Where do I begin? I
think to write a new article you have to begin somewhere. Once you start a thing,
it reaches to its logical conclusion in some time. Consistency is the key, I guess.
So, let’s talk about UPSC.
Some say it is “unpredictable service commission of India”. India,
post 1991, has become part of a globalised world. Today’s youth has lots of
opportunities at private sector. He has the opportunity to work at distant
lands and become a truly global citizen. But, still the charm of civil services
is on.
Sample this that at 87th FC(Foundation course at mussoorie),
a sizable chunk were IITians, AIIIMSians,
Lots of doctors, CAs and what not. So, the question is,
What drives people to civil services?
The answer is:
1.
Prestige.
2.
Satisfaction by working at grassroots.
3.
Diversity and richness of experience.
4.
Miscellaneous factors.
The civil services exam requires both hard-work and
strategy. It is a 3-stage exam, which
spans almost one year. The mains exam is subjective with number of optional
subjects pitted against each other. Science subjects compete against Arts and
Literature. It is the subjective nature
of Mains and Interview, not to mention the vastness of GS at prelims, which
makes the exam unpredictable, even for seasoned veterans.
I am sure today, though
the youngsters feel that they want to get in to the services, but given that
the preparation time is the prime of youth, lots of youngsters don’t write the
exam just because of unpredictability involved. I got through in all my 3
attempts with decent All India Ranks of 330, 219 and 246 with an optional as
unpredictable as Public Administration. I have seen the all changes in the
pattern over the times. So, I guess I know a thing or two to reduce this
uncertainty.
The big question is that what causes this unpredictability?
3
stage exam
a.
Prelims
b.
Mains
c.
Interview
Every
stage is important. Every stage has its share of unpredictability.
Prelims- It consists
of two papers. GS and CSAT.
CSAT- CSAT
is qualifying exam, in which minimum 33% marks needs to be obtained. CSAT marks
are not added to the total of prelims marks. But if you fail to get 33% marks,
it doesn’t matter how high you scored in GS, you are failed!
GS- General studies is an exam of general
studies. It has history, geography, polity, environment, international
relations, science and technology, arts and culture, current affairs. This is
an objective exam. But the sheer vastness of the syllabus and tricky nature of
questions makes it unpredictable for ppl who are preparing for last 3-4 years
as well.
Mains- It consists
of:
·
4 GS papers
·
1 Essay
·
One optional having two papers
·
English and compulsory language papers (Qualifying
in nature).
All the papers are lengthy in nature and you will be running
against time always.
On an average you will get 6 minutes for 10 marks worth of
answer.
GS1 to GS 3:
These are GS papers. These subjective papers are opinion and current based.
Moreover, questions are unpredictable. In sum, it leads to unpredictability in
marking.
GS4 : Ethics paper
– It’s again opinion based. Ethics is a grey area. You make an argument and
then you support it with another set of arguments. Thus, it’s sufficient to say
that unlike maths, it’s unpredictable in marking.
Essay : 1
or 2 essays – What makes it unpredictable is
1.
The topics of essay
2.
The marking of essay
Now number of essays is also unpredictable!
2014 exam paper had two essays instead of one!
Optional subject :
·
Paper-1(Theory)
·
Paper-2(Application).
Unpredictability lies
in:
1.
Number of questions
2.
Types of questions
3.
Most importantly, Scaling system. The scaling
system tries to equate the marks across different subjects. Say, Maths vs
Sanskrit language, Science vs Arts subjects.
To create equality amongst un-equals is a problem that the leading
philosophers of ancient times have been grappling with.
Anyways, a mathematical model is applied
everywhere. It leads to, sometimes, exceptionally low success rate of a
particular optional. For eg, Public administration in 2012 saw marks in single
digit of a lot of serious aspirants, who attempted the whole 300 marks paper!!
The highest score in public administration was in 200s compared to 300+ score
in Science or engineering optional. The gap is too wide to cover, if you aspire
a top-50 rank !
Interview : Unpredictability
emanates from :
1.
Which Board will you get?
2.
What kind of questions will they ask? Kind of
questions are most important determinant of a good interview or bad interview.
What can be done to reduce this unpredictability?
