Every year, thousands of students take the Indian Administrative Service exam and very few get through it. As an aspiring IAS officer, you need to make sure that you’re familiar with all aspects of this challenging profession by doing as much research as possible beforehand. To give you an idea of how to go about studying, here are ten websites that will help you prepare for the IAS exam and what you should look out for in them before deciding which one to use on your journey to becoming an IAS officer!
1) UPSC Official Website
First and foremost, you have to check out UPSC’s official website. The best part of it is that you can access all sorts of material (books, study materials, previous papers) from here—the materials are organized into subjects, making your work easier. Aptegyan has also put together a list of free websites that will help you ace your IAS preparation.
2) Govt of India
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is an autonomous body established by Article 315 of Constitution of India. This body is entrusted with the task of recruiting civil servants and officers in all cadres of Central government and Central para-statal services on merit basis through open competitive examinations known as Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC.The Headquarters is at New Delhi.
3) CCRT - UPSC Tips
CCRT is one of India’s most popular websites for information about IAS preparation. This website gives detailed study material and updated question papers from year to year, which will definitely help you with your preparations. It also offers online tests, which you can use to test your knowledge on a regular basis.
4) College Notes
Notes, Tips and Tricks: College is definitely not a cakewalk. If you can get that out of your head early on, it will go a long way towards making sure you don’t burn out and drop out in six months. When I first started college, my mom sat me down at dinner and had a talk with me.
5) YouTube Channels (Self-Studied)
India Administrative Service exam aspirants can look at many different YouTube channels to supplement their studies. Here are some of our favorites: These people have a wide range of videos, so you’ll be able to find everything from current affairs and lessons on relevant sections in particular exams to specific tips that might help you focus or study more effectively. Exam-Aspirant. This is one of my personal favorites!
6) Join Facebook Groups (Self-Studied)
One of your best resources is Facebook. The IAS exam is one of those topics people love to talk about (and argue over). So you can easily find self-studied enthusiasts and ask them questions. Try searching IAS preparation and see what comes up! And then don’t forget to join some relevant groups, which can be a great source of study material, too.
7) Reddit Group (Self-Studied)
The Reddit Self-Studied group is a place where people can come together to discuss anything and everything related to self-studying. The community shares study guides, links to online courses, vocabulary lists and other materials they’ve found helpful while studying on their own.
8) Quora Group (Self-Studied)
Quora is a forum where people ask questions and other people give answers. These questions range from silly to serious, but they all share one common trait: they’re asked by curious individuals. Quora is not only a knowledge base, but it’s also an excellent way to get in touch with your target audience—people who have direct experience in what you offer.
9) Books (Selected Study Material by Experts )
Arun Sharma’s book, IAS Exam: How to crack it . This is a very good book. It is based on his personal experience of being an IAS officer and helps you prepare well for all sections of the Civil Services Examination. The book has received positive reviews from students who have used it as a study guide. Here are some sample reviews on Amazon: This is one of those books that you will read once and then keep referring back to again and again in your preparation.
10) Free online courses at Khan Academy, Coursera and EdX
Khan Academy is a great place to start. Their courses vary in length and subject matter, but you can find something interesting in their catalog regardless of your background or qualifications. Coursera offers a variety of online courses from many prestigious universities. And EdX hosts a mix of courses from different schools. Whatever you choose, there’s bound to be something that piques your interest—all without having to leave your desk!