2021 has proven to be a year filled with surprises. Most of them are not so pleasant. It is no surprise that as the tumultuous year of 2021 comes to an end, people all over the world let out a sigh of relief.
However, for UPSC aspirants the most is yet to come. The IAS mains are yet to happen. This is a terrifying ordeal that most UPSC aspirants are not looking forward to. An IAS exam comes with anxiety, stress and tension. That is all that seems to have plagued the minds of students. To such an extent that 2022 may not seem half as exciting as anymore!
However, IAS students must know that worrying is counterproductive. They can turn this anxiety into something that is productive in 2022.
New Years Resolution 2022
Consistent writing practise from Day 1 and Week 1 is required to achieve such numbers in all papers.
The knowledge you gain from textbooks and websites should be tested on a regular basis. Learning to apply your knowledge to all of the Preliminary and Mains papers at the same time will prepare you for any uncertainty that may arise.
Also Read: UPSC Optional Syllabus 2022: Know the Entire Syllabus with Important Topics to Prepare
The Need for a New Year’s Resolutions
The minimal preparation for the UPSC exam in itself spans over a year and six-months minimum. Staying motivated for this long may be a difficult feat to attain. UPSC aspirants have to study for extended hours and indulge in intensive preparation. They must prepare for IAS for about 6-12 hours a day. That is certainly challenging.
The difficulty to stay focused especially increases as students near the end of the academic year. Thus a new year’s resolution is exactly the motivation that is needed to perk them up.
A resolution that they truly want to attain will inspire students to work harder and wake up every morning with a set goal in mind. Thus it will give UPSC aspirants a firm sense of direction.
Why Set an Optimistic New Year’s Resolutions?
UPSC aspirants must set resolutions in accordance with what they want to achieve in 2022. This must be in the direction of academic success. The goals must be directed towards the upcoming IAS exam. No success comes without a firm resolution and a will to truly succeed.
The IAS goal that aspirants set must be optimistic and realistic. An optimistic IAS goal guarantees positive results. It is in line with reinforcing positive energy and thus channelling for the better in 2022.
Also Read: Last Minute Preparation for UPSC Prelims Examination 2021: Tips to Keep in Mind Before Exam Day
Some Goals that UPSC Aspirants Must Set
Following the UPSC prelims that took place in 2020, it is obvious that students have a brief idea of how they have fared in their exams.
Keeping in mind their IAS exam prelim results they must plan their new goals accordingly. Some ways to do that is to examine their IAS prelim exams. The answer to their success lies in their IAS prelim exams.
They must deeply examine their IAS prelim papers. See how they answered, note down and then analyse their weak points as well as their strong points from their prelim exams.
It is suggested that they write down their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Following which they must work to convert their weaknesses into strengths in 2022.
This will help UPSC aspirants lay solid goals and come out victorious in their IAS exam.
2022 Resolutions that Students giving the IAS Exam must Inculcate
Every year many aspirants register for the IAS examination but somewhere, they go down the wrong path. Believing that they can study at the last moment for IAS is the worst path of all.
The mindset of the student is an important aspect that is overlooked. Very few crack this exam, those that do have the right mindset. They must enter 2022 to give the IAS exam with the right mindset. Some resolutions that you must have in 2022 are-
Starting with reading the daily newspaper. You must also aim to catch up on previously missed newspapers. Secondly, you must read NCERT books. This can be followed by browsing through detailed IAS reference books.
After reading the books, make a habit to make summary notes of the content that you have read. This will avail an easy summary revision later. Also, try to revise these notes daily.
Also Read: What is Urbanization and Its Effect on Society? An Important Topic for Upcoming UPSC Exam
Solving Practise Papers and Meditating Regularly
Other than the reading and summarising, you must test your skills. This can be done by writing previous years IAS question papers.
Solving a paper helps you understand and get an idea of how the final exam will be. The prelim paper may have already given you a brief idea of how the mains will be.
Practising IAS mock papers will help you get a clear and deeper understanding of the mains exam. Solving the previous years UPSC question paper is a great habit to inculcate as well.
Not just reading and studying for the IAS exam. You must take care of your mental health as well. Practise engaging in stress-relieving activities Such as yoga and meditation. Yoga helps to clear your mind and focus better on the task at hand.
This Yoga meditation practice will also help you on the day of the IAS mains exam. It will clear away all exam tension and stress and help you focus on the questions. Following a healthy sleep schedule and an organised daily routine will be a great help as well.
Tips for UPSC Aspirants to Stay Motivated
To stay motivated remember to take one day at a time. Don’t forget to motivate yourself. Admire how far you have come, write down your strengths and document how far you have come from your weaknesses.
10 Resolutions for UPSC Aspirants
How much time is needed for preparation? Well, this is a highly subjective question because it depends on how well you practice and strategize yourself. It can also depend on your mentor and how much you can grasp if you are enrolled in a tutoring lesson or have some knowledge of various subjects, and how much time you can devote per day to preparation! The ideal amount of time to prepare for this coveted exam is 12-14 months.
Know the Exam Dates
Aspirants should have the dates remembered because that’s how you set your timetable and also your preparation needs to be covered in that time along with revision. It will also help in deciding how many days, hours and weeks you should devote to one topic or subject. Make a decision about when you need to take the examination. Aspirants in the general category are permitted a maximum of six attempts.
