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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
355.5k views

394 comments

Any good source to cover new technologies in Science and Tech area? I have done PT365 and Factly. If anyone can suggest some other source it would be great help.
What are you guys doing?

7.6k views
@hashtag2020 cheers man this is exactly what was needed!


7.8k views
@hashtag2020 thank u very much


8k views
@AzadHindFauz if you've already done PT365 you can do also cover Rau's C3. Provides excellent linkage b/w current and background info. 


AzadHindFauz,
7.8k views
any good & comprehensive notes on Ancient and Medieval History plz
8.1k views
@Bengal_Tiger check la excellence notes.


8k views
Any good source to cover new technologies in Science and Tech area? I have done PT365 and Factly. If anyone can suggest some other source it would be great help.
What are you guys doing?

Listing out what I feel is important for this year from current's perspective: 

  1. Satellites - PSLV GSLV SSLV etc - a lot of ISRO's work
  2. Fastags & RFID 
  3. Space based internet
  4. Spyware, zero day exploits
  5. Quantum Supremacy
  6. Lithium ion batteries 
  7. Nano drones vs micro drones 
  8. Bombay blood group
  9. Lightning - effects, science behind it, prone areas etc
  10. Tardigrades
  11. Deep sea mining 
  12. Microdot technology
  13. Moonquakes
  14. Arsenic pollution
  15. Diseases - zoonotic origin 
Dora-the_Explorer,chamomileand5 otherslike this
7.4k views

Thank you both,@dwightschrute and@upsc2020.I'll explore these options!

7.5k views
If anyone can share notes of pre-1857 wars, it would be helpful. I'm getting confused.

Advent_of_Europeans_and_Pre-1857_Wars.pdf


You have no idea how much you have helped me. Thank you. :)

GaryVee,Dora-the_Explorerand1 otherslike this
7.4k views
If anyone can share notes of pre-1857 wars, it would be helpful. I'm getting confused.

Advent_of_Europeans_and_Pre-1857_Wars.pdf


You have no idea how much you have helped me. Thank you. :)

It's a pleasure to know it's of some use to you all :) 

MatildasMissHoney,GaryVeeand1 otherslike this
7.9k views
How should I cover art and culture if I have not done it yet?
GaryVee,
7.9k views
How should I cover art and culture if I have not done it yet?

Do Fine Arts Class XI + PT365 (Will take 2 days) and hope for the best!

Any other source at this moment is UNDOABLE in my opinion.

GaryVee,simransinghand1 otherslike this
7.4k views

low yielding topic though

MatildasMissHoney,Rise from Ashesand11 otherslike this
13.4k views
@JackFarmer Thanks a lot! 


OliveOil,
7.7k views
How should I cover art and culture if I have not done it yet?

You can also try Rau's Compass C3 magazine. It has 20 pages notes on art & culture. That's all I am doing as well.

GaryVee,simransingh
9k views
How should Buddhism and Jainism be covered? Will it be enough to cover it from Poonam Lal's book or any other source should be referred? 
thistooshallpass,
7.1k views
How should Buddhism and Jainism be covered? Will it be enough to cover it from Poonam Lal's book or any other source should be referred? 

TN book/Old ncert + PYQ + Nitin Singhania chapters should be more than enough..Anything other than that won't be answered by anyone so it's a better trade off.

thistooshallpass,
6.9k views
any good & comprehensive notes on Ancient and Medieval History plz

Mughal.pdf

Faceless_Man,
6.9k views
Deleted
any good & comprehensive notes on Ancient and Medieval History plz

Complete_Ancient_history_in_english.pdf

6.9k views

Boltsaid

any good & comprehensive notes on Ancient and Medieval History plz

Mughal.pdf

Complete_Ancient_history_in_english.pdf

6.9k views
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