Q1. Ho do Engineering Candidates go to select their optional subject?
Ans:- The engineering candidates go for geography, sociology, public administration, history, psychology as these subjects can be prepared in as short span of time. The technies can easily handle these subjects. Which are doing good currently.
Q2. What is significance of the word limit in the mains exam?
Ans:- The U.P.S.C has adopted the strict norms regarding the word limit. The prescribed word limit would test the candidates clarify in the subject matter and the writing practice for that purpose. Remember “Brevity is the wit of soul’, phrase a good messagefor all of us.
Q3.what is the weightage of marks for different subjects?
Ans:- in the current and changing scenario, the preliminary examinations has set the level playing field for all the candidates. In the mains, the weightage of marks has nothing to do. If the candidate of any subjects scores 330+, it is regarded as a good scoring. Remember, the U.P.S.C does not play any partition role among the students on the basis of the subjects.
Q4.How much time is needed for the preparation of IAS?
Ans:- This is very difficult question to answer. There is no time limit or duration for the preparation. The candidates of who have good grasphing capacity can do it within a time span of one and half years, provided the candidate manages to get good guidance proper study techniques, writing practice, updated study material. However, it is the choice of the candidates as to when they start doing it.
Q5. Is there any advantage or disadvantage associated with the rural or urban background of the candidates which appear before the interview board?
Ans:- The main focus of the U.P.S.C is on to select the candidates which are hardworking, have concept clarity, general idea of the social, economic context. The candidates should have the attractive personality and good expression and speech and effective communication. Many rural candidates have got very good position.
Q6. What should be the study hours for the success in civil services exam?
Ans:- it is not the length of the study hours but it is the quality of study which matters most. The meaningful study should have the proper balance of reading, thinking and writing. The candidates need to focus more on the time management. The grasping power and the retaining and reproducing capacityc are very important criteria.
Q7. What are the important areas of the newspaper?
Ans:- while reading newspaper, the candidates should pick those articles which are both informative as also analytical. The information is the prerequisite of analysis. The study should be made regular and to the point notes should be prepared e.g. if we read the article on Afghan policy, we need to understand its brief history, economic profile, social context, geopolitical framework. Then comes its impact on India. What is the impact of the withdrawal of U.S troops on the region and India? If there are the articles on child labour, food security, financial sector reforms. G.S.T, LED, nano technology, climate change, biodiversity, atrocities against women, crime rate, crises in Euro-Zone, piracy, Jasmine revolution, Indo-Euro trade talks, inflation, law commission, micro-finance, land acquisition, the restructuring of IMF and world bank pick these without delay.
Q8. What should be the correct strategy for the preparation of preliminary general studies?
Ans:- In P.T there are 100 objective type questions. They are both factual and analytical in nature. Fact is the basis or support of any kind of study only then we can take to the analysis. The subjects like economics and social issues are more analytical, while history, political science are more factual and geography is a mix of both. The science is a mix of basic knowledge as also the practical aspect. Moreover, the U.P.S.C currently is focusing on the thinking candidates and not on the book worms. The conventional methods of study need to be given up.
Q9. What type of questions should the students practice for G.S in P.T test?
Ans:- This is a very pertinent question. The candidates should pick the test series on the separate subjects such as geography, history. In the later stage of preparation they should go for the mix-up test paper series. Remember, the test papers are meant just to test the depth of the studies. Previous years question papers can be used for the purpose. Picking the good quality question sets is equally important. The U.P.S.C has changed the approach and scheme of the objective type questions.
Q10. How much time should a student devote on reading question in the mains examination?
Ans:- Reading the question for writing an appropriate answer ia a crucial part of any examination, this is true of civil services. The student should go for two or three readings after sorting out the question. The candidate should break the question into two or three parts and focus on them separately as well as wholesomely five to ten minutes can be allocated for reading as well as for drawing the answer plan.
Q11. Who has the better chance to qualify for civil services – a person who has just 21 years of age or the one having 29?
Ans:- Age is not the criteria. The basic criteria is the quality of preparation, study material, practice of answer –writing. The big advantage of being 21 is good grasping of the subject while at 29, the maturity in study. The age matters not much.
Q12. What is the minimum age at which the people should start preparation for civil services?
Ans:- There is no fixed criteri on for the age. But those who start it in the final year of the graduation do well. This is the prime age when the receptivity is very good and the right time to peak. Starting too early has the risk of tiring at the right time or starting very late will disadvantage in terms of competitive edge of early start.
Q13. What is the nature of question asked in P.T exam?
Ans:- The P.T exam consists of two papers. The first paper carries the 100 multiple choice type question on different segments of general studies such as geography, polity, social, economic issues, science, current issues etc. The second paper consists of reasoning, mental ability, decision making, math, comprehension etc. Hundred multiple choice questions are asked. For every question there are four choices given. The candidates need to pick just one which is most appropriate. The negative marking provision is also applied so the candidates should be very careful while answering.
Q14. What is the significance of group discussion in civil services?
