I wanted to appear for the UPSC. I saw several answers on what to read...
1. First Reading Should Be for Basic Understanding
Don’t start memorising whatever you see, hear, or read. Understand the larger context. Learn from the general to the specific. The first reading should be made to get through the book and its content. Try and get familiar with the chronology of the book.
2. Create Co-Relations
Once you are through with the chronology and contents of the book, you would notice the similarities between various chapters.
Example: It would be wise to study about the emergency period from 1975 to 1977 along with details of the 4th and 5th 5-year plans implemented in India. Apart from elaborating upon the political reasons, it would give you a few economic reasons which made the imposition of emergency in India.
3. Make Mind-Maps, Notes, and Tables
One important and proven method of memorising is the concept of visuals. Hence drawing tables and
will not only help in remembering facts for the prelims but also for framing answers in Mains GS papers.
Example: In Polity, while studying chapters on ‘Constitutional Bodies’ together, make your table to understand the manner in which appointments are made, appointments made by the President, tenure, criteria for reappointment, etc.
You can check out EduRev to get detailed and structured mind maps, tests, videos and summaries on all the topics from every UPSC recommended book of all subjects.
4. Sort More Time for Important Topics
While reading any book throughout your preparation it is important that you sort out the most important topics from each section. For this, refer to the previous year’s question papers. Solving
helps in identifying these important topics.
Example: The chapter on Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Powers of the President, etc. in polity should be given extra time as these are important from both Prelims and Mains perspective.
5. Co-relate Chapter with It is widely believed that the UPSC usually asks questions based on the events that occurred in the past few years. Hence it is necessary to read all the important details related to such events.
Example: Article 370, 45 years of Emergency Imposed in 1975, NRC, CAA, etc.
6. Finally, Revise!
Revision is the best way to learn any topic that you want to learn and memorise it for a long time. An average human being is bound to forget almost 90% of what they learn if the learning is not backed by proper revision. The ideal time-frame for revision would be Weekly / Fortnightly / Monthly / Bi-monthly basis. Try it for a while and space out the time period as suited to your memory.