So, Lets analyse what can be done to reduce this
unpredictability. It is often said that winner
don’t do different things, they do things differently. To beat unpredictability
strategy and hard work is most important. Both are equally important in this
exam. But strategy is prerequisite of the hard-work. Sharpening of the axe is
required before the hard work of cutting down the tree.
In strategy, we will
talk about:
1. What to study?
2. How to study?
Good news is that for
all 3 stages the preparation is same.
Let’s divide the preparation in static and dynamic syllabus.
For a beginner, always start with static syllabus, for
conceptual clarity.
Dynamic syllabus is the application of static syllabus.
Never try to rote
learn. Whatever books/notes are mentioned, read them multiple times. You will
see the more you read them again and again, the more you remember!
Always underline during your first reading.
In second reading, make rough mental notes.
In third reading, before and after reading the topic, try to
recall what you remember.
In subsequent readings, just glance through....
Some persons like to makes notes, it’s a tedious process.
But, I too like condensing a book in 4 pages. It pays during exam time. I made
notes of economic survey, India after independence book, 2nd ARC,
Punchi commission .It is highly recommended for you to do the same for
conceptual clarity. These big topics are used at lots of places. They can be
revised in a short time.
I will also indicate the number of times you need to read a
book (depending upon its importance and marks).
Try to read a book fast. Have aggressive targets for finishing the
books. The faster and more times you read the books, the greater will be the
conceptual clarity
For compulsory exams,No need of additional preparations!But
if you insist!
Compulsary English:
Compulsary language:
Study Material and Strategy
One word of Caution, You can call it my Mantra: I am assuming that you will follow this book list. If
you read LESS or MORE than this study material, you are reducing your chances
to get through!!!
The above advice is most important. Don’t be GREEDY. Don’t
be LAZY. Fix your targets every day. Make detailed study plan to cover syllabus
in 3 months. You must understand that I have prepared this list and strategy
after seeing its success in all my 3 attempts. I would like to call it “MIMO” –
Minimum input, maximum output. Ignore it at your own peril.
For prelims emphasis on static portion is more, whereas
mains is more dynamic syllabus oriented.
STATIC
History :
India after
independence by Guha. (Thick book) – read once, simultaneously make
notes in max 40 pages, chapter wise.
(Read 2 times) . Then revise
notes only. Try to remember in story format.[NOT FOR PRELIMS]
India after 1857
till 1947 – Modern history-
Spectrum publications (Read 10 times)
World history – Read BV Rao(4 times)
or Vision IAS notes (4 times) .[NOT FOR PRELIMS]
Ancient history
– Skip [FOR PRELIMS IF YOU WANT TO READ, READ]
Art and culture: Nitin Singhania AIR -51 notes.(10
times) + Any good culture book[I didn’t
read any!]
Science and Technology : Read TMH (4 times)
International relations: Pushpesh pant-TMH(4 times)
Polity : Laxmikanth( 15 times)
Geography : XI
and XII NCERT (Blue cover – 10 times, Brown/Orange cover – 4 times), Guh Che Leong(5
times).
Indian Economy – TMH, Ramesh Singh – 8 times, Vajiram
classes- Handwritten notes of Kapooria sir.[10 times]
Environment – Vajiram and Ravi notes (8 times)
GS 1-3: Topic wise notes – Vision IAS ( 2 times) .[NOT
FOR PRELIMS]
GS 4: Chronicle
Publications- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.(2 times) .[NOT FOR
PRELIMS]
Make notes from this book.
Follow the syllabus.
You should know the definition of each word in syllabus- Its
types and other details.
Book covers each topic in syllabus.
You should know the name of philosophical theories like
deontology, teleology and so on.
Also, you should know the conflict of interest types for eg.
National interest vs personal interest and so on.
Use these theories and conflict of interest to answer the
questions.
Sample answer will tell your answer should be concoction of
syllabus, public administration syllabus and current affairs.
See the sample answers for GS4 here(Don’t see anything apart
from sample answers on this website, else you will be confused!! You will
reduce marks) :
Analyse how is he writing the answers.(He got highest marks
in mains in 2013)
For Moral thinkers,
prepare from Sriram sir’s material.
