic geography of India and the world
· Indian Polity and governance – constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc.
· Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc.
· General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change-that donot require subject specialization
· General science.
(Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs
· Comprehension
· Interpersonal skills including communication skills
· Logical reasoning and analytical ability
· Decision making and problem solving
· General mental ability
· Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
· English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
******
i will come up with a strategy for each segment of the syllabus in due time,busy for now with my mains that begin in a weeks time,Till then dont lose heart,dont listen to doomsday predictions of how this is engineer friendly,how this will be swept away by MBA aspirants etc.Dont read those special adds by dubious coaching classes waiting to rip you off.Just get mentally ready to clear the exam no matter what syllabus and achieve your dreams.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
CSAT-reflections
the portion for CSAT is out and i am dumbstruck!I had heard the virtues of competition but never really guessed the extremes to which competitions takes one.
we are willing to strategize for hours and fuss over optionals believing one correct choice will give us a minuscule edge over others.We are willing to render unquestioning obedience (probably never rendered even to our own parents) to some famed Coaching sir making our own selves dumb drones in the process hoping that this would take us through.
and now comes the latest addition-Even as the syllabus is just announced
for CSAT,just like a visiting Australian cricket team,the psychological battle begins.I do not seriously know what would one get except a relative reassurance (dilaasa) predicting and pontificating that the syllabus is 'Engineer friendly'.
i fail to realize how such a syllabus translates to engineer friendliness.i fail to realize what ENGINEER one speaks of when there are so many streams and each as different as chalk from cheese(for heavens sake even the IES exam defines exactly what streams may apply).and most of all i fail to realize what the brouhaha is all about.
so what if a new sector is added in your preparations?you have been rid of 50 questions of GS and a whole optional worth 120 questions after all!
so how does it make a difference?
its indeed a pity we trust these pseudo-logical strategies and a gazillion guesses but not our own abilities to excel no matter what subject we choose and no matter what question they ask.Its sad indeed to find a despondency and lack of confidence in the youth today.And believe you me,this is probably the best we have got that appear for CSE.
i do not find any reason for this friends,all its takes is some mental toughness and the right kind of attitude,and victory will be yours.Here are some words often attributed to Vincent Lombardi-
If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will,
It’s all a state of mind.
If you think you’re out-classed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself,
If you ever want to obtain a prize.
Life’s battles does not always go,
To the stronger or faster man.
But, soon or late, the man who wins,
IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN!!!
--------------------------------------------
there is no reason you cant,is there?time to buck up and study hard.all the best!!!
we are willing to strategize for hours and fuss over optionals believing one correct choice will give us a minuscule edge over others.We are willing to render unquestioning obedience (probably never rendered even to our own parents) to some famed Coaching sir making our own selves dumb drones in the process hoping that this would take us through.
and now comes the latest addition-Even as the syllabus is just announced
for CSAT,just like a visiting Australian cricket team,the psychological battle begins.I do not seriously know what would one get except a relative reassurance (dilaasa) predicting and pontificating that the syllabus is 'Engineer friendly'.
i fail to realize how such a syllabus translates to engineer friendliness.i fail to realize what ENGINEER one speaks of when there are so many streams and each as different as chalk from cheese(for heavens sake even the IES exam defines exactly what streams may apply).and most of all i fail to realize what the brouhaha is all about.
so what if a new sector is added in your preparations?you have been rid of 50 questions of GS and a whole optional worth 120 questions after all!
so how does it make a difference?
its indeed a pity we trust these pseudo-logical strategies and a gazillion guesses but not our own abilities to excel no matter what subject we choose and no matter what question they ask.Its sad indeed to find a despondency and lack of confidence in the youth today.And believe you me,this is probably the best we have got that appear for CSE.
i do not find any reason for this friends,all its takes is some mental toughness and the right kind of attitude,and victory will be yours.Here are some words often attributed to Vincent Lombardi-
If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will,
It’s all a state of mind.
If you think you’re out-classed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself,
If you ever want to obtain a prize.
Life’s battles does not always go,
To the stronger or faster man.
But, soon or late, the man who wins,
IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN!!!
--------------------------------------------
there is no reason you cant,is there?time to buck up and study hard.all the best!!!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
courage
i came across this prose in a book and i thought it nice!
