How to Ace UPSC History Optional : 10 Tips to Success

How to Ace the UPSC History Optional Exam 2023: 10 Tips to Success

The UPSC History optional exam is considered one of the most difficult exams to crack. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to ace the UPSC History optional exam.

The Indian Civil Service was established in 1858 by the British Raj. The main purpose of this exam was to select candidates for administrative jobs in the British Raj. After independence, the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) took over the responsibility of conducting this exam. The syllabus and pattern of the exam have undergone several changes over the years.

To crack the UPSC History optional exam, you need to have a sound understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern. It is also important to choose your reference books wisely and read extensively. You should also take mock exams and analyze your performance to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Time management, guidance from experts, and staying updated with current events are also important factors that can help you crack this tough exam.

The History of the UPSC Exam

» The Indian Civil Service

The Indian Civil Service (ICS) was the premier civil service of British India during British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947. Its members ruled over a population of 400 million people in an area comprising almost one-fifth of the world's landmass. The ICS was similar to other civil services of the time, such as the British Civil Service and those of other European empires. It was staffed by officers recruited from among the ranks of Britain's elite universities, and its members enjoyed considerable power and prestige.

The first competitive examination for entry into the ICS was held in 1859. This exam, popularly known as the 'Indian Competitive Examination', was open only to British citizens. However, Indians were not excluded from applying for positions in the lower ranks of the service. The numbers of Indians in the service increased steadily during the latter half of the 19th century, but they still constituted a tiny minority of its members.

» The British Raj and the Indian Civil Service

The Government of India Act 1858 resulted in the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown, and marked a major turning point in the history of India's civil service. The act abolished the company's monopoly on trade with India, and opened up opportunities for Indians to enter into government employment for the first time on a large scale.

In spite of this change, however, it was not until after the First World War that substantial numbers of Indians began to join the civil service. This increase was partly due to changes in attitude among Britons towards Indianization of higher echelons of government, but also because of growing nationalist sentiment among educated Indians themselves who saw government employment as a route to social mobility and political power.

During the war period, the number of Indians in the numerically dominant lower grades of the newly created Civil Service of India increased dramatically - from just over 2 percent in 1919 to over 30 percent by 1939 - but their proportion in the newly formed higher ranks remained static at around 1 percent until 1945 when it began to increase very slowly.

How to Ace the UPSC History Optional Exam

Step 1: Understand the syllabus and exam pattern

The first step to acing the UPSC History Optional Exam is to understand the syllabus and exam pattern. The syllabus for the UPSC History Optional Exam can be divided into three parts - Indian history, world history, and ancient history.

The Indian history portion of the syllabus covers topics such as Ancient India, Medieval India, and Modern India. The world history portion of the syllabus covers topics such as World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. The ancient history portion of the syllabus covers topics such as Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.

The exam pattern for the UPSC History Optional Exam consists of two papers - Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is a written examination that is worth 100 marks. Paper II is an oral examination that is worth 50 marks.

Step 2: Choose Your Reference Books Wisely

Choosing the right reference books is crucial for acing the UPSC History Optional Exam. There are a number of good books available on each topic covered in the syllabus. However, it is important to select books that are well-written and comprehensive in coverage. Additionally, it is advisable to consult with your friends or teachers who have already taken the exam to get their recommendations on which books to use.

Step 3: Read extensively

Reading extensively is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the UPSC History Optional Exam. It is important to read not only textbooks but also newspapers, magazines, journals, and other sources of information on Indian and world history. This will help you develop a better understanding of historical events and their context. Additionally, it will also help you develop your writing skills by exposing you to different styles of writing about history.

Step 4: Take Mock Exams

Taking mock exams is an excellent way to prepare for the UPSC History Optional Exam 2023. By taking mock exams, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the format of questions that will be asked in actual exams . In addition, taking mock exams will also help you improve your time management skills during exams .

Step 5: Analyze Your Performance

Analyzing your performance is an important step in preparing for the UPSC History Optional Exam 2023. After taking a mock exam, it is important to go through your answers and identify areas where you need improvement. This will help you focus your studies on the areas that need more work. Additionally, it will also help you build up your confidence by seeing the progress you have made over time.

Step 6: Time Management

One of the most important things to keep in mind while preparing for the UPSC History optional exam is time management. It is important to understand that the syllabus is vast and one cannot possibly read everything in the limited time available. Hence, it is important to be strategic in your approach and focus on topics that are more likely to be asked in the exam.

Step 7: Seek guidance

Another important tip for acing the UPSC History optional exam is to seek guidance from those who have already cleared the exam. There are many online forums and groups where you can find such people and get valuable tips and advice from them. Additionally, there are also many coaching institutes which offer specialized courses for the UPSC History optional exam. You can enroll in one of these courses to get access to quality resources and expert guidance.

Step 8: Stay updated with current events

It is also important to stay updated with current affairs, as questions from current events are often asked in the UPSC History optional exam. By reading newspapers and keeping up with news websites, you will not only be able to answer such questions but will also gain a better understanding of historical events. This will help you immensely while preparing for the exam.

Step 9: Make notes

As you read for the UPSC History optional exam, it is important to make notes of key points so that you can revise them later easily. These notes will come in handy during your last-minute revisions before the exam, and will also help you remember key concepts better when you go through them again just before writing the paper on test day itself. Try to make your notes as concise as possible, so that they are easy to revise later on.

Step 10: Stay calm and focused

Last but not the least, it is important to stay calm and focused while preparing for the UPSC History optional exam, as it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the vast syllabus. Remember to take regular breaks, eat healthy and exercise regularly to keep your mind and body sharp. Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy the process of learning - after all, that is what history is all about!