23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

SimplifyingUPSCIASPreparation

Home
Feedback
IASMyths
IASGuide
DailyCurrentAffairs
Articles
DailyQuiz
Downloads
Books
LatestPosts
AnswerWritingChallenges
Toppers
AIRAudio/RajyaSabhaTVSummaries
MainsSelfStudyTests2016
Mindmaps
OfflineProgram
MISSIONIAS2017

GEOGRAPHY/UPDATES Tosearchtypeandhitenter

INSIGHTSONLINEPRELIMSTEST
SERIES2017

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 1/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECT
STRATEGY:ByRajuMishra,Rank
65,CSE2014 UPDATEMISSION2017:ModifyingSecureInitiativetoMeetUPSCDemandPrelimsONLINETestSeriesReg

BYINSIGHTSPUBLISHEDAUGUST26,2015UPDATEDAUGUST26,2015

UPSCMAINSGEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY: SUBSCRIBENOWANDSTAYAHEAD
Enteryouremailaddresstosubscribeto
ByRajuMishra,Rank65,CSE2014 INSIGHTSandreceivenotificationsofnew
postsbyemail.
Disclaimer:Thispostistoprovideotherstudentsaninsightintomy EmailAddress
strategyforgeographyoptional.Iwouldliketoreiteratethatthesestrategies Subscribe
workedwellformebutmaynotbesuitedtosomeoneelse.Ifor
instancehavenotreadthebookbyKhullarbutmanagedtoget138inpaper
WATCHCURRENTAFFAIRSVIDEOS
2somystrategyworkedthere.Howevermylackofthoroughknowledgeof
SavindraSinghandotherstandardbookscostmeinpaper1whereIscored
just120andIthinkcouldhaveperformedmuchbetterhadIpreparedthe
partAfromstandardbooks.Hencemakeadjustmentsasperyourown
strengths,weaknessandevaluationoftheneedsoftheUPSCexamination.
Withjust258inoptionalIdonotthinkIamthebestguideforgeography
anyhowIfmyexperiencemaybeofsomehelpsohereitis!

BookList:

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 2/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

Paper1:

1.PhysicalGeographybySavindraSingh
2.RupaMadeSimpleSeries
RECENTPOSTS
3.ClimatologybyLal
4.HumanGeographybyMajidHussain QUIZ2017:InsightsCurrentAffairs
5.Models,theoriesbyMajidHussain Quiz,23February2017

6.GeographicalThoughtbyMajidHussain February23,2017

Paper2: [InsightsSecure2017]UPSCMains
QuestionsonCurrentAffairs:23February
GeographyofIndiabyMajidHussainandrelevantportionsfromabove 2017
quotedbooks. February23,2017

WhyGeography? 8)Whatsthedifferencebetween
populismanddemagoguery?Howdo
Apartfromhavingscientificorientation,easyavailabilityofcoaching populistsanddemagoguesaffectsociety?

materialsandtheperceivedhighsuccessrate,somepartsofthesyllabus Illustratewithcurrentexamples.

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 3/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

likeeconomic,environmentalandhumangeographygreatlyappealedtome February23,2017

.BesidesbeinghelpfulinessaysandotherGSpapersIfoundtopicslike
7)Withreferencetotheissueofthe
HumanDevelopment,Agriissues,resourcesdistributionveryinteresting
governmentsexcesscapitalintheRBI,isit
andhencedidnotmindgoingtheextramileinthesetopicsspeciallyofPart goodforeconomy?ShouldRBIholdexcess
Bofbothpapers. capital?Shouldgovernmentusethisexcess
capital?Discuss.
(BeginningcreditsgotomyclassXteacherMrs.AnitaDey(St.Xaviers February23,2017
CollegiateSchool,Kolkata)whohadpiquedmyinterestinthesubjectandI
gotagoldmedalinschoolJ.ItwasnamedGangaSinghmedalandwellI 6)Whatdoyouunderstandbytwin
balancesheet(TBS)problem?Howandwhy
gotalltheGangacleaningquestionsintheinterview Dontknowifthat
isIndiaaffectedbyTBS?Whatsthesolution
wasthelinkthough!)
tofightthisproblem?Examine.
February23,2017
Theseperceptionsabouteasyscoring,highscoringetccanchangeanyyear
forinstancethe2013paperhadcertainbouncerquestions.Intheendyour 5)CriticallyanalysepresentstatusofISIS
optionalneedstobemasteredbyyouifyouwanttotideoverthesebouncers operationsanditsabilitytolureyouthsfrom
andbeinthetopbracketinyouroptional.OverallforGeographyIwould acrosstheworldincludingIndia.
saythesyllabusisquitelengthyandneedsquiteabitofeffortbutassaid February23,2017

earlierifyouhaveinterestinthesubjectandarewillingtoworkforitdo
4)Whatdoesworldneedtoday
chooseit. protectionistmeasuresorfreetradeto
eliminatepoverty?Substantiate.
Mygeographystrategyhitchedon3things:
February23,2017

