In our previous article, The Secret to clear UPSC Prelims: RRR strategy we had discussed What to Read for Prelims and also elaborated on our RRR strategy. In addition to that we bring to you, yet another article that helps you to work smartly and revise the most valuable topics for prelims.
What are Focus Areas?
Focus areas in prelims are those topics that keep recurring every year in the UPSC prelims exams. In simple words, we can say that focus areas are favorite areas of UPSC from which questions appear every year without a miss. Each topic has its own focus areas and the easiest way to list out the focus areas for the relevant subject is to analyse the previous year questions (PYQs) of Prelims for the last 12 years (2022-2012).
By segregating the questions subject-wise and then observing the topics asked within the subject, we can list the topics that recurs in that subject every year. These are focus areas.
What are the advantages of Knowing Focus areas? How do candidates go about preparing for these Focus areas?
It is important to know the focus areas for two reasons:
1. The Art of Prioritizing
This is a skill that helps you divide your time smartly. In our previous article, The Secret to clear UPSC Prelims: RRR strategy, we had spoken about prioritizing important subjects. Now within the subject also, there are some topics/areas that have a very good chance of appearing in the exams. These topics/areas are the focus areas. They must be prioritized and must be read multiple times to get conceptual clarity.
2. The Art of Predictability
Now since you know the focus areas, you can very well predict what questions are going to appear in the exam. Though knowing the focus areas of every subject will give you the power of predictability, the accuracy of this predictability is not that great. However, predicting the questions accurately is not the significance at all.
The art of predictability is that, we know there are greater chances for these topics (focus areas) to appear in the exam and hence, every candidate must read these topics in depth. Only for these topics, candidates can refer to multiple sources (Otherwise we will not entertain candidates reading multiple sources for any single subject) , refer to the internet and also refer to the solution copies of your mock tests. Spending time on focus areas is advisable. However, please don’t overdo it.
Always remember revisions are more important than research.
How do I get the list of Focus areas?
The conventional approach: By analyzing the last 12 years of previous year questions, you can get the list of topics for every subject on which the questions every year recur. These become your focus areas.
IASUNIVERSE approach: The team at IASUNIVERSE has analyzed and segregated the topics/focus areas in each subject. We have done it to save your precious time. We want you to take a print out and memorize these topics.
Whenever you come across these topics, say in NCERT or Advanced Book or Newspapers or current affairs magazine or Mock tests, make sure you study with full intent and focus about the concept. Focus on both the conceptual part and factual part of that topic. Also we would advise you to keep a book to make notes on these topics, whenever you come across these topics in the above mentioned sources.
Below We will provide you with the list of Focus areas that are segregated subject wise. Feel free to add new focus areas into the list if needed. Use the list wisely.
| Polity | 1. Preamble 2. Fundamental Rights 3. Directive Principles of State Policy 4. Constitutional Amendment 5. Parliament 6. President 7. Judiciary 8. Government Flagship Programs 9. Parliamentary Form of government 10. Constitutionalism 11. Constitutional Bodies/Institutions (Esp. those in News) 12. Important Acts (RTI, RTE, FRA etc.) 13. Federalism 14. Tribunals |
| Economy | 1. Monetary Policy of India 2. Fiscal Policy of India (Expansionary and Contractionary) 3. Banking in India 4. Inflation and tools to control inflation in India 5. External Sector Money Market in India 6. RBI and its Functions 7. Economic Terms that are in news. (Ex: Indirect transfers or Western Texas Intermediate or TRIMS) 8. Bonds 9. IMF and WTO 10. CPI WPI and IIP 11. Economic Part of Agriculture (Ex: MSP. FCI etc.) 12. Read the boxes in the Economic Survey |
| Environment | 1. Wildlife Protection Act 1972 2. Environmental Protection Act 1986 3. CLIMATE CHANGE : All terms, institutions, indices, initiatives. 4. FORESTS: All terms, institutions and initiatives. 5. Recycling: All terms and initiatives 6. Wetlands 7. Basics of Ecosystem (4 environment chapters in Class 12 Biology NCERT) 8. Corals 9. New technologies and innovations in Agriculture Ex: Climate-Smart Agriculture, Fertigation, Biochar etc. 10. Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind and Biomass etc. 11. Pollution 12. National Parks in India 13. Critically Endangered Species in India 14. Animals in News in the last one year |
| Geography | 1. Climatology 2. Oceanography 3. Places in News 4. World Mapping 5. Indian Mapping 6. Indian Rivers |
| Modern India | 1. GOI acts and Indian Council Acts 2. Swadeshi Movement 3. Freedom Movement Post 1939 to 1947 4. British Conquest of India 5. Educational Reforms during British India 6. Mahatma Gandhi 7. Social Reformers 8. Rabindranath Tagore 9. Tribal Revolts 10. Land revenue system in British India 11. Important Associations/Organisations during British India 12. Moderates (Read Every Personalities and their achievements) |
| Science and Technology | 1. Biotechnology (Issues like GM crops, DNA barcoding) 2. Artificial Intelligence 3. Quantum Physics 4. Web 3.0 5. Space Technology 6. Wireless communication Technology 7. Energy Saving Technologies 8. Terms related to Pollution in news (Ex: Bisphenol) 9. Important Diseases 10. Digital Products in India (ex: India Stack) |
| Art and Culture | 1. Buddhism 2. Jainism 3. Cave Architecture 4. Temple Architecture 5. Places Visited or inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India 6. Mauryan 7. Post Guptas 8. Mughals |