Due to its dynamic nature, Current Affairs is an integral part of many competitive exams. It is used to test the dynamic knowledge of prospective IAS candidates. However it is a difficult task to keep track of all the current affairs as well as analyse and understand them to enhance one’s knowledge.
But a little strategic reading and planning will go a long way in helping candidates preparare better for this segment. And this article will give tips on how to keep track of the latest current affairs for the IAS Exam
Tip #1: Identify the Right Sources
There is no shortage of reading materials both online or offline which makes it tough to differentiate which sources of information is the best to study from. But the cardinal rule is that one must choose quality over quantity anyday
Identify sources: There is a lot of reading material both online and offline on current affairs which makes it difficult for the aspirants to understand what to read.
For starter 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 which you may follow.
- All India Radio
Tip#2: Concentrate on the Issues
Learn to read beyond the headlines. It’s prudent to concentrate on the issues which make the headlines. When reading through a news the following points need to be kept in mind
- Why is it in news
- What is the background, facts etc.
- What is the current status
- Pros and cons (if any)
- Opinions/Suggestions regarding the news
Tip#4: 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.
Tip#5: Focus on keywords
Make short notes after reading a topic several times, as they will help you to identify the keywords. This is another important solution to the question of how to prepare for current affairs.
Tip#6: Avoid Rote Learning
We all have the habit of mugging up or in more polite terms, rote memorization. This is even more evident when it comes to the 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.
Tip#7: 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.