Ans:- The group discussion is very important activity which embellishes the talent and performance of the candidates. Group discussion with the right kind of candidates is always helpful. Before taking the group discussion, the candidate should get the good amount of knowledge. It is better if it is taken up in the direction of a good teacher. Before the discussion, the topic should be earmarked and very well planned.
Q15. Is it useful to take the mock interview guidance for the civil services?
Ans:- yes, it is very useful practice as it boosts the confidence of the candidates. Moreover, it gives the candidates the idea about the strong and weak points. But the interview experts should be very experienced better if the retired civil servants. Their suggestions are very valuable. But if the wrong kind of people is sitting in the mock interview board, it may leave a very depressing impact on the candidate. In such case the candidate may leave the originality in approach.
Q16. In the mains answer, the counting words is a time consuming exercise, what should a candidate do?
Ans:- It is very pertinent question. The candidates feel the time pressure. They should do lot of answer- writing practice before going to exam. They should get the idea of their own writing style as to how they should also chalk out their strategy as to how many words they write in each line. One or Two answers words should be counted which would give fairly good idea about the approximate words in other answers. Remember, if the candidates write 195 or 190 words in 200 words answer, it is not a problem. So the candidate should keep oneself on the lower end.
Q17. I have done my 10+2 from science stream. After that I did my graduation in economics. But the experts say that the economics optional is very risky. What should I do?
Ans:- The economics is a very good optional. If you are very confident in your subject go for it. It is technical, conceptual and scoring and fetch for you very good marks. Economics is very important portion of general studies and current event. Besides you can go for sociology, public administration or geography.
Q18. I am a science graduate with math, physics and chemistry; I am very comfortable in all these subjects. But the people say that these subjects require very hard work. What should I do?
Ans:- There are a no. of criteria for the subject selection such as interest, knowledge, confidence, scoring value, guidance, current performance, time consumption. The science subjects have very good scoring value but they are time consuming. But your confidence and comfort is very important consideration. Pick any one of these three. For the second option, pick some subject like geography, public administration. This would make a good combination.
Q19. Is it advisable to prepare both G.S and optional simultaneously?
Ans:- Time frame of the preparation for the candidates may be different. For the beginners in their second or third year it may be one subject at one time. But any professional or engineer or doctor can notafford to devote longer time frame as they will have to keep their professional career for them preparing G.S and optional is not a difficult thing. There can be a model –
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The above module can have its variation depending upon the socio-economic conditions.
Q20. What is the future of a candidate who speaks good regional language but who is poor in spoken English?
Ans:- If the candidates speak and write any regional language, this can become the medium of writing as also the interview. They can pick the regional language literature which fetch very good marks for the candidates. But the candidates need to know a little English for the C.SAT paper as well as for the general English qualifier. Many candidates of Hindi fail even to qualify in the general English. So, the whole efforts go waste.
Q21. Does one have to be strong in mental ability and reasoning to clear P.T examination?
Ans:- The second paper of P.T includes mental ability and reasoning. The questions are not very difficult. A good deal of regular practice would give the speed and increase the skill of handling such questions. Moreover, there is negative marking provision. In this situation the candidates should not waste their time on difficult questions out of 100 questions they can easily find their picks.
Q22. How can we make notes for P.T and mains examination?
Ans:- The note preparation for P.T should be in form of short points which should also have some mix of reasoning. The student needs to read the quality books which have authentic material. The mains exam notes should be prepared separately for each segment. First the candidates should get the concept clarity. Then they can frame the question to which the answer synopsis can be developed in points. The flowchart method can also be used for gathering information in picture form.
Q23. Do the people with better I.Q have advantage or edge even those having lower I.Q?
Ans:- The I.Q basis is long debated. There is no one opinion that I.Q should be the right basis for accessing the individual capacity of brain. The very basis of calculation of I.Q is debated. So one should not be bothered about factoring such things while preparing for its ultimate goal of civil services.
Q24. What is the role of guidance in the form of coaching institute towards the preparation for the examination?
Ans:- Coaching academy plays a very crucial role in preparing for the exam. They help in giving proper orientation and focus to the studies and save a lot of valuable time. They provide information on such topics which are not easily accessible to the students. The most important role the “Just in time” management in reorganizing the information for securing the maximum marks. But the coaching guidance must be proper and correct. If it is given by the people who have half baked knowledge, it may produce negative effect.
Q25. Can the use of guides available in the market be useful for the candidates?
Ans:- The guides can provide the bunch of information. But they cannot be taken as the substitute for good coaching study material (updated). The students should go for reading good text books for increasing the depth in their respective subjects.
Q26. Which type of questions, conceptual or analytical should be attempted in the mains examination in order to get good marks?
Ans:- A student should have the right pick which means that the student feels comfortable in that area by virtue of knowledge, practice. But the candidates should plan the answer before writing.
Q27. What is the role of notes in the civil services?
Ans:- The notes or study material is prepared by a team of the experts in the respective subjects. So getting good updated material is always an asset as it is always time-saving. It also keeps the focus of the candidates’ in fact. If the notes are to the point and in the answer format, they are double benefit.
Q28. How the time management should be taken up for the P.T inside the examination hall?
