Are you going to appear for Prelims 2021? Looking for a perfect plan or strategy to approach? In this article, you will find everything about the prelims paper and how to make a timetable for upsc preparation? Moreover, here are tips to clear your paper in 3 months. Follow these tips and strategies to ace your paper.
With proper strategy and tips, you can easily clear your exam even if it’s your first attempt. Read this article till the end to clear your paper in one go.
UPSC CSE 2021
UPSC civil service exam is one of the exams conducted by UPSC. It is the most anticipated and prestigious one. Successful candidates are recruited for various posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and so on. But it is not an easy one. Among lakhs of students, only some hundreds can clear it. This exam is conducted in two phases: Preliminary and Mains examination.
The preliminary examination consists of two papers and the mains examination has two stages: The written exam and the Interview. The written exam consists of nine papers and an interview is a face to face interview with a panel.
UPSC CSE Prelims 2021
UPSC Prelims consists of two papers. This paper is a qualifying stage for the next part. Every year lakhs of students appear for the prelims exams but only some thousands of canThe written clear it.
To prepare a 3-month timetable for UPSC you need to understand prelims well. Here is a close analysis of prelims.
| Paper | GS Paper I | GS Paper II (CSAT) |
| Number of Questions | 100 | 80 |
| Total Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Negative Marks | ⅓ rd per the wrong answer | ⅓ rd per the wrong answer |
| Time Allotted | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Mode | Offline | Offline |
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
General Studies I
| Current events of national and international importance. |
| History of India and Indian National Movement. |
| Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. |
| Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. |
| Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. |
| General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. |
| General Science. |
General Studies II (CSAT)
| Comprehension |
| Interpersonal skills including communication skills |
| Logical reasoning and analytical ability |
| Decision making and problem-solving |
| General mental ability |
| Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level) |
| Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level) |
Also Read: 11 IAS Preparation Tips for Beginners: How to Start from Ground Zero?
How to Prepare a 3 Months Time Table for UPSC Preparation?Things to Consider Before Constructing a Timetable
Here are some important things you need to consider before constructing a timetable.
Analyze the Question Paper
Before you start making your timetable, analyze the paper first. UPSC is one of the toughest papers given its unpredictability. Therefore, first of all, analyze the paper first. Start by analysing ten years of question papers. If you will analyze the paper in detail you will find out:
Read the Syllabus in Detail
Now read the syllabus in detail. This will make sure you don’t miss out on any topic. If you have missed any topic, prepare for it. Make sure to read the syllabus at least three times. Every time you will find a new topic to study.
Also Read: Which Books are Best for UPSC Prelims 2021? Carve your Path to Success with the Right Study Material
Current Affairs
Current Affairs is an important aspect of prelims exams. They share a major proportion of paper. Every year the number of questions from current affairs is increasing. And it can essentially be a game-changer for your exam. Study current affairs daily.
Mock Tests
A Mock test is important to evaluate yourself. By solving as many mock tests you can have a good look at where you are struggling. This will help you to customize your timetable accordingly. Make sure to give at least two days in a week to solve mock tests.
To analyze the questions and answers carefully to understand the pattern, your strengths and weaknesses.
Revision
Revision is the key to your success. Proper revision is important when you only have some months in your exam. You should avoid reading any new books or topics prior to 3 months to your exam. Moreover, re-read your notes more than 3 times.
NCERTs
NCERTs is the best book for your prelims preparation. They help you to get a basic idea about the core subjects. These are published for a basic before, understanding of different subjects. They are written in simple and clear language.You sould read all recommended NCERT books.
CSAT
Candidates often get busy in preparation paper I and often ignore CSAT. But this is your rave mistake. CSAT is a qualifying stay and you need at least 33% marks to clear it. Without this, you cannot dream to clear your prelims exams.
If you are comfortable with maths, you only need to devote your 2 hours daily to solve CSAT questions. But if you Struggle with maths then make sure to devote more time.
Rest Well
Taking a break and resting well is very important to boost efficiency. It is a long and tiring journey therefore you need to take proper rest and sleep well to run longer.
Recreational Activities
While many think you need to lock yourself to prepare for UPSC. But this is not true. You should ensure proper rest and allocate time for recreational activities. Devote at least one hour daily for any recreational activity or hobby.
Construct a Time Table for 3 Months UPSC Preparation
Time table is an important thing for your preparation. This will help you to allocate your time properly among various topics. Having a roadmap will give you a set direction about how to prepare your UPSC. Moreover, when you have just 3 months you need to allocate your time properly. You need to construct your timetable according to yourself.
90 Days-Breakup
| Polity | 15 days |
| History | 15 days |
| Geography | 15 days |
| Art and culture | 5 days |
| Science and Technology | 10 days |
| Environment and Ecology | 10 days |
| Economy | 10 days |
| Current Affairs | Daily |
| CSAT | 10 days |
Daily Preparation Strategy
| Time | Timetable |
| 5:00 am | Wake-up |
| 5:00 to 6:00 am | Morning walk and yoga |
| 6:00 to 7:00 am | Fresh up and Breakfast |
| 7:00 to 8:00 am | Read newspapers |
| 8:00 to 11:00 am | Study slot-I |
| 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | Break |
| 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | Study slot-II |
| 2:00 to 3:00 pm | Lunch |
| 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Study slot-III |
| 5:00 to 6:00 pm | Exercise or Recreational activity |
| 6:00 to 7:00 pm | Relax and evening snacks |
| 7:00 to 9:00 pm | Study slot-IV |
| 9:00 to 10:00 pm | Dinner |
| 10:00 to 10:30 pm | Unwind and relax |
| 10:30 pm | Sleep |
Also Read: Strategy for UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam: Steps to Clear Prelims in the First Attempt
Topic Wise Approach Towards Different Subjects of Prelims
The prelims exam is the screening test for your mains exam. Therefore this is the most important paper for your UPSC journey. Here is a close analysis of different topics of prelims.
