Silver linings...

 GS 2 Strategy : GS2 paper has three broad components: polity, governance and international relations. The sources and answer writing has been accordingly explained.  Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.  Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. Salient

Geography is one of the lengthiest and trickiest optionals for this exam. I took this optional because of my earth science background and because it overlapped with parts of GS1 and GS3 papers. I didn't change my optional in any attempt because I always found it more difficult to prepare a new optional from scratch rather than improving the one already prepared. This optional unfortunately has not performed well in last few years but UPSC is unpredictable, so you have to take your own call. From my last selection to this selection, the only addition was Himanshu Sharma's notes for human geography, especially geographical thoughts part. I didn't do his coaching but joined 8 tests test series and gave 3 tests. For rest of the tests, I just saw the solutions. I had bought his notes of human geography from the market. Rest of the approach and sources remains the same . Geography is a lengthy optional therefore it should be prepared along with current affairs throughout the year

GS 1 paper is one of the easiest papers as it has a defined syllabus and should be prepared first. Please have a look at last years question papers to understand the type of questions asked. This should be done for all the papers to have a concrete strategy for preparation.  My sources for this paper are as follows: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. (i) Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Source: Old and new NCERTS of ancient and medieval India, currents affairs art and culture, CCRT material, new fine arts NCERT Approach: For mains, focus should be on contribution to Indian art, architecture and literature by different dynasties and during different periods like Gupta, Mauryan, Mughals, Indus Valley people. Vijaynagar kingdom etc. Focus on broad questions like features of buddhist architecture, difference between north Indian and south Indian temples etc Answ

Prelims is the first stage of UPSC examination and undoubtedly the most competitive one. This is "the" stage of elimination therefore, it is to be taken with utmost seriousness. It has two parts: CSAT which is Paper 2 and GS which is Paper 1. Let's talk about Paper 2 first. CSAT is an aptitude test and not a mathematics test. Therefore you don't have to be scared about this exam if you are not from a science-maths background. All what you have to do is solve last year question papers. Similar types of questions are asked every year. Just try to solve every type of question which has been asked and practice them daily. For more practice you can buy some CSAT tests of coaching institutes but keep the UPSC papers as your standard. Even those who had maths in 12th or are from engineering background, please practice one or two tests before the real exam Now let's talk about GS paper. The first thing that you should do is look at last year question papers and identify t

Birds or the "feathered bipeds" never fail to amuse me. Since I hear them all the time, I often get tempted to go out and have a look. Here are some of the shots which I got almost two years back in my IISER campus at Haringhata when birding for me was limited to getting clicks ;) More will follow in the next blogs but with some accompanying stories :)    Black Drongo Flameback Woodpecker Flameback Woodpecker Black-hooded Oriole Black-hooded Oriole White-throated Kingfisher Blue-throated Barbet Blue-throated Barbet Common Tailorbird Purple-rumped Sunbird Purple-rumped Sunbird Waterhen Lesser Cormorant Grey heron Spotted dove Spotted owlet Magpie Robin (female) Rose-ringed parakeets

Like all mornings I woke up today to rich music of birds in a lush green BHU campus. Totally shielded from the outer world, living in my own cocoon, I could not feel anything but pure bliss. I got down to making some tea for me and switched on the TV. Besides the DELHI election news, there was once again a ‘BADI KHABAR” about a gang rape video which showed 5 young men raping a women and smiling and posing for the video. Not again I thought and changed the channel. In the ongoing 50 “Fatafat khabrein”, I again saw a news of an 8 yr old girl found murdered in Karnataka. She was allegedly raped and murdered. I turned off the TV and turned over to my laptop to do the daily morning ritual i.e. checking facebook.. Not surprisingly the gang rape video was all over the newsfeed. There were feelings of anguish and sympathy. Nothing more, nothing less. I clicked on the video. 5 seconds on and I was trembling. I shut down my laptop and it took almost 10-15 minutes for my heart to stop pounding

The celebration of democracy has begun with the formal announcement of elections by the Election Commission of India and the contesting parties are all geared up to move on to the battlefields but are we, "the voters" prepared !!!! Me, being the first time voter ( really ashamed to say that having wasted one opportunity) is very excited to be a part of the process which over the last 6 decades has ensured the perpetuity of our parliamentary democracy system but am I ready to take the responsibility as a voter for the leadership which India will have post elections. Are we as voters not equally responsible for the mess into which our country is in today ? Should we not be held accountable for choosing such leaders over and over again who publish their manifestos as a mere formality? Are we not responsible if our country is day by day loosing its foothold in the international arena and is now far behind its peers such as China and Brazil ? We blame it on leaders but we forge