Toolkit for csp23

THE LAST LEG — 100 Days

@iasexamcongress |Feb 12, 2023

Toolkit for csp23

 Introduc on
THE LAST LEG is an attempt to answer what, when and how of a candidate’s approach
during next 100 days for Civil Service (Prelims) Exam – 2023. This is the third consecutive
year when I am releasing the Toolkit which has now become an essential component of
one’s prelims preparations. In this third edition I have tried to organise the subject wise
strategy under the headings of Source1.0. Source 2.0 (Current Affairs) and Source 3.0.
In various sections, I have recommended various books and various material/
contents of different coaching institutes. I do not intend to promote these institutes or I do
not demean those which are not enlisted here. This simply means no institute is dear or
distant to me. I believe all coaching wallahs compile, create and curate similar content as
they use same and obvious references like - The Hindu, IE, Yojana, D2E etc. So more or
less content of all these institutes is as good and worthy. I am no one to claim or
recommend which one is better or best. We regret to refer to some while ignoring many
others. Also, all coaching institutes put in a lot of hard work and energy in making their
content, thus it is important that they are monetarily compensated for the same. We do
not promote illegal content/test paper/material gathering by unsolicited means and
sources. If you can afford, always buy the original material from the respective coaching.
This document is subjective in the sense that it re ects my inclinations and what has
worked for one may not work for others and what is essential for one may not be the
same for other.

For Prelims, try to follow these Mantras:

यो वा प अ वं प षेवते ।
वा त न चा वं न मेव ॥

a. He who gives up what is imperishable for that which is perishable, loses that which is
imperishable; and doubtlessly loses that which is perishable also.
=> Focus on essential themes, known books and things which are doable. Every
paper will have easy pickings (from de nite sources), if you don’t cover such things
and keep on chasing random and inde nite questions/books/sources you will end
up wasting a lot of time and energy. Your aim is to become District Collector and
not material collector.

Toolkit for csp23

ध्रु
ध्रु
णि
णि
स्य
ti
रि
श्य
त्य
ज्य
न्ति
ध्रु
ध्रु
रि
ष्ट
हि
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 अन से षं शा म्।

b. Material (books, pdfs and knowledge) without practice is like poison.

=> Revise, revise and revise. Without revision you can’t make it to the list as you
will wrongly attempt even the basic questions. Focus on the low hanging fruits.
Even the test papers should be revised and short notes be compiled from these.

केन वा तद न तद ण वा।
अब वसं कु ना यनक ॥

c. Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or
even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity.
=> In last 100 days, you can’t afford a single day without studying for prelims.
Further, keep reading and cover as much as horizontal content you can. Prelims is
the game of recognition, so even if you will read and remember some concepts
vaguely, trust me you will recognise it in the exam. Barring few important themes
(refer to Thematic PYQs), most of the topics require marginal vertical depth so
don’t over research on topics for Prelims that have not been asked frequently.
In short,
a. Wide Horizontal Coverage: b. Minimalist Approach: c. Revision of Essentials.

Before I end this intro, I declare a con ict of interest that I have marked, ‘Art and
Culture Notes by KJS’ as an essential reference for Art and Culture but these are my notes
(the same guy who has created this toolkit). Thus, it is up to the reader to go through
some les before settling with these as essential source.
Lastly, I wish you all the best for your CSE Journey.
You have everything that it takes to crack this exam, do not, ever question your
worth. You are worthy. You are Thor!
Best Wishes,
Kaptaan Jack Sparrow (KJS)

Toolkit for csp23

श्लो
भ्या
न्ध्यं
fi
दि
वि
र्धे
र्या
स्त्र
द्दा
र्धा
ध्य
र्धा
क्ष
रे
र्म
भिः
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 Source 1.0
(Core Strategy)

Toolkit for csp23

 Indian Polity:

If you are writing CSE-23, you can easily skip reading it. If preparing
for CSE-24, read polity NCERTS (11th Class).
Some argue that many of the questions are directly picked up from
NCERT. Yes, it happens but cost:benefit is low.

Consider the example of CSP-21 question on definition of State. This

was asked because Delhi HC pronounced a judgement that UN is
NCERT not covered under the state. Then only it was asked. And two
Utility? different NCERTs have given two different definitions and both these
definitions were part of options (A and B).! (Logic died after this 😂 )
And hence, reading of NCERT will still not help in answering this
question but only the HC judgement.
Same was the case with Right to vote too. (Asked in CSP17)

So, if you are short on time, you can comfortably skip polity
NCERTs.
Essential Laxmikant
Reference (Revise 4-5 times which will increase accuracy)
Additional
-x-
Read
The Hindu Polity articles are useful (for understanding) but I have
observed that most polity questions asked in last 3 years (if not
available in Laxmikant) are directly sourced from IE Explained
Newspaper series. So, next time whenever you read IE Explained related to
Polity mind it.!
(Here, try reading 2 years polity related IE explained section, to get
more contemporary approach) (I compiled the same last year.)
Polity is one such section where you should have high accuracy
because in recent times History and fringe current affairs based
questions are becoming more and more random and vague.
Comments
Also, polity follows set themes. Refer to The-PYQs and try to google
more on these important themes.
HC/SC judgements are sacred cow.!
Toolkit for csp23
 Indian Economy:

