The UPSC exam preparation process is a stringent one, demanding all the aspirants be aware of everything that’s going on in the country. Being informed about the developments and around you and in the nation forms the basis of further policies and decisions by the government, bureaucracy and administrative services.
Why is Reading News Important for Public Servants?
The public service commission of India is dedicated to serving the Indian populace. The decisions made by all the departments are dynamic and keep changing with time and need.
Being informed about everything happening in and around one’s nation forms the basis for policymaking and changes in decision making by the authorities. UPSC tests your ability to keep yourself informed and take decisions and make changes accordingly in the best interest of the public.
While preparing for UPSC, running through the entire newspaper might flood your mind with unnecessary information which may not even come in handy during the examination. Here are a few tips you can follow while reading the newspaper and make the most of the information.
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Prefer reading “The Hindu”
The Hindu is widely considered a ‘neutral’ newspaper publication with a lesser focus on political parties’ agenda and more on events, both positive and negative in and around the nation. Also, the language is comprised of rather obscure words that help you improve the vocabulary and use them in your day-to-day lives with ease.
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Do NOT focus on political news
Bureaucracy remains while governments change. This is a core value of the public service commission. This reflects during exams where your knowledge of the policies/schemes/reforms and their current state/new announcements is tested.
Political news, if any are relevant only up to the scope of the constitution, legislation and administration. -
Watch for Advertisements by the Government
Both state and union governments spend a good amount of money on advertisements. Their motive is to inform the public about the policies that are being undertaken and/or the progress on the same if any.
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National news are important
The news which makes the headline on a given day is usually the one with nation-wide ramifications. Such events offer insight into what could be going on in the wake or even in the background.
For example, the arrival of Rafale jets was an important event for the IAF and the news on the said day meant that the aircraft will now be tested and finalized before formal induction into service happens, which it did a few days later. -
Statements by political parties are NOT to be focussed upon
Even as national news makes headlines, political parties have their own opinion, narrative, agenda and statement about it. The commission does not alter its policies based upon what any political party thinks and hence, such statements are not offered importance during exams either. -
Economic News is important
Whether restricted to your state or being nation-wide, economic activity, policies and achievements and failures are capable of widespread impact on the livelihood of the people. All major and minor events are necessary and being informed as such is imperative for all UPSC aspirants.
Having said that, the stock market is not a very good indicator of the economic situation and that news can be skipped.
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Be smart about international news
Foreign visits by the prime minister, president and/or other important people in the government usually end up with some bilateral development, for either good or bad. Keeping a close eye on the outcome of such visits is a good way of staying up to speed with the current global scenario.
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General Knowledge
Environment change, monsoon cycle and its impact, creation/deletion of legislative/parliamentary seats are a few examples of what you can keep yourself informed. More such general knowledge news are good to keep in your kitty.
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Paparazzi and Gossip related news make no sense
News about actors and actresses, box office collections, marriages and divorces, etc. are events of little to no consequence for the common man of India. Such news is neither useful nor to be given any importance. Any news that falls under the ‘masala’ category is to be strictly avoided.
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Sports news is no good either
Knowledge about sports is rather a tricky subject. Unless you mentioned a particular sport in your DAF, avoiding sports is usually a good idea. Should you happen to mention sport(s), ensure your knowledge is up to date as that might come in handy. As a general trend, sports-related questions are rare in the UPSC examination.
We, at Analog IAS Academy, help the youth of our country prepare for these examinations through our Daily News Analysis on our Telegram channel. Join our channel for daily relevant news and analysis of some of the most relevant and major news. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for daily analysis of the current state of affairs in the country.
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