GS 1 strategy and sources


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

Answer writing: try drawing maps, features of art and architecture to highlight important points. For eg: In the question on Gandhar art, I had actually drawn the Buddha face roughly and marked Greeco Roman features like curly hairs, half open eyes, perspective of shadow, urna between eyebrows etc



Fine arts NCERT


Old Medieval NCERT


Old Ancient NCERT


Old NCERT Medieval

This is to show you how we made notes in NCERT itself...We used to study just the underlined or written part in subsequent readings.

(ii) Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

Source: Both Bipin Chandra books as mentioned in prelims strategy

Approach: As is said in the syllabus itself, focus more on important events, contribution by different personalities like different Viceroys, the last mughal emperors, the regional kings who founded new states like Hyderabad, Mysore, Travancore , Marathas, Rajputs etc; important events like fall of Mughals, the Anglo Indian wars etc, development of Indian education system, the modern army, civil services and other such things.

Answer Writing: If you can remember and mention different dates along with your answer and include examples, that would be great.

(iii) The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

Source: Both Bipin Chandra Books (See the link in the end to understand how notes were made)

Approach: As mentioned in the syllabus, focus on sections of society like contribution of women, of children, of dalits, of tribals, of moderates, of extremists etc. Focus on contribution of different parts of India like north east, north India and south India, princely states vs the British governed regions, how struggles were different for these regions and what methodologies did they adopt, contribution of Gnadhiji, difference between important personalities like Sardar Patel, Nehru or Nehru vs Bose etc. Please  follow the news to see what is important for that year. For eg: Sardar Patel became important when his statue was inaugurated or north east became important was Rani Gaidinliu's birth centenary celebrations were inaugurated by PM Modi

Answer Writing: Mention dates and names of people where relevant. For eg: a question on extremists cannot go without mentioning Lal, Bal, Pal..


(iv) Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

Source: First few chapters from India since Independence by Bipin Chandra and Class XII NCERT : Politics in India since Independence

Approach : Focus again on broader questions like changes in administration, reorganization of states, Wars with Pakistan and China, food crisis and Green revolution, conduct of elections and how the freedom struggle played a role in development of different political parties, our industrial policies etc. Try studying the NCERT mentioned religiously. Each and every event mentioned in this book is important and you can read a few wiki pages if you need elaboration and make your own short notes.

Answer writing: Use maps, dates , names of people for brownie points.


Points made in the NCERT itself


(v) History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.

Source: Class XI NCERT for Industrial Revolution, Old NCERT Arjun Dev

Approach : They have asked all sorts of questions from this part. So you have to study the entire book.

Answer writing: Draw rough world maps (see Norman Lowe and NCERT to get a guide on how you can depict events on maps), use names and dates as much as possible


Making notes in NCERT itself


As history involves explaining events in time, its always advisable to mention dates and years (at least roughly, don't mention wrong although). Maps definitely make your answers more appealing :)

(vi) Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

Source: Class XII NCERT, Indian Society, Current Affairs, Vision IAS supplementary material

Approach : Read NCERT thoroughly and with understanding. For eg: Cast system is a prominent feature of Indian society. Try to answer questions like what is caste system, how it evolved, how it has created social problems like discrimination, untouchability against dalits, how it had deprived them of education, health , how lower caste groups have different norms and culture than higher caste ones, what steps have been taken by govt to address this starting with constitutional provisions, legal provisions, reservations etc . Also how reservation has helped and also led to new conflicts. All what I want to say is that prepare a topic comprehensively and from all possible sociological angles as mentioned.

Answer writing: Use reports and statistics to bolster your argument, draw flow charts or diagrams, give examples 

(vii) Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

(viii) Effects of globalization on Indian society.

(ix) Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Source: for all of the above three topics -> Current affairs, IGNOU pdfs 

Approach: Prepare notes covering these topics from sociological angles like definition of poverty, causes of poverty, vicious circle of poverty, communities most affected, issues such as ghettoisation, economics of poverty etc etc. These topics have also been covered in the other sociology NCERT of classXII. 

Answer writing: Use the different reports and indices like multidimensional poverty index, all indices related to women, different reports of Ministry of urban affairs extensively in this part for introduction to highlight the importance of the issue being answered. Try drawing simple diagrams and flowcharts. Search vicious cycle of poverty diagram and you will get an idea of what I am talking about.Something like this :


Please see the link also for some sample notes of sociology ncert books.

(x) Salient features of world’s physical geography.

Source: Geography is my optional therefore never had to prepare this. Read NCERT Physical Geography really well for this part and if needed, then can see some topics from a standard book like Savinder singh

(xi) Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

Source: Human Geography NCERT, Indian economic Geography NCERT and Goh Che Leong should be more than enough

(xii) Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Source: IMD Faqs for all these phenomena are more than sufficient combined with geography NCERTs of class XI and XII

Answer writing: Answer questions from all geographical angles . You can remember geography  optional Paper 2 syllabus for this purpose. It will help you give appropriate headings. For eg: for a question on river valley project, you can make points like effect on terrain, discharge of rivers, on resources, environmental effects , cultural effects, political effects etc (these are all mentioned in the syllabus if you notice)

Some of the sample notes for history and art and culture have been uploaded in prelims folder itself. Some more sample notes can be seen here in this link. I don't have access to all my books and notes as of now. 


Let me know if you have any further doubts.



