What is a suitable current affairs strategy? I will be giving Prelims 2021 for the first time and I already have a huge FOMO with regard to various CA compilations.

Keep things simple. Follow one source for current affairs, read one newspaper and keep it on a repeat loop. The secret here is constant revision. Don't run to multiple sources, stick to one source for any subject (Although many chapters of different subjects have to be read from multiple books but those are an exception). No one remembers everything, all you need to do is to glance through facts and figures regularly.

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Hey, 

I started preparing last May. Here is what I followed:

1. Newspaper everyday (no notes)

2. Insights daily current affairs (irregularly)

3. Vision monthly - this can be daunting but over time gets easier, as topics tend to get repeated and you figure out what’s important. Not each topic in the compilation has equal value. Many have facts and one or two insightful points interspersed with fairly obvious points. I revised these monthlies for prelims. I started full-time prelims-focused prep in February and had only read them once each before that. But I would advise you to read each at least twice. By July this year each month took me about only about 1.5 hour to complete.

Now if you’ve heard anything about prelims this time you will know that nothing could have fully prepared you for it. I’m coming around to believe that the purpose of studying current affairs - even for prelims - is not so much to acquire information, as it is to get a general perspective on the issue, and develop an understanding of the scope. By multiple readings and absorbing the material, you develop a sense of what is plausible and possible, and what isn’t. I think this will make sense to you a bit later. 

Some things to keep in mind while reading current affairs:

1. Read actively and take your time with it - ask yourself questions. For example while reading about Legal Service Authorities, typically in the Vision monthly you’ll find it in a box to the side. They’ll mention who qualifies for legal aid. As soon as you see a list, that’s your cue. Identify the converse list. Who isn’t covered? (Was helpful to me in prelims this year - I had noted down that OBCs and minorities are NOT covered)

2. Think about how a bit of knowledge you have gained can be useful in prelims and in mains - what kind of question can be asked? For this you need to go through the PYQs and spend some time analysing them for patterns. The parts that seem like they might be exam questions will naturally be focused on more.

3. Try to really care about the issue - whether it’s farm bills or even something as boring as ocean levels. You know how you would care about the National Medical Commission stuff if a close friend were studying to be a doctor - it wouldn’t feel like a burden. Figure out a way to maximise what issues come inside your circle of concern. I’m saying this because you have time. Soon enough when you start prelims prep you’ll feel jaded and tired of current affairs. But now you have the chance to enjoy it. Plus memory worked better for me if I felt something about the issue.

4. Make sure you use PYQs often. I printed out papers since 2014 and spiral-bound them and put them on my desk, and leafed through it randomly. 

If in the coming months I have any more realisations, I shall update. All the best and happy studying. :D

Things lie in your understanding, not in Some Current Affairs materials. e.g.- what is important , you can only understand with good base. so repeat static with madness[quality of static source is deciding factor].

Bcoz questions are based on the analysis of current happenings spread through credible reports and news. practice is must[unless u r lucky!].

e.g- in 2020 prelims paper , I forgot weather Siachin is above Gilgit or Nubra Valley? FDI is debt creating or not? May be it can spoil my whole year. These types of silly mistakes prevent a good candidate to get through. Current Affairs are problem only for those having weak base. 

Hope I answered the question.

This is exactly what I have started to follow.

The holistic understanding of issues is important which is useful for both prelims and mains.

I dont know why newspaper is ignored.

This year prelims paper was like objective mains. The preparation of mains would have helped many.

But you are going in right direction mate.

I will just add DNS to your suggestions.

Thanks@whatonly.

Exactly. Understanding is the key.

If you take my advice, read newspaper daily (preferably Indian Express, The Hindu on Sundays). Then read following monthly magazines:

1. Monthly CA magazine of any coaching or you can join Dipin sir's classes.

2. Yojana

3. Kurukshetra

4. Science Reporter

And yearly issue of Economic Survey and Budget.

You can also refer some selected orf articles.

Have you been able to see what questions are asked from these topics? 

If you can compile or copy paste, we will be able to make an open inference for the source or even not doing it altogether.

@akshayed In the first six months, do read the newspaper. You will know the vocabulary and lexicon of the exam. Like repo reverse repo, RBI , MSP etc. Especially for Econony.

I google most of the keywords given under the syllabus....but i am not sure if i am summarizing it correctly or even reading from the right source.

is there a specific dimension that is to be covered in an answer?...

Wonderful advices already. I considered my CA prep to be really satisfying and at the end a candidate before prelims or mains has to feel confident (NOT COMPLETE) with his/her preparation. Hence sole aim of doing whatever is suggested here is to have confidence at the end. 

1) Newspaper ( helps in comprehension of CSAT also). Makes you aware of hot topics due to their recurrence.

2) Official magazines like Yojana (have not read kurukshetra). Really good introductions and conclusions here. Also useful in building flow of your arguments/essays/ answers.

3) Coaching magazines (take ONE ONLY whichever you want to. Yes, FOMO would be there but it's better to do one with multiple revision rather than many with one revision). I used vision monthlies as I find their mains POV good, you can check others too.

4) One video CA video daily. Can recommend Rau DNS here, been following them for two years now. (though you also have byjus/shankar).  Take screenshot and feed it into windows photos which has good OCR capabilities. Helpful for mains and prelims.

5) pt365: At the end for prelims exams, you can go through pt365 index only. But utility has decreased and it's difficult to remember whole of it in less time. I use it as an index for whole year to see if  I have missed out on anything in monthlies. Each pt can be done in 1-2 hours this way.

Also finally please do realise FOMO of CA is less painful than not revising static. If given an option to read static or one more CA magazine, go for static. You can solve CA questions based on static knowledge but not the other way round imo.

@akshayed True. I think it is debatable but I feel the aim of choosing a CA source is not to directly expect a question from it in prelims. Similarly don't have such expectations from test series it's not 2016 anymore, no direct questions would be there.

I mentioned monthlies because they complete your checklist of what needs to be done by the month end and they build/ revise your concepts as all the issues need to be linked to static stuff. So checking monthlies utility only based on no. of hits in prelims is incorrect. I hope I was clear. ATB.