12 Jan Webinar by Santosh Sir

UPSC Prelims 2023
50 Most important areas for Prelims-2023

5 techniques to score 120+ in prelims-2023
Santosh Gupta
6 prelims cleared with score>130+
Prelims Head @ CivilsDaily IAS
Mentor for Smash prelims
PAGE 1
a CIVILSDAILY presentation
Order of things today
1. Fifty Most important areas:

a. Polity
b. Economy
c. Environment
d. History
e. Geography
f. Science & tech
2. How to cover them for prelims
3. 5 Important techniques for 90% accuracy

4. Q&A
PAGE 2
Prelims- Negatives matter
Correct Incorrect Total Score
65 15 80 120
65 25 90 114
60 35 95 96
How to optimise your attempt for 120+ ?
PAGE 3
Changing Pattern
➔ Less Emphasis to direct Current affairs
➔ Back to Basics:
◆ Polity: 13/15
◆ Economy: 15/18
◆ Environment: 14/18
◆ History: 10/16
◆ Science and Tech: 8/12
➔ Basics: 60/100, Direct Current affairs< 20
PAGE 4
PAGE 5
Polity: 4 meta topics
A. Polity Fundamental aspects- Related to basics of
Political Science: 3-4 Qs
A. Polity and Constitution aspects: 6-8 Qs
A. Current Affairs: Constitutional Amendments and

Laws : Inspired questions only (2-4 Qs)
A. Governance: (1-2 Qs)
PAGE 6
Q. In the context of polity, which one of the
following would you accept as the most
appropriate definition of liberty?-2019
(a) Protection against the tyranny of political

rulers
(b) Absence of restraint
(c) Opportunity to do whatever one likes
(d) Opportunity to develop oneself fully
PAGE 7
Topics to cover: Polity Fundamental
● Democracy
● Republic
● Constitutionalism
● Liberty
● Rule of Law
● Due Process of Law
● Principles of natural Justice
● Equality
● Separation of powers
● Parliamentary vs Presidential System
● Power-sharing
PAGE 8
Topics to cover: Polity Fundamental
● Justice
● Concept of Rights
● Liberalism
● Socialism, Gandhism and communism
● Nature of State
● Nation and State
● Citizenship
● Types of Society
● Secularism and Communalism
● Feminism
PAGE 9
Polity- constitution aspects
● Constitutional Developments
● Fundamental rights/ DPSP/Duties
● Federal Vs Unitary features
● Parliament
● Supreme court/High court
● Constitutional Bodies/ Statutory bodies
● Commissions/committees*
PAGE 10
B. Questions on Polity & Questions before 2021 prelims Questions in 2021 and 2022
Constitution prelims
•Good Number of
Questions from Preamble,
FRs and DPSP
1.Preamble •One direct question on preamble, in another Indirect question on Preamble-
Preamble is one of right options. Status of India on 26th January
1-2 questions ever year 1950
•Two questions in 2017 such minds of
constitutional makers and another on
contents of preamble
•Contents of preamble(2015)
2.Fundamental rights •One direct question in 2020 (Article Two questions in 2021
17-Untouchability) 1.Article 14- equality
2 questions every year 2.Article 18- Abolition of titles
•Two questions in 2019 such as right to marry 3.Right to privacy
and 9th schedule
3.DPSPs Two direct questions in 2020 One Direct question: Concentration
1.Welfare State of Wealth in 2021
At least 2 questions every year 2.Part IV
One Indirect Question- UNHDR
PAGE 11
4. Parliament Prelims-2021
One Question on Two questions
Few Difficult Rulebook(2020) 1. Parliamentary democracy: Indian
Model vs British Model
questions on
Minister eligibility & RPA (2020)
Parliament 1. Lok Sabha Elections
Procedures, 2019: office of profit and
Committees etc. disqualification Prelims-22
Role of Deputy Speaker
1-2 questions on Nominated member
motions/ Loksabha vs Rajya Sabha
resolutions, Constitutional bill
qualifications
5. Judiciary related Basic Structure and Judicial •Direct question on Independence of
At least one question Review (2020) Judiciary
•Judicial Review and 44th
Amendment (2019) •Indirect question on role of Judiciary in
federalism
•Impeachment of Judges(2019)
•Indirect question on role of judiciary in
ensuring liberal democracy
Types of Writs( 2022)
Contempt of court
PAGE 12
Committees
➔ H.N. Sanyal Committee
➔ First Administrative Reforms Commission
(1966)
➔ Rajamannar Committee (1969)
➔ Sarkaria Commission (1983)
➔ National Commission to Review the Working
of the Constitution (2000)
➔ Singhvi Committee
➔
PAGE 13
Indian Polity: Sources
● NCERT- Democratic Politics
● NCERT- Political theory
● NIOS- Political science
● Laxmikant + PYQs + Mock tests
● Focus on conceptual clarity

