18 January 2021
18 January 2021
18 January 2021
18 January 2021
Exam Pattern
1. Preliminary stage (Objective Type)
Paper I – General Studies (200 marks) Duration : Two hours
Paper II - CSAT (200 marks) Duration : Two hours
Paper-II will be a qualifying paper
Minimum qualifying marks are 33%.
2. Mains (Written and Interview)
Written/Subjective
7 + 2 = 9 Papers
Qualifying Papers - (25%)
Paper A: (One Indian Language) – 300 Marks
Paper B: English – 300 Marks
Interview - 275 marks
Tentative schedule of CSE 2024*
1. Preliminary exam – June 2024
2. Mains exam – September/October 2024
3. Interview – January/February 2025
Your dream comes true sometime in April 2025!
Preparation Approach for 2024
In Class 12th
College going student
Working Aspirant
The Beginning
Do a little research on your own about booklist,
pattern and rigors of the exam.
Watch toppers’ interviews on StudyIQ.
Make a conducive environment for studying
Get the books/resources and let the fun begin!
18 January 2021
Optional Selection
Anthropology? Sociology? History? Public Adm.? Literature?
Factors to be taken into consideration -
Background /graduation
Interest
Availability of material nearby you/online
Guidance by seniors in that subject
Select an Optional by January 2023
Benefits of early Optional
selection
Learn at better pace
Read all the suggested ‘books’ and not just notes.
More time to revise
Optional syllabus of most subjects is static (less CA)
18 January 2021
SYLLABUS
Paper I - (200 marks) Duration : Two hours
Current events of national and international
importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social,
Economic Geography of India and the World.
Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political
System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development-Sustainable
Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-
diversity and Climate Change - that do not
require subject specialization.
General Science
Paper II- (200 marks) Duration : Two hours
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision making and problem solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders
of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level),
Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data
sufficiency etc. - Class X level)
Books – TMH , RS Agarwal, Arihant
For Current Affairs
Current events of national and international importance.
THE HINDU
Yojana magazine
India Year Book**
Any one monthly current affairs magazines/videos
UPSC IQ - Monthly magazine by StudyIQ
Strategy for Current Affairs
Focus more on Polity related CA
Science and tech, Defence
Art and Culture
IR
Newspaper – start making a habit of reading
editorials
18 January 2021
Newspaper – One of the most crucial aspect of preparation
English medium
• The Hindu – vast coverage of international news
• The Indian Express – in depth coverage of national issues
Hindi medium
• Navbharat times
• Dainik Bhaskar
Vocabulary
Current affairs
Structuring essays – Editorials
18 January 2021
18 January 2021
BOOKLIST for PRELIMS
History
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Old NCERT for Ancient class 11
NCERT 11,12 (New)
Class 6-8 NCERTS for Medieval(Themes of World History)
TN board books 6-12 class
Spectrum – A brief history of Modern India
Bipin Chandra’s India’s Struggle for Independence
Geography
Indian and World Geography -Physical, Social, Economic
Geography of India and the World.
NCERT 6-10 – all world geography topics
NCERT - 11,12
G C Leong – Physical Geography
Geography of India by Majid Husssain
Oxford Atlas – While reading news --> make/add to notes
Maps
Polity
Indian Polity and
Governance-
NCERT 11,12
Laxmikanth - Indian
Polity
Economy
Economic and Social Development — Sustainable Development,
Poverty, lnclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
NCERT 11,12
Indian Economy – by Ramesh Singh (for reference)
Sanjiv Verma’s – The Indian Economy (for basic understanding)
Any good Coaching class notes**
Latest Economic Survey Summary/Study IQ Videos
Environment
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and
Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
Biology NCERT 12 (Only Environment chapters)
Shankar IAS
DR Khullar
Dr.Ravi Agrahari’s book
General Science
NCERTs 6-10
Science Reporter
Book by Dr.Ravi Agrahari
Stress will be on Current affairs
BOOKLIST for MAINS
**Books/sources mentioned in prelims booklist are not mentioned again
GS 1- General Studies-I : Indian Heritage and Culture, History
and Geography of the World and Society
Nitin Singhania for Art and Culture
CCRT website/news articles
World History- Norman Lowe** / Study IQ world History series
Post-Independence-
NCERT 12 (Politics In India after Independence);
9,10 (India and Contemporary World); India Since Independence
**If you have a lot of time then -
India after Gandhi by RC GUHA (Summary on my Telegram
channel)
Society – NCERT 12 (Indian Society)
GS 2 - General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity,
Social Justice and International relations
Polity – DD Basu
Governance book by Laxmikanth
Study IQ smart course for Governance
Yojana magazine
2nd ARC report (summary)
IR – 12TH NCERT
(Contemporary world politics + News analysis)
GS 3 - General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development,
Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Science Reporter magazine
News about new developments in science, Nobel prize
Data/rankings from various reports
StudyIQ videos
Disaster management – IGNOU notes
Internal Security – Book by Ashok kumar
GS 4 – General Studies IV:
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Lexicon by Chronicle
Book by G.Subba Rao
Case studies
Essay
Practice key topics beforehand like
• Social issues,
• Pollution,
• Women empowerment
• Energy related issues
• Digital India
• 4th Industrial revolution
Optional paper 1
Optional paper 2
English - Practice previous papers
Language - Practice previous papers
Time Table
18 January 2021
3 year Timetable
Activity Time frame
Complete GS static syllabus 24 months
Optional Preparation 8 months
Essay + Mains Answer writing 4 months
TOTAL 36 Months
Revision - 2024 5 months
Subject Time to cover static (In months)
Polity 3
History 3
Art and Culture 1
Geography 3
Economy 3
Environment and Ecology 2
Science & Tech. 2
IR 2
Society and Social Justice 1
Ethics 2
Internal Security and DM 2
Language papers + Essay 1*
18 January 2021 TOTAL 24 months
Notes
Make your own notes always
Benefits of making Notes -
Concise – easy to carry
Easier to revise
Things you write down will stick in your memory
better
Do not make notes of Current affairs*
Practice
Knowledge gained by reading is put to test in a limited
period of time.
So practice in a simulated environment – time /
environment
Join any test series (online/offline) in 2022 – evaluate
which topics are you weak in.
Mains – answer writing – Use online platforms like
UPSCIQ
Other Sources
RSTV - Desh Deshantar/topic specific debates
Down to earth magazine
Livemint , BBC and AIR audio news
PIB updates
Study IQ videos for Current affairs/ Daily MCQ series
Social media accounts of various Ministries,UN
organizations for info on different reports/new
policies
Daily routine 2021
1 hour for newspaper and Current affairs
2 GS subjects for 1.5 hours each
Or
1 GS subject for 3 hours
Daily routine 2022
1.5 hour for newspaper and Current affairs
2 GS subjects for 1.5 hour each
Or
1 GS subject for 3.5 hours
Daily routine 2023
1.5 hour for newspaper and Current affairs
2 GS subjects for 2 hour each
Or
1 GS subject for 4 hours
How to Avoid Burnout!
Today, the human brain is exposed to tonnes of
information - almost drowned in the digital stream of
information.
It is easy to feel as if the day is getting wasted doing too
many things.
Fix a time for digital devices
Maintain a schedule
SLEEP for 7 hours
Eat Healthy
Exercise for minimum 30 min everyday
MEDITATE
SACRIFICE
For 3 years , AVOID UNNCECESSARY
CALLS
TRIPS
FRIENDS
RELATIVES
