Vishnu H. Prasad
← From Quora

Here’s All I have to share about UPSC CSE

· Posted on Quora in I Read ** I Think ** I Write

The Exam Process

  1. What is civil services (IAS) exams procedure?
  2. Can we write the UPSC exam in the general category for the first attempt and change to OBC for the next year/next time?
  3. Will my application form for UPSC CSE be rejected if I upload a signature with the wrong rotation?
  4. Is the RBI Grade B exam as tough as the civil services exam? In how much time can one prepare for the RBI Grade B exam?
  5. Can I give the UPSC exam after doing a BA LLB? Is it an impossible task?
  6. Can I prepare for IAS just by studying 3 hour everyday?
  7. Can we pass UPSC mains 2016 exam if we study for it right after prelims 2016 exam?
  8. Could someone kindly demystify UPSC preparation for me?
  9. Is there any scaling in the General Study papers?
  10. Do engineering students have an edge over arts stream students in civil service exams?
  11. Do I need to write “Shashi Tharoor” type English to score more in my Mains exam?
  12. Are UPSC exams very tough?
  13. Are there any educational credentials for CSE?
  14. Can a cigarette be a factor for medical in the UPSC?
  15. Could someone kindly demystify UPSC preparation for me?

Strategy

  1. Which is the best way to prepare for IAS without wasting lots of money?
  2. How should I make a timetable for the UPSC CSE in 2018, from April 2017?
  3. I am 24 years old. Is it too late to start preparing for Civil Services Exam? Is a 2 year full time preparation enough?
  4. How can I cover current affairs for UPSC prelims in 3 months? is it advisable that to go through the monthly magazine of vision IAS 2016 or pt 365?
  5. How do I stay active for long hours while preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination?
  6. My syllabus is totally incomplete. What should I do to crack UPSC Preliminary 2017 in a short time period?
  7. What are the common mistakes that candidates make before/during Preliminary Exam of CSE-UPSC? How to rectify it?
  8. Which websites should I refer to for international relations? What are some suggestions for a good source for information on economic current affairs?
  9. What is the best note making and revision strategy for integrated UPSC Mains and Prelims preparation?
  10. Is a study circle very important for civil services preparation, or can it be prepared for with self-study in almost complete isolation?
  11. How advisable is it to prepare for Bank PO and SSC CGL alongwith UPSC CSE?
  12. How do I sustainably remember terms in history, folk dances, GI tags, endangered animals and such other stuff?
  13. What other exams can I give with a preparation level of UPSC CSE?

Book List

  1. Is it okay to study the Gist of NCERT than reading all the NCERT books for UPSC?
  2. What was Vishnu H. Prasad’s book list for the UPSC and how did he create his study plan?
  3. What are the booklist (including NCERT) for the preparation of UPSC CSE?
  4. How is Tamil Nadu Textbook for Ancient and Medieval History for Prelims preparation?
  5. Why do I need to read NCERTs for UPSC if I am comfortable with starting out on Standard books like Ramesh S and Laxmikant?

Mains

  1. What is the best pen to write the UPSC Mains exam with?
  2. What should one think of before selecting history or geography as an optional in upsc? Specifics about the subject study n syllabus are welcome.
  3. Is Political Science and International Relations a good optional for UPSC Mains?
  4. How should one fill out the DAF form for the UPSC civil services?
  5. What are the best subjects for Mains preparation for a computer science background student?
  6. Have you read any coaching class notes?What do you think about it?
  7. Can a non engineering graduate take electrical engineering as an optional for CSE?
  8. While writing Mains are you able to recall all the points which you learned?
  9. How can I improve my essay?
  10. How do I choose an optional subject for UPSC preparation?
  11. Is it easy to pass the Malayalam language exam for the UPSC, having not taken it as a subject in school? I can speak and read colloquial Malayalam.
  12. I am preparing for the UPSC exam in 2019. What should be my focus first, the Prelims or the Mains?

General Studies

  1. How do I determine what is important when taking notes from a textbook?
  2. Will it be right to replace ‘The Hindu’ by ‘InsightsOnIndia’?
  3. How do I make notes using Evernote while preparing for the UPSC Civil Service Examination?
  4. The Hindu: From which month should one read The Hindu for UPSC 2016 preparations?
  5. What is the best way to remember all the important articles in the Indian constitution?
  6. What are the materials and sources you followed for Geography?
  7. How do I write an effective essay for the UPSC Mains?
  8. How should I remember current affairs for UPSC?
  9. Should we make notes from every NCERT and other reference books that we read during preparations or selectively?

