Hello Everyone, I am Truly Stubborn, a fellow aspirant. I have cleared four consecutive UPSC CSE Prelims and three UPSC IFoS Prelims. Here, I am sharing my Prelims GS strategy and observations which have served me quite well despite all the changes in the Prelims exam pattern in the last few years.

I have divided this post in 5 parts.

1. Sources: This is highly discussed and debated part of this whole journey. I started my preparation back in 2017 and back then, there was not as much abundance of the resources. Hence, I stuck to basics and since then, the same have been serving me quite well. For better clarity, let me tell you, I have never referred to any Mrunal or PMF material. This is not to deny the importance of these materials but to explain that you don’t have to chase everything mainstream just because others are doing it.

A few sources which I have referred and still refer to are:
- Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
- Spectrum for Modern History
- Tamil Nadu Board Book for Ancient and Medieval History
- Class 11 and Class 12 NCERTs for Geography
- Bare Acts for Constitution (This may sound different but this has helped me develop immense clarity in Polity for Both Prelims as well as Mains)

You can refer to any of the above or any different source but avoid picking up multiple sources.

2. Current Affairs: (Daily + Monthly+ Annual)
- Daily: Regular newspaper reading provides impeccable level of clarity that no coaching compilation can provide. You can choose The Hindu or Indian express for the same.
- Monthly: Any one monthly magazine for revision, specially if this is going to be your first or second attempt.
- Annual: Towards the end, you can also refer the annual compilation by any coaching if time permits. I used PT 365.
- Economic Survey and Budget are to be covered separately.

3. Test Series: This is a debatable issue these days as its direct relevance is decreasing in the exam. However, I still believe test series provides some benefits like:
- Time management: Helps us increase our paper completion speed.
- Learning from our mistakes. E.g. Not focusing on the “Not correct” (Which of the following is “not correct” about) directive. This can cost us 2-3 dear questions in the actual exam.
- Knowledge: Yes, Test series provides us with the content apart from the conventional sources which can be useful many a times.

Limitations of Test Series:
- No test series match upto the standards of UPSC.
- Elimination doesn’t work in the test series the same way as it does it with UPSC.
- Often irrelevant or difficult questions are asked which does more harm than good to our confidence and overall preparation.

4. PYQs: One of the most important and indispensable part of this preparation.
PYQs can be bifurcated in two parts. I. Pre 2013 and II. Post 2023.

I. Pre 2013: You can start form 1990s onwards if you have time at your disposal. No need to read detailed solutions for these. Just read a question, know the right answer and move forward. This helps us know the priority areas of UPSC which have more or less been the same. We tend to put special emphasis on such areas during revision and thus it acts as a positive reinforcement mechanism. Don't devote too much time to this exercise.

II. Post 2013: These are to be used for knowing the priority areas as well as for developing the elimination abilities. There are certain patterns in the questions which are repetitive and deciphering them can help us dealing with less familiar and at time even unfamiliar questions also. I have also done PYQ analysis for year 2019, 2020 and 2021. You can use the same as a reference for PYQ analysis. However, nothing will benefit you more than your own analysis. Just do it.

The 2023 Prelims paper was quite unconventional but the observations developed from PYQs were working quite well in individual sentences of the questions.

5. Do’s and Don’ts and Other Observations
- Avoid picking multiple sources for a single section. Your emphasis should rather be on more revision of limited sources.
- Avoid using test series guided elimination in the exam. Use the elimination learned from PYQ analysis in the actual exam.
- When the exam is nearing, we tend to place disproportionate emphasis on current affairs. Don’t neglect static portion. Its much more rewarding in terms of the efforts put.
- Don’t expect the questions from test series to repeat in the exam. It will only yield disappointment.
- Don’t believe the claims of the institutes like ‘nn’ number of questions were directly from our test series. All such claims are exaggerated and sometimes misleading.
- Avoid developing any FOMO with respect to any new content or course in trend. Trust your preparation and focus on consolidation of limited sources.
- Don’t just read PYQs and solutions. Try to identify the repetitive topics and the repetitive patterns.
- Actual UPSC paper is quite time consuming as the questions asked are often analytical. Test series questions are more knowledge oriented which you either know or you don’t know. So, try to complete a FLT faster, ideally, in less than 90 minutes. This will help you develop an appropriate speed for the actual exam.
- Try to attempt as many questions in the exam as you can. My advice would be to go for 85+ questions.
- There is a hoax being perpetrated recently that this exam can be cleared with minimum knowledge, solely based on elimination tricks. This is misleading. Elimination works only with knowledge or let’s say, it compliments your knowledge. Thus, knowledge should be given precedence.

Know that it is MY strategy and need not necessarily be yours. I have just put forth my observations. Feel free to agree partially or disagree completely.

In case of any doubts or for clarification you can reach out to me at @trulystubborn

Harming women's mental health is "cruelty" under new criminal
Read more at: https://dbrief.news/d/DdnHZ

#Women #Mental_Health

The Central Government has decided to withdraw the three criminal law reform bills. To be reintroduced with suggestions of Committee.

🔵 A brief history of the term ‘Urbicide’ - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/a-brief-history-of-the-term-urbicide/article67576893.ece

Urbicide is a term that refers to the deliberate destruction of a city. It comes from the words "urbs" which means city and "cide" which means death. Urbicide is not a natural death or a general homicide, but rather a premeditated and ordered murder. 

The term became popular during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. It was used to describe the widespread and deliberate destruction of the urban environment. 

