How To Read The Newspaper For Your UPSC Mains Preparation

Newspapers are great for information, often forming the first element of most of our knowledge. For candidates appearing in the UPSC CSE, it is one of the best sources to learn about what is happening in the world, in-depth. With the UPSC Prelims and UPSC mains exam pattern focusing more towards current and less towards static, it is becoming more important for candidates to read the newspaper.

While there is no wrong way to read a newspaper, if you are an IAS aspirant, there is no need for you to read the newspaper end-to-end. If you wish to do it right with your preparation, here is how to do it, every day.

What Sections Are You Looking For In The Paper:

● International Relations

● Environment & Biodiversity

● Personalities and Awards

● Government Policies and Schemes

● International Organisations

● Economic Policies

● Science and Technology

How To Read Newspaper With Priority

● Priority 1

Editorial and Op-Ed: The most important and the one you need to start with every day is the editorial page of the newspaper. These are the most informative section of the newspaper as this is where you will find the most researched and detailed information about things. Almost everything featured here has relevance to the UPSC exams.

● Priority 2

Business and Economy: This is the 2nd priority for you because this is where you will find all the important stats, figures, and ratios, alongside all the updates regarding new and important policies as issued by the governing bodies of India, like RBI, SEBI, AMFI, and others.

● Priority 3

National and International pages: A cursory read through these pages is enough for you as it will give you a good insight into what is appearing over and over again, like court verdicts, debates, government policies, and important bills.

Other Important Tips (Shorten Them, 1 liner self-explanatory points)

● Be thorough with the UPSC syllabus before you start, so you have an idea of what is relevant. Download the UPSC mains syllabus pdf, get it printed and keep it with you for the initial few days.

● Remember that your goals are above your interests so stay on what is relevant to your preparation.

● Make notes when you are reading the newspaper, instead of later.

● Make sure that you keep noting the pros and cons of a topic you read in the editorial section so you don’t lean towards a side with these topics.

● Don’t take in the perspective of an article while reading the newspaper. Read the paper and let you brain access the information.

Newspaper is your best companion whenever you start preparing for IAS, which is why for your best interests, make sure that you have a subscription of The Hindu for your home.

Important Dos And Don'ts For UPSC Mains

UPSC is considered to be the most esteemed and coveted entrance exams of India. Lakhs and lakhs of aspirants appear for this exam every year with years of hard work and practice to succeed and earn the society’s respect. The UPSC exam pattern has changed a lot over a period of time, needing the applicants to improvise their own strategies. However, with so many styles to answer questions in the Mains exam and the stakes being so high, it is okay to be nervous. While the clock is ticking for UPSC mains and the aspirants have prepared themselves for it, here are few dos and don'ts that you can keep in mind before you appear for the upcoming exam. Dos ● Prepare Answer Writing Skills The mains exam is subjective in nature and with word limits set to each and every question that you appear for, precise writing skills become imperative. You need to keep your answers concise and to-the-point to gain the attention of the examiner. Try to wr...

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