How to prepare for UPSC exam without coaching

 How to Prepare for UPSC Exam Without Coaching

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for various prestigious posts in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other central services. The UPSC exam is considered one of the toughest and most competitive exams in the country, with a success rate of less than 1%.

Many aspirants join coaching institutes to prepare for the UPSC exam, hoping to get guidance, study material, mock tests, and feedback from experts. However, coaching is not a necessity for cracking the UPSC exam. In fact, many successful candidates have cleared the exam without any coaching, relying on their own self-study, hard work, and dedication.

If you are wondering how to prepare for UPSC exam without coaching, here are some tips and strategies that can help you achieve your dream of becoming an IAS officer.

Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The first step in your UPSC preparation is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. The UPSC exam consists of three stages: the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Personality Test (Interview).

The Preliminary Examination is a screening test that consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (also known as CSAT). The marks obtained in this stage are not counted for the final ranking, but only for qualifying for the Main Examination.

The Main Examination is a descriptive-type test that consists of nine papers: four General Studies papers, one Essay paper, two Optional Subject papers, and two Language papers (English and one Indian language). The marks obtained in this stage are counted for the final ranking.

The Personality Test is an oral interview that assesses the candidate’s suitability for a career in the civil services. The candidate’s academic knowledge, general awareness, communication skills, leadership qualities, and ethical values are tested in this stage. The marks obtained in this stage are also counted for the final ranking.

The syllabus for each stage of the exam is prescribed by the UPSC and is available on its official website. You should familiarize yourself with the syllabus and know what topics are covered under each paper. This will help you to plan your study schedule and prioritize your subjects accordingly.

Choose Your Optional Subject Wisely

One of the most important decisions that you have to make in your UPSC preparation is choosing your optional subject. The optional subject is one of the papers in the Main Examination that carries 500 marks out of the total 1750 marks. Therefore, choosing a suitable optional subject can make a significant difference in your score and rank.

You should choose your optional subject based on your interest, aptitude, availability of study material, and scoring potential. You should also consider the overlap of your optional subject with the General Studies papers and the current affairs. This will help you to save time and effort in your preparation.

Some of the popular optional subjects among UPSC aspirants are Geography, History, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, and Literature. You can also choose subjects like Mathematics, Engineering, Medical Science, Law, Commerce, etc., if you have a strong background in them.

You should stick to one optional subject throughout your preparation and avoid changing it frequently. You should also revise your optional subject regularly and practice answer writing to improve your performance.

Read NCERT Books and Standard Reference Books

One of the best sources of study material for UPSC preparation is NCERT books. NCERT books cover the basics of various subjects from Class 6 to Class 12 and are written in a simple and lucid language. They also provide authentic information and facts that are useful for both Prelims and Mains.

You should read NCERT books for subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Environment, Art and Culture, etc., to build a strong foundation for your UPSC preparation. You should also make notes from NCERT books to revise them later.

Apart from NCERT books, you should also read standard reference books for UPSC preparation. These books provide detailed and comprehensive coverage of various topics and concepts that are relevant for the exam. They also help you to enhance your analytical and critical thinking skills.

Some of the recommended reference books for UPSC preparation are:

1) Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth

2) Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

3) A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir

4) India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

5) Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong

6) Environment by Shankar IAS Academy

7) Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

8) A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh

9) India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha

10) Social Problems in India by Ram Ahuja

11) Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by Subba Rao and P N Roy Chowdhury

You should also make notes from these books and revise them regularly.

Read Newspapers and Magazines Regularly

Current affairs play a crucial role in UPSC preparation. They are not only important for the Prelims and Mains, but also for the Interview. You should read newspapers and magazines regularly to stay updated on the latest happenings and developments in the national and international arena.

You should read newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, The Economic Times, etc., to get reliable and unbiased information on various issues and events. You should also read magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, The Economist, etc., to get in-depth analysis and perspectives on various topics.

You should focus on the issues that are related to the UPSC syllabus and have a long-term impact on the society, economy, polity, environment, security, etc. You should also make notes from newspapers and magazines to revise them later.

Practice Mock Tests and Previous Year Question Papers

One of the best ways to test your preparation level and improve your performance is to practice mock tests and previous year question papers. Mock tests and previous year question papers help you to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern, difficulty level, type of questions, and time management. They also help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly.

You should practice mock tests and previous year question papers for both Prelims and Mains regularly. You should also analyze your performance after each test and learn from your mistakes. You should also compare your answers with the answer keys and solutions provided by various sources.

You can find mock tests and previous year question papers for UPSC preparation on various online platforms like Testbook, BYJU’S, unacademy, etc. You can also join test series offered by various coaching institutes or online portals to get feedback and guidance from experts.

Revise Regularly

Revision is an essential part of UPSC preparation. It helps you to retain the information that you have learned and recall it during the exam. It also helps you to improve your accuracy and confidence.

You should revise regularly throughout your UPSC preparation. You should revise your notes, books, current affairs, mock tests, etc., at least once a week. You should also revise the entire syllabus at least once a month. You should also revise the important topics and concepts before the exam.

You should use various techniques like mnemonics, diagrams, charts, flashcards, etc., to make your revision more effective and interesting. You should also revise with a positive attitude and avoid stress and anxiety.

Develop Your Writing Skills

Writing skills are very important for UPSC preparation. They are not only required for the Mains exam, but also for the Interview. Writing skills help you to express your thoughts and opinions clearly, logically, and coherently. They also help you to impress the examiner and score high marks.

You should develop your writing skills by practicing answer writing regularly. You should write answers for both static and dynamic topics that are relevant for the exam. You should also write essays on various topics that cover different aspects of the syllabus.

You should follow a proper structure and format for your answers and essays. You should write an introduction that introduces the topic and states your stand or thesis statement. You should write a body that elaborates your arguments or points with facts, examples, data, diagrams, etc. You should write a conclusion that summarizes your answer or essay and gives a way forward or a solution.

You should also follow a word limit for your answers and essays. You should write 150 words for 10 marks questions and 250 words for 15 marks questions in the Mains exam. You should write 1000-1200 words for an essay in the Mains exam.

You should also improve your handwriting and presentation skills. You should write neatly, legibly, and neatly. You should use headings, subheadings, bullet points, underlining, etc., to make your answers and essays more attractive and readable.

Develop Your Personality

Personality is another important aspect of UPSC preparation. It is not only tested in the Interview stage, but also reflected in your answers and essays in the Mains exam. Personality helps you to showcase your qualities like leadership, honesty, integrity, empathy, compassion, etc., that are essential for a civil servant.

You should develop your personality by reading books on personality development, watching motivational videos, listening to podcasts, etc. You should also participate in various activities like debates, discussions, quizzes, group discussions, etc., to improve your communication skills, interpersonal skills, general awareness, etc.

You should also maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing regular exercise, yoga, meditation, etc., to keep yourself fit physically and mentally. You should also have a balanced diet and adequate sleep to keep yourself energized and refreshed.

Stay Motivated

Motivation is the key to success in UPSC Preparation.