General Studies for UPSC

Every UPSC aspirant has to prepare for General Studies (GS), both for prelims and mains. General studies can seem intimidating due to the vastness of the syllabus and the need to keep up with current affairs. While studying for GS the candidate also needs to develop a bigger picture perspective and practice regularly.

Edukemy is the best upsc coaching in Delhi for general studies exam preparation. We offer online and offline general studies courses. Our experienced faculty provides comprehensive mentorship throughout your UPSC journey.

Prelims are stage 1 of the UPSC examinations. Prelims include 2 papers - GS1 and GS2 (CSAT) of 200 marks each. Total marks for the Prelims = 400.

The Mains exams are stage 2 of the UPSC examinations. Mains include 9 papers of which 4 are of General Studies (GS1, GS2, GS3, GS4), 2 are of optional subject, essay, compulsory Indian language, and English. Compulsory Indian language and English are qualifying exams. The rest of the 7 exams are of 250 marks each. Total marks for Mains = 1750.

Check out the detailed UPSC exam pattern!

Best GS Teacher

Mr. Shabbir A. Bashir, the co-founder of Edukemy is the best GS teacher for UPSC preparation. With experience of over 20 years in the industry, he provides exceptional guidance to each & every student in his/her upsc journey. The Edukemy faculty goes above and beyond to provide top-notch mentorship to the students, especially for general studies. To provide students with the experience of the best IAS coaching in Delhi we focus on comprehensive coverage of the syllabus along with exam pattern understanding, application-based learning, and interactive sessions with guided courses.

Watch this YouTube video in which Shabbir Sir, the best faculty for geography & GS for UPSC, guides students on how to best prepare for the General Studies examinations!

GS Syllabus for UPSC

The first step to preparing successfully is to have a complete and thorough understanding of the GS syllabus for UPSC.

GS Syllabus for IAS Prelims Paper - 1

• Current events of national & international importance. 
• Indian History & Indian National Movement. 
• Indian as well as World Geography – Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India & the World. 
• Indian Polity. 
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• Common issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change – not requiring subject specialization. 
• General Science.

CSAT Syllabus for IAS Prelims

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numerical skills (Class X level) (orders of magnitude, numbers & their relations, etc.) 
• Data Interpretation (Class X level) (graphs, charts, tables, data sufficiency, etc.)

Here’s a broad view of GS Syllabus for IAS Mains:

General Studies I

• Indian Heritage & Culture
• History & Geography of the World & Society

General Studies II

• Governance
• Constitution
• Polity
• Social Justice
• International Relations

General Studies III

• Technology
• Economic Development
• Biodiversity
• Security
• Disaster Management

General Studies IV

• Ethics
• Integrity
• Aptitude

Download the Complete General Studies Syllabus PDF!

GS Foundation Course for UPSC

Edukemy’s GS Foundation Course offers

• Comprehensive coverage of the syllabus for GS Papars 1,2,3 & 4 along with CSAT.
• Guided learning to develop MCQ-solving skills and answer-writing skills.
• Application-based learning by building analytical and logical skills.
• Current affairs mastery through weekly tests, analysis, and newsletters.
• Thorough understanding of the exam pattern.
• Engaging & interactive sessions with games, competitions, and activities. 

Check out more details about Edukemy’s GS Foundation Course!

GS Advanced Course for UPSC

Edukemy’s GS Advanced Course offers

• Complete revision with comprehensive synopsis creation
• Focus on core GS areas along with creating detailed notes, practicing answer writing, and PYQs.
• Intense preparation for prelims with synopsis revision, PYQ practice, and weekly tests with performance tracking.
• Sprint for the mains preparation with revisiting advanced GS notes, writing essays, and marathon sessions.

Check out more details about Edukemy’s GS Advanced Course!

UPSC CSE GS Integrated Course

Edukemy’s GS Integrated Course focuses not only on syllabus completion but also on exam readiness by including advanced learnings.

Edukemy’s GS Integrated Course offers:

• Complete coverage of the General Studies syllabus along with essay and CSAT preparation led by Shabbir Sir.
• MCQ solving & answer writing strategy.
• Application-based learning with analytical topics.
• Current affairs classes, discussions & quizzes.
• Marathon sessions with synopsis creation and practice of PYQs.

Enroll now for Edukemy’s GS Integrated course rated 4.9 out of 5 by our students!

Preparation Strategy for UPSC

To ace the general studies papers for IAS, the aspirants not only need to work hard but also have a strategic approach towards the preparation.

Here are some preparation strategies for UPSC:

1. Understand the exam pattern so that your preparation journey starts on the right note.

2. Build a structured study plan covering all the GS topics and stick to the timelines.

3. Focus on conceptual understanding rather than just memorization. It will help in answering the L2 and L3 questions effectively.

4. Regularly practice the previous years’ questions (PYQs), mock tests, and sample papers to improve speed & accuracy.

5. Stay on top of national and international current affairs. Read newspapers, magazines, and online resources to stay informed about recent developments.

6. Regularly revise to retain all the important GS topics.

7. Stay consistent with your preparation to maintain the momentum.

8. Take care of your physical health and mental wellbeing so that you can absorb all the information and perform your best! 

9. Seek guidance from your mentors, seniors, and faculty whenever you are facing any challenges.

The above-mentioned strategies enable holistic general studies preparation for UPSC!

General Studies Coaching - Online & Offline

To conquer the General Studies papers in the civil services examination every aspirant needs to prepare from the best upsc coaching, either online or offline. The preparation requires consistent effort, effective note-making, and regular practice of answer writing. The best faculty, resources, and strategy make for a winning combination and Edukemy offers all of them in its general studies foundation, advanced and integrated courses! The aspirant can choose the course as per their level of preparation so far.

To start your general studies preparation journey - schedule a FREE counseling session with us now!