Starting from scratch for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam can be tough, but with a well-organized and strategic approach, it’s absolutely achievable.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you begin your UPSC preparation:
1. One needs to understand the UPSC CSE Exam Structure
Prelims: Objective-type questions (General Studies Paper + CSAT )with 200 marks for each paper.
Mains: Descriptive-type questions (9 papers including Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject) . Excepting compulsory papers, each General studies paper would weigh 250 marks .
Interview: Personality test for 275 marks.
Getting familiarized with the syllabus, exam pattern, and the stages of the exam is the first step.
2. How to familiarize Yourself with the Syllabus?
You can visit the UPSC website and download the syllabus for CSE exam.
Syllabus for General Studies covers the broad areas like History, Geography, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Science & Technology, Environment etc.
Optional Subject: You can choose optional subject based on your individual interest and academic background. Keep in mind that it should be a subject you can sustain interest for years and ‘not what your friends have taken’. Choosing a wrong optional could penalise you.
3. Create a Schedule for yourself:
Daily Routine: Start with a well-structured daily routine, allocating time for each subject. If you want to deal with a single subject first, then start with your favourite one and divide it into parts. A 6-8 hours study schedule per day is good for beginners.
Weekly Goals: Set weekly goals for reading and revising specific topics.If revision is not done, then your retention would suffer and all the hardwork and notes made during the whole week would go in vain.. Revision is must.
Monthly Reviews: Keep a check on your progress and adjust your schedule if necessary.
You can take help of a mentor who can guide you in meeting daily targets and push your limits up. Else you can create a peer group of five aspirants, where you can make each other accountable.
4 . Start with NCERTs:
NCERT textbooks form the foundation for UPSC preparation. Begin with Class 6-12 NCERTs in key subjects like:
History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
Geography (Physical and Human)
Polity (Indian Constitution, Political System)
Economics (Basic Economic Concepts)
Science and Technology ( on selected topics)
Reading NCERTs will help you build a solid foundation, especially for the Prelims exam. However you need to make notes of your own so that you can retain better and revise quickly. You can refer NCERT Gist by La Excellence for quick summary.
5. Read Newspapers (Current Affairs) Daily:
Your preparation starts and ends with the Newspaper.
The Hindu or The Indian Express: Read the editorial and important news related to the government, economy,International relations , environment, etc. and note making is compulsory.
PIB (Press Information Bureau): Follow the official government releases and updates.
Current affairs are crucial for both Prelims and Mains, so make it a daily habit to stay updated. The magazines available in the market are not substitute to your Newspaper. They are just enhancers for your preparation.
6. Focus on General Studies (GS) for Prelims:
Look for previous year question papers and analyse the trend of the paper. Instead of reading everything you can priortise your learning by focusing on repetitive micro-themes. You can visit our office and consult one of our mentors for the same.
7. Optional Subject:
Choosing optional subject itself requires a thorough understanding of the exam pattern and marking scheme. Marks in optional paper decides your selection. The optional subject should align with your interests and you should be able to study for long period.
you can start by analysing the syllabus, previous year question papers and marks obtained by toppers. Go through the marksheets of toppers, so that you can understand how marks are awarded.
8. Practice Answer Writing:
Practice writing answers on regular basis, especially for Mains preparation.
Write a few answers daily or weekly and get them reviewed, either by mentors or peer groups.
- Answer writing should be scientific. One should understand the parameters of answer like structure, presentation , demand of the question etc.
9. Take Mock Tests and Practice Papers:
Begin by taking mock tests for Prelims after a few months of preparation. One should understand that the purpose of the tests are to prepare you. Low scores are common in the initial tests. The more tests you practice the better your exam skills would be.
Participate in answer writing practice and tests for Mains. One should understand that exam is less about knowledge and more about the art of writing.
Both Prelims and Mains require a different approach, so it’s important to assess your progress and evolve a unique approach.
10. Revision and Consistency:
Revision is a key to success in UPSC. Revise your notes regularly and focus on areas where you feel less confident. One can adopt strategies like Active Recall and Spaced Repitition techniques.
Consistency is the most important factor in UPSC preparation. Even if the progress seems slow at first, stay focused. Your deviation would put others ahead of you.
11. Stay Motivated and Positive:
UPSC preparation is a long and challenging journey. There will be times when it feels overwhelming, exhausted and wanting to quit.
Surround yourself with a support group, whether friends or family, who can motivate you during tough times. Take help of a mentor, who can devise strategies for you and help achieve the targets.
Take breaks when needed, and don’t burn yourself out. Human brain functions well if given right leisures.
12. Join a Coaching (If Needed):
If you feel you need more structured guidance, you can join a coaching institute or take online classes. Coaching will have advantages like completion of syllabus, coverage of daily news and current affairs, better peer group and support systems. Coaching can level the playing field between senior aspirants and a beginner. Join a quality coaching like that of La Excellence which covers syllabus in a holistic manner integrated with weekend tests and followed up by expert mentors.
13. Physical and Mental Health:
UPSC preparation is intense, so you should take care of your physical and mental health. Regular exercise, yoga, or meditation can help maintain focus and reduce stress. One should balance between finishing targets and being healthy.
Suggested Resources:
Books:
Polity: “Indian Polity” by M. Laxmikanth
Geography: Start with NCERTs
‘Physical Geography’ by G.C. Leong,
‘India: A Comprehensive Geography’ by D.R. Khullar
History: NCERTs then you can refer ‘Spectrum’ for Modern History, ‘Ancient India’ by R.S. Sharma
Economics: ‘Indian Economy’ by Ramesh Singh or Vivek Singh
Magazines: Yojana, Kurukshetra and SPARK for current affairs.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
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