The UPSC Exam is conducted in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Personality test. Current affairs play a significant role in all three stages as part of the syllabus. There is no fixed syllabus for current affairs so in this article, we will share the best tips on how to prepare for it.
How significant is Current affairs?
Every year about 15-20 current affairs questions are asked in the Prelims and around 60-70% of all questions are related to current affairs in some way making it especially important if you want to score marks.
The candidates who clear the examinations successfully are going to have opportunities to lead public sector undertakings (PSUs), take part in decision-making roles in healthcare, tourism, finance, etc., and must show a deep understanding and awareness of current affairs to play that part.
Tips on how to prepare for current affairs
1. Limit your sources
There is an ample number of sources to read from so you must reduce your reading list to ensure you do not get drowned with a vast amount of data. The more sources you try to read, the less likely you will read since you will think it is too much to cover with the time you have and never start at all.
A few useful sources are:
- India Yearbook
- Newspaper- The Hindu, Indian Express
- Manorama Yearbook
- Economic Survey
- Mathrubhumi Yearbook
- Current Affairs – Arihant
- Yojana Magazine
- Kurukshetra Magazine
- Pratiyogita Darpan Magazine
Any government-released source is a useful source to learn from. Try to read at least 2 newspapers once a day, go through a weekly newsletter at the end of the week, and read a monthly recap magazine at the end of the month.
2. Time Limitation
Do not let current affairs take up all the time throughout your day since you will not have time to study for the other subjects. Current affairs are important, but you are going to be tested on your awareness of its importance and not dates, names, or details. Make sure you read up on current affairs for not more than 2 hours a day and spend the rest studying for prelims and mains.
3. Do not mug up
You cannot mug up current affairs since they are not looking for details of events but your understanding of it with context to topics. What you can do instead is remember dates by associating some issues with the news and the organization/country associated with it.
4. Know what not to read
Not everything that appears in the newspapers and magazines is important or relevant to study so make sure you know what to spend your time on and what not to spend your time on when preparing current affairs.
5. Link topics
A candidate’s ability to link topics is particularly important for the USPC Exams. Linking topics with current affairs shows how well you know the topic enough to understand the history behind it and is aware of how it can help India progress further. The USPC may not be interested in inauguration dates but would be interested in your knowledge of how to build trade relations and how inaugurations help India’s ties with international organizations and countries.
6. Focus on issues
As mentioned before; The USPC is not interested in checking your memorization skills on current affairs but checking how well you have the ability to go beyond the information and understand the bigger picture. make sure you try to understand the issue the news is forecasting and not the details of the event.
7. Make notes online
Make sure you keep track of the news by making notes. Handwriting notes is a tedious task for current affairs since it should not be given that much time for preparation so make notes using online applications for faster note-taking.
8. Revise
Make sure you consistently revise to ensure you remember events. You will have to learn 12 – 18 months’ worth of current affairs in preparation for the USPC Exams so constantly revise to retain the knowledge. An easy revision tactic is reading a daily compilation at the end of the day, a weekly compilation every week, and a monthly compilation at the end of each month and referring through your notes at least once in two weeks.
9. Make it a daily aspect of your life
Make sure you are not only reading the news for the Exams but also making it a daily aspect of your life. Talk to friends and family about current affairs so you can retain the details as well as learn the latest information from them. Try to watch the news while eating or when you are taking a break so you can passively learn as well.
10. Different languages After reading the news in English once, try to read it in the language you are going to write your Language Paper in as it will help not only in preparation for current affairs but also your language paper.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. FAQ: Why is staying updated on current affairs crucial for UPSC CSE preparation?
Answer: Staying updated on current affairs is crucial for UPSC CSE preparation because it forms a significant portion of the examination. The UPSC aims to assess not just your knowledge of historical events but also your awareness of contemporary issues. A strong grasp of current affairs demonstrates your analytical abilities, relevance, and understanding of the world around you.
2. FAQ: How can I efficiently manage my time to stay updated on current affairs alongside my regular UPSC CSE preparation?
Answer: To efficiently manage your time, consider dedicating a specific time slot each day for current affairs. Utilize reputable news sources, apps, and websites for concise updates. Additionally, integrate current affairs discussions into your study groups or use audio formats like podcasts to make the most of your commuting or workout time.
3. FAQ: Are there specific areas within current affairs that UPSC tends to focus on more than others?
Answer: UPSC has a broad spectrum of interests, but certain topics consistently feature in the examination, such as national and international politics, economics, science and technology, environment, and social issues. Candidates should prioritize these areas but maintain a well-rounded awareness of various subjects to excel in the diverse UPSC question paper.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