An indicative list of Persons to prepare from Sriram Sir’s
material:
Leader(Indian-Gandhi,Patel, Kalam,Nehru ::
Western-Martin,Abraham,Mandela), reformers(Kabir,GuruNank|Raja RamMohan
Rai,VidyaSagar,Vivekananda), Administrators(Sreedharan,SwamiNathan, Kurien,
Murthy)
Choose Vivekananda, Gandhi, Sridharan, Mandela, Infosys’s
Muthy and so on . It’s interesting to read their thoughts and history.
Never ever rote learn!!! Read and Read again! You will
finish preparation in 3 months that way.
In your free time, read Nandan Nilekani's "Imagining India" and "Vision 2020" by Kalam. It will shape up your thinking in a positive way. Try to read them as fast as possible. The summaries are available on internet.
In your free time, read Nandan Nilekani's "Imagining India" and "Vision 2020" by Kalam. It will shape up your thinking in a positive way. Try to read them as fast as possible. The summaries are available on internet.
DYNAMIC
Internet:[ FOR PRELIMS as well]
Everyday Make notes
from following resources on computer.
1.
Try to read on internet. It pays in long run.
Here is the smart strategy to read news.
a.
Install rss reader feeddemon. (http://www.feeddemon.com/)
b.
Import my feeds from Hindu, TOI, Indian Express,
Economic times, PIB, Frontline etc from the “ashish tiwari.opml” (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_zrMIyeOFJ4c3NSZmdUTUw0ZVU/view?usp=sharing
). “The Hindu National” feed is not important.
How to read Hindu Newspaper?
c.
For notes making, Install “hot copypaste”(trial
version). (http://windowsclipboard.com/)
It helps in making notes. Whatever you wish to make notes of, you just
need to highlight it and do a Ctrl+C.
Those who want to sit on computer for long hours and are ready to spend
around Rs 4000, should buy gunnar glasses for reading on computer screen (http://www.lenskart.com/gunnar-gliff-onyx-grey-black-3-d-eyewear.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwiN6sBRDK2vOO_vaRs5cBEiQAfsnJCU8JTLhPxDUhTidInmKwb7Ij6ewygxilZnJZgA2OXxcaAi1L8P8HAQ)
e.
If you are preparing for first time, be
inquisitive. Whatever term you don’t understand, have a quick look at 5-6 lines
of wikipaedia. Make notes.
2.
Read All
India Radio news, first thing when you read news in morning
3.
Read http://mrunal.org/ everyday. Subscribe email. (Dont
be greedy, just follow everyday articles no need to go through what all is
available on these websites)
4.
Read http://www.insightsonindia.com.
Subscribe email. Write answers daily. Show to someone worthy of seeing them and
judge the quality.
5.
Install “newinshorts” app on mobile. Read every
day. Bookmark what might interest you.( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nis.app&hl=en
)
6.
Follow (https://www.facebook.com/sriramsias.official
) everyday.
7. Refer to http://www.idsa.in/
You can transfer your notes from hot copy
paste to word doc. For each note, you can highlight key word or sentence, so
that you remember! Revise everyday all the notes till date. It takes 10 minutes,
but has great mark boosting potential!
Monthly
7. ( http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/report-summaries/ ) Have a look a these
http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/primers/
http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/discussion-papers/
8.
Read Yojana ( in 24 hours) ....underline ....and
revise.
How to read yojana ? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg7KoEVke9A&list=PLwYR7WJw1-QXeVwElLa-FkuR3XT90F6sf&index=78
)
9.
Every month read Monthly policy review magazine
by GoI. Underline and make notes or revise. (http://www.prsindia.org/parliamenttrack/monthly-policy-review/
)
Yearly
10.
Read economic survey (http://indiabudget.nic.in/survey.asp)
(3 times) .Make notes.
11.
Read Budget Speech (http://indiabudget.nic.in/bspeecha.asp
). See how it is organised.
Most important : After
the prelims and before mains:
Read
1.
Sriram’s notes –Miscellaneous, Polity, International Relations,
S&T(Vision IAS as well, just for exhaustiveness) (https://www.facebook.com/sriramsias.official
)
2.
