Subscribe to ForumIAS

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
314.7k views

394 comments

For PVTGs: https://www.tribal.nic.in/DivisionsFiles/SwLPVTGs.pdf

Some other tribes: PreSpot10_Historical Sculptures and Tribes_19032020.pdf

I guess knowing states is good enough.

Aurora,Steveand3 otherslike this
12.1k views

Thankyou@thistooshallpass . I have actually bookmarked this page! :)

thistooshallpass,
8k views

@thistooshallpass pollutants, from which source?

There is no source that I know of. I am just going to use my Env book and highlight the imp ones there. If anyone else knows a source, please do share.

Dora-the_Explorer,
9.3k views

@thistooshallpass pollutants, from which source?

There is no source that I know of. I am just going to use my Env book and highlight the imp ones there. If anyone else knows a source, please do share.

This might help.

Environment.09.Air Pollution.pdf

7.4k views

@thistooshallpass pollutants, from which source?

There is no source that I know of. I am just going to use my Env book and highlight the imp ones there. If anyone else knows a source, please do share.

This might help.

Environment.09.Air Pollution.pdf

Thank you for sharing :)

9.2k views

@thistooshallpass pollutants, from which source?

There is no source that I know of. I am just going to use my Env book and highlight the imp ones there. If anyone else knows a source, please do share.

This might help.

Environment.09.Air Pollution.pdf

Could you please snd this pdf again. M unable to open it..

7.8k views
@Dora-the_Explorer right click on it. GO to the rename part and clear the name. Then put any name and add .pdf to the file.


Dora-the_Explorer,
7.1k views

@thistooshallpass pollutants, from which source?

There is no source that I know of. I am just going to use my Env book and highlight the imp ones there. If anyone else knows a source, please do share.

This might help.

Environment.09.Air Pollution.pdf

Could you please snd this pdf again. M unable to open it..

Environment.09.Air Pollution.pdf

Dora-the_Explorer,Kapiushon
7k views

lauriya nandangarh=lion capitol;rampurva=bull;Rummindeiinscriptions=asoka went to buddhas birthplace ( also tax reated ,not sure though) ;

Bhabru-Bairat informs us about personal history of Ashoka, summary of his Dhammaand events leading to his conversion to Buddhism;

sarnath= sandstone used

* most of buddhas inscription are in Prakrit not pali( TN says pali)

Aurora,GaryVeeand1 otherslike this
6.8k views
@Dora-the_Explorer right click on it. GO to the rename part and clear the name. Then put any name and add .pdf to the file.


Thanks!! this worked...

SergioRamos,
7.6k views

Hey. If anyone has the pdf to nitin singhania's hand written notes for art & culture, could you please share it?

Thanks a lot!

7.2k views
For today, the topic is indices and reports. I have linked to Forum posts and Shankar IAS booklet. I am personally planning to only do the reports and authorities that release them.
Dora-the_Explorer,
8.5k views

British Education.pdf 

GaryVee,Dora-the_Explorerand1 otherslike this
7k views
There are two topics for tomorrow because the second one is a small topic.
8.1k views

Hi, how are you all covering defence related news? There are way too many equipment to be done with many specifications.

Kindly help 

HarveySpectre,
6.4k views

Hi, how are you all covering defence related news? There are way too many equipment to be done with many specifications.

Kindly help 

Same question, but interesting trend in defence questions in PYQs: 1 in 2014, 2016, 2018 and none in 2015, 2017, 2019. Can’t risk skipping but also seems low-yielding. 

10.4k views

I have read the current affairs for Prelims but haven't made notes. Now I am struggling. Can anybody tell whether I should rely on these compilations now??

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S5RMh4EYe6WJwPQu7scWgQygGv3itXQV/view?usp=sharing

6.3k views
Can anyone share some chart for constitutional and non-constitutional bodies
6k views

https://www.csewiki.org/Tribes_in_India

For tribes in India 

Rise from Ashes,GaryVeeand2 otherslike this
6k views
Write your comment…