An unconventional but rational choice!

For candidates who have cleared both CSE and Indian Forest Service Prelims, I strongly recommend focussing solely on Indian Forest Service exam (and skip CSE), if you satisfy the following criteria

1. This is your first mains and you have no idea how you would perform in mains.

2. You have appeared in Mains earlier but failed to clear mains. Unless, you are doing something drastically different, it's not easy to increase marks in 100-150 marks in mains. That's the improvement you need to get a service IAS/IPS/IFS (services better than Indian Forest Service in conventional sense)

3. You are already in preparation for over 3 years but with no backups/job with you.

4. You have appeared in CSE interviews multiple times but couldn't make it to the final list.

I know it's not usually followed. But, here is the rationale behind this

1. Indian Forest Service is one of the 3 all India services with perks, benefits and facilities same as IAS and IPS, with a good work life balance. With increased global focus on climate change and environment, the service is gaining prominence.

2. In conventional terms, it can placed behind IAS and IPS. Unless you have a strong inclination towards Taxation, Finance, Data, City life Indian Forest Service offers better service profile than Indian Revenue Service (IRS).

3. Indian Forest service Mains is much more predictable and certain. With average writing skilld and limited content, one can easily clear IFS Mains (compared to CSE)

4. Candidates are usually mentally and physically exhausted after CSE Mains when they appear in IFS Mains and fail to give their best in the exam.

5. Forestry, geology etc are the optionals that can be done in 40-45 days max. Very few people study for more than 20-30 days per optional. Anyone studying solely for IFS will have almost 100% chances of clearing IFS

Basically the decision boils down to 1 simple question - if you are given a choice to either get a confirmed (almost) service comparable/better than IRS
OR
to appear in CSE to try your luck, what would you choose?

When can one plan for give CSE and IFS together?

1. You are already in a service and aiming for only IAS
2. You have your optional common with CSE.

The decision is not easy. Aspirants can use the discussion forum for the discussion. Or you can reach to me at [email protected] in case you need any help in this regard.

———————-
We have created a exclusive group of aspirants appearing for IFS 2024 Mains with many IFS/IAS officers as mentors.

Aspirants can message at @gaurav_iitm @blitzkrieggs for the group membership

Hello everyone,

Most of the queries I received are related to GS Mains preparation in which I scored 466 - that was one of the highest marks that year. For aspirants convenience, I have compiled all Mains resources at one place.

GS 1 [115 Marks]
GS 1 Test Papers
GS1 Geography Notes

GS 2 [122 Marks]
GS2 Test Papers
GS 2 Consolidated Notes

GS 3 [97 Marks]GS 3 Strategy and Notes
GS 3 Consolidated Notes
GS 3 Test Papers

GS 4 [122 Marks]GS 4 Answer Copies and Notes

Public Administration [292 Marks]

Public Administration Strategy I
Public Administration Strategy II
Public Administration Test Papers
Public Administration Paper II Notes
Public Administration Paper 2
Public Administration Paper 1
Public Administration Value Addition

IFoS Strategy

45 Days Strategy
Forestry Strategy
Geology Strategy

Telegram

Priyansha Garg IAS

I am sharing my Geography notes for GS 1. SOURCES : NCERT, Kanishak Sir's Notes, Rushikesh Reddy Sir's Notes for World Resources, mineral and industry distribution. Why not studying Geography for GS-1 is a rookie mistake : 1. 2022- 4 x15m + 4x10 m = 100…

Acads Prelims 2024 Answer key

Around 5 questions have confusing options and there might be variation between correct answer and UPSC answer key. All confusing questions have been marked in Red. For the remaining questions, answers are correct!

In version 2, we’ll be providing what is technically correct answer and what UPSC might mark e.g. in case of NBFC and LAF, UPSC might mark this as incorrect. Similarly, there are 4 more questions.

Stay tuned.

For any confusion or correction, please mail us on [email protected] or text us on telegram @marks_up

Study Smart, Not Hard
Acads AI

@acadsCSE @IndianForestServices

The thrill of Prelims!

Tomorrow is the day. The day of CSE 24 prelims exam. The day you'll face 100 new and thrilling questions

Thrilling is not something you usually associate with an exam. However, this exam is different. Each question invokes a mixed feelings of excitement, fear and thrill. One option you would be able to eliminate easily, another option by some intuition. The real suspense appears in last 2 options

With each passing question the fear will start taking over. After all how we all are human with human weaknesses. The secret is to take each question as a new question. Mark each question with your brain and not your heart.

Remember, Prelims is not about knowledge but about temperament. Knowledge puts you in the race, but temperament makes you win it!

Feel the fear but cherish the excitement that comes with each new question. Who knows, it might be your last prelims!

May the probability be with you

@g0uravs

12 days to go for UPSC prelims!

What to expect

1. Feeling that you are forgetting everything

2. Extreme highs and lows - one moment you might imagine yourself scoring 130+/clearning IFS cutoff and the next moment unsure of even clearing CSE cutoff

3. Panic attacks after imagining most of the questions coming from the sections you skipped

4. Sudden realization that you don't know even the order of Mughals (Or Vijaynagara dynasty) when it comes to medieval

5. 1-2 two tests scores in 70s

6. A few "veterans" giving you gyan on how difficult prelims is and "prelims aise nahi nikalta"

7. Family/relatives testing you by asking random-est of information

8. Need for validation on both emotional/intellectual fronts

9. A few days of low/zero productivity

Just remember one thing, everyone is feeling the same and this is a part of UPSC (of any other exam) process. Try to minimize the last one and be comfortable with others.

Feel the feelings but execute the planned schedule.

May the probability be with you!

@g0uravs @gsifs

As mentioned, the correct answer is (D) 45 as per UPSC answer key.

Most of the institutes got 15-20 questions wrong after release of UPSC answer key.

IFS 2023 Final Result

“Mr. Churchill, sir, to what do you attribute your success in life?” Without pause or hesitation, he replied: “Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.”

(From the book - Churchill, by Paul Johnson)