PSIR - Strategy, resources & discussion
Hi peeps. Let’s do this!
1. Previous papers from 2009 (both papers are in the same PDF):here2. Topic-wise PYQs: here
3. Look for PDFs of books here: b-ok.cc, http://libgen.rs/, archive.org
4. Model answers from SR:here
5. OnlyIAS notes, if you need extra matter for a few topics:here
6. SR notes, typed:politicsforindia.com
Had decided that would be spending June and July on optional . Make proper notes for all parts ( haven't done it yet) and join sr test series for answer writing practice . Also , give time for essay and write one every fortnight. (Coverage of 750 marks)
Now I'm confused after seeing AWFG 2.0 program of Forum . That would help in covering and note making of GS 2,3,4 . I would also be writing essay a fortnight. (Coverage of 1000 marks)
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @sstarrr @dragon_rider and others , would be very helpful if you can provide some insights and give advice .
For info :
2 attempts
2019 : Pre didn't clear
2020: Pre cleared ; mains didn't clear
I think it would not be wise to do AWFG at the cost of optional. However, I would suggest you to do optional and join AWFG. Take AWFG as a note-consolidating exercise. See the questions that are asked everyday and watch the discussion videos. You may write the test (without prep) or skip it altogether. I think if you're doing this much along with preparing optional, you'll be miles ahead of your peers.
TambourineMan,Also@whatonly and@AzadHindFauz , could you guys share a list of topics on which you prepared for the essay if you have such a list?
Themes I prepared for the Essay paper-
- Women empowerment
- Agriculture
- Democracy
- Capitalism vs Socialism debate
- Panchayati Raj, Federalism etc.
- AI, Fourth IR, Cyberspace/security
- Media, Social Media etc.
- Poverty, Inequality, UBI etc.
- Education, human development etc.
- Health
Philosophical themes-
- The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.
- There is no education like adversity
- Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished
- Integrity Without Knowledge is Weak and Useless, and Knowledge Without Integrity is Dangerous and Dreadful
- CHARACTER MAY ALMOST BE CALLED THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PERSUASION
- DISCONTENT IS THE SPUR OF PROGRESS
- THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM LIES IN KNOWING YOU KNOW NOTHING
- GOOD FORTUNE HAPPENS WHEN OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION
- THE GREATEST MINDS ARE CAPABLE OF THE GREATEST VICES AS WELL AS THE GREATEST VIRTUES.
I had written 3-4 philosophical essays, but prepared a framework and scribbled the rest. I think these themes will help you tackle whatever they ask. There's only a limit to arm-twisting in philosophy. Once you learn to brainstorm, you'll be able to write on any topic.
Had decided that would be spending June and July on optional . Make proper notes for all parts ( haven't done it yet) and join sr test series for answer writing practice . Also , give time for essay and write one every fortnight. (Coverage of 750 marks)
Now I'm confused after seeing AWFG 2.0 program of Forum . That would help in covering and note making of GS 2,3,4 . I would also be writing essay a fortnight. (Coverage of 1000 marks)
@AzadHindFauz @whatonly @sstarrr @dragon_rider and others , would be very helpful if you can provide some insights and give advice .
For info :
2 attempts
2019 : Pre didn't clear
2020: Pre cleared ; mains didn't clear
I think it would not be wise to do AWFG at the cost of optional. However, I would suggest you to do optional and join AWFG. Take AWFG as a note-consolidating exercise. See the questions that are asked everyday and watch the discussion videos. You may write the test (without prep) or skip it altogether. I think if you're doing this much along with preparing optional, you'll be miles ahead of your peers.
Thanks again.
Feels like earlier decision of optional is better. Will see if I can find time for gs
AzadHindFauz,@Rewl1 Hey, I did not do AWFG, but I also think optional is your best bet for now. If you get your notes ready and get some practice writing answers now, it'll take a huge load off after prelims, and you can focus on GS properly then. Depends on your capacity to multitask :) if you can spare time for GS along with doing optional fully, no harm in doing GS. But make optional your first priority.
Villanelle,TambourineMan@dragon_rider I tried to prepare separate notes for essay but didn't manage to do it properly. So I mostly used whatever we learn in GS and optional itself. I wrote mock essays but did not specifically prepare for them. And whatever little I prepared on was for non-abstract topics. Won't be able to help on this :/
dragon_rider,@dragon_rider Anudeep’s list of topics: 
List of Topics for Essay.pdf
dragon_rider,@Rewl1 Hey, I did not do AWFG, but I also think optional is your best bet for now. If you get your notes ready and get some practice writing answers now, it'll take a huge load off after prelims, and you can focus on GS properly then. Depends on your capacity to multitask :) if you can spare time for GS along with doing optional fully, no harm in doing GS. But make optional your first priority.
@whatonly Thanks!
whatonly,
Hi, I have not logged on to the discussion forum in a few years so please guide me accordingly (my last attempt was in 2018).
I have a few Pol Sci optional books to give away and I am searching for the right thread to post it under. I remember there used to be sort of a marketplace, but I cannot find it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
I am moving out from my current apartment and so I wish to give these books away. If anyone is interested, please do message me. I am located in Navi Mumbai.
whatonly,
how to map out list of topics in psir? for making the topic wise fodder notes.
do you guys have topic index, then kindly copy paste here or attach pdf
@naviiin hey, I used only the syllabus list to organise the notes. In my notes, within those topics, I added whatever sub topics I found useful in the source material.
AzadHindFauz,Can you people tell names of toppers whose answer copies have helped you out?
Also, link of topper talks/articles which helped
@whatonly @AzadHindFauz @Villanelle and others as well
ARisingSun,@Rewl1 I used to look at answer copies of Megha Arora and Trupti Dhodmise. Both had very different styles and got good marks (300+). I used to look at Megha Arora's copies, pick out questions from them to write, and compare with her answers to figure out exactly how to improve. I would suggest sticking to one or two people after looking at a few who have gotten good marks, depending on whose style you like, and then trying to see what you can take from them.
Didn't really listen to any talks. I read articles by Megha Arora, Ananya Das, and Dhananjay Singh.
https://medium.com/firestarter
https://unravellingcse.wordpress.com/2015/07/30/political-science-preparation-by-ananya-das-air-16/
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