Huge profit both in pre as well as mains (to form understanding to

NCERT
write points). One might skip them entirely if you are following
Utility?
Mrunal’s Economy Puraan.
Mrunal’s videos
Essential (Very bulky content but again Mrunal has covered both Social as
Reference well Economic aspects in his 6-pillar approach, further he follows a
more contemporary approach, hence very relevant for CSP23.)
Alternative Can refer to Vivek Singh also.
Both The Hindu and Indian Express are equally good for this. No
need to read business specific paper for Pre. For mains, based on
Newspaper themes one can refer Mint or BS etc.
Ex: V shaped recovery type issues which are making headlines.
Many Business papers ran a commentary on this issue.
In Economy, some areas are very important like Banking for
instance. Economy too follow a set pattern of themes.
Refer to The-PYQs and try to google more on important themes.
Comments
No need to cover every social-economic scheme. Here prioritise
sections/sectors Ex: farmers, women, children, education etc.
Schemes relevant to them should be prepared.

Toolkit for csp23

 Modern History:

NCERT Read all relevant NCERTs.

Utility?
New and unique facts should be written in some notebook.
Spectrum
(Revise 3 times so that accuracy increases)
Essential
Bipan Chandra*
Reference
(Write new facts separately in notebook)
(*only if one can manage time, else not required per se)
Plassey to Partition (very relevant for mains)
Ishita Banerjee Dubey*
Additional
(*only if have time, certain key themes like Pre-congress time efforts
Read
by Indians and fringe non-congress related history can be prepared
as non-congress questions are more in UPSC these years)
Keep a tab on non-Congress low profile news items which keeps
Newspaper
propping up in the news these days.
History in general is becoming more and more obscure and
unpredictable. This is because more and more, newer facts are
being checked by examiner (examiner making paper more tougher
and factual to generate more randomness and compensating for
cutoff and he is invariably choosing history for this)
Comments अपनी जवानी को history के facts ब द ना क ,
Try to cover core themes# (Swadeshi, Gandhian Movements, key
non Congress organisations, early British system like finances,
admin, education etc) and cover Spectrum, after that History को राम
भरोसे छो ।
##minimalist approach

Toolkit for csp23

ड़
दें
में
र्बा
रें
 Ancient History:

NCERT Read all relevant NCERTs. New facts can be written in some
Utility? notebook. Themes in history is most important.
R S Sharma
Essential
(Revise 2 times to improve accuracy)
Reference
12th Class NCERT
Additional Upinder Singh
Read (Very Selectively) (Mauryan empire etc.)
Look out for news items relevant to Ancient History.
Ex: Dholavira was in news => question in CSP21
Newspaper
Ex: Statue of Liberty => question in CSP22
(The Hindu is more relevant here than Indian express)
History in general is becoming more and more obscure and
unpredictable. This is because more and more, newer facts are
being checked by examiner (examiner making paper more tougher
and factual to generate more randomness and compensating for
Comments cutoff)
अपनी जवानी को history के facts ब द ना क ,
Try to cover core themes# (officers, society, Administration, Maurya,
Gupta etc) and after that History को राम भरोसे छो ।
##minimalist approach

Toolkit for csp23

में
र्बा
रें
ड़
दें
 Medieval History:

NCERT Read all relevant NCERTs. New facts can be written in some
Utility? notebook. Themes in history is most important.
Essential Satish Chandra
Reference (Revise 2 times to improve accuracy)
Additional
-x-
Read
Look out for news items relevant to Medieval History.
Ex: Yoga related book was launched - question on translation of
book in Persian (CSP22) - from the Hindu article
Ex: Nuniz (CSP21) directly lifted from The Hindu article.
Ex: Akbar - Tansen affair (CSP19) directly lifted from The Hindu
article.
Newspaper (The Hindu is more relevant here than Indian express)

Here questions are being framed from 2-3 years old articles, so what
you do is you pick the core theme (from The-PYQs and search it on
web to get contemporary masala)
[you can altogether skip this futile exercise if you can improve your
accuracy in other subjects]
History in general is becoming more and more obscure and
unpredictable. This is because more and more, newer facts are
being checked by examiner (examiner making paper more tougher
and factual to generate more randomness and compensating for
Comments cutoff and he is invariably choosing history for this)
अपनी जवानी को history के facts ब द ना क ,
Try to cover core themes# (officers, society, Administration,
Mughals, Vijay Nagar etc) and after that History को राम भरोसे छो ।
##minimalist approach

