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Mains 2021: Doubt and strategy discussion thread

I don't know what to say, really. Prelims is over. The discussion as regards the authenticity of answer keys is the most futile discussion. So, I am creating this thread as a necessary and much-needed diversion. Three months to the biggest battle of our professional lives begins now. All comes down to how we heal and grow from now on, and either, we heal or we're gonna crumble. Day by day. 

We're in a toxic environment right now, fellas. Believe me. And, we can stay here, get the s**t kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. Mains is the road ahead for everyone of us notwithstanding our current predicament. So, let's continue to fight and not let our guard down.

Yours faithfully
AzadHindFauz


Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2020 is to be conducted on 8,9,10,16,17 January, 2021.

Resources-
1.Topic wise questions compilation from PYQs- https://forumias.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/community/comments/PYQ4951601966911.pdf

2.Previous years' question papers collection- Essay, GS I, GS II, GS III, GS IV, PSIR

3.New emerging technologies fodder- https://intelligence.weforum.org/topics


5. This is awebsite by CSE 2019 selected candidates. Contains a lot of info ontest series/answer writingand alsohasGS notes.Must go through! => http://demystifycse.in/   

6. World history notes of Shreyans Kumat Rank 4, UPSC CSE 2018: https://drive.google.com/file/d/153rNAe4nHkTVolSnM7ZCwIrVfCNr-652/view  

7. Download Anudeep Sir's hand made notes from here. From GS 1 to GS 4, everything: https://anudeepdurishetty.in/how-to-conquer-gs-in-upsc-mains-explained/

8.Ethics keywords' definition table:https://forumias.sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/community/comments/EthicsDefinitionTable33715989392954061602608482.pdf

This will keep you going-
jack_Sparrow,Deepak802and112 otherslike this
457.3k views

872 comments

@whatonly Upsc sheets have comparatively more width than the test series booklets. I made margins (of smaller width) and got those sheets photocopied. Doing answer writing on them. 

A friend had told me this before my mains and it definitely saved me from screwing up second essay. 


BD,whatonlyand1 otherslike this
4.6k views
@Lastworrier thank you


4.5k views
@whatonly  don't know but go with A4, even if it's smaller you will be having advantage


BD,whatonly
4.5k views



Don't neglect Hindi. I failed Hindi in my first attempt, by a massive margin. It's the worst feeling.

Main focus has to be completing the paper, doesn't have to be well structured.
Do not underestimate the paper, because it's so much lengthier than it seems, especially for non-hindi speakers or people completely out of practice. 


Practice Essay writing - Prepare basic paragraph structures and key words. If you prepare properly you can have a generic essay that covers Social, economic, political, historical dimensions with 50-100 words each, and then intro and conclusion already prepared, and then just slot in the appropriate words like an almost fill in the blanks (becasue there are generally 4 standard themes for the language papers).


Practice reading, translating, and learning words from any one hindi newspaper (I used to do Jan Satta) for 30 minutes a day. 


Get any good compilation and memorise answers for all the muhavres - they tend to repeat. Same goes for the yugma questions.

Aurora,GaryVeeand7 otherslike this
4.8k views
@Xiodyn8261 I've had a lingering feeling that I'm going to be in the same position when the time comes, I'll be following your strat ASAP, thank you so much.


4.4k views
@Xiodyn8261 Is it still possible for one to fail if the paper is completed regardless of the content within? Hindi is a dreaded paper for me and it was the toughest paper for me last mains.


5k views
Best pick among Vision, Vikash Ranjan and Forum for Essay?
Oasis,D7and4 otherslike this
6.3k views

AzadHindFauzsaid

Best pick among Vision, Vikash Ranjan and Forum for Essay?

have also heard about Shabir sir!!

whatonly,
4.4k views
@Adi2077 No Problem! Just be consistent.

@anirudh027 One/two smaller sections being skipped should be okay. But like leaving the entire essay or something like that would be a problem I imagine. There's no consistency in Hindi paper marking, it's very much the whim of the examiner, so completing the entire paper makes it seem like "yeah okay this person knows enough so let's pass them."
anirudh027,
4.5k views
Hey guys, just be sure to grab this month's special yojana issue as the topic is International Relations. Pretty decent articles and tonnes of fodder to be grabbed!
Deepak802,Joeyisthebestand15 otherslike this
5.1k views

ESSAY -- MAINS UPSC THROUGH THE YEARS.pdf list of previous essay topics for quick reference

Aurora,
4.3k views

MarcusAsaid

» show previous quotes

have also heard about Shabir sir!!

Deliberately didn't include the said name! 

D7,
6k views

Any idea about lukmaan for essay tests? I mean the evaluation and synopsis.  

D7,pavit
4k views

AzadHindFauzsaid

Best pick among Vision, Vikash Ranjan and Forum for Essay?

Same query...

4.8k views

Maths Optional people... plz join 

https://forumias.com/post/detail/Mathematics-Optional-1602168859

4.2k views

whatonlysaid

ESSAY -- MAINS UPSC THROUGH THE YEARS.pdf list of previous essay topics for quick reference

You can also check out Mrunal's website. He has segregated topics on broad themes. 

https://mrunal.org/2018/09/dl-upsc-csm18-essay.html

whatonly,
4.7k views

Which one be good for essay

VIKASH RANJAN OR SHABIR SIR OR FORUM OR VISION OR RAMASWAMY

ALSO,HOW IS ATUL GARG CASE STUDY PREOGRAMME...?

4.7k views
@sunnykumarroy658377 Shabbir sir gives good approach for essay writing. Explains pretty well. 
Don't know about others. 


sunnykumarroy658377,
3.9k views
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