How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 6 Months?

How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 6 Months? This is a common question among aspirants, especially as the exam gets tougher each year. The UPSC Prelims is the first major step toward joining the prestigious Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS). With strong competition and challenging questions, solid preparation is essential.

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UPSC Prelims 2026

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

UPSC Prelims GS Syllabus

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography -Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.

UPSC Prelims CSAT Syllabus

• Comprehension; Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
• Decision-making and problem-solving;
• General mental ability;
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. — Class X level);

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How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims in 6 Months?

UPSC Prelims GS Paper Preparation Plan

• Begin by thoroughly understanding the UPSC Prelims syllabus. This will give you a clear idea of what topics to cover.
• Gather standard study materials, such as NCERT books and PW UPSC Wallah reference books.
• Make the most of online resources to develop strong fundamentals for UPSC Prelims.
• Follow The Hindu, The Indian Express, or ' pwonlyias.com/daily-current-affairs' religiously for current affairs.
• If you are new to preparation, then take the help of mentors to save valuable time.
• Allocate time for each GS subject as per its weightage in the exam. UPSC Prelims exam analysis will help in this.
• Focus on core concepts of History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Environment, and study Current Affairs regularly.
• Make notes of important events, organisations, reports, heritage sites, national parks, etc.
• Solve PYQs, followed by prelims test series. Solve the subject-wise test first, then move on to the full-length mock test.
• Evaluate your performance regularly through the UPSC 2026 test series and get feedback from mentors whenever needed.
• Regularly revise to reinforce your learning for the exam day.

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UPSC Prelims CSAT Paper Preparation Plan

• Understand the CSAT pattern and syllabus, which includes comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, and general mental ability.
• Refer to a good reference book such as Arihant Experts, TMH Publications, or CSAT Wallah to cover the topics mentioned in the CSAT syllabus.
• Take the help of online resources such as YouTube videos or online courses to grasp essential concepts.
• Enrolling in a dedicated course such as Physics Wallah CSAT course structured preparation under the guidance of mentors.
• After completing each topic practice solving CSAT questions regularly to improve your speed and accuracy.
• Identify your weak areas through mock tests and work on improving them by revision.
• Learn time management techniques through regular practice to effectively utilize the allotted time for each section.
• Focus on each section equally and do the regular revision of formulas and techniques to retain them effectively.

UPSC Prelims Strategy for Final Days

• Prioritization: Prioritize weak areas and allocate more time to them, ensuring comprehensive revision of all topics.
• Static Revision: Do not ignore major static subjects like polity, history, and culture. Revise major factual data on final days for better retention on the exam day.
• Regular Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests regularly to simulate exam conditions and gauge preparedness, identify any weaknesses, and work on improvement.
• Current Affairs: Revise important issues from the current affairs section by relating them to the static portion thoroughly, which will help in a quick recap of the syllabus. For example, if the RBI in the news revises the basics of its role and formation.
• CSAT Practice: Dedicate sufficient time to practicing CSAT questions to enhance speed and accuracy, ensuring comfort with the exam format.
• Maintain a Healthy Routine : Maintain proper sleep, diet, and exercise to stay focused and energized during preparation and on the exam day.

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