LAW of 40:40:20
The Ultimate Strategy to Turn Every Attempt into a Success
- Prioritise: Subjects and Topics
- Prepare: Intensify Preparation of Prioritised Content as per their Priority
LAW of 40-40-20
We have segregated the subjects of the prelims into three levels of priorities as per their importance in the exam.
Priority 1(First 40): These are those subjects, if you prepare them extremely good, then no one can stop you to clear this exam whenever you appear. The questions from these subjects should be the Sure-shot Correct Questions.
Priority 2 (Second 40): These are the subjects which are to be studied and also with dedication as they will act as supporting hand in case of any weakness in Priority 1. It will also act as the “Elimination Type Questions”.
Priority 3 (Third 20): Least cost benefit ratio subjects. Least scoring subjects, just do basics. Most of the questions from this sections may go wrong and can pile up huge negative marks.
Instructions:
- We have tried our best to extract even the micro topics which UPSC is consistently asking in CSE Prelims since 2013 to 2023.
- The whole syllabus is divided into Most Asked Topics and Rarely Asked Topics.
- We are not at all recommending preparing only the Most Asked Topics rather we recommend preparing the whole syllabus. But yes, one can put more emphasis on the Most Asked Topics.
- This should be ones strategy to clear the exam to prepare extremely well the topics from Most Asked sections as these are those topics from which questions are coming one or the other year and ignoring them may lead to failure.
Note: The numbers in parentheses represent approximate counts of questions asked from each topic over the years 2013 to 2024. These figures are intended to guide your preparation by highlighting areas of higher and lower emphasis in past exams. While efforts have been made to provide accurate data, please consider these numbers as estimates due to variations in question categorization and overlaps among topics.
Recommendation: Prioritize topics with higher question frequencies in your study plan, but ensure you have a foundational understanding of all areas to maximize your performance.Subjects
Economy
Priority - 1
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.
Topics are very simple, most ignored and very easy subject to cover.
Least confusing options if conceptual clarity is extremely good.
Ecology & Environment
Priority - 1
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.
Topics are very simple, if you try to understand the subject beyond THE FAMOUS sources in the market.
Least confusing options if conceptual clarity is extremely good.
Government Policies
Priority - 1
UPSC has asked more that 100+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 10-15 questions almost every year.
Apply different approach to prepare it, the best way to prepare it is to structure and link the policies and schemes properly with your syllabus topics.
YOU WILL DEFINITELY HAVE AN EXTRA EDGE
Science & Technology
Priority - 1
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.
Most easy and most repeated questions subject.
Just focus on conceptual clarity and proper application of the concepts to various sectors and you are done with it.
Miscellaneous
Priority - 1
UPSC has asked more that 90+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 8-13 questions almost every year.
Very limited topics, fixed content, can be completed in one day only.
Almost always fixed and repeated questions
Purely factual topics where almost no analysis is required.
Indian Polity
Priority - 2
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.Most simple and easy subject, almost everything is fixed, limited sources and very easy to remember.Just focus on the provisions carefully and understand the basic philosophy of every provision and DONE.
Modern Indian History
Priority - 2
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.
Fixed and limited syllabus, no extra effort is required to prepare it.
Fixed topics, limited content and everyone does it well, and if everyone is doing, then you also cannot ignore it.
Art & Culture
Priority - 2
UPSC has asked more that 120+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.It covers around 15-20 questions almost every year.Very vast with endless boundaries.One of the least cost benefit ratio.Although this subject also has some of the repeating topics which has to be done thoroughly (covers around 4-8, questions every year) remaining is up to you, if time allows then you can do other topics also.Very factual and sometines boring.
Geography
Priority - 3
UPSC has asked more that 90+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 8-13 questions almost every year.
Extremely lengthy syllabus, highly technical, conceptual and most confusing in nature.
Cost benefit ratio is also one of the least for this subject.
Although some UPSC favourite topics has to be covered.
Mapping
Priority - 3
UPSC has asked more that 50+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 5-8 questions almost every year.
Remember two types of locations (in news and very famous) only and do not go beyond them otherwhse it will be very difficult to remember and recall in exam, as it need so much of imagination also, since you have to connect the locations in mind itself without any map in front of you.
Medieval Indian History
Priority - 3
UPSC has asked more that 50+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 3-7 questions almost every year.
LIMITLESS SUBJECT
Study what everyone is studying in this subject and do not even try to go beyond the limit.
Least of least cost benefit ratio.
Most of the times, questios are such that if they are solvable then everyone can solve and if anything new yhas asked, then only rare of the rare students can solve.
Ancient Indian History
Priority - 3
UPSC has asked more that 140+ questions from this subject in past 10 years.
It covers around 10-20 questions almost every year.
LIMITLESS SUBJECT
Study what everyone is studying in this subject and do not even try to go beyond the limit.
Least of least cost benefit ratio.
Most of the times, questios are such that if they are solvable then everyone can solve and if anything new yhas asked, then only rare of the rare students can solve.