Mrunal [Approach] UPSC 2013 General Studies_ Prelims + Mains for Civil Service IAS IPS Exam » Mrunal

5/28/2018 Mrunal [Approach] UPSC 2013 General Studies_ Prelims + Mains for Civil Service IAS IPS Exam Mrunal

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3/19/2014 Mrunal [Approach] UPSC 2013 Genera l Studies: Prelims + Mains for Civil Service IAS IPS Exam Mrunal

http://mrunal.org/2013/03/approach-upsc-2013-general-studies-prelims-mains.html/print/

[Approach] UPSC 2013 General Studies: Prelims + Mains for Civil ServiceIAS IPS Exam

This articles needs to be tweaked further in the light of actual papers of Mains-

2013. However should give the basic idea to new players.

1. Prologue

2. What is not changed?

3. Prelims approach

4. What about the current affairs?

5. Mains Exam: Change of format

6. GS1: Culture History Geography

7. GS2: Polity, Yearbook, IR

8. GS3: Economy, Environment, S&T, Agro, Disaster and Security

9. GS4: Ethics

10. Personal Opinion?

Prologue

Ok, so few days back UPSC released the much awaited notification for 2013

So you already know, what is changed. It is a stale news. This article is justan overview article for future approach.

Ill upload a full fledged strategy / approach / studyplan for General studies

(Mains), combined with all list of topics to be prepared, resources, downloads

etc. Yes i know preliminary is over, but it takes time for me to wade through

all the books and pdfs myself. You dont want me to misguide you in haste,

do you? hahaha. Besides Ive other exams to look into IES, CDS, RAS et al.

What is not changed?

1. Age- attempt limit is not changed.

2. Age is still counted on 1stAugust of the given year. (rumor market said UPSC

was planning to count age on 1stJan.)

3. Vacancies are almost the same (2012: 1037 vacancies, 2013: approx. 1000)

4. Mains to Interview quota is same (twice the number of vacancies. It was same

in 2011 and 2012)

5. Prelims syllabus is not changed even one bit. (so the approach / strategy for

prelims remains one and same.)
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Prelims approach

Approach to general studies for prelims, already given long time ago.Here is just a

checklist, ask yourself:

1. Ive finished reading NCERT, NIOS, Yearbook, Laxmikanth etc. (+static

topics from GS Manual) multiple times. Ive rock solid command over them

(or Ill be revising them often until I get rock solid command).2. Ive tried/ will try myself with the MCQs given in GS Manual.

3. For aptitude, Im doing maximum practice at night (so I dont fall asleep by

simply reading some book).

Thats Well and good, youre on right track. Now the question that bothers a lot of

candidates:

What about the current affairs?

Current affairs itself is quite big. But for prelims, youve to concentrate only on the

current affairs associated with specific sectors:

High priority

current affairs

1. Environment n biodiversity

2. Science tech

3. Polity

4. Economy.

5. Yearbook stuff (Government schemes/ org. etc)

Low priority

current affairs

1. International relations.

2. Misc.GK (Sports, awards, persons in news, books, authors

etc): Lists already given for 2012 and 13 click me

If youve been maintaining notes out of Hindu/Indianexpress past one year,

thats totally awesome. Just keep doing it.

But those of you, who joined the game late and or did not diligently read

newspapers/maintained notes. What to do now? Here is a firefighting tip. Doany one of the following

Option A:

Get a book called Wizards Current Affairs 2013. (they publish it every year.

Please note, other publication houses also release similar books. Use

whatever is easily available to you.)

It doesnt guarantee UPSC is directly going to asks questions from it. But

such book gives an overview of what happened past one year (in topicwise
http://mrunal.org/2013/02/misc-gk-persons-in-news-2012-13-sports-books-awards-for-ssc-cgl-sbi-po-upsc-csat.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-service-exam-ias-ips-csat-general-studies-part1.html


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fashion: bilateral, sci-tech etc.)

The book itself is quite thick but you dont have to prepare everything, just

concentrate on the high priority areas. Then you dig internet, standard

reference books etc. for topics that are directly indirectly related to it and are

basic in nature. For example, there is news about Libya, then you check

Libyas location in the map, its capital, its bordering nations and so on. There

is some news about Eastern Dedicated freight corridor, then you dig out from

which states does this corridor pass through? ..Prelims is not about Ph.D.Prelims is mostly about tricky questions from very basic concepts / facts.

Option B:

hit the public library. Pick past 1 years current affairs magazines (CST,

Chronicle, PD, Wizard..whatever is available).

