UPSC Expert Talk with Sriram Srirangam: What did we learn from UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2024?

About Sriram Srirangam: He is the laminitis and manager of an institute that offers prime grooming for Civil Service examination. He has an acquisition of 35 years successful coaching, teaching and mentoring galore civilian services aspirants. He has besides authored a publication connected the Indian system for UPSC aspirants.

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Manas: Your little wide appraisal of  UPSC-CSE Mains 2024 vis-à-vis erstwhile years…

Sriram Srirangam: Firstly, the effort conforms to convention. With a spot of repetition for illustration Abraham Lincoln’s quotation astir the temptations of power. It was asked successful the Ethics insubstantial successful 2013 too. It happens very seldom that UPSC repeats its questions.

In General Studies, the questions have been relatively traditional. For example, successful History — Pallavas, successful Polity — judicial activism, successful Economics and GS 3 — nutrient inflation and the RBI, catastrophe resilience, etc. In Science and Technology, precise fewer questions were asked. GNSS-based tolling strategy was successful the quality and aspirants indispensable person recovered it casual if static and was studied on with existent affairs. A batch of current events recovered their mode into Ethics Paper similar Naxalism, Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, Mission Karmayogi and so on.

Manas: What changed and what did not successful this year’s Mains which you deliberation aspirants successful aboriginal should instrumentality enactment of?

Sriram Srirangam: As indicated above, mostly continuity is the norm and radical changes are ruled out. But what strikes successful this year’s GS papers is the implicit lack of questions connected trending oregon expected topics similar atomic energy, biotechnology, AI arsenic science( in Ethics determination is 1 connected its nexus with medication and determination making), nanotechnology etc. That is antithetic adjacent arsenic they stay arsenic important arsenic ever.

Manas: Which GS Mains insubstantial of 2024 bash you deliberation was casual and the astir challenging as compared to others?

Sriram Srirangam: It is very difficult to prime a Paper and accidental that it was casual oregon challenging. All papers had their stock of casual and challenging questions. For example, successful Paper 1(History), determination was a question:

What were the events that led to the Quit India Movement? Point retired its results.

It was precise overmuch an expected 1 and casual to answer.  But the pursuing question is simply a challenging one:

What is simply a twister? Why are the bulk of twisters observed successful areas astir the Gulf of Mexico?

Similarly, successful Paper 4(Ethics and Integrity), determination were questions connected the easier broadside specified arsenic the 1 connected clime justness and Naxalism. The lawsuit studies connected the different manus were comparatively challenging.

Manas: What are immoderate of the communal challenges that students person been facing successful the Mains exam, particularly successful this year’s mains? What are your suggestions to tackle specified challenges?

Sriram Srirangam: Common challenges person ever been dealing with aggregate sources and accusation overload. The contented is getting much aggravated of late. Genuine feedback is simply a situation erstwhile aspirants look for the mock tests arsenic UPSC does not springiness exemplary answers. On the agleam side, cognition is proliferating and determination is no dearth. AI makes the mentation peppier.

Manas: How person paper speechmaking and modular books helped students in answering better?

Sriram Srirangam: Newspapers are a boon. They are delivering accusation successful the signifier of FAQs, Q&As, Explainers etc. which is simply a large alleviation for the aspirants. Books code the accepted and the foundational broadside of knowledge. They person the erstwhile years’ questions(PYQs) explained and frankincense aspirants are benefiting. Hence, some are important parts of preparation.

Manas: Who bash you deliberation volition person an borderline implicit others successful the Mains exam this year?

Sriram Srirangam: The tract is level. Gone are the days of a partition betwixt subject and societal science. Every aspirant begins mentation successful advance focussing on the syllabus arsenic a full and not conscionable their specialisation. And truthful nary watercourse scores implicit others.

Manas: What adjacent for those who person faced Mains this year? What should they bash now?

Sriram Srirangam: Mains results are expected mid-December. Relax for a fewer days and get connected with the interrogation preparation. Get acceptable for each small item successful your DAF. That includes the optional too. For existent events, work the newspapers thoroughly. Watch TV and beryllium connected prime output. Track the views of elder civil servants-serving or retired.

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For your answers, queries and suggestions constitute astatine manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com