Home Guidance Civil Services How to Prepare for UPSC Exam while you are in College?

How to Prepare for UPSC Exam while you are in College?

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Syskool
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upsc exam preparation while graduation

Golden days of life are the college days and therefore live every moment of it to the fullest. Study hard and party harder should be the goal of the college. But if you work little harder in your graduation than you can cover up to 70% of the syllabus of the UPSC Exam.

The UPSC Exams cycle consist of  three stages – Prelims, Mains and Interview, which normally has a fixed schedule in July (for Prelims), October (for Mains) and March/April (for Interviews).

The IAS is the perfect harmony of social and personal good, an opportunity, that only few can careers can provide. Be inspired. The 3 golden tips for IAS preparation is to aspire for this golden service you need to prepare smartly, persistently, and patiently.

Remember one thing that if you want to clear UPSC Exam than you should keep your basics clear because if your basics are clear than you can think about the problem and can try to find the solution for the same.

Must Read: How to Prepare for IAS Exams While Doing a Job?

Things you should keep in mind while you are preparing for UPSC Exam.

  • Start reading newspapers. The Hindu and The Indian Express are very good and read them religiously.
  • As you read the newspapers, make notes of important events. Divide in 8 divisions, namely, International Relations (Middle East and Asia), International Relations (Americas and remaining world), Government Policies and schemes, Personalities and Awards and Sports, International Organisations, Social Issues, Economic Policies, Defence. Classify all news in these categories. These will help you a lot as a ready reckoner while you are revising for the General Studies syllabus.
  • Start reading NCERT books from class 6 to 10. These are basic textbooks which will give you the gist of the subject and then you can go deeper and deeper into that subject. (For history, you should start reading India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma, then Medieval India by Satish Chandra and then India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra.)
  • Don’t restrict your reading to only books. Go through Internet. They will provide you with knowledge which can’t be gained by reading books.
  • Remember that never try to learn all the things at the same time but what you read, read it with complete concentration and keep in mind for always.
  • Make use of the Internet. Watch documentaries like BBC’s days that shook the World which will increase your knowledge base.
  • Visit the websites of government ministries whenever a new bill is introduced. It will help you to know the government point of view on the bill.
  • Read at least 4 of the following magazines of your choice: Frontline, Civil Services Chronicle, Economic and Political Weekly, India Today, The Economist, Yojana, Kurukshetra.
  • Whenever any current issue comes up, look up all the details on the internet, including the history of the issue in question.
  • Decide your optional fast and then look online for the recommended reading list for that optional.
  • Invest 6-8 hours in your study daily and 14-16 hours on the weekend and occasional holidays. And the most important thing sleep for 6-8 hours which will keep you energetic and feel fresh throughout the day.

Also Read: How to Crack IAS Exam? 10 Tips for IAS Preparation

Selection of the Optional Paper

This is very important decision. First start preparing for GS and then after some time take this decision. Because in GS papers you will be introduced to variety of optional subjects like
History, Geography, Public Administration, Political Science, Sociology.

This will help you to determine your inclination to a particular subject. Selecting an optional paper without having knowledge of other subjects or without knowing your own writing and presentation styles and thinking patterns will put you in trouble.

Following are some basic criteria for selecting optionals:

  • Interest and understanding in the subject (about which you will come to know when you study for GS)
  • Analysis of the syllabus and previous years’ question papers of the shortlisted subjects
  • Writing style and presentation techniques suitable for that particular optional (about which you will know once you start writing for GS and essay)
  • Thinking Pattern expected for a particular optional (you will come to know about yours after you prepare for GS.)
  • Availability of study material and guidance
  • Weightage of optional in GS
  • Graduation background

In college your studies, hobbies and extra curricular activities should be your priorities. Try to gain as much experience as you can. Be open to all sorts of projects, assignments and ideas.

Also don’t develop a negative attitude towards private sector jobs. If you are getting an opportunity to work with some firm (start up or giant) then grab the opportunity ! It will give you altogether different experience.

Don’t Miss: All About Civil Services Exam

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58 COMMENTS

  3. Can u guys provide the info of the best authors and books for prelims and mains for different subjects, especially prelims papers like history , geography and put that in an article???

  5. Dear sir, I have completed my post graduation with computer science in the year 2012 and graduation with pass subject physics,math,& chemistry . now i prepared for civil service. But I confused what paper will take the optional which will better for me. please suggest me how i choose the paper before registration start

    • The subject which is comfortabke for you and you are more intersted in that subject.
      Please don’t select the the subject on behalf of other person, its your choice.

    • If your interest is that in computer science,you can choose but your real interest is not that you analysis that g’s portion what you can do Easley.

  6. Hi sir I am Omprakash. I belong from rural area. I studied in government schools.now I become GRADuate in 2015 ,I want to be a civil servant ,so pleas give me some tips.

  7. For computer science student there is no such related subject in the syllabus, which will help the aspirant for crack the paper. So please give me the suggestion which paper i will choose for optional

  10. Sir I am in Bsc ll year with physics , chemistry , math .plz tell how to prepare & what subject I take for mains exam .

  11. Sir,
    I am a civil service aspirant. I have doubt that can I attend civil service examination at the time of my 3rd year.
    What are the eligibility criteria at that time. Will you please explain it ?

  14. Sir..I am in 1st year of graduation by history (hon),English and pol. Science are my optional subject …please suggest me how will I prepare and which subject I take for mains xam,..

  16. Sir I m a student of b.com 4th sem with subjects.,English,Income Tax,Corporate Law,Corporate Accounting and Business environment.After graduation I want to became a KAS officer,how can I prepare for that from now….,Thanks

  21. sir please suggest the best books for pre exams especially history,geography, polity,.. Sir I m totally confused in selecting the optional subject.

  25. Can anyone opted for Agriculture as an optional ?means is there any institutions which provide materials with proper guideance.

  26. Sir pls u give me a suggestion about civil exam now i study in b.a. 1st year so i am can not povide the best coching institute

  28. Hello Sir, I am 3rd year B.sc Nursing student but I have a doubt that can I be a part of civil service exam and if I can, give some important trips for for subjects to be taken in the main

  29. The way u provide all the information and try to cover whole in a few passages,it’s regularly helping and motivating aspirants….
    Thanks for providing us the variety of informations at a single and on a sole platform.

  30. I am studying mechanical engineering and just completed my second year exams. I want to prepare for UPSC but I don’t know anyone who can guide me through it. This blog is really helping me a lot. I wish you update your app also along with the blog everyday. Thank-you very much.

  37. Sir I m medical student,,,I don’t have any art subject….pl suggest me sir….hw I ll prepare fr upsc??

  40. Sir please suggest which book is preferable for political science optional …
    and thank you so much for your suggestion. .

  41. Sir.my name is Rajan .I am b.tech in computer science.Can i prepare for IAS.But in IAS there is no optional for CS.SO it is right or wrong.Please reply

  43. What about upboard student means Hindi midium students,what is newspaper, books,magazine and other internet article please suggest some key point for biggner who want to achieve this goal.

  44. The above suggestions and guidance that had shared have been a great help to us.. Thank you very much. And will be appreciated if do keep updating more information regarding on UPSC.

  49. I want to ask how should I prepare for my civil exam along with college.
    I m doing Ba and my subjects are political science, economic and sociology.
    I am little confused about what extra material should I bought for my preparation and how to score good in exam?

    • Same here i think we can download the app “hindu newspaper” and go through every morning… it will be a great help

  52. Is commerce/accounts among the optional subjects which we choose..Because i’m doing my graduation in B.COM???

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