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Mains 2021: Doubt and strategy discussion thread

I don't know what to say, really. Prelims is over. The discussion as regards the authenticity of answer keys is the most futile discussion. So, I am creating this thread as a necessary and much-needed diversion. Three months to the biggest battle of our professional lives begins now. All comes down to how we heal and grow from now on, and either, we heal or we're gonna crumble. Day by day

We're in a toxic environment right now, fellas. Believe me. And, we can stay here, get the s**t kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. Mains is the road ahead for everyone of us notwithstanding our current predicament. So, let's continue to fight and not let our guard down.

Yours faithfully
AzadHindFauz


Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2020 is to be conducted on 8,9,10,16,17 January, 2021.

Resources-
1.Topic wise questions compilation from PYQs- https://forumias.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/community/comments/PYQ4951601966911.pdf

2.Previous years' question papers collection- Essay, GS I, GS II, GS III, GS IV, PSIR

3.New emerging technologies fodderhttps://intelligence.weforum.org/topics


5. This is awebsite by CSE 2019 selected candidates. Contains a lot of info ontest series/answer writingand alsohasGS notes.Must go through! => http://demystifycse.in/   

6. World history notes of Shreyans Kumat Rank 4, UPSC CSE 2018: https://drive.google.com/file/d/153rNAe4nHkTVolSnM7ZCwIrVfCNr-652/view  

7. Download Anudeep Sir's hand made notes from here. From GS 1 to GS 4, everything: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/how-to-conquer-gs-in-upsc-mains-explained/

8.Ethics keywords' definition table:https://forumias.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/community/comments/EthicsDefinitionTable33715989392954061602608482.pdf

This will keep you going-
jack_Sparrow,Deepak802and112 otherslike this
458.6k views

872 comments

Deleted
@PrinKed PM me I'll share it with you.


4.2k views
Is anyone around South Patel Nagar(Ranjeet Nagar area) now? Are the libraries open and basic amenities(like cooks) easily available?
4.5k views
Is it a good idea to join test series for both GS and Optional ? And if for one then what would be more suitable? Quite confused about the same.
4.5k views
@JackFarmer thanks so much dear for the gesture! But, now I have purchased it already!


5.1k views
@PrinKed Do share your learnings with us.


4.1k views
Hey, Could anyone please throw a light on how will you be handling Optional Test series, MGP and AWFG, Current affair and also Essay related things all at once. Please share some insight  
D7,
5k views
Is anyone around South Patel Nagar(Ranjeet Nagar area) now? Are the libraries open and basic amenities(like cooks) easily available?

Yes. Things are like they were before. (Pre-COVID)

mightyraju,
6.2k views
Deleted
Kindly suggest better anthropology test series (I have attended mains twice with geo optional and now with anthro).please let me know the feasiblity of working professionals joining such test series
4.2k views

Alexrsaid

Please someone let me know , what is the difference between Vision monthly and mains365?

Thank you.

+1. Is there any difference? Doing issues from monthly and just cross checking for any topics left from mains 365, would that be a good idea? 

Phagocyte,
3.8k views
Kindly suggest better anthropology test series (I have attended mains twice with geo optional and now with anthro).please let me know the feasiblity of working professionals joining such test series

u can try vaid IAS

4.2k views
can anyone please share the strategy for Ethics paper ? is it necessary to read all thinkers for this paper ?

Yes. Thinkers should not only be learned but also actively used in other papers for multidimensional analysis. You can use the idea of rawls in favor of UBI and gandhi against UBI. So that's how it works

EiChan,Phagocyte
4.5k views
Kindly suggest better anthropology test series (I have attended mains twice with geo optional and now with anthro).please let me know the feasiblity of working professionals joining such test series

I took sosins but its quite meh. This season I might take L2a. However most important is to get the pink booklet of sosin, where she has compiled questions from 1990 onwards and try to compile points for all questions. 70% of questions are just a refurbished version of a previously appeared question

4.4k views

If you have read monthly magazine, just keep them revising. We get some new topics in mains365 but it won't be a good idea to wait for them to finish these topics. If you combine previous year mains 365 with monthly magazine, it would be sufficient.

4.2k views
can anyone please share the strategy for Ethics paper ? is it necessary to read all thinkers for this paper ?

Yes. Thinkers should not only be learned but also actively used in other papers for multidimensional analysis. You can use the idea of rawls in favor of UBI and gandhi against UBI. So that's how it works

Hey, how would you use Gandhi against UBI? Bread labour? That everyone should have to do a basic minimum amount of labour to earn a living? (That’d be UBL hehe)

3.9k views
can anyone please share the strategy for Ethics paper ? is it necessary to read all thinkers for this paper ?

Yes. Thinkers should not only be learned but also actively used in other papers for multidimensional analysis. You can use the idea of rawls in favor of UBI and gandhi against UBI. So that's how it works

Hey, how would you use Gandhi against UBI? Bread labour? That everyone should have to do a basic minimum amount of labour to earn a living? (That’d be UBL hehe)

pretty sure economic survey 2018 used gandhi in its philosophical critic of ubi. They assigned to it the sin of wealth without work.

HotBloodPrince,Hitman2021
4.4k views
can anyone please share the strategy for Ethics paper ? is it necessary to read all thinkers for this paper ?

Yes. Thinkers should not only be learned but also actively used in other papers for multidimensional analysis. You can use the idea of rawls in favor of UBI and gandhi against UBI. So that's how it works

Hey, how would you use Gandhi against UBI? Bread labour? That everyone should have to do a basic minimum amount of labour to earn a living? (That’d be UBL hehe)

pretty sure economic survey 2018 used gandhi in its philosophical critic of ubi. They assigned to it the sin of wealth without work.

Aah wow. That’s some mental gymnastics. Thanks :)

EiChan,D7and4 otherslike this
3.8k views

Any sane advice regarding how to manage mains test series (GS part) and how to be really efficient at it? (Tricks like making mind maps and deliberate about issues etc.) 

Also which test series : Forum or Vision? 

Previous players in mains, can you guys please help here. TIA

D7,SkyWalk_19
4k views
Any review about Insight Mains test series ? Seems too intensive with 28 test , every sunday test. ? 
SkyWalk_19,
3.2k views
Do you guys like the idea of having an essay thread to share quotes, writing tips, good model essays etc?
Aurora,EiChanand13 otherslike this
3.8k views
Any tips on how you guys are covering world history? I am trying to do it from the Vision IAS booklet but it is taking a lot of time 
2.7k views
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