Go through the first 20-25 pages :the important national international affairs

are given here.

And Remaining pages of magazines is usually filler material (toppers

interviews and recycled articles on polity), you can read them if youve timeand mood.

But from those first 20-25 pages, note down the exam worthy current affairs,

come back home dig net +/- standard reference books as and where required.

^Please note, these option A / B are just firefighting tools. Theyd work fine for

SSC, SBI type exams. But Current affairs for UPSC is a different game altogether.

Thats the reason Ive always advised people to read daily newspapers and

maintain notes out of it. As a UPSC aspirant, Current affairs must be part of your

daily routine. If you dont do it on dailybasis, thats when youve to turn to such

(not so reliable) ^firefighting tools.

And dont put too much of your time in current affairs, because lot of questions

come from static part (theory) too.

Another concern is regarding Cutoffs possibly getting high because IFoS and

IAS have common preliminary exam. My point is: Just read revise and practice.

Leave rest in the hands of God. Dont enter the exam hall with the cut off mindset

or negative marking will dig your grave.

Thats for prelims. Now lets move to Mains.

Mains Exam: Change of format

Before (upto 2012) After (2013)

Paper Marks Paper Marks

Compulsory

Regional language

paper.

Marks not counted

in merit.

300 Same as Earlier 300


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language

papersEnglish Paper. But

marks

not counted

in final merit list.

300 same as earlier 300

Essay Yes 200 Yes 250

General

Studies2 papers 600

4 papers (new topics

included)1000

First

optional2 papers 600 2 papers 500

Second

optional2 papers 600 Removed 0

Interview Yes 300Yes but marks

reduced275

total

2900

Merit from

2300.

2900

Merit from

2025

What is removed from general studies?

1. Statistics and data interpretation topic removed from General Studies

(Mains).

2. Public Health, Health education and ethical concerns regarding health-care,

medical research and pharmaceuticals topic removed. (It is no longer

Explicitly mentioned under syllabus, although doesnt prevent UPSC from

asking this under GS3!)

GS1: Culture History Geography

#1: History and Culture

1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of

Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from

ancient to modern times.

Same as usual. NIOS,

IGNOU tourism studies,

Spectrum book on Culture.

2. Modern Indian history from about the middle

of the eighteenth century until the present-

significant events, personalities, issues

3. The Freedom Struggle its various stages and

important contributors /contributions from

different parts of the country.

Same as usual. Bipin

Chandra +/- Spectrum +/-

GS Manual.

#2: History of World


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1. events from 18th century such as industrial

revolution, world wars, redrawing of

national boundaries,

2. colonization, decolonization,

3. political philosophies like communism,

capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and

effect on the society.

1. NCERT.

2. http://Mrunal.org/history

3. Any one book: Norman

Lowe, Jain and Mathur

or Arjun Singh.

#3: Socio stuff

1. Post-independence consolidation and

reorganization within the country.

1. For Post independence India,

use Bipin Chandra: India Since

Independence. (Ramchandra

Guhas book not giving good

cost:benefit ratio.)

2. Starting point is IGNOU MPS

003 India democracy and

Development.

3. Then there is Decent material

scattered in IGNOU Sociology,

political science and Public

Administration (BA, MA).

2. Salient features of Indian Society,

Diversity of India.

3. Role of women and womens

organization, population and

associated issues, poverty and

developmental issues, urbanization,

their problems and their remedies.

4. Effects of globalization on Indian

society

5. Social empowerment, communalism,

regionalism & secularism.

#4: Geography

General

Studies

Before change 2013

Preliminary

exam

Geography = Physical +

World + IndiaSame

MainsGeography = only Indian

Geography.

Now Geography = Physical +

World + India.

Now, Lets check the syllabus of geography (general studies)

Physical Geography
http://mrunal.org/downloadhttp://mrunal.org/2013/06/download-sociology-ignou-ba-ma-no-registration-ncert-nios-topper-notes-last-34-years-question-papers-1979-2012.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/2013/12/december-2013-write-articles-win-books-for-prelims-mains-interviews-free-notes-as-consolation-prize-for-everyone-26th-dec-last-date-to-submit.html#166http://www.flipkart.com/india-since-independence/p/itmczyrqkf5sysbs?pid=9780143104094&affid=mrunalrugm


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Topics Comment

1. Salient features of worlds

physical geography.Starting point is NCERTS / GS Manual.

