Course Work: 30 Months Plan

Consisting of four phases

The Overview:
The Approach you need

1. The Phases:
a. Phases are divided based the all-time trend of UPSC CSE Pattern, out of four
phases the Phase-1 covers 50-60% of the marks of the UPSC CSE Syllabus
which includes Polity, Economy, History, Geography and the Optional subjects
you choose.
b. Maintain the time frame of covering the phases, if you do you will get enough
time for phase-4 which is essential for cracking civils service in 1st atttempt
c. In Phase-1;
i. Do the optionals in the weekend which is sufficient and you must finish
optional along with first revision by the end of December 2024
ii. 60 days for Preparation (break the resource and time to invest) and
15 Days for Revsion (Core Subjects)
d. Regularly Practice immediately after learning and Regularly have weekly tests
and give time to review and update the weekly plan on your performance
e. You must and have to dedicate the last two months i,e. November and
December for the First Revision
f. No need for Current Affairs, but you can read in brief or watch analysis videos
in break time
g. In Phase-2:
i. Secondary Important subjects after Core Subjects like Environment
which has the potential
ii. Environment (Current but Static is very Important) cover in 30 days
iii. Art & Culture (make it simple and very limited part) and Science and
Tech both should be covered in 20 days each
iv. ii and iii must be covered only static and later in phase-4 these
concepts will play major role when covering current affairs and
monthly compilers
v. You must and have to dedicate time for Second Revision of
Optionals and Core Subject (divide the time accordingly)
vi. From January Start Current Affairs but remember to keep it simple
vii. From April/May you need study Current Affairs in depth, NO MATTER
WHAT.
viii. Phase-1 and Phase-2 make upto 80% marks of the entire UPSC
MAINS Portion
h. In Phase-3:
i. The remaining portion where specified for MAINS paper expects for
International relations which is asked generally asked in prelims
 ii. You need integrate and prepare the portion like clubbing Ethics and
Social Justice
iii. Ethics, Society, and Social Justice around 45 days
iv. Governamce in 10 days
v. Internatoinal Realation and Internal Security in 15 Days each
vi. Focus on Editorials and Make notes of the phrases and Writing
Structure
vii. Focus on monthly magnizine compilers
i. In Phase-4:
i. January to February: Weekly Bases Answer Writing
ii. Followed by Full Length Test and Revising your mocks along with the
concepts
iii. Two Test Series (Tentative)
iv. Strategy (Tentative)
2. The Preparation
a. Covering the concepts in crystal clear way, includes NCERT, Standard Books,
Coaching Class and Advance Supplementary; along with practice of each
and every topic of syllabus (prelims and mains)
b. Follow the Consistency Challenges of Shashank Sajwan
c. Do Rely on Sambhavam IAS but focus mostly on your self study
3. The Revision
a. Daily, Weekly and Monthly
b. Phase Wise and Year Wise
4. The Pseudos
a. CSAT:
i. Three months is enough to get qualifying mocks
ii. Do on weekends (do it during 2024) as you won’t be focusing of
Current Affairs
iii. Give CAT attempt but make sure you have the CSAT Approach
iv. Don’t focus on DILR, but give you best in QUANT and slightly VARC.
b. Answer Writing:
i. Give time and make note of the NCERT as Practice
ii. Start Practicing PYQs of the concepts you learned with model
answers
iii. 50-100 Questions will make your answering better over time, directly
proportional to your practise
c. MCQs:
i. 100 MCQs and 25 PYQs per week; 500 Questions per month; 15,000
questions over the period of the 30 month course.
d. Essay:
i. By the end of the year 2024
ii. Club with you philosophy optional papers
iii. Two Essays per week from PYQs
iv. Remember you need to master general studies before starting the
essay paper
e. Interview:
 i. Need three months like CSAT;
ii. Start Building your profile and preparing draft work of your entire
journey
iii. Focus on your Ultimate Purpose and Why; Understanding the
requirements to become a diplomat
iv. Practice IIM Interviews for your The D-Day of UPSC CSE
v. Do courses which make you better over time
vi. It's about you and your surroundings like your graduation college
(Tentative)
vii. The Mentor (Tentative)