1.Coverageofentiresyllabuswithamixtureofcoachingnotes,reference
3)Howcanaccountabilityand
books.BeginwithNCERTs,GCLeongandthenmoveontomore transparencymeasuresensurebetterdisaster
advancedthings. management?Illustratewithsuitable
2.Regularupdationofcurrentnotesoncontemporaryeventsand examples.
analyzingnewsfromgeographicalpointofviewespeciallyforhandling February23,2017
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 4/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

partBofbothpapers.
2)Whatchallengesdoesrapidageingof
3.Testseries,answerwritinganddiagrampractice.
populationposetopolicymakersinIndia?
SocialattitudestowardageinginIndiaand
Coaching
aroundtheworldisunfavourabletowards
agedpeople.Howcanthisattitudebe
WellhonestlyitwasrollofadicebetweenShabbirSirandMadamNeetu
changed?Examine.
Singh.Iguessitwasbasedoncertainreviewsofajustsuccessfulcandidate
February23,2017
whoseblogIfoundonlinethatIwentforNeetuSingh(NS).
1)Theproblemofpitemptyingmust
NScoversabout70%ofthesyllabusinherclassnotes.Honestlythis70% becomecentraltoIndiaseffortstoeliminate
formedthecoreofmygeographypreparation.AftertheNCERTSandGC opendefecation.Criticallydiscuss
Leong,Iwentthroughhernotesrepeatedlyandhadthemcommittedto importanceofpitemptyingandmeasures
memory.Istucktothisonesourceandkeptonaddinginformation neededtoenforceittoeliminateopen
defecation
conceptsfromothersourceslikeinternet,testseries,referencebooksetc.
February23,2017
ItservedmewellforIdidnothopfromonebooktootherandjustusedmy
timemoreefficientlytoplugthegapsorweaknessIfoundafterhaving
establishedsoundknowledgeinthesubject.Iusedtoconsultboththe CATEGORIES
syllabus,previousyearspaperstolookoutformissedoutportionsand
Categories
coveredthemaccordingly.
SelectCategory

Manypeoplegetcoachingnotesfromvariouscoachinginstitutesandinthe
endareconfusedwhattoreadwhatnotto.About80%allnotesare ARCHIVES
repetitionofeachotherandyouwillwastealotoftime. Archives
SelectMonth
MyfinaltakeonNScoachingwasthis:

Pros:
August2015
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 5/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

Lotofspatialexamplesinmosttopicswhicharehelpfulinmapsand M T W T F S S
makestheanswersmorecomprehensive. 1 2
Tothepointcoverageontopics.FormeinthepaperonmosttopicsI 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
hadjustenoughmatterfor200300wordsanswers,hencedidnothave
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
togivemuchtimetosievethroughmyknowledge.Itwasthereformein
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
acondensedformwhichIreproducedonpaperespeciallyforthetheory
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
basedquestionslikemountainbelts,theirorigin,platetectonicsetc.
31
Goodcoverageofmappointinginclass.Inthemapquestionsapart
fromimportanceofplace(whichyoumaynotknow)useyour Jul Sep

knowledgefromclimate,soilstructure,vegetationandphysiography.
10wordsoneachwillbesufficient. INSIGHTSRECOMMENDSEPW
GoodcoverageofpartBofbothpapers.Iusedbooksonlyforreference SUBSCRIPTION
andaddingcertainpointsshemissedorfortopicslikesustainable
developments,disastermanagementwhichfellinthe30%shedidnot
cover.
IfoundhercoverageofIndiangeographycomprehensiveenoughfor
mainsalthoughnotsomuchforprelimsforwhichIusedthebookby
MajidHussain.
Iamalsoabelieverthatfactssupplementedwithdatamakeamore
convincingcaseandmadamprovidedsufficientdatalikecensus
numbers,forestcover,etcwell.

Cons:(hadtoworkalottomakeupforthem)
UPDATES
PoorcoverageofpartAofthetopic.Forinstancelandformdevelopment
theories,slopedevelopment,channelmorphology,lawofsea,marine
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 6/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

pollutionetcarejustafewtonamewhichwaspoorlycovered.Ihadto UPSCCivilServicesPreliminary
supplementthemwithadditionalnotesofShabbirSir,andreference Exam2017Notification
22FEB,2017
fromstandardtexts.
Noanswerwritingpracticeinmytime.Rightnowshehasweeklytests
UPSCCivilServicesMains2016
butdontknowhowmuchofanswerwritingpracticehappensthere. ResultAnnounced
Diagramworkisborderingonaveragepoorinmosttopicsforwhich 21FEB,2017
youneedtorefertostandardtexts,onlinematerial.
Manyimportanttopicsfallinthe30%shedoesnotcoverinclass.For InsightsSecure+StaticMainsFULL
instanceDisasterManagement,socialforestry,majorportionof Timetable
16FEB,2017
environmentalgeography,regionaldevelopmentandplanningamongst
others. UPDATE:BreakupAdditional
HerpartBcoverageisverygoodbutattimesshemissesoutorjust Syllabus(EconomicSurveyand
mentionstheconceptsinpassinginsteadofexplainingthemindetail. India2017)Test1923
Forinstancetheconceptofpay,mentalmaps,limitstogrowthetc.For 14FEB,2017

