BOOK LIST FOR GENERAL STUDIES: PRELIMS:-

BOOK LIST FOR GENERAL STUDIES: PRELIMS:-

1. THE HINDU: - READ IT THOROUGHLY & EXTENSIVELY.6-8 MONTHS

BEFORE PRELIMS i.e. SEPTEMBER TO APRIL 10. READ 2-3 HRS OR IF
POSSIBLE 4 HOURS DAILY.JOT DOWN ALL IMPORTANT POINTS IN YOUR
NOTE BOOK.LIKE WHAT IS THE CAPITAL OF HAITI? WHO ARE THE
MEMBERS OF SCO, NATO, AND APEC? WHERE IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF
MERCOSUR, OPEC? LIKE THIS YOU HAVE TO JOT DOWN 20000 TO 40000
FACTS FROM THE HINDU.THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO CLEAR
PRELIMS AS 50 FACTUAL QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM THE HINDU & IF
YOU ARE THOROUGH THEN YOU CAN EASILY SCORE 70-80 NET IN
GENERAL STUDIES … SO NEVER NEGLECT THE HINDU.NEVER READ IT
CASUALLY.READ IT “LIKE A TEXTBOOK” …

2. A BRIEF HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA :- SPECTRUM.GIVE MORE EMPHASIS

ON MODERN INDIA THAN ON MEDIEVAL OR ANCIENT INDIA

3. FOR MEDIEVAL & ANCIENT INDIA READ WIZARD SPECIAL ISSUE 20-30
PAGES SPECIAL.TAKE SHORT-CUT.JUST MUG UP SOME FACTS IN ANCIENT
& MEDIEVAL INDIA.SOME 2000-3000 FACTS …

4. D D BASU,HELPFUL FOR THEORETICAL ASPECT.IF YOU FIND IT

DIFFICULT,READ CLASS NOTE OF VAJIRAM & RAVI DICTATED BY MR
RAVINDRAN.BUT READ “ANY ONE”.EVEN TWO READINGS OF VAJIRAM
NOTE WILL HELP A LOT … FOR ARTICLES READ P M BAKSHI.FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS INDIA YEAR BOOK & ALL OTHER LATEST
AMENDMENTS FROM NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES.

5. ECONOMICS :- THE ECONOMIC SURVEY ( ALL BOXES,CHAPTER 1,10 &

CHAPTER ON FINANCE ARE IMPORTANT),VAJIRAM CLASS NOTE “OR”
INDIAN ECONOMY: PROBLEMS & PROSPECTS BY UMA KAPILA “OR” NCERT
11TH CLASS ECONOMICS BOOK INDIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

READ ANY ONE PLUS THE ECONOMIC SURVEY.

READ THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES & THE BUSINESS LINE STRICTLY
FROM ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE DURING FEB 20-MARCH 15.BUDGET
PERIOD

6. FOR GENERAL MENTAL ABILITY, GENERAL KNOWLEDGE & GENERAL

SCIENCE GO THROUGH TATA MACGRAW HILL GENERAL STUDIES
GUIDE.TAKE SHORT-CUT.FOR MENTAL ABILITY YOU CAN ALSO MUG UP
SOME FORMULA IN PERMUTATION & COMBINATION, PROBABILITY ETC
FROM VAJIRAM & RAVI CLASS NOTE.

7. MANORAMA YEAR BOOK: - READ INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,

INDIA, WORLD SECTION WHAT HAPPENED IN WHICH MONTH DATE WISE,
QUIZ, AWARDS, BOOKS & AUTHORS ETC.BE INQUISITIVE & REMEMBER
RELEVANT FACTS FROM PRELIMS POINT OF VIEW.

8. INDIA YEAR BOOK :- IMPORTANT SECTIONS ARE :- DIARY OF

EVENTS,FINANCE,AGRICULTURE,INDUSTRY,INDIA & THE WORLD,OUR
POLITY,LAND & PEOPLE,BASIC ECONOMIC DATA.LAST 20-30 PAGES WHERE
IT IS GIVEN WHO WAS THE FIRST BHARAT RATNA ?WHO WAS THE FIRST
VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA ? ALL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ETC.

9. TO SUPPLEMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS PREPARATION YOU CAN READ

WIZARD SPECIAL ISSUE FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS “OR” VAJIRAM BOOKLETS
FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS. READ “ANY ONE”.

