How to Prepare for Current Affairs in UPSC

Smart Strategy for Current Affairs Preparation

It is clearly mentioned in the UPSC Prelims syllabus “Current events of national and international importance”. The significance of current affairs in the prestigious Civil Services Exam is reflected in the majority of current affairs-oriented questions asked in the UPSC Prelims and Mains examination. Current affairs is a major cause of worry for UPSC aspirants. Hence, a well-planned strategy is of paramount importance for its preparation. We have discussed some important points that you should keep in mind during Current Affairs preparation.

• Current affairs is a collective term used for the events happening “Daily” on the national level and across the globe.
• So, the candidates need to understand that there is a daily addition in the topics of current affairs. It is a dynamic section of the UPSC syllabus and demands constant updation.  
• Candidates should be smart enough to filter out and study the prominent news/issues from the learning material. 
• The most simple way to ensure that you don’t miss out on the important issues/happenings is to read a newspaper daily for 1 hour and write down the crucial news/issues. 

Read more: How to Read Newspaper for UPSC Civil Services Preparation?

Tips to Prepare for Current Affairs 

1. Select your Study Resources Wisely

There is no scarcity of study material for the current affairs preparation. Ample amount of reading material is available both offline and online. One common mistake candidates tend to commit is that they accumulate all sorts of material and end up getting confused. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to only a few sources for the preparation. Some best preparation resources for current affairs are as follow:

• Newspaper (The Hindu/The Indian Express)
• One Monthly Magazine of Current Affairs
• All India Radio-Spotlight/Discussion
• RSTV’s Big Picture
• PRS India Website

2. Plan your Schedule Smartly

Once you have your study resources sorted, devote sufficient time to extract maximum information from them. However, do not spend too much time on reading. For instance, some candidates spend 3 hours studying newspapers and eat up the time allotted for the preparation of other subjects. This practice should be avoided and smart planning should be implemented. Your current affairs preparation for the day should be like this:

• Reading ‘The Hindu/The Indian Express’ for 1 hour and jotting down a few keywords and briefs about them.
• Studying daily important articles and making notes (1 Hour)
• Referring to All India Radio and RSTV discussions.
• Reading a monthly magazine at the end of the month. 

3. Connect Dots with the Syllabus

Whatever issue/news you are studying, trying to connect it with the UPSC syllabus. The syllabus should be strictly adhered to while preparing for current affairs. It will help you to give a holistic view of entire current affairs with the UPSC syllabus. Never waste time on reading topics that have no link with the syllabus. For this, you should have a proper understanding of the syllabus in and out.

4. Analyze the News

UPSC always focuses on the analysis of current events. For example, the contentious Farm Bills are in the news for a long time. You should be able to analyze its implications, background, government’s stand, and various other factors. So, a thorough in-depth analysis of the news is required. While analyzing the news, you should study the context of the news, its background facts, government initiatives, benefits, concerns, and challenges.

5. Make Notes:

You can not retain information for a longer period unless you make notes during current affairs preparation. It is recommended to make topic/issue wise notes. By doing so, candidates can get all the information related to the topic in one place. Well-prepared notes are an excellent way to revise effectively before the exams. 

Also read: Importance of Note-Making in UPSC Preparation

We hope the above-mentioned tips and strategies will help you in preparing for current affairs effectively. Follow PrepLadder to ace the UPSC Civil Services exam. It is the most reliable and comprehensive preparation resource for UPSC exam preparation and has everything you need to ace UPSC on one single platform.

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