Hi Friends,
wel..hardly 5 days to go for mains exam to begin...yup,must be the time of dwindling confidences,quick revision,anxiety and praying incessantly...infact,the right strategy may be just opposite-ie. relax..
reading anything extra in these last days will not add much esp when the syllabus is vast and questions asked quite unpredictable.
-Revise,u must but more mentally...consolidate things u already know..try list out expected issues that may seem relevant for this years exam and make basic framework of answers for same,which may be altered according to need of questions...
-n yes..take care of your HEALTH,falling ill now may cost u dearly..if at home,ur parents may be proactively doing this for you..else be vigilant about proper hygenic food,sleep and health in general.
-There will be moments when u feel low,have a PEP TALK with teachers u look upto,gud friends or even parents-jus one more thing for GS paper,expect the unexpected...dont become nervous after seeing...unprepared questions as this is kind of a trend... it will be tough for all but people who will try and make max use of knowledge they already have in context of question asked will score...so being calm and handling situation intelligently is what is required...
Lastly,since i will be leaving for village visit on 30th and will not be able to access internet for 7-10 days,so will make it a point to answer ur queries related specifically to this years mains exam on either of my websites till 30th...
ALL THE BEST...!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
why we shifted to a new website?
Friends,with two months of effort,i developed the earlier website...but due some technical problem between webs-website provider n TRAI,the site is not opening since august 10th for most....
As to find a quick n lasting solution for same a technocrat n a site member -Srinivas BH has been thoughtful to have all data copied in here...i really appreciate his foresightedness n timely help to all other site members....
i will answer all queries in the original website's guestbook too- http://www.garima-mittal-ias.webs.com/ ,for those able to access it..
the format in here is different with comment possible after every topic...feel free to put forward ur specific civil related queries,comments n suggestions in here...
Thanx,for bearing with me this week long interruption in accessing the original site...
As to find a quick n lasting solution for same a technocrat n a site member -Srinivas BH has been thoughtful to have all data copied in here...i really appreciate his foresightedness n timely help to all other site members....
i will answer all queries in the original website's guestbook too- http://www.garima-mittal-ias.webs.com/ ,for those able to access it..
the format in here is different with comment possible after every topic...feel free to put forward ur specific civil related queries,comments n suggestions in here...
Thanx,for bearing with me this week long interruption in accessing the original site...
Monday, August 16, 2010
ESSAY
ESSAY
-this is 200 marks paper requiring one to write one essay in 3 hrs.it is usually on 2nd day of gs mains paper with compulsory english paper in evening
ESSAY is an important part of mains esp since a difference of 30 marks can be decisive in one getting interview call or for the final rank,which may affect service u get...
lets first analyse the words given in notification for the essay(most dependable place to get direction for writing essay) :-
one is expected TO KEEP CLOSELY TO THE SUBJECT of the essay(focus should not be lost)
to ARRANGE YOUR IDEAS IN ODERLY FASHION(see the emphasis here is on ur own ideas n order in presentation)
pay special attention to candidate's GRASP OF HIS MATERIAL,RELEVANCE TO THE SUBJECT CHOOSEN(grasp means clarity of thought and obviously the material should be relevant to the topic choosen,then only should be included in the essay)
-ABILITY TO THINK CONSTRUCTIVELY (having an optimistic orientation,esp while giving innovative solutions to the problem being discussed towards the end of essay....)
-to present one's ideas CONSISELY, LOGICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY.(very important point is here..logically means idea should be logically analysed,sentences connected logically n paragraphs also have a logical connection so a flow in essay may be there...effectively means the idea should be communicated to the examiner in the manner u have interpreted it...and should be convincing)
-credit will be given for EFFECTIVE AND EXACT EXPRESSION..(thus,not only the ideas r important but the way they r presented is equally important)
ESSAY is an important part of mains esp since a difference of 30 marks can be decisive in one getting interview call or for the final rank,which may affect service u get...
lets first analyse the words given in notification for the essay(most dependable place to get direction for writing essay) :-
one is expected TO KEEP CLOSELY TO THE SUBJECT of the essay(focus should not be lost)
to ARRANGE YOUR IDEAS IN ODERLY FASHION(see the emphasis here is on ur own ideas n order in presentation)
pay special attention to candidate's GRASP OF HIS MATERIAL,RELEVANCE TO THE SUBJECT CHOOSEN(grasp means clarity of thought and obviously the material should be relevant to the topic choosen,then only should be included in the essay)
-ABILITY TO THINK CONSTRUCTIVELY (having an optimistic orientation,esp while giving innovative solutions to the problem being discussed towards the end of essay....)
-to present one's ideas CONSISELY, LOGICALLY AND EFFECTIVELY.(very important point is here..logically means idea should be logically analysed,sentences connected logically n paragraphs also have a logical connection so a flow in essay may be there...effectively means the idea should be communicated to the examiner in the manner u have interpreted it...and should be convincing)
-credit will be given for EFFECTIVE AND EXACT EXPRESSION..(thus,not only the ideas r important but the way they r presented is equally important)
some suggestions-
-selection of topic is important...usually we used to prepare on themes(more generalised than topics-like education,gender issues,science n tech...) but last years paper shows that unexpected topics may turn up....
