[Mains GS4 Coverage]:

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Ethics:
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1. Booklist
- Vajiram class notes - Pub Ad section by Brijendra Sir, Psychology section by Pathak Sir and Philosophy section by Manikant Sir
- Filling gaps from Vajiram Yellow Book
- Random internet searches for conceptual clarity
- Free Lukmaan video on Neostencil
- Lukmaan IAS evaluated copies of students from test series (Available online) to understand how to write good answers in case studies.

2. Approach
- Keep things simple instead of complicating your answers. Also, back your gut feeling, in this paper especially!
- Have a basic understanding of all keywords mentioned in the GS4 syllabus. Preferably prepare a small note on each of them.
- Keep examples ready and revise them for themes like the right end but using wrong means, Utilitarianism, etc
- Always note important examples and terms from case studies - have shared a PDF of the same.
- Practice all the Previous Year Case Studies
- If you are comfortable try to use philosophical or psychological approaches while justifying your arguments in case studies. Many times students tend to stick to the governance/PubAd-ish answers.


3. My notes:

Self handwritten notes after prelims:
Folder link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gvu1vd6p2z285kq/AABeaiQMWXsUZr5dfkv7cOvIa?dl=0

Particular pdfs:
1. Pointers from Case Studies: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4qouup31rjnc59/Ethics%20-%20Case%20Studies.pdf?dl=0

2. Psychology (has only keywords + little incomplete; for better understanding and definitions refer to class notes):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c66t25r40vhd6a7/Ethics%20-%20Psychology.pdf?dl=0

3. Pub Ad (for exact definitions refer to class notes):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mh4pz6xjapy9e88/Ethics%20-%20PubAd.pdf?dl=0

4. Philosophy (Better than class notes):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z5yz34w48ptntya/Ethics%20-%20Philosophy.pdf?dl=0

Vajiram class notes folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rrpuugtf86bqval/AABTdW6UBMcA4adJXsTjDsh5a?dl=0

Few additional notes:
Keywords with Examples: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8o9bm9qow92wlr3/Ethics%20-%20Keywords%20With%20Examples.pdf?dl=0

Some other examples:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pzkfd2908tuzq2k/Ethics%20Examples%20for%20examination.pdf?dl=0

I would recommend that for the Philosophy section refer to self notes (class notes are all haphazard), and for the other two sections, class notes have better definitions and dictations given by the teacher. Their self-written notes are only keywords for quick revision.

In addition to tests and Answer Writing practice, I took 10-12 days to cover the whole GS4 syllabus after prelims and make all the self notes for last minute revision.

Sharing some important maps from World History - NCERT Maps were Black and White and harder to read.

These 2 PDFs would help in GS3 + prelims as well.

[Mains Essays Coverage]:

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Essays:
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1. Approach
- Read a few topper blogs + videos as to how essays can be approached
-- Introduction - Ancedote / Quote / Poem
-- Temporal theme - Past / Present / Future
-- Sectoral theme - SPECLIH
-- Conclusion - positivity
- Prepared a list of important topics and wrote pointers on them by brainstorming for 15-20 minutes. Took guidance from notes shared by Anudeep Sir. Didn't try to reinvent the wheel! (not enough time to try something different)
- Wrote 6 essays (3 tests) with Triumph IAS (Vikash Ranjan Sir)
- I wasn't comfortable with quotes. So didn't try to use them too much.
- Kept things simple - vocabulary and sentence formation.
- Avoided writing looong sentences - I had this habit, so made extra efforts here.
- Spent equal time for both the essays
- Tip:
-- Did practice one/two philosophical essay
-- Always practice 2 essays in 3 hrs instead of 1 essay in 90 minutes.
-- In the exam, do not pick a topic thinking no one else will write it and you can impress the examiner. Write an essay in which you are comfortable.

2. My notes:

Folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1gpyu4qofl49we7/AAASC2ndve1vYeQTff93UiJAa?dl=0

Particular PDFs:

Scribblings on few topics: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcixciva0a69s78/Essays%20scribbling.pdf?dl=0

Layout: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3agakel47orf53f/Layout%20and%20Fodder.pdf?dl=0

Few quotes:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fk14wabomgifg73/Quotes.pdf?dl=0

Previous UPSC Essays:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ufuur6zq3cyqxo3/Past%20Essay%20Topics.pdf?dl=0

List of probable essay topics:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ufuur6zq3cyqxo3/Past%20Essay%20Topics.pdf?dl=0

Continuing on my Answer writing tips:

Few tips on attempting the paper:

19. 15 marker questions are more important than 10 marker. If you write poor answers in 15 marker you will lose more as compared to a 10 marker. Also, it is easier to answer 5 10 markers in last 30 minutes instead of 4 15 markers.
But first build some momentum by answering 2-3 easy 10 markers and then go for 15 markers. After this initial phase, 15 markers should be prioritised.

20. Have a quick glance in initial 2-3 minutes and mark questions in which you are confident. Attempt them at the start rather than answering all the questions serial number wise even if you are not confident in them.

Best possible answers should be written for topics you know albeit keeping the time limit in mind. You can't overshoot the time allotted for each question.

21. One benefit of leaving questions for the end is that after 2-2.5 hours of writing you "might" recall few keywords subconsciously (as you had a quick glance earlier, your brain started thinking about the topics you read). Now you can write a much better answer as compared to just filling the pages had you attempted such a question earlier.
Also, if you attempted a question at the start without being confident in it and later recall a better point for it, you can't go back and change it.

