- First Task: Back up plan
- Other competitive Exams
- PG Degrees via Distance Learning
- Why IGNOU’s Distance Learning Programs?
- IFS, IES, Statistical Services
- Pick up some Activity
- Second Task : UPSC attempt for 2013
- August to November 2012
- January to May of Next year (2013)
- Coaching or no Coaching?
To those failed in CSAT-2012 and willing to re-appear for 2013. What to do for next 9-10 months?
First Task: Back up plan
- Given the uncertainty involved in UPSC adventures, it is not a good idea to put all eggs in one basket.
- Please note there are no cut and dry methods of “backup plans for UPSC”, so evaluate all the pros and cons based on your personality and alternative-career ambitions.
- Those MBBS, CA, IITs etc. need not worry much about “backup”. But for the others ….here are some suggestions.
Other competitive Exams
- Try for other competitive exams [IBPS (Bank), CPF, SSC, State PSC, CAT,CMAT etc.] to prevent yourself from getting rusted and as “backup” plan.
- I suggest all of you subscribe (Free) to Sarkari Naukri Blog. Here is the link . It’ll give you daily updates regarding vacancies in Government, PSU and Bank jobs.
- The question always comes: How to manage time? Well most of them have overlapping syllabus with UPSC as far as GS is concerned.
- But some of them are aptitude heavy (IBSP for example) so study two more books
- Quantam CAT by Sarvesh Kumar Varma (Arihan Publication) – for the math topics. Do upto Level 2 excercises of every chapter, and you should be able to walk scratch free, through every battlefield from IBPS to SSC.
- RS Agarawal’s book on Verbal and Non-Verbal Aptitude. – for Logical reasoning questions.
PG Degrees via Distance Learning
- Those with optionals like Public Administration, Socio, Political Science, History (ie. courses for which IGNOU offers PG Degrees), I suggest you pick up Distance Learning Post graduation course from IGNOU. Fees are very low so If you’ve Sociology then go for M.A. Sociology. (These courses are also available in Hindi Medium)
- It’ll help you hit two birds with one stone-you get their quality study material + you get PG Degree at home.
- Third bird = doing JRF, Ph.D etc and become a Professor in worst case scenario.
- Yes most PG courses have duration of two years. But according to IGNOU rules, they can be completed in a span of five years. So you can give exam for first year in 2013 and second year may be in 2018.
- You may try for some other courses of IGNOU like MCA, MBA etc. depending on your alternative-career ambition.
Why IGNOU’s Distance Learning Programs?
- If you join a regular course from a decent college: fees will be high and, there will be hardly any time left for UPSC preparation.
- IGNOU courses are quite easy to crack. You don’t have to prepare much for their term end exams (just solve last five years’ paper (available on their official website)- all questions are repeated!).
- So go to the official website of IGNOU and download the free Prospectus and see details of all the courses offered procedure to get admission.
Click me to download that PDF file (ENGLISH). - And IGNOU’s distance learning programs are recognized under UGC so your Degree is ‘legit’ for all Government job exams.
- And Given the “academic inflation”, every tom dick and harry is now a Post Graduate. So if and when you go for private company job interviews without PG degree in your file= doesn’t look good.
Click me to download that PDF file (HINDI).
For more, Visit: http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/studentzone/downloads/3
IFS, IES, Statistical Services
- You may also go for IGNOU courses in Economics or Statistics to become eligible for UPSC’s Indian Economy Services (IES) and Indian statistical services.
- If you’re an Engineer (non-IT field) or B.Sc with Agri/Zoology/Forestry etc. courses then try for Indian Forest Services (IFS).
- But please goto the official site of UPSC and check their notifications and eligibility criteria for each of these exams.
Computer Course Certificate
- For Bank Exams and some State PSC exam (such as GPSC), you need a fancy certificate to prove that you know computers. (Even if you're proficient with computers without formal degree or course, you still need a certificate in your file.)
- So Give an exam called "CCC" [Course on Computer Concepts].
- It is conducted by DOEACC, [new name is National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology], which is an autonomous society under Government of India, therefore its fancy certificate is 'legit' for Government job exams (just like IGNOUs').
