GETTING STARTED....

As i am ready to write my last mains, i think i can share my experience on how to start preparation for "MOTHER OF ALL EXAMS".... "civil services exam" conducted by UPSC

the preparation is a continuous journey and is part of your learning process which is going to continue throughout your life, atleast during your career life... because as a civil servant we have to study,learn and re-learn throughout our service period.... so acquire an inquisitive approach towards worldly happenings, an interest in surroundings...if anybody of you have watched "THE LAST SAMURAI", u can learn from those words of katsumoto which says that a samurai must scan the surroundings and should have insight on next moves of opponenets... it is best depiction of real life situation of UPSC aspirants...scan the surroundings by making  newspaper reading as internal to yourself and as part n parcel of routine...learn to respect differences of opinion and acceptance of contradictions...here are some points which can prove handy to beginners:-

1. decide your optionals after these checks-
• availability of study material in the language, with which you are opting.
•  interest of yours in discipline
• analyse last 3-4 yrs mains paper to check your easiness.
• if it has linkages with subjects studied in graduation.
• availability of guidance in your place of preparation in subjects concerned.
• don't decide subject only because your senior or relative qualified using that combo., we are special so it is we who can best take decision.
2. once decided don't rush to buy all sorts of material, books and notes but prepare a plan according to topics and in consultation to any able guide or selected student with that optional.
3. prepare your own notes by using all resources in short and in easy language.
4. use some acronyms and abbreviations to remember key points of issues.
5. develop your own opinions and views on various topics like poverty, corruption, unemployment, and how to tackle them.
6. try to connect current happenings round-the-globe with related subject, disciplines like pub. adm., sociology, geography, pol. sc., have many topics related to current events.
7. devise such a routine that you are able to follow, make sure that daily study is crucial in this exam, so strict discipline is must.
8. take care of your health and diet, have good sleep and have "FAITH IN YOURSELF"...SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEPS.......