CSE 2021: Plan / Strategy / Daily Routine

16th oct 2020

Daily targets

I'm following a 10 day cycle for each subject covering both prelims and mains. In between workdays, I'll do only revision. 

1) newspaperdone

2) 11-2pm - economy mains - 5 topics(frbm, local body resource mobilisation etc)done

3) 4-6pm - eco.survey & nitiayog new India0%

4) 6.30-7pm - yesterdays test check answers0%

5) 7.30-9pm - economy static book30% done

6) 10-11pm - daily Ca & answer writing(focus on content & presentation) done

@Gaurav @Vayu  guys, follow up on todays targets.. 

Oct 17th targets

Work day so I'll keep it minimum

1) paper - only editorialsdone

2) revision of last week topicsnope

3) economy static portionnope

4) daily ca done

_----------

@Gaurav @Vayu   c'mon yaar, start a little.. Could change the amount of topics anytime and this will keep us in track in this long preparation.. 

@Gaurav okay, take care.. Hoping to see u bck soon :) 

18th oct targetsreviewd

1) Newspaper (Tomorrow )

2) ecostatic portions - money market& capital market(50%done)

3) mains topics - (labour reforms, inequality, growth&dvlpmt) (50%done)

4) daily ca done and answer writing (3qns) 

5) eco. Survey part1/2done

@sstarrr  what im dng for GS3 economics is for every gs3 topic, i write down 7-8 subtopics in it both static & current. for example -issues related to plannning &mob. of resources is the topic - FC, FRBM act, fiscal council, GST &compenstion cess, NITi ayog, Local body resources & issues, Tax reforms etc are the sub topics.

so, I take 2page notes for every subtopic. my sources are current affairs, nitiayog strategy for new india and eco.survey.

for current topic - I follow civilsdaily website where all major editorials are categorised. I used to search for articles in google earlier but I found the website useful as all articles, editorials are in one place.

u can see this link https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/issues-related-to-economic-growth/

so I read editorials for 4months(june-oct) for a particular topic(civilsdaily) and if i get more time, ill also browse through secure compilations (again 4 months ) in that topic. +Niti ayog report. whatevr source, I try to stick by 2 page notes. thats it. 

sticking to time, sources is important. could finish 4-5 topics in a day so in a week u could have substantial notes for economy part. This is the plan. Hopefully I complete it.

i have seen mrunal long time back for conceptual clarity and nt following these days. my advice si take notes even if its simple 3-4 lines in ur own words & examples from mrunal videos. Follow a single book either ramesh singh(selective topics) or shankar ganesh(it uses simple language). most important for economy is eco survey&budget, current affairs and good understanding of concepts.

@sstarrr pls excuse my handwriting. I can understand it I'm not sure abt others.. It's not perfect, I'm starting nw only so will add more as I read more.. 

My sources: nitiayog report, CD website, google search ( I find drishtiias website has good summary of reports) 

@sstarrr  thanks, I'm finding civilsdaily website useful for getting subtopics. U can see insights secure compilation too. 

Check this link for gs3

https://www.civilsdaily.com/gspaper/paper3/

So I make a list for the coming week and try to finish as much as possible. U can Add/delete the topics depending upon current needs. This is my list for the week and I finished only some 12 topics. 

@adivasi  i read ramesh singh book in my first attempt. i too felt it was bulky and nt able to revise in the last minute. but it was worth the effort. nw i dont actually read it bcoz my concepts are clear and i read shankar ganesh to revise the concepts.  and i havent read other books so no opinion on that. For a first timer (given the time period october )and to be a civil servant, my personal opinion is u hve to go beyond shankar ganesh book. 

if u r gng to cover public finance in a day - see mrunal videos and read the chapter from ramesh singh -it will take time but still do it. (take a day to see wat works for u).  or read a chapter from any of those books to decide.

Mrunal/Ramesh singh/shankar ganesh is only foundation part, u have to read CA, eco survey subsequently for sure. hope it helps.

