Actual Paper of the IAS PRE Exam, held on 26 May 2013.

General Studies Paper-1 "Test Booklet Series - B"

1. Priority Sector Lending by banks in India constitutes the lending to
(a) agriculture
(b) micro and small enterprises
(c) weaker sections
(d) All of the above

2. Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?
(a) Engineering
(b) Paper and pulp
(c) Textiles
(d) Thermal power

3. To obtain full benefits of demographic dividend, what should India do?
(a) Promoting skill development
(b) Introducing more social security schemes
(c) Reducing infant mortality rate
(d) Privatization of higher education

4. In the context of cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
(a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but oppositely curved at waist and neck
(b) Facial expressions, hand gestures and make-up are combined to symbolize certain epic or historic characters
(c) Movements of body, face and hands are used to express oneself or to tell a story
(d) A little smile, slightly curved waist and certain hand gestures are emphasized to express the feelings of love or eroticism.

5. Annie Besant was
1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
2. The founder of the Theosophical Society
3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress

Select the correct statement / statements using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

6. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the
(a) imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians
(b) imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages
(c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
(d) removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth.

7. A rise in general level of prices may be caused by
1. an increase in the money supply
2. a decrease in the aggregate level of output
3. an increase in the effective demand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1only
(b) 1and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Study Kit : UPSC - IAS PRE (GS+CSAT) Solved Papers & Test Series  

Printed Study Material for IAS (UPSC) General Studies PRE Cum MAINS

8. Which one of the following groups of items is included in India’s foreign – exchange reserves?
(a) Foreign-currency assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and loans from foreign countries
(b) Foreign – currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and SDRs
(c) Foreign – currency assets, loans from the World Bank and SDRs
(d) Foreign – currency assets, gold holdings of the RBI and loans from the World Bank

9. Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?
(a) Repayment of public debt
(b) Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit
(c) Borrowing from banks to finance a budget deficit
(d) Creating new money to finance a budget deficit

10. Supply of money remaining the same when there is an increase in demand for money, there will be
(a) a fall in the level of prices
(b) an increase in the rate of interest
(c) a decrease in the rate of interest
(d) an increase in the level of income and employment

(Getting Started) A Time-tested 2-year Strategy For Cracking UPSC Exams

UPSC Civil Services Examination remains the entry gate to one of the most prestigious lines of services in the country. Every year lakhs of students appear for it and many more start dreaming of cracking this exam. Many myths are surrounding this examination but the only truth any aspirant needs to keep in mind is this – with hard work, a few smart choices, and the right strategy, anyone can crack this exam.

Ideally, for an average aspirant, 18-24 months is the ideal time frame needed to prepare for this examination seriously and find a good rank. Keeping this in mind, here is a full-proof strategy that if followed with the right determination and dedication, you should be able to find your name in the final list.

Week 1 

Learn The UPSC Syllabus By Heart

Take a print out of the UPSC detailed syllabus. Start mugging up the topics as your life depends on it. It is a bit lengthy and difficult to grasp. Take a week at the very beginning of your preparation and just memorize it word for word. Always keep a copy of the syllabus handy throughout your journey.

Weeks 2 and 3

Understanding Sources, Pattern, and Strategy

Look up topper interviews. Take advice, frame your preparation strategy. Formulate a book list. Download the last 10 years of prelims and mains papers. Familiarize yourself with the kind of questions asked, connect it to the syllabus topics, and just, in general, understand the pattern.

Week 4

Shortlist Your Optional

By now, you are well versed in the world of UPSC. It is time to take another very important step which is choosing your optional. You have heard toppers talk about their experiences, you have read up on the subjects and topics covered in those subjects. Now depending on your interest and expertise, choose the option you want to pursue. Make a source list as well.

Months 2-5

NCERTs First Read

NCERTs are the government approved text sources and thus integral to any government exam you take. The usual recommendation is to study all NCERT Books for subjects included in the UPSC syllabus from classes 6 to 12. However, depending on your expertise on the matter, you may choose to only study higher class NCERTs. But if you are indeed taking the long 2-year route into your attempt, you have the time for it; we recommend giving it all a read.