Courage is admitting that you're afraid and facing that fear directly.it's being strong enough to ask for help and humble enough to accept it.
Courage is standing up for what you believe in without worrying about the opinions of others.it's following your own heart,living your own life and settling for nothing less than the best for yourself.
Courage is refusing to quit even when you're intimidated by impossibility.it's choosing a goal,sticking with it,and finding solutions to problems.
courage is thinking big,aiming high,and shooting far.it's taking a dream and doing anything,risking everything,and stopping at nothing to make it a reality.
Courage is admitting that you're afraid and facing that fear directly.it's being strong enough to ask for help and humble enough to accept it.
Courage is standing up for what you believe in without worrying about the opinions of others.it's following your own heart,living your own life and settling for nothing less than the best for yourself.
Courage is refusing to quit even when you're intimidated by impossibility.it's choosing a goal,sticking with it,and finding solutions to problems.
courage is thinking big,aiming high,and shooting far.it's taking a dream and doing anything,risking everything,and stopping at nothing to make it a reality.
Friday, September 24, 2010
breathless
what does it feel like to prepare for mains when you lag behind plans by ages?
like running a marathon in sprints..
like running on a treadmill that refuses to stop..
like Stuart Broad when Yuvi hit him for six sixes...
in short not very pleasant.
i have been trying hard to reach safety-cover as much as i can possibly cover,from the so called 'core areas'.
But success has been eluding me in this endeavor so far.
the last stage before mains is one interesting time folks-
you suddenly feel enlightened!you begin to realize what you should have done while preparing a long time ago,and what you dint!This will help surely next time round.
Hope there is no next time though!!
like running a marathon in sprints..
like running on a treadmill that refuses to stop..
like Stuart Broad when Yuvi hit him for six sixes...
in short not very pleasant.
i have been trying hard to reach safety-cover as much as i can possibly cover,from the so called 'core areas'.
But success has been eluding me in this endeavor so far.
the last stage before mains is one interesting time folks-
you suddenly feel enlightened!you begin to realize what you should have done while preparing a long time ago,and what you dint!This will help surely next time round.
Hope there is no next time though!!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
economic survey
Economic survey is a daunting thing to study and a must for the exam.Here is a list of important stuff again from VisionIas.
http://swamyme.fileave.com/important-sections-economic-survey-2009-10-vision-ias1.pdf
http://swamyme.fileave.com/important-sections-economic-survey-2009-10-vision-ias1.pdf
Analysis of questions-vital for GS mains
at the out set nothing of the following is my own work..i came across these when searching for stuff online.I thought of uploading this as i keep telling people to analyse previous years papers and thought of simplifying the task for them.We must thank VisionIas from where these have been procured.
copy paste the link address in the address bar and press enter.
Indian polity-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/general-studies-mains-indian-polty-question-pattern.pdf
Geography-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/gs-main-geography-question-pattern-visionias.pdf
Indian Economy-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/gs-mains-indian-economy-questions-pattern-analysis-visionias.pdf
Modern India History-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/history-of-modern-india-g-s-main-questions-pattern.pdf
India and the World-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/india-and-world-gs-main-questions-pattern-analysis-visionias.pdf
Science and Technology-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/science-and-technology-gs-main-ques-pattern.pdf
copy paste the link address in the address bar and press enter.
Indian polity-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/general-studies-mains-indian-polty-question-pattern.pdf
Geography-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/gs-main-geography-question-pattern-visionias.pdf
Indian Economy-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/gs-mains-indian-economy-questions-pattern-analysis-visionias.pdf
Modern India History-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/history-of-modern-india-g-s-main-questions-pattern.pdf
India and the World-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/india-and-world-gs-main-questions-pattern-analysis-visionias.pdf
Science and Technology-
http://swamyme.fileave.com/science-and-technology-gs-main-ques-pattern.pdf
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
what to do for GS preliminary3
The importance of previous years papers cannot be underestimated.I have seen a general inertia-people hesitate to do them thinking whats the use they are unlikely to repeat in any case!Flawed thinking friends.you cant plan without knowing,you cant know without seeing and solving!
by their nature MCQ has four options.I got 70 right in Political science by merely going through the last years papers and following up on all four options completely.
Repeated perusal of previous years papers makes you reasonably clear as far as relative importance of various sub topics is concerned.That will help plan when you sit down to planning.
