The UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) in India is the holy grail of competitive exams that demand a lot from candidates who hope to pass. The vast syllabus consisting of various subjects becomes a question of what should be studied. NCERT Books for UPSC have been considered as one starting point, but can this alone help crack this prestigious UPSC examination? Let's explore more on this.
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NCERT Books for UPSC: A Strong Foundation
UPSC preparation mainly relies over NCERT books for UPSC which give a basic understanding of different topics. For beginners especially, they are valuable resource considering their lucid language, well-structured content and focus on fundamental concepts. In the UPSC CSE examination, these provide fundamentals for study purposes in areas such as History, Geography, Polity and Economics where questions are mostly set.
Why NCERT Books for UPSC Alone Aren't Enough?
Though they provide a strong foundation for the exam through NCE RT books, exclusive dependence on them may not be the best approach to cracking it. Here's why:
Limited Depth: The UPSC syllabus is comprehensive; it requires thorough knowledge of many subjects. However, by having wide coverage, NCERT books, therefore, don't have the depth required for the UPSC exam.
Lack of Updated Information: Current affairs and other contemporary issues make an integral part of the UPSC CSE thus aspirants need to keep themselves updated with what happens around them. It may lack some updates here and there as it was published long time back if ever there were any update made within its publication.
Read More: HOW TO PREPARE UPSC FOR BEGINNERS?
Focus on Analysis and Application: Generally, you're expected to analyze and apply your knowledge during the test rather than just stating facts. Unfortunately, these foundational materials do not allow enough room for practicing analytical and application skills.
UPSC Preparation Books: Building Upon the Foundation
Expert authors who write about various subjects fill this gap between NCERT Books and what is actually tested in UPSC CSE. These books give detailed explanations, include the latest information, and have lots of practice problems which will help you to develop analytical as well as application abilities.
Crafting a Winning Strategy
A successful UPSC aspirant strategically combines NCERT Books with UPSC Preparation Books. Here's a recommended approach:
Start with NCERT Books: Begin by laying a strong foundation through reading NCERT books. Grasp the core concepts and develop a basic understanding of all relevant subjects.
Move on to UPSC Preparation Books: After mastering the basics, go for subject-specific UPSC preparation books. Here you will get the depth required, updated info., and skills' practice you need.
Practice Makes Perfect: Solve mock tests regularly and go through previous years' question papers. Through this one can familiarize himself/herself with respect to examination pattern, types of questions asked and time management techniques that are required during the exam.
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Remember however that the UPSC CSE is a marathon not a sprint. To conquer this prestigious examination therefore requires an all-round study plan that combines both NCERT Books and UPSC Preparation Books to equip you with necessary competence.