Major Categories of Government Exams
| Category | Examples | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Central Government | UPSC (IAS/IPS/IFS), SSC (CGL/CHSL), RRB (NTPC/JE), Banking (IBPS/SBI) | Polity, GS, Quant, Reasoning, English, Job-specific |
| State Government | State PSCs (UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC), State Police, Clerical Posts | Local GK, State Polity, Language, Aptitude |
| PSUs (GATE-based) | ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL (via GATE) | Technical core subjects, GATE syllabus |
Common Subjects (Across Exams)
| Subject | What to Prepare |
|---|---|
| General Studies / GK | Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, DI, Speed & Accuracy |
| Reasoning Ability | Verbal & Non-verbal reasoning, Puzzles, Series |
| English / Language | Grammar, Vocabulary, RC, Error Spotting |
| Computer Basics | MS Office, Basics of IT & Internet, Networking |
| Job-specific | Engineering, Law, Medical subjects (as per post) |
Recommended Books (Quick Reference)
| Area | Top Picks |
|---|---|
| NCERTs | Class 6–12 — History, Geography, Science, Polity |
| Polity | M. Laxmikanth — Indian Polity |
| Economy | Ramesh Singh — Indian Economy |
| History | Spectrum — A Brief History of Modern India |
| Geography | G.C. Leong — Physical Geography |
| Quant | R.S. Aggarwal, Fast Track Objective Arithmetic (Rajesh Verma) |
| Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal — Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning |
| English | Wren & Martin; Word Power Made Easy; Objective General English (Arihant) |
| Exam-Specific | Arun Sharma (Banking), Kiran Publications (SSC PYQs), GATE standard books |
Smart Tips & Tricks (Actionable)
| Area | Strategy |
|---|---|
| General Strategy | Finish NCERTs → Standard books → PYQs → Mocks. Make concise revision notes. |
| GK & Current Affairs | Daily newspaper (The Hindu), monthly compilations (Vision IAS, Drishti). Bullet-point notes. |
| Quant | Master shortcuts, timed practice, chapter-wise revision. |
| English | Read editorials, 10–20 new words daily, practice cloze & para-jumbles. |
| Revision | Pomodoro technique, periodic full-syllabus revisions, timed mocks. |
Final Preparation Checklist
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Fix a target exam; create a daily routine (6–8 hrs); solve PYQs & mocks | Don't keep buying new books; avoid last-minute cramming |
| Make short revision notes; track progress with mock scores | Don't ignore health & sleep — burnt-out study is ineffective |