2. Important Geophysical

phenomena such as earthquakes,

Tsunami, Volcanic activity,

cyclone etc.,

3. geographical features and their

location.

4. changes in critical geographical

features (including water-bodies

and ice-caps) and in flora and

fauna and the effects of such

changes.

Starting point is NCERTS + GS Manual

+ NIOS biodiversity + selective reading

of IGNOU Disaster

Management.+Indian Geography by

Khullar.

India and World Geography

Distribution of key natural resources across the world

(including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent 1. Starting point

NCERTs

2. then

Mrunal.org/Geography

factors responsible for the location of primary,

secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various

parts of the world (including India)

GS2: Polity, Yearbook, IR

#1: Polity + rights issue

Basic Constitution

1. Indian Constitution-

historical

underpinnings,

evolution, features,amendments,

significant

provisions basic

structure.

2. Functions and

responsibilities of

the Union and the

States,
http://mrunal.org/geographyhttp://www.flipkart.com/india-comprehensive-geography-02/p/itmdytnsg6zmft7a?pid=9788127226367&&affid=mrunalrugm


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3. Comparison of the

Indian constitutional

scheme with that of

other countries

4. Parliament and State

Legislatures

structure,

functioning, conductof business, powers

& privileges and

issues arising out of

these.

5. Structure,

organization and

functioning of the

Executive and the

Judiciary

6. Appointment tovarious

Constitutional posts,

powers, functions

and responsibilities

of various

Constitutional

Bodies.

7. Statutory, regulatory

and various quasi-judicial bodies

Starting point is: yes you guessed it right, the

great M.Laxmikanth. Then DD Basu if youve

time and mood.

+net digging and newspapers for new stuff e.g.right to education.

Also Mrunal.org/polity

Advanced topics

1. issues and

challenges

pertaining to the

federal structure,

2. Devolution of

powers + finances upto local levels and

challenges therein.

3. Separation of powers

between various

organs dispute

redressal

mechanisms and

institutions.

4. Pressure groups and

Starting point is (again) IGNOU MPS 003. Then

again lot of good stuff scattered around in IGNOU

Public Administration, Political science and

sociology.Also newspapers, columns, net digging

from current affairs point of view (e.g. Pressure

groups > Lokpal)
http://www.mrunal.org/polity


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formal/informal

associations and

their role in the

Polity.

5. Representation of

Peoples Act: Salient

features

Rights issue

1. Vulnerable sections:

protections,

Betterment:

mechanisms, laws,

institutions and

Bodies.

2. Vulnerable Sections:

Welfare schemes.

Starting point again our good old Laxmikanth.

For welfare schemes, INDIA Yearbook, list of

topics given here click me

+ newspaper + official websites of respective

ministries.

Yearbook, Welfare schemes

1. Ministries

and

Departments

of the

Government;2. Government

policies for

development

in various

sections.

3. Social Sector

development:

Health,

Education,

HumanResources.

4. Poverty and

hunger:

Issues

relating to

Basic functions and overview of policies given in India

yearbook. After that, Newpapers, Yojana Kurukshetra,

official sites of respective ministries.12thFive Yearplan

PDFs click me. (they contain truckload of fodder points).

Public Administration related
http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/12thplan/welcome.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-rights-issue-education-welfare-poverty-removal-schemes-part-4-of-6.html


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1. Governance: Important aspects of

2. Development processes and the

development industry

3. the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and

associations, donors, charities, institutional

and other stakeholders

4. transparency & accountability and

institutional and other measures.5. e-governance- applications, models,

successes, limitations, and potential;

6. Citizens charters

7. Role of civil services in a democracy.

Respective chapters

from IGNOU BA, MA

Public Administration.

2ndARC reports click me

(selective reading).

IR / Diplomacy

1. India and its neighborhood-

relations.

2. Bilateral, regional and global

groupings and agreements

involving India and/or affecting

Indias interests

3. Effect of policies and politics of

developed and developing

countries on Indias interests,

4. Indian diaspora.

5. Important Internationalinstitutions, agencies and fora-

their structure, mandate.

Approach remains same as earlier.

Starting point is selected topics

on international relations from

IGNOU BA (Political Science)

click me

Dispora strategygiven

separately click me

Then IGNOU MA (Political

Science) MPS 002 click me

+ newspapers, magz, net digging

And

Mrunal.org/diplomacy

GS3: Economy, Environment, S&T, Agro, Disaster andSecurity

For a paper worth 250 marks, UPSC has packed way too many topics here!

