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
@PursuitofHappyness The format is just this:site:
Make sure you type "site:" too. Try copy pasting the what i posted. That works for me.
yes.. its working.. !! thanks
whatonly,
Hello, what all value addition sources are you guys using for paper 2 section B, to cover it up comprehensively?Value addition? what is your basic source because I don't find ma'ams notes good for 2-B anyone?
@whatonly what basic source did you use for covering 2-B ?
could anybody please tell me what are the contents of the crash course of SR , does she provide some current affairs material as well for IR part , is the content different than the monthly magazines of Vision ??The crash course contains:
1. Test series (model answers are uploaded too)
2. Discussion videos on the test questions
3. Lecture videos on different topics (not sure how they are chosen)
4. Material on different topics, usually corresponding to the videos but some extras too
I joined the 2020 one. I couldn't find time to watch any of the videos so can't comment on that. The material is usually a collection of facts and scholar quotes. Some IR topics were covered, some weren't. Since it's IR it contained current events too under these topics, but I don't recall any separate current affairs (others please correct if I'm wrong).
You will still need the Vision magazines (or any CA source). Even for IR, you can't rely entirely on the crash course material, because a) it doesn't cover every topic, and b) the schedule is unpredictable. I think the way to use it is to make your notes on your own, and add points that you find useful from the crash course material.
Then why is there so hype about her test series? checking is pathetic and so is her crashcourse. Whats good then?
Hi dost, @whatonly has very well explained what crash course is all about.
Since she has not watched videos, let me deliberate on this issue. I have watched her every video, right from before Prelims was conducted to a night before PSIR actual exam.
- In case you have any inconvenience in writing answers or making structure of answer, she, in her initial videos would very well illustrate on it. These are like workshop videos, where she would make you write first, and then after 10 min she will tell minute changes in how to write intro and conclusion for different topics. No personal attention though. Like Ideologies, quotation based thinkers, IR questions all have different way of writing, so she focuses very much on what is demand of question and how to write. She will give insights as to what a Political Science Professor, who would be checking your answer, would be looking for there. So first model answer will be discussed in 6-8 hours. Subsequent model answers would take 60 minutes only and handout of model answers would be given.
- There is no fixed pattern, as to when videos would be uploaded. Test 2 video might upload after test 5 is conducted
- Towards the mains exam, her frequency of video upload would triple. Task would be to end everything before time.
- Then there are zoom calls where you can ask doubts. In case your doubt is genuine and speaks of your chances of clearing Mains, she will definitely explain. Otherwise, she might say something that will make you feel embarassed that why did you even ask for it. If same doubt is repeated, it will annoy her.
- Videos are even uploaded after GS subjects are over, in fact a night before PSIR actual exam. These videos would enhance your ‘feel good factor’ and bring you with hope.
However, in case you are atma nirbhar and have faith that you can manage well, these videos would be of no use at such a crucial time. Like all these videos are 40 days X 2 hours approximately
Her content in Model Answer is superb. It will make good value addition in your already prepared notes. She would give excellent intro and conclusion for most probable questions. Also, IR is very well covered. But itna zyada ho jayega ki retain bhi nahi kar paoge.
In case you need her 4 years Model Answers or other value additions, I can help you with that : )
Hello, what all value addition sources are you guys using for paper 2 section B, to cover it up comprehensively?Value addition? what is your basic source because I don't find ma'ams notes good for 2-B anyone?
@whatonly what basic source did you use for covering 2-B ?
Do what She told in her earlier post. Replace heywood with 2-B , you will get all previous results-Gem of discussions.
whatonly,could anybody please tell me what are the contents of the crash course of SR , does she provide some current affairs material as well for IR part , is the content different than the monthly magazines of Vision ??The crash course contains:
1. Test series (model answers are uploaded too)
2. Discussion videos on the test questions
3. Lecture videos on different topics (not sure how they are chosen)
4. Material on different topics, usually corresponding to the videos but some extras too
I joined the 2020 one. I couldn't find time to watch any of the videos so can't comment on that. The material is usually a collection of facts and scholar quotes. Some IR topics were covered, some weren't. Since it's IR it contained current events too under these topics, but I don't recall any separate current affairs (others please correct if I'm wrong).
You will still need the Vision magazines (or any CA source). Even for IR, you can't rely entirely on the crash course material, because a) it doesn't cover every topic, and b) the schedule is unpredictable. I think the way to use it is to make your notes on your own, and add points that you find useful from the crash course material.
Then why is there so hype about her test series? checking is pathetic and so is her crashcourse. Whats good then?
Hi dost, @whatonly has very well explained what crash course is all about.
Since she has not watched videos, let me deliberate on this issue. I have watched her every video, right from before Prelims was conducted to a night before PSIR actual exam.