-write MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS,consider the essay topic at BROADEST LEVEL(eg...in essay on education,everyone will mention functional literacy...why not write about legal literacy(knowledge about one's rights) or financial literacy(managing savings through bank account and role of NREGA to providefinancial literacy to rural people as it gives payments only through a bank account ....)
-most of us must be making a BLUEPRINT before writing the essay proper-where we jot down points n then decide which should b written first,which one next so that a flow is there in the essay....we can easily give around 35-40 minutes for same n utilise remaining time to write essay in about 1200 words(though officially no word limit has been prescribed,but 1200 is considered gud enough to write quality essay n manage time for blueprint also)
-a good essay has 3 parts-INTRODUCTION,BODY N CONCLUSION...basically,the debating of topic happens in body but innovative solutions n suggestions can b given in conclusion.. .conclusion should potray hope n vision...
-content in the essay should have analysis ,insightsetc.....
-dont start with quotations,i believe an innovative n currents related introduction will be best...eg:the essay i wrote in mains had first line as health is the central focus of inclusive growth-this had focus on topic-health n innovation in form of connecting it to the inclusive growth...this also gave it a contemporary touch...
-for body,interlinking the requirement of ur essay with knowledge of gs,both optionals,magzines,hindu and ur own opinion will help...esp,i used knowledge of sociology optional extensively in the essay but without giving any technical details like thinkers names or sociological jargon...
-write MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS,consider the essay topic at BROADEST LEVEL(eg...in essay on education,everyone will mention functional literacy...why not write about legal literacy(knowledge about one's rights) or financial literacy(managing savings through bank account and role of NREGA to providefinancial literacy to rural people as it gives payments only through a bank account ....)
-most of us must be making a BLUEPRINT before writing the essay proper-where we jot down points n then decide which should b written first,which one next so that a flow is there in the essay....we can easily give around 35-40 minutes for same n utilise remaining time to write essay in about 1200 words(though officially no word limit has been prescribed,but 1200 is considered gud enough to write quality essay n manage time for blueprint also)
-a good essay has 3 parts-INTRODUCTION,BODY N CONCLUSION...basically,the debating of topic happens in body but innovative solutions n suggestions can b given in conclusion.. .conclusion should potray hope n vision...
-content in the essay should have analysis ,insightsetc.....
-dont start with quotations,i believe an innovative n currents related introduction will be best...eg:the essay i wrote in mains had first line as health is the central focus of inclusive growth-this had focus on topic-health n innovation in form of connecting it to the inclusive growth...this also gave it a contemporary touch...
-for body,interlinking the requirement of ur essay with knowledge of gs,both optionals,magzines,hindu and ur own opinion will help...esp,i used knowledge of sociology optional extensively in the essay but without giving any technical details like thinkers names or sociological jargon...
state exams
Rajasthan prelims exams on 29 th sept-
some aspirants asked me how to balance both ras n upsc preparation as only 2 months are left?
first of all,be clear in ur mind,what u expect from this exam-practice or joining service...are u giving it with complete seriousness?this will clear where ur focus should be...
as i took them as practice test for pre n mains ,my perception is that since there is major overlap in the syllabus of ras n upsc...except perhaps state specific questions....
just see this as if u r writing upsc prelims test after 2 months n work in that orientation,enthusiasm n motivation....optional studies will almost b same,if a bit different,focus on topics which r same more....also,read same books for gs as u were reading for upsc(after all constitutional articles will remain the same whether its ras or upsc or any other test...so let tension dont hinder u)
if u r serious about clearing this exam or joining service rather than just writing it only for practice,then u may need to devote some time(10 days around ) on rajasthan specific studies-like 10 yrs for gs n optional n also a book about rajasthan art ,culture n language- CONTEMPORARY RAJASTHAN BY DR.L.R.BHALLA-a detailed subjective book n an an objective book based on it is available....i bought both n read theory first n did questions based on it from objective book...n sometimes for a change-did objective questions n back traced all the answer,in this way it became interesting n i could maintain quailty studies over long time).......
studying rajasthan specific is not a waste of time,in my views,as it does help in gs in some ways....eg:any question on reclimation of wasteland,we can always write about Indra gandhi canal in rajasthan(see positive in all situations n interlink...)
as for time of 2 months seems to be less-concentrate on each day n plan for that...n dont waste time in worrying...aim of this exam is to keep u studying efficency even when upsc prelims is far...so anyways u will b learning more because of this exam ,than in its absence....
first of all,be clear in ur mind,what u expect from this exam-practice or joining service...are u giving it with complete seriousness?this will clear where ur focus should be...
as i took them as practice test for pre n mains ,my perception is that since there is major overlap in the syllabus of ras n upsc...except perhaps state specific questions....
