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Prelims 2020 - Preparing Repeatedly Asked Questions

There are many favourite topics of UPSC CSE paper setters. These questions come every year, yet are not found in an easy to do manner in most books. I want to take 20 such high yielding topics and do 1 per day. I am hoping this will help me do 4-5 extra questions in the exam.

Let us do it together. We can make a list today and start doing them from tomorrow.


Main List

  1. Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves(Finished on Sep 6) - Use ForumIAS material (link for BR|link for NP & WLS) or create tables yourself(Link for Govt Database)
  2. Ramsar - Wetlands, Marine protected areas, Elephant Reserves and Tiger Reserves(Finished on Sep 7) - No compilation that I know of, make tables of imp areas only (link for Wetlands|link for Tiger Reserves | Link for Govt Database)
  3. Jainism and Buddhism + Sufi and Bhakti tradition(Finished on Sep 8 & 9) Use your previous notes and consolidate for quick revision (Link for Bhakti & Sufi tradition)
  4. Rivers - Origin, Tributaries, Deltas, Dams and Termination (+ Lakes - Ramsar/Montreux if time permits)Finished on Sep 10
  5. Pollutants Finished on Sep 11
  6. Indexes and authorities that release themFinished on Sep 12Forum IAS links -1,2,3,4|Shankar IAS Link 
  7. Biodiversity (Species etc)Finished on Sep 13
  8. Tribes of IndiaFinished on Sep 13
  9. Schedules/Important Articles of the Constitution Finished on Sep 14
  10. Seas and water bodies in the world + countries surrounding them Finished on Sep 14
  11. Gandhian movementsFinished on Sep 15
  12. 1940-47 in Indian IndependenceFinished on Sep 16
  13. Trends in Indian economy (+ Nationalization of various sectors + Land reforms)Finished on Sep 17
  14. Acts and conventions in Environment + National Environment Bodies Finished on Sep 18
  15. International groupings that India is a part of + imp ones where India is not a member Finished on Sep 19
  16. Biotechnology Finished on Sep 19
  17. Wireless Communication + Diseases in news Finished on Sep 20
  18. WTO, UN, IMF and other important bodies Finished on Sep 20
  19. Control Groupings : MTCR, Australian Group, NSG, Wassenar and Associated topics like IAEA,NPT To do - Sep 21
  20. India's defence - Military exercises, weapons, fighter planes, submarines, stealth frigates, aircraft carriers + Satellite Missions/Space Missions To do - Sep 21
  21. Places in news + Conflict Zones + GI tags To do - Sep 22
  22. One liner type questions asking a particular pact or agreement signed between India and another country To do - Sep 22
  23. Finance Commission To do - Sep 22

Other Important Topics - No need of notes/Do from the book

  • Parliament
  • Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties
  • HC/SC
  • Historical background of Indian Constitution
  • Preamble
  • Folk paintings, dance and music

Smaller topics which do not require much retention:

  • Current account and Capital Account convertibility
  • National Income - GDP, GVA, GNP etc etc.

Please comment below and then I will add them to the list.

curious_kid,rootand85 otherslike this
323.6k views

394 comments

gravitational lensing

geo fencing & applications

ramjet and scamjet

wifi calling 

nuclear fussion and fission

space internet

relay satellite

geotail

galaxy's halo

various mission to sun

quantum supremacy

quantum satellite

edge computing

VOIP & VoWLAN


GaryVee,Dora-the_Explorerand5 otherslike this
7.4k views
Deleted

gravitational lensing

geo fencing & applications

ramjet and scamjet

wifi calling 

nuclear fussion and fission

space internet

relay satellite

geotail

galaxy's halo

various mission to sun

quantum supremacy

quantum satellite

edge computing

VOIP & VoWLAN


Thank you, Adding some from my list,

Spin Off technology, Intelights, Proton therapy,  MicroDot,   DeepFake, Black Gold, Tardegrades, 5th State of matter



7.1k views
@AureliusM Hey! 
Vision tests are difficult this year. My scores have ranged between 80-120 : see the variation in marks. In a paper where they ask factual questions, scores are bound to fall and the same will happen in actual exam as well. However upsc doesn't always ask too many factual questions. Options can be eliminated with right frame of mind.

