It cannot be stressed enough that reading the newspaper is an unavoidable practice for UPSC preparations. It is great to know that many serious aspirants out there have taken this advice seriously. The newspapers are a great source of everyday information for all sections of society. The candidates should focus on reading authentic newspapers regularly.
Reading your daily newspaper the right way is easier said than done. We know many of you are not habitual readers and have just started with this new activity. If you fall under this category and are having trouble adopting it fruitfully in your IAS examination preparations, do not worry, we have you covered. You can answer well about different happenings of the country and world in the examination if you read newspapers.
In this article, we will cover the major aspects of how you can make the most of your daily 60 minutes of time for reading the newspaper that will boost your daily current affairs for UPSC. How to read the newspapers for UPSC? Let’s learn here.
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The Best Newspaper for UPSC Preparations
Based on popular opinion and expert advice, you must read The Hindu and The Indian Express for all your local news and news stories. Most of the candidates and toppers believe that both of these newspapers are a great source of authentic news.
The Hindu is the most reliable source of credible news in India, favoured by both aspirants and non-aspirants alike.
What distinguishes this brand from its counterparts is how they clearly discern note-worthy news and popular opinion. The Hindu places high value on the news that is of actual national importance. Unlike many other newspapers, you might find there is a dearth of sensationalized news articles here.
The Indian Express has always been an excellent source of preparation for UPSC candidates. It contains all the worthy and authentic information from the world.
Why You Should Read ‘The Hindu’ for Daily Current Affairs for UPSC?
The printed newspaper might come across as a bit dreary in a presentation to the novice reader, but this is your definite one-stop-shop for non-trivial, high-quality information on what is happening in the country.
Having said that, reading The Hindu like a book will easily take up to 4-5 hours of your time every day. As a UPSC aspirant, we believe you understand the value of time at your disposal. Our experts strongly suggest not spending more than 60 minutes reading the newspaper every day.
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How to Read the Newspaper for UPSC?
#. Reading The Hindu for your IAS preparation is strikingly different from casual reading.
#. When you casually read the newspaper, you do it more for the purpose of gaining information regarding all the socio-economic and political happenings of the previous day that might have an impact on our social lives.
#. Newspapers are also a good source of entertainment for the intellectual mind.
Significant Things to Keep in Mind
The objective behind reading newspapers becomes more defined when inserted in your study process. When you are reading the newspaper for UPSC, you must prepare yourself to target the following objectives:
#. To keep a reliable record of the crucial figures and facts
#. To gain a deeper understanding of the various political, social, and economic issues presented in the paper
#. And, most importantly, to have access to significant current affairs
Now that you’ve established your objectives clearly, let us learn how to read the Hindu in 60 minutes optimally.
Tips for Effective and Faster Reading of the Newspaper
Before we start, always remember that you will not be a pro at it from the very first day. And in case you feel you’re spending more than 60 minutes reading the news, do not worry.
Application of these tips effectively will take some initial practice, but once you get used to the technique, you will be able to achieve the desired results.
Let’s do a Page Page Review of The Hindu:
The Front Page
The front page contains major note-worthy news stories, but not every headline is important. Identify the headlines to its corresponding subjects under your syllabus. A majority of crucial headlines will be continued on page 2.
Pages 2, 3, 4, 5, And 6 – Local News
These are the “regional/ local news” pages, and carry news specifically relating to the respective states. Since the news is going to vary from city to city, these are not crucial from the UPSC point of view.
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Page 7 – National News Stories
This page is indispensable as it carries news directly linked to national importance. On this page, we advise you to pay attention to key terms like high court verdict, supreme court verdict, government policies, new reforms, parliamentary debates, etc.
Make sure that you make substantial notes that can be referred to at the end of every month. While making notes, do not pen down elaborate details regarding the report, instead, jot down keywords and phrases that catch your eye.
Page 8- The Editorial Page
#. Undoubtedly, The Hindu’s most crucial page from the examination point of view
Start with the two articles on the left margin.
#. When you are reading the news for UPSC, the next step is to carefully read the ‘lead’ Article. The Lead Article will be an exemplary analysis of a trending impactful current issue.
#. ‘Letters To The Editor’ will give you a sneak peek into varied opinions, and is worth a read to gather useful insight.
#. Don’t spend more than 40 minutes on this section. Keep your opinions unbiased.
Page 9 – The Perspective Page
#. A good page to comprehend varied perspectives on important current issues.
#. Page 9 is also the ‘Op-Ed’ Page, or ‘Opposite The Editorial Page’, and contains the personal opinions of an author who is not part of the newspaper’s editorial board.
Pages 10 And 11 – General
#. These contain general news.
#. You mustn’t get into an in-depth analysis of political news or issues mentioned. just read the headlines at a glance.
Page 12 – The World
#. The UPSC syllabus consists of International Relations.
#. This is the page where you’ll find related news that will help you with your exams. If you see any impactful news, you must spend a few minutes here.
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Pages 13 And 14 – Business
When you are reading the news, you must focus on growth parameters, trends, fiscal policy, monetary policy, as well as socio-economic news pertaining to health, women, and education.
Sports Page and Life Page
We advise you to spend minimal time in the sports section. Just make a note of any major achievements or happenings.
Importance of Newspapers in UPSC
Reading newspapers is extremely crucial for the UPSC CSE examination. All the candidates get the most authentic newspapers to read so that they get the precise, accurate, and trustworthy information of different sectors of the country and worldwide. It is important because the prelims are dependent on current affairs.
The prelims are the first stage of the UPSC paper which consists of two exams: GS Paper 1 and GS paper 2. The GS paper 2 is called CSAT. Both of these exams are very significant to take you to the next levels of the UPSC. Also, both of these papers consist of questions from current affairs of different sectors.
So, it is very important to have a knowledge and hold of the current and all the other mandatory information. Moreover, the questions related to your optional subject can also be asked as per the current news of that particular field.
The examiners ask you multiple questions in the interview round where the current questions are also included. Therefore, you have to focus on the current information to be perfect in the paper. You can fetch good scores with a good hold on the newspapers. You must have a look at newspapers regularly and each section should be looked at vigilantly.
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Conclusion
To conclude, when you are reading the printed newspaper, you must pay attention to the topics of International Trade, Bilateral Issues, Polity, Governance, Financial And Socioeconomic Policies, Internal Security, Environment, Science, Technology, Agriculture, Women And Child Rights, Wildlife, Health, And Sports.
The newspapers play a vital role in giving you good scores in the exam. You can answer perfectly if you have knowledge about the sections of society. This knowledge is given to you by the newspapers. All the candidates must inculcate a habit of reading the newspapers regularly and concentrate on the current happenings.
It is best to not get caught up in local news, petty crimes, and politics. Mastering this technique requires dedication, patience, and practice; do not give up. The first few weeks will be difficult, but slowly you’ll noticeably improve your newspaper reading skills.
If you want to grab more information about the UPSC preparation or UPSC exam, you should visit the UPSC Pathshala website. You can go through numerous articles related to toppers’ biographies, preparation strategies, syllabus of the examination, updates, and everything. Comment below for any inquiry, question, or sharing of your experience.
Have you ever wondered who posts some of this stuff that you come across? Recently it seems to have become an epidemic, although it seems to be changing for the better. Do you agree?
Thank you for providing the list of newspapers and helping to read the newspapers, which newspaper do you think is the best for national news?