Toolkit for csp23

में
र्बा
रें
ड़
दें
 Art and Culture:

NCERT
Read all relevant NCERTs. Fine Arts NCERT is must.
Utility?
Art and Culture notes by KJS
(My notes is nothing but compilation of all relevant sources like
Essential NCERTs, CCRT, NS, IGNOU, AL Basham, Upinder etc.)
Reference (All questions of 2022, 2021, 2020 can be answered from my notes
- self boast कर के भारी म आया मुझे 😝 )
Nitin book on AnC
Alternative
CCRT
Additional
Selective reading — AL Bhasam and Upinder Singh
read
Look out for news items relevant to Art and Culture.
Newspaper
Chausath Yogini was in TH/IE Explained (Parliamentary building)
अपनी जवानी को history के facts ब द ना क ,
Comments
##minimalist approach

Toolkit for csp23

ज़ा
में
र्बा
रें
 EnE:

NCERT Read last four chapters of 12th Class Biology NCERT)

Utility? Also basic chapter on biotechnology.
Essential -x-
Reference (NCERT 👆 )
AdditionalShankar IAS or PMF IAS
Read (Both are bulky)
Look out for news items relevant EnE
Newspaper
(The Hindu is more relevant here than Indian express)
Comments Go through The-PYQs, core themes get repeated.

SnT:

NCERT
If you have time - 6, 7, 8th NCERTs
Utility?
Essential Connect static with current affairs, emerging technology chapter
Reference which I shared on channel.
Additional
-x-
Read
Watch out for news items related to SnT. Application and relevance
of new discovery is more important than facts.
Newspaper
(The Hindu is king here, specially Sunday edition)
(Only sometimes IE SnT related explained is relevant)
Comments Go through The-PYQs, core themes get repeated.

Toolkit for csp23

 Geography:

NCERT
All relevant NCERTs must be read. (6 to 10th)
Utility?

Essential
11th Class Indian and Physical Geography NCERT
Reference

Additional
Selectively mrunal.org and Mrunal’s YouTube videos (By Rajtanil)
Read
Keep a tab on emerging issues like IOD, El Nino, Arctic etc.
Keep a tab on geographic regions (seas, mountains, conflict zones
Newspaper
etc).
Both IE and TH are equally good.

This section is comparatively easy and hence here accuracy should

Comments
be improved. Also practice map/region etc to fetch more marks.

Toolkit for csp23

 Source 2.0 (Current A airs)
Following current a airs documents may be referred:

Topic/Subject Essen al Reference Addi onal Read

Polity and Governance PT-365 Shankar IAS pdf
Economy and Social Mrunal Win-CSP series of two
PT-365
Development years
Government Schemes Insights on India pdf -
Environment and Ecology Shankar IAS + PT-365 Rau IAS Compass
Science and Technology Insights on India + PT-365 -
IR PT-365 -
Art and Culture Rau IAS Compass PT-365

In recent mes, I have observed a trend where current a airs have been replaced
by contemporary issues and also they are random and tough, thus, compila ons
usually fall short in catering the needs of exam but these compila ons can’t be
ignored completely. Try to cover two years PT-365 in some topics like Polity,
environment and Art and culture etc. You can also use mul ple sources for Current
a airs to plug gaps in one compila on.

Lastly, try to read these les/pdfs/compila ons along with Themes of PYQs. That
will help you more than anything.

Toolkit for csp23

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 Source 3.0 (Test Series and Papers)
List of papers and Test series in decreasing order of preference:
(Always buy original if you can a ord)

1. Thema c Past Year QPs (The-PYQs)*

2. Vision IAS test series OR Shankar PREFIT test series
3. Thema c Test Series (TTS-23) OR Simulator tests (FLTs) by Forum IAS
4. Rau IAS open test papers

* marked are the mandatory. Others you can refer if you have me. (Instead of test
series of VisionIAS, you can refer to some other test series also but make sure
you a empt at least one test series cover to cover). Open test papers should be
a empted. (More on this in session).

Note that all test series papers available in market are equally good and equally
bad. This is because we try to think that ques ons will be repeated but that’s not
the case. Most of the UPSC ques ons will be original or from The-PYQs and hence
test papers should be used to simulate the environment, for revision and building
up con dence. Further they can be used to accumulate some new informa on or
facts. Thus, they can be used for enriching exi ng knowledge and ll gaps.

Toolkit for csp23

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 In the end,
Focus on essen als.!

This is KJS signing off until next time.

Be Kind to all
🙏

The use of name of any coaching/brand is for guidance purpose only. Creator of this document hold no coaching dear or
distant and mention of any institute herein has no direct or indirect pecuniary bearings. This le is prepared by KJS and
re ect his own personal understanding, if posted on some other channel etc. it doesn’t re ect the consensus of that group
or channel. This document is created within ‘good faith’ framework for larger community bene ts.!
Toolkit for csp23
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