The UPSC CSE syllabus is vast like an ocean. Its thorough preparation requires lot of time. Even if one develops command over all the topics, there is no guarantee of success. The uncertainty is mostly because of the current affairs which keeps changing every day and it’s often difficult to keep pace with the developments.
One of the toppers of UPSC CSE 2021 maintains that Current Affairs is indeed the most unpredictable section not only for Pre but also in the Mains stage. However, if prepared strategically, this portion too can be mastered.
Indian Masterminds presents the advice of Abhijit Ray on how to prepare current affairs for the civil services exam. Mr. Ray secured AIR 50 UPSC CSE 2021, in his fourth attempt.
KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN
Mr. Ray couldn’t get through the pre in his first attempt and he blames current affairs for the debacle. He didn’t read newspaper instead he sourced the monthly compilation of current affairs from 3-4 places. While talking on a media platform, he says, “I used to watch the daily news analysis once a week and read the compilation. This would have been enough earlier but now the UPSC focuses on the general awareness of the candidates. Hence, the art of reading newspapers and magazine have become very important. It is the most unpredictable section so one should put his best foot forward to prepare it. I changed my strategy in the second & third attempt for the current affairs and I guess it helped me a lot.”
He mentions that in 2021 question about lemon grass being a natural disinfectant or natural insecticide was asked. “It can be unexpected for many but I could do this. Once, I had ordered a deodorant of lemon grants and from there I read that it is a natural disinfectant. So, the point which I want to make here is that you can gather information from anywhere or everywhere. You just need to keep your eyes & ears open”, he said.
CATEGORIES FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS
Highlight the strategical change he opted for current affairs preparation he said, “Newspaper reading is an art which can be developed only after certain practice. Only reading is not important you have to keep things in your mind which is possible with notes. So, I started marking the high value topics like the important bodies that keep coming in the news. I made columns and noted the chairman, its date of establishment, headquarters etc. I did the same for science related topics. One category which I made was scientific terms with strange names.”
Not only this he also made seprate notes section for politics, economics, health related current affairs. He emphasized that this practice not only helps in the revision during the last few days before the exam but also helps in the Mains too. “In 2021, one question in GS Paper-1 was asked about the latest Volcanic eruption. You can only do this if you have read the current affairs & newspaper thoroughly and has revised it time & again”, he added.
The topper says that his strategy might not work for everybody but he advises each aspirant to take the current affairs more seriously than they do. This can make the distance between their success & failure in the exam.
