Current affairs as a subject of study is very important for clearing UPSC civil services exam as it carries over 40% of marks. If you add indirect news related questions, the count may reach even 60 in some years. And being a vast and dynamic subject, preparation for current affairs for UPSC requires a concrete study plan.
This article explains how to create your self study plan for civil services exam current affairs. Stay with us.
What is a study plan? Why is it important?
A study plan is a structured approach to learning a topic of subject within a predefined timeline and goals. It must include:
- Deadline to achieve your learning objectivesÂ
- Outline or detailed syllabus of the topic you want to learnÂ
- Learning techniques and activities to availableÂ
- Defined learning goalsÂ
One study plan may not fit all, even if it is for preparation for the same exam. There can be a lot of scope for individualization. A properly created study plan helps:
- Convert a syllabus into concrete study goals.Â
- Removes every confusion about what to study, how to study, and when to study.Â
- Serves every individual learning style and need.Â
- Brings efficiency and effectiveness in exam preparation.Â
How to create your self study plan for UPSC Prelims current affairs
- Understand the time you haveÂ
Let’s understand this through an example. UPSC conducts Prelims in June every month. You decide to start preparation in October 2024. So, you have 8 months left till Prelims 2025. Out of the 8 months, you must dedicate at least the last 2 months to revision and practice. So, complete the Prelims syllabus only in 6 months or by March next year.
- Learn about current affairs for UPSC syllabus Â
Current affairs for the UPSC exam cover a vast syllabus. It requires candidates’ ability to analyze a news article and critically reflect on its implication on society, policy and economy of India.
- Finalize relevant study materialsÂ
Unlike static UPSC subjects, studying CA mostly involves reading daily newspapers, editorials and opinionated articles, UPSC magazines and authentic news-related programs on other media channels. It is also essential to take notes on everything you study. These you can consider as learning activities. Allocate time for these activities in your study plan every day.
- Distribute the study load over the time
To understand any specific news, you might need an understanding of static subjects like political science, economics, science, etc. You will also need to study these subjects for GS-I in Prelims. So, allocate the available 6 months (as explained in this article above) for each of these subjects.
- Schedule time for UPSC current affairs quizzes and mock testsÂ
Preparation for upsc current affairs quiz requires thorough practice of attempting Prelims questions. Take current affairs quizzes and mock tests through the duration of your preparation.
Conclusion
Many candidates prepare for UPSC without a concrete study plan. But it often causes confusion and wastage of precious time. Remember to allocate sufficient time for attempting Prelims test series. Check https://www.iasgyan.in/ for the latest mock tests on current affairs for UPSC.