Join Vision IAS test series for GS.
3.
Show your answers to someone knowledgeable. In
case of public administration, Synergy or Pawan Kumar or last year topper Prem
Ranjan is good. Contact them online or go to delhi.
Strategy for Interview
Some tips:
With decreasing marks given in GS and optional, Interview
weightage is increasing in final total. Even if you have cleared the mains
cut-off by one mark, an exceptional interview can catapult you to a rank
between 200 and 300!
Always remember, what you answer at the board, might
generate the next question. So, your strategy should be to take board to your
strong area or to your achievements, by your answers in a clever way.
You should never
bluff. Say “Sorry, I don’t know” for factual questions. Nobody judges you on
facts, until and unless they are something related to your bio-data. For eg, if
your hobby is playing cricket and you don’t know Sachin’s highest score in
tests – it’s criminal! You should be thorough with your bio-data.
Be humble. Be confident. Be optimistic. Represent hope.
Always assume you are already a bureaucrat and talking to
your seniors. This has proved useful to me. I was assertive but not aggressive,
respectful but not submissive.
I have had scores of 200, 220,182 in my 3 interviews with different boards.Here
are the transcripts:
Focus on 3 things (in decreasing order of importance):
1.
(Detailed application form) DAF – Bio data.
Prepare each word from wikipaedia and think about: From your answer, what board
is going to pick up. How far board can go?
For example, my name is “Ashish”. Look up
Ashish on internet. Find out what does it mean. How many famous Ashish are
there?
For example, my hometown is Jhansi. Prepare
Jhansi from Wikipaedia. Click on all the links mentioned on wikipaedia page of
Jhansi. Make notes on relevant stuff online. You have to have in-depth
knowledge of topics like Bundelkhand, Jhansi ki Rani, Places to visit near
Jhansi – their history etc. Brainstorming
is the key!
Do
exhaustive research on internet.
Prioritize.
2.
Prepare Current affairs – Just reading Hindu
daily will suffice.
3.
Prepare Subjects – Optional and graduation.
On the day of exam, Do read the newspapers
thoroughly.
Have mocks with Sriram sir, starting 3-4 days
before your interview, you will come to know about all the hot topics.
Strategy for optional subject
Choose a good teacher of any optional for eg. Mohanty for
pubad, upendra for sociology, mukul pathak for psychology and so on....
Prepare optional well in advance of prelims.
For pubad if you cant afford coaching. Only three books are
sufficient.
1.
KBC Nano publications – Paper 1 by RadhaBinod Aribam(10
times)
2.
KBC Nano publications – Paper 2 by RadhaBinod Aribam(10
times)
3.
For residual topics refer – Shubhra saxena’s
Top-50
4.
After mastering above two books: Read Mohit
Bhattacharya – New Horizons of Pubad(3 times).Make notes.
5.
Make notes of 2nd ARC . Small booklet
by Pawan Kumar.
6.
Make notes of Punchi commission in 2 pages. (The
notes of commission should be in a diagram format, so that you remember which
recommendation to be picked while answering the question).
7.
After this, attempt question banks by
M.Puri and last years papers. Show them
to Pawan Kumar or Mohanty or any good student. (Answer writing is most
important)
Strategy for answer writing (Very important for essay as
well)
Prelims
The strategy which I am going to talk about has a very
fundamental assumption that you are not biased and will control your emotions
during exam. You have to be true to yourself, if you don’t know an answer. It’s
you and no one else that will be there in exam hall.
1.
Attempt the 100 questions using elimination
technique. Be very careful while reading.
2.
In first iteration i.e. 1 hr and 20 minutes.
Mark only those answers in OMR whose answer you know with 100% certainty after
elimination. Always cross check your answer with elimination.
3.
After first iteration, you will be left with
three type of questions:
a.
Out of 4 options, 2 options are left.
b.
Out of 4 options, 3 options are left.
c.
Out of 4 options, 4 options are left. In other
words, you have no idea !
4.
Never ever guess question, about which you don’t
know anything i.e. those mentioned in step 3(c)
5.
