Category: General Knowledge

In today’s competition world, current affairs constitute the core subject of various syllabi. It is vast but easy to prepare for the competition tests. What is most required in the preparation of current events section is generating interest in what is happening around you globally, as well nationally.  The more the interest a candidate takes in current events, the easier it becomes for him/her to master this section. The candidate needs to update them and jot down them on daily basis.

The two major sources which can be consulted for keeping yourself updated with the major happenings is a monthly magazine and a prestigious good newspaper. As for choosing newspaper, “The Hindu” has earned the prestige among the aspirants as one of the most reliable newspapers for preparing current events section for the various tests in administrative, banking and railway services. To speak of the magazine, choose a famous career and educational magazine which can cater to the needs of test-taking students like you. Also make sure as to whether the magazine you are consulting for current affairs knowledge has been verified and acknowledged by Readership survey, Government of India or not. Never read a magazine whose reliability is doubtful. Besides monthlies, also go through quarterlies because quarterlies have also established themselves, in present competition environment, as the major vehicles of current coverage on quarterly basis. The quarterly issue generally encapsulates the competition- oriented happenings over the last three-four months in pithy and abridged format; it is best suited for the revisions in one go for the students at the eleventh hour when there is invariably shortage of time to fully peruse the whole matter. Those who want to appear in IAS /UPSC and State Civil Services Exams should opt for a prestigious Current Affair Year Book (a yearly comprehensive issue) containing the collections of major important events of one year. These current affair year books are best appreciated by the toppers of civil services and eagerly awaited by the aspirants of civil services competitions.

It is wisely recommended that students /examinees while studying the news and current events must devote more time to important global affairs with special reference to national perspective. The hard facts should be learnt first and then attention should be paid to nuances of the news-item. Reading of an opinion piece on a particular topic or subject can also be had with a view to pick more facts from the same. It is noteworthy that opinion writings, though biased, help further grasp the facts you have already known and put them into perspective. Finally, the test-takers should cultivate an attitude in reading between the lines of the news -item with an in-depth analysis, so that the import and content of the same becomes crystal clear to them.

Books are the building blocks of a civilized society and nation. They contain the ideas which morally enlighten and intellectually strengthen us. The intellectuals and thinkers are not born; they are made in this world through their devotion to imbibing great thoughts and ideas from wherever they are found. Good Books are the sources of good and great ideas and should never be missed. According to Francis Bacon “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested” – the knowledge, idea and thought it contains, should be thoroughly enjoyed, learnt and assimilated. The books are not to be put on the shelves but to embellish the minds of the readers. Bacon starts his essay, “Of Studies,” with: “Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability”. The delight that an avid reader experiences while studying a book is indescribable. Words can never be sufficient to describe the joy of reading a thought-provoking book which is purely soulful.

Reading a quote or a paragraph on any subject, say love, family or society may also delight or enlighten us but it is difficult to cherish and preserve the idea learnt or memorized through such casual and short reading for long. Most of the time, such casual reading is of no help and, howsoever, the idea may be precious, it is likely to slip down from the memory in the hurly-burly of life. When we set a target to read a book within a set deadline, say a month or year, depending upon the size and content of the book we steadily internalise something enlightening and valuable that we are regularly connected with on routine basis. A good book has a lasting impact  on its reader. The more he reads it, the more he reflects on it and based on continuous process of reflection, he builds his philosophy, vision and thinking about life. It has been seen that voracious readers end up becoming very wise advisors for society and their relatives. Equipped with knowledge and ideas they are in a better position to discern and comprehend the crux of a particular problem and accordingly offer the piece of advice.

Not surprisingly, a voracious reader may turn out to be a rebel against the established rotten customs and traditions. The scholar, thinker and philosopher is awakened in him as  learns about new idea and things which convince him about the futility of the old regressive practices that he has assiduously followed all along due to lack of enlightenment. It is true that reading book is like an awakening process which jolts the conscience and the mind of the reader and thus makes a strong demand from him/her to think and initiate. Book reading should and does not make us lethargic and dull but actionable, and crusader for good causes. It should awaken us from inside and push us to take firm action against the social evils and superstitions.

 One of the most unique aspects of reading is that a voracious reader is also transformed into prolific writer. The vast reading opens new vistas for him triggering a chain of new thoughts which intellectually inspire him to express what he has felt during his absorption in the books.  History is replete with instances of great social reformers who were scholars and lovers of books, turning out to be great writer and the books which they penned became the major weapons in their fight against social evils. Mahtama Gandhi, Ishwar Chandra Vidhyasagar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Vivekanand are some of the great philosophers who were guided by their readings and became torch bearers for the masses in our contemporary society.

Despite the lucrative packages and ample growth opportunities in the private sector there has been a consistent rise in the demand for careers in the Public or Government sector. Considering the job security, satisfaction, social status and authority that follow a Government job, every year thousands of aspirants make a beeline for various qualifying exams for a handful of government jobs.

With this surge in competition, it is quite obvious that applicants need to work hard to crack these exams. Government job aspirants must follow a well-planned and organized strategy to prepare well for such qualifying exams. There are a number of competitive exam magazines that help you stay updated with the various government job qualifying exams.

Though nothing can beat hard work and dedication, there are a few tips to guide you to plan a thorough strategy to tackle every aspect related to the examination.

• Stay updated with the syllabus – A thorough understanding of the syllabus is imperative as it offers you a clear insight into the examination pattern and to devise a preparation strategy. A good grip on the syllabus also helps you evaluate the type of questions that can be asked and prepare for them accordingly.
• Define a suitable preparation strategy – Cracking any competitive exam is not a piece of cake. You need to work relentlessly and stay focused throughout the preparation time. A comprehensive and practical preparation strategy must be designed so as to prepare in the best possible way. Do the necessary research and come up with a goal-based timeline that enables you to cover the entire syllabus and prepare for all important topics within a defined time limit. A well defined time line will surely increase the probability of your success in any exam.
• Prioritize the topics – When it comes to the intensive preparation of any of the various topics, it is advisable to prepare for the tough topics first. An in-depth preparation and understanding of these difficult portions of the syllabus will give you the required confidence to ace any such exam. Though you may be enticed to go for the easier topics first, it’s better to shift your focus to them gradually once you are through with the tough topics.
• Devote ample time for revision – Set aside some quality time every day to revise what you have studied. Preparation of revision notes is also a great strategy as you can sum up the entire topics within a few bullet points. These notes will prove to be extremely helpful during the final phase of preparation.
• Practice is the key – Practice makes you perfect! Get your hands on any practice material that is accessible through competitive exam magazines. Solve the previous year’s papers and take mock tests as they help you evaluate your preparation. They are also good in the sense that they give you a taste of the real thing and prepare you to finish your paper within the stipulated time.

Last but not the least, you must stay positive, calm and motivated. Believe in your efforts and stay away from any kind of stress. Remember, at the end of the day, it is just one exam.