How to Prepare for UPSC While Doing Engineering?

According to the recent trends in the IAS exam and other civil services examinations, large success is achieved by the students with a technical background, and it is seen that out of every ten toppers, one is an engineer. These are all young students with great dreams, and as the competition gets more serious among the technical students, preparations need to be done from the graduation itself. Many students decide to attempt UPSC after engineering but if you decide to do them together, you need to know how to prepare for UPSC while doing engineering?

This is a common question among the aspirants as engineering comes with all the tests, assignments, and endless semesters which keeps engineering students caught up! Thus here is the strategic guide as a solution to help the engineering students to cope up with their UPSC preparation seamlessly.

Strategies to Follow for Efficient and Smart UPSC Preparation

Maybe it is the introduction of CSAT in 2011 or the assured career and employment in CSE that drags the engineering students into these examinations in huge numbers. Managing both is, however, challenging but beneficial as well. Here are some of the best tips to follow for smart and less time-consuming UPSC preparation while doing engineering -.

Know it All!

Before entering into CSE or any other new field, know the smallest of the details about it. Know the basics and major information about the entrance, the syllabus, course, cut-offs, criteria, etc. collect all the possible and accessible data about IAS exams you come across.

Analyze the subjects and patterns of the syllabus and decide how to go about it. Regularly read newspapers and be up to date with current events.

Syllabus and Scheduling

Get through with the entire syllabus of both Prelims and Mains exam thoroughly. Get well versed with all the topics and researches you have to prepare. Then focus on the studies and make it your religion for the remaining months.

This will get your mind clear and provide you with a clear line to follow. Now have a proper schedule and line up subjects, divide time daily for all of them. Cover the question papers from last year of both Prelims and Mains to understand the syllabus’s type and pattern and questions.

Also Read : Online Vs Offline Coaching for UPSC: Which One Should You Choose?

Build Your Foundation

Once you are confident enough with the framework of the examination, focus on the foundation, the basics of IAS examinations. Just as written in the Civil service theories about how the base is the main part of any building stands can be applied here.

Write down and create your own pointers. This gives you a written and personalized practice and the capability to draw a chart of what you actually need to study.

Best Books and Newspapers

Do I need to read all NCERT books for UPSC? The answer is yes. Along with this get the best books available and collect the primary ones initially. Once done with core books, go for some sample papers and standard books and get your hands on the advanced questions as well. A major step is to get into the habit of reading regular newspapers.

As an engineer, topics such as economics and politics, and social sciences are remote. Thus newspaper reading and books will keep you up to date with the current affairs. Answering the common question of, do I need to study all the NCERT books for UPSC? Yes, Not being from an art background, NCERT books become a must-read for subjects like politics and economics.

Authentic newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express can be good and helpful to develop notes. Regularly follow the editorials; they are the most important sections with loads of information and articles.

Choice of Optional

Selecting the most probable optional is one of the most important decisions you make. Never choose it on the basis of which subject is scoring, but which is of your interest. Don’t be afraid to stick to technical subjects; go beyond and choose something you can study even when not in the mood. Being in college, you can get enough time to study the optional subject and prepare it beforehand.

Practice and Revise

In the end, how much ever you study, practice makes it perfect. The written practice of the answers is a necessity. Solve the papers and mocks in the given time and limit of words, analyze the question pattern and the expected answer, and the way of writing to it. Keep revising the older portion and brush up regularly. The portion is very vast and thus requires proper revision and updates.

In Conclusion

The IAS examination might be a good challenge, especially for an engineering student, but by following a proper schedule and with dedication, the feat of UPSC can be achieved. Each year the number of engineers in the rankers keeps growing, and today, 20% of IAS officers are engineers!

So, in the end, it all comes down to you and your hard work, no matter where you come from, which branch, which field, nothing matters. Just keep the major pointers and steps in mind, get into reading habits, and regular study with solving the question papers and test series, and you are on your way to success.

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