Know Yourself: The step which precedes everything else

The preparation of CSE starts at the moment when you decide to become an IAS officer.

Preparing IAS is like a journey. When we say it is a journey it means, it entails a starting point and a destination. The destination we all know i.e. to become an IAS officer. The entire process of preparing IAS exam is such that it engenders transformation in an aspirant so that he will be an IAS OFFICER from being a layman.

But what about starting point? How will you plan your journey if do not know your current status or level of preparation? To determine physical location of a person we use longitude and latitude, in the similar way we use those 4 pillars of CSE preparation i.e. Language ability, Conceptual clarification, Factual awareness and Emotional and Intellectual ability.

You have to get yourself tested against these pillars. This will help you to decide where you are and what efforts are needed to reach the destination. I have designed some questions to test a candidate against these pillars. Those who wish to get evaluated just contact me at idreamtobeiasofficer@gmail.com I will send you those questions.

How to begin IAS/UPSC Exam preparation

This is the most frequently asked question. "How should i begin my IAS exam preparation?"

Well, your first step in the course of preparation is aquisition of previous years papers of general studies of mains exam (i am assuming here that you know the stages of CSE), NCERT books of stds. from 6th to 12th (of History, Geography, Polity, Economics, General Science etc.) and subscribing a newspaper (preferably THE HINDU, if unavailable INDIAN EXPRESS or TIMES OF INDIA will do), and a good dictionary of ENGLISH Language (OXFORD's Advanced Learners Dictionary is the best in my opinion and was recommended even by my teachers).

Your next step is to finish with preliminary reading of all NCERT books with fair understanding. Here, fair understanding means you must be able to get big picture which these books are trying to give you. While doing this please do not touch any reference book or magazine or any class notes. Also refrain from choosing your optional subject(about which i will discuss later in a separate post).

Always keep in mind your Mains exam's preparation begins well before your prelimanary exam's preparation.

There are 4 major pillars on which your entire preparation of CSE rests:

1. Language Ability

2. Factual Awareness

3. Conceptual Clarity

4. Emotional and Intellectual Maturity

NCERT books and a newspaper will help you to enhance you factual awareness and conceptual clarity on a primary level. This is just a begining. During this phase, please avoid the temptation of purchasing any other books which may prove unnecessary later on.

Once you complete this phase, approach a sensible and knowledgeable teacher for further guidance. If it is unaffordable or not feasible to approach such a teacher you can remove this handicap  by investing in a good laptop/computer/smart-phone with internet connection. Thereby you can get connected with like-minded people. As i said in my earlier post you can approach me too for anything related to CSE preparation and won't hesitate to help you in whatever way i can.

About the aforesaid 4 pillars, i will dwell upon each of them at length in separate posts.

Remember, " a long journey begins with one step and only one step can be taken at a time."