@gaurav its she

@psyduck thnx I'll see that :) 

19th oct targets

1) newspaperdone 

2)10-12pm revision of last week topicsdone

3) 12-1.30pm monthly CA (part1/3)nope

4)4-7pm economy static portion + backlog40%

5) 8-9pm answer writing 🤷‍♀️

Reposting again, anyone? 

20th Oct - work day

Will do only newspaper, DailyCA and eco- mains some topics if I get time. 

#review: did only daily ca

21st oct

Gng to apply for LLR license, after that

1) 3-6 pm Mains eco - testdone

2) 8-10pm Prelims eco done

3) newspaper done & daily ca 

22nd oct targets

Next 10 day cycle begins, 

9-12pm eco - agri 5 subtopics (3topics done)

2-5pm optional - modernity&social change (60%)

6-8pm static env &biodiversitynope

8.30-10.30pm - answer writing & daily cadone

hey all@Gaurav  @sstarrr @psyduck @adivasi , i was just thinking if anyone will be interested in collaborating note making for GS Mains topics. lets say even each one prepares a topic a day for 2 weeks will get us 50-60 topics covered for GS. 3-4 ppl will be enough. if u r seriously interested to prepare, we can collaborate. it will bring differnt dimensions for a topic as well. its entirely mains oriented. 

@psyduck @sstarrr  just my thoughts, it's not abt experience or nt experienced in mking notes, all of us are giving 2021 and gng to read for mains only till feb(mostly).notes actually develop over time, it just needs to start. I myself feel my content is not enof or it's just nt reflecting in my answers well. Anyway it's only a suggestion. Thanks for the response. 

23rd oct- work day targets

Just daily ca nd may be 2 eco. topics. 

Yes yes, came up with the suggestion to make the work more effective 

24th oct

3-5 pm eco agri topicsdone

5-8 pm env. static partnope

9-11pm eco agri topicsdone

11-12.30 daily ca + answer writingdone

25th oct

1) newspaper only editorials

2) optional - backlog topicdone

3) env - static partdone

4) eco - 2 topics  nope

5) daily ca & answer writingdone

Last time kept it on 7th day in 10 day cycle of my studies bt got too much to revise. So Gng to revise every 3 rd day before i start the topic for the day, / on workdays.. 

_-------------------

26th oct - work day

Complete  backlogs of daily ca  and eco topics. 

27th oct

12-1 pm - newspaper, daily ca

4.30 - 7pm - optional - socio & common sense

7-9pm  - prelim static science& tech

10- 11.30pm - eco 2 topics 

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Today gng to take a break. Only feeling I have is want to talk and relax, sleepy too.. 

28th oct 

Yesterday I was full on talking mode, taking call after call and slept off. So Same targets today. 

11-1.30 optional( common sense& durkheim) 

4.30- 7pm - revision + eco topics

7-9pm  - prelim static science& tech

10- 11.30pm -  daily ca 

---+++++++----+

Review : again another day gone. Rest

29th oct - work day

Daily cadoneand ca backlogs only

Motivation for the day : When it gets heavy & tiring, take rest bt don't stop. 

Shankar ganesh is only for understanding basic concepts. U have to add it with ramesh singh/ sriram notes since mains will require more understanding,knowing concepts (assuming ur prep is on mains too). stick to the std book (ramesh singh/sriram) as "the one". And shankar ganesh when u feel u can't understand concepts from that book(online pdf is thr). 

And ditch it,if something is nt useful( only inanimate objects :)) 

All the best :) 

30th &  31st oct targets 

1) newspaper

2) optional - durkheim topic full + answer writing 

3) eco - infra

4) prelims static- sci& tech

5) daily ca & backlogs

6) revision 

Im hoping by isolation, u mean u study alone and still have study circle with whom u talk once or twice a week. If u have such frnds, forumias serves little purpose. For me, I come here coz I want to get that feel of being with aspirants which i dont have outside. like mauraisles said, apps help.. I  used pomodoro app intially to mke me sit for half n hour continuously. It takes time but works. Keep coming back to studies with all distractions. Choose a subject that doesn't require ur laptop for 2-3 hrs. Try reading that subject everyday eventually u ll study and websites will be sidelined. Also have a frnd circle outside forumias that helps u in advice, venting out as well. ( distractions are thr for everyone, u r nt alone). 

