[Tech] Shifting from Google Reader to Feedly, How to keep track Hindu & Other sites important for UPSC

By Support Staff|2014-09-30T15:00:05+05:3027/05/2013|Categories: Tips|Tags: UPSC-Tips-Misc|329 Comments

yes the answer key, analysis of CSAT 2013 will be uploaded, Work in process. Coming to the topic of this article: reading Hindu online, keeping track of other important websites and shifting from google reader to feedly.

How to get Hindu

One the biggest worries of every UPSC aspirant: Hindu not available in my city, what to do?

There are three Solutions:

via postman

Goto this page

http://www.thehindu.com/navigation/?type=static&page=subs

Send subscription money to TheHindu, mentioning your name and address. they’ll send paper.

Problem: paper doesn’t come every day. Usually postman will throw 3-5 days’ papers at once.

e-paper

Goto this page

http://epaper.thehindu.com/sub_inf.htm

Send money. Hindu lets you access their e-paper edition online.

Problem: not convenient on small screen monitor / low-speed internet.

Via RSS-feeds

Explained in this article.

Problem: not as convenient as reading a convention “paper” newspaper. You’ve to do lot of clicks!

Why RSS feeds?

Even if you’re getting physical “paper” of Hindu newspaper, there are still some goods websites like pib, idsa, PRSIndia that you should follow for exam preparations. Here RSS-feeds came handy.
Until now, Google reader was the best RSS-feedreader. in earlier article I had explained how to use it for exam preparation click me
But from 1^st July, Google reader will be shut down. Reasons: declined users, expenditure, privacy laws.

Shifting from Google reader to feedly

There are plenty of alternatives to google reader : standalone software, desktop widgets, browser plugins. You can try out a few and decide whatever you’re comfortable with.

After wasting few days in trial n error, I’ve settled with “Feedly” (it is an extension/addon for chrome and firefox browsers. Even available for android tablets and iphones.) and yes of course free, legit and safe.

I recommend feedly to all readers for following reasons:

Seemless migration from Google reader (you just have to type your email id and password, then feedly will import everything.)
User friendly drag-n-drop features. Organizing feeds is even easier than in Google reader.
If you’re using evernote, feedly has button to directly integrate stuff in it.
Very aesthetic theme and responsive layout.
~14 lakh chrome users and ~2.5 lakh firefox users already installed it. Prominent tech websites and tech-bloggers recommend it, hence unlikely to go out of business soon.

In this article, we’ll see how to shift to feedly and how to optimize it for exam preparation.

Installing Feedly

First you’ve to install feedly extension in your browser.

chrome users click me
firefox users click me

Once you install, a green page asks you to either login or connect to google reader.

Tech Feedly 1

Since you’re using it first time, click on connect to google reader.

Tech Feedly 2

New window pops up, type of google reader username-password, which is same as you gmail username password.

Another new window comes, click “allow Access” and rest will be taken care of automatically.

Fine-tuning feedly for Competitive exams

Organizing feeds

on the left hand corner, feedly displays your name, and three buttons “organize, preference, logout” click on organize. you get a window like this.

Use drag n drop and various icons to arrange your feeds into various categories.
to add new feeds, first copy the RSS link (for example the links given below)
then goto feedly page (in Chrome, click on new tab, you’ll see feedly icon. and in firefox, it is near google search box)
While in feedly page, do as showin following screens:

A new tab will come, save the RSS feed subscriptioin approrpriate category or create a new category then save.

By the way, always keep habit of classifying news and notes whether you read it online or do it via physical paper. A bigger picture will emerge after 2-3-5-7 months, when the individual pieces start fitting in the bigger picture especially for diplomacy/International relations and economy.

Here is the list of RSS-feeds that you should consider adding (if you already had google reader then these feeds will be already displayed in your feedly, just a few minor changes in URLs for certain sites).

Following list is not exhaustive or sacred, use it as per your taste and requirements.