● Integration of Fundamental, static and
Current in polity
PAGE 14
Economy: break it down
➔ Most dynamic section

➔ 5 Areas:
◆ Pattern of Economic indicators: tax/ GDP,
production, consumption: 3-4Qs
◆ 2. Fiscal policy: 2-3Qs
◆ 3. RBI, inflation and monetary policy: 3-4 Qs
◆ 4. External Sector: 3-4 Qs
◆ 5. Schemes- Socio-economic Development
◆ Agriculture: 2-3 Qs
◆
PAGE 15
Economy: last 10 Years
● Agriculture 10
● Fiscal Policy 7
● Banking 27
● investment 10
● Monetary 23
● Planning 9
● Scheme 21
● Taxes 6
● Trade and BOP 15
● Development 10
● International Institution 18
PAGE 16
Q) With reference to the Indian economy, consider the
following statements:
1. A share of the household financial savings goes
towards government borrowings.
2. Dated securities issued at market-related rates in
auctions form a large component of internal debt.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) None of the above
PAGE 17
Q.Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term
credit support is given to farmers for which of the
following purposes ?
1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
harvesters,
2. Purchase of combine tractors and mini trucks
requirements of farm
3. Consumption households
4. Post-harvest expenses
5. Construction of family house and setting up of
village cold storage facility
Select the correct answer using the code given
below:
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2,3,4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
PAGE 18
Q. With reference to the international trade of India
at present, which of the following statements is/are
correct?
1. India’s merchandise exports are less than its
merchandise imports.
2. India’s imports of iron and steel, chemicals,
fertilisers and machinery have decreased in
recent years.
3. India’s exports of services are more than its
imports of services.
4. India suffers from an overall trade/current
account deficit.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only
PAGE 19
Sources and approach: Economy
● Ncert- 11th- Indian Economic Development
● book- Ramesh Singh/Sanjiv Verma/ Singhania
● Budget and Survey: 2022-23
● PYQs: 20 years
Approach:
● Clarity over keywords
● Data and Facts: Pattern of change, Survey
● Linking and interlinking of topics
● Practice of tests: CD Smash Prelims
● Linking of static and current
PAGE 20
Environment: Break it down
➔ Making or breaking section
➔ Questions: conceptual and applied
➔ Four areas: 18-20Qs
◆ Basic Concepts of ecology: 2Qs
◆ Biodiversity, conventions and treaties: 5Qs
◆ Pollution: 5Qs
◆ Applied and current Aspects: 6-8Qs
➔ Approach
◆ Avoid memorising conventions and species’
distribution without understanding them
◆ Through focus on right content, linking
concepts and facts and current with static.
PAGE 21
Q. Consider the following kinds of organisms:
1. Copepods
2. Cyanobacteria
3. Diatoms
4. Foraminifera
Which of the above are primary producers in the

food chains of oceans?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
PAGE 22
Prelims- 2021
Basics: 13
● Mosquito repellent
● Primary producers
● Curling animals*
● Magnetite particles
● Filter Feeder*
● Biogeochemical cycle
● Detritivorus
● Symbiosis relation*
● Copper Smelters
● Permaculture
● Biome
● Savanna
Current Ecology : 5
● New york declaration
● Common Carbon metric*
● UN capital development*
● Right to city
● Climate smart agriculture*
PAGE 23
Prelims- 2022
Basics:
● Methane Emission
● Role of aquatic plants
● Miyawaki method
● Cultivators of Fungi
● Nitrogen Fixation plants
Pollution:
● Acid Rain
● WHO air Quality
● PET bottles
PAGE 24
Prelims- 2022
Biodiversity:
● Climate action tracker
● Climate group
● Bird
● EPA and animal protection
● Polar Code
● Green Washing
Applied aspects
● Gucchi mushroom
● Indian Sanitation coalition
● Biorock technology
PAGE 25
Q. With reference to polyethylene terephthalate,
the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives,
consider the following statements:
1. Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton
fibres to reinforce their properties.
2. Containers made of it can be used to store any
alcoholic beverage.
3. Bottles made of it can be recycled into other
products.
4. Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by
incineration without causing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 2 and 3
PAGE 26
Sources: Environment
➔ NIOS materials
➔ Shankar IAS/ Majid Hussain
➔ PYQs
➔ Current Affairs
➔ Focus on applied aspects
➔ Concepts more important than memory
PAGE 27
Geography
● Most questions from mapping: India and World

