Are you just starting your UPSC CSE journey and aiming to clear it on the first go? You've come to the right place!
Reading NCERTs the right way is one of the most crucial steps in building a strong foundation. These books provide clear, accurate, and well-structured information, covering fundamental concepts that will support you through every stage of the exam—from Preliminary to Mains and even the Personality Test. NCERTs are known for their straightforward explanations, making complex topics easier to grasp, and they’re an essential resource to understand India’s socio-political, economic, and cultural contexts.
There have been several PYQs, directly picked from the NCERT books as well
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In this guide, let’s dive into how to make the most out of reading NCERTs by breaking it down into five simple yet impactful phases.
Begin by reading your NCERTs as you would a novel. Yes, a novel! Enjoy the process without the pressure of memorization. Absorb the essence of each topic, letting the big picture unfold naturally. No need to highlight or take notes at this stage—just enjoy getting familiar with the content.
In this round, your aim is to uncover important themes and key points. Start marking up the text with a pencil, using your instincts and insights from the syllabus and topic-wise PYQs (Previous Year Questions). The PYQs will give you a sense of which themes frequently appear in exams, guiding you to focus on the relevant areas.
Finally, it’s time to bring out your highlighter! Mark only those points that are absolutely critical from an exam perspective. There’s no need to highlight information you’ve already memorized—save the highlighter for key facts that need attention. Keep tracking the syllabus and PYQs to ensure you’re refining your focus on what truly matters.
Multiple revisions of the highlighted portions are essential to retain information in the long term. Revisit these key points regularly to reinforce understanding and keep them fresh in your memory.
Practicing topic- and theme-wise PYQs is essential for solidifying your understanding of key concepts. This targeted approach helps reinforce knowledge, identify patterns, and develop the ability to apply concepts effectively in an exam setting.
Practice MCQs here on SuperKalam IAS
And that’s it! By following these four phases, you’ll build a rock-solid foundation with NCERTs that’ll carry you smoothly through your preparation.
All the very best, and remember—stick to the process, and you'll see results!
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