The Detailed Application Form (DAF):
Be thorough with your Detailed Aplication Form (DAF). All the information in the form has been provided and written by you so any kind of faulting over there will give a very wrong impression. [for a detailed discussion on this, please see “Filling of the Detailed Application Form (DAF) of UPSC”.
Newspapers:
At least two national newspapers should be read every day. The salient points and the good analyses related to various current topics should be jotted down in your “Personality Test Buddy” everyday. [for details please see “Personality Test Buddy for UPSC”] The students from economics of commerce background should also try to read at least one business daily. They should also focus a lot on the economic survey and the union budget which are presented at the end of the month of February.
It becomes pertinent to mention here that the approach of reading the newspaper for the Personality Test differs from the earlier two phases of the Preliminary and the Mains exam. Here the focus needs less to be on the facts and more on the analysis. Also the various shades of opinions on a particular subject should be understood and the nuances between them should be appreciated. You should also frame in your mind your stand on the particular issue and the reasons for that.
Magazines:
Magazines have the same importance that the newspapers have. Here I would like to draw your attention to one important thing; that for the Personality Test preparation you should not rely too much on the normal current affairs magazines specially made for the competitive exams. They might be good for the prelims and the Mains exam but not for the Personality Test as they are more fact oriented and less analysis oriented. Moreover, the articles presented in these are generally not written by the experts. Hence I would recommend going for the general national magazines like The Outlook, The India Today, The Week, The Sunday Indian, Frontline, Governance Now etc.
Television:
The importance of the television is the most in the Personality Test stage. It might not be of much significance in the prelims and mains exams but here it is not only important but I would even say that at times it is much more important than the newspapers and magazines also. Now the question arises that what should we watch on TV?
The most important thing to be watched on the TV is undoubtedly the news channels. What type of news should we watch? Here selection needs to be twofold. The type of news channels and in the selected channels the type of news. Firstly let’s see the kind of channels. These days there are a number of news channels available. Any informed person has a fair amount of idea as to which news channels mean business and are serious in their work. There are many others which are just another kind of entertainment channels spreading sensationalishm, superstition and irrelevant information. Refrain from them.
Now let’s explore the other question i.e. what to watch in these news channels? The most advantageous is to watch the primetime news discussions. Generally, there is not much to get from the news bulletins which run through the day as they are generally myopic in their coverage. Also, even regarding the primetime discussion there is no need to go for the political discussions.
The main advantage of watching the discussions having participants subscribing to different viewpoints is that you get an idea about all the possible dimensions related to a particular subject. Secondly, there is almost a certainty that the board members must also be watching one of these channels so the kind of questions they will be asking will also be based on these discussions. That helps you preparing in a much more effective, predictive and efficient manner.
Watching the news channels is universal and mandatory for all the aspirant officers, irrespective of their optional subject or the academic background. Apart from that, certain other channels like the national Geographic, Discover, the Animal Planet, certain channels related to music and the sports channels should also be watched based upon the personal information that you have given in the Detailed application form (DAF). For example, if you have given wildlife as your area of interest you must watch and extract a good amount of information from the channels like Discovery.
Internet :
The scope of internet is limitless. On the one hand, for the Aspirant Officers who are very tech-savvy and habitual and adept in using the internet, the internet can virtually provide the substitute of every other source like the newspapers, the magazines and the TV because nearly all the newspapers, magazines and TV channels have a website. So you can get all the information, which you want to get from these different sources, from the internet itself.
For the other aspirant officers who are not that tech-savvy, the internet should not be substituted for the conventional sources like the newspapers, magazines and television. But even they can use the internet to get whatever information they want from the internet. It Is particularly very important in helping you in preparing for the personal biodata that you have filled in the Detailed Application Form (DAF).
Also there are various social networking sites on which many other aspirant officers, from different parts of the nation, are also sharing their experiences. You should try to be the part of such groups.
Apart from this, the internet can also be used for several other general purposes like reading some motivational stuff, reading about certain inspirational people, reading other interesting articles etc. This thing does not contribute directly but contributes indirectly immensely to your preparation. Not only does it de-stress you, but after reading about the inspirational people and motivational stuff, you get a lot of positive boost which is very much required during the preparation.
General nature books:
You are reading from the perspective of the curriculum, you should also try to read at least few general nature books like some good biography or autobiography, a good book written by an eminent personality about a topic that is of the great social, economic cultural of national value etc.
Prima facie it might appear or somebody can have a doubt that isn’t it wastage of time to read wastage of time to read a book out of the curriculum. Well friends, the answer is NO. no doubt. It might seem that it doesn’t have any direct relevance viz-a-viz the Personality Test preparation; but it surely has a lot of indirect relevance. When we read these kinds of books it widens our horizons and opens up our mind and helps us in developing a holistic perspective about the things. Also when you are reading the biographies, autobiographies, books written by the eminent personalities etc.; in a way you are getting a chance to read the mind and understand the practices of some of the fines people of this planet. Definitely you will gain a lot from those fine habits and it will help you in the personality Test.
People:
Nothing can be best than the interaction with intellectual and eminent persons because not only your questions and doubts are answered in the real time but they are answered by some qualitative people who have a command on that particular subject. Also it’s a dialogue not a monologue. You can always ask supplementary questions to make yourself fully clear. So you should try to interact with as many people as possible. Here we can enumerate some categories of people whom you can meet:
Successful candidates: Remember the famous saying “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches”. This is very apt here. These candidates who have recently tasted the success have gone through the same arduous process through which you are going right now. They can empathize with you and have the full idea of what your problems and difficulties are. They can be your best guide. So, seek as much guidance as possible from them.
The experts of the field: They not only have the full knowledge of the field but because of their vast experience they can explain you the most difficult things in the easiest ways. Apart from meeting the experts on the various subjects like polity, economics, current affairs, international relations etc. you can also meet the eminent personalities of those areas which might figure in your personal biodata for example a sportsperson, musician, a social activist etc.
Bureaucrats and other government officers and officials: these are the guys who can give you a lot of practical experience. They can better your answers. They can lend a lot of practicality into your answers by the virtue of their vast experience in the field. Once your answers will become practical in their approach, it will always impress the board. So immediately after the Mains exam, start seeking the appointments with these officers and seek answers to your queries.
Positive and motivating people: These people might not be of any direct help to you as far as the preparation is concerned but nevertheless they form the backbone of the entire system. You should have some good positive people around you with whom you can meet whenever required so that your energy and motivation level are always up and you are always in a positive state of mind.
People with good sense of humour: It’s very difficult to find this type of people. But if you can find one you should consider yourself to be very lucky and maintain a regular contact with them. With their sense of humour and their jokes they will always de-stress you and will make your difficult journey quite easy.
Genuine Critics: Try to be in regular touch with the people who are your genuine critics, people who will provide you with the constructive critiques. That will help your immensely.
Next : Strategy How to Prepare For The UPSC Personality Test
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