Diplomacy / International relations (IR)

Note: C Rajamohan writes for Indianexpress, provides decent fodder points on India-China, India-US and India and its neighbors. IDSA website also covers many goods areas/topics of international relations.

Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)

Why follow three sites? Because UPSC getting obsessed with EnB, so you don’t miss out any ‘good-stuff’. Besides these sites don’t upload dozens of EnB news everyday. So reading load is not becoming very high.

Economy

Note: The Hindu also gives RSS-feeds for Stock-quotes and markets but that stuff usually provides very low fodder material / MCQ worthy info. So cost-benefit ration not good, hence skipped here.

You can add more to this like RSS feeds of Indianexpress, financialtimes depends on your taste and time. but usually the news keeps overlapping.

Science-tech

Note: Hindu also provides aggregate RSS feed for Sci-tech but if we use that, it’ll lead to overlapping news with EnB section. That’s why giving three separate feeds. b

Besides sometimes technology feeds have useless stuff related to mobile gadgets. So makes it easier to weedout (when tech feed is separate, it doesn’t clutter the ‘whole sci-tech’).

Columns

Editorials/columns

You can add individual writers, from here: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/ (click on names and then right click on orange colored RSS icon). You can add more to this list from Indianexpress, TimesofIndia etc. as well.
Their main purpose is to provide fodder material for Essay, descriptive papers and interview.
but keep the cost-benefit ratio in mind. Some people consistently write well, others are bogus and some have never grown up beyond the era of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. Observe for 3-4 articles then unsubscribe the irrelevant.

Letters to editors

Letters to editor are written by readers (who usually disagree with what was given in previous article/column!) So, they provide you different angle / dimension / viewpoint to the same news-story/column. Helps you see a bigger, bipartisan picture.

Exam related sites

https://mrunal.org/feed (shameless self-promotion hahaha)
http://feedproxy.google.com/sarkari-naukri

Note: Sarkari naukri website gives alerts on vacancies in Central-State Government, universities and PSUs. Given the extremely competitive and unpredictable nature of UPSC results (at Prelims, mains and interview), you shouldn’t put all eggs in one basket –especially when you don’t have an IIT/IIM/CA/Doctor degree and have given more than two attempts in UPSC.

Polity n Yearbook

Notes on individual feeds:

What to read in pib.nic.in?

pib.nic.in provides updates on Government schemes policies, recommendation of Committee, schemes, statements of PM/minister etc.
So in a way it covers many areas: rights issue, public health, EnB, Sci-Tech, diplomacy.
Ignore trivial stuff like appointment of new Secretary in telecom dept.
Do read the speeches of ministers. Because they usually contain some good fodder material for essay and mains-GS (like stats for poverty, Development, launch of new scheme/policy etc)
Similarly the “joint statements” released after meetings with foreign leader / foreign summit= important. they provide you fodder for diplomacy/IR.
Salient features of government policies and schemes should be noted down.
Yes, TheHindu/Indianexpress articles will also give you the salient features of schemes/policy but they usually omit many points which may be important for exam but not so important for a journalist’s point of view.
So whenever you want salient features of schemes/policy= pib.
Similarly when you want salient features of act/bill=PRSindia.
Bottom line: if something can be asked in MCQs or can be used as fodder for mains/essay/interview then it is important, otherwise ignore. Solve last 2 years’ prelim+mains papers (+ this year’s prelim paper) and you’ll see what information is worthy tracking and what information is worth skipping. This rule applies to all books, magazines, PDF, studymaterial, and websites.

Regarding other RSS-feeds

Prsindia’s old rss link wasn’t working, hence I’ve given new RSS link. PRSindia gives you highlight of bills, Acts and other polity stuff.
Thehindu’s national feed sometimes also gives useless stuff like how many passed in CBSE exam etc. But pay attention to Committee reports, defense purchases, SC judgments etc. More on what to read and what to skip in Hindu, already explained here click me
Soli Sorabjee writes for Indianexpress. Sometimes unimportant stuff like Jazz and Music but otherwise good fodder for polity and judiciary related developments.

