How to Better Grasp Current Affairs for UPSC

Current affairs are integral parts of many competitive exams because of their dynamic nature. They test the degree to which an IAS candidate is up-to-date with their knowledge. 

That being said, it is a difficult task to keep track of all the current affairs while analysing them in-depth at the same time.

But a little strategic reading and planning will go a long way in helping candidates prepare better for this segment. And this article will give tips on how to keep track of the current affairs for the IAS Exam.

Step 1: Identify the Right Sources

There is no shortage of reading materials. both online and offline, which makes it tough to differentiate which sources of information are the best to study from. But the general rule of thumb is that one must choose quality over quantity any day.

A lot of reading material, both online and offline, on current affairs makes it difficult for aspirants to understand what to read.

For starters, the following reading materials are a good way to keep track of current affairs.

• Newspapers – The Hindu, The Indian Express, etc.
• Monthly Current Affairs Magazine – Pratiyogita Darpan, Civil Services Times, Yojana, NITI Aayog reports, Economic and Political Weekly (for some topics only), World Focus year-end issue only, etc.
• Internet – There are a lot of available resources on the internet that candidates may follow.
• All India Radio

Step 2: Concentrate on the Issues

One should not stop at the headlines. It’s wise to concentrate on the issues which make the headlines. When reading through the news, the following points need to be kept in mind:

• Why is it in the news?
• What is the background, facts, etc.?
• What is the current status?
• Pros and cons (if any).
• Opinions/suggestions regarding the news.

Step 3: Make Notes

There is a likelihood of a large volume of data being collected when you study for your current affairs. Making notes will help you in keeping track of the type of information gleaned from the latest in current affairs.

Keep in mind that the notes themselves must be short and crips in nature with the important points being present. 

Step 4: Avoid Rote Learning

We all have the habit of mugging up or, in more polite terms, rote memorisation. This is even more evident when it comes to competitive examinations like the UPSC, trying to cram in as much information as possible.

Sure some sections can be cleared, but in the long run, it is inadvisable as we might end up forgetting what we have learnt already.

Step 5: Stay Updated with the Syllabus

Now current affairs, dynamic as they are, cover a huge range of topics that are otherwise found in UPSC Syllabus 2023. Therefore, it is also wise to stay updated with the syllabus as this might essentially help in covering the plethora of topics found in current affairs.

Step 6: Constant Revision

Revising constantly and consistently is your best bet to clear the IAS Exam, as it will help in retaining what you have learnt and might even improve the quality of your answers. This is especially true due to the fact that current nature is always constantly changing and evolving daily.

Conclusion

Although the tips mentioned above can help a candidate cover the UPSC’s current affairs, it is by no means a sure-shot way to cover them as such an endeavour (its success, that is) is largely dependent on the calibre and skill of candidates. That being said, one can always try the above steps to see how well they can serve them.