Only newspaper done in those 2 days. Hitting a roadblock - tiredness is overtaking me and climate doesn't help either. 

1st November - work day

Newspaper, daily ca nd revisiondone 

2nd Nov

1) Newspaper nope

2) Revision & Eco topics (2 slots with break) full day done

3) Optional nope

4) daily ca & answer writing nope

3 nov 

1)Economydone

2)News paper + daily canope

4th nov - work day

Daily ca 1-4 backlogsdone

World history part(1/7)nope

Nov 5

Newspaper

Optional -E.D

world history - yesterdays portion

Daily CA & Revision

I can't say Im successfully out of seeing OTT. I'll share what I'm dng these days. I used to watch drmas continuously. even with breaks,it was difficult nt to watch. But these days I prefer to seeing film and not dramas bcoz it's definite and ends in 2hrs at max, no urge to watch for more than that. Dramas can be a timekill ( daystoo) so go for film or tv shows that is 20-30mins. As exams approach, u have to keep away from it totally. It depends on you whether to totally avoid it or not. During prep, if u could find break in getting a walk/ exercise, certainly OTTs can be avoided fully. 

Gng to set 10 day target and will review after completion. So wont be coming in everyday

Plan till nov 15th

#world history

#optional 2 thinkers

# complete Ca & 2 tests 

Review on nov 15th

----++++----

I feel 7 hrs is good if u r doing it consistent ly. U ll only have to put more hours from march till mains.

My work days varies where I put double the time(8+8) on my work day so tired the next day also but i get full day off on 2 days so i try to read for 6-7hrs on off days. It actually varies. somedays I sleep too much.

Usually it's Morning 4 hrs with breaks and evening 3 hrs. If I sleep in the noon, I try compensating it in the nights. How much quality study time done matters. I can do 6 hrs quality and others half quality ( mind saturates for me). Quality+ consistency is the essence. 

 Nov 9th targets 

1) world history done

2) optional 

3) ca done 

4) paper + daily cadone

Nov 10 targets

1) optional - one small topic done

2) world history

3) ca revision, remaining topics and 1.5hr testdone 

4) paper and daily ca 

Nov 11

1) ca done

2) world history

3) newspaper 

Repeat for today's targets 

Nov 13 - workday

Ca backlogs 

Revision 

I don't think there's little time gap bcoz if u have given prelims earlier - u would have already studied all basic materials. The focus would be only mains oriented nw. Given less time for mains next yr, have to finish most mains static topics and optional by jan.  As for me, I'm not diluting anything but if I'm able to compete only 70% of targets (mains static+ answer writing + optional) i'll carry on with the remaining after prelims. 

#Nov14 targets

World historydone

CA - 3 topics

#Total blast ysterday - diwali in my state TN- no one paid heed to time restrictions on bursting crackers. Hope everyone(in this thread)had a great time on diwali. 

and back to studies, todays targets

1)world history - 5topics + revision ( if im nt completing WH by today, will extend it till 18th)- 60% done

2)ca - yestrdays + revision

17th nov

1) post independencedone

2) CA -50%done

3) WHnope

4) optional -revision

Yes, n state capital

18th nov

Gng out. So keeping it less

1) post independence

2) CA test if possible

@Mauraisles @Gaurav @psyduck  wru guys, need u ppl on the thread. 

