Hello All

Hello Dear Blog visitors,

I will be slightly busy for the next 1 month. So I won't be able to write any new posts for this time. I will keep replying to your queries. But, won't be able to write on the topics mentioned.

Just wanted to inform you.

God bless you all!!

Shubhra.

Making notes

This is a very important process. You have millions of books and they seem intimidating at times.

It's always a good idea to make notes.

First, do not ever make notes in your first reading. I would go for notes maybe in 2nd or better in 3rd read.

There are many kind of notes that you can make.

1) If you select certain most important topics in your optionals, eg distt administration, RTI in pub ad, then select the best books for that topic and write all of that on A4 sized sheets. select such 50 60 topics from your optionals by looking at the pattern of paper and make the best notes possible. Initially it seems like a lot of hard work. But it really helps. I made such notes for about 80-90 topics in Pub ad. Remember, you can not afford to leave the rest of the syllabus. because even in the best case scenaro you might get questions outside this list.

So finish your syllabus thoroughly and these notes will work as add ons.

2) Chapter-wise notes- I did this in both psychology and Pub ad.

take an A4 sheet and fold it in between so that it has 2 parts. write synoptical notes just the gist that is relevant to you. write it in condensed form so that it doesnt take much space. Also, use highlighters and red/pink/green pens to highlight imp stuff.

You must be wondering why I a stressing on A4 sheets. They are easy to handle and you can classify the notes whenever you want. You don't have to carry a big notebook at the time of exam.

3) Post-it notes-

Suppose you have GS notes from a coaching class. They are good. But they are huge. Also, you have already spent enough time on optionals notes. So there's a short cut for these notes. Buy Post-it notes, the yellow coloured stickies. When you have studied a topic, just write the +ves, -ves, anything on that post it and stick it onto that page. When you are revising the stuff, just look at the post-its. That will save your time and stick better in head.

Just before the exam, you can just glance at these notes for the last time. Remember you should have done this many times before. But the last revision is the most crucial. Psychology students would understand why. When you write your paper this year, you would understand the significance of this last look you gave your notes.

Also understand that the note making exercise is a tedious one and you might think you are wasting a lot of time. rather you could study from books. but for a single topic you will have to open 4 5 books at a time. That's even more tedious. Plus it will be difficult to retrieve the stuff. Get it all in one place and you are all set.

Aspirants Interaction page

as requested by Pramod, I am creating this page for aspirants to interact.

Please do not post questions and requests addressed to me in this post. This is solely for you guys.

Posts to follow shortly

Hi all,

Please give suggestions as to what else you need my help for.

I would be writing about the following topics shortly whenever I get time.

-Starting preparation

-Essay writing

-Making Notes

-sustaining motivation and morale

-newspaper readingips

-interview tips

thanks.

Pub Ad Mains and Prelims tips

I had written this some time back. Stumbled across this document on my laptop. So, sharing with you.


Strategy:

Given the time constraint, a well-thought out strategy makes the difference between success and failure. Intensive and focused approach built on analysis needs to be scrupulously adhered to. Some ingredients of a 'smart strategy' are:

-Building a general overview
-Conceptual Understanding of the subject matter.
-Perusal of question papers of previous years.
-Identification of 'thrust areas' for concentrated pursuit.
-Examination-bias.
-Adequate writing practice for time management and evolving right content.
-Continuous review of performance and appropriate corrections.

Though the current trend of Public Administration suggests that the preparation for prelims should be grounded in a mains-focused approach, the strategy of preparing for Prelims and Mains is markedly different.

Strategy for Prelims:

1. Conceptual Understanding of the subject is a must. Study from standard textbooks to get a grip on the subject matter. Superficial reading won’t help.

2. Public Administration by Laxmikanth is the most important textbook for Prelims. Finish it thoroughly.

3. Read and understand all the concepts thoroughly word by word because, public administration is a game of words. Sometimes questions are asked from the very technicality of the words.

4. Try to go through all the current affairs facts related to Public Administration. For e.g. Pay Commission Reports, Finance Commission Reports, RTI etc.

5. Supplement this knowledge with a few books like Public Administration and Public Affairs by Nicholas Henry; New Horizons of public Administration by Mohit Bhattacharya and Indian Administration by Arora/Goel.

6. Practice Mock tests regularly for all units and also at least one Full Length Test.



Strategy for Mains:

Every candidate appearing for the mains examination should be conversant with the fundamentals of the structure, process, behaviour and environment of the administrative system. It's equally important that the student should be conversant with contemporary and the current developments of socio-political and economic nature that have a close bearing on the functioning of the administration. For example, changing governors, direct grants to panchayats, economic reforms with a human face; globalization and administration, second-generation reforms and the social infrastructure, right to information and participative development.

1. First of all you have to thoroughly analyze the syllabus and the previous years question papers. Then, it will be easy to understand what is actually expected from you.

2. Study basic study material like Sharma Sadana, Arora Goel, Avasthi Maheshwari etc. Supplement it with IIPA journals, Internet etc.

3. While studying the subject, understand it well. Don’t just gloss over it. Secondly, try to feel what you are reading inside. This helps reproducing answers from your subconscious mind during the exam.

4. Amassing information is a big ” DON’T ”. You should be able to identify 'core areas' which cannot be avoided in the context of the mains examination and consolidate. Most importantly, study and writing practice should reinforce each other.

5. Read a magazine like Frontline, Yojana, Kurukshetra and keep a tab on what’s happening around you. You have to anyway do it for GS. Just try to note what is happening in Public Administration specially.

6. Make synoptic notes for all the topics. These help in final revision. One can recall points for a certain topic easily when writing the exam.

7. Writing practice holds the key to success. It ensures legibility, time management and adherence to word limit. Effective introduction, logical build up and balanced conclusion send the right signals to the evaluator. Every question needs to be studied carefully to understand the exact requirements.

8. Several times, the questions are general in nature and not direct. For example, criminalization of politics and politicization of crime; public sector enterprises are neither public nor enterprises; recruitment of recruiters needs to be streamlined and planning in India needs to be depoliticized.

9. For short questions, answers should be direct and precise. In a long essay, introduction should be appealing and effective. Elaboration of the theme should be properly prioritized. Sequencing should be done in such a manner that one paragraph logically follows from another.

10. Depending upon the paper I or II, apt illustrations add value. While answering a question on welfare administration, the concept of welfare needs to be supplemented with the initiatives undertaken by the government highlighting the different types of programmes, the coverage and the resource profile. Unlike general studies, public administration requires interpretative skills, ability to correlate theory and practice; and synchronize conventional with the current. For example, presidential activism in India; budget as an instrument of socioeconomic transformation; citizen-administration interface and e-governance; regulation and development; development and delivery models.

11. Concentrate on the newly emerging and sensitive topics like:
Criminalization of politics
Politicization of administration
Coalition govt.
PMO
Panchayati Raj Institutions and their empowerment
Urban Local Govt.
Disaster Management