#1: Economy

1. Indian Economy

and issues relating

to planning,

mobilization of

resources, growth,

development and

employment.

12thFYP plan PDF files.Basic of budgeting is

explained in Laxmikanth, Ramesh Singh etc. But

hardly any direct-static questions come in mains. So
http://www.mrunal.org/diplomacyhttp://mrunal.org/2013/06/download-political-science-mains-ignou-bama-no-registration-fullsets-last-34-years-previous-question-paper-1979-2012-ncert-nios.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/2013/07/strategy-indian-diaspora-for-general-studies-mains-paper-2-free-study-material-previous-questions-for-upsc-civil-service-ias-ips-exam.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/2013/06/download-political-science-mains-ignou-bama-no-registration-fullsets-last-34-years-previous-question-paper-1979-2012-ncert-nios.htmlhttp://arc.gov.in/


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2. Inclusive growth

and issues arising

from it.

3. Government

Budgeting.

this is mostly yearbook, IGNOU (Economics)

newspaper and current affairs.+ Mrunal.org/economy

4. Effects ofliberalization on

the economy.

Basic given in NCERT Class 11 economics. More can

be found in Ramesh Singh, Netdigging.

5. changes in

industrial policy

and their effects on

industrial growth.

6. Infrastructure:Energy, Ports,

Roads, Airports,

Railways etc.

7. Investment models

Basic given in India Yearbook.Then IGNOU

(Economics BA, MA) selective reading, Newspapercolumns, 12thFYP pdfs for more fodder points.

#2: SnT + Environment

1. Science and Technology- developments and their

applications and effects in everyday life

2. Achievements of Indians in science & technology;

3. Indigenization of technology and developing new

technology.

4. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,

robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and

issues relating to intellectual property rights.

1. Starting point isIndia Yearbook.

2. Then The Hindus

Sci-tech portion,

net digging and

3. www.Mrunal.org/snt

4. +/- Spectrums

book on Science

Tech.

5. Conservation, environmental pollution and

degradation, environmental impact assessment

1. NIOS, IGNOU

material on

Environment-

Biodiversity.

2. India Yearbook

3. Official site of

MoEF

4. Newspaper

columns, Yojana,
http://www.mrunal.org/snthttp://www.mrunal.org/economy


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Kurukshetra.

#2: Agro

Now this is a new topic introduced in 2013.

1. Major crops cropping patterns in variousparts of the country,

2. Irrigation: different types of irrigation and

irrigation systems storage,

NCERT geography, GS

Manual+ Indian Geography

Khullaretc.

3. e-technology in the aid of farmers

4. Farm subsidies: Issues related to direct and

indirect farm subsidies

5. minimum support prices;6. Public Distribution System- objectives,

functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of

buffer stocks and food security;

7. Technology missions;

8. Land reforms in India.

Starting point is

INDIA Yearbook, List

of topics given here:click me

Official website of

Agriculture ministry.

9. transport and marketing of agricultural

produce and issues and related constraints;

10. Animal rearing: economics of11. Food processing and related industries in

India- scope and significance, location,

upstream and downstream requirements,

supply chain managemen

Yojana-Kurukshetra

old archives + new

issues.click mefood processing

already covered in my

article series. visit

mrunal.org/economy

Disaster

1. Disaster and disaster management. Selective reading IGNOU MPA 018

Security

1. Various Security forces

and agencies and their

mandate

This is given in India Yearbook. Click me for the

topicwise list

2. basics of cyber

security

Also given in India yearbook. More stuff can be

found the previous writing competition held at

Mrunal.org/Write2Win

For the remaining topics:
http://mrunal.org/write2winhttp://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-culture-tourism-youth-sports-misc-gk-part-6-of-6.html#157http://mrunal.org/2013/06/download-public-administration-mains-ignou-bama-no-registration-fullsets-toppers-notes-neeraj-om-kshitij-last-34-years-paper-1979-2012.htmlhttp://yojana.gov.in/cms/%28S%28z01lyhmvpz33pqrhv1bti145%29%29/default.aspxhttp://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-science-tech-public-health-agro-part-5-of-6.htmlhttp://www.flipkart.com/india-comprehensive-geography-02/p/itmdytnsg6zmft7a?pid=9788127226367&&affid=mrunalrugm


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1. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

2. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal

security.

3. Challenges to internal security through communication networks,

4. role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,

5. money-laundering and its prevention

6. border areas: Security challenges and their management

7. linkages of organized crime with terrorism

For above topics, Lot of revision friendly content available in the previous writing

competition held at Mrunal.org/Write2Win

+newspaper and net digging.

