For example

1. In Xyz Month, suppose there is big protest / PIL regarding POSCO. Newspapers will cover it
and you get say 3 fodder points. Note it down
2. After a few months, either S.Korea President comes to India or Mohan makes a trip there
(Mohan usually makes foreign trips when there a new scandal at home, because then he is
saved from answering the media or lets the high command cover up the problem hehehe.)
3. Anyways back to the topicso when leaders make trip to each others nation, they release a
joint press statement. Youll usually find 5 fodder points in it. Note down.
4. After some months, China and S.Korea start fighting over some sea/land/island. Again
newspaper columns start covering it and you get 3 more points.
Total youve 3+5+3=11 points.
When they ask you about India-S.Korea relations, you can use those points to write a decent
answer.

Polity
Just one book: Laxmikanth

(http://www.flipkart.com/indian-polity-

4th/p/itmdmmsnbhqfwj3a?pid=9781259064128&affid=mrunalrugm)
(http://www.flipkart.com/indian-polity-4th/p/itmdmmsnbhqfwj3a?
pid=9781259064128&affid=mrunalrugm)
The question is how to effectively use Laxmikanth? For that, dont
study the book in linear fashion (chapter 1,2,3,4) Instead I suggest
you move in following direction
1. First you read the chapter on President, Vice President and
immediately move to the chapter on governor. Then read on
Emergency provisions.
2. Read chapter on PM and cabinet, then move to CM and state council
of Ministers.
3. Chpater on Parliamentary system and then directly to parliament, but after budget topic is
done pause this chapter and move to on CAG. Then come back and resume the chapter on

parliament.
4. Once parliament is finished, move to State legislative assembly.
5. Same way Supreme Court and then High court, tribunals.
6. Attorney Gen =>Advocate General
7. UPSC =>State PSC
8. Finance Commission =>Planning Commission=>Nat.Development council
9. Now Centre State and Interstate relations.
10. Election Commission=> chapter on election, Anti-defection
11. All the National Commissions on Women, SC, ST,OBC, CVC, Lokpal and so on.
(http://www.flipkart.com/bharat-ki-rajvyavastha007067888x/p/itmczynwvrxw5gpq?
pid=9780070678880&affid=mrunalrugm)
Once ^this is done. Move to
1. Citizenship, Fundamental rights, DPSP, duties.
2. Amendment of Constitution=> preamble
3. Jammu Kashmir => Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
4. UT, Panchayati Raj, municipalities
After ^this is done. Read whatever chapters are remaining.
Note: the short explanations given in appendix of every chapter= should be read.

Q. Should I make notes out of Laxmikanth?

M.Laxmikanth has the skill of writing book in a note-format.
So whether it is his book on polity or on Public Administration, there is no need to maintain
a special note out of his books.
Just highlight/underline important lines. Note down keywords on the margin. And keep
revising it as many times as you can.
When youve done enough revision, solve mock questions given at the end of his book
(around 300). Then solve another 400 Mock Qs given in the GS manual. So total 700
questions practiced. Then UPSC MCQs on polity will not give you much trouble.

Anyways ^this is only the static polity.

What about the current a airs on Polity?

Womens reservation bill = explicitly polity topic.
But at times polity related current affairs and possible questions are subtly hidden in the
current affairs.
So be vigilant. For example, Nuke power plant issue would superficially appear as
environment/yearbook but can be well asked from Centre-State relations point of view.
Supreme courts order on Ganga/Yamuna clearing would appear as environment topic but
can be asked under Centre-States responsibilities in water Management also.
Same goes for 2G scam, mining scams and so on. (Judicial Activism, Seperation of power,
CAG Activism and so on)

Sources for current a airs

1. Newspaper
2. Prsindia.org
3. /polity
So far we have seen how to approach International affairs, Economy and Polity. You should
finish their core syllabus first, in order to fully digest the newspaper items.
Now moving to the other topics of syllabus.

History (GS/CSAT)
update Feb 2014: for History/culture portion, use the Tamilnadu (TN) State education board
books. Theyre better than NCERTs. (Free download @bottom).
following is old information
For prelims (CSAT General Studies Paper I), History is subdivided into three segments
Ancient

Harappa, Vedic Age, Buddha, Mahavir, Gupta,Maurya Kingdoms etc.

Medieval

Delhi Sultanate, Vijaynagar, Mughals etc.

Modern

British Raj. 1857 Mutiny onwards. Freedom struggle.

In the 90s, questions used to be based on

1. Timelines: wars, kings,
2. Locations: of Harappa Sites where xyz type of pottery was found, or Asokas pillars
3. Match the following
4. Maps: theyd give you a blank map, you had to locate xyz state or kingdom.
In last three years, questions are mostly based on religion, culture, art and
features/cause/reason type.
Although UPSC hasnot asked map based question lately but if youve time, it doesnt hurt
preparing the maps (because UPSC is the baddest thug in this part of South East Asia.) youll find
the Ancient/Medieval maps in NCERTs and in GS Manual.

Essential Booklist for History (GS/CSAT)

1. NCERT class 7 to 10 Social Science
2. NCERT class 11, 12 on History
3. NOS Studymaterial on Indian Culture and Heritage.
^all of these free, download links @bottom of this article
4. Selective Study of History portion in Tata Macgrawill General Studies Manual
(http://www.flipkart.com/general-studies-services-preliminary-examination-20131259027155/p/9781259027154?pid=9781259027154&affid=mrunalrugm) (to fill up vacuum
of whatever details are missing in the NCERTs). But again skip very tiny details such as

Middle Palaeolithic tools were found at Nevasa, Maharashtra by HD Sankalia. Because it

wont go in long term memory. Your time and energy can be better utilized in other topics.
Once this is done, solve all the Mock MCQs given in the General Studies Manual.
In The NCERT Class 9 and 10, youll also find information on World History (WW1, WW2, French
Revolution, Russian Revolution etc) While theyre not specifically mentioned in the syllabus, you
should read it because indirectly important for Essay and interview.