UPSC Strategies

NATURE AND DYNAMICS OF EXAMS

In the fast changing global scenario, society is also changing at the same pace. The democratic value is gearing up and has urged the need of the state for administering qualitatively and effectively. The role of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is quite instrumental to select the proficient candidates who can administer the society proficiently.


Keeping all the modalities of changing needs of Civil Society, Union Public Service Commission has introduced new syllabus. Hitherto, a syllabus was conventionally farmed, comprising Social Issues; now the The syllabus has been restructured, incorporating – Governance, Ecology, Environment, Human Right, Ethics like topics.

Since the inductance of new topics in the year 2013, the nature and character of questions asked in the examination have also changed. The paradigm of questions have changed; most of the questions asked earlier were analytical, but now apart from analysis-based there are also opinion-based (suggestive) questions.

The changing pattern/trend of questions poses a challenge to the Civil Services Aspirants. The The conventional trend would not be enough to overcome the requirements of the pattern, that’s why you need a mentor to better your performance.

STRATEGY FOR PREPARATION OF EXAMS

HOW TO PREPARE FOR PRELIMINARY EXAM?

After a thorough analysis of the Prelims Paper-2013 to 2019, the nature of more than 60 percent of questions are historical, conceptual, factual and 40 percent are related to the contemporary scenario. But in the Year 2016, the Commission has brought out a change in the nature/pattern of questions. Approximately 30 questions have asked from planning and related policy. To tackle such questions, aspirants have to develop the skills of understanding in inter-disciplinary approach. In this method, the basic study ought to be done with a different perspective of contemporary issues in a pragmatic way.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR the MAIN EXAM?

Mains Examinations is written and explanatory. The motive of Commission is to assess the precise, concise and appropriate answers from the aspirants. In this examination, there are three main expectations from the students :

A. SUBJECT CLARITY

The moot point of subject clarity is that students fail or unable to understand the limitations i.e., what to know? How to involve? What to execute? and limitations… as all !! this is the major shortcoming which prevails among the aspirants. Students work hard, which involves deep and exhaustive studies but they fail to understand the dynamics and nature of questions.

It is understood that today is the phase of post-Behaviourism under which values are studies keeping the facts in mind. However, the study should continue considering the target set for the exam. Students should be smart enough to introspect the fast-changing Economy, Society, Political System, I.T., Environment, and Policy of the Government. It is inevitable that the Commission will also change the modality of selecting the candidates. Here is the most suggestive idea for the students that they should focus and read only the relevant material precisely directed in course. They should avoid exhaustive, research studies. Balanced studies are proved prolific. Keeping “Time Management” ought to be always the top priority.

B. PERCEPTUAL CLARITY

The Main intention focusing the Perceptual Clarity is that in this Post-Modernisation, materialism is a dominating factor and individualism is the offshoot. Mankind is availing higher level of comfort but apart from humanism and human values, environment and biodiversity are the main concern. Even though, the Policy Makers on Centre as well as State level carved out all the programs keeping essentialities. This way the Service givers (bureaucrats), who are appointed by the Commission have to face such relevant topics of building an ideal condition for society before final selection.

C. BREVITY

Finally, the third and the most potent part of it is how precisely, accurately and cautiously you are expressing your knowledge. Often aspirants acquire deep/intensive study about the subject matter, but while explaining in answer book they are not sure where to start? What content to be chosen? How to summarise? That is why aspirants should primarily comprehend the questions? Students should read twice or thrice, frame the question in mind, structure it then articulates the whole content. So it is suggested that they should think about all the aspects and then answer in a balanced way. Here the most important point, students should carefully follow the keywords in question.

  • Comment Aspirants have to present their views in a simple manner.
  • Analyze Aspirants have to discuss on various facts related to statement one by one and in conclusion throw light on nature and structure of the subject.
  • Critically Aspirant demands deep analysis and has to present positive and negative analyze at the same time. More focus should have been done over the negative aspects and in conclusion, solutions should be suggested carefully.
  • Elaborate Means making a simple statement. In this try to write in a way so that it can make a statement, more clear and understandable.
  • Examine Present all the facts and try to explain all inferences in statement and answers are to be substantiated with practical examples.

      • HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW ?

      The Commission has structured a scientifically listed/approved method to test the mettle of a person/personality & to test how at the time of pressure, he/she performs. As the merit or knowledge of the subject matter has been tested in the written examination. Similarly, during interview Candidates Expression, Delivery, Re

      ex, Decision Making, Etiquettes, Convincing, Capacity, Introspection, Common Sens Knowledge and Judgement do matters.

      Most of the time, It has been seen that in a complete interview 60 to 70 percent questions are asked from, Constitution, Indian Polity, International Issues, Current Issus, Indian Economy. These questions can be answered on the basis of conceptual, practical and balanced ideas. The present phase of Indian Political System is mainly concerned with Good Governance; the main focus of the work of Civil Servant is not only to administer but also to be accountable to the society. In these circumstances, the aspirants are interviewed from different dimensions know the ethical values that contribute to Civil Society.

      Even though, bureaucracy today has made the mission to prove the value of democracy. It has been evident in the modern age, democracy means gradual progress. Now the concept of democracy in changing trends signifies the Responsive and Responsible Government by the People for the People. In this type of democratic governance, bureaucracy ought to be responsible and accountable to the people. This is the hard fact that in the bureaucracy, examining democratic values is becoming mandatory. Considering all the above empirical facts, it is understood that the importance of interview for final selection is potent.

      STRATEGY FOR OPTIONAL PAPERS

      In due course of Civil Services preparation, opting Optional Papers is one of the key aspects of making strategy because it is of 500 Marks, apart from General Studies. The Optional Paper is the basic strength and the aptitude of the aspirants. Under this frame of mind, the introspection, analysis and pragmatic aspects of the subject keep special relevance. The following points must be considered before opting optional –

      1. The aspirants must understand about their interest in a particular subject which they opt.
      2. To what extent the Optional Paper is beneficial in the General Studies section?
      3. What way it will prove helpful in fetching good marks?
      4. To what extent the optional paper opted by the aspirants provides support in Essay Writing.
      5. In what way the Optional Paper opted by the aspirants prove prolific while answering in the interview because there is a need for an appropriate answer in a short time.
      6. Ultimately, the purpose of the Optional Paper is to help out in a multifaceted way, in enhancing the personality trait fitting the changing dynamics of the society and to improve the abilities of an aspirant to succeed as Civil Servant.

      ANALYSIS OF GENERAL STUDIES

      For General Studies Paper, UPSC expects the common understanding of knowledge of the students. For this, no exhaustive and research-oriented answers are expected from aspirants. There has been clear direction indicated by UPSC, such questions can be answered through the basic common knowledge. The main motive of UPSC is to evaluate an aspirant’s understanding about the awareness of existing social, economic, political, cultural and other burning issues of the country.