General Instructions (Preliminary as well as Main Examination)

General Instructions (Preliminary as well as Main Examination) :

• If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on           this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him.
• Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
• Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
• In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
• Candidates should use only international form of Indian numerals (i.e.1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
• Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type)calculators at the Main examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted. It is also important to
note that candidates are not permitted to use calculators for Preliminary Examination.
The Main Examination is the most important stage of the exam. If you are well prepared for the mains, then a good foundation for your success is made. The risk involved with the interview can also be reduced with good performance in MainExamination. Always target the Mains Exam and make clearing the Prelims an incidental objective and a passing phase in the path of your goal. If you always focus on Prelims result and don't think of Mains till the Prelims results are out, you will end up as a looser because there is hardly any time left for a thorough preparation. So always aim at the Mains.

Note :

• Your answer in the exam is the only medium through which you can convey to the examiner. So you should always think as to how to impress the examiner with the answer. Your pen, handwriting, writing style, logical presentation,innovations, relevance to the question, etc, everything matters. Be careful about these aspects right from the beginning.
• The final two months should be devoted to repeated revisions.
• The writing practice within time limit should be done from the beginning. This will help in understanding what you can remember and reproduce within the time limit. If you do this as the preparation progresses then the study will be exam-oriented.
• Improve your handwriting if it is bad. Your handwriting should at least be easily legible.
• You can use colour pens when you draw figures, diagrams etc.
• While writing answers, focus on good introductions and conclusions. The presentation should be logical. The introduction should introduce the reader about the path he is about to take and whats in stored for him. It should raise the curiosity of the reader. While, the conclusion should sum up what the reader has gone through in the path. There should be a balanced judgement in
the conclusions. (This is suggestible only for 30 and 60 marks questions)
• You need not have a very good vocabulary or scholarly writing style. It is sufficient if you can present your answer in a simple logical manner.
• Your aim should be to score equally well in all the papers. In general, you should get above 300 in optionals and the GS. Depending on your strong areas you should get more marks in some papers. The essay score should be above 100. In this way, if you can get around 1100, then the position will be very
strong.
• The presentation is to be practiced well. Do not dump the information in the exam, but present it in a logical and attractive manner.The point form can be used only for some factual areas. Other wise, paragraph mode with good analysis should be used.
• Read the question carefully and grasp the aspect being asked. The answer should be relevant to what is being asked.

ESSAY :

             The essay paper (200 marks) in the civil services main examination is crucial in determining the final outcome/ selection and ranking. It is decisive because there is no specialization in an essay and so no aspirant can claim expertise, unlike optional subjects.
Essay paper does not have a source of definitive information as in the case of general studies or optional subjects. This constitutes a challenge. It is vital to understand that an essay is a reflection of the personality - ideas, views, analysis, assessments and inferences, values, attitude, aptitude, orientation and communication (written) abilities, all the attributes that are wanted by UPSC in an aspirant.
General trend is that essay paper will contain 6 topics out of which one topic to be chosen. There is no syllabus for essay. Anything under sun can be asked. But, if we analyse previous year paper, it is conspicuous to find some root topics. For example, there is at least one question on women empowerment every year. So, the topic ‘Women Empowerment’ is a root topic.
Suggested Root Topics :
1. Women Empowerment
2. Environment, S&T, Energy Security, Sustainable Development
3. Democracy, judiciary and related topics
4. Education, Indian Culture
5. Current Events
Suggested Reading :
a) Yojana issues
b) Frontline cover stories
c) “The Hindu” Sunday Magazines
Groundwork Preparation :

               The duration of the essay paper is 3 hours and the word limit is not mentioned. It is generally said that 1500-2000 words should make a good essay. This can comfortably be written even with a moderate pace in 2 to 2 ½ hours. So the first 30-45 minutes can be spent for the groundwork preparation. First is the selection of the proper essay topic. Out of the 6 topics, one topic would generally be related to philosophical issue, unless one is confident it is better to opt it out. Like wise one can eliminate topics with which one is not comfortable. Some topics, most of the aspirants cannot maintain a balance throughout the essay so better opt them also out. Finally select the topic that you think can do justice. The answer booklet of the main examination consists of 24 single pages. The last 3-4 pages can be used for rough work. If you are sure that you can complete the main booklet, then ask for one additional at the beginning of the exam and use it for rough work.