HOW TO STUDY ECONOMICS FOR IAS MAINS

First step should be to understand the framework of the question which will help to decide the flow of answer. In this regard let’s consider the following table:

	Types of questions	Directives used in statement	Requirement of answer
1.	Descriptive type	Elaborate, Narrate, Give an account etc	Emphasis should be given to factual content complemented with a short introduction and summative conclusion.
2.	Explanation seeking	Elucidate, Demonstrate, Justify, Give an reasoned account etc	Introduction should be cumulative of issue at hand. Give logical arguments for the consequences of the same. Conclusion should be summative of your given arguments.
3.	Examining the issue	Analyze, Discuss	Discuss the multiple aspects of the issue at hand. Supplement relevant facts to support your view and conclude at a positive and futuristic note.
4.	Comment on specific event	Asses, Evaluate, Critically discuss	Estimate the strengths and limitations associated with event and provide a profound analysis of cause effect on the issue. Conclude holistically with some suggestions.
5.	Hypothesis oriented	Formulate, Derive, Deduce	Such questions are mostly seen in ethics paper. Estimate the intensity of the topic accordingly to supplement the body with innovative and original ideation.

Second most important aspect is the introductory and conclusive notes of your answer but very few aspirants practice for it thinking that all the questions are unique and hence preparing introduction for each and every practice question is waste of time. 
With reference to the above statement we would like to give some points on how to start and end your answers:

--> Prepare a short 50 word introduction for all the general static topics mentioned in the syllabus of CSE Mains. You may think what good it will do? Let me give you an example: 
Some introducing lines on land reforms (a topic mentioned in GS-Paper 3) can be prepared in advance to deal with any random question asked on land.

--> Formulate a topic list from last one year current affairs segregated paper wise and prepare introductory notes on it using the editorials or analysis articles of Yogana.

--> Concluding lines can be prepared using recommendation of different government committees and reports. Every report has some pages on suggestions; it can prove to be very beneficial source. 
For example many conclusive lines for ethics paper can be directly prepared from ARC Report Recommendations.