Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

@ranyo_asoka
I focused more on anti defection law, also mentioned expertise domain required, increased role of NGO, DECREASE in functioning of parliament, general disenchantment with politics,

@Haeckelexpecting good score in gs paper 1 and 3 unsure about gs paper 2 and 4

@kutta
How can u say that it all depends on optional and essay, i know one who scored just 249 in optional and got 2 digit rank in 2016..There are 7 papers of equal weightage so no matter where u score u just need to cross cut off...I also know a girl who crossed cut off just by 8 marks and ended up with rank in 400 as she scored all India highest in interview...at the most u can say most of people take edge in optional and essay but can't generalise it

@Murugan2017 was much easier.
Essay: I believe slightly difficult or almost same
Paper1: Slightly difficult(marks may get reduced)
Paper2: Found 2019 very difficult compared to 2017.2017 had lot of current affairs which can be directly vomited from coaching notes(99th amendment,101st amendment).2019 very difficult.I expect marks to fall in this paper by a large extent.
Paper3: Difficult as questions this time were again pinpointed and not current affair based(2017 had tsunami,budget which were very simple to answer)
Paper4: Found case studies to be much difficult compared to 2017
Optional:: Found sociology paper 2 much difficult as compared to last 5 years(had anthro in 2017)

Did'nt appear in 2018

@dr-ahmednaaz8567Haan meant to say the same thing.Nothing can be generalised in this life.
Each person is difficult with different needs,strengths etc.Some focus on essay,some on answer writing.Others don't write even a single answer and end up getting rank 61.
So yes nothing can be generalised

@kuttakis year ki marking pattern kya hoti hai samjh nahi sakte, wo bhi paper to paper vary karti hai, jaise 2017 me paper 1 was chcked ok ok paper 2 and paper 3 me liberal checking huyi thi, paper 4 me strict checking huyi, in 2018 gs paper 1 was punished literally, gs paper 2 and 3 was not that liberaly checked, gs 4 continued to checked strict.
to agar 2017 se 2018 me change ho sakta hai to 2018 se 2019 me bhi ho sakta hai to hum log bus guess hi kar sakte hai,
baki apki bat sahi hai har question ideal koi likh hi nahi sakta aur agar likhega to paper complete nahi hoga so if atleast half questiond of are excellent quality rest even average and some below average will also do

@sat_009Yeah u r right

@sat_009gs 4 was checked strictly in 2018 ??I mean as strictly as 2017 ??

@Murugan2017 was a year wherein, in vikas divyakirti's words, aap GS mein number loot sakte the. GS 2 and GS 3 were straight out of 'hot topics'. Checking bhi achchi hui thi. Though, GS 4 mein 2017 mein kam hue the number.

On an unrelated note, the gentleman I referred to above said that two optional system and optional prelims allowed 'rattafying' candidates to get through with ease. Things got out of hand to such an extent that mussoorie se phone aane lage dopt ke paas ki bhai kaise candidate bhej rahe ho. And hence started the reforms in examination process which reached its zenith in 2013. Is it true?

@paranthapijjarattna to abhi bhi padta hai..

@Lonewolfnearly same, average 5 marks increase huye hai but ethics sayad same pattern par hi check ho pahle jaise like 2017, 2018 i dont expect ki pahle jaise superlative marks ab gs 4 me milenge

@paranthapijjaaccording to sriram, before 2013, there were two optionals and jo usme acha karte the wo select ho jate the wo do optional pali aur socio bhi ho sakte hai, aise me general wider knowledge ki bhot kami thi selected candidates me increased gs focus and indepth study due to great quality of questions asked after 2014 has led to increase in selection of candidates with wider knowledge abut adminostration ethics gs, even 2 esssays instead of 1 had led to some good result for wider selection.
sirf pahli line sriram sir ki hai baki meri bakar hai

@paranthapijjayar marking chahe jaisi ho, jisme 2017 ke acha likha papers unko bhot score mila, jisne 2018 me acha likha unko score us sal ke hisab se sahi mila aur wo select huye even people 830 is 2018 is equivalent to 880 in 2017

@sat_009agreed but gs ke bal pe nikaalna 2018 mein next to impossible tha. Essay aur optional crucial the 2018 mein. But in 2017 (essay mein bhi number lutaaye the in 2017), I remember people with 240-250 in optional with interview calls and ranks. Itna hi difference tha, I think. Baaki jisne sab mein achcha kiya hai woh toh king hai hi.

@paranthapijjaIf this is true, then there is no point discussing 3-4 marks for average answers, 6-7 for good answers (in 10 markers) I suppose. And an average answer may fetch different marks in different years.

I think there must be a consensus among evaluators how much to award an average answer, and this may be fixed even for different years.

What may change is the evaluator's view regarding what constitutes an average answer.. And this may depend upon individual performances.

@Haeckel
Pehle se kam hai

@sat_009I think 140+400+280 (Essay+GS+Opt) was the norm in 2017 to get an interview call. What was the combo in 2018?

@paranthapijjaessay ko gs ke sath hi rakhe to sahi hoga,
the thing is that after 2013, a candidate has to constantly focus on current affairs and general studies which was not the case before 2013,
so selection kisi bhi adhar par ho papers marking pattern me but padhte samay 2013 ke bad gs, essay par focus pahle se bhot jayda badh gaya hai, and 2011 ke pahle prelims me bhi prelims optional was determining factor to get enty to mains but aaj ki date me gs ke sabhi subjects ca, history geo, polity, eco, snt and environment ke bal par hi game hai no advantage to any particilar subject person. even to qualify prelims today there is need of very wide knowledge, prelims before was much about ratta, gs mains too only optional needed indepth prep before 2013,
even the trned of even rankholders of previous years failing next prelims is not that surprising if one know this

@Muruganimo 120 + 380 + 280 (essay,gs,optional)was forumula imo

@sat_009bolo, 20 number ka fatka toh essay mein hi lag gaya. He Prabhu! daya rakhna iss baar.