INSIGHTSSimplifyingUPSCIASExamPreparation

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HowToPrepareUPSCCivilServicesMainsPaperIII(GS2)
ByINSIGHTS

ClickHereForMoreDetailedStrategiesForOtherPapersandMore!
HowtoprepareGS1(i.ePaperII)
HowtoprepareGS3(i.ePaperIV)
HowtoprepareGS4(i.ePaperV)
UPSChasbroughtchangestotheCivilServicesMainsexaminationinboththepatternandthesyllabus.We
knowthatnowthereare4GeneralStudiesPapersapartfromoneEssayandOptionalpapereach.
ThisarticlediscussespreparationstrategyforGeneralStudies2(i.ePaperIII)
Beforeyoustartreadingfurther,pleaserememberthefollowingimportantmantragivenbytheAlmightyUPSC:

Thequestionsarelikelytotestthecandidatesbasicunderstandingofallrelevantissues,and
abilitytoanalyze,andtakeaviewonconflictingsocioeconomicgoals,objectivesanddemands.
Thecandidatesmustgiverelevant,meaningfulandsuccinctanswers.

Thissentenceistheguidinglightforyourpreparation.Youdonthavetomasterthetopics,allyouneedis
BASICUNDERSTANDINGandtheabilitytoanalyze.
Basicunderstandingcomesfromreadingandrereading.Abilitytoanalyzewhatyouhaveunderstoodfrom
readingcomesfromWRITINGPRACTICE.

Twoimportantthingsfundamentaltoyourexampreparation:

Getfamiliarwithallthetopicsandsubtopicsbywritingthemmanytimestheyshouldbe
stronglyetchedinyourmemory.

Keepacopyofthesyllabusalwaysnearyounomatterwhereyouare.

Now,howtodealwithGS2?
AssumingyouarenowfamiliarwiththesyllabusofGS1,wewilldiscussatopicbytopicwhattoread,from
wheretoreadandwhatnottoreadforthesetopics.
BroadSyllabusOfGS2is:

Governance,Constitution,Polity,SocialJusticeandInternationalrelations.

Beforeyoustartpreparingforthispaper,pleasereadfollowingNCERTtexts,whichmighttake23daysofyour
time.

1.

NCERTClassXIIndiaConstitutionAtWork

2.

NCERTClassXIIPoliticalScienceII

3.

NCERTClassXDemocraticPolitics

TOPIC1

IndianConstitutionhistoricalunderpinnings,evolution,features,amendments,significant
provisionsandbasicstructure.

ThispartisveryusefulbothforPrelimsandMains.BestbooktostudythissectionisD.D.BasusIntroduction
ToTheConstitutionOfIndiaFirst5chaptersinthisbookexclusivelydealwiththispartofthesyllabus.
ForBasicStructure,Thesetwoarticlesmighthelpyou.
1)BasicStructureoftheconstitutionrevisitedTheHindu(PDF)
2)TheBasicStructureoftheconstitution(PDF)
TOPIC2

FunctionsandresponsibilitiesoftheUnionandtheStates,issuesandchallengespertainingto
thefederalstructure,devolutionofpowersandfinancesuptolocallevelsandchallenges
therein.

OnegoodsourcetogetthecriticalperspectiveaboutthesetopicsisReportofthe2ndAdministrativeReforms
Commission,namedOrganizationalStructureOfGovernmentofIndia(13thReport)
Fordevolutionoffinancestolocalbodies,ReadThis..(Dontlookanywhereelse)
FortheconceptpartreadLaxmikantsIndianPolity.Buythenewupdated4thedition.(Chapters12,1314
and30).
ButMainsdemandsnotonlybasicunderstandingofthesetopics,butyourcriticalandanalyticabilitiesto
answerquestionsonthesetopics.So,trytorelatetheseconceptstocurrenteventtopicsandwritesmall
articles.ARCreportswillhelpyouinthisregard.
Eg.Thoughdevolutionoffunds,functionariesandfunctionsistakingplaceinthelocalgovernments,
developmentisstillamirageinmanypartsofIndia.Criticallyanalyze.(youcanframemanyquestionslikethis)
TOPIC3

Separationofpowersbetweenvariousorgans,disputeredressalmechanismsandinstitutions.