Comments

  1. This matters very useful madam thankyou

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  2. Mam please share strategy on geography optional.

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  3. Very useful and insight full madam.
    If I may ask, could you ask any of your batch mates to share their strategy and sources for Mathematics optional?...(because, detailed strategy like yours isn't available for mathematics and there are very few sources to follow upon)

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    Replies
    1. Please search for Atul Prakash...he cleared it with more than 370 in maths optional. I'm sure he must have written his strategy somewhere...

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  4. Mam please share your geography optional notes

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  5. Very informative and helpful..ma'am plz share detailed strategy for geography optional answer writing.

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  6. Very great mam, I am from IISER Mohali, and an aspiring student for upsc. Please keep updates. Thanks for the details provided from yourside, both true motivation and guidance reflect in your post.

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  7. Ma'am, How can a boy who did her all education in medium, be able to crack this examination. My medium of education is hindi and I want to be an IFS officer but have been losing my hope after seeing the UPSC CSE result of hindi medium students. What should I do?? Please show me the right pathway.

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    Replies
    1. Medium doesn't matter. If even one is getting through the main list, you can as well. Having said that, your english communication skills seem fine. You can write this exam in english as well because the availability of material is definitely more for english medium candidates.

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  8. Mam please tell how to make notes of current affairs online. How can we accumulate everything we read, I mean from newspaper, insights, pib etc and etc.

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  9. Mam please tell how to make notes of current affairs online. How can we accumulate everything we read, I mean from newspaper, insights, pib etc and etc.

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    Replies
    1. Please watch my video on Youtube on the same. Search Anukriti sharma DKT on youtube and watch the first video that appears. You will get answer to all your questions there.

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  10. Ma'am, congratulations on getting air 138.
    Could you please share your gs,essay answer copies with evaluation so that it will be helpful for first timers particularly.

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  11. Mam plz share geo optional notes

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  12. Good evening ma'am , congratulations on your success .. maam if you could please provide the geography optional notes and with 1 optional written answer copy , so that it will easy to get the idea of writing answers ...

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  13. Mam will you please elaborate or make a separate strategy blog for current affairs

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  14. Hello mam... First and foremost. Congratulations πŸ’πŸ˜Š hope you r doing well
    Mam I have two doubts as follows:
    1. Should I practise each questions of the chapters in NCERT by writing answers after completion of the chapters
    2. I think your optional paper is SOCIOLOGY. I have choosen it.... And started studying but Because I am novice with this whole new subject. I don't know from where should i began with... What should be the basics i would refer.... Kindly request u to help me out mamπŸ™

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    Replies
    1. no, you don't need to answer NCERT questions . Try answering UPSC previous year question after completing NCERT chapters...
      My optional was geography and not sociology

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  15. Ma'am just saw u on dkt... Ma'am can u upload ur entire governence notes which u have made topic wise on a4 sheet

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    1. I could have but I don't have all my notes with me. I am away from home in the academy and because of lockdown, things are not accessible...

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  16. Mam please share your History notes and Geography mapping portion for GSI

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  17. how to make short notes
    i have tried many times but i couldn't because think that many imp issues i have missed
    plz suggest me

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  18. MAM GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL DETAIL STRATEGY

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  19. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your graduation marks have no impact on your interview or UPSC performance. Having said that, I would recommend you to focus on your graduation performance. Don't close your other doors for such a competitive and unpredictable exam. I am sure, you can do well on both fronts,

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  20. Ma'm while highlighting I highlight so much in the book, what to do to reduce that, it also leads to difficulty while revising.
    similarly I have underlined whole of laxmikant, Can u share ur strategy to revise laxmikant?

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  21. Greetings mam✨
    I am preparing for state PCS exam and saw all ur videos and blog .it was relatable .mam I wanna know if I should read ncert word by word or prepare topic wise 360 degree ??? Please tell ..I have completed my first read of ncert just wanna know if remembering everything from NCERT is necessary ?

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  22. Ma'am ,ias bnanene ka apka dream hota hai unsb m se mai v hu but my family is not effort choching fees and buy the books of ias but I am do and mai self study kr ke ias ka exam dungi or ham v kuch kr skte h apne nation or family k liye and thanks mam apne view share krne k liye,and I can asked something how can connect with you?

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  23. Thanks a lot mam for giving us this much knowledge.

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  24. Ma'am , apne khase old NCERT prefer ki thi actually me gadchiroli ( Maharashtra)se hu aur yaha par sources provided nhi aur mene internet pe bhi dekha pr wo achese dikhayi nhi dete.kya aap meri help krenge IAS officers banne me?

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    Replies
    1. I am from gadchiroli my mother is angnwadi teacher and and father is labour . I am in second year .please ma'am aap muze guide krengi n

      Delete
  25. Hello mam I am Pratibha Sharma and I have to tell a lot but in comments that will not possible in prelims strategy I have write every thing in comments not lot but yes not little please mam read that one
    please πŸ₯ΊπŸ₯ΊπŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™ mam .

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  26. Thanks mam...for clearing us...kis topic m kha likhana h...aapne bahut ache se explain kiya h...mam only..one question...current news KO pub administration m nd history m kase relate krte h...I'm writing answer

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  27. Mam also for GS3 and im a begginer how to start preparation, how to cover entire syllabus

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  28. Mam also how to get hold/command on syllabus

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