10. FOR GEOGRAPHY READ NCERT BOOKS INDIA LAND & PEOPLE, INDIA
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. OXFORD ATLAS.GOH CHENG LEONG CERTIFICATE
PHYSICAL & HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ( SELECTED CHAPTERS).WHILE
READING THE HINDU LOCATE IN OXFORD OR MACMILLAN ATLAS
IMPORTANT RIVERS,NATIONAL PARKS,BORDERS OF
COUNTRIES,CAPITALS,LAKES,MOUNTAIN RANGES ETC. YOU MUST
EXPLORE THE ATLAS WITH HIGH CURIOSITY SO THAT YOUR VISUAL
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PHYSICAL & HUMAN ASPECTS OF THE WORLD
INCREASES GRADUALLY.

11. ABOVEALL, KEEP YOUR EYES, EARS OPEN TO ANY SOURCE OF

INFORMATION COMING FROM ANY SOURCE & FROM ANY DIRECTION.

KEEP THE FLAME BURNING …

INTERVIEW PREPARATION FOR IAS : KEEP THESE THINGS IN

MIND ... PART I

FOR INTERVIEW PREPARATION FOR IAS PLEASE KEEP THESE THINGS IN

MIND:- PART I
1. BE THOROUGH WITH YOUR MAINS FORM. GENERATE MANY QUESTIONS
FROM IT AND THINK UNIQUE ANSWERS TO THEM. ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO
HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR MAINS FORM & ASK YOU WHATEVER COMES TO
THEIR MIND. GIVE LOGICAL, RATIONAL & REALISTIC ANSWER. ASK THEIR
VIEWS. GET FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR EXPRESSION, BODY LANGUAGE ETC.

2. GIVE UTMOST RESPECT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.BE VERY COURTEOUS

TO THE LADY MEMBERS. WISH THEM FIRST WHILE ENTERING &
LEAVING.BEHAVE GENTLEMANLY & IN A FORMAL WAY.TREAT THEM AS
COLLEAGUES OF YOUR PARENTS WHO ARE LEARNED &
EXPERIENCED.YOU MUST RESPECT THEIR EXPERIENCE & ERUDITE
WISDOM.

3. LISTEN PATIENTLY TO EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE ASKING.TAKE A

PAUSE FOR 3-5 SECONDS.THINK OVER IT WELL.ONLY THEN ANSWER.IF IT
IS OBJECTIVE TAKE 1-2 SECONDS PAUSE.IF SUBJECTIVE 3-5 SECONDS
PAUSE.IF VERY COMPLICATED & LONG QUESTION & YOU THINK YOU MAY
NEED TO THINK FOR 6-10 SECONDS,THEN ASK THEIR PERMISSION :- LIKE
“MAY I PONDER OVER THIS ISSUE FOR A FEW MOMENTS ? SIR”

4. DO NOT LIE.WHATEVER MAY BE THE SITUATION & HOWSOEVER SMART

YOU MAY BE.BE TRUTHFUL TILL THE END.

5. ALWAYS MAINTAIN EYE-CONTACT WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.NEVER

LOOK DOWN.WHEN ANSWERING LOOK INTO THEIR EYES.SO THAT THEY
CAN READ YOUR MIND.WHEN ONE MEMBER ASKS YOU A QUESTION,LOOK
AT HIM MOST OF THE TIME.BUT IN BETWEEN FOR SOME SECONDS LOOK
AT OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TOO.BUT DON’T MOVE YOUR HEAD LIKE A
FAN.JUST TAKE THEM WITH YOU WHILE PRESENTING YOUR VIEWS.THIS
CAN BE DONE BY EYE-CONTACT & FACIAL EXPRESSIONS …

6. ALWAYS SMILE.WHEN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF NEVER FORGET

TO SMILE.IT TELLS THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT “THE CANDIDATE HAS
HIGH LEVEL OF SELF-CONFIDENCE “.

7. BUT SUPPOSE A MEMBER ASKS YOU A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION THEN

DON’T SMILE.GIVE A SERIOUS ANSWER.WHEN THEY SMILE, YOU
SMILE.WHEN THEY LAUGH, YOU SMILE.

8. BE POLITE & SOBER. DON’T ARGUE UNNECESSARILY.

9. HOLD POSITIVE VIEWS REGARDING THE EFFORTS OF GOVT OF INDIA &
YOUR STATE GOVT.DON’T CRITICIZE GOVT POLICIES TOO MUCH.

10. WHEN YOU PRESENT YOUR VIEWS ON A TOPIC BE BALANCED, DON’T

TAKE EXTREME VIEWPOINTS.SEE BOTH SIDES OF A COIN.

11. FOR CURRENT AFFAIRS UPDATE READ : THE HINDU EDITORIALS &
OTHER ARTICLES THOROUGHLY,FRONTLINE ARTICLES THOROUGHLY,THE
ECONOMIC & POLITICAL WEEKLY(IF POSSIBLE)

12. PREPARE YOUR HOBBY SECTION WELL.SEARCH INTERNET ON YOUR

HOBBY & READ RELEVENT ARTICLES & INFORMATION.