Phase-1: March - December (2024)

Core Subjects and Optionals (90 days behind)

1. Polity: Priority 1
a. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features,
amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure
b. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and
challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and
finances up to local levels, and challenges therein
c. Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal
mechanisms, and institutions
d. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
e. Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, the conduct of
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
f. Structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary,
Ministries, and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and
formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
g. Salient features of the Representation of People's Act
h. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
i. Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies
2. Economy: Priority 1
a. Economic Development:
i. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of
resources, growth, development and employment
ii. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
iii. Government Budgeting
b. Agriculture:
i. Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, dierent
types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and
marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;
e-technology in the aid of farmers
 ii. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum
support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning,
limitations, revamping; issues of buer stocks and food security;
Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing
iii. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and
significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply
chain management.
c. Agricultural Development:
i. Land reforms in India
ii. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy
and their effects on industrial growth
d. Social Development:
i. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
e. Public Private Partnership Models:
i. Investment models

3. History: Merge preparation with optionals (Collab. Study)

!!p2
a. Modern History:
i. Mid 18th century to presentsignificant events, Personalities, and
Issues
ii. The Freedom Struggle- its various stages and important
contributors/contributions from dierent parts of the country
b. After Independence:
i. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the
country
c. World History:
i. The history of the world will include events from the 18th century such
as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national
boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like
communism, capitalism, socialism, etc, their forms and effects on the
society
4. Geography: Put your create efforts !!p2
a. World & Indian Physical Geography
i. Salient Features of the World's Physical Geography
ii. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South
Asia and the Indian sub-continent)
iii. Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary
sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
b. Important Geophysical Phenomenon
i. Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclones, etc.
ii. Geographical features and their location- changes in critical
geographical flora and fauna and the effects of water-bodies and
ice-caps) and in features (including such changes)
5. Optionals: (along with history, but !!p3)
a. PHILOSOPHY PAPER-I
 i. History and Problems of Philosophy
1. Plato and Aristotle : Ideas; Substance; Form and Matter;
Causation; Actuality and Potentiality.
2. Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz); Cartesian Method
and Certain Knowledge; Substance; God; Mind-Body Dualism;
Determinism and Freedom.
3. Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume) : Theory of Knowledge;
Substance and Qualities; Self and God; Skepticism.
4. Kant: Possibility of Synthetic a priori Judgments; Space and
Time; Categories; Ideas of Reason; Antinomies; Critique of
Proofs for the Existence of God.
5. Hegel : Dialectical Method; Absolute Idealism
6. Moore, Russell and Early Wittgenstein : Defence of
Commonsense; Refutation of Idealism; Logical Atomism;
Logical Constructions; Incomplete Symbols; Picture Theory of
Meaning; Sying and Showing.
7. Logical Positivism : Verification Theory of Meaning; Rejection
of Metaphysics; Linguistic Theory of Necessary Propositions.
8. Later Wittgenstein : Meaning and Use; Language-games;
Critique of Private Language.
9. Phenomenology (Husserl): Method; Theory of Essences;
Avoidance of Psychologism.
10. Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sarte, Heidegger): Existence and
Essence; Choice, Responsibility and Authentic Existence;
Being-in-the-world and Temporality.
11. Quine and Strawson : Critique of Empiricism; Theory of Basic
Particulars and Persons.
12. Carvaka : Theory of Knowledge; Rejection of Transcendent
Entities.
13. Jainism : Theory of Reality; Saptabhanginaya; Bondage and
Liberation.
14. Schools of Buddhism : PratItyasamutpada; Ksanikavada,
Nairatmyavada.
15. Nyaya—Vaiesesika : Theory of Categories; Theory of
Appearance; Theory of Pramana; Self, Liberation; God; Proofs
for the Existence of God; Theory of Causation; Atomistic
Theory of Creation.
16. Samkhya; Prakrit; Purusa; Causation; Liberation.
17. Yoga; Citta; Cittavrtti; Klesas; Samadhi; Kaivalya.
18. Mimamsa: Theory of Knowledge.
19. Schools of Vedanta : Brahman; Isvara; Atman; Jiva; Jagat;
Maya; Avida; Adhyasa; Moksa; Aprthaksiddhi;
Pancavidhabheda.
20. Aurobindo: Evolution, Involution; Integral Yoga.
b. PHILOSOPHY PAPER-II
i. Socio-Political Philosophy
1. Social and Political ldeals : Equality, Justice, Liberty.
2. Sovereignty : Austin, Bodin, Laski, Kautilya.
 3. Individual and State : Rights; Duties and Accountability.
4. Forms of Government : Monarchy; Theocracy and Democracy.
5. Political Ideologies: Anarchism; Marxism and Socialism.
6. Humanism; Secularism; Multi-culturalism.
7. Crime and Punishment : Corruption, Mass Violence, Genocide,
Capital Punishment.
8. Development and Social Progress
9. Gender Discrimination : Female Foeticide, Land and Property
Rights; Empowerment.
10. Caste Discrimination : Gandhi and Ambedkar.
ii. Philosophy of Religion
1. Notions of God : Attributes; Relation to Man and the World.
(Indian and Western).
2. Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique (Indian and
Western).
3. Problem of Evil.
4. Soul : Immortality; Rebirth and Liberation.
5. Reason, Revelation and Faith.
6. Religious Experience : Nature and Object (Indian and
Western).
7. Religion without God.
8. Religion and Morality.
9. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth.
10. Nature of Religious Language : Analogical and Symbolic;
Cognitivist and Noncognitive.
6. CSAT:
a. The Weekend Classes
b. The CAT Second attempt

