Strategy for Mains’ has been prepared using inputs from various honest and trustworthy sources like ex-students with experience of appearing in Mains, students who have excelled in last year’s Mains and from candidates who have over the years shared their valuable insight on Mains examination with us.
Strategy for Mains’ has been prepared using inputs from various honest and trustworthy sources like ex-students with experience of appearing in Mains, students who have excelled in last year’s Mains and from candidates who have over the years shared their valuable insight on Mains examination with us.
What’s done is done, don’t look back
One of the first suggestions that we are going to make is not to fell succumb to stress and hopelessness if you could not made it through prelims this year. This is because even if somebody doesn’t clear the Prelims this year, and if he or she is a serious contender, there is always the possibility of clearing the Prelims in the next year. Preparation done today i.e in 2019 will surely help in 2020!
‘Horses for courses’ approach
The fundamental difference between CSE Prelims and Mains is that while the Prelims focuses on recognition (of information) and requires an exhaustive study covering a wide variety of topics, Mains need the ability to recall, analyze and express (ideas and information, including one’s own thoughts) properly which can only be done through an intensive study of the topic. Therefore it is very important to stay focused and cover in-depth, the topics that you have picked for Mains and in doing so you have to match your skills with the subject at hand. Using the right approach and picking the right parts of the syllabus for intensive study will not only help manage time but also garner more marks in the end.
It is also equally important to understand the syllabus for the Mains pretty well. The syllabus is designed in such a manner that it cannot be directly studied in isolation from current happenings. Moreover the syllabus is open-ended and requires much analysis and an understanding of the underlying trends and ideas. In order to help you grasp the Mains syllabus we have divided it into ‘core and peripheral’ areas. Core areas are essential to help build the ‘Mains vocabulary’ and should not be ignored at any costs. If due to the paucity of time one is unable to thoroughly study all of the core areas of the syllabus, at least the basic level of study, by going through the relevant NCERTs, must be done. The peripheral areas can be safely kept aside for study in free time or can be covered when the core areas are done.
Indian National Movement and Post Independence consolidation of India.
Indian Society
Geography
Federal relation between Union & States Separation of Powers between various institutions
Comparison of Indian Constitution with various constitutions of important countries
Government Policies
NGOs and SHGs
Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Agricultural Issues
Environment
Disaster Management
Internal Security
Case Studies
Best prepared after consulting previous years Q&As. There are lots of case studies out there so knowing which ones to read and which ones to not read will save a lot of time.
Ethics
Prepare on topics that have current relevance, like Doping (ethics in sports). Also prepare on ethical issues in corporate governance, Civil Service, environment and the art of ethical living, international issues and relations.
Leadership
The art of coverage of Mains syllabus is a secret that very few will share in all honesty. The untold secret of Mains prep is the fact that the syllabus cannot be covered 100%. The most brilliant of candidates will testify that even their own coverage of the syllabus was not completely 100%. The best way to, therefore, prepare for the Mains is to selectively choose or leave topics. But such decisions have to be taken after due considerations and not just randomly. Topics that have been in the news are generally considered as more important. So they must be prepared at all costs.
There are going to be areas of the syllabus that you will be familiar with and there will be topics that will be relatively easier for you to master. These areas should serve as your strength and in no way should you take them lightly. These areas should rather be intensively studied, so that whenever a question comes from ‘your area of expertise’ you can answer them with gusto and lucidity. For areas in the syllabus that you find challenging it is best to tackle them relentlessly until you succeed but it must also be kept in mind that time is of the essence here. Do not waste time chasing after topics, the study of which require unreasonable amounts of time. Remember to maximize your gains and cut your losses
Please go through the following points and remember them by heart because it will help you not only in CSE Mains but also every time you open a question paper in any examination at your life.
Directive | Meaning | Answer Structure |
---|---|---|
Comment | To Comment choose your position on the subject/issue and stick to it. Provide arguments and examples/facts to support your choice. |
Follow with a body containing your opinions and the relevant examples/facts. Finish with a short and precise conclusion. |
Critically Comment | To Critically Comment mention both sides of the arguments including both the positive and negative points. Your opinions in the answer should be based on facts. |
Begin the answer by writing the positive arguments first, followed by the negative arguments. Based on your opinion conclude by supporting either the positive or the negative argument. |
Examine | To Examine probe deeper into the given subject/issue. Support your answer by going into details like the causes, implications and what is being done about it. |
Begin with a brief discussion of the various aspects of the issue at hand. Follow it up with the details and conclude in the same paragraph. |
Critically Examine | A Critical Examination requires going into details of the issue while also mentioning the strengths and weaknesses. The answer must also carry whatever consequences/implications the issue may have. This includes consequences for any action taken over the issue. |
To answer, first write the strengths or the positive aspects, then write the weaknesses or the negative aspects. Third paragraph should carry the consequences. Conclude briefly without taking sides. |
Discuss | Discussion requires a broadly covered and all encompassing answer. Also have to mention both Positive/negative and strength/weakness. The causes and consequences are also to be mentioned. |
Begin with an introduction. Then write the Positive/Negative part. Follow it up by framing the causes and consequences. In next paragraph provide the solutions, remedies/prescription or suggestions for the issue. Conclude by covering the issue holistically. |
Evaluate | To Evaluate, assess both sides of the statement. Follow it up by mentioning the worth or usefulness of the subject. Also mention both the positive and negative arguments. |
Begin with an introduction to the topic then write in paragraphs the positive and negative arguments respectively. |
Critically Evaluate | Almost the same as to Evaluate with the exception of requiring to establish the “value” of something. | Same as above. |
Analyse | To Analyse, break the main idea into constituent ideas. Then simply Examine each part separately. |
Write a short introduction. Then explain the broken down ideas one by one. Write a conclusion addressing the main idea. |