Dear all,
The GS Preparation has many sections incorporated:
HISTORY- More attention to be given to Modern India, after Plassey and Buxar. Indian National Movement is very important. Spectrum Modern India is what I suggest freshers and Non-History-Optional-Students. Medieval India- learn the dynasty members (tughlaq, khalji,slave, lodi,etc.) learn in detail about razia sultana. Cover in depth Jainism and Buddhism for Ancient India. Remember Indus civilization locations in the map and whether they lie in India or Pakistan. Vedic age and Post-vedic age are exact opposites in many aspects like women freedom, caste system, etc. hence use logic to attend such questions.
WIZARD History Special for GS Issue is a concise ready reckoner. Do not miss that out.
GEOGRAPHY- Spend time with Atlas to get an idea about the location of countries in news (current affairs, presidential elections, terror attacks, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, sports championships, prominent citizens recently passed away, ethnic/social/inflationary crisis countries). Try to have an idea about the countries nearby, its approximate location, islands, strait, bay, gulfs, seas and oceans nearby. Concentrate on territorial dispute areas- sir creek, kuril islands, aksai chin, etc.
NCERT books are for Indian geography and geomorphology. Have no doubts about regions of plateaus and plains, deserts and forests in India. Keenly note areas of dense forests, heavy rainfall, high population and pop.density, urbanisation areas, climatic zones and areas in biodiversity threat. National parks, their locations, famous species in it all these are favorite areas for question-paper-setters.
ALWAYS HAVE THE IDEA OF ASSOCIATING CURRENT AFFAIRS TO HISTORY,GEOG,POLITY & ECONOMY.
CHECK IF ANYTHING PROMINENT HAD HAPPENED 5,10,20,25,40,50,75,80,90,100, ETC. YEARS AGO. FOR EXAMPLE 2010 COMPLETES 60 YEARS OF INDIAN REPUBLIC. 2011 CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF BIRTH OF BANGLADESH., AND SO ON
POLITY - I fully referred Indian Polity in Laxmikanth's Indian Polity and solved MCQs from Pratiyogita Darpan's Special Edition on Indian Polity. The latter had a complete coverage of all areas from which questions could be asked. Be thorough with the step-by-step manner in which power transfer was done to Indians from British hands- decentralisation, constituent assembly formation, the various GoI acts before that. Relate Historical events in UK that lead to 1947 independence of India.
Prepare notes on each part of the constitution, keep them handy. Be thorough about the various sub-clauses of fundamental rights, functions of president, governor, Lok and Rajya Sabha; Be clear in the various types of bills, funds, and budgetary terms. Give importance to lok ayuktas and ombudsmen type of establishments, panchayati raj, election commission.
ECONOMY - Refer my other blog on economy. However, keep in mind that current facts like 625384826.23 rupees was allocated to so-and-so scheme is unnecessary. Have comparative ideas about which sector got more importance than which other sector & whether it is different from last year's outlay. Share market related terms, RBI and World bank related issues are important. Questions from Finance commission, NDC and planning commissions are inevitable.
GMA - Refer my other blog on GMA and statistics. Do not neglect this section. This fetches you sure-on-the-spot-marks.
ALL THE BEST