Mostly,they are having following doubts:
- Whether we have to follow newspapers or current affairs compilation?
- How to read compilations and most importantly how to recollect in exam?(on an average 80 pages per month ,12* 80 = 960 pages!!!!)
Current affairs preparation for UPSC prelims:
Smart work in current affairs preparation will save our time and energy.Also,it helps us to store only relevant content in our mind!!!
1) Read newspaper regularly ( selective reading)..There are many websites (insightsonindia,Forum ias , ias baba,etc..) to filter out important articles everyday.
2) Supplement with any monthly current affairs compilation ( any standard institute material..but be selective..no need to cover all pages..)
How to read selectively??
--》 First go through previous year current affairs questions ( preferably from 2012 to 2017)..Identify the core subjects from which there are more current affairs based questions in UPSC preliminary exam( eg: economy based CA, international relations based CA)..Focus more on these areas while reading compilations
--》 Observe the depth of the questions from different sections such as S& T , Economy, IR( tough or easy ,factual or analytical in nature)
The above two observations from previous year papers help us to go for selective reading of any current affairs material..
For prelims--》 newspaper + selective reading of current affairs compilation
Current affairs for UPSC mains:
Current affairs preparation for UPSC mains should be in an “issue based approach”.One should have adequate knowledge and content about various issues.
Two fold approach for MAINS:
1)Regularly read newspapers. Defintley ,it will give us an edge in UPSC mains.
2)Follow some quality current affairs compilation.Many institutes will release mains specific compilations after prelims.Aspirants can utilize them.
The above approaches helped me to clear UPSC civil services exam.I Hope ,it will be helpful to all the aspirants.All the best!!!
