Write Smart for UPSC CSE 2024/25!

Summary

The video script is an extensive guide aimed at UPSC aspirants, focusing on the essential skill of structured thinking for effective answer writing in the Civil Services Examination. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the demand of the question and organizing thoughts and notes to produce structured responses. The speaker shares insights on how to manage time and cover various topics, including the significance of Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts in the present context, using a strategic approach to answer writing that can be applied to a wide range of subjects. The script also discusses the importance of practicing with previous years' questions to identify patterns and improve preparation for the Mains exam.

Takeaways

• 📘 The speaker emphasizes the importance of structured thinking and note-making for the UPSC Civil Services exam preparation, highlighting that it leads to better answers and selection in the exam.
• 📝 The speaker discusses the transformation in their approach to mains answers from 2021 to 2022, moving from unstructured random writing to a more thoughtful and organized method, which contributed to their selection.
• ⏰ The time constraint for answer writing in the UPSC exam is highlighted, with only a limited number of minutes available to write answers for different page lengths, necessitating quick and structured thinking.
• 🤔 The speaker talks about the problem of points not coming in the correct order due to unstructured thinking and the importance of identifying the demand of the question to write structured answers.
• 📚 The significance of having a structured approach to notes is underscored, as it helps in writing organized and better answers, which are more likely to get selected.
• 🔑 The speaker introduces the concept of 'thinking in a structured manner' as an essential skill for UPSC exam success, which can be developed with practice.
• 🗓️ The importance of solving previous years' questions is discussed, as it helps in understanding the demand and structure of the exam, and in identifying repeated patterns that can be advantageous.
• 🌐 The speaker mentions the use of a 'stakeholder model' for approaching questions, mapping the relevance of thoughts to various stakeholders like individuals, society, government, activists, global community, environmentalists, and businesses.
• 🏛️ The significance of Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts is discussed in the context of the present times, with the speaker suggesting a structured approach to link historical thoughts to current concepts and policies.
• 🌟 The speaker introduces the 'Right Smart' course, which aims to teach structured thinking for UPSC exam preparation, covering all previous years' questions from 2013 to 2023 and providing a set of approaches to solve them.
• 📈 The course promises a comprehensive preparation covering GS3, GS4, and optional subjects, with expert guidance from successful candidates, ensuring an affordable and valuable addition to the candidate's UPSC journey.

Q & A

What is the essential skill for UPSC Civil Services Exam according to the speaker?

The essential skill for UPSC Civil Services Exam, as mentioned by the speaker, is 'thinking'. It involves structured thinking within a definite time frame to answer questions effectively.

What was the major change the speaker made in their approach in 2022 that led to their selection?

The major change the speaker made in their approach in 2022 was to start thinking and writing in a structured manner. They focused on understanding the demand of the question and organizing their notes and answers accordingly, which led to their selection.

How does the speaker suggest managing time for writing answers in the Mains exam?

The speaker suggests that for a 10-marker question, one should ideally spend about 11 minutes, and for a 15-marker question, around 15 minutes. This time management is crucial to ensure that all questions can be addressed within the allotted time.

What is the problem with writing answers without a structured approach according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the problem with writing answers without a structured approach is that it leads to disordered and unorganized answers, which may not address the question's demand effectively and can result in loss of marks.

How does the speaker emphasize the importance of structured notes for effective answer writing?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of structured notes by stating that if notes are in a thinking format, the answers will also be in that format, leading to better organization and higher chances of selection.

What is the significance of the 'Right Smart' course mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Right Smart' course is significant as it is designed to teach the essential skill of thinking for the UPSC exam. It covers all previous year questions from 2013 to 2023 and provides a set of approaches to solve them effectively.

How does the speaker suggest using previous year questions to prepare for the UPSC exam?

The speaker suggests using previous year questions to identify patterns and repeated questions, which can give an added advantage in the exam. By studying these questions, one can understand the demand and structure their preparation accordingly.

What is the role of 'thinking' in the context of the UPSC exam preparation as per the speaker's experience?

In the context of the UPSC exam preparation, 'thinking' is crucial for demand identification and structuring answers. The speaker's experience suggests that a structured thinking process can significantly improve the quality of answers and the chances of selection.

How does the speaker recommend organizing answers to maximize marks in the UPSC Mains exam?

The speaker recommends organizing answers in a structured manner, ensuring that all aspects of the question are covered and that the content is presented logically and coherently to maximize marks.

What is the strategy the speaker suggests for effectively covering a wide range of topics in the UPSC syllabus?

The speaker suggests a strategy of developing a 'thinking' approach for each type of question, using previous year questions to understand the demand and structure, and organizing notes and answers accordingly.

How does the speaker address the concern of time limitation in the UPSC Mains exam for thinking and writing answers?

The speaker addresses the concern by emphasizing the importance of a structured thinking process that can be quickly applied to identify the demand of the question and organize thoughts before writing the answer.