Profile/Location based interview Qs

For UPSC interview, you need to be up-to-date regarding the developments taking place in your state, city, district (=profile/location based interview questions). so add the RSS feeds accordingly.
The Hindu covers only a few cities and states (click me to see the list)
for remaing place, go to this page of Indian express www.indianexpress.com/rss/ locate your city / state and subscribe to its RSS feed.

Where do I get more RSS-list?

all newspaper websites provide sectional RSS (for individual topics like Economy, Sci-tech etc.). goto following pages and grab more if you need.

Hindu http://www.thehindu.com/navigation/?type=rss
Indianexpress http://www.indianexpress.com/rss/
Economic Times http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/rss.cms

Misc/Timepass RSS

http://www.thehindu.com/books/know-your-english/?service=rss

Provides articles on English idioms, phrases, grammar.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/fakingnews

They do mockery of current news (particularly bashing Mohan and Rahul). Good read when life gets too stressful and serious.

Timepass RSS list can go long endless like theonion.com, lifehacker.com, the-editing-room.com
But use caution. Such websites are designed in a way that when you get to bottom of one article, it’ll show you list and photos of other funny/timepass articles and you can end up spending whole day reading stuff that has no application in exams.
Self discipline is necessary. Try to spend your internet-time on productive reading, Don’t waste it on facebook, orkut, MP3, themes, movies, games and wallpapers.

Feedly: Tweaking options

on the left hand corner, feedly displays your name, and three buttons “organize, preference and logout”
click on preference.
A new list of options is given.

Option	What to do?
Featured Articles	Click “no”, because exam oriented feeds are already subscribed. this thing occupies unnecessary space on our feedly homepage and gives useless breaking-news type articles like Vindu Darasingh and BCCI chairman’s son-in-law’s connections in IPL matchfixing.
Finance Module	Delete whatever text is written here. Because it tracks share-market prices, hardly useful for exam.

There are many other options, to change link colors etc. I suggest you play with those settings as and when time and mood permits.

Mrunal’s Autonotemaker (now working with Win8)

Whenever you select some phrases/sentences in any web/pdf article, this software copies it in a note. so when you combine this with RSS-reader, it becomes a killer combo.
instruction and free download link given here click me
Works flawlessly with Microsoft XP (SP3).
and now works for Win8 too, if you launch it via ‘right click on icon–>Run as Administrator”. Using the same principle (launch program using right click–>run as administor) this should also work for win7 (or I atleast hope so!)

Getting PDF output from webpages

If you use chrome browser, you can directly save webpages as PDFs.
for example, in case of my website, scrolldown to bottom right corner, there is a pink button saying “print || PDF” click on it and press Ctrl+P. you get option to save as PDF

If this thing doesn’t work, reasons are following:

You’re using outdated version of chrome. Download the latest one by clicking me
In above screenshot, observe there is a button titled “Change” in the left panel. click it and select PDF.
perhaps your printspooler function is has stopped. press Win+R key. “run” window comes.

type “services.msc”, a new Window comes,

Scroll down the list and make sure printspooler is running. otherwise click on start/restart button on left hand corner of that window.

329 Comments

Raghu BV 27/05/2013 at 10:49 pm - Reply

thank u sir ji
Mister 27/05/2013 at 10:57 pm - Reply

I want to thank Sir Mrunal for his articles specially Economy’s Concept Articles and EnB Articles.All economics questions are completely based on Mrunal Sir’s articles.
And guyz plz respect this website and Mrunal’s work,whatever you are getting be happy with that and keep preparing for mains.If you think deserve a place in mains than u surely got it.
manoj 27/05/2013 at 10:58 pm - Reply

friends this time 2nd paper was easy but very lengthy gs appears to be easy but options given were too confusing so cutoff will be more or less same as last year 210.
- God8 27/05/2013 at 11:54 pm - Reply
  
  are manoj ji kya bat kahi… bas esa hi ho.. hopin 4 d best
manoj 27/05/2013 at 11:01 pm - Reply

and thanks to mrunal for his great help.
Misfit Medico 27/05/2013 at 11:58 pm - Reply

One querry,
People who are using android phone or using mobile to read HINDU paper,
There isnt section of Science and technology ?

