Ira Singhal (IAS Rank-1) on Optional Subject Selection & Pre Cum Mains Preparation

Описание: Q. Many toppers say they prepared for the mains first and then moved to Prelims. What is your approach?

Ans. In 2010, I prepared for GS prelims, because in that time we had to face one GS and one optional paper at MCQ level. I didn't GS prelim for 2014. I was lazy and Aptitude paper helped me get through. And I've cleared because of that only. Otherwise I got just 76 marks in GS Prelims.
There are people who get 134 in GS prelims alone. If those are the people clearing, then you too have to prepared hard. Although in Prelims they ask factual GS while in Mains they doesn't ask factual GS, so effort goes into vain. Still, you'll have to prepare for both.


Q. What are your tips on selection of optional subject?

Pick an optional in which you can hope to clear the exam.
It's wrong to say, this optional is good than that optional is bad.
You have to ask- can I study this thing subject again and again? I chose Geography which is the worst optional in practical sense because takes minimum six months to complete, still I picked because I loved it.
Geography / public administration is not a really good idea, unless you can love it. Because there are thousands of people appearing with them, so difficult to outshine against them in answers.
But if you take commerce where hardly 500 candidates would be answering, so there is scope to write differently, and there are factual / calculation type question wherein no debate over 'what constitutes a good answers'.
If you are uncertain about two-three equally good looking optionals, then pick an optional which is less popular, because then it is less difficult to outshine against other people's answers.
Although, I myself didn’t pick Management despite having done MBA, because each year hardly 10 people take it and there is no material or guidance available on how to go about this subject?And back in 2010 then even internet groups / blogs were not active for UPSC group.
So, largely when picking optional keep two things in mind: (1) subject you love (2) subject that is less popular.

Q. Do you think Engineering optional subjects are bad scaling and we should pick humanities subjects?
Ans. But I think technical subjects have better success ratio on better than Humanities. In top one to hundred ranks, you'll find good number of toppers with technical subjects. For example this, Third rank: physics, Renu Raj took Malyalam. Aman Mittal with Electricial engineering.

Geography optional preparation
For Geography optional strategy- I'm going to post a blog article.
Overall, I've studied ~35-40 books for Geography optional. Every single topic I've done 10-12 times. There are people who just read 4-5 books multiple times and clear but I can't.
I'm terrible at map. But since they're asking so many unknown places, they are not even available on google maps, I tried many times. So cost benefit not that good. Although my fundamentals about geography are very strong, I can teach it to you within three hours- enough for the prelims.
Not all Geography optional questions are such that you can draw diagrams but as and where you find opportunity ,you should do it.
In map questions, the marks are divided on basis of map location and information about the location. But don't lie. Example, you can't write "it falls in the region of heavy rainfall!". Better discuss soil and agriculture.