Newspapers are an important part of UPSC Civil Services preparation because they keep aspirants informed about recent events and happenings in the country and around the world. However, there is a specific way to read newspapers in order to avoid wasting time. The goal is to read the newspaper in such a way that it helps you prepare while not taking up too much of your time.
“The Hindu” and “The Indian Express” are the two best and most recommended newspapers for UPSC preparation. Now, let’s talk about what to read in the newspaper for IAS preparation and how to get the most out of it.
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What Relevant Topics Should be Read from the Newspaper?
Aspirants should start from basics and first, it is critical to remember that you should not read the newspaper for more than 60 minutes. Let’s move on to talking about what to read for each subject:
National News
What you should read:
#The government has launched a number of national schemes and initiatives.
#The ramifications of a significant national event. For example, any natural or man-made disaster, accident, or other events could have been avoided if a comprehensive disaster management action plan had been in place.
#ISRO or any other scientific development news.
International News
What you should read:
#Prime Minister and President attend international conferences and events.
#There are a number of treaties and agreements that have been signed there.
International organisations such as UNICEF, UN, ASEAN, WHO, and others publish reports. For example, WHO reports on COVID-19, as well as various indexes published by these organisations.
#Uprisings, political coups, and other major political events have occurred in other countries. Consider the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Economy
What you should read:
#NITI Aayog, SEBI, ASSOCHAM, RBI, NASSCOM, and others have issued press releases.
#The Finance Ministry’s Reforms and Measures, as well as their Consequences
#For example, the GST reforms, the government’s relief package, and so on.
#Indicators such as CPI, GDP, IIP, and others
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Polity
What you should read:
#Bills and acts enacted by the legislature. Citizenship Amendment Act, for example.
#The government has announced various reforms, schemes, and other initiatives.
#Schemes and reports by ministry
#On important issues, the supreme court and high courts render decisions.
#Debates in the legislature.
General Knowledge
What you should read:
#Environmental and biodiversity-related issues.
#News about culture and heritage, such as the implementation of national programmes and events.
#GI tags, UNESCO heritage site additions, and so on
#The latest information on endangered and extinct species
#News about science and technology.
Points to Remember while Preparing for UPSC
Learn everything there is to know about the course: A thorough reading of the syllabus will enable you to select relevant news items, saving you time. Only read the parts that are relevant to the UPSC exam.
Examine PYQs: Examining previous year questions, particularly those from the current affairs section, will give you an idea of the types of questions that are asked, allowing you to read more systematically. You do not have to take in all of the information in the newspaper. Simply look for relevant reading.
Make digital notes while reading the newspaper every day: Furthermore, taking handwritten notes from the newspaper can be time-consuming; therefore, you can save newspaper clippings using digital tools such as Evernote, etc. Save them to your device for easy access.
Read monthly compilations for quick revision: It’s more important to revise than it is to read piles upon piles of material. As a result, revise what you’ve put down or saved from news articles on a monthly and weekly basis.
Allow excess time for reading editorials: Editorials are an excellent source of insight for UPSC Mains answer writing. As a result, give it the attention it deserves, and make handwritten notes for editorials. And make sure to improve them on a regular basis to ensure that you maintain the information you need.
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Importance of Newspapers for Current Affairs
Here are some of the most common and important characteristics of a trustworthy newspaper:
#Comprehensiveness. [Unless you’re taking state competitive exams, avoid local/state newspapers.]
#English as it should be. [It’s especially useful during the mains exam because it helps you improve your English writing skills and vocabulary.]
#Unbiased. [It is not politically influenced and presents a balanced viewpoint]
#Regular. [Daily edition newspapers are preferred, but special editions related to the syllabus should not be overlooked.]
#Content that is trustworthy. [Expertly crafted].
The Hindu Newspaper
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper that first appeared as a weekly in 1878. The Hindu newspaper emphasises important national news. It never devotes too much space to irrelevant information.
They also provide authentic information that has been analysed by experts, as well as government websites such as PIB and PRS. Aspirants should pay close attention to the newspaper’s Science and Technology, editorials, Business section, art and culture sections, which are extremely useful for both the UPSC prelims and mains exams.
Topics they Cover
#Topics include parliamentary sessions, government operations, amendments, election reforms, the constitution, and economic planning, among others.
#Focus on important women’s rights, High Court and Supreme Court decisions, environmental issues, social issues, and other topics.
#Focus on international relations, including India’s bilateral relations with countries and participation in organisations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.
#Policies and plans of the government.
The Indian Express Newspaper
This English daily, founded in 1932 by Ramnath Goenka, is useful for the UPSC IAS Exam. The Indian Express, along with The Hindu, is regarded as the best source of current affairs information for competitive exam preparation.
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How to Read it?