theseIusedMajidHussainbooksextensivelyapartfromShabbirSir
InsightsSecure+StaticInitiative:
notes.
SchedulefornextFourDays
13FEB,2017
OverallherguidancehelpedmeintheexamforIdidnothavetogothrough
manybookstogetmybasicsandfundamentalsofgeography.Theyjust
servedasreferencebooksandthereishardlyany1bookingeographythatI
MOTIVATIONALPOSTS
readfullyapartfromNCERTS.Howeverthisdoesnotmeanthatcoachingis
compulsoryforsuccessintheexam.Manypeopletakeguidancefrom MOTIVATION:YourAttitude
standardtextsandacetheexaminationwithoutcoaching. Matters
22FEB,2017
3.Currentaffairs

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 7/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

ImaintainedaseparatenotebookforgeographyandhadtopicslikeIPCC, WhattodowhenUPSCdelays
Floodcontrol,HDI,FoodSecurityetcastopicswhichwereconstantly announcingresult?
17FEB,2017
updated.

Newspapers:TheHindu,IndianExpress MOTIVATION:Improving
Productivity
Online:GoogletopicslikeIPCC,globalwarming,sustainabledevelopment 14FEB,2017

etc.
MOTIVATION:StartingPoint
8FEB,2017
Magazines:Kurukshetra(Agriissues),GeographyandYou,TerraGreen
,TheHinduEnvironmentSurvey
MOTIVATION:LOVINGTHE
Howtoreadcurrentaffairswithgeoperspective? PROCESSASMUCHASTHEEND
3FEB,2017

Forinstanceatopiclikefoodsecurity.Apartfromissuesoflackofaccessto
MOTIVATION:KeeptheFireAlive
foodandwater,howclimatechangeisaffectingproductivityofcrops,how
31JAN,2017
shiftofcroppingpatternsawayfrompulsesisaffectingnutritionsecurity,
howpoorandtribalsaredisproportionatelyaffectedinvariouspartsofour
country(drawamap)andsolutionslikebiofortication,socialforestryetc RECENTCURRENTEVENTSPOSTS
canbelookedinto.
InsightsDailyCurrentAffairs,22
IncaseoffallingChildSexRatioapartfromnumbersandmapsitmaybe February2017
22FEB,2017
linkedtohowregionaldevelopmenthasledtofallingnumbersin
Maharashtra,,evenKeralawhereastribalregionsshowanuptick.
InsightsDailyCurrentAffairs,21
February2017
MakeInIndiaonecanfocusontheissuesofmanufacturingindustrieslike
21FEB,2017
ironandsteel,aluminum,howwelacksufficientsiliconindustryfor

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 8/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

electronics,transportissuesduetopoorregionaldevelopment,spatialmap InsightsDailyCurrentAffairs,20
ofelectricityshortageetc. February2017
20FEB,2017
Newspapersarearichsourceofmapsanddataaswell.Irememberan
articleinExpressonMigrationwheretheyhadgiventhesourceand InsightsDailyCurrentAffairs,18
February2017
destinationofmajormigrationsintheformofamap.Justcutandpaste
18FEB,2017
theminthenotesandsupplementthemwithanyotherinformation.For
instancethecivilwarsinAfricaandMiddleeastandensuingcrisiscanbe InsightsDailyCurrentAffairs,17
addedasillegalmigration,refugeesandshownwithamapincasea February2017
questiononmigrationisasked. 17FEB,2017

Theseinformationwillnotbeusuallygiveninonearticleatoneplace.
Hencetheneedtomaintaintopicwisenotesandcontinuouslyaddpointsto RECENTSECURE2016POSTS

it.ForinstanceaftertheUttarakhandandKashmirfloods,Igottoknow
[InsightsSecure2017]UPSCMains
aboutanewconceptofcriticalpowerforfloodsmentionedinoneofthe
QuestionsonCurrentAffairs:23
magazines.ItalsomentionedaboutRaviChopraCommitteewhose February2017
recommendationIreadandusedinHimalayanEcosystemfragilityanswer 23FEB,2017
thisyearinMains.
[InsightsSecure2017]UPSCMains
MoreoverIusedtobearegularreaderofInsightsSecureMainswhich QuestionsonCurrentAffairs:22
coverednewspaperslikeBusinessStandard,LiveMint,NYTetc.Attimes February2017
22FEB,2017
theytakeoutveryrelevantarticlesforgeographyoptionallikerecently
liveminthadanarticleseriesonwatercrisisofIndiawhichIfoundvery
[InsightsSecure2017]UPSCMains
useful.SOkeepyoureyesandearsopenatalltimes!
QuestionsonCurrentAffairs:21
February2017
4.Mapsandanswerwriting
21FEB,2017

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 9/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

InmyfirstattemptIwasjustreliantofcoachingnotesforIhardlyhadtime InsightsSECURESYNOPSIS:09
apartfromcoachingbetweenMay2013whenIpassedoutandDecember February2017
2013whenIfirstappeared.Ijustdrew23diagramsinbothpapers.This 20FEB,2017

timearounditincreasedtoabout2530diagramsintotal.