7. First Revision:

Phase-2: January - June (2025)

Secondary Subjects

1. Environment:
a. Conservation
b. Environmental pollution and degradation
c. Environmental impact assessment
2. Art and Culture:
a. Salient Aspects of Art Forms
b. Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
c. Ancient & Medieval History
 3. Science and Tech
a. Science and Technology - developments and their applications and eects in
everyday life
b. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of
technology and developing new technology
c. Awareness in the fields of IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology,
bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights International
Relations
4. Current Affairs (in depth):
5. Optionals and its Revision:
6. Interview Preparation
7. Second Revision:

Phase-3: July - December (2025)

Remained part of General Studies

1. Ethics, Society and Social Justice:

a. Ethics: “This paper will include questions to test the candidates attitude and
approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem
solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with
society, questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these
aspects.”
The following broad areas will be covered:
i. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and
consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics
in private and public relationships.
ii. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders,
reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational
institutions in inculcating values
iii. Attitude: Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with
thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence
and persuasion.
iv. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality
and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service,
empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections
v. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance
vi. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the
world
vii. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status
and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and
private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources
of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance;
 strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical
issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
viii. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis
of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in
government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct,
Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization
of public funds, challenges of corruption
ix. Case Studies on the above issues
b. Society:
i. Salient Feature of Indian Society, Diversity of India
ii. Role of Women & Women Empowerment (Women’s Organisation)
iii. Population and Associated Issues
iv. Poverty & Developmental Issues
v. Urbanization
vi. Effects of Globalization on Indian Society
vii. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
c. Social Justice:
i. Development processes and the development industry- the role of
NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities,
institutional and other stakeholders.
ii. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the
Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;
mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
iii. Issues relating to development and management of Social
Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
2. Governance:
a. Government policies and the interventions for development in various sectors
arising out of their design and implementation.
b. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
c. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability,
e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
measures.
d. Role of civil services in a democracy.
3. International Relations:
a. India and its neighborhood-relations
b. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or aecting India's interests.
c. Effects of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
India's interests, Indian diaspora
d. International Organizations:
i. Important International institutions, agencies and their structure,
mandate
4. International Security:
a. Linkages between development and spread of extremism
 b. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal
security
c. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges
d. Basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
e. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of
organized crime with terrorism
f. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
5. Disaster Management:
a. Disasters and disaster management
6. Current Affairs (in depth)
a. Obsidian
b. Monthly Compilers
7. Third Revision:

Phase-4: January - May (2026)

Focus on Prelims and Revision

1. Revision:
a. Tentative
2. Practice:
a. Tentative
3. Completenes:
a. The 99 Percentile