Patna: With around 70 days remaining before the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services preliminary examination, experts are advising first-time candidates to shift their focus from extensive reading to strategic revision and targeted practice.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is widely regarded as one of India’s most competitive examinations. Each year, nearly one million candidates apply, but only around 13,000 to 15,000 advance to the main examination stage. The preliminary exam for 2026 is scheduled to be held on May 24.
Education experts say the final two months should be used to strengthen conceptual clarity, revise key topics and practise mock tests rather than attempting to cover entirely new material.
Focus on core subjects and NCERT basics
For candidates appearing for the exam for the first time, understanding the syllabus and building a strong foundation is crucial. Teachers recommend beginning with NCERT textbooks from classes 6 to 12, which form the conceptual base for many topics in the examination.
Among standard reference books commonly suggested for preparation are M Laxmikanth for polity, Ramesh Singh or Mrunal’s notes for economy, Spectrum for modern Indian history, and Shankar IAS material for environment and ecology.
These subjects form a significant portion of the General Studies Paper-1, which determines the prelims cut-off.
Current affairs now cover 18 months
Experts also point out that the UPSC has increasingly been asking questions from a broader current-affairs cycle. Instead of focusing only on the previous year, candidates should cover major developments from January 2025 to April 2026.
Key areas include government initiatives such as Viksit Bharat @2047, international summits, environmental agreements and major policy developments. Aspirants are typically advised to read newspapers such as The Hindu or The Indian Express daily and supplement them with monthly current-affairs compilations from coaching institutes.
CSAT should not be ignored
While Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is only a qualifying paper requiring 33% marks, many candidates fail to clear prelims due to inadequate preparation for it.
Experts suggest that candidates who are less comfortable with mathematics should focus on comprehension passages and logical reasoning. Practising previous years’ question papers — particularly from 2021 to 2025 — under timed conditions can help improve performance.
Importance of mock tests and elimination technique
Mock tests are widely considered a crucial component of preparation. Education specialists recommend taking 30 to 40 full-length tests before the examination.
The aim, they say, should not be limited to improving scores but also learning how to analyse mistakes and apply the “elimination technique” — a method used to narrow down multiple-choice answers when unsure of the correct option.
Revision strategy in the final month
During the final weeks before the exam, experts advise candidates to avoid starting new topics and instead concentrate on revision.
Important areas include constitutional articles, key data, indices and maps, particularly regions that have been in the news such as the Middle East or Ukraine. Some mentors recommend using the active recall method, which involves reviewing concepts mentally without referring to notes.
Understanding the exam pattern
The UPSC prelims consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-1 and CSAT (Paper-2).
Paper-1 includes questions from history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science and technology. The marks from this paper determine the prelims cut-off.
CSAT, meanwhile, includes questions from mathematics, reasoning and comprehension, and is qualifying in nature. Despite this, experts warn that ignoring it can be risky for first-time candidates.
Health and mental balance
Alongside academic preparation, mentors emphasise the importance of maintaining physical and mental health. Adequate sleep, hydration and regular breaks can improve memory retention and help candidates manage stress during the demanding preparation period.
