How to Master Current Affairs for UPSC Prelims in the Last 3 Months
The last three months can be critical for your UPSC Prelims preparation, especially if you have not been diligently following daily current affairs. Fear not, as with the right strategies and resources, you can effectively cover the necessary material. Here are the steps to ensure you are well-prepared for the current affairs section.
1. Utilize Verified Summaries
One efficient method is to follow summaries and summaries compiled by reputable coaching institutes. Websites like Vision IAS and BYJU’s often provide month-end summaries. These summaries are typically 100 pages each and offer a comprehensive overview of the month's important events, policies, and developments. Thoroughly assimilating these summaries will significantly help you cover the current affairs section.
2. Supplement with Official Reports
Incorporate official reports and magazines such as Yojana, the Budget, Economic Survey, and other major government publications. These sources provide in-depth analysis and detailed information, preparing you for the test. Combine these with your existing static syllabus for a broader understanding.
3. Following UPSC Mentor's Resources
A very effective way to prepare is to follow the current affairs series provided by UPSC Mentor, which is accompanied by a monthly test series. This method ensures that you are not only learning the material but also testing your knowledge regularly. Studying one month's current affairs can take a maximum of one day, and if you dedicate around 10-12 hours each day, you can complete all the current affairs in just 10-12 days.
However, remember that you need to review the material multiple times to retain all the important data and facts. Allocate another 5-10 days for revision. Therefore, the entire current affairs section could be comprehensively covered in 15-20 days.
4. Comprehensive One-Year Coverage
The GS Prelims syllabus requires at least a year of current affairs coverage from May 2019 to April 30th, 2020. Ensure that you have fully prepared the relevant content by mid-April. Follow a systematic approach to cover the necessary topics and retain them effectively.
5. Employ Effective Study Strategies
Selection: Vision IAS magazine is not perfect, as PT 365 sometimes skips important content to make the material more concise. Use the insights provided in current affairs index pages to identify any gaps.
Notes: Taking handwritten notes topic-wise is a solid strategy. Categorize topics such as Polity (judiciary, parliament, elections), Economy (banking, finance sector, inflation), and other relevant areas. This method helps in better retention and easy revision.
Practice: Solving a significant number of test series papers is crucial. Out of 100 questions, about 20-25 are typically related to current affairs. If you solve 50 test series papers, you would have answered approximately 1000 questions, which is more than sufficient preparation.
Revision: Regular revision is key to retaining the information. Aim to complete your handwritten notes by at least April 15th, and then repeat the revision process over the next 45 days. Continuous revision is essential for long-term retention.
Conclusion
With the right resources, strategies, and dedication, you can effectively cover current affairs in the last three months. Regardless of how much you have previously studied, you can still qualify for the UPSC Prelims in your very first attempt. Good luck with your preparation!
Keywords: UPSC prelims preparation, current affairs, last minute preparation