Pick up some Activity
- For example some NGO work, Part time job, social service or anything else that can look good in your biodata file during Interviews of UPSC, Bank, State PSC or private company. It’s not like you’re going to study for 18 hours a day from 1st August 2012 till May 2013. There are plenty of hours that can be utilized to make your “file” look better for the interviews.
Second Task : UPSC attempt for 2013
August to November 2012
- Devote entirely to finish the syllabus of your two optional + GS (Mains)
- And make revision notes of both optional subjects and for Static portions of GS Mains, including 2 marker freedom fighters.
- ^ this is essential / compulsory / must/ no excuse.
- Apart from that, you can
- Prepare Skeletal essays for last 19 years’ papers. http://mrunal.org/2011/12/analysis-essay-topic-trends-in-last-19.html
- If literature is one of your optional- then go through all the good reference books and write high quality answers for all of last 10 years’ UPSC papers. (reason: in most of the literature Optionals, the questions are repeated.)
- + Maintain current affairs diary from daily newspaper reading. How to read newspapers- already explained in this article: http://mrunal.org/2012/06/current-affairs-ias.html
- So next time whenever you clear prelims, much of your time will be saved in doing first hand study / notes making. And then you have to only do revision + current affairs + answer practice.
January to May of Next year (2013)
- Preparation for Preliminary exam 2013. Study plan would be more or less the same as given for CSAT 2012 earlier in this article: http://mrunal.org/2012/02/study-plan-topicwise-plausible-booklist.html
Coaching or no Coaching?
- Some of those who failed in CSAT 2012, are asking “should I get coaching for next attempt?”
- Well, coaching is not the panacea for UPSC. And please donot have the mentality that “I failed in CSAT-2012 because I did not have coaching.”
Hi Mrunal,
I am working in the BPO Sector with an overall experience of 6 years in this field. I have gone through the tips you have given for working professionals. But I have to work in shifts and work load is too much. I have started following your tips, however not very confident as I am unable to retain what I study for a long time. But I want to target 2013.
Not sure how to go ahead with it and make it a success..Could you please advise?
good, I am also prepare for UPSC I am new , I want to becoming IPS, I am done BA , I am hindi midium, what book I am read to being IPS, plese help
Sir,first of all many many congratulations for your sincere and genuine effort.I want to ask about the pattern and syllabus change for mains exam expected for2013.should we focus on preparing only G.S or continue to prepare for optional papers as well.time is limited but things are not clear yet.
Hello sir
there s news like upsc will change there mains pattern by next year, s it true sir?
sir.i am a fresher engineer.i want to prepare IPS exam.what should i have to do&which material should follow
Hi sir,
I am shiva prasad studying in 5th semester,i wanna start preparation for civils examination how should i start initially later on how should i continue also guide me how to manage my academics with the preparation for civils
sir aim 2nd year student doing mechanical engg,and i have started preparing for CSE following your post .i daily manage to read THE HINDU but some of my senior suggested me to hold for another a year as i might loose interest in CSE.SO PLEASE GUIDE ME AND GIVE YOUR SUGGESTION.
Hi mrunal,
I have been regularly following your blog and it’s simply awesome. I have a degree in mass media from University of Mumbai and now studying Dentistry, in third year.
Luckily we had subjects like Modern World history, Sociology, Political Science and IR, English literature, etc. as part of our curriculum, hence things are coming handy to me now.
I started preparing for UPSC CSAT from September this year and ultimately targeting 2014 Prelims.(although I am planning to appear in 2013 prelims with best efforts,but yet to finish my BDS)
I have been following the book lists prescribed by you. So far, I realized my weak points as – Irregularity (bound with every exam), totally weak with current affairs (although i try reading news and collecting the gist from The Hindu website plus CSR magazine).
-> I have to shuffle my studies between Dentistry and UPSC preps. which is a task itself
-> Given the optional system, (if it continues) I have thought of Anthropology and Medical Science (closes to my present degree)
-> Is this time frame of Sep. 2012 to April 2014, sufficient enough given the calculated irregularities, total lack of focus at times ?
Please help regarding the same with your valuable advice.
