Creating concise and effective notes is an important part of any preparation strategy, especially for exams like UPSC. These notes are meant to serve as a quick reference guide and help in retaining information. Here are some methods that can be followed to create such notes:

1. Understand the Material:
Before starting to take notes, it is crucial to have a good understanding of the material. Read through the content or listen attentively to the lecture, ensuring clarity on the main concepts and key points.

2. Use Headings and Subheadings:
Organize your notes using headings and subheadings. This helps in categorizing the information and makes it easier to locate specific topics later on. Using HTML bullet points to highlight the sub-points can further enhance the visual appeal.

3. Be Selective:
Avoid the temptation to write down every single detail. Instead, focus on capturing the main ideas, key concepts, and supporting examples. This ensures that your notes remain concise and to the point.

4. Use Abbreviations and Symbols:
To save time and space, develop a system of abbreviations and symbols that make sense to you. For example, use ">" for "leads to", "+" for "and", or "*" for "important". This allows you to jot down information quickly while still understanding it later.

5. Highlight Key Points:
Identify the most important points in your notes and highlight them using bold tags. This will help in quickly reviewing the material and reinforcing the key concepts.

6. Use Visual Aids:
Include diagrams, charts, and graphs in your notes to illustrate complex concepts. Visual aids not only make the notes visually appealing but also enhance understanding and retention.

7. Summarize and Condense:
Regularly summarize the information in your own words as you take notes. This forces you to process the information and ensures better retention. Additionally, condensing the material by eliminating unnecessary details makes the notes more concise and easier to review.

8. Review and Revise:
Regularly review your notes to reinforce the information. Revise them periodically to ensure that you retain the knowledge. This helps in keeping the information fresh in your mind and prepares you for the exam.

By following these methods, you can create concise and effective notes that serve as a valuable study resource. Remember, the key is to focus on the main ideas, organize the information, and make the content visually appealing to enhance understanding and retention.