Question : Preparation In Solo For Prelims Is Crucial -Why?

Answer :

  • A common question in the minds of UPSC candidates is – ‘Should I start preparing for IAS Mains along with the IAS Prelims?’ Many of you probably are thinking, it is better to take this exam step by step.
  • It is better to prepare for the IAS Prelims first, and only if I make the cut, I need to start my Mains preparation. Let us tell you at the outset that this would not be a good move.
  • The chief reason being you would be left with no time after the Prelims to start your Mains preparation.
  • Although, studying for current affairs for Prelims require a different aptitude. While reading ‘The Hindu’ or any magazine, you should be able to remember the factual knowledge. Also, analytical questions may come, so, it is always better to be prepared.
  • Create separate notes for Prelims, because reading style for Prelims Current Affairs is slightly different than reading Mains Current Affairs.

Time Given to Prelims

  • The favourable time is exactly one year before the date of examination. Well, there is not any ideal time to start its preparation, just start it whenever you feel like but there is a need to give your 100% at any cost throughout the year with patience and hard work.
  • It’s not just a preparation, it will be a journey which will teach you lots of good things and will show you reality of this world. Though, the preparation will be done in advance by you since the beginning along with Mains preparation, to prepare for Prelims, start 3 months before. This will give you ample time to adjust with the Prelims scenario.

Focusing on Static Portion

  • Every subject which comes under the scope of the syllabus of UPSC has both static portion as well as contemporary portion, i.e., current affairs.
  • So, we first have to read the static or better to say the basic elements of every topic like polity, economics, geography, etc. Then one year before you are going to sit for the exam, all you have to do is to revise the static portion and learn the contemporary portion. We will give you an example in this regard:

Static Portion

  • Bills that are introduced in the Parliament are of two kinds - Public bills and Private bills. While public bill is introduced by a minister, a private bill can be introduced by any MP other than a minister.
  • The former had a greater chance of passing in the Parliament than the latter. If a public bill is rejected, it may lead to the resignation of the government but nothing such happens in case of not passing of a private bill.

Contemporary Portion

  • It includes questions relating to any bill that has been recently passed by any member. It will include the salient features regarding the bill and any issue that might have cropped up regarding that bill.
  • So, to answer these kind of questions, you have to be thorough with both the static as well as the contemporary portion because both supplements each other. If you don’t know the static portion, you will not be able to answer the contemporary portion. So, first start with the basics and then move onto the current affairs part, remember, questions are not asked directly.