ImaintainedaseparatenotebookforMaps.Idrewthediagramontheright THEHINDUNEWSANALYSIS

sideandleftsidewasusedforpracticelater.Oftenwereadbooks,orseea
gooddiagrambutfailtocatalogueitproperly.GCleong,NCERTshave TheHinduNewsAnalysis(VIDEO):
07February2017
someexcellentdiagramsandsincewedonotrevisethembeforeexamswe
tendtoforgetthem.
TheHinduNewsAnalysis(VIDEO):
HencewheneverIsawagooddiagram,amap,Iusedtocutandpasteor 04February2017
drawthenandthere.EvenfromthereferencebookslikeMajidHussainI
rememberdrawingworlddiagramsonurbanization,forestdegradationand TheHinduNewsAnalysis(VIDEO):
distribution,landdegradationetc. 03February2017

Duringanswerwritingyouwouldalwaysfeelthatthereisnotime/needto
TheHinduNewsAnalysis(VIDEO):
makeadiagramforyouhavesaiditallintheanswerordrawasketchatthe
02February2017
endoftheanswer.Thatisaverybadstrategy.Infacttryandmakeone
diagramperquestionandattheappropriateplaceforapicturespeaksa
thousandwords.Forinstancecoalissuesmakeamapofdistributionofcoal CURRENTEVENTSQUIZ
resourceandinyouranswerlinkhowpeopleinJharkhandsufferfromlung
diseaseduetoit.Alwayshavealinktothequestion. QUIZ2017:InsightsCurrent
AffairsQuiz,23February2017
AnswerwritingisofessenceformainsasIhavetoldearlier.somequestions
liketropicalvstemperatecyclones,mountainvolcanodistribution, QUIZ2017:InsightsCurrent
PenckDaviscycleetcarestandardquestionswhichareoftenrepeatedin AffairsQuiz,20February2017
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 10/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

theexam.IreallylikedShabbirSirsstrategywhereinthetestserieshe
QUIZ2017:InsightsCurrent
madeyoupracticealotofthesequestionsandcorrectedthem.Theseself
AffairsQuiz,16February2017
written,comprehensiveanswerswithsufficientdiagrams,examplesdata
arereadymadematerialthatcomeveryhandyinexams. QUIZ2017:InsightsCurrent
AffairsQuiz,18February2017
Sopracticepreviousyearquestionsasmuchaspossible!

AthingIconsciouslytriedtodothisyearwasinterlinkthevariousparts(A
MINDMAPS
andB)andusemytheoreticalknowledgeofpaper1inpaper2.
InsightsMINDMAPS:TaxtoGDP
ForinstanceWorldispassingthroughaglobalresource
RatioandArchaeologicalSurveyof
dilemma.Comment.InthisquestionIgavereferencetoneo India(ASI)
Malthusiantheoriesintheintroductionbeforegoingontohandlethecore
ofthequestioni.e.resource(food,energy,wateretc)dilemma. InsightsMINDMAPS:Agenda2063
andEvacuationOperationsof
Discussthetrendsinemigrationfocusingonitsmajorthrust. IndianDiaspora.
Thisquestionwasakedinpaper2andhereIdiscussedthetrendsbutmade
suretoslipinthetheoriesofLee,RavensteinandZelinskywhere InsightsMINDMAPS:NewU.S
appropriate. SanctionsonIranandNagaland
Crisis.
Accountforthemultipleproblemsofurbanagglomerations.
Inthisquestionofpaper2IusedCumulativeCausationtheoryofGunnar InsightsMINDMAPS:Health
Myrdalinintroductionforriseofurbanagglomerationandhowthelossof Budget2017andFarmerSuicides
inIndia.
theseearlierreasonslikeresourcesexhaustion,overpopulationetcare
causingproblems.