22. One big disadvantage of quick glancing at the start is that you might lose confidence if you see a lot of unseen topics. But it has to be done for writing best answers in topics you are proficient in.
For example: Suppose Q20 is a very easy question which you know thoroughly. You were doing all the questions sequentially. You mismanaged somewhere and now have only 5 minutes left. Now you can't write the best answer despite knowing everything about that topic!

23. Answer writing is more about thinking in future. While writing a point you should be thinking about the next point. While concluding the answer, start thinking about the introduction to the next answer.

24. On the day of exam, try to write for 10 minutes before leaving for the test centre. It will get your hand moving and you can hit the paper running!

25. For time management, keep the watch in front of your eyes all the time. See that none of the subpart is taking too much time and as the allotted time is about to end, try to quickly conclude and "move on" to the next question.

26. Once you have answered a question, DO NOT THINK about it at all. You can't change anything in the past.

27. Sharing something which I learnt from Anudeep Sir's tips (might have some changes here and there):
Break the time duration into 30 minute windows and aim to cover 40 marks (4x10 marker / 1x10 marker + 2x15 marker) in each window.
In 2 such windows you have to cover 45 marks (3x15 marker). Try to do this in the 2nd hour as it is the most effective phase.
So you will be able to cover 80 marks in 1st hour, 90 in 2nd and 80 again in 3rd.
Preferably, keep the last 75 minutes for 10 markers and unknown questions. Attempt the known 15 markers before that.

This is just a guideline as to how one can approach the paper and keep the time in check. You can deviate from it and prepare you own strategy as well. Even I wasn't able to replicate it fully in the exam!

Such an approach will help you tackle any marks distribution by UPSC.

28. Keep in mind that UPSC can change marks distribution again. It can go back to 25x10 markers or 20x12.5 markers - so mentally be prepared for anything!

[Mains GS1 Coverage]

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Indian Society:
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1. Booklist
- NCERT XIIth - both books (would highly recommend)
- Vajiram Class notes - Rajkumar Sir
- Filling gaps from Vajiram Yellow book
- Few pointers added from Mains 365

2. Approach
- Mapped all PYQs with syllabus keywords
- Prepared short notes on all the keywords
- UPSC PYQs are the best source for Answer Writing Practice as the topic is static
- Develop links with current affairs as well - Urbanization (and issues), Population, Poverty, etc.
- Trend analysis helps get a fair understanding of past developments plus it can be clubbed with Post Independence History component as well.

3. My notes:

Topic-wise PDFs:

Indian Society:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d8mvqe5aha5x4py/Indian%20Society.pdf?dl=0

Diversity of India:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pcg0xy1uuaz0xg2/Diversity%20of%20India.pdf?dl=0

Women Issues:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0npz53y9g63ccm/Women%20Issues.pdf?dl=0

Population Issues:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2cpqf5itm7ds6fs/Population%20Issues.pdf?dl=0

Poverty and Development Issues:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/44cvmlk1ok8l0iq/Poverty%20and%20Development%20Issues.pdf?dl=0

Globalization:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vsoroykljbf0h64/Globalization.pdf?dl=0

Urbanization:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aas3thnb5kyeb16/Urbanization.pdf?dl=0

Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yb7dmdgxwjq4cba/Communalism%2C%20Regionalism%2C%20Secularism.pdf?dl=0


Vajiram Classnotes:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qt9wzcbs7g0wm5n/AABZrZh3P8mowE5aQcYQGa9La?dl=0

[Mains GS1 Coverage]:

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Geography:
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1. Booklist
- NCERT XIth and XIIth - thoroughly
would recommend lower classes NCERT for students having issues with fundamentals of geography
- GC Leong - selected reading from Part II
- Physical Geography: Mrunal - Rajtanil videos
- Resource Distribution: Anudeep Sir's notes + Rajtanil Slides (no videos)
- Vajiram Class notes - Manocha and Shivarpit Sir
- Websites like PMFIAS, India-WRIS

2. Approach
- Mapped all PYQs with syllabus keywords
- Practiced every single diagram from NCERT - quick revision + practice for Answer Writing
- Actively tried to use Maps and Diagrams in the Answers
- For resources, pick each important resource and prepare short notes for it.

3. My notes:

Self notes:
Full focus on diagrams and important keywords.

Topic-wise PDFs:
Physical Geography:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/svezmtgw246en7c/Physical%20Geography.pdf?dl=0

Distribution of Resources:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6tt7hm4ahcg1nrw/Distribution%20of%20Resources.pdf?dl=0

Vajiram Classnotes:
Will be added later to this folder
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhuf3cdk55hx9ov/AABLmF5CGwjDl93KwfeFLLpGa?dl=0

Sharing a small write up on my background and UPSC journey

Prelims 2019 result is out.

Congratulations to everyone who cleared it and will be appearing in Mains. I am sure you won’t be needing any external motivation for next 2 months. But just to remind you all, now is the biggest opportunity you can ever get, treat it like your last. Even if you have to put in 15 hrs daily for next 2 months, do it. There shouldn’t be any excuse whatsoever.

For those who couldn’t make it, I have just one advice. Yes, It is tough to get over disappointments and keep morale high but It would be the biggest mistake if you do not prepare with mains mindset for next 2 months. Prepare with Mains mindset and by the time December ends, you would have finished your full Mains syllabus including optional. Then focus on Prelims from January onwards. This will put you in much better position than what you were in Prelims this time around.

Best of luck! 👍🏻

I had an interview with “Chamomile Tea with Toppers” where I shared my life and UPSC journey.

Part-1 is out, those who are interested can have a look: https://youtu.be/Mh5HXUg3tnk

Special tip for UPSC aspirants: Watch at 1.25 or 1.5x! 😄