Take as many mock tests as you can,I dont necessarily mean those conducted by coaching classes,there are other options too.JTS institute conducted an all India free mock test last year online,and there are more such tests freely available online.In this case if you do prefer a coaching class like Vajiram there should be no harm done (if you dont let poor results affect your confidence)
solving repeated MCQs makes you more comfortable with the pattern of questions,gives a better idea of how much you can guess safely in the mains exam.So this gives you both familiarity and a sense of confidence in the exam.
now,for the tricky part
1.for those with lots of time,there is a fat book by TMH on general studies for civil services,an alternative is available if you buy Pearson publication.This one book covers everything,and mastering this will see you safely through,but its not easy to master.
2.NCERT books are a safe bet if you can spare the time and read them from middle to high school.
3.TMH also comes out with section wise books-in history,geography and so on.If buying multiple books is all right,then these too are detailed and informative and well integrated with GS mains.
an alternative is similar books by spectrum or even wizard publications.
i must caution you,all books are good,provided you study.There is no magic pill and no magic book.UPSC will not use a single source to derive questions and if one is sufficiently well read any book they derive questions from,you will still answer.
lastly and most importantly-
Mental ability should be stressed on.Changes in pattern will be reflected increasingly in GS paper too.Mental ability,logic and reasoning are smallish in number of questions,but if you dont prepare for them and they are asked for more,bid your chances of passing bye bye.
personally,i will devote more time to Polity,Constitution, and the like,where the overlap with CSAT is more likely.
all the best!
by their nature MCQ has four options.I got 70 right in Political science by merely going through the last years papers and following up on all four options completely.
Repeated perusal of previous years papers makes you reasonably clear as far as relative importance of various sub topics is concerned.That will help plan when you sit down to planning.
Take as many mock tests as you can,I dont necessarily mean those conducted by coaching classes,there are other options too.JTS institute conducted an all India free mock test last year online,and there are more such tests freely available online.In this case if you do prefer a coaching class like Vajiram there should be no harm done (if you dont let poor results affect your confidence)
solving repeated MCQs makes you more comfortable with the pattern of questions,gives a better idea of how much you can guess safely in the mains exam.So this gives you both familiarity and a sense of confidence in the exam.
now,for the tricky part
1.for those with lots of time,there is a fat book by TMH on general studies for civil services,an alternative is available if you buy Pearson publication.This one book covers everything,and mastering this will see you safely through,but its not easy to master.
2.NCERT books are a safe bet if you can spare the time and read them from middle to high school.
3.TMH also comes out with section wise books-in history,geography and so on.If buying multiple books is all right,then these too are detailed and informative and well integrated with GS mains.
an alternative is similar books by spectrum or even wizard publications.
i must caution you,all books are good,provided you study.There is no magic pill and no magic book.UPSC will not use a single source to derive questions and if one is sufficiently well read any book they derive questions from,you will still answer.
lastly and most importantly-
Mental ability should be stressed on.Changes in pattern will be reflected increasingly in GS paper too.Mental ability,logic and reasoning are smallish in number of questions,but if you dont prepare for them and they are asked for more,bid your chances of passing bye bye.
personally,i will devote more time to Polity,Constitution, and the like,where the overlap with CSAT is more likely.
all the best!
what to do for GS preliminary2
I will outline the factors vital for your planning-
1.keep your plan confined and rational.To say i plan to do all GS in february to april is no plan at all and likely to backfire.keep small,do-able targets in place so no frustration and under-confidence before the exam results if your plan targets are not met.
2.Realize that no one can master GS paper completely and score 150 on 150.Leave alone that no one easily notches up 75 either!
this year my target was 80 in both GS and Optional,and result was 75 in GS and 70 in optional.I cleared.dont believe figures available online,they are inflated beyond doubt.
for eg.,this year there claim to be Pub-Ad students failing with 260 plus marks,and i know a general category candidate clearing with 218.and no,i dont believe this conspiracy theory of goof-up on part of UPSC.
3.The GS paper has sections like-Indian national movement,Indian Geography,Polity,Current Affairs,Basic science,etc
decide which you can master and which you will want to master.the segments should add up to around a 100 questions,so you are planning only for 100 questions.
Make sure you score at least 90% in the areas you outlined.this is vital and failing this you fail.
