Important for beginners who arr yet to solve PYQs.

Solve PYQs and update this tracker to keep a check on your accuracy and to find your optimum attempts. This will help you in identifying number of questions to be solved in 2025 prelims in exam hall. Dont go with preconceived notion of attempting 85+ or 90+ questions.

10 session of at 12 PM. Will discuss 7 mindmaps Geographical resources, geographical phenomenon, Indian neighbourhood, pacific, europe, middle east and global forums apart from mapping on places in news in October. Colored portion is news of October. September news is without color.

3rd Edition of my essay book i.e. Decode Essay is here.

It includes solutions of all 61 philosophical topics asked by UPSC between 2013-2024 in 28 different approaches. I have provided 3 different structures for each essay. Book also includes other VAM required for essay writing.

Book Link:

Sample Essay Above

Rahul Dravid said "When South Africa required 30 runs off 30 balls in final, no one would've thought that we would win. It was very difficult but the Indian team didn't give up. Therefore, I request you all to never give up in your life and fight till the very end.

pinned «Quote of the day! “Never was anything great achieved without danger” - Niccolo Machiavelli In today's ethics class, I thoroughly enjoyed applying Machiavelli's teachings on Sheikh Hasina's actions and analyzed how she could have been a better 'realist':…»

Quote of the day!

“Never was anything great achieved without danger” - Niccolo Machiavelli

In today's ethics class, I thoroughly enjoyed applying Machiavelli's teachings on Sheikh Hasina's actions and analyzed how she could have been a better 'realist':

1) Use deceit or cruelty but appear to be virtuous.
2) Control your destiny, use any means as ends justify means but maintain popular goodwill.
3) Cruelty can be used but should not be unabated.

His teaching of politics and ethics need not go hand in hand is also applicable in this case.

P.S. Apply ethics theories and thinkers in such current affair contexts for deeper understanding. Then only you will be able to handle ethics paper in exam hall.

The colored portion that you can see is updated portion of this mindmap over what I have already covered in previous class. That is why I told not to print mindmaps as they will be gradually updated as and when fresh event is in news.

Happy Diwali to you and your family. May the festival of light be your guide in your journey 🪔🧨💥🎊

With today's current affair class, we have covered entire month of september from both prelims and mains point of view. Next class will be on 5th Nov wherein we will cover current affairs of October under the same heads i.e. polity, governance and social justice, science, environment etc.

Standards of media in our country are horrible. Some media house by the name of pratidintime used my picture from Instagram in a news article on its site & posed me as an accused in a bribery case in Guwahati. Thats why I always suggest my Ethics course students to not bring media as a stakeholder in case study by themselves if UPSC hasn't mentioned it explicitly. 4th Pillar! 😅

Thanks to vigilant student for pointing it on DM.

Day-4: Free Current Affairs Initiative 04-06-2024

This is first of many current affair initiatives that I am planning to come up with.

I will share important articles to be read from newspaper on a daily basis.

I will also pinpoint topics of syllabus where particular news is of importance.

Refer on for all posts.

Hi All,

Wanted to inform you that my resignation has been formally accepted today i.e. 20th May.

I wont discuss the decision in detail, it is just that I want to follow my passion and calling.

I have been guiding UPSC Aspirants, all for free, since 2019 and i shall continue to do that.

It goes without saying that now that it is my bread and butter, I have come up with affordable paid courses as well, starting with Ethics and Essay. Both these courses are for beginners and veterans alike. I shall teach theory, application, answer writing and everything that these two subjects require.

While individually the courses cost you less than Rs. 3K, you can take bundle in less than Rs. 5K. Prices have been kept less intentionally because I want to cater to all segments. Please note that the free initiatives wont be discontinued.

Ethics Course:

Essay Course:


Ethics + Essay Course:


All course details available on above links.

Thanks. Kindly be kind in your assessment of my decision!

Hi All,

Hope you are focused on achieving your daily targets. Here is my response to some of the common queries that I have been getting on DM.

1) Not getting good marks in mocks:
Make notes of questions you found tough and revise them. Identify you weak zones and revise them. Analyze thought process behind marking a certain option and work on the same.

2) Current affairs:
In my view, and as I did across my attempts, current shall be prepared at least till 1 month ahead of the exam i.e. till 16th May. Time gap between prelims and mains is less this year and you dont want to have greater backlog of current than 30 days.

3) Revise from books that you have or coaching material or your notes:
If you have made comprehensive notes then revise from notes. If your notes are not comprehensive then right now revise from books that you have read and revise from notes in the last few days. As per me, this is not the time to pick a new book for a topic/subject. If you have not covered a topic/subject till now then you may opt for some concise source.

4) Self-doubt:
Very normal to day dream about selection as well as have fear of failure. Key is to follow the daily planner and meet daily targets to stay focused and on track. Do not overthink. Do not think about result. Aim for short-term targets for long-term gain.

ATB!

CSE-23 Topper Strategy-29:

Merugu Kaushik secured AIR-82 in CSE-23 in his very 1st attempt with Sociology Optional, despite being a working professional and strating Mains preparation quite late.

Here he has covered following aspects:
1) His journey
2) When and how to start preparation
3) Timetable
4) Preparation with job
5) Booklist for Prelims, Mains and Sociology Optional
6) Note making
7) Role of PYQs
8) Revision strategy
9) How to attempt prelims
10) Answer writing strategy
11) Links to his notes and answer copies



Book Samples & Links:

CSE-23 Topper Strategy-28:

Wardah Khan, AIR-18, 2nd Attempt, Sociology Optional.

She is member of Mains group.

Following is her comprehensive write-up on her Journey from failing Prelims in first attempt to securing AIR-18 in second attempt. She has shared strategies for Prelims, Mains, Essay and Sociology optional.



Book Samples & Links:

CSE-23 AIR-4 ☝️

Essay Score: 129

Example of using your areas of interest such as cricket in essay or ethics:

Mains 2023 Essay: Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic. Cricket based introduction:

"Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd! India lift the World Cup after 28 years!" Ravi Shastri's high-pitched words from behind the microphone, when Dhoni hit the winning six into the stands, will never be forgotten. Indeed, the then Inda captain was magnificent on the night of the big final. Promoting himself up to No. 5 in the batting order in one of his many masterstrokes, Dhoni took the attack to Sri Lanka bowlers. It was not just his intuition but also logic that he came ahead of an in form Yuvraj Singh and his visionary decision making created history.

Decode How to Write Essays on Philosophical Topics

CSE-23 Topper Strategy-27:

Dr. Ketan, AIR-610, Member of , cleared CSE in his 3rd attempt.

For his 3rd attempt, he had changed optional from Medical Science to Anthropology.

Scored 127 in Ethics and 270 in Anthropology.

Detailed strategy here:

Book Samples & Links:

CSE-23 Topper Strategy-26:

Abdullah Zahid, AIR-744.

His UPSC journey is very unique correlating to V shaped recovery:

1st Attempt (2020): Reached interview stage and missed selection by few marks

2nd Attempt (2021): Couldn’t Qualify for Interview due to optional (204 marks)

3rd Attempt (2022): Failed Prelims

4th Attempt (2023): AIR 744

He has discussed his journey and comprehensive strategy in this post.