#The Indian Express provides in-depth coverage of all topics, particularly Indian politics. It is extremely beneficial for UPSC Mains because it provides objective information on the issues.
#The aspirants will be able to read all national and international news.
#Aspirants can avoid the sports section, any market details, person’s death, crime incidents, and any information about a specific company.
Business Standard
The Business Standard is an excellent English-language business daily. The editorials and articles in this newspaper will assist one in gathering accurate information on current economic events, which is a crucial subject in the UPSC IAS exam.
In addition to the print newspapers mentioned above, there are a number of online publications that can provide useful information to IAS candidates.
BBC
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is the oldest national broadcasting organisation in the world. The BBC articles are beneficial for UPSC prelims and, in particular, mains. Reading the BBC will assist the aspirant in cultivating an understanding of international affairs.
For a highly competitive exam like the Civil Services Exam, simply reading the newspapers will not suffice. Aspirants should take notes from newspapers and align them with the UPSC syllabus so that they can be easily reviewed.
Time Management Tips for UPSC Aspirants
We’ve compiled a list of 7 bullseye time management tips to help you prepare for the IAS Exam. The following are the details:
H4 Making a Timetable
Making a timetable is the first step in IAS preparation. Many candidates believe that sticking to a strict schedule is the best way to succeed, but the reality is that it is extremely difficult to maintain over time.
As a result, set a goal and try to manage your time in terms of the day, week, and month, as this will give you the flexibility to manage your time as time passes. Candidates should also be extremely committed to their target and achieve it despite any obstacles that may arise. Be realistic and create a schedule that works for you.
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Make Achievable Targets
Many candidates make the mistake of setting lofty goals for a limited time period. However, rather than attempting to learn things in a limited amount of time, the correct approach is to focus on the topics properly and understand them thoroughly. You will be able to complete the syllabus on time if you set small, realistic goals for yourself.
Divide and Rule
You should divide larger topics into subtopics and complete them so that you can finish quickly and keep the time-consuming topics to a minimum, as this will make it easier to cover the topics in the allotted study time. Always begin with easy-to-understand topics and work your way up to the more difficult ones.
Organization is Important
It is common knowledge that the UPSC Syllabus is extensive, and one must effectively manage their time. It is extremely difficult to complete the syllabus in a short amount of time, but with the right strategy and time management, one can easily cover the majority of it.
Time Management
The majority of IAS aspirants fail due to a lack of time, which is largely due to poor study time management. So, once you’ve divided your syllabus to conquer it, make a study schedule that includes when you’ll study, how you’ll study, and when you’ll finish it.
Set realistic goals for your study time, as previously suggested, and make sure you’re prepared to face the challenge you’ve set for yourself. Make sure you have all of your study materials and resources on hand, and don’t waste time looking for books when you sit down to study.
Know When to Give Up
You should keep in mind that sticking to a topic for an extended period of time can lead to boredom and make it difficult to manage your studies in other subjects. To avoid such situations, it is critical to know when to give up and switch topics, as well as when to return to the pending topics with the proper guidance.
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Take a Break
Long hours of preparation are expected for UPSC. When one’s efficiency begins to dwindle, it’s a good idea to take a short break. This refreshes your mind and prepares it to take in more information.
Studying doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your health, so take a break and maintain a healthy lifestyle balance while also making sure you remember everything you learned until your break time. However, breaks should not be so long that they interfere with your study schedule.
Cling to Your Plan
You should devise your own study strategy that works best for you. Every IAS aspirant will face a situation where they will receive suggestions, tips, and advice from everyone about their preparation, but don’t get distracted. You have a better understanding of yourself than others. As a result, it is up to you to decide how you will best prepare for this exam.
While it is important to be open to new ideas, it is also critical to believe in and stick to your study plan.
If you feel like your study plan isn’t working, don’t wait too long and try to change it within four weeks, but make sure to make only minor changes, as changing your entire study plan at that point will be counterproductive.
Know the Weightage of Current Affairs
Knowing how much weight a particular exam gives to the current affairs section/paper will help you schedule enough time for it.
If the total marks are 100 and current affairs are worth 20 points, you should devote a significant amount of time (ideally 20% of your total daily preparation time), but if current affairs are worth only 5 points, allocating 20% of your total preparation time is highly inappropriate and unnecessary.
When planning your time, keep in mind that reading the newspaper can also help you prepare for personal interviews.
Conclusion
The UPSC exam covers topics such as science, international affairs, politics, economics, human rights, internal security, technology, and so on. Aspirants should pay close attention to information related to these topics when reading the newspaper.
Hopefully, this article will assist you in determining the best newspaper for UPSC IAS and, as a result, improve your preparations.
So, now that you’ve compiled a list of important newspapers, which one do you intend to read? Please share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment in the section below.
Also Read: Which Newspaper is Best for UPSC? Hindi and English Newspapers for IAS Preparations