Ancient History
Topics to be Covered
| Pre Historic Period |
| Indus Valley Civilization |
| Vedic Period |
| Pre Mauryan Period |
| The Mauryan Empire |
| Post Mauryan Period |
| Jainism and Buddhism |
| The Gupta Period |
| Post Gupta Period |
| Southern Dynasties |
Recommended Books
# NCERT
# India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma
Medieval History
Topics to be Covered
| Central Asian Politics and the Advance of the Central Asians |
| The Empires of North India |
| The Mughals |
| The Deccan |
| The Marathas |
| The Bhakti and The Sufi Movements |
Recommended Books
# NCERT
# History of Medieval India – Satish Chandra
Modern History
Topics to be Covered
| India in the late 18th century |
| Revolt of 1857 |
| Governor- Generals |
| Peasants and Tribal movements |
| INC and their role |
| India under East India Company |
| Moderate and Extremist |
| The Gandhian phase of Struggle for Swaraj |
| Non-Cooperation Movement |
| Civil Disobedience Movement |
| Government of India Act |
| Towards Independence: Partition of India |
| 1905 to 1947:- Freedom struggle movements- the role of women and youths |
| Role of a freedom fighter– newspapers, journals, slogans, main activities, etc. |
Recommended Books
# Modern India (class X) by Bipin Chandra
# India Before Independence: Bipan Chandra
Art and Culture
Topics to be Covered
| Indian Culture |
| Indian Architecture, Art and Crafts, Paintingmoleculesare |
| Indian Music and Dances |
| Indian Language and Literature |
| Fairs and Festivals |
| Media and Culture |
Recommended Books
# Art and Culture XI and XII (NCERT)
# Indian Art & Culture – Nitin Singhania
Indian Polity
Topics to be Covered
| Historical Background and Evolution of the Constitution, Preamble |
| Citizenship and the Fundamental Rights |
| Directive Principles of State Policy & Fundamental Duties, Union and States |
| The Union Executive and the Parliament, Judiciary |
| The State Executive and the State Legislature, Constitutional and Non Constitutional Bodies |
| Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies |
Recommended Books
# Political Science: VI to XII (NCERT)
# Indian Polity: M. Laxmikanth
# Indian Constitution: DD Basu
Geography
Topics to be Covered
| Geomorphology |
| Climatology |
| Oceanography |
| Biogeography |
| Human and Economic Geography |
| Water Resources |
| Minerals |
| Energy Resources and Industries |
Recommended Books
# Class VI to XII NCERTs
# Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong.
# The Orient BlackSwan School Atlas / Oxford School Atlas by Oxford University Press
Economy
Topics to be Covered
| Government Budgeting, Taxation |
| Banking, Money and Securities Market |
| Role of Agriculture in Indian Economy |
| International Institutions |
| Industries and Services Sectors |
| Five years plan |
Recommended Books
# Economy Class VI to XII NCERT
# Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh
Science and Technology
Topics to be Covered
| Cells biology | Genetics | Disease and Defence Mechanism |
| Origin and Evolution of Life | Respiration | Reproduction and Nutrition |
| Biotechnology and Biofuel Generation |
| Chemical Reaction | Atoms, molecules and compounds |
| Acids, Bases and salt | Periodic table |
| Space and Defence Technology | Nuclear Energy | IT |
| NanoTechnology | Robotics and Artificial Intelligence |
Recommended Books
# Science VI and XII NCERT
# Lucent Manual
# Internet resources
Environment and Ecology
Topics to be Covered
| Ecology and Functions of an Ecosystem | Biodiversity | Land Ecosystem |
| Aquatic Ecosystem | Waste Management | Pollution |
| Ocean Acidification | Environment Impact Assessment | Greenhouse Effects and Climate Change |
Recommended Books
# Biology Class XI and XII NCERT
# Shankar IAS book for Environment
Current Affairs
Current affairs of 1 year and 6 months should be covered as compulsory. And other such events so national and international should be covered.
Reference
# India Yearbook
# Newspapers: The Hindu, the Indian Express, etc
CSAT
For CSAT try to solve as many questions as you can. Try to improve your speed so that you can answer all questions of the paper.
Recommended Books
# R.S Aggarwal
# Arihant Publications
Also Read: Books for UPSC Beginners: UPSC Preparation Guide for Beginners for IAS Exam
UPSC Pathshala: UPSC Courses
To boost your Prelims preparation, you can take these courses of UPSC Pathshala:
#2. Prelims Cum Mains Crash Course 2021
These courses have best quality video-contents, practice tests and mock tests, private guidance, live classes and are at best prices.
Conclusion
Prelims is the screening test for UPSC mains exams. With proper strategy and preparation, one can easily clear it in their first attempt. Follow these steps and make a perfect, customized timetable for yourself.
Moreover, read this article carefully to find everything you need to know for your preparation. For more such articles, upsc preparations tips and guidance for UPSC visit UPSC Pathshala. Here you will find relevant articles, customized courses, expert mentors and many more.
This article provided a clear idea of how to make a timetable for everyday and for three months, what is your strategy to prepare for UPSC?
Three months is a less time. So, to prepare for this incredible and the toughest exam in three months, this time table will prove really beneficial. How do you guys are preparing for the UPSC exam?