13. IF YOU ARE EARLIER IN ANY SERVICE, TRY TO KNOW EVERY DETAIL
OF THAT SERVICE & WHY YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE SERVICE TO IAS?

14. WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN IAS? GIVE A VERY ORIGINAL & CONVINCING
REPLY TO THIS QUESTION WHICH MUST BE DIFFERENT THAN RUN-OF-THE-
MILL ANSWERS …

15. THINK WHAT YOU WILL SAY WHEN ASKED ABOUT YOUR PREFERENCE
OF SERVICES … FOR EX. WHY HAVE YOU GIVEN IPS AT 4TH POSITION &
INCOME TAX AT 2ND? WHY IFS AT 5TH POSITION? ETC.

HOW TO CLEAR PRELIMS IN 75-90 DAYS ?

HOW TO CLEAR PRELIMS IN 75-90 DAYS? :-

The Preliminary Exam (PT) is a rejection process. You must be VERY STRONG in your
optional & STRONG in Current Affairs to clear this exam. To be thorough in your
optional read 6-10 standard text books word by word & write down in point format the
facts which you think are difficult to remember. I had Public Administration as my 1st
optional & the book list has been given in my blog.

For General Studies read The Hindu thoroughly. Jot down the factual points in a separate
note on Current Affairs & General Knowledge. If you think that you can’t do that at this
stage then go for ANY ONE SOURCE for Current Affairs … either Wizard Current
Affairs Special for Prelims OR Vajiram & Ravi Booklets for Prelims. Read any one but
read it thoroughly & revise it 10 days before the PT test.
For Modern India read Spectrum "A Brief History of Modern India". It is factual & well-
suited for PT exam. For Ancient & Medieval India take Short-Cut. As only 2-3 questions
come in PT read the Indian History Specials that come in Wizard Monthly.20-25 pages of
mugging of "who wrote which book",The Delhi Sultanate,Chronologically arrange
Rulers etc of Ancient & Medieval India will do. Don’t read NCERT books for them as
Cost-Benefit Ratio will be less.

For Polity read "EITHER" Vajiram & Ravi class note dictated by Mr Ravindran Sir or D
D Basu. The later takes time. So Vajiram Note will do. At least read it 2 times.

For General Knowledge, General Science & General Mental Ability you can go through
the TMH General Studies Guide. Don’t read other sections in this guide as it will
duplicate things. The above mentioned sections have been covered well in this guide &
you will have to labour less for it. If you have more time you can read Vajiram Class
Note on GMA & try to mug up some formulas in Permutation & Combination &
Probability.They will come handy in GMA as UPSC is asking 15-20 GMA questions in
PT.

The important point to be kept in mind is that: - FOR EACH SECTION OF GENERAL
STUDIES READ “A SINGLE AUTHORITATIVE SOURCE” rather than reading 3-4
sources and confusing yourself in the process.

For Indian Economy the Economic Survey (especially Chapter 1, 10 & the chapter on
Finance & all BOX ITEMS) & Indian Economic Development (NCERT 11th standard)
should be read. Be attentive to all economic news & facts that appear in Hindu Business
page & Business Review.10 days of reading of The Economic Times from Feb 25 to
March 10 (Budget Time & Eco Survey Analysis time) will make things easier for you. If
you don’t get the meaning of any economic terminology please refer Collins Economic
Dictionary. It is very simple & lucid.

For Geography read NCERT 11th & 12th standard text books (important ones being
India Physical Geography & India Land & People).Apart from this read casually some
chapters from Certificate Physical & Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong & be well
conversant with ATLAS & Maps. Frequently see maps & Atlas (Oxford or Macmillan)
while reading The Hindu & try to locate the important landmarks (like
lakes,mountains,rivers,Tropic of Cancer passing through which countries, the borders of
countries touching which other countries & oceans, Capitals,National Parks of India &
other countries etc).

DEVOTE 4-5 HOURS EVERYDAY FOR GENERAL STUDIES & 6-7 HOURS FOR
OPTIONAL.60-70% EMPHASIS SHOULD BE LAID ON OPTIONAL & REST 30-
40% ON GENERAL STUDIES.BUT IF YOU ARE “VERY WEAK” IN GENERAL
STUDIES THEN MAKE IT 50 % EMPHASIS ON GS & 50 % EMPHASIS ON
OPTIONAL.
In India Year book focus on the following chapters :- Finance, Diary of
Events,Agriculture,Industry,Commerce,Basic Economic Data, India & The World, Land
& People, Our Polity & Glossary of General Knowledge given in the end etc. Also
browse through the IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS given in India
Year Book.

