How to Prepare for UPSC Mains 2025?

How to Prepare for UPSC Mains is an important question with the exam approaching on August 22nd. Some Candidates might have started preparing a year ago, some started 6 months prior, and some start 3 months prior to the UPSC Mains exam. UPSC Mains preparation typically requires 10-12 months. But some students leave it for different time frames, and then a simple question arises: How to prepare for UPSC Mains in their selected time frame? Find here!

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UPSC Mains Exam 2025 - Overview

UPSC Mains Syllabus Overview

General Studies Papers

Qualifying Papers

How to Prepare for UPSC Mains 2025 in 3 Months?

Month 1: Foundation and Core Subjects

Week 1-2: GS Papers (General Studies)

• GS Paper 1: Focus on History, Geography, and Indian Society.

• • • History: Revise modern Indian history, post-independence consolidation, and world history.
    • Geography: Physical geography, human geography, and important geographical phenomena.
    • Indian Society: Salient features, diversity, issues, and social empowerment.

• Resources:

• • NCERT textbooks (or PW OnlyIAS NCERT Summary Books )
  • Standard reference books (e.g., Bipin Chandra for History, G.C. Leong for Geography) and PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah Books
  • Newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) and PW ONLYIAS Monthly magazines for current affairs.

Week 3-4: GS Papers (continued)

• GS Paper 2: Polity, Governance, International Relations.

• • • Polity: Indian Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy.
    • Governance: Role of civil services, government schemes, transparency and accountability.
    • International Relations: India’s relations with neighbours and global institutions.

• Resources:

• • Laxmikanth for Polity or PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah Books
  • Newspapers for current affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express)
  • Government websites for schemes and policies

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Month 2: Advance and Optional Subjects

Week 5-6: GS Papers (continued) and Optional Subject

• GS Paper 3: Economic Development, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Environment, Security.

• • • Economy: Indian economy, budgeting, investment models, liberalisation.
    • Agriculture: Major crops, cropping patterns, agricultural productivity.
    • Science & Tech: Developments, awareness in IT, space, biotech.
    • Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution, disaster management.
    • Security: Internal security, challenges to internal security through communication networks.

• Resources:

• • Economic Survey, Budget documents, PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah reference material
  • Current affairs magazines (Yojana, Kurukshetra)
  • Standard books (e.g., PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah Environment Book)

Week 7-8: Optional Subject and Essay Preparation

• Optional Subject: Revise your optional subject comprehensively

• • • Divide the syllabus into manageable parts and focus on one part at a time.
    • Write answers to previous years' questions.
    • Resources depend on the specific optional subject chosen.

• Essay Preparation:

• • Practice essay writing on diverse topics.
  • Focus on structure, coherence, and clarity of thought.
  • Read essays by toppers to understand different styles.

Month 3: Revision and Mock Tests

Week 9-10: Revision of GS Papers and Current Affairs

• Revision: Go through the notes and summaries prepared in the previous months.

• Current Affairs: Revise current affairs for the past one year.

• • Make short notes on important issues.
  • Focus on government schemes, international relations, and recent economic developments.

Week 11-12: Full-Length Mock Tests and Final Touch-Ups

• Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests for all GS papers and optional subject.

• • • Simulate exam conditions while writing these tests.
    • Analyse your performance and identify weak areas.
    • Work on time management and answer writing skills.

• Final Touch-Ups:

• • Revise important facts, data, and key points.
  • Ensure you have all the necessary materials and stationery ready for the exam day.
  • Stay relaxed and confident.

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How to Prepare for UPSC Mains after Prelims?

1. Make a Study Plan

• Time Management: Create a detailed timetable, allocating specific time slots for each subject and sticking to it diligently.
• Balanced Approach: Ensure a balance between General Studies, Optional subjects, and Essay writing practice.

2. Focus on Answer Writing Practice

• Regular Practice: Practice writing answers regularly. Join the PW UPSC test series if possible to get a feel of the real exam.
• Improve Writing Skills: Focus on structuring your answers well, being concise, and sticking to the word limit.

3. Revise and Update Notes

• Comprehensive Notes: Ensure your notes are comprehensive and cover all relevant topics.
• Current Affairs: Stay updated with current affairs. Regularly read newspapers, follow relevant news websites, and incorporate current events into your answers.

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4. Optional Subject Preparation

• Depth of Knowledge: Gain an in-depth understanding of your optional subject. Refer to standard textbooks and materials.
• Previous Year Papers: Solve previous years’ question papers to understand the pattern and type of questions asked.

5. Essay Preparation

• Essay Topics: Prepare on a variety of topics, including current affairs, philosophical subjects, and general issues.
• Practice Writing: Write at least one essay every week and get it reviewed for improvements.

6. Ethics Paper Preparation

• Case Studies: Practice writing answers for case studies, as they form a significant part of the Ethics paper.
• Theoretical Understanding: Understand the theoretical aspects of ethics and be able to apply them in real-life scenarios.

7. Mock Tests and Feedback

• Simulated Exams: Take full-length mock tests in a timed environment to simulate the actual exam.
• Feedback: Use the feedback from mock tests to identify weaknesses and work on them.