RAJYASABHATVNEWSDEBATES
5.Testseries

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 11/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

InmyfirstattemptIdidmytestserieswithNSasitwaspartofmycoaching LokSabhaTVPublicForum:
andhadtoolessaknowledgetoproperlyevaluatemyself.HoweverIfound PoisonedAir
22FEB,2017
herquestionsagoodmixofstaticanddynamicandhermodelanswersgave
averycomprehensivepicture.Howeverherfeedbackanddiscussion
LokSabhaTVPublicForum:Indias
sessionswerenotveryhelpfulassheseemedinahurryalwaysthen. OilStrategy
21FEB,2017
FormysecondattemptItookALStestseries.Letmewarnyouatfirstthat
itshallnotbetakenbyShashankAtomSir.Ifinditwrongforthemtogive
thisadvertisementwithhimasCourseDirectorforthatgaveawrong INSIGHTSINTOEDITORIAL
impressionincludingtomethathewilltakethetestseries.Itwillbetaken
bySachinSirorsomeoneelse,sobewarned. InsightsintoEditorial:Designingthe
badbankofIndia
Pros:

GoodDiscussions,timelytests,fewbouncerquestionsaswell,andsince InsightsintoEditorial:Indias
ParticipationinCPEC:TheIfsand
numberofpeoplearelessthan50soyougetpersonalattentionaswell.I
Buts
appreciateSachinSirsinputswhereheaskedmetofocusondiagrams,
highlightingthemainspointsandkeepingagoodmixofconcepts,datain
theanswers. InsightsintoEditorial:Workingon
theISROprinciple
Cons:
[InsightsSecure2017]UPSCMains
Unprofessionalattimesforwewerenotgivenmodelanswersforasmanyas
QuestionsonCurrentAffairs:18
34testsconductedoutofatotal8!Moreoverfeedbackespeciallyinthefull February2017
testsissoimportant,butsadlywenevereverreceivedthelast3papers
despiterepeatedattemptswhichwasahugeletdownformeintheend.This
TOPPERSSTRATEGIES

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 12/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

attitudewasbothunhelpfulandunexpectedrightatthecrunchtimeinend LastLap:PreparingfortheInterview
November. ByArtikaShuklaIAS,Rank4CSE
2015
InMarch2015IjoinedShabbirSir(VAjiram)Testseriesinanticipationof
mythirdattempt! INTERVIEW2017:TipsbyCSE2015
InterviewTopScorer(209/275)and
Pros: Rank58(NazukKumar)

Brilliantfocusonanswerwriting,discussionandconceptclarity.He
EthicsandEssay:Strategy,Notesby
providesaquestionsheet,discussestheanswersandasksyoutosubmit ChandramohanGargIAS
writtenanswersforevaluationbeforeheconductsthetestonthespecific
topic.Hisdedicationtowardsstudentsandinspiringwordsarenoteworthy. PHILOSOPHYOPTIONALNOTES:
Hegoestogreatlengthstoresearcharticles,materialonimportanttopics AmbarishVemuri,Rank150,CSE
whichsavesalotoftimeonewouldordinarilywastesurfingonline.Besides 2015
Iusedhisclassnotesextensivelyforfillinggapsinmypreparationas
SOCIOLOGYSTRATEGY:Chandra
specified.
MohanGarg,Rank25CSE2015
Cons:
UPSCIASPrelimsStrategy&
Sirgoesoverboardattimes.Ifelthecovered130%ofthesyllabusandthe Motivation:GazalBharadwaj,Rank
informationoverloadattimesgotmeallconfusedattimes.Heemphasizes 40CSE2015
casestudiesetcwhichisallgoodbutIusuallyfoundhisnoteslackingin
MOTIVATION:BandanaPokhriyal,
spatialexamplesinmanytopics.
Rank83,ClearedUPSCCivil
Thenumberoftestsareonly56withnofulltests. ServicesWithoutQuittingJobWhile
WorkingasExciseInspectorforPast
HoweverShabbirSirtestseriesneedsquitealotofeffortandtimeasyou 4.5Years
needtoreadupwellandwriteanswerstoderivebenefitfromit.
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 13/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

OverallPartAofbothPapersarestraightforwardandcanbepreparedfrom ToppersNotes:NitinSangwan,Rank
standardtexts,coachingnotesandwithhelpandguidancefromsomeone 28,UPSCCivilServicesExam2015
forconceptualclarityatcertainpoints.AsstatedearlierpartAwasnotmy
StrategyforPHILOSOPHYOptional:
forteandIusedtoattempt3/5questionsfromPartBwhichIpreparedwell
AmbarishVLVemuri,Rank150
fromthesourceslistedabovewithalotoffocusoncurrentaffairs.
CSE2015
QuestionslikeFoodSecurityProblemsindevelopingcountrieswere
MOTIVATION:StrategyforUPSC
handledbymeasIhadaknowledgeabouttheGlobalHungerIndex2014in
MainsandTipsforAnswerWriting
newsthen.Idrewamapregardingthesame,usedmyknowledgeof
KumarAshirwad,Rank35CSE
croppingpatters,landdegradation,climatechangetoframethecoreofthe 2015
answer.Similarlyin2014GovernmentofIndiatookoutanewAgro
forestrypolicyandinthenewspaperarticleitcoveredpointsastowhywe
failedearlierandwhatchangeshavebeenmade.Somyloveaffairwith RECENTESSAYCHALLENGES
newspapersandcurrentaffairsdidprovetobeaboon.
InsightsWeeklyEssayChallenges
Inconclusioncoverthesyllabus,uselimitedbooksagainandagain, 2017Week6:Factsdonotceaseto
existbecausetheyareignored.
catalogueyourresourcesforquickrevision,practicepracticepracticeand
mostimportantlyhaveinterestinyouroptionalforyouneedtospendalot
InsightsWeeklyEssayChallenges
ofqualitytimeinit!
2017Week5:BuildingWallsand
BanningRefugeesDoesthisHelp
GoodLuck.
Humanity?
PleaseSharethisPost