● More number of questions: Increasing trend
● Difficult to eliminate
● New type of matching
PAGE 28
Q. Consider the following pairs:
Reservoirs : States
1. Ghataprabha : Telangana
2. Gandhi Sagar : Madhya Pradesh
3. Indira Sagar : Andhra Pradesh
4. Maithon : Chhattisgarh
How many pairs given above are not correctly
matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs PAY
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
PAGE 29
Sources for Geography
A. NCERT- 11th and 12th
A. G.C.Leong
A. Majid Hussain/Khular for Reference
A. Atlas
PAGE 30
Science & Tech
● Dynamic Aspects
● Conceptual understanding of basics
● NCERT Level
● Applied aspects of life
PAGE 31
Q) With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens
(NFTs), consider the following statements:
1. They enable the digital representation of
physical assets.
2. They are unique cryptographic tokens that
exist on a blockchain.
3. They can be traded or exchanged at
equivalency and therefore can be used as
a medium of commercial transactions.
Which of the statements given above are
correct? (UPSC CSE Prelims 2022)
(a) 1 & 2 (b) 2 & 3
(c) 1 & 3 (d) A All of them
NFT mutant Gorilla
PAGE 32
History: Sources
➔ History:
➔ Ancient India: Old NCERT- 11th
➔ Medieval India: Old NCERT- 11th
➔ Modern India: Spectrum/TMH
➔ PYQs- 30 years ( Ghatnachakra PYQs)
➔ Approach:
◆ Chronological and Sectoral approach
◆ Art and culture in context of historical
developments
PAGE 33
Q. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the
beginning of the 20th century because of
(a) peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of
planters
(b) its unprofitability in the world market because of
new inventions
(c) national leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of
indigo
(d) Government control over the planters
PAGE 34
Current affairs:
● Coverage 1-1.5 years
● Prepare topics than news
● Only One source: Civilsdaily/others
● Make your own notes
● Avoid weekly/monthly compilation
● Concepts than titbits
● 360 degree coverage
● Linking with static: Integration is must

● Current Affairs < -> Static
PAGE 35
By failing to plan, you are preparing to fail:
● Jan-May- 2023: Focus only on prelims

● 3*3 time slot
● Rolling revision plan
● Keywords notes
● focus on important topics
● Focus on conceptual clarity
● Enough Tests- 50-60 before prelims
● Revision + Practice + Revision> Accuracy
● Conceptual clarity+ Consistency+ Confidence:

Prelims
PAGE 36
Building Conceptual Clarity
➔ Memory -> Knowledge -> Understanding

➔ Revision by writing
➔ Keywords approach
➔ Rolling motion
➔ Mental Map/ Diagrams/Flow charts
➔ Small targets
➔ Avoid peer pressure
PAGE 37
Logical approach to paper Solving:
Type of Logic:
1. Fact based Logic
2. Understanding Based Logic
3. Blind Logic
Types of Questions in Prelims-2023

1. Fact based >> Attempt/Non-attempt -30Qs
2. Knowledge+ Logic >> Attempt- 10Qs
3. Understanding based >> Attempt- 300Qs
4. Elimination based) >> Attempt by technique
20Qs
5. Completely Unknown>>Not Attempt -10Qs
PAGE 38
#Conceptual Logic
Q. Consider the followings Statements:
1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the
Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed.
2. The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court
and the High Courts to punish for contempt of
themselves.
3. The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and
Criminal Contempt.
4. In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to
make laws on Contempt of Court.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 3 only
PAGE 39
#Incosistency Logic
Q. With reference to WaterCredit’, consider the