Make an educated guess in questions where 2
options out of 4 are left i.e. . Those
mentioned in step 3(b). Probability says that you have 50% chance of being
correct. Negative marking is 33% which is less than 50%. Hence, on an average,
you will be better off, if you mark these questions. Some will definitely be wrong,
but some will be right. According to probability theory, you should have more
rights than wrongs. In sum, you will have a
net gain, unless you have a really bad luck that day (which you shouldn’t
have)!!
6.
If you
are still not satisfied with number of your attempts, make an educated
guess in questions where 3 options out of 4 are left i.e. Those mentioned in step 3(c). Exert each vein
of your brain to find chinks in the options given. Try to remember everything
you studied till date. Probability says, that you should not have any net gain.
You have 33% probability of getting answer right but 33% of negative marking as
well. Thus, it’s a zero gain or loss. Obviously, if you are having extremely
good luck, you might gain some here and vice versa.
Mains
In mains, try to maximise score in each and every paper.
For that you need to focus on two things:
1.
Quantity : Number of attempts
2.
Quality : Answer writing skill
Quantity : Number of attempts strategy.
Never buy into the idea that you are better off writing excellent answers for 80% of the questions than writing average answers for all. You HAVE to attempt every single question. It does not matter if you know only a couple of lines on the topic. Write it down. Add in some of your general gyaan and make sure it is about a hundred words long. There is no way you are going to get two extra marks for even the most exquisitely written answer. But you are sure to miss out on the three-four assured marks that even an answer of average quality would fetch.
You have very less time, while attempting a question. 6
minutes for 10 marks. The paper is very lengthy. You will not get time to think
much, if you want to have a full attempt.
Quality : Answer writing skill
You have to be in rush mode from beginning. Write fast-
write well.
First three answers, write really well. They might make an
impression on examiner. But, keep time under check. Max 8 minutes for 10 marks.
You must understand that GS1 to GS3 require different kind
of answer writing format.
GS4 is different.
International relations, S&T have their own formats.
Same goes with essay.
It’s a question of mind set. You must join a test series to
polish this aspect.
Since time is less and pressure is more while writing
answers, so you should have a mental framework to have as many points as
possible for the answer along with an organisational framework to organise that
information in shortest way. In sum, it is called answer writing strategy!
Below is the answer writing strategy of different papers:
GS 1-3
There are two aspects to answer writing.
1. Organising your answer.
2. Having the knowledge to have as
many points as possible.
Write
as many points as possible
Organising your answer.
1.
Roman Saini/Organising answer way
In a question,
a.
Keywords underline
b.
[Optional]Definition of keywords and their
relation is your introduction. Just to let examiner know that you understood
question.
c.
Optimism
d.
Pessimism
e.
Constructive criticism[Why pessimism? ]
f.
Redressal mechanism [Solutions to pessimism]
If question is to be critical. Increase step d and step e. Decrease step
c.
If question is anything else. Increase step c. Decrease step d and step
e.
For eg. Question is: India’s agriculture is in dire condition. Comment.
·
Keywords:
Agricultre, Dire condition
·
First para:
[Introduction, optimism, pessimism]
Tell the facts about importance
and dire condition of agriculture. For eg. Agriculture gives 50% employment,
15% of GDP, substructure of the economy, manufacturing and services depend on
it, importance in rural development etc. Dire condition: Tell ‘facts’(news and figures) about 50%
employment still in agriculture, low productivity, pathetic condition of
inputs- give facts, plight of farmers, logistics, consumers.
·
Second
para: [Constructive criticism] Why is it in dire condition? List the causes
in point format, write as many points as possible.[Take help of strategies to
enumerate as many points as possible]
1.
Start with inputs to agriculture like seeds,
soil, water, climate, fertilizer, mechanization, scientific knowledge etc.
2.
Now, harvesting and logistics – Cold storage,
transportation, middle man, APMC, Chaupals etc.
3.
Finally,
At level of consumers.
4.
Enumerate,
political-socio-administrative-economic-legal-historical etc dimensions.
[Constructive criticism in brief.]