Also Read: UPSC Prelims 2021 Question Paper and Answer Key: How to Prepare for Mains after Prelims?
Newspaper Reading
Newspapers like The Indian Express and The Hindu should be read on a regular basis! It will assist you in keeping up with current events and taking down those cuttings while also improving your writing, reading, and comprehension abilities.
As a result, don’t forget to read the newspapers. Yojna and Kurukshetra, for example, are monthly magazines that should be on your reading list. Even if you don’t have time to read it from cover to cover, read its analysis or synopsis to ensure you don’t miss any important articles!
Understanding Union Budget
UPSC Prelims are held in the first week of June or the last week of May every year. When the questions are announced in February about the budget, they always appear in the preliminary examinations.
If you have a thorough knowledge of the budget, you can include the snippets in your Mains answers to make them look more informative, substantive and knowledgeable.
How to Prepare NCERT?
Before moving on to more advanced content, the first step in UPSC IAS preparation 2022 is to master the fundamental concepts and theories. NCERT books are simple to comprehend and provide content in a logical and precise manner.
UPSC has asked questions directly from NCERT textbooks in the past, particularly in subjects like history, geography, and ecology.
From 6th to 12th grade, the candidate should read NCERT textbooks.
Answer Writing for Mains 2022
The main exam papers for the IAS are descriptive in nature and test the candidates’ writing abilities.
The candidate would be given an answer booklet with a fixed space for writing answers in the Mains paper. Candidates must respond to questions quickly and effectively while using the fewest possible words.
Writing practice is beneficial for UPSC IAS 2022 preparation because it teaches you how to write answers in the space provided in the answer booklet within the time limit.
Be Organised
The most difficult aspect of IAS preparation in the online age is staying organised. Thousands of forwards arrive in your inbox from Whatsapp, Telegram, Facebook, and other platforms. However, as materials build-up, it becomes counterproductive.
Organize your online materials into distinct folders for easy access. Maintain order in your books and surroundings. Make a detailed ‘To-Do’ list. Most importantly, stick to a schedule.
Also Read: UPSC Geoscientist 2022 Application Form: Know the Guide and Last Date of the Exam
Stick to Syllabus
Make a firm commitment to sticking to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Going behind the scenes of everything under the sun will quickly exhaust you.
Stop downloading everything you come across on the web. Print and paste the UPSC syllabus – Interview, Mains and Prelims– on your walls.
Put an End to Procrastination
The desire to relax and do something fun instead of working hard is the most significant impediment to most people achieving their goals. Prioritize your tasks. Be on time. That is going to work wonders.
This will be accomplished by completing the Daily Targets for Mission 2022. Every day, you’ll have to do a set of assignments. Aspirants should do both MCQs and Mains questions based on the syllabus.
You must read the relevant books and study materials, particularly NCERT books, before taking any of the daily quizzes. Simultaneously, to ensure maximum retention, you should analyse and revise these quizzes on a daily basis.
Goal Should be Interview 200+
One aspect of UPSC civil service exam preparation that most candidates overlook is the importance placed on personality development/interview. Especially with the goal of doing well in the Personality Test (Interview). It’s difficult to get a score of 200 or higher in the interview stage if you don’t focus on it from the start.
One should everyday talk about the previous year’s questions, which are asked in the interview because that will help in two things: knowing how to answer questions and also boosting your confidence.
Also Read: Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers with Answers: Check this to Boost Your CSE Preparation
Some Hobbies to be Acquired
#Writing or blogging about socioeconomic and cultural issues is a good way to start (not political)
#Disruptive Technologies, Security Issues, Weaker Sections, Pollution, Economic Policies, Development, Women Empowerment, Climate Change, Disasters.
#Watching documentaries on a variety of current events
#Teach hobbies such as ethical coding, hacking, and start-ups, among others.
#NGO activities, social entrepreneurship, and social service (weekly basis)
#Traveling, trekking, and visiting monuments and temples, to name a few activities
#Farming, meditation, yoga, sports and other similar activities
#Cooking, numismatics, and philately, among other things.
Keep Your Phones Away
For UPSC aspirants, mobile phones are the most distracting factor. Stop checking your phone every minute for WhatsApp or Facebook messages. While studying from a book, put your phone away. Except for those from UPSC Apps, snooze all unnecessary notifications/alerts. This would greatly increase your productivity.
Make a resolution to limit your time on social media to no more than 30 minutes per day in the coming year.
Revise
Aspirants usually read a lot but only revise a little. However, revision is the key to a strong memory.
Before you go to bed, go over everything you learned during the day. Also, the next day before you start, go over the same material again. Also, make sure to revise on weekends and at the end of the month. This will work like magic, and you will become an expert in whatever subject you chose to study.
Conclusion
It is important to take breaks, anticipate difficulties and disappointments, and be wary of boredom. It may be tedious and stressful but don’t forget to relax a bit. Surround yourself with the right people, stay safe.
When feeling down, seek inspiration from great personalities and when all else fails, picture yourself as a good officer and that will be motivating enough! For more inspiration and a deeper guideline into the UPSC IAS exams click here.
Also Read: Valuable Essay Writing Tips for UPSC that One Should Follow: Guide to Write a Perfect Essay
Nice article to get started for UPSC preparation in 2021. But how do we keep up the same motivation as it was in 2020?
This article has given me an adrenaline rush and I will try to keep up the motivation in 2021 while preparing for UPSC.