Months 6-10

Text Books First Read, Answer Writing Practice

You have your finalized booklist. You are done with the basics through NCERTs. Now it is time to study the detailed subjects through subject books. Read them slowly and thoroughly. Commit them to memory. This is also the right time to pick up answer writing. Spend 2 hours each day writing at least 2 to 3 general studies answers. Try to write at least one Ethics answer and one Essay topic each week.

Months 11-16

Optional Preparation, General Studies Second Read and Notes making

This is the right time to start on your optional. Optional requires mastery over the subject and thus a very thorough preparation. Spread out the topics and ensure you do due research. Meanwhile, revise your NCERTs and main textbooks and make notes. Study Notes should be short and crisp i.e. a page of information from a textbook should not be jotted down into more than 2-3 sentences and a chapter should not take more than one page at best. 

Months 17-20

General Studies Mains Test Series, Optional Second Read, and Notes Making

This is the right time to take up a mains test series. You can revise your notes and take the tests while also reading through your optional material again and making notes from the same. Use your test analysis to better your writing and preparation. Try to solve previous years’ questions for your option if you get time.

Months 21-24

Exclusive UPSC Prelims Preparation

Now is the time to sort your notes for material exclusively important for prelims. Take at least 30 mock tests at this time to maximize your chances of crossing prelims. The last 4 months before prelims should exclusively be for your prelims preparation. Once you appear for it and are assured selection, you can go back to your mains related preparation.

Pro Tip: Make Newspaper Reading A Morning Routine

Current affairs have found great value in UPSC prelims and mains over the past years. Make reading newspapers a daily habit and make notes daily. 

Use monthly compilations from online sources for revision. Hopefully, with such a detailed approach, you will soon find yourself in the company of your future colleagues in Mussoorie.

UPSC, IAS, Civil Services Exams - Printed Study Material

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD UPSC TOPPERS NOTES

Printed Study Material for UPSC IAS Exams

Online Coaching for IAS PRELIMS Exam

Download Actual Paper of the IAS PRE Exam, held on 26 May 2013.

CSAT Paper-1 (General Studies)

File Type: PDF File
File Size: 5 MB
Date of Exam: 26-05-2-13
Answer Keys: will be uploaded soon.

Questions Asked from Below Topics: 

• Current events of National and International importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development -Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialisation
• General Science

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS

DOWNLOAD UPSC 10 Year PAPERS PDF

Printed Study Material for IAS (UPSC) General Studies PRE Cum MAINS

Printed Study Material for UPSC PRELIMS EXAM

Online Coaching Programme for UPSC Exam

>>Go Back To Main Page

 Courtesy : UPSC 

(Getting Started) How To Study Maps for UPSC IAS Exams

Maps are an important part of your preparation for prelims as well as mains examination. Depending on your choice of optional, it may prove to be important there as well. Many aspirants feel burdened and distressed by the need to study maps. However, with the right strategy and understanding, it is not at all a difficult task.

1. Start With The Neighbours

India is a large country with various physical and political boundaries within it. However, owing to our long coastline, we share borders with just a few countries. To not overwhelm yourself, start studying maps by studying the neighbors we have in each direction. Follow it up with the oceans on each side and the islands/land masses we have on those oceans.

2. Latitudes and Longitudes

Check out which important lines pass through India and which of its states. Also, check out which lie in the tropics and subtropics. Questions are often framed from this area.

3. States

Now look inwards. Check out all states and their neighbors. Know all the important cities of each state. Mark any city or town that has been in news recently. Know the industries each state holds. Also, note any international boundary a state may share with another country.

Download Maps PDF for UPSC Exams

4. Rivers

Note down the important rivers in the country and which states they pass through. Know the main rivers and their tributaries. Also, have a basic understanding of water-sharing between states/with neighboring countries. Note down important dams and power generation bodies on rivers.

5. Lakes

Lakes are important spots of biodiversity and integral to the environment section of your UPSC syllabus. Note famous lakes across the country and their features. 