Ans:- The time management is a crucial component of the final performance of a student. The candidates need to pick easy questions in the first go. They need not waste time on the difficult questions. Moreover, there is no room for guessing as it runs the risk of negative marks.
Q29. How should a commerce graduate pursue or take up the preparation for civil services?
Ans:- The commerce graduates go for picking public administration as their optional. If they are comfortable in commerce, they can proceed with it. But it is very lengthy; even then if these candidates want to keep their line of career open, in commerce they can go with that. The commerce graduates can fair very well in the general studies section. Moreover, the commerce itself is a scoring subject. They can pick public adm., sociology, management as their second optional.
Q30. How should one make use of the text books?
Ans:- First of all, the candidates should go for good picks. Secondly, the books in themselves cannot ensure selection. In this back drop, the candidate should make a good understanding of the pattern of questions and the syllabus. They should make the use as per the topics. The text books should be personalized with the comments. They should also be used for making answer formats.
Q31. What are the major areas of G.S in P.T and mains?
Ans:- In the current perspective the major areas are geography, social and economic issues, science and technology, current events and international relations. In the last two years the portion of history and polity has seen a general decline.
Q32. What are the good newspapers and magazines?
Ans:- The Hindu, The Times Of India, Economic And Political Weekly, Yojna, Kurukshetra are the good magazines. This contains the valuable information about current events, the bio-ecological, science and tech issues. They carry the analytical articles on social issues such as poverty, food security, P.D.S, Euro nZone problems, development and carbon emission. The best way to do it is to develop the notes.
Q33. What should be the basis for choosing coaching institution?
Ans:- The coaching institution can provide a great deal of help while provide valuable information, study material, right approach etc. the candidates should pick an institute where the focus is given on regular answer writing as also on the involvement in the discussion. The faculty structure, accessibility of teachers, maximum no. of candidates in classroom. The candidates should avoid the crowd rush and blind following. They should also verify the success as claimed by the institutes. They should avoid the direction of the candidates who have not achieved success. The candidates should go for an institute which has got the relevant and updated material and good class room guidance.
Q34. How can a medical student pursue the career in civil services?
Ans:- The medicos can go for civil services. They can pick zoology, anthropology, psychology or sociology, as their optional subjects. As these have the limited time period of study, they need to focus on their G.S and essay. They should do their two subjects simultaneously. One medico B.gautam took history and sociology for getting the 23rd rank.
Q35. What is the significance of study material?
Ans:- The study material gives the right approach and focus to the candidate. The students get the benefit of the fruit of the hard work of the team of experts who prepare the material. Further, those candidates who work within some constraints and can’t afford to join any study group, they can benefit from the notes. But one should remember that the material should not bulky. The inferior study material can give entirely a wrong twist to the preparation. It may involve a sheer waste of time and resources. But the importance of text books still remains intact.
Q36. What should be the strategy for the preparation for interviews?
Ans:- There are two types of strategies – long-term and short term. In long – term the candidates need to focus on increment to the knowledge pool for broadenings the horizon of general awareness. This can be done by regular reading of newspaper and magazines. The candidates can pick the good current based articles. They should also focus on the study of the optional subjects and need to get a deeper knowledge of these. This knowledge pool will help the candidates at the time of interview. In short term strategy the candidate should join any good academy for getting the brush-up of current events as also for getting the mock-interviews. But care should be maintained in picking the right choice because the wrong guidance may create the problems to the candidates. As for the study group, we get the services of good academicians and the civil servants for the interview rehearsals.
Q37. What should be the right choice of optional subjects for a law graduate?
Ans:- The law graduates generally take law as their one optional. Besides they show maximum preference for public administration and sociology forming the best combination with law. Both these subjects are current by doing very good in the civil services. Rest depends on the interest of the candidates.
Q38. What should be the mode of preparation for a fresher, who has started his graduation and is in the first year or second year?
Ans:- Such candidates need to focus on the general studies from P.T and Mains point of view. They need to develop fairly good basic knowledge of geography, political, economy, social issues, science. They should try to know as to which types of news are important for civil services. The candidates should start developing the notes on current issues. At the same time the candidates should pick the good and up-dated study material which would give to the point knowledge of the respective subjects in general studies. It is advisable for such candidates that right now they should keep away from the study of optional subjects. The candidates should also develop their grip on Hindi language and English as also on the basic math and the reasoning.
Q39. What should a M.C.A candidate do for becoming the civil servant?
Ans:- First of all, the candidate should join the service and get the placement for becoming self- dependent and self-reliant. Then the candidate should plan for the general studies preparation in the available time slot. He should also go for some study material along with some general guidance. The studies of C.SAT paper should also be taken up. The candidate needs to plan for setting apart some time depending on the working conditions. If the candidates sets apart 2-3 hrs. daily it would be sufficient. Before the P.T test one-month leave from the job would be sufficient. After the exam, it would be clear whether the candidate would qualify or not. If yes, then at once preparation for the mains examination should be started. Now if possible, the candidate may think of quitting job and start doing public administration and sociology which can be prepared easily in a span of 3-4 months. At the same time the G.S studies should continue along with essay-writing practice. The candidates may join a short term G.S. course for test series.
