Records are meant to be broken. And, with UPSC CSE Prelims 2021, myths are also broken. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 was just a glimpse, but many of us had not speculated on 4th October 2020 of what is coming in front of all of us in the next 371 days. You call your friends or interact with them and try to know if someone has crossed 3 figures in the first paper or not. Well, even getting 100+ is not less than obtaining a medal in the Olympics. One thing is for sure, UPSC has told you what they are expecting from aspirants like you. If you have still not understood the same, let's discuss each of those aspects comprehensively and concisely here.

Go INTEGRATED

Every aspirant has the habit of keeping a space between Prelims and Mains. Some of you are going for Daily Mains Answer Writing, and after some months, when the Prelims is approaching, you will completely switch OFF your Mains and simply solve MCQs. Remember, an integrated approach is always better. So, let's not separately prepare 200 marks of GS-1 and then 1750 marks of Mains. Make a combined effort for these 1950 marks. It may look like a mammoth figure, but cricketers like Nathan Astle and Ajit Agarkar showed that you need to showcase the dare. If you don't know about them, check out YouTube and search for the fastest 200 in Test Cricket and Agarkar's century at Lord's 2002. Remember one thing, take motivation from wherever you are getting.

PATTERN is the Story of Yesterday

Gone were the days when you switched to YouTube and checked specific channels that you followed for UPSC CSE preparation. There you have followed a pattern to study PIB news or any news analysis. But no more. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021 has simply challenged you to ensure that the range of dynamicity it can bring with each paper. Start speculating from now that you will receive something more dynamic on 5th June 2022 (if there is no more unprecedented issue that can ossify the entire process again). The earlier you accept your defeat, the better it will be for you to take the next step.

Stop Taking Rest

Your activeness will showcase your interest in this exam. Enough rest you have taken since 10th October 2021. Legends like Rahul Dravid, whom you epitomize as a  defensive player or playing slowly, also used to feel the monotony when his shot merely remained in the 22 yards area. Still, even between deliveries, he used to switch ON and OFF for a while to keep the mental space active. You are entitled to take a rest but not for a long time. Remember, time is not going to stop even for a SECOND. Be in a primary mode, and when you know you have sufficient for a while, take a rest and go out to feel the fresh air and sense the world outside, which is quite untapped for you.

Universality of Connecting the Dots Principle

If you have PSIR as optional, you will surely go through the concept of complex equality propounded by Thomas Walzer. In that theory, Walzer says that equality differs from time to time considering the social sphere. But, with the "Connecting the Dots" principle, you will see that it is effective in every UPSC CSE domain. How? Let's take two examples and understand.

• Consider that you are reading about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. It depicts that somewhere you are studying Modern History only. It means you can also connect him with former PM JL Nehru for the Indian Independence League that they formed or his political guru CR Das and his years of Congress presidency and essential events that have happened during CR Das presidential years. But it's a simple NO. Why? With Connecting the Dots principle, you can connect Netaji with Disaster Management due to Apada Prabandhan Puraskar. So, while reading about that man, you can cover some aspects of Apada Prabandhan Puraskar. Next, you can connect him with Parakram Diwas, and since 2022 is also the year of his 125th birth anniversary, the Government is planning to organize some programs. Think again while covering any topic.
• Take the example of a blog on Food Security and the Right to Food. Again give an integrated shot. See the flow of the blog. But is something lagging in the content? Yes. You can again connect dots related to the Economy where you can think about committees that recommended the change in the poverty line with daily calories consumption. Apart from this, since food security is linked with Sustainable Development Goals, you get the chance to go through all of them at once. Anything more? Check out the current events related to food wastage. Find news related to RUCO.

Schedule can be FIX

UPSC CSE 2021 has broken the fixed pattern you and all other UPSC Aspirants have been following. But, it doesn't matter that you cannot fix your preparation schedule. Take out some time to practice some Mains questions for both GS and Optional. Use your weekend to make a structure, flow, and essential points that you can add to any essay topic. Wait, you must be thinking that is completely going, Mains. No, it's not. Every coaching institute releases some sort of daily quizzes. If you add all of them, you are somewhere practicing 100+ questions. No less than a test paper in one shot. So, are you taking an integrated preparation? Don't let yourself hit the pillow till you complete these targets. It will show your intent towards this exam.

कर्मण्येवाधि कारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 47. A key lesson for your preparation. It means you have to practise every day without thinking whether you are writing Mains in January 2022 or not. No. If you think you have failed, search for test series and start practising. Don't limit yourself to one institute. In a country like India, where diversity flourishes, there a constitutional institution like UPSC demands that you take a diverse set to ensure that you can handle a wide range of questions. Remember, these questions must be separate from what you are attempting in daily quizzes.