Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread

@dr-ahmednaaz8567DAF related stuffs ke heading banao. Keep adding material on all topics related to ur hobbies hometown etc. Keep thinking questions that can arise out of these topics from every angle. For ex cooking hobby h toh oil konsa use, India me production area kaha h, why oil imports etc. Similarly explore other angles related to ur hobby. Read on quora and other platforms and u can find exact answers to ur queries on questions that u have related to hobby.
For current affairs, general awareness will suffice and keep preparing very short notes if u want but here u should be very clear conceptually. In mains prep we have tendency to read more to cover more syllabus and multiple points, but here u should also study in depth on particular issues of national importance.

What I feel is most of the people who have nearly completed the paper with decent answers, the difference would not be more than 5 marks in each of GS 1, GS 2 and GS 3 (true GS papers). That translates to 15-20 no at max. However the variation in GS 4 and Essay which can go as wide as 20 marks each shall determine the overall interview call. The funny thing with optional is although 270+ is regarded a good score still 30 marks short of elite 300 group. Considering the lower margins we can afford to lose 60 marks in GS + essay and 50 marks in optional from say the topper (if you are not) still get a call and with a good interview a rank. So there is quite a wide room for getting selection and requires not to be perfect.

@BrickTrue
250 to 270 is not bad score in optionals, if your performance is good in GS + Essay. In fact, it doesn’t stop you from selection even if you get 60-70 marks less than toppers.

As we know there will be a difference of 100 marks always between 1st and 250th rank, which is sufficient to get IPS, IRS & IAAS

@RagsHow will 250th ranker manage to get into IPS?

@Yug_ Find the service-wise last rank below as per last year data for general category

1. IPS - 235
2. IRS - 264
3. IAAS - 274
4. IRTS - 348

I have just taken average of last few years and around 250 Rank is OK to get good service which includes IPS. You can check data of last 6 years for more details.
One more point, there is only 1 mark difference between Rank 232 and rank 251 - as per last year data.

@Ragsok

Why we are targeting to score more marks like 300 in optionals only. My optional is Geography. Now a days even in optionals we see many generic questions.
And, why it is not possible to score equally in all 7 papers (+-20 marks)?
Is it not possible to avoid over dependency on optionals?

@RagsI guess it works both ways, usually people tend to overemphasize on optionals because they account for 500/1750 marks in mains, so focusing more on it makes sense. But also if you're preparation for prelims and current affairs has been upto the mark, then you can also ace in is GS papers. But that becomes a bit challenging because GS papers include a very wide spectrum of subjects and need to be updated thoroughly and regularly, but still it's not impossible. I've read about a guy who scored over 500 cumulatively in all GS papers. Last year also I think highest score in GS papers was 468.
So the choice comes down to this I think- focus on specific syllabus of optionals and ace it, or focus adequately on all and prepare for GS papers throughout. I guess people are not able to maintain this tempo that's required to cover all aspect of g's syllabus throughout the year, so most of us follow a lopsided approach and emphasize more on optionals.

@ChanakyaAgree with you.

One more point – most of the GS papers syllabus covers as part prelims only. So we should not let it go waste by focusing too much on optionals.
Good strategy is mixture of both - target for 130 marks in optionals and around 100 to 105 marks in GS papers and remaining in Essay.

Note - These are just targets. Actuals may vary from person to person based on strategies.

Sometimes i always face nightmares of failing in mains, the whole future agains so dark and go into depression cycle. After some time i come back to normal. Hope i find nirvana this time. Some people are so good in clearing mains again and again. Lucky smart guys

Few are good in theory and few are good in multiple choices. It is not possible for one to be best at all places always.
Most of the toppers including Tina Dabi cleared prelims with just a mark more than cut off.
I feel prelims is tougher than mains always.

@RagsWith those targets, score will hover around 800, which isn't good enough to get a final rank.

What do people over here think of the Police vs Lawyers incident in Delhi? I think it's shameful that a lawyer openly beats a policeman and gets away with it.

@vvvikas0078212It will be close to 1000, if you score around 180 in interview, otherwise Increase GS avg to 110 to be on safar side. Or score more in Essay paper.

@Bubba_gumpmy answers were very low on quality ; was my first mains and was going through breakup phase during mains prep
but scores in 60s in gs2 that year were quite common

@Rags180 in interview is a big if....

@Caesar
Details are not there in public domain. Media has given very superficial report. So can't comment.

@vvvikas0078212then need to score 15-20 more in GS it self.

@RagsGS me post 100, 10 marks bdhane me jitna hard work lgta h utne me optional me 20 badhaye ja skte h...that's why optional pe log jada focus krte h to increase overall score

@vvvikas0078212A well written answer may fetch above 60% in optionals. Achieving the same in GS is quite difficult. Again, scoring above average of your peers in optionals has potential of additional marks due to scaling/moderation whatever you call it.