How to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC?

How to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC?

Current Affairs for UPSC focuses on “Current events of national and international importance,” which is a part of the Prelims Syllabus. The syllabus of current affairs is not defined in both Prelims or Mains exams. So the aspirants need to read major newspapers, make notes, and cover all the major news that is relevant to UPSC current affairs. It is highly recommended that the candidates go through the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers while preparing for the current affairs section. It will help them to understand the types of questions asked, and they will figure out a way to prepare for current affairs.

9 Tips to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC

UPSC doesn’t examine your memorizing power; it simply tests how well someone is absorbing the details and going beyond the information. To be able to pass this test, candidates need to have a rock-solid preparation strategy. We have prepared some tips to cover the current affairs for UPSC below that would be beneficial during the preparation.

Analysis

One needs to understand the Current Affairs in UPSC Exam is not a test of your memorizing power, rather it tests how much in-depth information one has about a particular topic. That’s why it is important to concentrate more on analysis so that you will be able to answer any type of current affairs questions.

Know your Syllabus

While reading the newspaper make sure you keep track of news headlines that are relevant to the UPSC Syllabus. That’s why it is important to have a complete idea of the Syllabus first and keep a list of current affairs topics mentioned in the syllabus at your desk.

Newspapers

You will find so many newspapers in the market, but it is important to choose the Best Newspaper for UPSC current affairs preparation. Newspapers with socialites and gossip won’t help you to clear the IAS exam. You need one newspaper because your preparation will be more focused, and you can save a lot of time. The Hindu is one of the highly recommended newspapers for UPSC aspirants because it provides excellent editorials concerning every topic.

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Magazines

Apart from the Best Newspaper for UPSC, you will need magazines to aid your preparation for the current affairs section. There are so many options when it comes to choosing a magazine, but don’t overburden yourself with too many magazines. Just stick to a few magazines with a proven track record and excellent analysis. Some of the highly-rated magazines for the UPSC current affairs are Yojana Magazine, Science Reporter, Kurukshetra Magazine, and Economic & Political Weekly.

Read Government Reports

Go through important government reports like the Economic Survey, the Budget, and the India Yearbook to stay updated on the government’s policies and initiatives.

Focus on the Important Events

Aspirants should prioritize the important events and issues that have a direct impact on the country’s governance, economy, and society. They should also keep an eye on the major global developments and their implications for India.

Note-Making

Making notes on the analysis of the topics is crucial. Ensure that you have written the analysis properly. Notes will help you immensely in the advanced state of the UPSC preparation close to your exam.

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Revise Consistently

Make sure that you revise the topics you have covered consistently. This will help you to retain the vast amount of information that is required for UPSC. Revise the notes regularly, as it helps in connecting different topics as you gather more relevant knowledge and information. Additionally, you can also spend your time watching current affairs videos daily for a fixed time.

Limit your Sources

While preparing for the current affairs section, you shouldn’t follow too many sources otherwise you will end up feeling confused and overwhelmed. Above we have mentioned enough sources that would help you get enough information required. Limiting your sources would allow you to invest more bandwidth on other topics of the syllabus.

Notes to Prepare for Current Affairs for UPSC

There is no defined current affairs syllabus for UPSC. However, candidates need to know about some common areas from where questions can be asked. Below we have mentioned some important current affairs notes for UPSC Exam.

• National- National Issues, Science and Technology, States, Social Schemes, Indian Economy,
• Important Summits and Conferences – 13th Brics Summit, Rio Earth Summit 
• International Awards, International Reports, International leadership, First in the world
• Environment and Ecology
• Government Schemes
• Indian Polity
• Social Issues
• Indian Judiciary

Sources to Prepare Current Affairs for UPSC

Only reading newspapers won’t be sufficient for the preparation of current affairs. Below we have listed some very useful resources that candidates can refer to for the preparation of current affairs. It is crucial to read and analyze current affairs regularly to stay updated and gain an edge in the UPSC exam.

• India Year Book
• Economic Survey 2022
• Mathrubhumi Yearbook
• Current Affairs Topics – Arihant
• Newspaper- The Hindu, Indian Express
• Economic Survey 2023
• Government Schemes
• Yojana Magazine
• Kurukshetra Magazine
• Pratiyogita Darpan Magazine
• Manorama Yearbook

Year-Wise Weightage of Current Affairs in UPSC

It is challenging to determine the exact weightage given to current affairs in the UPSC Civil Services Exam, as it varies every year. However, the previous year’s trends in current affairs can give an idea about the number of questions an aspirant should expect.

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