Following is Keshav Gupta’s strategy in his own words.
Hello guys! It’s Keshav Gupta AIR 439 this side. I scored 281 marks in Economics optional this year. This post is regarding some important pointers and questions that come into the minds of aspirants regarding this optional subject. I hope it would clarify many doubts and give a better perspective.
Let’s start!
Some important pointers:
Importance of previous year questions: My personal observation is that many questions are repeated every year or atleast one can identify the very recurring areas in both the papers after due analysis. Example includes: kinked demand curve, monopolistic competition, capital account convertibility etc. Do give extra focus and time on those topics as these topics become your core 40% syllabus. Scoring well in these areas can get you land in a very safe score!
Covering syllabus rather than books: Eco optional syllabus is vast and can’t be covered from one book only. Though there are some books specific to some part of the syllabus ( the details of which you can get from blog of Kumar Anurag), there is lack of specific material for paper 2 topics. My advice would be to extensively use internet and read one or two research papers on the core topics. Then add the relevant current affairs from mains 365 into your notes specific to the topic you studied. Add some graphs, trends, tables so that presentation can be improved.
Playing on your comparative advantage: I think one can prepare one’s comparative advantage well. For example for some paper 2 is easier and for some paper 1 is on an easier side. Identify your strength and give extra time to that subject because I think it will help in maximizing overall score ( that is what we are interested into).
Multiple Revisions and consolidation of notes: A month before the exam , it is important that you have very consolidated notes of optional with you which can be revised multiple times along with preparing for GS. I could not revise much due to very lengthy notes and excess of material. This definitely impacted my score in paper 1. So, try to focus on core topics and on the syllabus topics in the last lap.
Choose strategically:
Some bouncers are bound to come in the exam and they are supposed not to be attempted. Here comes the importance of selecting the question in the exam strategically since one gets choices in both parts. Try to select those questions where you can maximize the score rather than any new question.
Booklist Paper 1:
Join Decode Civils Telegram Group For Free UPSC CSE Guidance From Mudit Jain, IRS CSE 2017 (Ex-IPS CSE 2014 & 2015).
Decode Civils Group Telegram Link: https://t.me/decodecivilsgroup
Booklist Paper 2:
- Uma Kapila ( limited pages edition rather than the bulky one)
- Delhi school of economics readings on Indian economy
- Mishra and Puri can be read for understanding rather than using it for final notes.
- Tirthankar Roy for economic history of India.
- Use economic survey of past 8 years extensively
- Ideas for india website
- Google is always there to help in case you don’t find anything in these areas. Just type the topic and add pdf . You will get some research papers on it. Read them selectively and make e notes preferably so that changes can be done later.
- One can also use the topper notes : Abhijeet sinha (available on his blog) and Yash Jaluka (on Evernote). These are comprehensive and made topicwise. Relevant additions can be done in them.
Some topper notes which can be referred: Yash Jaluka, Kumar Anurag, Abhijeet Sinha,. But try to make your own version of notes rather than running blindly on the basis of the topper notes.
Value addition sources:
Mains 365 economy, ideasforindia website, one can skip epw, topper notes and test copies.
Anyone who wants to clarify their specific doubts particularly related to eco optional can connect via telegram channel
Keep working hard and give your best shot!
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