Some examples of urbicide include: 
Russia's campaign in Ukraine
The urbicide of Warsaw
The war in Syria

#Urbicide #Cities

#InspireYourselfToday 🏆

Good Morning 🌞

🌐 When will the violence in Manipur end? - Frontline

https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/a-community-wronged-when-will-the-manipur-violence-end-futile-peace-negotiations/article67610577.ece

"Nothing starts out great. Every single creation and achievement starts out being awful and messy. This is the exact moment where most people give up on their dreams: they believe that if they're not great at the beginning, then they will never be great.

We have lost so many brilliant contributions because someone felt embarassed by their first attempt and so they made it their last attempt.

Greatness is not about how flawless you are on the first try — it's about everything you do after that."

🔵 Happily never after: bachelor blues in Bihar as practice of pakadwa vivah persists - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/happily-never-after-bachelor-blues-in-bihar-as-practice-of-pakadwa-vivah-persists/article67628824.ece

Unaffordable Dowry

A combination of factors has resulted in pakadwa vivah. Bihar’s per capita income for 2021-22 was ₹54,383, against the national average of ₹1,50,007, according to the latest Comptroller and Auditor General report. It is hard for many to afford the dowry demanded. Bihar has the lowest literacy rate in India with 61.8% compared to the national literacy rate of 74.04%.

A large number of such cases go unreported for fear of violence and societal pressure. Districts like Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, and Nawada in the State are considered hotbeds of pakadwa vivah.

Several Bollywood movies like national film award (2007) winner Antardwand, comedies Jabaria Jodi, Atrangi Re, many television series like Sab ki Jodi Wohi Banata Bhagyavidhataa, and dramas like Ghar ek Sapna, Do Qadam Door are based on groom kidnapping and marriage.

#Marriage #Social_Evil

Pakdua Vivah #Statistics

Central government re-introduces criminal law bills after making changes
https://www.barandbench.com/news/central-government-re-introduces-criminal-law-bills

🔆 Silent Warrior 🔆

Run
My Child
A voice says

Do not give up
Do not grow weary
Of the hurdles ahead

Persevere
Endure patiently
Walk, if need be, but, stop not

Free yourself
From the negative thoughts
Dwell not, on the maligning tongues

Armour yourself
With the weapons of
Truth, peace And love

Answer not
To every force
That reviles, persecutes you

Silence
Shall be your
Shield and buckler

Therefore
I say unto you
Courage, dear heart

~Myrtle 💛
#MEANDERINGS
@MeanderingMaven

Good Morning 🌞

🔵 Menstruation not handicap, no need for ‘paid leave’ policy: Minister Smriti Irani
Read more at: https://dbrief.news/d/gaW4P

Here are some points I'd like to present:

1. In modern D.O.L, each employee is assigned specialized tasks. If there's a gender-based difference in leave allocation, those with fewer leaves may bear additional work unrelated to their specialization or those with more leaves themselves may face increased workload. For instance, they might be asked to coordinate work on leave days through zoom meetings or may face higher targets on other working days. Menstrual leave can sometimes add to the workload and frustrating instead of providing relief (experience of my sister)

2. In India, where 90% of workers are in the informal sector, maternity leave provisions are often not fully enforced. In places like Bhiwadi and Dharuhera, where I worked on the DFCC project, I witnessed instances of pregnant women working on-site even in the post-COVID months. The lack of support from authorities exacerbates the situation. While advocating for menstrual leave for the top 10% formal employees is crucial, the primary focus should be on the complete implementation of labor codes, especially maternity provisions.

3. We, as a gender-neutral community, should assess how we support our mothers and sisters during their menstrual cycles. Many households expect mothers to manage all chores, even on those days. The education system should sensitize students about menstrual cycles, cramps, mood swings, and related mental health issues. Providing leave is important, but it's equally crucial to educate and sensitize individuals about appropriate behavior during such times.

Apologies if my words have caused any offense. I'm open to rectifying or modifying anything if my perspective is inappropriate.

🔆 Manifest Voice 🔆

Do you ever feel that you need to compromise often
Do you agree because you are afraid others won't like your views

Most of the stress that we experience
Is because we could not raise our voices when we had to

It may happen to us on a regular basis
It may be taking place implicitly, without us realizing it

At home, in our workplace, with friends
We are afraid to tell people what we actually feel

We suppress our thoughts, emotions
It doesn't make much of a difference then

But with time, all of this may accumulate
And one day explode in unimaginable forms

Do not crumble under pressure
Break free from the bonds that intimidate you

Stand up for yourself today, assert yourself
Change what you must, let go, if need be

Learn to express yourself, ruminate, scribble
Organize your thinking in written form

Gradually you will be able to articulate
You will not hesitate when you take part in a discussion

As they say, practice makes a man perfect
What better way to prepare for speech than to write it out first

Write daily, write today, anything abstract
Do not fear what others may think, take the first step

Is it worth all the trouble, you may ask
Yes it is, your mind will be richly nourished, you will be empowered

~M 💛
#MEANDERINGS
@MeanderingMaven

🔵 Durgabai Deshmukh: A Legacy Beyond Time

🔆 My journey as a reader, writer and a speaker. ❤️

~E 💛

🔵 Inquiring the Un-touch-able : Touch Unable versus Not-Touchable | Economic and Political Weekly

https://www.epw.in/engage/article/inquiring-untouchable

#Untouchability

Good Morning 🌞