WhatsApp Telegram Tweet 152 1 Email

InsightsWeeklyEssayChallenges
2017Week4:Digitaleconomy:A
More levellerorasourceofeconomic
inequality

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 14/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY
Related
InsightsWeeklyEssayChallenges
Topper'sTipsforUPSC HISTORYOPTIONALAND MOTIVATION:Poonam, 2017Week2:Waterdisputes
MainsAnswerWriting: GSStrategy:VivekChauhan Rank308,FromPrimary
betweenstatesinfederalIndia
KirthiC,Rank14Third Rank300,CSE2015 SchoolTeachertoACPto
Attempt,GeneralStudies May29,2016 UPSCCivilServicesRank
Score417! In"HISTORY" 308,StartedatAge28 InsightsWeeklyEssayChallenges
May23,2016 May25,2016 2017Week1:Needbringsgreed,if
In"INSIGHTSTOPPERS In"TOPPERS"
greedincreasesitspoilsbreed
2015"

MUSTREADBOOKS

Tags: geographyoptionalstrategy iasmains2015geographyoptionalsubjectstrategy 1)IntroductiontotheConstitutionofIndia

iasmainsgeographystrategy upscgeographyoptionalsubjectstrategy 20Edition

2)IndiaSinceIndependenceBipan
Chandra
PREVIOUSSTORY NEXTSTORY
3)India'sStruggleForIndependence
InsightsDailyCurrentEvents,26 InsightsDailyDebates,Day23:Is
BipanChandra
August2015 ItTimeforIndiatoEndCaste
BasedReservations? 4)IndianEconomy:ForCivilServices
Examinations6thEdition(2014)Ramesh
Singh

Kaizen 5)IndianPolityforCivilServices
MishraBabuThankU. Examinations4thEditionLaxmikanth
HS
6)GeographyofIndiaMajidHussain5th
ThankyousomuchSirforyourvaluedexperienceandguidanceIhighlyneededit..
Edition
BhavanaHS
Thankssir,butIhaveadoubt,beinginBangaloreIcouldnotaffordcoachingclasses 7)EthicsInGovernance
inDelhibuthavethexeroxofneetumamsnoteswrittenbymyfriend,doIreadfrom
http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 15/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

themorreferthestandardbooksasIhavenotattendedtheclassespersonally.Please 8)IndiaAfterGandhi:TheHistoryOfThe
helpme. World'sLargestDemocracy
RavinderSingh
9)MasteringModernWorldHistory5th
hibhavanaimfrommohali(punjab)anditoohavegotneetusinghclassnotesand
Edition,NormanLowe
completedpartAofpaper1andpaper2apartfromthatimtakinghelpfrom
savindersingh(phygeo),modelsandtheoriesbookbymajidhussainandevolutionof 10)SelectConstitutions:16thEditionS
geothoughtbymajidhussain. Chand
ithinkyouhavetosupplementthosenoteswithtestseries.mysuggestionistojoin
anygoodgeotestseries. 11)ChallengeAndStrategy:Rethinking
BhavanaHS India'sForeignPolicyRajivSikri
Thankssir,willtryto,butmosttestseriesareoverbynow,Iamrelayingoninsight
12)India'sForeignPolicyMuchkund
mainsgeographyquestions.
Dubey
RavinderSingh
wellyoustillcanjoinonlinetestseriesofgeoitisavailableinsightsisgood 13)HistoryoftheWorldfromtheLate
though..butyoucantgetexpertreviewandmodelanswershere NineteenthtotheEarlyTwentyFirstCentury
pavnitkiran02 ArjunDev
toravindersingh..canuplztellletmeknowtheonlinetestseriesforgeography
exceptvision 14)SocialProblemsinIndia2EditionRam
RavinderSingh Ahuja
welliknowvisiononly
15)PoliticsandEthicsoftheIndian
BhavanaHS
Constitution
Visionisover,ifyougettoknowanyotherserieswhichisaffordablepleaseletme
know.Itwillhelpmeverymuch. 16)PublicInstitutionsinIndia:Performance
RavinderSingh andDesignPRATAPBHANUMEHTA
wellagainconfirmtheirtestseriesstartngfrom13septtill22novtotal8testasper
17)CertificatePhysicalandHuman
myknowledge
GeographyGohChengLeong
checktheirwebsite
BhavanaHS 18)IndiasNationalSecurityAReader
Yippee.Thanks