BASICS:PublicGrievancesandRedressalMechanism
ThistopicisadynamicportionwereadlotaboutconflictbetweentheJudiciaryandtheExecutivetoanswer
dynamictopics,oneshouldfirstunderstandtheconstitutionalprovisions,redressalmeasureswiththe
constitution,checksandbalancesprovidedintheconstitutionetc.
ARCreportscometotherescueagain.7threportof2ndARCnamedCapacityBuildingforConflict
ResolutiontalkselaboratelyonvariousissuessuchasLeftWingExtremism,RegionalDisparities,Landand
Waterrelatedissues,SCandSTissues,ReligiousconflictsandNorthEastconflictswhichinvolvenumerous
institutionsintheconflictmanagementandresolution.
Later,scancurrenteventsandfindanylatestinstancesofconflictbetweenanyconstitutionalbodies,or
betweenaconstitutionalbodyandstatutorybody.
Again,conceptscanbestudiedeitherfromD.D.BasuorLaxmikat..
TOPIC4

ComparisonoftheIndianconstitutionalschemewiththatofothercountries

AbookbyS.ChandSelectConstitutionsoftheworldisfamousamongLawstudents.Thiscoversthistopic
comprehensively.Oneshouldbecarefultonottostudythistopicindepth.
IncaseyoucanaffordtobuycostlybookD.D.BasusClassicontheIndianConstitutionShorter
ConstitutionOfIndianotonlycoversallabovetopics,italsocoversthepresenttopic.
Fewlinksthatmighthelp:
Constitutionsaroundtheworld

EvolutionofIndianConstitution(Itiscomparedwithotherconstitutionsyouhavetosearchinbetween)
DifferencebetweenUSandEUconstitutions.
TrytoknowsomebasicsabouttheNewConstitutions/reformsbeingframed/broughtoutinNepal,Bhutan,
MyanmarandPakistan.

(Again,emphasisshouldbeonrelatingallthesetopicstothecurrentevents)

TOPIC5

ParliamentandStateLegislaturesstructure,functioning,conductofbusiness,powers&
privilegesandissuesarisingoutofthese.

Tocoverthistopic,onestopsourceisSubhashKashypsOurParliament.(Whythisbook?Becauseitiswritten
bysomeonewhoworkedinsidetheParliamentformostofhiscareer,andthisbookgivesadetailedideaabout
thefunctioningofourParliamentastheabovetopicsuggests,youshouldbefamiliarwithallaspectsofour
Parliament.Thisbooksischeap,andishighlyreadablewithlotofinsights)
TOPIC6

Structure,organizationandfunctioningoftheExecutiveandtheJudiciaryMinistriesand
DepartmentsoftheGovernmentPressureGroupsandformal/informalassociationsandtheir
roleinthePolity.

BASICS:
UnionExecutive
ParliamentofIndia
SupremeCourtofIndia
ExecutiveintheStates
StateLegislature
HighCourtsandSubordinateCourts
LocalGovernment:UrbanandRural
PressureGroups
Again,Laxmikantisenoughforthistopic.Regardingpressuregroups/informalassociationsrecentactivism
shownbyCivilsociety,conflictwiththegovernmentandothersuchtopicsshouldbestudiedindepth.
TOPIC7

SalientfeaturesoftheRepresentationofPeoplesAct.

FirstreadthisbeautifularticlebyYogendraYadav.(PDF)
Thistopichasgeneratedmoreheatinthepastandpresenteg,officeofprofitbill,antidefectionbill,electoral
reformsbilletc.
Thistopicshouldbe
RecentsupremecourtrulingdisqualifyingMPsandMLAswithcriminalbackground,andcurrenttopicslikethis
shouldbestudiedcarefully.
TOPIC8and9

AppointmenttovariousConstitutionalposts,powers,functionsandresponsibilitiesof
variousConstitutionalBodies.
.Statutory,regulatoryandvariousquasijudicialbodies

ReadLaxmikantforthispart.PartVII,VIIIandIXofthisbookcompletelycoversthesetopics.
Thispartofthesyllabushasgivenrisetosomecontentiousissuessuchaspoliticalinterferenceinthe
appointmenttovariousconstitutionalpostsandstatutorybodies.EgEC,CBI,CVC,CAG,SC,Governors,
Lokayukta,Lokpal(ifitcomesintoexistence)etc.So,readthistopickeepinginmindtheseaboveissues.
AsIsaidbefore,youneedtoreadalltheabovetopicswithananalyticalperspective.Toprovideyouwiththis,
thereisawonderfulbookpublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressandauthoredbyPratapBhanuMehta,named
PublicInstitutionsinIndiaPerformanceandDesign,willbeimmenselyuseful.
Asitsbackcoversays,Thisvolumeanalyticallyassessesthedesign,performance,andadaptabilityofthe
principalinstitutionsofgovernanceinIndiaandtheircriticalroleinademocraticpolity.Thatiswhatyouneed
forthispaper.
TOPIC10

Governmentpoliciesandinterventionsfordevelopmentinvarioussectorsandissuesarisingout
oftheirdesignandimplementation.