6. Mountains

India is bordered by the Himalayas in the North and has many more hills across the country. These are important from a security and environmental point of view. Know the highest peaks of every range, the flora, and fauna unique to them, tribes that might inhabit these ranges. Also, know the glaciers which are a source for perennial rivers.

7. Natural Resources

India is rich in vegetation covers as well as minerals. Know the sites for different minerals and other excavations in the country and the ones off-shore. Note the different types of vegetation covers and the weather in those areas that give them their uniqueness.

8. National Parks and Biospheres

These have become some favorite topics for UPSC to ask. Know all National parks in the country as well areas deemed protected under different environmental acts. Especially note those that have been in the news.

9. World

Although UPSC focuses mainly on India, it is important to know the unique regions across the world such as deserts, biosphere hubs, unique rivers, etc.

10. Places In News

And finally, keep an eye out for places that are mentioned in news articles, whether in India or around the world, as UPSC tends to frame questions from these sections. 

All these should cover your map preparation completely without anything left behind.

UPSC, IAS, Civil Services Exams - Printed Study Material

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD UPSC TOPPERS NOTES

Printed Study Material for UPSC IAS Exams

Online Coaching for IAS PRELIMS Exam

(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) MCQs on Protoplasts

(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) MCQs

(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) GUINEA WORM DISEASE

(Getting Started) Strategy To Improve UPSC Mains Score by Chirag Jain (AIR-160)

Chirag Jain is one of the toppers of the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2019. He is a  native of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and a Mechanical Engineer from the National Institute of Technology, Jaipur. 2019 was his 3rd attempt. To date, he has cleared all his upsc prelims attempts, and his mains two out of three times. He has also worked in Tata Motors, Pune before finally achieving his long set dream of becoming a Civil Servant. Currently, he is training as an Indian Police Service officer with the UP cadre.

Strategy For UPSC MAINS GS-I 

• Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

GS-I is very academic. Starting with culture, Chirag made study notes from Nitin Singhania. Notes for culture are not just factual like it is for prelims. Notes for Art and Culture in mains need to have examples and detailed stylistic discussions. For History, however, both prelims and mains require a similar level of in-depth note making. Chirag’s optional was Geography, so he didn’t have to study it separately for mains.

Strategy For UPSC MAINS GS-II and GS-III

• Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

• Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Unlike the static nature of GS-I, GS-II and GS-III are not only very dynamic but also more vague and vast. So instead of diving in head-on, Chirag made notes as per the topics mentioned in the UPSC syllabus. The major focus was on current affairs as UPSC tends to push recent news items for this part of the syllabus. Other than that, questions are directly asked from topics mentioned in the syllabus. He referred to Vision IAS value-added study material. Mains-365 by Vision IAS helped in internal security and environment aspects.

Strategy For UPSC MAINS GS-IV

Chirag suggests going through topper’s answer scripts for Ethics. Pick up examples, diagrams, flowcharts, structure, presentation, etc. from them and use them in your answers. Chirag used the Lexicon to make topic-wise notes for the whole syllabus in just about 50 pages. He highly recommends it.

Ethics Notes Structure

Make an excel sheet. Make columns 

• – 1st column should have the term, 
• 2nd column will have the definition, 
• 3rd column an international example, 
• 4th column a national example, 
• 5th column related personality, 
• 6th and final column a quote.

Answer Writing

Chirag highly recommends joining a test series. The challenge in UPSC mains is completing a well-written paper within 3 hours. For this, you should have the structure and content so well grasped that you need not think about it in the exam hall. Joining a test series allows you to do just that. Revision is another important aspect of ensuring you can recall all relevant points during the exam.

Top Tip : UPSC-PNR

This is Chirag’s most important tip for IAS Aspirants. Start with researching all you can about the exam. Follow it up by going through UPSC Mains previous years’ questions to understand the pattern. Then look at the syllabus and memorize it to the best you can. Go through toppers’ copies to pick up writing tips. Take mock tests religiously. Make short and crisp notes, and finally revise as many times as you can.

