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The UPSC civil services exam is one of the most difficult, with lakhs of hopefuls putting in months or years of preparation. Some of them are able to pass it on their first try, while others may need more time. IAS preparation necessitates the candidates’ commitment to hard effort and discipline. Each year, thousands of people sit the IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam, which is one of the most popular recruiting exams. It has a difficult method for determining a possible candidate’s intellectual capacity, expertise, and personality. As a result, attempting and passing the IAS Examination necessitates a holistic development on the side of the candidates. 

The majority of the inquiries come from India and around the world, and they are categorised as General Studies and Current Affairs. Furthermore, many candidates believe they will be able to pass it without taking any coaching programmes. In retrospect, this is certainly doable, as many students have passed the UPSC Exam by merely self-studying and dedicating adequate time to the preparation.

Except for this section, everything about the exam can be taught. Furthermore, perseverance is what allows aspirants to sail from start to finish. We’ll go over the Magical Tips for IAS Preparation in depth below. 

Magical Tips for IAS UPSC CSE

Magical Tip 1: – Take Advantage of the Early Bird Discount

• Please keep in mind that the UPSC Civil Service Exam (CSE) requires 21 years of age and a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. It’s also worth noting that final-year students are eligible to apply for the IAS Prelims. Many applicants miss out on this early opportunity and arrive late to the UPSC Civil Service Exam preparation sector.
• The fact that the average age of applicants that make it into the final UPSC CSE rank list is 28 years reflects this.
• Starting early will provide you with numerous benefits. And we are confident that aspirants who begin studying early will be able to pass the IAS exam without sacrificing the joy and happiness of college life.

Magical Tip 2: – Make a schedule and stick to it.

• Making a plan or a schedule for the IAS Exam is a good place to start. This will assist you in efficiently managing and utilising your time. 
• Set aside a couple of hours each day for study and the other half for revision.
• Make sure the schedule is comfortable and appropriate for you. 
• Also, avoid putting yourself under unnecessary stress, as this can be detrimental to your mental health. Make little goals for yourself and stick to them.

Prepare yourself ahead of time.

• In addition, aspirants must create goals and emotionally and physically prepare for the UPSC exam. 
• If they want to pass the exam through self-study, they will need to devote a significant amount of time.
• The IAS Exam is one of the most difficult exams, with over a lakh candidate applying. As a result, it should not be taken lightly. 
• As a result, pay close attention to the other suggestions.

Start writing

• The pace with which you write is very crucial in UPSC CSE Mains. 
• When compared to working professionals, aspirants fresh out of college would have a significant edge because they are still familiar with pen and paper. 
• Make the most of this opportunity. 
• Write letters to the editors of well-known publications.

Begin Reading Current Affairs.

• As a result, you should begin reading about current events taking place throughout the world. 
• You can get this information in daily newspapers, periodicals, and gazettes. 
• Additionally, you can download apps that will keep you up to date on current happenings at all times. 
• Because the majority of the questions are based on general studies and current events, these can substantially assist you in scoring the highest possible scores.

Examine the UPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus.

• The IAS test is divided into three phases, as we all know. 
• Preliminary, Mains, and the Final Interview round are listed in the sequence in which they were given. Both stages have separate curricula. 
• However, you should begin preparing for both of them as soon as possible.
• Examine the syllabus carefully and rank the subjects according to your strengths and limitations. 
• Make sure you have all of the necessary study materials and that you give each subject enough time.

Read Toppers Interviews

• With the advent of new resources and question patterns from UPSC, IAS preparation tactics are always changing. 
• Have great ambitions and stay motivated if you did this.
• For the most up-to-date tips from toppers, always refer to the UPSC toppers interviews at ClearIAS.com. 

Use the Proper Studying Methodologies

To begin with, everyone has their own study method or style. As a result, what may be beneficial to one person may be detrimental to another. However, there are a few crucial elements that can assist a student in studying well. As a result, consider the following points.

• Recall the date and circumstances of the most recent current events. Make sure you concentrate on issues that have an impact on the Indian or global economy.
• Look through the previous papers’ solved papers to determine the most common relevant questions.
• Organize mock tests and exams on a regular basis. Remember to complete it within the time allotted, just like the actual exam.
• Examine the exam format and become familiar with the different sorts of questions.
• Evaluate yourself on a regular basis to determine your strengths and limitations. After that, prepare for the exam as needed.
• Revise as much as possible because information is easily forgotten.

