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Prelims 2020 - Preparing Repeatedly Asked Questions

There are many favourite topics of UPSC CSE paper setters. These questions come every year, yet are not found in an easy to do manner in most books. I want to take 20 such high yielding topics and do 1 per day. I am hoping this will help me do 4-5 extra questions in the exam.

Let us do it together. We can make a list today and start doing them from tomorrow.


Main List

  1. Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves(Finished on Sep 6) - Use ForumIAS material (link for BR|link for NP & WLS) or create tables yourself(Link for Govt Database)
  2. Ramsar - Wetlands, Marine protected areas, Elephant Reserves and Tiger Reserves(Finished on Sep 7) - No compilation that I know of, make tables of imp areas only (link for Wetlands|link for Tiger Reserves | Link for Govt Database)
  3. Jainism and Buddhism + Sufi and Bhakti tradition(Finished on Sep 8 & 9) Use your previous notes and consolidate for quick revision (Link for Bhakti & Sufi tradition)
  4. Rivers - Origin, Tributaries, Deltas, Dams and Termination (+ Lakes - Ramsar/Montreux if time permits)Finished on Sep 10
  5. Pollutants Finished on Sep 11
  6. Indexes and authorities that release themFinished on Sep 12Forum IAS links -1,2,3,4|Shankar IAS Link 
  7. Biodiversity (Species etc)Finished on Sep 13
  8. Tribes of IndiaFinished on Sep 13
  9. Schedules/Important Articles of the Constitution Finished on Sep 14
  10. Seas and water bodies in the world + countries surrounding them Finished on Sep 14
  11. Gandhian movementsFinished on Sep 15
  12. 1940-47 in Indian IndependenceFinished on Sep 16
  13. Trends in Indian economy (+ Nationalization of various sectors + Land reforms)Finished on Sep 17
  14. Acts and conventions in Environment + National Environment Bodies Finished on Sep 18
  15. International groupings that India is a part of + imp ones where India is not a member Finished on Sep 19
  16. Biotechnology Finished on Sep 19
  17. Wireless Communication + Diseases in news Finished on Sep 20
  18. WTO, UN, IMF and other important bodies Finished on Sep 20
  19. Control Groupings : MTCR, Australian Group, NSG, Wassenar and Associated topics like IAEA,NPT To do - Sep 21
  20. India's defence - Military exercises, weapons, fighter planes, submarines, stealth frigates, aircraft carriers + Satellite Missions/Space Missions To do - Sep 21
  21. Places in news + Conflict Zones + GI tags To do - Sep 22
  22. One liner type questions asking a particular pact or agreement signed between India and another country To do - Sep 22
  23. Finance Commission To do - Sep 22

Other Important Topics - No need of notes/Do from the book

  • Parliament
  • Fundamental Rights, DPSP and Fundamental Duties
  • HC/SC
  • Historical background of Indian Constitution
  • Preamble
  • Folk paintings, dance and music

Smaller topics which do not require much retention:

  • Current account and Capital Account convertibility
  • National Income - GDP, GVA, GNP etc etc.

Please comment below and then I will add them to the list.

curious_kid,rootand85 otherslike this
348.9k views

394 comments

British India acts- Charter acts, GoI acts ,etc 1773- 1947
thistooshallpass,Pratik_11
58.1k views
In the Last 9 or 10 years, there has not been a single question on Non-constitutional bodies( Maybe 1-2 I might have had missed, not more). Not worth doing.
Even the constitutional bodies, questions are there, but pretty layman!
Replace it with Parliament and Fundamental Rights has a lot of questions!
Dora-the_Explorer,thistooshallpass
57.5k views
@mhs11 Very very few questions from here too! Not a high yielding topic IMO.


57.4k views
There is a booklet by IAS SCORE where they have categorized previous years papers topic wise (last 10 years).
Freely available on their website. Do check guys!
Impavid_Girl,
57.4k views

I agree with@SergioRamos 

Also, there’s always a question on Buddhism/Jainism;can add that to the list. 

GaryVee,Dora-the_Explorerand1 otherslike this
58.1k views
Add- Buddhism and Jainism
        -Post 1940's India till Independence
        -Convertibility( Current and Capital)
        -Gandhian Movements
        -Water bodies in the world and countries surrounding them
Many more! I will put more as I recall them! 
Dora-the_Explorer,jimmy06and3 otherslike this
57.4k views

Parliament

Supreme court/High court

Preamble

Governement of India acts

Bhakti tradition

Folk paintings/dance/music


57.6k views
@SergioRamos Thank you for helping with the topics. Unfortunately, I couldn't find IAS Score analysis doc anywhere on their website. If you have it, please share it.


59.3k views

National Environmental Bodies

Like NGT,CPCB,AWB etc. 

57.4k views

One very low Hanging Area

Control Groupings and Associated topics. 

57.4k views
WTO and Biotechnology 
57.3k views

One very low Hanging Area

Control Groupings and Associated topics. 

What are these? I have updated the rest.

59k views
Control Groupings : MTCR, Australian Group, NSG, Wassenar and Associated topics like IAEA,NPT etc. 
GaryVee,
57.3k views

Economy questions from post independence India like - land reforms, nationalisation of different sectors (banking, coal, etc.). @thistooshallpass  Don't know if the above would come under 'trends in Indian economy' that you listed above.     

GaryVee,
57.2k views
I have updated the list as per suggestions provided above. I will wait till midnight and then make a post as to how we can proceed.
58.9k views

National Income- GDP, GVA, GNP etc etc.

India’s Defence- Military exercises, weapons, fighter planes, submarines, stealth frigates, aircraft carriers etc etc.

Places in news/ places in dispute- eg. Beirut, Cyprus island, islands in South China Sea etc etc


56.6k views
@SergioRamos Bhai, questions on Pre-Independence Charter Acts is coming almost every year for the past few years. High yielding topic IMO.


57k views

This is quite comprehensive. But we certainly can add "one liner type questions asking a particular pact or agreement signed between and India and....."

BTIA has been asked twice. 

Last year there was that Russia nuclear agreement. 


This year we have 

Forward looking agreement: south Korea India 

Special strategic and global partnership: Japan India. 

Industrial security annex agreement : USA india


So on and so forth...a compilation of all such one liners can be made✌️


ssver2,Auroraand14 otherslike this
63.9k views
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