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 16/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

shyamthayat 19)IndianSocialSystemRamAhuja
heycanusayhowtogetthenotesofneetumam?amfromkerala!thnku
BhavanaHS
shashidthakur23.wordpress.com.Youcanreferthisforallthematerials.
shyamthayat
thaanQ
TousifMokashi
SirPlzzprovideoptionalHISTORYsubstrategyEspeciallyMapquestions..thanx
alot..
SSC
Thankssir,canyousuggestanydedicatedteacherinHindimediumforgeography
optional
DEVENDRASONI
NiceSir:)ReallyHelpful
kavitha
THANKYOUINSIGHTS
mns
Sirthanksalotforsharingthis..neededit:)
Gladiator
Hirajumanycongratulationsthnkusomuchforurvaluableinputs..Ihavesome
specificproblems..ImuncomfortableinpaperII.Ifindittoelaborateandexplainfor
examplethequestionsocioeconomicimpactofcauvery,makeinIndiaetc..ifucan
suggesthowtoimproveuponititwouldbeagreathelpformethnx.
mns
Sircouldyoupleaseshareyourmaprelatednotesifanyandifpossible?..plz
sir..wouldbehighlyindebted
ShashankShahi
plssharehistoryoptionalstrategy.Ihavechosenhistoryasmyoptional.Plsletme
know.Thanks

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 17/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

Sanchari
HelloVinaySir,IcongratulatebothRajuMishraSirandInsightsteamforthe
commendableperformancebothhaveput.
AsRajuSIrsoptionalpaperissameasmineIhavefewquestionsinmymind
regardingcoachingmaterialandclassroomprogramforGeooptional.Iambasedin
KolkataandhavestartedfullfledgedpreparationforMains2015fromhome.So,I
willbehighlygreatfulifIgettotalktoRajusirorVinaySirviamailoranyother
sourcesothatIcanwalkaheadtowardsmygoalwithoutanyspeculationand
hesitation.
Thankyousomuch.
Krishna
Bestfacultyforgeoisshabbirsir.Blindlyanyonecanfollowhim.Sureanddontknow
aboutneetuSinghmadam.soIcannotcommentonherteaching.Formeijust
followedsirinstructions.
Kartik
HiKrishna,
HowisShashankAtom..Implanningtojoininghim..
Eveyonepls
Krishna
SorryKarthik.Ihavenoideaabouthim.Pleaseconsultthosewhohavetakenclasses
fromShashankatom.Thankyou.Allthebest.
AmitKumarBiswas
KartikIhavetakenclassesfromShashanksirandIfoundhistacticstobe
obsolete
EnigmaIndia
Neetusinghmaamalsoveryverygood.
Jeeves
whataboutpeoplewhodontliveinDelhi,allthetestseriesareconductedindelhi
exceptvisionhasdistancelearningtestseries!

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 18/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

raptor
CongratsMishraJi
ThankyouInsightsformyonlyguideandfriendforpre2015andGSpreparationdue
courseoftime..
DearFriends,
Iamconfidentaboutclearingpre2015butfeelingnotgoodaboutmainspreparation,
speciallyoptional(geography).Consideringonly30%syllabusIhavegonethrough
tilldatefromstandardbooks,kindlysuggesthowIshouldproceed?
Iamalsoconfusedaboutjoininganyclasses?asIfeelbetterinselfstudyandGS
papersIcanhandleonmyown.Canyousuggestthestrategyandstudymaterialfor
optionalinthislimitedtime?
IhavedonewithNCERTandgoingthroughsavindersingh,nextplanningforhuman
geographywherecanIgetgoodspecifiednotes?
Guru
Iamfacingthesamesituation,Areupreparingfulltime?Iamfindingthatthe
methodofconceptbuildingbySavindraSinghisntassequentialandorientedasin
strahlernstrahler,soIreadstrahleroncetotakehelpwhilestudyingsavindrasingh
book.
IworkforaPSUsonotpreparingfulltime,idedicateabout5hoursadaynow.
TelmewhichbooksfromNCERTsneedtobereferredforGEO?&Neworold
syllabus?
raptor
No,Iamaparttimertoo
Gonethroughncert,Ifeelgoodenoughwithnew.Timemanagementisthemajor
challenge.Iamproceedingsinsimilarwayforthephysicalgeographyasyouhave
mentioned.Howyouareplanninghumangeographyandpaper2?Seemshugebut
needpassionandpreservance.
Guru

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 19/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