just see this as if u r writing upsc prelims test after 2 months n work in that orientation,enthusiasm n motivation....optional studies will almost b same,if a bit different,focus on topics which r same more....also,read same books for gs as u were reading for upsc(after all constitutional articles will remain the same whether its ras or upsc or any other test...so let tension dont hinder u)
if u r serious about clearing this exam or joining service rather than just writing it only for practice,then u may need to devote some time(10 days around ) on rajasthan specific studies-like 10 yrs for gs n optional n also a book about rajasthan art ,culture n language- CONTEMPORARY RAJASTHAN BY DR.L.R.BHALLA-a detailed subjective book n an an objective book based on it is available....i bought both n read theory first n did questions based on it from objective book...n sometimes for a change-did objective questions n back traced all the answer,in this way it became interesting n i could maintain quailty studies over long time).......
studying rajasthan specific is not a waste of time,in my views,as it does help in gs in some ways....eg:any question on reclimation of wasteland,we can always write about Indra gandhi canal in rajasthan(see positive in all situations n interlink...)
as for time of 2 months seems to be less-concentrate on each day n plan for that...n dont waste time in worrying...aim of this exam is to keep u studying efficency even when upsc prelims is far...so anyways u will b learning more because of this exam ,than in its absence....
STATE ADMINISTRATIIVE EXAMs-
i gave 2 pcs exams-rajasthan n haryana....
these services i never intended to join but saw them as practice test or stepping stones..
there many opinions as to whether one should write these exams or not-
1. some people think that during preparation for upsc,one should concentrate on it only...n these can b given later if one does nt qualify in upsc and exhausts all the attempts...the point they emphasise is that a portion of these exams need state specific study,n this may take ur time n resources...n also,to write these exams one has to go to concerned state..
2.some others belive ,its gud strategy to prepare for upsc n ur home state exam...as this will be most comfortable one to give...
3.some also believe in giving all the pcs exams- raj,haryana,himachal,UP,uttranchal,chattisgarh,MP,jharkhand,bihar ...they say cracking UPSC is very tough ,so lets try luck here...as state exams r considered easier than upsc one..
basically,most of these exams r on the pattern of UPSC,some having more overlapping n some less...i preferred to take them as practice test n restricted to only two..raj n haryana pre was before pre,had similar pattern,meant lesser travel nd were at time when they didnt conflict with my UPSC preparation much...
these services i never intended to join but saw them as practice test or stepping stones..
there many opinions as to whether one should write these exams or not-
1. some people think that during preparation for upsc,one should concentrate on it only...n these can b given later if one does nt qualify in upsc and exhausts all the attempts...the point they emphasise is that a portion of these exams need state specific study,n this may take ur time n resources...n also,to write these exams one has to go to concerned state..
2.some others belive ,its gud strategy to prepare for upsc n ur home state exam...as this will be most comfortable one to give...
3.some also believe in giving all the pcs exams- raj,haryana,himachal,UP,uttranchal,chattisgarh,MP,jharkhand,bihar ...they say cracking UPSC is very tough ,so lets try luck here...as state exams r considered easier than upsc one..
basically,most of these exams r on the pattern of UPSC,some having more overlapping n some less...i preferred to take them as practice test n restricted to only two..raj n haryana pre was before pre,had similar pattern,meant lesser travel nd were at time when they didnt conflict with my UPSC preparation much...
what to study...?
it all depends on whats ur expectation from ur exam n time available...
10 YRS r available for both gs n optionals in market...esp. mukherjee nagar one...
detailed state specific books r also there-can b more useful in state mains.
many questions r repeated year after year.....so 10 yrs helps...
but many answers given in these r wrong,so better check ans with standard books...
10 YRS r available for both gs n optionals in market...esp. mukherjee nagar one...
detailed state specific books r also there-can b more useful in state mains.
many questions r repeated year after year.....so 10 yrs helps...
but many answers given in these r wrong,so better check ans with standard books...
benifits of writing these:
a positive result can be motivational
its a practice test,u can get to know ur weaknesses...
keeps u focussed on studies esp in months when upsc exam is far...n u may already hav done with coaching..
sometimes,a positive result here may help to face family pressure better too..
its a practice test,u can get to know ur weaknesses...
keeps u focussed on studies esp in months when upsc exam is far...n u may already hav done with coaching..
sometimes,a positive result here may help to face family pressure better too..
mains form
mains form
this is an important document to b filled carefully coz a copy of this will b with the chairman of interview board..
always get a photostat of form n fill this before the original one as a practice...
also,u will have to fill cadres n services in the order of ur preferences...
if u hav a job experience,even for a month...pls mention it.....as it goes very positively with the interviewers....
hobbies should be the real ones,as questions r usually about practical aspect of it,to ensure u r saying the truth.....also,sometimes technical questions will b asked...which can b prepared after mains exam too...
always get a photostat of form n fill this before the original one as a practice...
also,u will have to fill cadres n services in the order of ur preferences...
if u hav a job experience,even for a month...pls mention it.....as it goes very positively with the interviewers....
hobbies should be the real ones,as questions r usually about practical aspect of it,to ensure u r saying the truth.....also,sometimes technical questions will b asked...which can b prepared after mains exam too...
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