- In case you have any inconvenience in writing answers or making structure of answer, she, in her initial videos would very well illustrate on it. These are like workshop videos, where she would make you write first, and then after 10 min she will tell minute changes in how to write intro and conclusion for different topics. No personal attention though. Like Ideologies, quotation based thinkers, IR questions all have different way of writing, so she focuses very much on what is demand of question and how to write. She will give insights as to what a Political Science Professor, who would be checking your answer, would be looking for there. So first model answer will be discussed in 6-8 hours. Subsequent model answers would take 60 minutes only and handout of model answers would be given.
- There is no fixed pattern, as to when videos would be uploaded. Test 2 video might upload after test 5 is conducted
- Towards the mains exam, her frequency of video upload would triple. Task would be to end everything before time.
- Then there are zoom calls where you can ask doubts. In case your doubt is genuine and speaks of your chances of clearing Mains, she will definitely explain. Otherwise, she might say something that will make you feel embarassed that why did you even ask for it. If same doubt is repeated, it will annoy her.
- Videos are even uploaded after GS subjects are over, in fact a night before PSIR actual exam. These videos would enhance your ‘feel good factor’ and bring you with hope.
However, in case you are atma nirbhar and have faith that you can manage well, these videos would be of no use at such a crucial time. Like all these videos are 40 days X 2 hours approximately
Her content in Model Answer is superb. It will make good value addition in your already prepared notes. She would give excellent intro and conclusion for most probable questions. Also, IR is very well covered. But itna zyada ho jayega ki retain bhi nahi kar paoge.
In case you need her 4 years Model Answers or other value additions, I can help you with that : )
What was this? Kya balance of tareef and bezaati. Got it , SR is good for model answers , her answer writing ka tarika and agar time se upload hojaye toh her discussions as well :).
Yeah pls share her model answers and value additions. Not of 4 years, just previous 2 years . Just to see and take decision.
EiChan,
Hi dost, @whatonly has very well explained what crash course is all about.
Since she has not watched videos, let me deliberate on this issue. I have watched her every video, right from before Prelims was conducted to a night before PSIR actual exam.
- In case you have any inconvenience in writing answers or making structure of answer, she, in her initial videos would very well illustrate on it. These are like workshop videos, where she would make you write first, and then after 10 min she will tell minute changes in how to write intro and conclusion for different topics. No personal attention though. Like Ideologies, quotation based thinkers, IR questions all have different way of writing, so she focuses very much on what is demand of question and how to write. She will give insights as to what a Political Science Professor, who would be checking your answer, would be looking for there. So first model answer will be discussed in 6-8 hours. Subsequent model answers would take 60 minutes only and handout of model answers would be given.
- There is no fixed pattern, as to when videos would be uploaded. Test 2 video might upload after test 5 is conducted
- Towards the mains exam, her frequency of video upload would triple. Task would be to end everything before time.
- Then there are zoom calls where you can ask doubts. In case your doubt is genuine and speaks of your chances of clearing Mains, she will definitely explain. Otherwise, she might say something that will make you feel embarassed that why did you even ask for it. If same doubt is repeated, it will annoy her.
- Videos are even uploaded after GS subjects are over, in fact a night before PSIR actual exam. These videos would enhance your ‘feel good factor’ and bring you with hope.
However, in case you are atma nirbhar and have faith that you can manage well, these videos would be of no use at such a crucial time. Like all these videos are 40 days X 2 hours approximately
Her content in Model Answer is superb. It will make good value addition in your already prepared notes. She would give excellent intro and conclusion for most probable questions. Also, IR is very well covered. But itna zyada ho jayega ki retain bhi nahi kar paoge.
In case you need her 4 years Model Answers or other value additions, I can help you with that : )
Dropping videos for us to watch a night before exam won’t give me a feel good factor, personally 😅
@Aquaman for 2B the line between basic sources and value addition was not very clear for me. The SR notes for 2B have some good points but need a lot of updates. For static parts (first few topics) I used SR notes and some other books*, and after that made notes from various articles for other topics.
*2B: David Malone, Shashi Tharoor (both are old, but help lay a base - but Malone is better and enough), Indian Foreign Policy by Harsh V Pant, Choices by Shivshankar Menon, Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy
(all these are not necessary, just collect the amount of matter you need to answer any realistic question)
You will be covering IR anyway in CA if you are doing some monthly magazines or mains 365. So while making notes it's better to focus more on scholarly opinions.
@Aquaman for 2B the line between basic sources and value addition was not very clear for me. The SR notes for 2B have some good points but need a lot of updates. For static parts (first few topics) I used SR notes and some other books*, and after that made notes from various articles for other topics.
*2B: David Malone, Shashi Tharoor (both are old, but help lay a base - but Malone is better and enough), Indian Foreign Policy by Harsh V Pant, Choices by Shivshankar Menon, Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy
(all these are not necessary, just collect the amount of matter you need to answer any realistic question)
You will be covering IR anyway in CA if you are doing some monthly magazines or mains 365. So while making notes it's better to focus more on scholarly opinions.
Thank you !