History Optional

  1. How is the history optional subject useful in UPSC preparation? How can I prepare for the history optional for mains?
  2. Are there any UPSC aspirants with history as optional on Quora?
  3. Which is the best book for pre and post independence history of India?
  4. What books should I read to know about Indian history from a neutral view? (See comment)
  5. Upinder Singh vs R. S. Sharma vs Romilla Thapar: Which ancient history book is the most reliable resource for writing answers in the UPSC Mains?
  6. Which books of medievel history and with what strategy did Vishnu Sir read during his preparation for Mains optional paper?

Interview

  1. Can we use pen and paper in the UPSC interview?
  2. Is fluently talking in English necessary for an IAS aspirant?
  3. How should one fill out the DAF form for the UPSC civil services?
  4. Does your BTech graduation percentage matter in the UPSC interview? Will the candidates be judged by their overall graduation percentage?

Medical Examination

  1. Will BMI matter in the medical examination after the interview for the UPSC exam? Will underweight or overweight people be disqualified?

The Services

  1. Which job is better, IAS or IAAS?
  2. Which is better service in UPSC IRS or IA&AS?
  3. Is IDAS (Indian Defence Account Service) better than IA&AS?
  4. What is the difference and which is the best to work for among ICAS IAAS and IDAS? Why can’t they put all the 3 under 1 service?
  5. Which post will be the best for an aspirant clearing Civil Services at the age of 28, IRS or IAAS?
  6. What’s the training salary in IAAS?
  7. Does every service get paid from the training period, which starts after the announcement of the UPSC final results?
  8. How is your experience so far working as an IAAS officer? What is the training like?
  9. Which service is better - the Indian Railway Traffic service or the Indian Audit and Account Service?
  10. How will one get EOL for appearing for the UPSC exam again?
  11. Could you list the reasons why promotions in IA&AS are almost at par with IAS despite having far lower cadre strength (almost one-third)?
  12. Should I give IAAS as first preference in UPSC given the less hectic and apolitical nature of the job?
  13. Are Indian foreign service, IAS, IPS officer allowed to invest in shares and stocks, if yes do disproportionate gains arise suspicion?
  14. How can one apply engineering skills in service like IAAS or other central services?
  15. Can we take one year of extraordinary leave in IA&AS (just like IRS) and appear for the CSE next year without being on probation?
  16. Can Engineering graduates become IAAS (Indian Audit and Accounts Service) officers?

Experiences

  1. How are the first 24 hours after seeing your name in the final Civil services exam merit list? How does life change?
  2. is your ‘height’ of Civil Service (UPSC IAS) preparation?
  3. Is there any restriction on type of pen to be used while writing Civil Service Mains examination?
  4. How is Kerala State Civil Service Academy at Kozhikode? Does it perform well compared to its counterpart at Trivandrum? Is the rigor lacking focus here?
  5. How do I keep motivating myself for IAS preparations?
  6. What is it like to fail in the first attempt of UPSC civil service exam?
  7. Why do so many people fail at clearing IAS?
  8. Should I quit job and started preparing for UPSC?
  9. Which pen did you use in the UPSC CSE Mains?
  10. How was the Civil services Prelims 2016 paper?
  11. What is the level of hardness of 2016’s civil services prelims?
  12. How has the UPSC Civil Services preparation changed your personality?
  13. Did the CUSAT play any role in Vishnu H Prasad’s selection in civil services, directly or indirectly?
  14. What was the attitude that you approached subjects with during your preparation? Was it with an intent to learn, or to somehow finish the concept?
  15. An Accidental Civil servant, why accidental?

Speculation

  1. Is there any possibility cuttoff for Upsc prelims 2016 under 100?
  2. What are the things that an IAS aspirant must have in his room?
  3. Will the UPSC syllabus and pattern be changed before 2017?
  4. Astrologer says I will never become an IAS officer. Should I believe in Kismat (fate) or my strong determination and hardwork can beat it?

Miscellaneous

  1. Can an IAS/IPS officer own an Audi/BMW, based on their earnings?
  2. When is the right time to quit Civil Services preparation?
  3. I am getting 70-80 marks in mock tests on prelims. I am getting depressed about my score. What should I do to increase my score?
  4. How do I spend or manage the last week before prelims 2017?
  5. With the advent of the Vision IAS monthly current affairs module, do I need to take notes out of The Hindu?
  6. What are the common mistakes that candidates make before/during Preliminary Exam of CSE-UPSC? How to rectify it?