Human&populationgeobyLeongandMorganisgoodandItreatthisparticular
subjectlikeastressbustercuzthewriteupisnotasintenseasotherareasof
geographysotreatitlighter(dontgetcasualthough),
Physical:Savindra&Strahler
Human:Majid
Modelsntheories:Majid
(diagramsaretoogood).
Indiangeo:SelectivestudyofKhullar(readunit1inentirety,leaveunit2&read3
andchaptersonwaterresourcesandmultipurposeprojectstobedone.
ReadGeography&you,itisadistinguishedmagazinewhichwillhelpyoudesignyour
answerscreativelywithfocusontheconceptualcore.
Preparationforgeographymustbeintegrated,ifwestarttreatingthevariousareasas
separateentitiesanddonttrytointegratethemwestartseeingthesubjectlike
insurmountableheapsofbooks.
Asyourightlysaidmanagingtimeisachallengeandstayingenergeticmentallyafter
jobforthenext5hoursformeisabiggerchallengebrother.
raptor
BroYoumentionedaboutgeographyandyou,initiallyIamplanningfor34latest
editiontofitinschedule.howmanyyouaregoingthrough?
Fromwhereyouareplanningforeconomicgeographypart?
Guru
Thesemagazinesarebimonthlynquitethin,takemagzfromsep2014onwards,the
topicsinitarecurrentandpertinentso6magzforthatperiodofoneyearshouldbe
fine,theanalysisoftopicsisreallygood.
Feweditionsareavailableforfreedownloadoryoucanreaditonmagzteraswell.
ForEconomicgeographythereisabookbyrupamadesimpleseriesbutmakesure
thaturhighlyselectivewiththetopics.Keepthesyllabuswithyouwhilestudying.
Idunnohowwelljumpingtocoachingnotesdirectlyhelps,mnotagreatfanofthem,
scribbleyourownnotesbasedonyourunderstanding,Ireallyfeelthattheperson

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 20/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

whopreparesonhisownhasadistinctadvantageoverthosewhocramnotesn
reproducebecausealltheiranswerswilllookthesame designyouranswers
uniquely.
Reg
SujeetKumarPandey
samehere,aparttimertoo.Ihavestartedwithkhullar(ofcourseafterNCERTsand
GCleong)andkindofenjoyingit.Iamhavingdoubtsregardingpaper1asIhave
SavinderSingh(notstartedyet)andhavenotesofalokranjanandNeetusingh.So
pleaseguidemehowtostartwithit?
raptor
Dontknowaboutnotesbutmanysuggestedtoplaneachtopicaccordingto
convenientsourcebecauseyoumayfindneitherbooksnornotesperfect.Iamgoing
withbooksandtakinghelpfromothersourcestoo..(Internet).Physicalgeographyis
takingmoretime.IhavestartedwithtopicswhichIlikemosttospeedup
Suggestion:Ifeel,dontfumblewithmanysources.Timeislimited
Whichchaptersyouhaveselectedfromkhullarforpaper2?
SujeetKumarPandey
Nosuchstrategy,justtryingtocoverwholesyllabusfromkhullaronly.Ithinkits
enoughforpaper2.Astimeislimited,itisdifficulttolookforallrelevantsources.
BtwIhavedecidedtocontinuewithNeetusinghnotesanduseAlokRanjanas
substitute.
SwethaSri
HiSujeet,
MayiknowfromwheredidyougetNeetusinghandalokranjannotes?Itsbecoming
difficultformetofindasiamstayingoutsidedelhi
SujeetKumarPandey
TherearesellersinDelhiwhocancourierthenotesifyouarelivingoutsideDelhi.
SwethaSri

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 21/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

IjustwanttoknowwhetherReadingnotesforboththepaperswillsuffice.AsIhave
sometextbooksbutitisdifficultinmakingnotesforlastminrevision
SujeetKumarPandey
Notescanneversupplementbooksbutforlastminuterevisiontheyarelifesaver.
SorryswethabutsinceIhavenotwrittenmainsIamnotinapositiontoansweryour
question.
SwethaSri
Okthanks
upj
thankyouforindepthguidance.
AyushRaghuvanshi
For2016upscaspirantwithgeographyoptional
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1635782950033026
amit004
nicefornewonelikeme,toknownhwtopreparegeographyasoptionalsubject.
sagar
Isthereanysocialmediagrouptodiscussaboutoptional?Ifnot,isanyoneinterested
informingagrouponTelegramorsomethinglikesuch?
KhemrajSankhla
Whataboutvideochatingfordiscussiongeographyoptional?Ihavegeography
optional.Iampreparingself.Ifyouareinterestedthanwecandiscusseweeklyor
monthly.
PSrikrishnareddy
HiEveryone,
IboughtHumangeographybyMajidHussain.Butthecontentsarenotmatchingthe
syllabusforpaper1Geooptional..Pleasetellmewhicharetherelevanttopicsfrmthis
book.
ZIMS
Isitessentialtojoincoachingforgeographyoptional.canitnotdonebyselfstudy.

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 22/23
23/02/2017 GEOGRAPHYOPTIONALSUBJECTSTRATEGY

IlluJain
Cananyonetellmeaboutmajidhussainsirsclasses???

Copyright(C)INSIGHTSACTIVELEARNING
PoweredbyWordPress.ThemebyPressCustomizr.

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/08/26/geographyoptionalsubjectstrategybyrajumishrarank65cse2014/ 23/23