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The UPSC Civil Services Examination preparation process heavily relies on Current Affairs for UPSC. Although the importance of current affairs changes from year to year, it is usually a good idea to keep up with what’s going on.
Preparing for Current Affairs for UPSC is important for several reasons. First of all, the Civil Services exam is an exam where instead of asking indepth questions they ask candidates generalised questions. UPSC expects candidates to be generalists rather than experts. Generalist means one must have a basic understanding of society.
Second, in the UPSC exam, questions about current events are given a fair amount of weight. You can read newspapers and periodicals, watch news channels, or listen to podcasts to get ready for the UPSC current affairs portion.
Table of Contents
| Current Affairs for UPSC | Key Points |
| Importance of Current Affairs | No fixed weightage, but very important for the UPSC exam. UPSC expects generalists with a broad awareness. Through it, UPSC tests the ability to synthesize vast information. |
| Key Tips to Prepare Current Affairs | Focus on understanding, not memorization. Answering why, what, when, and how questions are essential. |
| Sources For Current Affairs | Primary Sources The Hindu The Indian Express Yojana Magazine Kurukshetra Magazine India Year Book Secondary Sources PIB Website PRS Website Rajya Sabha TV Debates Indian Budget |
| Current Affairs Preparation From Newspapers | Read focused newspapers, e.g., The Hindu, for in-depth analysis. Save time by sticking to one newspaper. |
| Current Affairs Preparation From Magazines | Choose a few magazines with a proven track record. Yojana, Kurukshetra, Science Reporter, and Economic and Political Weekly are recommended. |
| Current Affairs Preparation From Notes | Make notes with analysis for better understanding. Notes help in preparation during advanced stages and close to exams. |
| Current Affairs Revision | Consistent revision is important for retaining information. Helps in connecting different topics and gathering more knowledge. |
Strategy to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC
Here are the 10 tips to help you prepare current affairs for UPSC Exam 2024
| No. | Tips | Strategies for Current Affairs for UPSC |
| 1 | Choose Authentic Sources | Newspapers, Monthly Current Affairs Magazines, and the Internet. Limit sources and focus on multiple revisions. |
| 2 | Focus on Analysis | Comprehend the logic and relevance of current events, rather than rote memorization. Understand the background and historical context. |
| 3 | Learn to Link Topics | Connect current issues with static topics. Be curious and seek additional information on related subjects. |
| 4 | Selectively Read Newspapers | Focus on issues in the news, understand why they are significant, study background information, and consider both perspectives. |
| 5 | Read Current Affairs Magazines | Select a few authentic magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, and Economic and Political Magazine for in-depth information. |
| 6 | Make Topic & Date-Wise Notes | Create organized notes with date-wise and subject-wise arrangement. Use pointers, mind maps, and flow charts for effective revision. |
| 7 | Highlight Important Keywords | Pay attention to keywords in news, articles, and reports. Highlight them in your notes for better recall. |
| 8 | Focus on Important Issues, Not News | Curate content by excluding irrelevant topics. Focus on quality sources that cover essential events for UPSC preparation. |
| 9. | Identify backward and forward linkages | Take the recent news about Chandrayaan-3’s moon landing, for instance. Backward Linkages: Orbiter, ISRO, launch site, launch vehicle PSLV vehicles, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, etc. Forward Linkages: Other nations’ moon expeditions, India’s upcoming space projects, advancements in technology, etc. |
| 10. | Revise and Execute | Regularly revise important events. Use mock tests to check your preparation level and fill in any gaps in knowledge. |
Importance Of Preparation For Current Affairs for UPSC
As was previously mentioned, one of the most important components of UPSC preparation is understanding current affairs.
- Approximately fifteen to twenty current affairs questions are explicitly asked in the UPSC Prelims exam each year.
- In the UPSC CSE Prelims, between 60 and 70 % of the questions have some connection to current affairs. For example, the GS article can pose static questions on the river or the states involved if there is a bilateral river conflict in the news.
- Additionally, it has been noted that UPSC Mains scores are higher for remarks that include references to recent events, indicating that the candidate is aware of current affairs.
- The central and state-sponsored programs and policies, recent bills and acts passed in parliament, the budget, the economic assessment report, foreign relations, science and technology, and so forth are some of the main subjects covered by the questions in the current affairs section.
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How To Prepare Notes For Current Affairs UPSC?
How to write UPSC current notes will be covered in this part.
- Newspapers are a vital source of information, especially in light of significant global and national current events.
- Aspirants might consider reading newspapers such as The Hindu, The Indian Express, and The Economic Times daily.
- In addition to using a notepad or journal, aspirants can also use digital tools like OneNote or EverNote.
- You should read newspapers primarily for editorials, government initiatives, news about international organizations, social issues, defense, and economic news.
- After reading the editorials, a concise synopsis can be made, which will be useful for last-minute changes.
- There are many international relations-related current events questions, such as how China and India are related. Candidates should make separate notes about the relationship between China and India and add the latest news to them daily.
- Aspirants should frequently visit these websites for updates and take brief notes from them. Other websites include PIB and PRS.
- As a result, any editorial or pertinent news can be jotted down, which will help in resolving preliminary questions and improving the quality of responses in UPSC mains.
How To Prepare Current Affairs For UPSC Without Reading Newspapers?
Since they might not have the time or because they find it monotonous and time-consuming, many candidates dislike reading the newspaper. However, it is a reality that reading the newspaper is neither sufficient nor necessary to score highly on the UPSC exam. A novice candidate could spend too much time reading newspapers and acquiring information since they are unaware of the many alternatives to media.
Excellent free websites like Rajya Sabha TV, PRS, and PIB gather and aggregate intelligent data from a range of current affairs sources. Consequently, it is simple for a candidate to look through all of these sources on their own and make notes. The following is a list of current events websites that can be used instead of newspapers.
FAQs
Begin by reading newspapers, following reputable news websites, and referring to UPSC-specific magazines. Make concise notes and focus on issues relevant to the syllabus.
Ideally, continuous preparation is recommended. However, a dedicated one-year focus on current affairs, coupled with revision, can significantly enhance your UPSC exam readiness.
Aim for at least 12-18 months of current affairs coverage to align with the UPSC exam cycle. A comprehensive understanding of national and international events is crucial for success.
Combining newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express, monthly magazines (e.g., Yojana, Kurukshetra), and online platforms like PIB and PRS provides a well-rounded perspective for UPSC current affairs preparation.
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