FAQ: Preparation Strategy
Question: How can I Prepare for UPSC in 100 Days? UPSC Preparation @100 days
Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 100 days is a high-intensity "sprint." While the syllabus is vast, 100 days is sufficient to clear the Preliminary Examination if you transition from "reading everything" to "targeted revision and testing." Here is a structured roadmap to navigate these 100 days effectively. 📅 The 100-Day Phase Breakdown PhaseTimelineFocus AreaGoal Phase 1Days 1–40Static Core SubjectsCover Polity, History, Economy, and Geography using standard sources. Phase 2Days 41–75Current Affairs + Weak AreasIntegrate last 12-15 months of news with static topics. Start regular mock tests. Phase 3Days 76–90Intensive Mock DrillsSolve one full-length GS and CSAT paper every 2 days. Focus on elimination techniques. Phase 4Days 91–100The War RoomRevise short notes, high-yield facts (Maps, Reports, Indices), and formulas. 📚 Subject-Wise High-Yield Strategy During a 100-day crunch, you must prioritize subjects that offer the highest "Return on Investment" (ROI). Polity (High ROI): Focus on the Parliament, Fundamental Rights, Preamble, and Judiciary. Use M. Laxmikanth as your bible. Economy: Focus on conceptual clarity (Inflation, GDP, Banking, External Sector). The Economic Survey (highlights) and Budget are mandatory. Modern History: Stick to Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir). Focus heavily on the 1857–1947 period. Environment & Ecology: This section now accounts for ~15-20 questions. Focus on National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and International Conventions (COP, UNFCCC). Geography: Use NCERT Class 11 & 12. Focus on "Mapping" (West Asia, Ukraine, Red Sea, and Indian River systems). Science & Tech: Focus on current developments (AI, CRISPR, Space Missions, 5G/6G) rather than deep theory. ⏰ The Daily Routine (10–12 Hours) Consistency is the only way to survive this period. Aim for a balanced "8-8-8" rule: 8 hours of sleep/personal time, 8 hours of core study, and 4 hours of revision/testing. Morning (7 AM – 10 AM): Core Heavy Subject (Polity or Economy). Your brain is freshest now. Afternoon (11 AM – 2 PM): Modern History or Geography + Map work. Late Afternoon (3 PM – 5 PM): CSAT Practice. Do not ignore this; many candidates fail GS because they couldn't clear the 33% qualifying mark in Paper II. Evening (6 PM – 9 PM): Current Affairs (Monthly Compilations like Vision IAS or Insights) + Solving 50 MCQs. Night (10 PM – 11 PM): Quick revision of what you studied during the day. 🛠️ The Three Pillars of Success Previous Year Questions (PYQs): Solve the last 10 years of papers. UPSC often repeats themes (not necessarily questions). Analyze why an option is incorrect. Mock Tests: Aim for 30–40 mock tests. Use them to build your "intuition" for elimination. Don't be discouraged by low scores; treat them as learning tools. Active Revision: Don't just re-read. Use Active Recall. Close the book and try to summarize a chapter in 5 bullet points. Pro Tip: In the last 100 days, stop reading new books. If you haven't touched a book yet, stick to "Quick Revision" notes from reputed institutes rather than 600-page textbooks.
Question: If I am a beginner how can I strategise my preparation?
Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a marathon, Since you are a beginner, think of this journey as building a house: you cannot put up the roof (Mains answer writing) before the foundation (NCERTs) is rock solid. Here is your Milestone-Based Roadmap to navigate the preparation from zero. Phase 1: Decoding the Exam (Weeks 1–2) Before buying a single book, you must understand the "rules of the game." Step 1: The Syllabus is your Map. Download the official UPSC syllabus. Read it until you can almost recite the sub-topics. If you read a news article about "General Data Protection," you should immediately know it fits into GS Paper 2 (Governance). Step 2: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Spend a few days looking at Prelims and Mains papers from the last 5 years. You won't know the answers, and that’s okay. You are looking for the language and depth of the questions. Phase 2: The Foundation (3–5 Months) Source: NCERT Books Do not skip this. UPSC often picks questions directly from these. Focus on understanding "Why" and "How" rather than just "What." SubjectClasses to Cover HistoryClass 6–12 (Focus on "Our Pasts" and "Themes in Indian History") GeographyClass 6–12 (Class 11 "Physical Geography" is the most important) PolityClass 9–12 (Focus on "Indian Constitution at Work") EconomyClass 9–12 (Focus on "Macroeconomics" and "Indian Economic Development") SociologyClass 11 & 12 (Crucial for Indian Society topics) Phase 3: Building the Pillars (5–8 Months) Once your basics are clear, move to the Standard Reference Books. These are the "bibles" of UPSC preparation. Polity: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth. Modern History: A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir). Geography: Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong + Oxford Student Atlas. Economy: Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania (or Vivek Singh/Ramesh Singh). Art & Culture: Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania (Select chapters). Environment: Shankar IAS Academy Book. Phase 4: Choosing Your "Optional" Subject The Optional subject (2 papers, 500 marks) is often the deciding factor in your final rank. How to choose: Look for a subject that interests you, has good study material available, and ideally overlaps with General Studies (e.g., PSIR, History, Geography, Sociology, or Anthropology). When to start: Start your Optional preparation alongside Phase 3. Aim to finish it at least 4 months before your Prelims date. The "Constant" Pillars (Daily Habits) Current Affairs: Start reading The Hindu or The Indian Express daily. Don't make heavy notes initially; just try to understand the "big stories." Supplement this with a monthly magazine (e.g., Vision IAS or Insights). CSAT (Aptitude): Don't wait until the end. If your math or logic is weak, spend 2 hours every weekend solving basic puzzles and comprehension. The "Output" Rule: For every 5 hours you read, spend 1 hour retrieving information. This means solving 10 MCQs or trying to write one 150-word summary of a topic you just learned. 💡 Pro-Tips for a Beginner Avoid "Resource Proliferation": It is better to read one book 10 times than 10 books one time. Integrated Preparation: Don't prepare for Prelims and Mains separately. When you study "Fundamental Rights," learn the facts (Prelims) and the "significance and challenges" (Mains) together. Note-Making: Do not make notes on your first reading. You will end up copying the whole book. Start making notes only during your second or third reading.