Magazines and Newspapers to Read

• In terms of magazines, EPW is an excellent place to look for up-to-date information. 
• Yojana and Kurukshetra are government projects and initiatives towards understanding.
• Regardless of time constraints, don’t skimp on your newspaper reading. 
• For quality articles, we recommend The Hindu or The Indian Express. Make editorials and op-ed pieces a priority.

Select the appropriate Optional Subject.

• Currently, the optional subject receives exactly 500 out of a possible 2025 points. 
• Candidates for the IAS Exams can now choose only one optional topic, according to an official notification issued in 2013. 
• Previously, contestants had to select between two options. 
• It is critical to select the appropriate optional subject because it will decide the candidates’ final grades.
• The aspirants have the option of selecting an optional subject in which they have suitable educational experience or those that overlap with General studies. 
• This will shorten the time it takes to prepare for the IAS tests.

Find and Study from NCERT Books

• CBSE and a few other boards used to rely heavily on NCERT books. 
• Following that, it was announced that ICSE boards will follow suit. From 2019 forward, this adjustment will be in effect.
• As a result, obtaining NCERT books to assist you learn various courses on the IAS Exam curriculum is actually rather simple. 
• Furthermore, the principles are well-explained and easier to grasp. Also, some of the questions in the IAS exams come directly from these books.

During the semester break, complete 1-2 subjects.

• Some top students use the semester breaks throughout college to finish optional subjects so that they can focus on General Studies (GS) and current events after graduation. 
• Finish your optional topic or the whole set of NCERTs from classes 6 to 12 if time allows.

Interview Preparation

• It is a good idea to practise for the final interview round by conducting mock interviews. 
• In most cases, the UPSC interviewing board uses this stage to get to know the final applicants first-hand.
• As a result, you’ll be asked personal questions about your hobbies, interests, educational background, family history, work experience, and so on. 
• They may also put you in hypothetical circumstances to test your mental sharpness, communication abilities, problem-solving abilities, and common sense.

Government Resources should be followed

• Following the government resources is a wonderful method to remain up to date on the newest current events and general studies. 
• This includes widely circulated government publications such as periodicals and gazettes. 
• Candidates can also go to the UPSC’s official website and other government websites to look at sample question papers and receive the most up-to-date knowledge on economic policies, current events, and other topics.

Seek The Correct Kind of Help: 

• Getting the right kind of help is the most important technique for passing the IAS exam. 
• The more carefully you are steered, the closer you will come to your goal. 
• Because final-year college students are eligible to take the IAS exam, you should begin looking for the correct kind of advice as soon as you finish your 12th exam so that you can be prepared before the IAS exam appears in your final year.

Time management:

• The ability to manage one’s time is crucial to success. From your to-do list, determine the relevance of each item and then prioritise accordingly. 
• When there’s so much to do, don’t waste time sitting around doing nothing. Make sure you get enough rest in between tasks. 
• Most crucial, divide your duties into smaller chunks and take breaks in between to increase your productivity.

Keep A Positive Attitude and Stay Healthy.

• Finally, it is critical for applicants to have a positive attitude and avoid being overly stressed during the preparation process. 
• It’s all too easy to become demotivated, discouraged, and agitated. You should not, however, be overwhelmed and should study at your own pace.
• Additionally, ensure that you receive a decent night’s sleep, as sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on your memory. 
• YouTube and other online platforms are excellent resources for clearing up any issues or problems you may have. 
• While you’re at it, remember to keep yourself from becoming side-tracked.

Sources for UPSC Preparation

1. Polity – Constitution at work class XI and Indian Polity by Laxmikant
2. History – Ancient History by RS Sharma, Medieval History by Satish Chandra, and Modern History by Bipan Chandra. A brief history of Modern India from the spectrum publications. Art and culture NCERT book class XI and Nitin Singhania’s book.
3. Geography – NCERT books of class XI and XII and Certificate of physical and human geography by GC Leong.
4. Science and Technology – clear concepts from NCERTs and read science and technology books by Ravi Agrahari and current affairs.
5. Current Affairs – regularly follow one national newspaper and a monthly magazine of any coaching institute which you feel comfortable with.
6. Economics – Class XI macroeconomics and IAS coaching notes or any standard book like Ramesh Singh
7. Environment – Book by Shankar IAS and current affairs

Many Indians aspire to be IAS officers. Many IAS hopefuls, however, would violate the age restriction or give up their aspirations in the marathon to earn a solid degree and develop a profession. This is why many researchers and IAS officers advise college students to begin preparing for IAS as soon as possible if they intend to pursue it. With all of the vigour of youth and the sharpness of a student’s mind, just-out-of-college boys have a better chance of passing the IAS exam.