·
Third
para: [Redressal mechanism] What are the solution?List solutions in point
format, write as many points as possible.[Take help of strategies to enumerate
as many points as possible]
Whatever problems are mentioned above, give the solutions to it. For each
problem, give a solution. Your daily newspaper reading will come in here. Give
current news examples, government schemes etc. Follow what all
stakeholders/actors should do?
End with a optimistic quote!
In general, first paragraph should be the smallest.
2nd paragraph should be a little bigger.
3rd paragraph should be the largest.
But if Question asks you to be critical, then 2nd paragraph
should be equal in size to third paragraph.
Knowledge to have as many
points as possible.
2. Pawan Kumar/Dimensions-Body way
It is also called the dimensions way. Generate points for and against the
topic by using these dimensions. It will make your answer holistic.
Usual :
Political-Social-Economic-Administrative-Legal
Syllabus:
History-Geography-Polity-S&T-International relations-Culture
View From heart:
Environmental-Ethical-Vulnerable and weak sections
In vulnerable and weak: Women-Children-Old-Disabled-Poor-Backward
included.
For eg. Question is: India’s agriculture is in dire
condition. Comment.
By this
technique, you can generate problems and solutions. For eg.
·
Political – APMC act causes lot of middlemen and
political interference at mandis. Moreover, Kisan union politics, faulty
policies like subsidies instead of empowerment is detrimental in nature.
Solution is to dismantle APMC and right policies like agriculture
infrastructure, MGNREGS and unshackling of agriculture sector.
·
-Social – Education, Health, Skills etc are
cause. Ignorance leads to low productivity. Solution is to improve these with
govt schemes and market intervention.
·
-Economic – GDP 15% and Employment 50%. Too much
pressure on agriculture. Inputs problem. Solution(D.Kumar way!): Financial
sector – insurance, Corporate sector- Collective farming, Make in India,
Increase %ge of employment at manufacturing , promote export etc
·
-Administrative – Corruption, leakages, bottomup
instead of top down.(Solution :Public Administration syllabus)
·
-Legal – ESMA act, APMC act
·
History – British period low yield, no focus.
Only on cash crops.
·
-Geography- Agro-climatic. Punjab example. 2nd
green recolutinat east India.
·
-Polity- DPSP talks about animal husbandry and
scientific temper.
·
-S&T- soil testing, extension services, HYV
seeds, bio-tech, machanization, logistics, cold storage, multi-crop rotation
etc
·
-International relations – Israel example, drip
irrigation
·
-Culture – shifting cultivation, organic farming
·
Environmental- Agro forestry
·
Ethical- Poor farmer. Suicides. Empathy.
Middlemen honesty.
·
Vulnerable and weak sections – Most of the backward
landless farmer. Women toil for whole day. Quote NSSO figures. Women don’t get
money. Disabled people can’t do agriculture due to non-mechanisation.
3. A-Z way
Prepare a page of interesting information about these topics For eg. Facts, quotes, schemes, interesting tit-bits
etc. It will give you a lot of
ammunition to write about any topic. You can correlate the topics with any
answer you are writing. Revise these daily. Don’t rote learn. Just see them
every day.
I am preparing PPTs and write ups on each of these topics.
·
Agriculture
·
Banking
·
Climate
·
Defence
·
Education
·
Employment
·
Economy
·
Energy
·
Foreign affairs
·
Health
·
Infrastructure
·
India
·
Labour
·
Miscellaneous
·
Polity
·
Poverty
·
S&T
·
Trade
·
Tourism
·
Public sector
·
Water
·
Women
·
Weaker section
This is exhaustive syllabus of UPSC.
What else government will work with?
Prepare notes.
Prepare facts, schemes and quotes.
Prepare interesting information on these topics.
Use it in arguments. Use it to substantiate your arguments.
4. Economy Way(D. Kumar’s 5 boxes way)
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All the answers esp. The economic dimensions of the answer can be catered
by analysing these 5 boxes and their interrelationships. Economic Survey and
budget are keys to understanding the current issues, inter-relationships and
solutions. Quote Economic survey, 2nd ARC and other commission
reports in exam.
Focus on following while giving causes and effects in an answer:
1.
Sectors - 3 sectors(Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture)-Problems,
Solutions.
