The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is one of India’s most revered and difficult examinations. One must note that there are different steps in the UPSC exam, namely the Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. Each of these stages is meant to check the abilities of an individual comprehensively.
1. UPSC Prelims: First Round of Filtering
For the civil services examination, pre-election polling is the first step, and only those candidates who successfully pass this stage are invited to sit for the test. The first step comprises two different papers….
General Studies Paper I: In this paper, the exam instructor assesses a candidate’s command of history, geography, and economics, as well as politics and the current state of affairs. NCERT books for Indian Polity are essential reading because they form a solid foundation for political science.
CSAT (General Studies Paper II) – This is a general test and encompasses reasoning, mathematics, and comprehension.
All candidates are required to sit for both tests. They will be awarded a pass mark only if they succeed in attaining the stated score. The first step is purely objective, and to qualify for the second step, a candidate has to consistently outperform the pass mark. Regular practice of UPSC sample papers is essential for this step to develop the speed and accuracy that is obligatory at this phase.
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2. UPSC Mains: Stage of Description and Analysis—Engaging Higher Order Thinking Skills
When there is already a pass mark on Prelims, the next phase is Mains. In this stage, there are 9 self-explanatory papers:
Essays, four General Studies papers, and two optional subject papers are all set on the merit list and are graded. These seven papers constitute the merit list.
Profound knowledge of multiple subjects is necessary because the main exam tests the candidates analytical abilities, critical thinking, and an understanding of the world. It is prudent to prepare for the aforementioned subjects using UPSC books as a curriculum. Moreover, candidates need to complete practice tests from the UPSC, which are designed to demonstrate the surface-level style of questions posed and assist in developing better writing techniques.
3. The Personality Test Commissioned by UPSC
The last phase is the personal Test termed the interview, commissioned by the panel of experts. This phase measures the candidate’s speech, decision-making, and most importantly, their individuality. This phase, unlike the pre and post exams is done without deeper academic knowledge only. It aims at how well the candidate can articulate their words and depicts the real-world knowledge in practice. Doing a review of the basic concepts from the textbook syllabuses of the NCERT books for Indian Polity will greatly assist in confidence.
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Key Takeaways for Preparation
Focus on the primary materials, such as the UPSC books for the foundations in the Prelims and complete numerous UPSC sample papers to combat the easier difficulty levels of the exam.
For Mains focus on using and integrating NCERT books for the Indian Polity to build and supplement your answers.
For the interview, the emphasis should be put on your communication capability, and you should be aware of contemporary issues to answer panel questions well.
To sum up, at each step of the UPSC examination, there are specific requirements for preparation. Having a plan, regular revision, and appropriate books for study is vital. Keep focused, choose a trustworthy source of information like UPSC books and UPSC sample papers, and go for the IAS position.
