10 Tips for UPSC Prelims 2021 by UPSC Topper Sarthak Agrawal AIR 17

10 Tips for UPSC Prelims 2021 by UPSC Topper Sarthak Agrawal AIR 17

Edited By Ujjwal Kirti | Updated on Oct 07, 2021 07:32 PM IST | #UPSC CSE

Candidates appearing for UPSC IAS prelims exam must check the UPSC prelims tips and tricks by the UPSC IAS 2020 topper AIR 17 Sarthak Agrawal to crack the IAS 2021 exam. The important tips to clear UPSC prelims exam include consistent study hours, mock tests and other important aspects. According to the UPSC topper 2020 AIR 17 Sarthak Agrawal, ‘After turning the first few pages in my GS-1 Prelims paper, I felt grudgingly confident that my first attempt at UPSC isn’t going to work out. Some of those agriculture and environment questions might have been written in Latin for all I cared about.

I decided to hang in there and tentatively marked a few answers. My experience with mock tests was such that I could barely attempt more than 20-25 questions with 100% confidence so clearing the prelims anyway relied on more than intelligence for me. Instead, I was hoping to use common sense, and wishing that luck was on my side that day (I could have traded a kidney for a vial of Felix Felicis).

In the actual paper, I don’t think I cracked even twenty in the first go. There were a few simple questions towards the end, but the others were a pain. I persevered and tried to apply my mind to at least get some more right.

Also Read: UPSC 2020 Topper Interview Satyam Gandhi AIR 10

Eventually, as it turned out, I got enough. Here are some tips from my whirlwind experience at UPSC Prelims 2020:

  1. I used plenty of intuition and “intelligent” guesswork to make my way around the UPSC IAS questions. Many have noted before that extreme options are unlikely to be the right ones – for example, in the question on Desert National Park in Prelims 2020, it might be a stretch to say it has no human habitation at all. Of all the elimination shortcuts, I find this one the most reliable. Other popular ones include being wary of ‘consistently increased/decreased’ type of options; noting that an exact number or statistic is possibly incorrect; or deducing something of value from the etymology of a noun. When you consider how hard it is to deliberately create a wrong answer, it may become easier to find broad patterns of your own.

  2. During the UPSC IAS 2021 exam, while attempting agriculture and technology-related questions, it often pays to be liberal in your outlook. So, whenever a prompt or option included the word “can” or the phrase “is possible”, I felt more confident in marking it yes or going with all the above (“…Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?”). After all, who knows whether some crazy scientist somewhere is working on just the thing you are about to rule out for being too far-fetched?

  3. One of the tricks to clear UPSC prelims are the freebies that are found near the end of the paper (“What is West Texas Intermediate a grade of?”). Many questions on polity in Prelims 2020 were also quite straightforward (“A parliamentary system of government is one in which…”). However, they were towards the latter half of my set. Make sure you skim the entire IAS question paper before starting off, lest you become dejected after finding a few hard questions upfront.

  4. While my IAS prelims preparation, one risky strategy I adopted - and adopt this at your own peril - was to attempt lots of questions in the unfortunate instance when you are sure only about a small number. If you’re clearly below the cut-off, does it matter whether you score 60 or -60? My desperation compelled me to make an educated guess on the question related to Gupta dynasty towns, but it didn’t work. On others, like the one on finding the ruler behind an inscription propounding tolerance, it did.

Also Read: UPSC Topper Interview 2020- Radhika Gupta AIR 18

  1. During the UPSC IAS prelims preparation, it’s ok to skip some syllabus. I ignored topics like geography and history (except modern history) because I only had 6-7 months to prepare. I focused my preparation solely on current affairs, but still managed to do decently.

  2. I took 50+ mock tests before prelims, not scoring too highly in most of them (in the 70s, mostly). Just to pump up my confidence, I started doing UPSC IAS past year papers despite already having seen a few of their answers at some point. Naturally, I did well, which helped me fool myself and kept me in good spirits – “coaching institutes just don’t get what UPSC is asking for”, I thought. But on a deeper note, it’s true that the actual papers have a better mix of questions than what is offered by the coaching-wallahs.

  3. I compared my answers against the internet the morning after the UPSC IAS (I was reluctant to check the same day because I thought I fell short thanks to my many “intelligent” guesses). I was getting 116/200. On comparing with the answer keys released by coaching institutes, this dropped by a few points, but I had enough to get my motor running for Mains. However, my actual score was only 102 - nearly 10 points lower than what I expected but also ten higher than the cut-off this year. I don’t think anyone has gotten the hang of UPSC’s marking yet, so it is best to keep one’s head down and start preparing for Mains even if you’re getting 80+ on some answer keys.

  4. My background being quite mathematical, I didn’t prepare much for UPSC CSAT. Still, I’d suggest doing at least a couple of papers before entering the UPSC IAS exam hall. One minor challenge I faced was remaining focused despite “not performing very well” in the morning session. Another important factor while IAS prelims preparation was avoiding lethargy after returning to the centre after a three-hour break. However, I got a 180 in CSAT, which I am very pleased about.

  5. I hadn’t written a single Mains answer until I cleared prelims– or even studied properly for Ethics, essays, or optional - so don’t worry too much if you haven’t either.

  6. Finally, don’t be too disheartened if a few of your guesses fall flat during the UPSC IAS prelims 2021. That’s just the nature of the beast, unfortunately, so you shouldn’t necessarily consider it to be an indictment of your preparation.

Good luck!

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Steps to become an IAS officer


Graduation


You should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a known university

Arts: History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Sociology

Science: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology

Commerce: Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies

Preparation for UPSC Civil Services Examination:


Study the Syllabus: Learn the syllabus for Preliminary and Main exams.

