Gone are the days when you had to move to Delhi to prepare for the Civil Services Examination. Today, the best resources are digital. But with information overload, the challenge is choosing the right sources.
1. Current Affairs: The Daily Bread
- InsightsIAS: Famous for their "Daily Current Affairs" and "Secure Initiative" for Mains answer writing. Their daily quizzes are gold for Prelims.
- VisionIAS: Their monthly current affairs magazine is the industry standard. It condenses The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB into readable summaries.
- CivilsDaily: Great for their "Samachar Manthan" which links current news to static syllabus topics—a crucial skill for Mains.
2. Editorial Analysis: Understanding the 'Why'
- The Hindu (Official App/Website): Reading the newspaper is non-negotiable. Focus on the Op-Ed page.
- OnlyIAS (YouTube): Their "Editorial Discussion" videos are excellent for understanding complex geopolitical and economic issues in simple language.
3. Mock Tests: The Reality Check
- ForumIAS: Their "Simulator" tests are known for closely mimicking the difficulty and vagueness of the actual UPSC Prelims.
- Vajiram & Ravi: Good for standard, static syllabus testing.
4. Answer Writing: The Game Changer
Prelims is just a filter; Mains is where you get the rank. You need to write 4000+ words in 3 hours.
- ConvertIAS: An AI-backed platform that evaluates your answers instantly.
- IASbaba: Their "TLP (Think, Learn, Perform)" program provides daily questions and peer reviews.
5. Static Syllabus: The Foundation
- Mrunal.org: For Economy, Mrunal Patel is unmatched. His lectures make complex economic concepts hilarious and easy to remember.
- Unacademy: A vast repository of educators. Good for specific weak areas (e.g., Art & Culture or Geography).
6. The "Digital Distraction" Warning
While these platforms are great, do not become a collector of PDFs. Stick to ONE source for each subject. Reading one book ten times is better than reading ten books once.
Strategy Tip: Use digital tools for dynamic parts (Current Affairs, Tests) and physical books for static parts (Polity, History). This balance prevents screen fatigue.
Related Topics
Written by Sanya Mirchandani (Ex-Civil Servant)
Expert educator and content creator passionate about making quality education accessible to all students across India.
Found this helpful? Share it!
Share Your Thoughts
Your email address will not be published. Help other students and parents by sharing your experience. Required fields are marked *