4.which sectors to outline can become tricky keeping in mind unpredictability of UPSC,but then one can easily still predict the source of around 120 questions and plan accordingly.There will never be a GS paper without a question on Modern history and Geography for instance.
5.no one including the toppers has an option but to do current affairs in depth.this is beyond doubt.
Current affairs forms an overwhelming part of GS mains later,and will be asked in interview too.So what you do here is lay a long term foundation when you do your part in current affairs prelimns.
for current affairs-
1.paper like the hindu,times of india is mandatory.make a note month wise under sub headings like-political developments (elections,coups etc) International organisations (leaders,summits and points in discussion currently) sports (wimbeldon french open and so on)...
2.Magazines are good,but not complete in themselves.what is good in them is the frequent question sets they give which are vital for practice.Each month,when i used to get tired of studying and as a result studies suffered i found getting magazines with their new discussions toppers interviews and mock questions a good change and enthusiasm booster.You need to sift out relevant stuff from these magazines also and add it to your monthly notes derived from the papers.
3.See a good debate show every weekend on TV.Why?because in these debates there are a lot of things discussed not only on the topic but also on a number of other topics relevant to the main theme.This is useful to both mains and prelimns.
4.Use the internet effectively,a number of blogs update current affairs daily,weekly and monthly.
copy paste the relevant information in a different word file for revision later.
For science and technology,use the Hindu archives.The Hindu newspaper has a science and technology issue every week which helps in the science section in GS paper,if followed regularly.
I have never read NCERT books after reading them in school.I really dont think there is a compulsion to,though i readily admit they are the most authentic source of information.Why i dint use them was that when i started around 15 march,it was very difficult to start with NCERT books then and complete the same.
If anyone has two or three months extra in hand,there is nothing better than a detailed reading of these books.
1.keep your plan confined and rational.To say i plan to do all GS in february to april is no plan at all and likely to backfire.keep small,do-able targets in place so no frustration and under-confidence before the exam results if your plan targets are not met.
2.Realize that no one can master GS paper completely and score 150 on 150.Leave alone that no one easily notches up 75 either!
this year my target was 80 in both GS and Optional,and result was 75 in GS and 70 in optional.I cleared.dont believe figures available online,they are inflated beyond doubt.
for eg.,this year there claim to be Pub-Ad students failing with 260 plus marks,and i know a general category candidate clearing with 218.and no,i dont believe this conspiracy theory of goof-up on part of UPSC.
3.The GS paper has sections like-Indian national movement,Indian Geography,Polity,Current Affairs,Basic science,etc
decide which you can master and which you will want to master.the segments should add up to around a 100 questions,so you are planning only for 100 questions.
Make sure you score at least 90% in the areas you outlined.this is vital and failing this you fail.
4.which sectors to outline can become tricky keeping in mind unpredictability of UPSC,but then one can easily still predict the source of around 120 questions and plan accordingly.There will never be a GS paper without a question on Modern history and Geography for instance.
5.no one including the toppers has an option but to do current affairs in depth.this is beyond doubt.
Current affairs forms an overwhelming part of GS mains later,and will be asked in interview too.So what you do here is lay a long term foundation when you do your part in current affairs prelimns.
for current affairs-
1.paper like the hindu,times of india is mandatory.make a note month wise under sub headings like-political developments (elections,coups etc) International organisations (leaders,summits and points in discussion currently) sports (wimbeldon french open and so on)...
2.Magazines are good,but not complete in themselves.what is good in them is the frequent question sets they give which are vital for practice.Each month,when i used to get tired of studying and as a result studies suffered i found getting magazines with their new discussions toppers interviews and mock questions a good change and enthusiasm booster.You need to sift out relevant stuff from these magazines also and add it to your monthly notes derived from the papers.
3.See a good debate show every weekend on TV.Why?because in these debates there are a lot of things discussed not only on the topic but also on a number of other topics relevant to the main theme.This is useful to both mains and prelimns.
4.Use the internet effectively,a number of blogs update current affairs daily,weekly and monthly.
copy paste the relevant information in a different word file for revision later.
For science and technology,use the Hindu archives.The Hindu newspaper has a science and technology issue every week which helps in the science section in GS paper,if followed regularly.