Facts (GDP%-Employment %)
For the manufacturing revolution – Land, Labour, Capital,
Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure, Markets, Raw material, Technology are factors.
2.
Government – 3 levels- Problems,
Solutions.
Facts (FD. CAD,
Revenue-Expenditure related details.
3.
Financial sectors- 3 sectors-[[Formal
(Banks, Capital Markets), Informal]], Insurance, Pension. Facts( 3 sectors)
4.
Household Sector-
HDI->GDI->Equality->Climate Change
HDI – Health, Education, Poverty (Education->Skill->Employment)[Data,
Problem, Solutions]
GDI - Women
Equality – MDG, SDG
Climate Change-UNFCCC, CBDR
5.
External
Sector
Focus on how to reduce current account deficit and increase the capital
flow and FX reserve?
5.Actors/StakeHolders way
Eg. Agriculture problem: How to increase yield?
Stakeholders: Government, Farmers, Corporate, Middleman, Consumers,
Scientists.
Find Problems and solutions with everybody.
6. Chain/process way
Eg. Agriculture problem: How to increase yield?
Find problems and solutions.
Start with inputs to agriculture like seeds, soil, water, climate,
fertilizer, mechanization, scientific knowledge etc.
Now, harvesting and logistics – Cold storage, transportation, middle man,
APMC, Chaupals etc.
Finally,
At the level of consumers.
GS-4
Two
types of questions are present in this paper:
1.
Syllabus Definition and Elaborate/Criticism.
a.
Follow Roman saini way. Use syllabus-Pubad profusely.
2.
Case studies.
a.
State your dilemma in simple English
For eg. There was misuse of public money with senior officials trying to
hide the fact. Whether to go public with the facts or not was the ethical
dilemma.
b.
Crisis of conscience.
i.
When he couldn’t muster courage to take the
right stand, he faced crisis of conscience. That he didn’t take the best course
of action troubled his conscience.
c.
Forces operating:
i.
Actors
1.
Personal – His conscience
2.
Professional- His professional ethics
3.
Interest of public stakeholders: tax-payers,
public servants, government, citizens.
4.
Interest of private stakeholders who are going
to face heat because of wrong doing.
ii.
Laws – Natural justice and other laws
iii.
Rules – Organisational rules
iv.
Regulation- Code of conduct, ARC etc.
v.
Conscience
d.
Above forces leads to and help in solving
following conflicts:
i.
Obeying superior directives versus following own personal values
ii.
Community/national
interest versus need to be responsive to government
iii.
Professional
ethics versus desire to maintain his career.
3.
Solution [Recurrent dilemma: Strong pressures to
choose the easier wrong rather than the tougher right in a difficult situation]
a.
Syllabus - values
b.
Theories- Utilitarian, virtue ethics, Deontology
etc.
c.
Gandhi Talisman, MDG, Empathy, quotes etc.
d.
4 options – easier to tough to implement. Choose
a middle path.
S&T – Answer
Writing framework
1.
Definition
2.
What is it ?
3.
Why was it in news?
4.
How it works ? Details
5.
Uses- +ve, -ve
6.
End with +ve.
International Relations–
Answer Writing framework
In international relation, India has relation with lots of
countries. Every country’s relation with India can be broken down in following
dimensions. It makes the relation easy to remember with lots of data.
Another thing as aspirant should do in International
relationship is prioritize. Depending on the year, some relations are more
important than other. For eg. India-China, India-USA, India-Japan was more
important. Read Sriram Sir’s notes after prelims to know what is the flavour of
the season in international relations. Keep an eye on Hindu newspaper as well.
Generate as many points as possible using following
framework.
1.
Strategic 
2.
Historical
3.
Positive-negative in relations
Optional
For answer-writing:
a.
Roman Saini style - Organisation
b.
Point format
c.
To the point answering
d.
Inter-linkages of syllabus specially paper 1 and
paper 2, fetches high marks
e.
IN paper 1, giving examples from paper 2 is a
proven strategy.
f.
Currents, syllabus ,second arc, punchi commission
etc.
g.
Finish paper 5 minutes early so that u can add
stuff at end, to make answers impressive.
Essay
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Regards
Vinit
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