https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

IAS Officer’s Tips on How to Tackle UPSC CSE

Indian Masterminds Stories

If you are an UPSC CSE aspirant, what better way to look for tips to improve your preparation than from someone who has already cleared the exam with a good rank and is now in the prestigious IAS. 

IAS officer Manuj Jindal, who is currently posted as the CEO, Zila Parishad in Jalna, Maharashtra, has shared some valuable tips to understand this exam and prepare a strategy, in a series of tweets on social media platform, Twitter. 

UNDERSTANDING THE KEY COMPONENTS 

Mr. Jindal starts of by tweeting about a preparation plan for CSE in order to be ready by 2024. According to him, if you start today – September 12 – and be dedicated in your preparation, then you will be all set to achieve your goal. 

He then explains the main components and how to focus on each separately – i.e. Pre, Mains and Interview. For Pre, he suggests practicing MCQs and focussing on Economics, Polity, Environment and Current Affairs. For Mains, he says the focus should be on answer writing practice, essay writing, Ethics and the optional paper. 

“For Interview, the candidate should focus on DAF and personality development.” 

HOW TO START THE PREPARATION 

In another tweet in his long thread, he writes about planning for the Mains. “Download and print a copy. Read & repeat until you know it inside out.”

His next step involves picking one topic or subject from the syllabus and starting to read it.

He gives an example: “Start with polity & finish it in a set amount of time. Try to read 30-35 pages daily and understand the concept. However, don’t make notes during the first read, and start with NCERT.”

ON SELECTING OPTIONAL 

On selecting the optional, he writes that there are three major points to look into before choosing. “What you like, what you have studied earlier, and the material available in the market.” According to him, optional should be finished in maximum 6 months. 

He also advises to read newspapers daily for maximum 45 minutes. “Aspirants should also read one current affairs magazine but should start only after finishing one subject.” He also strongly advises to buy only one book at a time and not overload materials. 

FOLLOW A STRICT TIMELINE 

In his concluding tweets, he gives timelines for studying all the subjects. “If any aspirant starts from today (12 September), then by the end of December, he should have finished one subject (Polity or Economics), 40% of optional, while reading newspapers daily. After finishing the syllabus, the aspirants should also give 15 days for revision.” 

In the same way, from December to March, one should finish another subject along with another 40% of the optional, while following the 15-day routine for practice. 

And, by July 2023, one has to start answer writing, essay, and ethics. The thread also includes timelines and plans till January 2024, before the start of Prelims.  


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited AVNL 1
Leadership Updates: Salve Sandeep Recommended as Director (HR) of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited by PESB
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
RBI Deputy Governor Highlights MSMEs as Key Drivers of India’s Economic Growth, Calls for Strengthened Credit Support
Crude oil
India Boosts US Crude Oil Imports to Highest Since 2022, Steering Energy Strategy Beyond Russia
Coal-Production-resized
Govt Releases Draft Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification to Ensure Sustainable and Safe Energy Extraction
Indian Oil Chairman
US Sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil Prompt Indian Refiners to Rethink Russian Oil Purchases, Indian Oil Pledges Full Compliance With Global Sanctions
lVigilance+Awareness+Week+2025
BPCL Inaugurates Vigilance Awareness Week 2025, Reinforces Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT