UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is a central authority that oversees the entire recruitment process for all the underlying categories – IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IAS (Indian Administrative Service), etc. UPSC CSE is known to be the most challenging examination, and as with other exams, it is essential to keep a study routine in place to crack the exam. It is always considered a necessity to have a Timetable for UPSC Preparation as it helps in a concentrated and better study routine. The amount of learning required to cover the syllabus will make you want a UPSC study timetable.
As kids, we all have been giving exams since 1st grade, and it was advisable to have a study timetable for UPSC/IAS preparation and routine in place so that we will be able to cover the entire syllabus in time, have time for revision, and stay disciplined. This routine usually works in our favor as we can score good marks. So why not apply the same methods when it comes to competitive exams?
A UPSC Exam timetable will help you increase your productivity and concentration. A Timetable for UPSC preparation will help you make the process simpler and more efficient. It helps in relieving the stress and overwhelmed feeling students get by seeing the number of books and syllabus. It is always advisable to set aside 10-12 months to prepare for this exam.
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Why do you need Time Table For UPSC Preparation?
A study routine for the UPSC preparation allows you to have a plan in place and a timetable gives you that extra amount of time you need for yourself. Here are some reasons why you need to have a study routine in place to crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam –
- Having a schedule and routine allows you to be less stressed and cover the entire UPSC syllabus within the required time frame.
- A UPSC exam timetable allows you to keep track of your progress and distribute the workload accordingly.
- A daily timetable for UPSC Civil Services gives you the sense of direction required. Candidates can study for the exam without being overwhelmed or stressed with the syllabus and study material given with a UPSC Exam Timetable.
- With the required 10-12 months for the IAS exam preparation, it is necessary to have a study timetable in place to have a customized approach toward the syllabus and assess your strengths and weaknesses within the given timeframe. During the last few days before the exam, you will be ready with all the necessary study material and won’t have to worry about freaking out last minute.
- Having a study timetable for the UPSC exam will work efficiently and increase your productivity as time passes. A schedule gives you the liberty to retain more information faster and in an organized manner.
- Having a daily timetable for UPSC preparation gives you extra time for study breaks, naps, relaxation periods, etc. A study routine for the UPSC exam helps in reducing the tension and stress candidates experience during the entire process and will help you reach your goal to crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam.
- With a study routine for the UPSC IAS preparation, you will cover the entire syllabus and have periodical assessments to assess your progress. This way, you will know strictly at what position you stand in the UPSC exam preparation.
- It has often been observable that with a daily timetable for IAS preparation, students develop planning, punctuality, orderliness, and consistency. These are very important for the development of a student, and it helps in giving them a systematic approach to preparation when it comes to the UPSC exam.
How to Prepare Daily Routine for UPSC Exam
Making the best timetable for UPSC preparation or a study routine is not enough. You should also be able to follow through and execute the schedule you have prepared for the UPSC exam preparation, as only then will the results follow through.
Here are a few things required of students when it comes to practice –
1. Honesty:
The students should be honest with themselves. Honesty is the first step towards the IAS exam preparation as it allows them to be prepared for what follows through. Giving 10-12 months of your life towards an examination is not a joke, and it is not for the faint-hearted.
You should be mentally prepared for the stress and the hard work that comes with preparing for this exam. If you, as a student, are yourself willing to go through all these routines and schedules until the end, then make a daily timetable for UPSC preparation and make sure you diligently follow through with it.
2. Seriousness:
It is required for the students to be serious about their dreams and goals, especially when it comes to competitive exams like the UPSC CSE. Making strict timetables and following through with them is not easy; therefore, you should be very serious when choosing the UPSC exam preparation. It is not a time-pass course, and those who think so should reconsider their choices.
3. Discipline:
It is said that the timetable for UPSC preparation gives you the planning, punctuality, orderliness, and consistency required to pass the exam, but the most important of them all needed during the trial is discipline. Making a study routine is not enough, and following through and executing all your plans, and daily timetable requires discipline, and once you master this act, it will be a smooth journey towards the end.
4. Goals:
You should have a goal set in your mind. Setting short-term milestones and long-term goals along the journey helps in giving a sense of accomplishment whenever you complete them. It helps increase morale and confidence as it proves that the hard work and efforts being put in are not going to waste, and that there will be a success at the end of the journey.
5. Enjoy the process:
The individual needs to enjoy the UPSC exam preparation process as it helps increase morale, and eventually, it would feel less like work and more like fun. Be happy to gain the knowledge you are acquiring, and only then will it not seem like a chore.
6. Stay Healthy:
Although the timetable for UPSC preparation is tough and can drain you physically and mentally, it is crucial to take care of your health and well-being. If you do not eat properly or have adequate sleep, there will be no use of the hard work and efforts to crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam. It is because, at some point, your body would start giving up, and then it gets difficult to concentrate on your daily timetable or your syllabus.
7. Early riser:
Some people may prefer working at night to others, and this is because each body is accustomed to a different routine. But it is always advised for individuals to rise early in the morning because at that time, the brain functions at its sharpest, and if you want to crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam, then being an early riser will help you out the most.
How to Make Timetable for UPSC Preparation
While it might be easy for some students to plan and make a daily timetable for IAS preparation, it might not be easy for the rest. Preparing the best study timetable for UPSC preparation only depends on your daily routine. The UPSC toppers have created model timetables to work and crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam efficiently.
Timetable for UPSC Preparation that can be adapted or modified according to different individuals:
| Time | Activity | Why follow-through |
| 5:00 AM | Wake up | Rising early benefits, you the most! |
| 5-6:00 AM | Morning routine, exercise | It helps you get refreshed and gain concentration. |
| 6-6:15 AM | Take a bath | It helps in shaking off the drowsiness |
| 6:15-7:45 AM | Read a newspaper | You will need this to make some notes. |
| 7:45-8:30 AM | Breakfast | It will help you in getting energized and stay healthy. |
| 8:30-11:00 AM | Study Slot 1 | Revise the previous day’s topics that you learned so that your mind is fresh to absorb it all. |
| 11:00-11:30 AM | Break Time | Take a break and recharge. |
| 11:30 AM-1:30 PM | Study Slot 2 | Continue your studies. |
| 1:30-2:30 PM | Lunch Time | Have a light lunch to avoid feeling sleepy after it. |
| 2:30-5:00 PM | Study Slot 3 | Resume studies. |
| 5:00-7:30 PM | Refresh+ Tea/Snacks + Chat/play/go to the gym | Take a break and refresh yourself by indulging in activities that help in relieving stress. |
| 7:30-9:00 PM | Study Slot 4 | Continue studies |
| 9:00-9:30 PM | Dinner Time | Have a light meal to have a good night’s sleep |
| 9:30-11:00 PM | Study Slot 5 | It is your last phase of studies for the day. Make sure you study lighter topics so that it helps in better understanding at the end of the day. |
| 11:00-11:30 PM | Leisure Time | Unwind and keep all your books aside. Go to bed, listen to music/use social media apps/read a novel. Make sure you sleep at 11:30 PM. |
How to Clear the IAS Exam? | Timetable for UPSC Preparation
Although there would be a lot of tuition and classes out there to help you crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam, it is essential to know which method works for you the best – online classes or offline classes and what study material and mock exams you will need to take. Classes and coaching help you in being better prepared for the UPSC exam.
Here are a few tips to prepare with the study material –
- Join IAS online programs or offline tutors.
- Prepare notes in every class to stay up to date with the syllabus taught in your classes.
- Self-study is another important part of this process. You can take the help of notes, standard textbooks, NCERT textbooks, etc., and revise what has been taught in the classes to understand better.
- Take Mock exams from online websites. It helps you track your progress and shows where you stand regarding the UPSC exam preparation.
- Follow through with your daily timetable for UPSC preparation so that you can be as prepared as the UPSC Toppers would have been.
Conclusion
The UPSC Exam is one of the toughest examinations to crack along with JEE and NEET. If you want to be one of those students who manage to crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam, following a timetable and having a schedule in order is necessary. There may be dozens of programs for UPSC Toppers, but you need to follow through and plan your study routine.
Having a timetable for UPSC preparation is an essential part of the journey and one of the first few steps. It is necessary to be committed to the process and be mentally prepared to spend 10-12 months of your life to crack the UPSC exam. It takes immense dedication and honesty to sit down and look for this exam.
If you are only willing to put in this crazy amount of hard work and effort, only then should you consider preparing for the IAS exam. The amount of stress and the overwhelming feeling that students get in this time is not for everyone to handle, and therefore, only those with the heart and goal to clear the UPSC exam should get into this process.
If you have a mentor or guide throughout your journey, then consider yourself lucky as they can help you in the right direction along the way. Having the right notes, on-time mock assessments, and executing your goals and milestones helps in giving the confidence students will need in these challenging times. It helps give you the support you require, and you will be able to study the correct syllabus from the basic concepts to the toughest without any confusion from the beginning helping you crack the UPSC Civil Service Exam.
Timetable for UPSC Preparation: FAQs
✅ What is UPSC?
The UPSC or Union Public Service Commission is the Board for the civil services examination in India.
✅ How to get admission to civil services in India?
You will need to appear for the UPSC CSE (Civil Services Exam) to join the civil services.
✅ How can I clear the IAS exam?
Prepare well by having a study timetable for UPSC preparation and following a routine that suits you the best. Use notes and attempt mock tests to assess your progress.
✅ What are the educational qualifications required to appear in the UPSC CSE exam?
The candidate must hold a graduate degree from a recognized college and should be of the minimum age of 21 and maximum age of 32.
✅ How many attempts are possible to write the IAS exam?
There are in total 6 attempts allowed for the IAS exam.
✅ What is the latest syllabus for the UPSC exam?
The syllabus includes the History of India, Current events of national and international importance, Indian National Movements, Indian and World Geography, Indian Politics and Geography, Economic and Social Development, Poverty, General issues related to climate change, General Science, Comprehension, Interpersonal skills, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Basic numeracy, decision making.
✅ How do I start my preparation as a fresher?
As a fresher, it is advised to be aware of the syllabus and create a study routine for yourself. Be ready with all of your notes and track your progress as time goes on. This helps in improving your preparation for the UPSC exam.
✅ What are the books required for the prelims and main exam?
Here are a few recommendations –
- India’s Ancients Past by R.S. Sharma.
- History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra.
- India’s struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra.
✅ Do you require coaching to crack the IAS exam?
You can crack without the IAS exam coaching, but it all depends on one person to another.
✅ What are the useful websites for the preparation?
Some include clearias.com, cleariasexam.com, iasbaba.com, insightsonindia.com, byjus.com, etc.
✅ Where can I find the previous year’s papers online for the UPSC exam?
You can find the previous year’s paper on the official website of UPSC.
✅ How do you apply for the examinations?
Candidates can apply for the exam online on the UPSC website.
✅ When are the admit cards issued?
The e-admit cards are issued three weeks before the examination to the candidates.
✅ What is the structure of the UPSC CSE main exam?
The exam consists of two stages – The CSP (Civil Services Preliminary Examination) and the Civil Services Main Examination.
✅ Is there negative marking prevalent in the CSP?
There will be a penalty for wrong answers marked in the CSE (Civil Services Preliminary) Examination.
✅ Is the use of calculators permitted in the examination?
Yes. Candidates are allowed to use calculators in the exam.
✅ Does bad handwriting lead to a reduction in marks?
If the handwriting is not recognizable to the invigilator, then It will reduce marks for the same.