Cool, take care👍

I haven't tried open tests or started pre prep full fledge as of nw but it's a good idea, will try to make one when I come across open tests👍👍

Nov 22 - workday

CA - 5 topics -3 done

Post independence - revision

Targets for 23&24th nov

1) post Independence completiondone

2) indian geo(pre&mains) 

3) optional - marx40% done

4) CA tests 

I would suggest one newspaper and a monthly magazine like visionias or anyother for these months may 2020 - may 2021. U can read paper daily, do a daily ca supplementing the newspaper and also see other websites for reading list ( other newspapers important editorials) so that u ll get an overall picture of an issue that week.

For notes, I'll suggest make note of only examples(ngo, shg, some success stories in districts - ethics), case studies in the newspaper that u ll not find in any monthly magazine. If u r keen to make notes, do it like issue based from editorials( just like answer with points on challenges and way fwd) . Otherwise monthly magazine will cover most topics that u have read in paper.  follow one magazine and also try to do extra reading of items in it like maps, rivers related items. 

Spend 1.5 hrs for paper and no more. if u r gng to make notes, make sure u can use it for mains ( issues or extra points) or prelims additional info. There's no hard n fast rule. U can do what works for u. These are just suggestions. 

Nov 25 - work day - no study, full energy drained. 

Nov 26-30 targets 

Indian geo

Optional - marx& weber

CA - 3 tests

Mine is simple strategy( still dng course correction). So for a month I have perfected this one. It suits me. I actually have paid subscription of CD weekly ca . So mostly there will be 10 important issues for a week - I make notes in an answer format for each issue with flowchart, diagram wherever needed(like a model answer for exam- still working on it) . 2 notebooks for gs2 &3 and writing it topic wise.  Only After a month now I'm getting a proper plan consistency actually. In addition when I read static topics I also make notes and add to it. This is my Ca & mains gs strategy.

For the backlog month ca - i have read paper but no notes so gng to follow visionias and the same patter - find mains related issues and "make 1 page note on it wholistically with internet sources" ( inaddition to cd, drishti, iasparliament is also good).

Strategy can be different for everyone - onlything is notes must be crisp relating to mains@Faith001 Hope it helps. 

I don't think their weekly compilation is different from wat it is uploaded on website. But it's all in one weekly pdfs (40pgs) and answer writing is a good thing. If u r taking notes from it already, it may be redundant. Otherwise their habitat platform is also good. 

Falling behind the schedule 😖. 

Nov 30 targets

Optional 

Revision

Nov target update

1) world history 70% done

2) post independence & earlier backlogs done

3) Indian geo - started

4) optional - durkheim

5) oct ca - mains issues done + test done

Dec targets

1)backlog Indian geo + env(40%) 

2) modern india

3) polity 

4) optional - all thinkers & tests

5) CA- July -Sep & tests

#workdays started as usual. Will try to put in 6 hrs daily. Hope to complete atleast 70% of my targets this time. 

Dec 2 targets

1) revision

2) optional

3) indian geo 

Dec 5&6

Modern India

Optional

Sep CA-part(1/8) 

Got distracted and wasted days nt studying.. Going to start with small targets

16th Dec

#CA 50% done

#modern india

Thanku.. Will start posting regularly.. Have to makeup for the lost time. 

Today's targets (after work) 

1) CA- 3 topics

2) history part(1/10) 

#Repeat targets

# newspaper

#Sep CA -10 pgs

Dec 19

1) history yesterday backlog

2) optional - weber

# will skip the next day posting if I'm nt able to complete the targets.. And will do only bcklogs that day. 

#ppl on thread, pls post ur targets. Need motivation from nonworking ppl🙏🙏

Dec 20

#open test gs scoredone

#revision

Dec 21

#gng for a run

#optional

#revision

Dec 25

#optional50%

#gs historydone

#cadone

#pyqsdone

Dec 26

#run done

#ca done

Dec 28

#ca

#pyq

#history 

Totally caught up in work without off.. Will update once I get back to my normal schedule. 