Is there any way , that we can read science and tech of HINDU from Mobile ?
Kavinder Negi 28/05/2013 at 12:06 am - Reply

Well for those who are talking of 240 to 245 cutoff, they are just spreading panic among others.

Schadenfreude !!!

But I won’t also agree with those who claim the sanctimony of 210 as cut off. It increased from 2011 to 2012 from 190+ to 209. So the increase in cut off is quite possible, but the magnitude as per my hunch can’t be more than +5 to +10.

(CL and some andhra coaching center’s key)
Paper 1 – 87.
Paper 2 – 178

Total – 265

CSP 2012:
Paper 1 – 58
Paper 2 – 167
Raman 28/05/2013 at 12:38 am - Reply

This is an amazing post..especially for people like me who are working..We can’t sift through two-three newspapers and govt websites to collect notes daily..but this makes life so easy (or maybe this part of life – collecting the info ;p )..now i just need my laptop or phone and i can read these articles anytime manage them…mrunal you rock…thanks a lot..you in yourself have become a brand for me.
Abhi 28/05/2013 at 12:53 am - Reply

helo friends,This is my 1st post here in comments section.
Its strange to see cut of speculatns amngst canditates.
CSat paper ths year was nt easy, this new pattern is in accordance with what upsc notified about change in marking scheme startng ths year.
See notice on website along with notification.
Nearest to corect ans marking scheme in some questns. I guess thats why abt 10-15 qtns had tricky choices.

Second, 1 who realy wants to b a civil servant should cntinue study n nt wait fr pre result.
RAHUL 28/05/2013 at 1:01 am - Reply

dear mrunal sir
will thr diffrence among IFS cuttoff and IAS cuttoff????plz try to analyse..if yes how much?? IFS cutt off wld be less r high thn IAS cutt off????plz analyse the issue….plz dont ignore,,,thnk u so much.
ankita 28/05/2013 at 1:53 am - Reply

Mrunal Sir

Please give your idea of approximately what the cut off could be looking at the difficulty level of question papers. Everybody is saying so much. this is leaving the students confused and demoralised.
- Who am I ? 28/05/2013 at 2:10 am - Reply
  
  Certainly not below 250/400 . Last year many students were predicting 200-205 . But it was 209 actually . This year I don’t know how but every engineering student is scoring 150+ in Paper-II ( I’m not ). Paper I was very easy so regular students have scored 150+ . Kul mila kar score lag-bhag sabhi ke score 250+ ho gaye hain ! Aur main bahar ho gaya hun !!!
  - chakmak 28/05/2013 at 9:08 am - Reply
    
    look i don’t know any person who scored 150 in first paper although it was easier than before. AND 2nd paper was lengthy ( there is no iota of doubt in it). AND those who scored good marks are the only ones busy on all the discussion forums discouraging others. I think CL has summed it well it will not be beyond 220. also Waiting for mrunal’s analysis though.
  - Abhishek 28/05/2013 at 10:38 am - Reply
    
    bhai paper 1 was average not easy. There were some difficult questions although I would admit history/economy/polity were relatively easy. Questions on National Parks etc. were quite difficult. If someone is scoring ~150 in paper 1, I’d say that they have done quite a commendable job. Nevertheless, speculating about cut-offs is fruitless at best. Let’s do what is in hour hands and start preparing for the main exam. If we can qualify good for us, if not we will use this knowledge next year. Good luck!!!
  - udit 28/05/2013 at 11:33 am - Reply
    