ThispartiscoveredwellinthesamebookImentionedabove:PublicInstitutionsinIndiaPerformanceand
Design
Also,referEconomicSurveyforgovernmentpoliciesandPIBsiteregularly.
TOPIC11

DevelopmentprocessesandthedevelopmentindustrytheroleofNGOs,SHGs,variousgroups

andassociations,donors,charities,institutionalandotherstakeholders

[PleasenotethephraseDevelopmentIndustryitreferstoaidindustrydevelopedaroundNGOs,UN
bodies,Charitiesetcandtheirroleinthedevelopmentprocess.]
Planningcommissionhasvariousarticlesonthesetopics.
ThisreportgivescriticalaccountofsuccessandfailureofSHGsinIndia.(justreadthesummary,conclusion
andrecommendationsNEVERreadfullreport)
ArticleonNGOtheirevolutionandrole.

TOPIC12

WelfareschemesforvulnerablesectionsofthepopulationbytheCentreandStatesand
theperformanceoftheseschemesmechanisms,laws,institutionsandBodiesconstitutedfor
theprotectionandbettermentofthesevulnerablesections.

NotethewordSTATEschemesbythestatesarealsoimportant.
FocusontheschemesbeingimplementedbytheMinistryofWomenandChildwelfare,MinistryofSocial
Justice,MinistryofRuralDevelopmentandMinistryofTribalaffairs.
ListOfGovernmentSchemesIndiaWikipedialink.
ListofAllstateandcentralschemeGovt.ofIndiaWebsite(hereyoucanfilterqueriesbytheministryitisnot
easythough,govtsiteyouknow..)
OnemoreoptionisvisitthislinkonmysitetogotothesiteofanyMinistryandfindschemesthere.
TOPICS12and13

IssuesrelatingtodevelopmentandmanagementofSocialSector/Servicesrelatingto
Health,Education,HumanResources.
.Issuesrelatingtopovertyandhunger.

Wereadlotaboutthisthesedays:Foodsecuritybill,PDSreform,Povertyreductionschemes,Povertyline
controversy,Malnutritionfigures,reportonmalnutrition(rememberHungMareport?)etc.
TOPIC13

Importantaspectsofgovernance,transparencyandaccountability,egovernance
applications,models,successes,limitations,andpotentialcitizenscharters,transparency&

accountabilityandinstitutionalandothermeasures

Thisintroductoryarticleon2ndARCsiteand2ndARCreportonPromotingeGovernance:TheSMARTWay
Forwardwillbeveryusefultocoverthistopic.
EgovernanceConceptandSignificance(IGNOU)
TOPIC14

Roleofcivilservicesinademocracy

Again,2ndARCreport(10threport)RefurbishingofPersonnelAdministrationhaswholechapter(ch4)onthis
topic.

InternationalRelations

TOPIC15

Indiaanditsneighborhoodrelations.

Twosourcesforthistopic:
1. IndiaanditsneighboursMEAWebsite
IndiaAfghanistan
IndiaPakistan
IndiaNepal
IndiaBhutan
IndiaBangladesh
IndiaSrilanka
IndiaMaldives
IndiaChina
IndiaMyanmar
2.ForcriticalanalysisThisBookbyRajivSikriChallengeandStrategyRethinkingIndiasForeignPolicyis
mustforreadingthispartofthesyllabus.
TOPIC16

Bilateral,regionalandglobalgroupingsandagreementsinvolvingIndiaand/oraffecting

Indiasinterests

ForIndiasrelationswiththeothercountries,clickhere.(readonlyimportantcounriesUSA,UK,EU,SA,
Brazil,Japan,Russia,Australiaetc)
MinistryofExternalAffairshasbriefsonallbilateralrelationsofIndiawithregionalandglobalgroupings:
AndeanCommunity(CAN)February2013
ASEANRegionalForumAugust2012
AsiaEuropeMeeting(ASEM)May2013
BRICSApril2013
CaribbeanCommunityandCommonMarket(CARICOM)January2013
CentralAmericanIntegrationSystem(SICA)February2013
CommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica(COMESA)August2012
CommonwealthAugust2011
CommunityofLatinAmericanandCaribbeanStates(CELAC)August2012eractionandConfidence
BuildingMeasuresinAsia(CICA)August2012
EastAfricanCommunityApril2011
EastAsiaSummitJanuary2013
G20August2012
GulfCooperationCouncilFebruary2013
IndiaAfricanUnionRelations
IndiaASEANRelationsApril2013
IndiaEURelationsJuly2013
IndianOceanRimAssociationforRegionalCooperation(IORARC)March2013
IndiaUnitedNationsRelations,January,2013
MekongGangaCooperation(MGC)May2013
PanAfricaneNetworkProjectJanuary2013
SouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunityCooperationApril2012
TOPIC18