If you feel you are being drained due to tests, I'd suggest you don't calculate the score anymore. This is primarily because your self-confidence is very important at this time. Just see what kind of mistakes you are making - too many guesses, solving basic questions wrong, unable to eliminate options in a particular set of questions (for eg I mostly can't think logically with science questions and get negative marks therefore I no more attempt them unless I know it) etc. 

Revision is the most important thing right now. Tests are just to know where you are going wrong and where to improve. Dont allow it to take a toll on you. All the best! :)

Dora-the_Explorer,
7k views
@Rudra12 Not comprehensive of course. But covers a good chunk. Zoom in for ease. And google where necessary .


Do you have this in JPG format? Tried converting, but it got blurred.

Micro,
7k views
@AureliusM Hey! 
Vision tests are difficult this year. My scores have ranged between 80-120 : see the variation in marks. In a paper where they ask factual questions, scores are bound to fall and the same will happen in actual exam as well. However upsc doesn't always ask too many factual questions. Options can be eliminated with right frame of mind.

If you feel you are being drained due to tests, I'd suggest you don't calculate the score anymore. This is primarily because your self-confidence is very important at this time. Just see what kind of mistakes you are making - too many guesses, solving basic questions wrong, unable to eliminate options in a particular set of questions (for eg I mostly can't think logically with science questions and get negative marks therefore I no more attempt them unless I know it) etc. 

Revision is the most important thing right now. Tests are just to know where you are going wrong and where to improve. Dont allow it to take a toll on you. All the best! :)

Thanks for the response!

Yes, I am not going to calculate my scores anymore. It shattered my self confidence today. But trying to pick it up. For consolation, in the initial FLTs I managed above 100 so I like to think I am still in the game.

All the best to you too. And thanks again!!


6.7k views
Bhai log koi later mughals se 1857 notes share kar sakta h please ......it will be great help .....i saw someone share advent of europeans here
AzadHindFauz,
7k views
@AzadHindFauz no bro. Only the pdf. 


AzadHindFauz,
7k views
@AzadHindFauz Zoom in and screenshot the portions. Might help. :)


AzadHindFauz,
6.5k views

@AzadHindFauz the best i could do :)

International Groupings.jpeg

AzadHindFauz,
6.9k views
@Sherkhan1428  Many thanks, bhai. 😇


6.5k views

Try Competence Academy mobile app for daily free mock all India tests....

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calabs.compacademy&hl=en

6.7k views

anki deck for military exercises from PT365


military exercises.apkg

Dora-the_Explorer,Koro-Sensei
6.5k views

anki deck for military exercises from PT365


military exercises.apkg

Hi, what is anki deck though😅

6.2k views
@Greenlove its a flash card app 


5.8k views

anki deck for military exercises from PT365


military exercises.apkg

Thanks 😊 

5.9k views
@Greenlove its a flash card app 


Ohh!! Thankyou 😅

6.1k views
Does anyone have short notes on socio-cultural reform movements and related personalities?
5.8k views

might not be aesthetically pleasing, but i hope it serves your purpose. I have sourced these notes from all PYQs asked in various exams.But i am assuming, you have read about these movements from some book. Only then the notes will make sense :)

Happy reading.

Socio Religious1.pdf


PS ~ Ignore the1st half of the 1st page. It was in continuation with the previous page

GaryVee,Dora-the_Explorerand7 otherslike this
5.9k views
Does anyone have short notes on socio-cultural reform movements and related personalities?

check the post above.

5.8k views
Does anyone have short notes on socio-cultural reform movements and related personalities?

check the post above.

cheers man! And thanks to everyone who has made this thread a goldmine for prelims. You're all absolute gems!

Dora-the_Explorer,AzadHindFauzand2 otherslike this
5.5k views
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