Importance of Current Affairs in UPSC
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.
The examination is widely considered to be one of the toughest in the world. It is a three-stage process comprising of a preliminary examination (objective type), a main examination (written) and an interview.
The main examination is further divided into two parts – Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is common for all candidates and tests their general studies. It has nine papers, out of which, two papers are of qualifying nature and the rest are counted for merit ranking.
Paper II is specific to the candidates’ optional subject. Candidates have to choose one optional subject from a list of over 50 subjects. The options are vast and varied, ranging from literature, economics, sociology, engineering, science and technology, to public administration, international relations, and so on.
Unlike other competitive exams, the CSE does not have a negative marking scheme. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to attempt all the questions.
The CSE is one of the few exams where current affairs play a significant role. In both the preliminary and main examinations, there are multiple questions based on current affairs.
Candidates must therefore, have a sound understanding of happenings around the world. This can be achieved by reading newspapers, magazines, online news portals, etc. on a regular basis.
Current affairs play an important role in the CSE as they help candidates understand the contemporary world better. In a rapidly changing world, it is important for candidates to be up-to-date with the latest developments. This knowledge will not only help them in the examination, but also in their future careers.
5 best ways to study Current Affairs for exams
Current affairs are a crucial component in UPSC exams and 5 best ways to stay update with the current affairs are:
1. Read the newspaper regularly: Toppers advice reading at least 2 English newspapers and 1 Hindi newspaper daily. This gives a clear idea about the happenings around the world and also increases your reading speed and comprehension.
2. Follow news channels: Watching national and international news channels is another great way to keep abreast of current affairs. It also helps in improving your audio-visual understanding.
3. Go through UPSC websites: The official UPSC website and other similar websites are great resources for preparing for current affairs. They provide timely updates and information on various topics.
4. Read books and magazines: There are many good books and magazines available which focus on current affairs. Reading them regularly helps in expanding your knowledge base.
5. Join discussion forums: Online discussion forums are a great platform to interact with others and discuss various current affairs topics. This also helps in developing a better understanding of the subject.
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