EffectofpoliciesandpoliticsofdevelopedanddevelopingcountriesonIndiasinterests,
Indiandiaspora

Thisisadynamicparteffectsofglobalization,WTOpolicies,domesticpoliciesofdevelopedcountriesand
theireffectonothercountries(lotofexamplesfromUSA,UKcanbegivenvisarow,waronterrorism,
immigrationpolicies,economicpoliciesetc)

IndiandiasporatheircontributiontoIndia,Indiascontributiontothem,Theircontributiontotheworldetc.
Theirproblemsintheresidingcountries,theirrightsinIndiaconstitutional/statutoryprovisionsifany,their
participationintracktwodiplomacy,theirroleinIndianeconomyetcetc.
NewspaperisthebestsourceIguess.Formoreinfo,visittheofficialsite.
TOPIC19

ImportantInternationalinstitutions,agenciesandforatheirstructure,mandate.

UNOanditsvariousbodies,agenciesmustbestudiedwithrespecttotheirstructure,role,relevanceand
reforms.UNreformsisthehottopic.
InternationalOrganizations(noUNbodies)suchasAPEC,ADB,ASEAN,OECD,NATOshouldbestudied.
Forlinkstoalltheseorganizations:clickhere.
Finally,forsomearticlesfromYojanamagazines(2013)thatarerelatedtomanytopicsfromthisPaper,click
here.

FiveIndispensableBooksForpaperIII

1.

D.D.BasuIntroductiontotheConstitutionofIndia20Edition

2.

IndianPolityforCivilServicesExaminations4thEditionLaxmikanth

3.

SelectConstitutions:16thEditionSChand

4.

ChallengeAndStrategy:RethinkingIndiasForeignPolicyRajivSikri

5.

PublicInstitutionsinIndia:PerformanceandDesignPratapBhanuMehta

TWORECOMMENDEDBOOKS(OnlyIfYouHaveMoreTimeAtYourDisposal)BothByGranville
AustinClassicsOnIndianPolity
1)TheIndianConstitution:CornerstoneofANation(ClassicReissue)Review
2)WorkingaDemocraticConstitution:AHistoryoftheIndianExperienceReview

ASMALLLECTURE

Untilnowwesawwhatbookstoread.Nowthequestionishowtoremembermostofthethingswereadand
howtotranslatethemintobetteranswers.
Acommonmistakemostoftheaspirantscommitisreadingsomanybooksforasingletopic.This
mistakecostsbothyourtimeandabilitytorememberthingsclearlyandconcisely.
Sticktoasinglesourceandreaditagainandagain.RememberTheSameSource.Avoidthetemptation
ofdoingResearchonatopic.
AlwaysRememberUPSCtestsBasicUnderstanding.Notmasteryoveratopic.
Makeshortnotesoneachtopic.ItiswhilemakingnotesthatreaderstendtodoRESEARCHandscout
varioussources.Sticktoonebookevenifyouarenot100%satisfiedwithit.
Rememberthatoldsaying?Jackofalltrades,masterofNONE.IfyoutrytodoResearch,most
probablyyournamewontappearintheFinalList.Iguaranteeit.
ForPaperII(i.eGS1)beingthoroughwithCurrentEventsplaysacrucialroleinenablingyoutoacquire
analyticalskills.
VeryImportantPartInThePreparation
Writing.Writing.Writing.
Butwhat?OnemustpracticeanswerwritingtoPreviousyearquestions,ortakeaMockTest.
Whatever,beforeyouenterexaminationhall,youmusthavespentlotoftimeonanswerwriting.
MostImportantPartInThePreparation
Revision.Revision.ReRevision.
YoudothisandyouappearforthePersonalityTest.
IfyoudontRevisewhatyoureadallthesemonthsyouslightlymissthePersonalityTest,orYou
narrowlymissappearingintheFinalList.
Well,tosumup.Togettheinterviewcallallyouneedtodois:Read,Rereadthesamesource,Writeand
Revise.
Preparationforthispapercanbefinishedin20daysprovidedyouarefocusedanddetermined.
Ofcourse.Eatwell,SleepwellandKeepagoodhealth.Ifyougetarunningnoseonthedayoftheexam,2
hoursoutof3hoursgoesindrainingitanddryingit.

STRATEGYFORGENERALSTUDIESPAPERII

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