9 Repeatedly Asked Question Areas in UPSC Prelims
One of the basic mantras to qualify for the UPSC prelims exam is to understand what UPSC wants from you. To get a firm hold of that, one needs to analyze the previous year's question papers thoroughly and scrutinize the targeted areas. It is among these targeted areas the UPSC repeatedly asks questions. So the moot point is to get more awareness about those areas to improve your chances to get qualified for the UPSC prelims exam. Below are the nine areas that the UPSC targets every year to frame the questions for the prelims exam.
International organisations.
Every year 1-2 questions are asked from various reports and indices published by various international organisations like the World Health Organisation, World Economic Forum, United Nations Development Programme, Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank Group, etc. so one must prepare the reports and indices published by these organisations to fetch extra marks in prelims exam.
Government Policies and schemes.
The UPSC never misses this part in fact every year the commission asks almost 2-3 questions about the various government schemes. One must take into consideration the previous 5 years' schemes and learn them with the heart to gain extra marks in the prelims exam.
Maps.
Almost every year 2-4 questions are asked from the maps and one should give extra effort to master the maps. Use a good Atlas like Oxford Atlas and also take help from the internet for a better understanding of the maps. Study maps region-wise and mark the important places like, significant oceans, seas, straits, rivers, countries and their bordering regions, etc. practice maps very well and solve previous year's questions as well.
Biodiversity Hotspots, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Wild Life sanctuaries.
The environment is the top contributing area and each year 14-16 questions are asked directly about environmental ecology and biodiversity. Among that, the areas mentioned above are the hottest topics and we find a considerable number of questions every year from that. So one should prepare well to have an edge in the prelims.
Buddhism and Jainism.
This is the most favourite area of the UPSC and each year almost 2 questions are asked from it. A little effort in this area is enough to fetch a few marks
Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and DPSP.
The UPSC never forgets to ask questions from these areas. One should memorise very well all the Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles of State Policy to gain some more points.
New Acts Enacted by the Indian Parliament.
If one analysis the previous year's question papers thoroughly one can find a significant number of questions asked in this area. Updating your knowledge about the acts enacted by the Indian parliament will definitely boost your score in the prelim examination.
Indian Budget and Basics of Economy.
Budget is an important area so far as civil services preliminary examination is concerned and one needs to analyse it properly. Similarly, the basics of the economy like fiscal deficit, monetary policy, banking, GDP, etc are asked every year, so one needs to consolidate the basics and follow the trends in the economy rigorously to get a better grip on the economic portion of the syllabus.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Role In Freedom Struggle.
Each year more than 2 questions are asked about the association of Mahatma Gandhi with the freedom struggle and one needs to give extra effort in the era belonging to Mahatma Gandhi.
Conclusion.
Although the UPSC is very dynamic in setting up the question papers but analysing the previous year's question papers will definitely help you to decode the trends in the paper setting. There are obvious areas that remain the focal point of the UPSC and one should always give more importance to those areas. We the whole UPSC singles team wish you the best of luck.