    well the problem is that last year me and 10 of my frnds gave the pre .one scored 110 out of 400 ,i scored 180 and the others 150-170 .the problem now is that each one of us is getting 240-260.we all prepared well no doubt..nd there are st category students also in this group.nd to be very exact i dnt find any one in my group as brilliant.so cut off will rise undoubtedly bcoz avg scores people are getting is 220-230 .nw lets c.
    - Zodiac 28/05/2013 at 5:35 pm - Reply
      
      udit you are forgetting that freshers outweigh seasoned players thats why the disconnect. everybody don’t give the exam with revenge mindset.
  - Whatever you are 28/05/2013 at 1:42 pm - Reply
    
    last year i was there in mukherji nagar for 6 months ..and each and every individual was predicting at-least 220 marks for cutoff (many were predicting 240 )…and u knw what happened ..
  - Amit 28/05/2013 at 2:01 pm - Reply
    
    Every engineer is not by default a champion in Maths & I know how students study in Engineering college. I have enough engineer friends who struggle enough to solve simple problems which is the same case with Arts/ commerce grads. I request you not to demoralize people.
- baba g 28/05/2013 at 3:28 am - Reply
  
  hello ankita !!
  this year’s cut off will be around 215-220 only.all other assumptions above 225 and all will be assumptions only.so if your score is above this then start preparing for the mains now.
- Prashant 28/05/2013 at 12:28 pm - Reply
  
  Dnt be nervous just prepare for mains. Nobody can predict anything.
  - ak 28/05/2013 at 1:09 pm - Reply
    
    yup ,,,very true…
Misfit Medico 28/05/2013 at 2:10 am - Reply

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/hyderabad-witnesses-poor-attendance-for-civils-preliminary-a-mere-43-turn-up/article4753644.ece

Seems like, Cut off is not going to increase the way it is expected..
tanya 28/05/2013 at 2:13 am - Reply

Mrunal sir
Please suggest a strategy for mains so that we can begin with our preparations asap! It won’t be possible without your guidance..the beginning is the toughest part! (my first attempt)..i think the strategy ( which book, newspaper) broadly is pretty clear..but it would b still better if u cud give da specifics..like world history,socialismetc..just to make sure dere r no gaps.. Thanks in advance :D
Misfit Medico 28/05/2013 at 2:49 am - Reply

@ Mrunal SIr, and other Medicos who are following this wonderful blog religiously,
Kindly help me out.

I have appeared for CSE-2013 on this 26th may.
I will clear prelims but the worrying this is I have still not decided on the optionals.

I have 2 options :
1) Medical Science
2) Gujrati Literature.

Being a doc, I am comfortable with MS, as syllabus is not vast as it is made out to be.
But, during previous years, there was considerable gap in GS and optionals, depending upon the timetable.

Now paper style is changed for mains.

1st Dec 13 – GS paper-1
2nd Dec 13- GS paper-2
3rd Dec 13 -GS paper-3
4th Dec 13 – GS paper-4
5th Dec-13 – one Optional.

Now After finishing of GS paper -4 ,
I will be appearing for MS .
now within one night, it seems impossible to revise.

So can you guide me, how to tackle this concern ?

2) Gujrati literature :

I studied upto 12 th in Gujrati medium only.
I used to read Gujrati novels in school days but nothing like mentioned in syllabus.
since last 8-10 years no reading of Gujrati and no idea about its literature as well.
Though I am not fond of MS, but Gujrati lit can be irritating ..
So I want to take MS optional, but the cause of concern is inadequate time for revision.

If possible , kindly arrange an interview of a senior who has cleared Mains this year.

