UPSC PREPARATION STRATEGY

1. History
a) NCERT 6th to 12th std. (old & new)
b) Understand the social processes behind facts; concentrate
equally on other spheres of life in a given era; understand the
causes and effects
c) Bipin Chandra Pal Indias struggle for Independence
d) Norman Lowe - World History (Spectrum version can also be
efficiently used)
2. Geography
a) NCERT Textbooks
b) Maps
c) Go into the geographical details behind everyday news
3. Polity
a) Prepare tables while studying the post of a President &
Governor or Supreme Court and High Courts (Similarities and
Differences)
b) Prepare for 600 words of a good quality answer
c) Laxmikanth Indian Polity
d) Read the 12th Planning Commission reports/economic survey
reports
4. Economics
a) Tata Mc Graw- Indian Economy
b) Focus on current issues as well as the broad economic issues
c) Purchase SRIRAMS IAS Economics notes
5. Ethics
a) Ethics for Dummies
b) Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude; important to solve
case-studies
6. Biodiversity, Environment
a) SRIRAMS IAS notes
b) The Hindus issues on this topic
7. Newspaper Reading
a) It is not compulsory to make notes of newspapers
b) Newspapers must be supplemented with Yojana Magazine,
which gives better insight into the rural and urban
developments in the Indian society
8. Science & Technology
a) Issues from The Hindu
b) http://www.insightsonindia.com/
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Other general tips:

1. To opt for coaching is a very subjective matter.
2. Law as an optional subject is viable as it comprises the basics of
IPC, Law of Torts, Constitutional Law, International Law etc, which
already get covered in a law school.
3. Solve past year papers.
4. Keep a tab on the historical events referred to in The Hindu.
5. Read the NCERTs over and over again, rather than purchasing a
number of books and concentrating on none of them.
6. Go into the minute details of news.