I have never read NCERT books after reading them in school.I really dont think there is a compulsion to,though i readily admit they are the most authentic source of information.Why i dint use them was that when i started around 15 march,it was very difficult to start with NCERT books then and complete the same.
If anyone has two or three months extra in hand,there is nothing better than a detailed reading of these books.
what to do for GS preliminary
This post will find its use only for the unique set of circumstances seen this year.
The title of this post is really the most sought after query on most websites on civil service exams.Next year we will face a new CSAT.Until now,most aspirants including me,saw optionals as our friend and GS as our enemy,partly due to more weight-age for optionals and broader scope for GS.
but like they often say-'a known enemy is better than an unknown friend'!And so this year we must all learn to sleep with our enemy knowing well that the new exam,being unpredictable can both make or break the result.In such a case it a stellar performance in GS will hopefully neutralize a not so good show in CSAT and still give you a fighting chance to clear.
Your attitude is the key.Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.The announcement in December for CSAT may see varying reactions,but it is important to presume you might find it difficult and prepare accordingly rather than assuming it is to your strength and relaxing a little.the same is called to err on the side of caution.
first,all aspirants need a self valuation.You have seen the previous years papers and you have seen the portions both.I guess a fair estimate of time you will need to prepare for prelimns should be easy to ascertain.
come to this figure(i decided on three months,so planned to start from february 2010 but actually could only start from march 15), and add a month extra to it for unforeseen circumstances.
The date you arrive at will be the point where you will begin your countdown fro CSE 2011.After that you will not waste time planning and utilize time only executing plans already in place.So when do you plan then?
Now is as good a time as any to plan!
cont
The title of this post is really the most sought after query on most websites on civil service exams.Next year we will face a new CSAT.Until now,most aspirants including me,saw optionals as our friend and GS as our enemy,partly due to more weight-age for optionals and broader scope for GS.
but like they often say-'a known enemy is better than an unknown friend'!And so this year we must all learn to sleep with our enemy knowing well that the new exam,being unpredictable can both make or break the result.In such a case it a stellar performance in GS will hopefully neutralize a not so good show in CSAT and still give you a fighting chance to clear.
Your attitude is the key.Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.The announcement in December for CSAT may see varying reactions,but it is important to presume you might find it difficult and prepare accordingly rather than assuming it is to your strength and relaxing a little.the same is called to err on the side of caution.
first,all aspirants need a self valuation.You have seen the previous years papers and you have seen the portions both.I guess a fair estimate of time you will need to prepare for prelimns should be easy to ascertain.
come to this figure(i decided on three months,so planned to start from february 2010 but actually could only start from march 15), and add a month extra to it for unforeseen circumstances.
The date you arrive at will be the point where you will begin your countdown fro CSE 2011.After that you will not waste time planning and utilize time only executing plans already in place.So when do you plan then?
Now is as good a time as any to plan!
cont
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
a must for all new civil service aspirants!
To those that will want some more information,i found this online,though i cant remember where.I guess i vaguely remember it was Mr Mrunal Patel that originally gave the link to this file.He deserves our common thank yous.
hope you guys find it useful.
click on the following link
http://swamyme.fileave.com/how-to-crack-civil-services-examination.pdf
hope you guys find it useful.
click on the following link
http://swamyme.fileave.com/how-to-crack-civil-services-examination.pdf
Sunday, September 12, 2010
beginning of a movement
when i began,i had the same thoughts latent in my head.
to set an example,to motivate more students to back their ability.
but this vehemence was not there.
till today.
i met around twenty poor students this morning(at a hospital).All of them young,in different classes,and excellent in their academic careers so far.The person taking care of them was admitted to the same hospital my father is and we met in the cafeteria (where i was studying in a belated move to cover some portions before mains).
we struck up a conversation and i came to know later that despite an interest to appear for civil services,these bright friends were hesitating because they had no funds for Coaching.It seems they approached a Coaching class in Bangalore,who demanded 40 thousand for one student.He also took care to inform them his faculty taught in Delhi and the raes there were double.so if they wished to clear then atleast that much will have to be given.(is it only me or does thi ominously sound like corruption?)
I asked him how many attempts he had given,he said none.He had money enough to buy books,but not join coaching,and he preferred joining a job elsewhere to help other students finish their graduations.
I took his phone number,and came home.
I opened a forum for civil service aspirants and all i saw was Coaching Coaching Coaching!