Essay

Chirag missed out on his first and second attempts largely due to poor scores in the Essay paper. On analyzing, he realized he used to miss out due to a lack of depth and variety of dimensions in his essays. On this attempt he added more arguments and examples, leading to in-depth analysis which pushed his scores higher. Using anecdotes or real-life examples in introductions and conclusions also helps make interesting answers. Ensure your conclusion is optimistic and has a connection to your introduction.

Message To Aspirants

UPSC is unpredictable so it is a matter of patience and hard work. Keep your sources limited, revise as many times as you can, and keep practicing. 

Surely you will make it to the final list. 

Best of luck.

UPSC, IAS, Civil Services Exams - Printed Study Material

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD UPSC TOPPERS NOTES

Printed Study Material for UPSC IAS Exams

Online Coaching for IAS PRELIMS Exam

(Download) UPSC : IAS Civil Services (Preliminary)

Exam, 2012 - (General Studies Paper - I)

Exam Name: IAS (Pre.)

Year: 2012

Subject: General Studies (Paper -1)

DOWNLOAD UPSC 10 Year PAPERS PDF

Printed Study Material for UPSC PRELIMS EXAM

Online Coaching Programme for UPSC Exam

Study Kit : UPSC - IAS PRE (GS+CSAT) Solved Papers & Test Series  

Printed Study Material for IAS (UPSC) General Studies PRE Cum MAINS

>>Go Back To Main Page

Courtesy : UPSC

(Getting Started) Strategy For UPSC Current Affairs Preparation by IAS Topper Priyank Kishore (AIR-61)

Priyank Kishore has had the rare pleasure of making it to the final list of UPSC Civil Services Examination results, two years in a row. In his first attempt in 2018, he secured a rank of 274. He was undergoing training in Shimla as an IAAS officer when he received the good news of having cracked UPSC a second time with rank 61 in 2019. Priyank is a graduate from Ramdas College under Delhi University and holds a Postgraduate Degree in Economics.

Importance Of Current Affairs In UPSC

Over the past few years, current affairs have been given a lot of importance in UPSC, even more so in the prelims stage. However, UPSC maintains its trend of being unpredictable which means it is difficult to crack this portion of the paper by just reading monthly compilations. It is important to give it a little more time and effort.

How To Prepare Current Affairs For UPSC

Daily Newspapers

The most important step is to start reading the newspaper daily. However, you need to read it and not research each article in the news. You need not spend 2 or 3 hours each day just for news. Instead, try and read through it within 45 minutes to an hour. Do not debate which newspaper is better, or try to read more than one. Stick to either The Hindu or The Indian Express.

Current Affairs Compilations

In addition to reading the newspaper every day, Priyank also read the daily compilations. It acted as a mode of revision for him as well as a tool to make short digital notes. Moreover, although he did not rely on monthly magazines, he did use them as revision tools. Monthly magazines usually are compiled with a backlog of 10-15 days. Reading daily helped him avoid that.

UPSC Mains Specific Preparation

Although not a fan of compilations in general, Priyank did read the Mains365 compilation by Vision IAS between his prelims and mains. He also watched the show “The Big Picture” by RSTV for the 7 to 8 months before mains. He made very short notes from the show and tried to incorporate as much of the information he found relevant in his mains answers.

FAQs

Can we substitute newspaper-reading with compilations?

If you are in the initial phases of your preparation, newspaper reading is not only a source of current affairs but also a tool to improve your reading and comprehension skills, grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. So you mustn't remove it completely from your preparation.

How should we revise current affairs?

In his first attempt, Priyank had subscribed to test series which had revision tests scheduled regularly that helped him revise his current affairs. Thereon he got into the habit of revising his current affairs using the notes he made every 3 weeks. He highly recommends this method. Every 3 months, he would set aside a day to revise just the current affairs of the past few months. Revising the current affairs 3 to 4 times throughout the year is important.

Priyank wishes all aspirants the very best!

UPSC, IAS, Civil Services Exams - Printed Study Material

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD UPSC TOPPERS NOTES

Printed Study Material for UPSC IAS Exams

Online Coaching for IAS PRELIMS Exam

(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) MITOCHONDRIAL COXIELLA EFFECTOR F (MCEF)

(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) E-INK DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY