The Civil Services Examination(CSE) is often considered as the most challenging competitive examination in India. With a diverse set of subjects spanning across a wide-ranging syllabus and a long preparation period, it requires real effort from the candidates to succeed in this mission. The general notion has been that CSE is a memory based examination where we have to mug up a lot of things which result in rote learning. Thus the adage "anything under the Sun can be asked" has often been related to this examination. Such an understanding (or rather a misunderstanding) has discouraged many aspirants from pursuing a career in civil services. Hence, it is important to clear the air regarding this.
It is true that hard-work pays off in any challenging task, but in CSE we need to do a little bit of smart-work too. This implies we need act judiciously while preparing for the examination. A vital part of the preparation is identifying the various topics that will be asked for the examination. The syllabus as notified by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) serves as best source for choosing the required topics and weeding out the unnecessary ones. A quick analysis of the previous question papers of CSE reveals that UPSC has stuck to the syllabus while framing the questions. Hence, I feel if there is anything to mug up without fail for the examination, then it is the syllabus!!
Another important feature of the examination is the type of questions being asked. The CSE has been subject to changes, both in terms of format and content over the recent years. Prominent among them is the type questions that have more or less become issue-based rather than subject-based. Breaking with convention, where questions were asked from subjects like Polity, Economics etc, the current format would test the candidates understanding on the relevant issues affecting India. This requires a good command over the current affairs, a subtle mind to analyse them and an ability to present your ideas in a crisp and clear manner. What matters the most and what requires the greatest effort is to link the different facts you learn from different areas and developing your views on those. Hence the key for the CSE would be holistic learning rather than rote learning.
It is true that hard-work pays off in any challenging task, but in CSE we need to do a little bit of smart-work too. This implies we need act judiciously while preparing for the examination. A vital part of the preparation is identifying the various topics that will be asked for the examination. The syllabus as notified by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) serves as best source for choosing the required topics and weeding out the unnecessary ones. A quick analysis of the previous question papers of CSE reveals that UPSC has stuck to the syllabus while framing the questions. Hence, I feel if there is anything to mug up without fail for the examination, then it is the syllabus!!
Another important feature of the examination is the type of questions being asked. The CSE has been subject to changes, both in terms of format and content over the recent years. Prominent among them is the type questions that have more or less become issue-based rather than subject-based. Breaking with convention, where questions were asked from subjects like Polity, Economics etc, the current format would test the candidates understanding on the relevant issues affecting India. This requires a good command over the current affairs, a subtle mind to analyse them and an ability to present your ideas in a crisp and clear manner. What matters the most and what requires the greatest effort is to link the different facts you learn from different areas and developing your views on those. Hence the key for the CSE would be holistic learning rather than rote learning.
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