18/1/21

1.Mod. India -30% done

2.Nov ca -20%done

3.Daily news + extra reading

4.2 mains subtopic -1 topic done

5.Pyq

19/1/21

1.Mod. India

2.Nov ca

3.Daily news + extra reading

4.3 mains subtopic

5.Pyq

20/1/21targets

1.Mod. Ind

2.Nov CA

21.1.21

1) history

2) daily news + extra reading

3) pyq

4) backlog mainstopic

23.1.21

Mod India revision

2 Pre tests and check answers done

Prev.qns done 

24.1.21 targets

1.Env part1/650% done

2.Nov ca 20pages -50% done+ env related ca 

3.Solve env 50qns -25 qns

4.daily editorials alone -done

25.1.21 targets

1.Env part1/6 

2.Nov ca 20pages  

3.Solve env 50qns 

4.daily editorials alone 

With yesterday backlogs.

26.1.21 targets

Optional

+backlog topics

Happy 72nd Republic day everyone :)

Jan 27

Env part2/6

Finish Nov ca 

29.1.21 till 31st 

Env-50 pgs evy day 

Work is taking most time so keeping targets to the minimum. 

Self motivation -Take small steps every day  :)

2.2.21

Dec ca

Env part3/6

Repeating it for 3 days till 5th Feb

With env qns daily.

5.2.21

1)Env backlogs

2)places in news update

motivation - Lbsnaa official song

Happy reading :)

06.2.21

1)Last day reading of env. Trying to cover as much.

2)25 Env qns

3)Dec ca 

4)Places /species in news update

7th Feb

Morning - 25 Env qns+ pyqs 

Ca related env facts

Env pre test

Late Evening - check answers + revision 

8.2.21

Check answers of ystday test 

Rest day

09.02.21 off day

1) 2-6Optional 

2) 7-9Polity -50qns+ pyqs 

3) 9-10.30 Daily editorials, 5 schemes a day

10.2.21

Yesterday was a good day, completed 70%targets. My love for my optional is coming back :D 

1)7.30-10 am optional

2)4-7pm polity 50qns 

3)8-10pm optional 

11.2.21

Polity ystrday backlog 50qns

Polity -part(1/5)

Ca backlogs 

Repeat 

15.1.21

Most day Optional 

8pm-10.30pm polity pre test and check answers

18.2.21

1. 7.30 am-9.30am - 50qns + check answrsdone

2. Ancient India- chap3-7done

3. Dec ca- intl, env 

19.2.21

Backlog of ca and answers checkdone

13.3.21

50qns &answercheck

optional -3hrs

PYQ+10min quiz

Daily editorials

Days-84

3.4.21 targets 

*polity - till FR

*polity test & answer check

*Maps - National parks

*CA - 1hr & Daily editorials

*Revise before sleep

Days 83

1) polity - yesterday backlog 50% + chap 60-63

2)ysterday test answercheck + polity test 50qns

3) CA- 1hr

4) Revise before sleep

Today targets

1) Polity - const, non const bodies study

2) polity test

3) CA 1 hr

There's always a backlog of 30% of yesterday's targets so gonna have 1hr for covering up backlogs. 

4) complete backlog at the end of day

5) revise & sleep

Didn't finish it yesterday so repeating the same targets

20.9.21 revision day 1

1) Full test 26

2) Polity - 2test revision 

3) Basics revision 

4) CA revision part 1- 3months

5) Env - climate change 

6) Before bedtime- maps, national park & art,culture

24.9.21

Last fulltest - made mistakes in CA so gonna put more hours for that. 

Today

1. Env, schemes of 6months CA (9-2pm)

2. Polity - till amendment revise notes

3. History - 1919-1931 revise ( till 5pm)

4. Full test 29(5-8pm)

5. Medieval - bhakti&sufi, Maps - south India rivers & NP

1. 3months done 3,4,5 done..

25.9.21

1. Full test 30

2. CA env 3 months

3. Polity, history 2 hr revision 

4. Bedtime - medievalindia & maps (eastern india)

26.9.21

History, polity revision 

Env climate change topics

Test paper analysis

Medieval yesterday topic & maps