1.It puts microfinance tools to work in the water and

sanitation sector.
2. It is a global initiative launched under the aegis of
the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
3. It aims to enable the poor people to meet their
water needs without depending on subsidies.
[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
PAGE 40
#Consistency Logic
With reference to the Indian economy, consider the

(1) The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product
has steadily increased in the last decade.
(2) The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in
rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
PAGE 41
#Extremity logic
1. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena,
consider the following statements:
(1) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata

Dynasty.
(2) It is the only circular temple built in India.
(3) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
(4) Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the
inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
PAGE 42
Blind Logic
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to
promote sustainable sanitation and is funded
by the Government of India and the World
Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an
apex body of the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs in Government of India and
provides innovative solutions to address the
challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are

correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
PAGE 43
Smash Prelims-2023
6 Components:
1. Prelims Tests: 60 (16 Practice+ 14 Basic + 8 Advanced +
6 CA tests + 10 Full tests + 6 CSAT tests)
2. Mentorship: Individual Mentor one to one
3. Weekly Zoom call Strategy session
4. Current Affairs: 1.5 year live lectures and summary

notes
5. 50 Value Addition classes and notes covering static

syllabus
6. Strategic Question solving Sessions- 1000Qs solved live
4
PAGE
4 a CIVILSDAILY presentation
7 Steps of Smash Prelims
1. Orientation Call:
2. Revision and Short keywords notes
3. Attempt past year papers (2000- 2022)
4. Attempt Test: Logical approach
5. Analysis the Mistakes: Less mistakes> More score
through FCA/E approach
6. Revise the topics of mistakes
7. Talk to Santosh Gupta/Senior Mentor
PAGE 45
Outcome of Smash Prelims-2022
Success Rate:
UPSC Results in Prelims : < 1%
Smash Prelims: 70% Success Rate among enrolled
PAGE 46
PAGE 47
Outcome of Smash Prelims-2022
PAGE 48
PAGE 49
Smash Prelims-2023:
Jan Edition
Target- 120+
PAGE 50
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ?

12 Jan Webinar by Santosh Sir

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UPSC Prelims 2023

50 Most important areas for Prelims-2023

1. Fifty Most important areas:

3. 5 Important techniques for 90% accuracy

Correct Incorrect Total Score

How to optimise your attempt for 120+ ?

➔ Less Emphasis to direct Current affairs

◆ Science and Tech: 8/12

➔ Basics: 60/100, Direct Current affairs< 20

A. Polity and Constitution aspects: 6-8 Qs

A. Current Affairs: Constitutional Amendments and

A. Governance: (1-2 Qs)

(a) Protection against the tyranny of political

● Fundamental rights/ DPSP/Duties

● Federal Vs Unitary features

● Supreme court/High court

● Constitutional Bodies/ Statutory bodies

One Indirect Question- UNHDR

● Laxmikant + PYQs + Mock tests

● Focus on conceptual clarity

➔ Most dynamic section

Which of the above are primary producers in the

➔ Shankar IAS/ Majid Hussain

➔ Focus on applied aspects

➔ Concepts more important than memory

● Most questions from mapping: India and World

A. NCERT- 11th and 12th

A. Majid Hussain/Khular for Reference

● Conceptual understanding of basics

● Applied aspects of life

NFT mutant Gorilla

➔ PYQs- 30 years ( Ghatnachakra PYQs)

● Prepare topics than news

● Only One source: Civilsdaily/others

● Make your own notes

● Avoid weekly/monthly compilation

● Concepts than titbits

● 360 degree coverage

● Linking with static: Integration is must

● Jan-May- 2023: Focus only on prelims

● Revision + Practice + Revision> Accuracy

● Conceptual clarity+ Consistency+ Conﬁdence:

➔ Memory -> Knowledge -> Understanding

Types of Questions in Prelims-2023

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q. With reference to WaterCredit’, consider the

1.It puts microﬁnance tools to work in the water and

[A] 1 and 2 only

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the

(1) It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata

(2) It is the only circular temple built in India.

(3) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(b) 2 and 3 only

Which of the statements given above is/are

2. Mentorship: Individual Mentor one to one

3. Weekly Zoom call Strategy session

4. Current Affairs: 1.5 year live lectures and summary

5. 50 Value Addition classes and notes covering static

UPSC Results in Prelims : < 1%

Smash Prelims: 70% Success Rate among enrolled

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