GS4: Ethics

Lot of vague topics added. Anyways, first lets check the topics for which exact

material is available

Probity inGovernance:

1. Concept of public

service;

2. Philosophical basis of

governance and

probity;

3. Information sharing

and transparency in

government,

4. Right to Information,

5. Codes of Ethics,

6. Codes of Conduct,

7. Citizens Charters,

8. Work culture,

9. Quality of servicedelivery, Utilization of

public funds,

10. Challenges of

corruption.

Ethics in Public Administration

1. Status and problems;

2. ethical concerns and dilemmas in

government and private institutions;

3. laws, rules, regulations and conscience as

sources of ethical guidance;

4. accountability and ethical governance;

strengthening of ethical and moral values in

governance;

For ^above topics, youll find content scattered in around in

1. IGNOU MPA 011 and 013
http://mrunal.org/2013/06/download-public-administration-mains-ignou-bama-no-registration-fullsets-toppers-notes-neeraj-om-kshitij-last-34-years-paper-1979-2012.htmlhttp://mrunal.org/write2win


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2. 2ndARC reports.

Remaining topics

1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of

Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public

relationships. Human Values lessons from the lives and teachings of great

leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educationalinstitutions in inculcating values

2. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought

and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

3. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and

non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy,

tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.

4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in

administration and governance.

5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

6. corporate governance.7. ethical issues in international relations and funding.

8. +Case studies

Personal Opinion?

Father Wallace, a renowned Gujarati author and Maths Professor in St.Xaviers

College, Ahmedabad. Once a TV reporter asked him, Lot of students in class 10

hate mathematics. So, What is your advice to them? I was watching TV and hoped

that hed give some awesome set of formulas that will completely demystifymathematics even for the weakest student. But all he said was:

Mitro maare Etlu j kehvaa nu ke tamne gume ke naa gume, bhanvu toh padshe j!

(Friends all Ive to say is, whether you like it or not, youll have to study.)

Same applies to the pattern change, you can welcome it, you can condemn it, but as

long youre in this competition business, youve to play by UPSCs rules. Anyways

for the sake of timepass reading, here are my opinions.

Positive

Most of the General studies syllabus (mains) can be covered using IGNOU,

Yearbook, Yojana Kurukshetra, newspapers etc. So atleast the reform is not

heavy on your pocket(in terms of having to buy lot of new books /

material).

Thanks to IGNOUs material, self-study is easily possible. (available on

egyankosh.ac.in)

Negative
http://arc.gov.in/


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Reading so many PDFs on computer screen =painful on eyes.

Overlapping topics

Each mains paper has 3 hours duration so UPSC can take maximum two

papers per day. Now, suppose today is GS1+2, then tomorrow will be GS3+4.

Here comes to issue: youve to prepare similar topics again and again for two

days because of their overlapping nature. for example:

1. Social empowerment in GS1, and next day Inclusive growth for GS3.

2. R.T.I, citizen-charter etc. as [Polity] topics for GS2 and next day for Ethics

under GS4.

3. Role of civil services in a democracy (under GS2) and next day almost similar

thing for Ethics under GS4.

So it feels as if the topic-list is compiled in haste, and that Agro topic in GS3

(+including supply chain Management!) sticks out like a sore thumb.

One Optional still kept

Instead of two, now youve to pick only one optional. Makes it difficult for

senior player to decide: which subject to keep and which one to drop.

(especially when UPSC is yet to deliver marksheets for Mains 2012).

UPSC should have removed both optionals. That way, people have to spend

less money on books / coaching + more time sparred to pursue any career

backplan/ other exams.

Faster results

It still takes 1 year to finish the exam. Very painful especially for those who

fail in mains and have to reappear in next prelims within 2-3 months.

UPSC Should have converted prelims into a computer based MCQ test like

IBPS/LIC to hasten the result delivery.

On an unrelated note:

If we look at the larger picture, everyone has to give so many exams

simultaneously (UPSC, State PSC, IBPS, SSC, LIC, CDS, CAPF.) These

should be combined into only 2-3 exams for combined recruitment into all

these jobs.

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/03/approach-upsc-2013-general-studies-

prelims-mains.html


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Posted By Mrunal On 11/03/2013 @ 22:05 In the category Studyplan

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Mrunal [Approach] UPSC 2013 General Studies_ Prelims + Mains for Civil Service IAS IPS Exam » Mrunal