It has become like this obsessive compulsion amongst aspirants.
It has become like this obsessive compulsion amongst aspirants.
that was the turning point.
That very moment i wrote my posts on coaching and took upon this responsibility.something will have to be done,else the conditions will only worsen,If the UPSC cant knock out coaching classes by change in pattern,i can by undermining popular perception.
And i intend to do it,single handedly if i have to.dont join in if you dont want to,just wish me luck.
PS-
i called my friend from the cafeteria.We are study partners now.I plan to share my books(collected over the past year) with him,and study together.He will attempt CSAT 2011 with us.lets see what happens!
coaching for civil services2
I am not blind.i will never hesitate to admit the atmosphere at Rajinder Nagar or Mukherjee Nagar may probably be the best you will get as regards preparation for civil services,something akin to Kota for IIT!but what beats me is many people who did not go to Kota for IIT go to Delhi for CSE regardless!!!!!!
Victory for propaganda i say.
Recently there were protests at Jantar Mantar as regards preliminary results.I would love to see just how many of the people there were from the above mentioned areas.
there in lies the catch.You will get company,but at the cost of added distraction and other diversions.see,fact is post-results was a time of introspection and determination,not sloganeering and conspiracy-mongering.The first step was taken in the wrong direction and the second is not going to help either(i mean supreme court).
In an examination which values action more than talk,to have a band of 50000 co-aspirants,numerous friends and buddies around you,and consequent human tendency to talk,may actually prove a bigger liability than acknowledged.
IIT see the super 30 clear with 100 % selection rate from Bihar,and countless from elsewhere without any coaching to speak of.All i intend to point out is a good atmosphere is great,but not the sole condition to clear.Plenty clear without 'coaching' they only dont advertise.
Again i admit,there are many(not including me) who say the material these classes provide are good,concise,to the point etc.
great if it is,get the material.For those that dont know the material of each class worthy of being named is availiable readily from the classes itself on payment of some money,or Ber Sarai and old JNU campus at a pittance (~1000Rs) compared to what you would spend if you stayed and studied in the same classes (~100000Rs,boarding lodging fees included)!
The coached clones clear and face the numerous problems of governance in service.Who coaches them to manage these problems then?????
This exam is tough,and testing.It will show you what stuff you are made of.Part of my indignation lies in the fact that the coaching propaganda is undermining confidence of an overwhelming majority of the youth of this country,my country,and there is not much that right thinking people can do to change it.
if i had lakhs i might have thought of putting ads in all magazines i could-
Clear Civil Services Without Coaching,No Fees Charged!!!!
but i dont have lakhs to spend in the said manner.I am not some disgruntled maniac writing because i cant afford to join these classes.I can and i may if till my third attempt i fail on my own.but i want to give myself a chance.
till now twenty of my friends have not cleared prelimns with coaching,i have cleared prelimns
without coaching.
I dont have lakhs and all i do have is a person(me) and an exampla i am trying to set (again myself).
Those that read my posts know of my travails this year,but with solemn intent i inform you that mind you,my time will come,
i will clear without coaching,of any sort.
i will get what i want,even if i have to move heaven and earth to do so.
and i will make my point in eloquent actions,and in the process hopefully inspire some more young friends to first seek salvation in their own efforts,and then think of that infamous thing-The coaching class that promises much,and delivers little.
PS-
In the intervening time,there will be a few thousand (whose pictures everyone will see in due course of time) who will clear the exam cloned by the centers at Delhi.There will be tens (whose pictures fewer will see and that too only in newspapers) who will clear the same exams from humble origins like the wards of illiterate parents,villagers,and so on.
There will be many who will read this,nod their head and still go on to join the said class and get coached.
Some of these may clear,some may not.Be sure the ones that do,will work just as hard as me,if not more to achieve their success!
and in all this there may be one or two,who will read,and importantly reflect,and hopefully back themselves to join me in this single handed fight against the established propaganda,and save more youth from the rumour mills by setting more examples.
It may sound grand,but our role here is like the revolutionary terrorists of our freedom struggle-to strive to rouse the populace by our own (heroic) individual struggle,and i hope to succeed in this noble cause.
It is for those one or two that the whole exercise is undertaken.
i await my comrades patiently,even as i swear to prove my point as soon as UPSC permits me too.
godspeed.
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