How to clear Prelims?

Hello Everyone! Thank you for the encouraging response to my write ups. I hope it was helpful to you all. I again maintain that the information provided therein is just recommendatory and not to be treated in a manner of one size fits all. Exact method of preparation may vary from individual to individual. So, if any piece of advice doesn't suit the strategy followed by an aspirant, s/he may ignore and read on. This write up is for Prelims preparation. This is around the corner and many aspirants buzzed me for booklist and strategy for prelims. Here's my booklist for paper1 of prelims:

Paper 1

History- Spectrum Modern India, Bipan Chandra's NCERT book Modern India

Geography- NCERT Geography textbooks XI & XII, Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong

Economy- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh, Sri Ram's Indian Economy, Economic Survey, India Year Book (schemes in social sector)

Polity- Laxmikanth's Indian Polity, Sri Ram's Indian Polity

Culture- Spectrum's Facets of Indian Culture (Buddhist and Jainism religion & culture is a favourite of UPSC and must be read)

Environment- Any magazine like Civil Services Chronicles or Wizard's dedicated issue on Environment. Last three chapters of Biology textbook of class XII. can be downloaded from this link:  

Science & Technology- No specific material except reading newspapers like The Hindu, TOI. Concepts of biology can be brushed up from ncert biology textbooks of classes VIII, IX, Xth (for those who are out of touch). At least one reading of Science textbooks from VI to Xth is also advisable for aspirant from non-science backgrounds.Newspapers for current developments in science, environment, polity, economy.

I didn't focus much on ancient history of India as its weightage in questions asked is quite less. The same is true with Medieval Indian history. However, it's always advisable to go through it just for knowledge sake after one has covered aforesaid portions. Also, I have observed through my attempts that UPSC checks the conceptual clarity of candidates in prelims. The focus is not on checking memory of facts and figures. It's more on analytic ability of candidates given a few facts in the questions. Elimination works big time in paper 1. One may not know the exact answer, but looking at the options with partial knowledge one can choose the right option eliminating the others with a little reasoning. But, to be expert at this one needs to have a solid command over the material mentioned above. For that keep on going over them again and again. 

While reading them I emphasize that every line of the texts is important. It is important not just to cover the syllabus by reading them once in record time and boast among friends. It's more important to remember the concepts and for that keep on re-reading.This not only improves the chances of selection in prelims but also prepares a solid ground for mains, which is according to me the real challenge of this examination. The overlap of syllabus between the two stages allows one to prepare for mains even before prelims is over. Command over these resources and little bit of mock tests can fetch more than 100 marks in paper 1 easily. 

I found mock tests of Synergy or Sri Ram quite useful.

Paper 2

In this paper I didn't follow any particular book but only solved test papers before the examination. But aspirants can read any standard CSAT book in the market. In this paper practise is the most important. In aptitude tests, time management is the key exercise. This can be learnt from taking tests. CL, TIME, Vajiram there are plenty of options available and all are good. I think practising a lot reading comprehensions, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude is the only way to score well in it. It's quite easy paper, and a bit of practice fetches one easily a score of about 140-150. Depending upon the degree of comfort, a test a day can be taken up from a month before the examination to a week before the examination, with extra practice sessions on troublesome areas.

Thanx and All the best !