In Manorama Year Book focus on The India & World Panorama ( where day to day
happenings have been given date-wise & month-wise),International Organizations,
Awards, Books & Authors, Quiz etc. Suppose if you get a fact from it just ask your mind
if this fact is going to come in Prelims, What is its probability? & if YOU think that it
MAY come try to remember the fact by writing it down in your Current Affairs Note.

For this read LAST 5 YEARS UPSC GS PT QUESTIONS well so that you can READ
THE EXAMINER'S MIND i.e. WHAT HE IS GOING TO ASK THIS YEAR IN
CURRENT AFFAIRS & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ...

If you have taken coaching from any Reputed Institute in Delhi (for ex. Vajiram & Ravi)
then just revise their class notes.

Regularly & Attentively listen to Mid-Day News & 9 O Clock News in All India Radio.
Coincide them with your lunch & Dinner timings so that you can save time & your
Current Affairs & General Knowledge can be built up gradually.

Sometimes UPSC asks factual questions from Hindu Editorials. So if time permits read
some editorials on Social Sector Schemes like NREGA,Bharat Nirman,NRHM,JnNURM
etc. This is being done to test who are reading the Editorials & who are leaving them &
just focusing on factual parts of The Hindu Newspaper. If you are THROUGH with THE
HINDU 50 % of General Studies is done.

Suppose you get A NEW FACT on General Knowledge or Current Affairs from your
friend or say Times of India just make it a point to write it down in your Current Affairs
note after you return to your room. This enhances Memory & makes you confident
during the exam. The more confident you are the better your chance to clear PT as
NEGATIVE MARKING is there.

MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FAITH ON YOURSELF,NEVER DOUBT YOUR

ABILITY & POTENTIAL,DO HARD WORK & HAVE FAITH ON GOD.UNLESS
YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF YOUR SELF-DOUBT WILL INCREASE.SO BE
CONFIDENT FROM DAY ONE & KEEP MOTIVATION LEVEL & CURIOSITY
LEVEL HIGH.

ALL THE BEST FOR THE COMING PRELIMINARY EXAM ON 23RD MAY, 2010.

I will soon put a blog regarding details of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION preparation for
PRELIMS.
Till then, happy reading ….

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SUCCESS IN CSE

THESE ARE THE PRE-REQUISITES FOR GETTING INTO IAS. SO THE SOONER
YOU DEVELOP THEM AND INCULCATE THEM IN YOUR PERSONALITY &
STUDY PLAN, THE BETTER:

1. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. HAVE FAITH ON YOUR OWN ABILITY THAT YOU

CAN EXCEL AGAINST ALL ODDS.

2. BE PREPARED FOR SEVERE HARD WORK FOR TWO YEARS.BE

CONSISTENT IN YOUR STUDIES.8-10 HOURS EVERYDAY.

3. DEVELOP WRITING SKILL,VOCABULARY,GK AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

BASE RIGHT FROM GRADUATION.ONCE INTO SERIOUS PREPARATION
MODE IT IS VERY HARD TO DEVELOP THEM.SO BE AN EARLY BIRD.

4. NEVER LOSE HOPE.TILL THE LAST DROP OF YOUR BLOOD HAVE FAITH
THAT YOU WILL EMERGE VICTORIOUS.AND ONE DAY LADY LUCK WILL
SMILE ON YOU.

5. HAVE FAITH ON GOD.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ONLY HE CAN

HELP.NOBODY AND NOTHING CAN HELP YOU AT THAT POINT.

6. HAVE FAITH ON UPSC & ITS EXAM PROCESS.IT IS FAIR.STUDY THE MIND
OF UPSC AND THAT OF THE EXAMINER.WHAT HE WANTS FROM YOU ?

7. BE OPTIMISTIC.DEVELOP NOTE MAKING HABBIT WHILE YOU ARE

READING SOMETHING.

8. ALWAYS READ COMPLEX/STANDARD /BASIC BOOK ON A TOPIC.ALWAYS

CHOOSE THE LESS TRAVERSED PATH.DONT FOLLOW THE HERD.

9. BE SIMPLE,HONEST AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

10. DONT SHOW OFF.DONT PUT A MASK.DONT SHOW TO OTHERS THAT I

AM PREPARING FOR IAS AND STUDYING VERY HARD.BE NATURAL.DO
YOUR HOMEWORK SILENTLY.

11. REMEMBER THAT LUCK IS JUST ANOTHER NAME FOR PURE

HARDWORK.

GOD IS SEEING ... ALL THE BEST ...