How to start preparing for UPSC after 12th?

UPSC exams are one of the most critical and also the toughest examinations in India for students applying for the privileged positions of IPS, IFS, IAS, IRS, and other civil services. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), nearly 10 lakh students in India appear for the exam every year. In 2023, around 13 lakh students had participated in the UPSC prelims examination. With tough competition and the increasing number of aspirants every year in India, it makes sense to start preparing early to successfully crack through the exams. This blog highlights a few strategies and tips to follow for UPSC preparation after the 12th standard. 

What you should do after the 12th to prepare for UPSC

As mentioned above, a lot of students aspire to appear for UPSC exams after completing their class 12 with the hope of entering into the Indian civil services. Considering the cut-throat competition in the area, it is helpful to chart out a well-defined UPSC strategy after the 12th Board exams and start preparing for the UPSC exams as early as possible. Some of the following can help:

1. Find out the syllabus for UPSC exams: This is the first step in your UPSC preparation journey. UPSC exams consist of Prelims and Mains. Begin by determining the exact topics covered for both. Some of the focus areas to concentrate on include General Studies (current events, history, geography, Indian politics, and governance, economy), English (essay writing), and optional subjects that you can choose on your own to prepare for (agriculture, botany, chemistry, law, maths, and more).

2. Choose your UG degree carefully: Now that you have decided to take the UPSC exams, it is important to choose the stream for your undergraduate degree carefully after completing class 12. The steam that you choose can help choose your optional subject for UPSC exams and in defining an effective UPSC exam approach after the 12th standard. 

3. Consider taking coaching: Getting the right guidance for UPSC preparation can go a long way in ensuring success. Since the exam is highly competitive and a bit complex too, it may be a good idea to consider taking professional coaching at this stage. UPSC guidance after the 12th can help provide an initial boost to your preparation strategy and also help clarify any doubts that you may have.

4. Manage your time well: Time management is an essential life skill but more so at this time. Staying disciplined in your exam preparation and learning to manage your time well both can go a long way in helping you drive closer toward your goal.

5. Do your revisions well: It helps to keep some buffer time before the date of the exam to revise what you have learned all these months. Since you started your preparations early, chances are that you may have forgotten what you learned in the initial months. The concepts learned more recently are likely to linger in your mind. Hence, revising the entire syllabus well before the exam date can be a very helpful exercise.

Understanding UPSC

Before planning to appear for the UPSC exams in India, it is a good idea to understand what stream of study would work best in your favor and help you achieve your goal faster. Generally, the Arts stream is considered the best option if you are planning to appear for UPSC exams. Choosing the field of Humanities at the 10+2 level and continuing further in the same line of study with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) would be a much wiser choice in this regard. 

This is because BA courses comprise subjects like Political Science, History, Geography, and similar subjects that are also a part of the UPSC syllabus. It therefore helps to have a prior knowledge base and understanding of these subjects right from class 12 and UG levels. It adds as a bonus to your preparation for UPSC exams. 

Check out the best BA for UPSC exams.

UPSC structure and syllabus

In continuation to understanding UPSC in greater detail, let us reflect on the structure of the exams and the actual syllabus to be covered. 

The UPSC exams are primarily divided into 2 phases:

1. Preliminary exams or Prelims
2. Mains examination or Mains

Apart from these 2 primary stages, there is a third stage also known as a Personality Test or Interview with the candidate. 

The syllabus for UPSC Prelims is defined below:

Source: https://www.anujjindal.in/upsc-syllabus-for-ias-exam/

The syllabus for the UPSC Mains examination is as follows:

Source: https://www.anujjindal.in/upsc-syllabus-for-ias-exam/

Best courses for UPSC aspirants

As mentioned earlier, a Bachelor of Arts or BA is the best option for students aspiring to appear for UPSC exams. This is primarily because the degree program covers several similar topics that are also a part of the UPSC curriculum. Due to the similarity in syllabus, students find it easier and helpful to relate to the topics and can understand the subjects better and easily.

A few BA subjects that can prove helpful for UPSC exam preparation are Ecology, Politics, Economics, Psychology, History, Sociology, Public Administration, and Geography. 

Is an online degree valid for UPSC?

Yes, absolutely! UPSC does validate a degree secured online, provided it is recognized by the government or a government-approved both. Students completing a UG program, whether from a traditional university or online from a remote learning platform, are eligible to appear for UPSC examinations in India. This explains that students completing a degree from Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) can prepare and apply for UPSC exams.

Here are some of the top government jobs for political science graduates.

Benefits of online degrees for UPSC aspirants

Now that we know that an online degree is indeed valid and accepted for UPSC exams, let us briefly look at the benefits of pursuing an online study program by UPSC aspirants:

• Allows greater flexibility: UPSC aspirants have a set schedule for exam preparation. Studying for a degree online enables students the flexibility to manage their time for classes along with keeping sufficient time for preparing for UPSC exams.

• Adds to the knowledge base: An online degree program would provide additional knowledge and skills that perfectly complement the curriculum defined for UPSC preparation. Online courses can be a great boost to your existing preparation for UPSC, helping you learn more than what you are already studying for your exams.

• Easy on the pocket: Online study programs are relatively more affordable than those pursued the conventional way through traditional offline universities. This further enables students to comfortably shell out money for the forthcoming expenses of UPSC exams. 

Conclusion

UPSC exams are one of the most sought-after examinations in India as a qualifying entrance test for a job in the prestigious Indian Civil Services, such as IAS, IPS, and more. Students appearing for these exams have tough competition nationwide and therefore start preparations fairly early. This blog is aimed at sharing some useful tips for UPSC preparation after the 12th.

What can perfectly complement your preparation is an online BA degree, since it covers the same subjects that are also a part of the UPSC syllabus. Sikkim Manipal University offers online BA courses to students in a combination of 3 subjects – Political Science, English, and Sociology – all of which are also an integral part of the UPSC curriculum. Pursuing an online BA from Sikkim Manipal on the Online Manipal platform can therefore provide the desired boost to your USPC preparations.