Choose Elective Subjects: Take elective subjects that you enjoy and have expertise in

Study Material: Reference textbooks, handouts distributed during the coaching and internet resources.

Practice: Previous years' question paper, mock tests, etc

Coaching Institutes: Join a good coaching institute for formal guidance 3. UPSC Civil Services Examination:

Prelims Exam: An objective-type qualifying test that will make you eligible to appear in the Main examination.

Main Exam: Very subjective test which includes all subjects.

Interview: Personality test by a panel of experts.

Important Tips:


Start Early: Better preparation starts early.

Time Management: Manage your time very efficiently.

Consistency: Follow a regular study routine.

Stay Updated: Current affairs and news.

Seek Guidance: Who have an experience can be consulted upon for guidance.

Practice Regularly: Solve the previous year's paper and mock tests.

Stay Positive: Believe in yourself and work hard.

Hence, with these steps and dedication and perseverance, you're sure to achieve your end as an IAS officer.

Hello,

Yes, while IAS (Indian Administrative Services) preparation requires a graduation degree, here are steps you can take to start your IAS journey after completing your 11th standard (BiPC):

  1. Focus on Graduation : Choose a stream for your higher studies that aligns with your interest. Graduation is a mandatory qualification for IAS eligibility.
  2. Early Preparation : Start building a strong foundation in subjects like History, Geography, Economics, and Political Science, which are part of the IAS syllabus.
  3. Develop General Knowledge : Read newspapers daily and follow current affairs magazines to stay updated with national and international news.
  4. Improve Language Skills : Enhance your proficiency in English and one Indian language as per the Civil Services syllabus.
  5. Join Study Circles or Coaching : Enroll in pre-IAS foundation courses available for school students for a head start.
  6. Time Management : Create a balanced study schedule alongside your schoolwork to gradually prepare for the IAS exam.
  7. Participate in Competitions : Engage in essay writing and debates to boost your analytical skills and confidence.

To get more help, you can visit : https://www.careers360.com/careers/ias-officer

Hope it helps 1

Hello there,

Becoming both an IAS officer and a doctor is achievable but requires dedication and clear planning, as each career has distinct educational and examination paths. Here’s a roadmap to help you achieve both:

1. Complete Your MBBS to Become a Doctor

  • Enroll in an MBBS Program : First, you need to qualify for NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and get admission to a medical college.

  • Complete Your Medical Degree : The MBBS program typically takes 5.5 years, including an internship.

  • Gain Experience (Optional) : You may choose to practice medicine for a few years to gain clinical experience, but it’s not mandatory if your goal is to pursue IAS right after MBBS.

    2. Prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

  • Understand the UPSC Exam Structure : The UPSC CSE has three stages—Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. You can start preparing while in medical school or after completing MBBS.

  • Choose Your Optional Subject : As a doctor, you may consider taking medical science as your optional subject, though it’s not mandatory.

  • Develop a Study Plan : Balance your medical studies or job with UPSC preparation. Many doctors manage both by allocating dedicated study time each day.

  • Appear for the Exam : With a systematic approach, crack the UPSC exam and qualify for the IAS position.

    3. Career Path as a Doctor-IAS

  • IAS Training and Posting : After clearing UPSC, complete your training and take up your role as an IAS officer. You’ll have a broad scope to influence healthcare, public policy, and social development.

  • Consider Government Health Roles : In administrative roles, you could use your medical background to work in health-related departments, where your knowledge of medicine would be a unique asset.

    Additional Pathways

  • Alternative Approach : You could also join as a doctor in a government hospital and then transition to administration by appearing for the UPSC exam when ready.

  • Health Policy and Administration : Use your medical background in policy formulation or in roles within the Ministry of Health, combining both careers for impactful healthcare reforms.

This dual career path is ambitious but can be very rewarding, allowing you to serve in both the medical and administrative fields.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


Hello aspirant, The answer to this question is no. Both of these areas require your complete commitment and dedication. You can not manage both of these together. Also it is not allowed to do any other profession while performing duties as a IAS officer. If you want to practice medical profession then you have to leave your job.

Thank you

Hope it helps you.

Hello,

When choosing an IAS coaching institute, it's important to consider factors such as faculty quality, study materials, success rate, infrastructure, fees, and student support. Here are some highly regarded IAS coaching institutes in India:

1. Vajiram & Ravi

  • Location: Delhi
  • Pros: Experienced faculty, comprehensive study materials, high success rate.
  • Cons: Relatively expensive.

2. ALS IAS

  • Location: Delhi, with branches in various cities.
  • Pros: Good faculty, structured programs, and regular tests.
  • Cons: Can be costly, and the quality may vary across branches.

3. Vision IAS

  • Location: Delhi, with branches in other cities.
  • Pros: Detailed study materials, current affairs updates, regular mock tests.
  • Cons: Some students find the pace fast.

4. Sriram IAS

  • Location: Delhi
  • Pros: Strong emphasis on comprehensive understanding, quality teaching.
  • Cons: Limited branches compared to others.

5. Drishti IAS

  • Location: Delhi, with a few branches in other cities.
  • Pros: Affordable fees, good study material, and supportive faculty.
  • Cons: Infrastructure might be less impressive.

6. Upkar Institute

  • Location: Multiple cities.
  • Pros: Focus on affordable coaching, quality materials.
  • Cons: Less known compared to the top-tier institutes.

7. The Hindu Zone

  • Location: Online coaching.
  • Pros: Flexibility of online classes, good faculty, and resources.
  • Cons: Online learning might not suit everyone.

Hope it helps !

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