IFS Topper Kanika Shares 3 Tips To Crack UPSC Prelims: NCERTs, Smart Revision, And…

Last Updated:May 27, 2025, 14:07 IST

Kanika, AIR 1 in the Indian Forest Service, said that reading NCERTs, following the basics, and reading ‘The Hindu’ in a structured way were key to cracking the UPSC Prelims

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination every year in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The first and often the most challenging step is clearing the Preliminary exam due to the sheer number of candidates who appear for it. However, with the right strategy and study material, cracking Prelims is not as difficult as it may seem.

IFS Topper Shares Her Strategy

Kanika, a resident of Ranchi, Jharkhand, who secured All India Rank 1 in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination, spoke to Local18 about how she managed to clear Prelims three times. According to her, reading a few essential books and regularly following The Hindu newspaper in a structured way played a key role in her success.

Foundation

Kanika emphasised starting preparation with NCERT textbooks. She advised against skipping them in favour of reference books, noting that many questions are directly based on NCERT content. These books are especially useful for Ancient and Medieval History. For Geography, she recommended NCERT books from Classes 9 to 12 and suggested revising them at least 10–15 times to build a solid base.

Polity Preparation

For Political Science (Polity), Kanika suggested reading Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth along with NCERT books of Classes 9 to 11. Repeated revision, even up to 25 times, can help strengthen this subject.

When preparing for Prelims specifically, she advised focusing on factual details such as names, dates, figures, amendments, and their purposes. Making crisp, one-line notes and revising them frequently is key.

Current Affairs

For Science, Technology, and Current Affairs, Kanika relied on market-available notes rather than bulky books. She primarily depended on The Hindu newspaper. However, she cautioned that one must be aware of the syllabus before reading the newspaper. This ensures that only relevant content is read, saving time and improving focus. She suggested that ideally, the newspaper should be given around 45 minutes to an hour.

Revision Is the Key

Kanika highlighted the importance of not just making notes but revising them consistently. She recommended solving at least 15 to 20 sample papers to identify weak areas and avoid repeating mistakes.

According to Kanika, if one follows this strategy sincerely, answering 40 to 45 questions in the exam becomes quite manageable. Beyond that, a candidate’s understanding and logical reasoning play a crucial role. Thorough revision of NCERT books alone can help answer 10 to 12 more questions with ease.

Location :

Ranchi, India, India

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