A successful artist once said that life takes beautiful turns when you have plans set for them. 

With a humongous syllabus of UPSC and glorifying dreams of passing the nation's biggest examination, adhering to a set schedule helps incorporate discipline, perseverance and dedication to your UPSC preparation. 

A schedule helps analyse and set your goals for the day, week or month and motivates and keeps you on track to accomplish your goals. 

If you want a quick sneak peek of the study routines of IAS toppers, follow the article as we share the required tidbits with you.

Why is a timetable required?

Before moving on to the study schedules for the UPSC examination, let us first understand the essentiality of the timetable.

Two factors contributing to the requirement of creating a timetable are the need to complete the UPSC syllabus and incorporate a sense of discipline for ten-twelve months of preparation for the exam. If you are working professionally, sticking to a schedule becomes more important. 

Furthermore, a schedule helps provide a direction when the mind can be boggled by the plethora of study and course materials that need to be covered within the stipulated time. 

You can create the schedule by effectively distributing your time among the required subjects and covering the humongous syllabus. Professionals have observed that creating timetables helps in beating stress. Students will not freak out about completing the syllabus as the exam approaches. It helps you to perform best of your abilities. 

Completing a certain portion within the given time frame provides a certain satisfaction that boosts productivity. You can create customized study plans according to subjects and follow them accordingly. Fixing study sessions with regular break intervals helps your mind focus and gives you time for other miscellaneous activities. The timetables ensure periodic assessments that gauge your strengths and talents. 

Snippet of an ideal timetable for the UPSC examination

05:00 AM: Waking up

05:00 AM - 06:15 AM: Morning Routine

06:15 AM- 07:45 AM: Reading Newspaper

07:45 AM- 08:30 AM: Breakfast

08:30 AM- 11 AM: Study Session

11 AM- 11:30 AM: Break Time

11:30 AM- 01:30 PM: Study Time

01:30 PM- 02:30 PM: LunchTime

02:30 PM- 05:00 PM: Study Time

05:00 PM- 07:00 PM: Miscellaneous activities

07:00 PM- 09:00 PM: Study Time

09:00 PM- 10:00 PM: Dinner

10:00 PM- 10:30 PM: Watching News/ Discussing

UNWINDING TIME

11:30 PM: Hit the bed

Acknowledging that this is just a snippet of an "ideal" routine for UPSC preparation is essential. It should be tweaked according to the need of the aspirant. 

If you are working professionally or involved in activities that do not allow you to adhere to this strict routine, then you should create a routine that rotates according to preparation. 

For working professionals, you can squeeze in two hours before work starts and focus on general studies. Then during your working hours, you can utilize your breaks to remain updated on current affairs. After work, you should have at least two hours of studying and an additional half-hour for active revision.

You can read our concise guide for working professionals elaborating on effective tips and techniques to aid them in the UPSC examination.

Setting aside 4-5 hours per day for studying for examinations is essential. You can also create a separate weekend routine as you will have more time. Ultimately, it depends on using your time wisely and following the study sessions without distractions.