Kindly guide me at the earliest.
Thanking You,
Misfit Medico
- VIPs 28/05/2013 at 3:30 am - Reply
  
  I think your granny would write language papers and essay for you whenever she wants ….
  - bhai 28/05/2013 at 12:41 pm - Reply
    
    hey considering the literature part…. upsc is pretty f**ked up abt the parliament giving way to popular feelin from the south and other parts about letting the literature stay as an optional for evry1 including the non grads in that particular language. i guess they will make the language tough papers and also very tough correction. i mean its just my hitch .im not assuring they are gonna do this.just guessing. im a medico too..dude the portion is pretty vast even for 6 months.
    choose ur options wisely
    - Zodiac 28/05/2013 at 1:51 pm - Reply
      
      @bhai, you are making a lot of assumption, language(regional) is in Indian DNA so anyone who can manage a language paper will get increasing returns vis a vis social sciences(optional) like history,geography, psychology, political. however changes in the GS paper and their increased weightage with social science orientation will more than counter regional language advantage, in the previous setup language played crucial role but now it wont affect final score(advantage)esp with increased Essay(250) and GS paper 4(with lot of subjectivity). In short, take language only if you are equally strong in GS or to put it differntly Language+Strong GS will be better than language+ average GS(because it will offset the advantage)
- Dr Nirmalya 28/05/2013 at 3:44 am - Reply
  
  dear sir,…..i would suggest medical science…i too m doing the sAme….i met dr pankaj jain from aiims rank 13 cse 2011….he suggested that we shud opt for mains coz it is really mark scoring…a minimum 50 percent is guaranteed….and the matter to be read is also very less compared to our university xams
  - Dr Nirmalya 28/05/2013 at 4:01 am - Reply
    
    sorry rank 15…he scored 370 out of 600….oh but he was doing his Mch neurosurgery….still…other MBBS students like Dr vijay dahiya…and shena aggarwal too have performed spectacularly using med science…….and ya…in interview a senior of mine was grilled for not having opted med science inspite of being a doctor….they ask you profile based questions in interviews….so it will come handy if u prepare medical science…
vineet 28/05/2013 at 6:47 am - Reply

Sir..!

M a mobile user..!

So cud u tell ..!

Can it run on mobile ..!
If not it is..!

Then plz sir make this one for mobile..!
Abhi 28/05/2013 at 6:57 am - Reply

helo friends,This is my 1st post here in comments section.
Its strange to see cut of speculatns amngst canditates.
CSat paper ths year was nt easy, this new pattern is in accordance with what upsc notified about change in marking scheme startng ths year.
See notice on website along with notification.
Nearest to corect ans marking scheme in some questns. I guess thats why abt 10-15 qtns had tricky choices.

Second, 1 who realy wants to b a civil servant should cntinue study n nt wait fr pre result.

Third- its just an advice i am not UPSC
abil 28/05/2013 at 7:14 am - Reply

dear all, i sincerely request you to start foccusing on your mains preparation rather than wasting your time on pointless discussions regarding cut off.EVERY SINGLE MINUTE counts. Even in a worst case scenario when a person will falter in prelims ,it should not be a reason for you to get disheartened.the hard work will pay you in your next attempt. please utilise the forum for productive discussions.
adios
Ambika Prasad Mishra 28/05/2013 at 8:25 am - Reply

Sir I am planning to give civil service prelimnary exam in 2014.I am in doubt to buy which GS manual for preparation.The 2014 edition will be in market after mains exam.so I will wait for that or buy an old one.If I would buy a n old one which manual is the best?Answer this please.
love verma 28/05/2013 at 8:53 am - Reply

dear friends,
in paper 1 i got set B. but the invigilator shadowed A by mistake(where they required to do it). Then we applied whitner on it and darkened B(right code). Guys will it create any problem for me, whatever a candidate had to fill, i have done that carefully but that was the fault of invigilator. plz help what should i do
ranswitzer 28/05/2013 at 9:21 am - Reply

