Select your Study Resources Wisely
There is no scarcity of study material for current affairs preparation. An 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.
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 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.
Connect Dots with the Syllabus
Whatever issue/news you are studying, try 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 the entire current affairs with the UPSC syllabus. Never waste time reading topics that have no link to the syllabus.
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
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.
No cramming -
they are not looking for details of events but your understanding of the topics in context. What you can do instead is to remember the dates by associating certain issues with the news and the organization/country associated with it.
Know what not to read
Not everything that appears in the newspapers and magazines is important or relevant to study so make sure you know what to spend your time on and what not to spend your time on when preparing for current affairs.
Focus on issues
The USPC is not interested in checking your memorization skills on current affairs, but in checking how well you have the ability to go beyond information and understand the bigger picture. Make sure you try to understand the issue the news is forecasting and not the details of the event.
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