How to start preparing for IAS exam?

Civil Service examination, which is conducted by UPSC for recruitment into All India services and other Group A central services and Group B services is attempted every year by lakhs of aspirants from all over India. Some aspirants have taken coaching classes for IAS Exam in Delhi or elsewhere or IAS Online Coaching. and some have prepared on their own or self study.

Now here I would try to answer from both the perspective, if you are doing coaching or doing self study, this is going to clear your doubts and other queries.

Preparing for Civil Service from start require you to first go through the syllabus of examination which is being provided by UPSC itself. It is not like the strict syllabus which we used to get in graduations but it only provides a vague idea and understanding of what to read and in what proportion.

First of all, after going through with syllabus, study all relevant NCERT books and other standard reference books for Polity, Geography, History, and Economy and other relevant topics like Environment, CSAT, Society, International relations etc. Detailed discussion on sources will be provided later on.

The preparation should be strategized in a comprehensive and inclusive manner so you can cover syllabus within given time and also get good practice in exam like conditions.

Divide your preparation in two stages- Prelims and Mains Combined and Mains Specific

Prelims and Mains- Here you cover basic subjects like History Polity as discussed earlier along with equal time and effort cover topics which are overlapping with each other or which can come both as multiple choice or subjective (written). For example, while you study society or geography for GS paper I mains, you must cover both static and dynamic part, link these topics with current affairs and practice questions for both pre and mains. One example can be given as, recently there was a news coming across from Antarctica region where it was observed that Permafrost were melting which is due to climate change and green house gases.

Now in such topics or news piece, there is ample scope of it being multidimensional, as it can be asked in prelims or mains as what permafrost is and why it is melting? What are the risks to world and environment/ecology from such events? Thus what I am trying to say here is that, in pre + mains strategy, you should cover subjects and topics in a highly interlinked manner and understand each and every topic inclusively.

Mains Specific- After completing the basic subjects, now, starts with finishing each and every topic and sub-topic given in mains syllabus. From GS paper I to IV, try to make short notes of each and every sub topic and link it with other topics as well. Try to make it an undated one and more dynamic. Upon completion of this, start answer writing. Start with 5 answers per day; you can attempt questions given at the back of each chapter in books or from portals of best online UPSC coaching in Delhi.

ALS Onlive is one of the leading Online UPSC Civil Services Coaching in Delhi. Students can also join best online IAS coaching in Delhi to complete their preparation within a time frame and proper guidance.