I'm UPSC 2021 aspirant and I thought of preparing optional by self study and thought if I feel need coaching I would take it after mains 2021 for 2022, if I couldn't crack without coaching. Mains 2021 was scheduled in September, so I thought I would join oct batch.
But now mains would be in January mid, means if I go without coaching for UPSC 2021, I won't be able to go for coaching as batch after mains will start in Feb 2022 ending in July 2022.
So I'm really confused. I'm thinking to join batch starting from July 2021 ending in Jan 2022.
I know it's late, but this seems the best choice as of now.
Am I thinking on right lines?
If you join regular coaching right now for a 2021 attempt you’ll find it very difficult to manage whether you join in July or later. The speed at her regular classes is very different compared to the speed required to finish the syllabus while writing mains. You will need at least 3 revisions with notes made to get a decent grip of PSIR for writing mains. Whereas with the coaching classes you will not even be able to cover the entire syllabus once. Besides, you will also need to write tests given that this is your first attempt. The general gap between each test for most TS is 2 weeks. Which means in 2 weeks you will be expected to complete one section of one paper at least. The classroom course (bear in mind I did it in 2017) took 2 and a half months to cover just Plato alone, which is merely a subtopic of one section of one paper. Look at the cost benefit ratio and it’s not enough time to do the coaching. Your safest bet would be to purchase her notes ASAP and go through them by yourself. I’ve heard there are TG lectures of SR which you can listen to while reading the notes (I think someone on this thread itself suggested it) and work in this time to create a deep conceptual understanding with your own value addition. The rest is your call entirely.
@Hercules_15 I think if you can read and understand PSIR 1-A by yourself, you should not join any coaching. I was part of her course this year, and after PSIR 1-A, she just gave us printed notes and read through them most of the times. Even PSIR 1-A is just 80% dictation. And she'll spend way too much time on 1-A and you'll start praying to god that this thing gets over. It doesn't leave much time to do other things as you do classes and revise stuff. Also this is your first attempt, so may not be too sure about GS too. Notes are 95% of the value that SR adds. Try to get the latest notes. Do them well. If you don't understand anything, there is yt channel which has uploaded her audio lectures, listen to them. But only selectively.
And you don't know if the course gets finished on time. I joined in June and the course was supposed to end in December and it ended in April. We complained that PSIR isn't the only thing we have to do & she replied, "Jinhe prelims nikalna hota hai woh nikaal lete hai." Everyone in my batch is so angry with her.
@DeekshitaP Lecture 28 & Plato wasn't done.
Your keyboard is beyond fascinating
@nerdfighter And on top of that someone even sent her a legal notice to complain that the course has not been completed on time and it was a whole other fiasco after that.
If I knew it would take 9 months to complete the course, I might have saved 60k. 😌
Wow I thought our batch was the only one who did it. We were a national disgrace as well. Btw this was when she was still teaching at VR full time.
@nerdfighter And on top of that someone even sent her a legal notice to complain that the course has not been completed on time and it was a whole other fiasco after that.
If I knew it would take 9 months to complete the course, I might have saved 60k. 😌
Yes, and she reacted so crazy. Like, anytime anybody would complain, she either ignored it like she didn't hear it or she would start attacking like these people aren't serious and they should have total faith in the institute. Stalin would have been proud. Indeed it was a colossal waste of 60k.
"If anyone is liberal,it is MILL" :P
TambourineMan,whatonly@nerdfighter @CaptainPeralta We happen to be batchmates! That time of legal notice was funny :)
Funniest were the reaction of people where the same people who were criticising her started saying sorry. And the trick she used to muzzle free speech :D
EiChan,nerdfighter@sstarrr bhai atleast elaborate the event and tactics she followed
Dhamki (what you will do , do , I will also see) + Emotional. But after that , no whatsoever questions ever on course completion. :(
EiChan,CaptainPeralta@nerdfighter @CaptainPeralta We happen to be batchmates! That time of legal notice was funny :)
Funniest were the reaction of people where the same people who were criticising her started saying sorry. And the trick she used to muzzle free speech :D
That telegram group went in a whole other direction. More often than not people were just fighting with each other or defending the institute and apologising for "offending" Ma'am by asking questions. 😅
EiChan,sstarrr@nerdfighter @CaptainPeralta We happen to be batchmates! That time of legal notice was funny :)
Funniest were the reaction of people where the same people who were criticising her started saying sorry. And the trick she used to muzzle free speech :D
That telegram group went in a whole other direction. More often than not people were just fighting with each other or defending the institute and apologising for "offending" Ma'am by asking questions. 😅
Yeah. Perfect example of prince of machiavelli. Muzzeling freedom of speech and expression , without our notice. No doubt machiavelli is her favt.
CaptainPeralta,
Dhamki (what you will do , do , I will also see) + Emotional. But after that , no whatsoever questions ever on course completion. :(
"Dhamki (what you will do , do , I will also see) + Emotional". 
sstarrr,whatonly
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