With regards
Anuj
Sir,
I am thankful to you for valuable infomation.
thank u sir for your valuable suggestion u r doing awesome job again thanks to u
Hello Mrunal,
I read somewhere that IAS bug bites everyone at least once and it happend to me as well. After my graduation, I took up a private job as it ws the need back then considering my financial background. It has been almost 7 years now and I am quite stable (both my position in the company & financially).
About 2 months ago, I caught this IAS fever. I googled a lot and collected pretty much a lot of information in the 1st month. Have been studying with my best effort for last one month while continuing my job. Needless to say that your tips on “How to study has been helpful”. However, I get too enthusiastic sometimes and want to quit the job for full time prepartion. At the same time, I get a fear that having a gap in private sector jobs will be looked down upon if I don’t clear this exam.
It will be great if you can provide some info on (if you have) …
1. How many people in last 5 years have qualified for this exam while at some job ? (I want to understand the possibility of clearing this exam for working people)
2. Understanding the quality of study, one can conclude that this prepartion takes about 10-12 months of regular study (to complete the syllabus, have writting practice etc.). Considering the same strategies, how much time it is advisable to prepare before I try to attempt this mother of all exam ?
3. In last one and half month, I have completed NCERT 6-8th class book (don’t remember all the facts but I have understood the concept quite well), have been following The Hindu, NDTV debates to understand the current affairs. But when I look at any of the previous IAS question papers, I can hardly answer anything. :( … do you think it is too early to even start looking at questions. ? Can you throw some lights on when to start testing myself. ?
Thanks in advance for your response. I am sure there are thousands like me who do have enough words to express what a great job you are doing.. !!
@Manish–As i got that you know the answer already of your every question.if you have fever for IAS and you are totally devoted then why you are Fearing from your Job.why you are asking the data for last 5 years have qualified for this exam while at some job.Every person have different capability and desire and if you have then definitely you will do it..It may takes some time.Best of luck
this
http://mrunal.org/2012/05/topper-om-air17-cse2011.html
and this
http://mrunal.org/2012/05/safi.html
But the list is not exhaustive.
Depends on many variables. around 6-8 months or more.
That ability will evolve after you’ve completed the syllabus and have been following current affairs for quite some time.
Indirect hints here
http://mrunal.org/2012/02/study-plan-topicwise-plausible-booklist.html
and here
http://mrunal.org/2012/10/analysis-general-studies-mains-2012-paper-1-2-topicwise-analysis-future-approach-for-upsc-ias-ips-exam.html
hello sir
i have started preparing for csat along with icar-jrf as i need some back up .
Will you please suggest me how shall i prepare in order to have a balance approch to both of these exams,as this is my final year
Dear Sir,
should i buy tmh gs 2013 paper 2(worth Rs 900).is it at all required if i am already preparing for banking and ssc exams?
hi Mrunal,
First of all , i like to thank u for this fantastic job u r doing to help aspirants of such diversified field.
i just want to give u one suggestion please make a facebook page and all the user will like ur page and in this way we all wud b able to get ur updates frequently without opening ur website ,
please consider my request
BPS
GOOD MORNING SIR,
I am a udergraduate student from Kerala,doing graduation in History.I am civil service aspirant .I would like to develop my English language skill.Sir,please provide me some tips to overcome this problem.
GOOD MORNING SIR,
I am a udergraduate student from Kerala,doing graduation in History.I am a civil service aspirant .I would like to develop my English language skill.Sir,please provide me some tips to overcome this problem.
the best way to learn a language is to speak it and the earlier u start the better u get. anyways, read the Hindu, watch english news channels and read classics,by classics i mean charles dickens, mark twain etc. it will improve ur grammar. read a lot that is the whole story
Hi Mrunal.. in the above article you have mentioned about taking Indian Statistical Service exams as back up after doing a masters.. I couldnt find any master degree programs at IGNOU website..I was wondering if courses offered keeps changing in time and I might see MSc Stats. sometime later when its being offered by IGNOU or if doesnt have that option at all ..I just thought since you mentioned about Indian Statistical Service as an option you must be knowing where I can get a Govt. recognized masters degree for the same..
hello sir, I am a final year B.E(mechanical) student. I want to take up indian forest service. Kindly suggest me as to which optionals to choose. How about choosing Mechanical eng and Maths?