How to Prepare for UPSC IAS Exam 2020 Online

How to Prepare for UPSC IAS Exam 2020 Online

Edited By Namritha Bachwal | Updated on Aug 01, 2020 05:10 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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How to Prepare for UPSC IAS Exam 2020 Online - A famous quote which suggests that ‘‘Well begun is half done’’. So if proper strategy is put in place then applicants can secure a good rank in the UPSC Civil Service exam. Hence applicants who want to qualify the exam should ask themselves, Why UPSC IAS? Which service IAS/IPS/IFS/IRS appeals you the most? Because the answer to this question will be the motivation to qualify for the IAS 2020. Candidates must check the tips and tricks to prepare for IAS exam 2020 online. Form more online preparation tips, candidates can check the article given below.

How to Prepare for UPSC IAS Exam 2020 Online

Below are the IAS preparation tips 2020 that can help you in preparing during the self-isolation time

1. Follow the Official website to update the data

Applicants who want to qualify the exam should abide by the below-mentioned website which will be helpful for them to know & update the information about various departments and places. Candidates can check the official link of the below-mentioned website to prepare for the UPSC IAS exam online.

  • www.pib.nic.in
  • www.newsonair.com
  • www.nios.ac.in
  • www.prsindia.org
  • idsa.in
  • ccrtindia.gov.in
  • www.epw.in

2. Follow Important youtube channel to know issues in details

Aspirants should follow the below mentioned youtube channels to give a boost to their preparation for UPSC IAS 2020. These online channels for UPSC exam are also important for mains to answer writing and interview preparation.

  • Rajay Sabha debates.

  • Lok Sabha debates

  • Study IQ

  • Study for Civil Services

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3. Don’t forget the basics of Civil Services preparation

Candidates should note that along with the above-mentioned tools, applicants should know the UPSC IAS syllabus in detail. Because knowing syllabus and civil services exam pattern 2020 are complementary to each other and then only candidates can compose their strategy to qualify the exam. Candidates must also check UPSC IAS exam analysis 2020 for previous year trends.

4. Religiously follow previous year paper of UPSC IAS question paper

Since UPSC often repeats a few questions from previous year exams. Hence applicants should at least solve last 15 years question papers repeatedly 2-3 times and that can ensure that they will mark the correct answers to those questions which are asked the same in the exam. Along with knowing the question papers you should also know the previous year cut off of UPSC IAS so that applicants must know what to score and from where to score.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I prepare for IAS at home?

Yes there are many applicants who not only prepare for UPSC IAS sitting at home rather they also qualify the exam with good marks.

2. Which stream is best for IAS?

The art stream is best to qualify UPSC IAS as it also includes General Studies topics.

3. What is the salary of IAS?

Applicants who qualify the exam are entitled to receive rs 56,100 as basic pay along with this TA, DA and other benefits are also provided.

4. How many hours do IAS toppers study?

Though hours are not fixed as different students have different thinking powers but generally 6-8 hours of regular study is required to qualify the exam.

5. What are important websites to prepare for the UPSC IAS exam online?

Few important websites are www.pib.nic.in, www.mrunal.org and www.newsonair.com

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):

This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).

Any Bachelor's Degree:

A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.

Beneficial Degrees:

Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.

Optional Subject:

You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.

Hope it helps!!

Hello!!

That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

The UPSC CSE has three stages:

Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)

Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)

Interview: Personality Test

2. Check Eligibility

Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)

Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)

3. Choose Your Optional Subject

Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).

Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.

4. Build a Study Plan

Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.

Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.

Focus on:

NCERTs (6th–12th)

Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)

Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)

5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)

For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.

6. Practice Answer Writing

Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.

7. Appear for the Exam

Notification comes out around February.

Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.

How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:

Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.

Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

Hello Rishika,

You can take any stream for becoming IAS. As per the eligibility criteria of UPSC IAS , student have to graduate from any stream from any recognised university or college. So it's doesn't matter from which stream you choose. But if you really want to become IAS, then humanities , arts related subject helps you alot.

To know more, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

Good luck!

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