@XY
last years ST cut off was 181……so 185+ will b in safe side….don’t get panic n start preparing for mains coz TIME WON’T WAIT 4 US . n never get nervous with d TALL CLAIMS of others like 300+(they wont clear pre——they r here 2 demoralized others AS THEY R NOT ABLE TO SCORE GOOD MARKS in pre nnTHEY R ALREADY IN DEPRESSED STATE)…whether any one clear it this time or not…s/he need to write mains one day….so just stick to mains preparation n dont live in the state of confusion.

all d best…
- XY 28/05/2013 at 10:30 am - Reply
  
  @ranswitzer Thanks for the message. PaperI scored was satisfactory, but paper-II was time worth attempting. Anyway let’s focus for the mains, time never wait us as u said. Go ahead pal ALL D BEST.
Prince 28/05/2013 at 9:34 am - Reply

My Score is between 214-218…….Not getting motivation to prepare for mains :( after seeing so many high scorers.
- CSN 28/05/2013 at 11:24 am - Reply
  
  Yaar prince sorry to say but despite scoring such good marks i feel u are a MTV BAKRA becoz u are easily getting trapped by some guys spreading nuisance cutoffs(like 230+,240+ bla bla).Their only aim i think is to discourage others to not to prepare so their way will become clear becoz if they are getting such high scores which i doubt,then they also know it very well it is becoz of CSAT paper and in mains their is no CSAT only GK.
  - Nikhil 28/05/2013 at 7:16 pm - Reply
    
    liked that…:)
John AbRaham Lincoln 28/05/2013 at 9:50 am - Reply

198 general category … should i prepare for mains ?
- Amit 28/05/2013 at 10:11 am - Reply
  
  you shoud prepare for mains
upsc aspirant 28/05/2013 at 10:04 am - Reply

any chance for score 175
vaibhav 28/05/2013 at 10:26 am - Reply

208 is my score.. can i be sure about my selection.. any please help..
body
- udit 28/05/2013 at 11:36 am - Reply
  
  if u r of gen category ,then no chance .
IQBAL 28/05/2013 at 10:28 am - Reply

Dear Mrunal Sir
205… genaral category + applied for IFS as well .How should I proceed ahead.
nitin 28/05/2013 at 10:39 am - Reply

sir were is the link of your article on mains,not for books i already read it,article on how to write essay for mains,i cant find it? your articles really help me to understand my mistakes so before going to start preparing for mains, i really want to read them or please provide article on mains…
- Abhishek 28/05/2013 at 12:19 pm - Reply
  
  .
vijay 28/05/2013 at 10:45 am - Reply

sir,

Please post both the question papers of ias csat pre along with answer key.

Thank you!
Pragya 28/05/2013 at 11:03 am - Reply

Hi Mrunal,

First of all thank u very much for ur incredible guidance till now, ur articles helped me a lot in csat preparation.Now please suggest me books,reading stuff and strategy for GS all papers and pub. Admin. optional as soon as possible b’cause i don’t wanna to waste even a single minute.
Navdeep 28/05/2013 at 11:05 am - Reply

cut-off would be between 215-220. Not more than that..So start preparing..in any case if not this year this preparation wil help next year.. After all we HAVE to clear this exam.. there’s no other option.. Best of Luck to all of you !
Navdeep 28/05/2013 at 11:06 am - Reply

My precise ..estimate is around 215-216
Abhishek 28/05/2013 at 11:20 am - Reply

I tried posting a comment earlier but it says moderation something. Dunt knw, its my first post.

In case this goes thru-

Paper 1 was not easy but in accordance with new rules of marking by UPSC as stated in its circular/Notice.
” for all questions except
some of the questions where the negative marking will
be inbuilt in the form of different marks being
awarded to the most appropriate and not so
appropriate answer for such questions.”

Plus i guess everyone above 198 should start preparing for mains if their ultimate goal is to be a Civil Servant. Even ones below should not rest and keep prepartion continued.

Secondly – Answer keys are not by UPSC, Last year also Answer keys by Main institutes like CL had a conflict of 25-28 questions.

All the best.