The Two Neglected Magical Tools that can be a Game Changer for IAS Aspirants
The Civil Services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is considered one of the most coveted examinations in the country. Many aspirants work hard for years to clear the IAS examination. However, the result of this hard work, perseverance and sacrifice may not always be sweet; the journey leaves an indelible mark on the minds of every aspirant.
Each aspirant has a different approach to tackling the Civil Services exam. Some choose self-study over coaching and some completely rely on coaching institutes. But both self-study and coaching can’t help if you don’t understand the nature and requirements of the exam. The two often neglected but very useful tools that can guide you towards the right path are UPSC IAS Syllabus and past UPSC exam papers.
Civil Services Exam Syllabus
The UPSC notification comprises the detailed syllabus for various stages of the exam. The syllabus of the preliminary exam is broadly defined, whereas the main exam syllabus is comprehensive. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should go through the syllabus carefully, understand what they have to study, and sift out the unimportant topics. This approach will give the aspirants the right direction and focus on covering the important topics first.
To get an idea of the preliminary exam syllabus, go through the table given below.
UPSC Preliminary Exam Syllabus
| General Studies Paper I | General Studies Paper II |
| Current events of national and international importance | Comprehension |
| History of India and Indian National Movement | Interpersonal skills including communication skills |
| Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social, Economic | Logical reasoning and analytical ability |
| Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. | Decision making and problem-solving |
| General issues on Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change ( these topics do not require subject specialisation) | General mental ability |
| Economic and Social Development- Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. | Basic numeracy ( numbers and their relations, orders of
magnitude, etc. — Class X level) |
| General Science | Data interpretation
(charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)
|
UPSC Previous Years’ Question Papers
While IAS Syllabus acts as a framework, old question papers tell you:
- Where to start and stop
- What is important and what can be left
- What should be studied comprehensively and what requires only the basic understanding of the topic etc.
Therefore, candidates must follow the following steps:
- First, go through the Civil Services notification
- Understand the requirements of the exam
- Study the UPSC syllabus
- Analyse the UPSC Previous Years’ Question Papers thoroughly
- Develop a strategy
Changing Trend in the UPSC Examinations
Over the years, the nature of questions in the UPSC preliminary and main examinations have changed. Earlier, UPSC used to focus on factual information. But now, questions are analytical in nature. Questions can focus on both static and dynamic aspects of a topic. Therefore, candidates have to prepare thoroughly for the exam. The importance of environment, ecology and current affairs related topics have increased over the years. So, aspirants need to follow a multi-dimensional approach to crack the Civil Services examination and be one step ahead of the competitors.
The path towards the IAS dream is indeed not a bed of roses. However, using the right tools and approach can make this journey less arduous, if not smooth. Use the right strategy and use your time wisely.
