big rudra
Opening Up

i m sorry buddy but i saw your query recently...

the thing is you actually need good material from a good source and time... last time on some parts i compromised with material quality and regretted doing so... the best way is to get a comprehensive material from any good coaching institute and check whether you are able to attempt all the questions of last ten years which are presently in syllabus (mind you a lot of changes have occurred in syllabus)... in case you do then the material is good... any thing extra will be an addition... and can be done once you are thorugh...

neways best wishes for your efforts

hi there
For general studies, I referred some standard books only like Spectrum for Science and Technology, NCERT textbooks for Geography and Statistics. For the rest, I read newspaper regularly and carefully. Yes, I made notes from newspaper but not from any book. I have read the books and have underlined or highlighted the main markers. (I did not make notes for any of my optionals either).

I have got 161 in GS paper-1, and 103 in paper-2 (I took one 45 marks question for 2 markers, and for Statistics, I did not have the requisite speed). So these are the two areas I'm going to work upon. I have told you about them, so you shall be more cautious about them.
Study well. All the best

Hello friend,
Since my optionals have been different, I don't think I'll be able to tell you the right coaching institutes for Geography and Sociology, but I have seen many people going for Ensemble for Geography and Ramaswamy for Sociology.
I think (since I used postal material for public administration for a while), its better to read standard books than going for the postal route. those booklets are usually bunches of chapters taken from different standard books.


I can really help you more for general studies. And then there are other forum members here who have the optionals which you do and are in a better position (than me) to help you.
All the best. Thank you. (My rank is 303, and not 302)
Study well.

You can refer any institute' s materials Rudra. because, as i mentioned in your last scrap message, you have to surly study with the text books. So you can go for Rau's study materials too. But once if you complete the materials with the recommended text books, then only your preparation gets completed. Just study with the jolly mood for 6 to 10 months. Then you will feel good about your prepartion. But side by side once if you complete a unit, try to solve the previous years question papers. all the best Rudra...

Hello Rudra, the postal materials can help you upto certain extent only. Because for CS, you need to have multifaceted focus in your opted subjects. You can have this knowledge when only you go to class regularly atleast for 6 months. But otherwise the postal materials can help you if you read along with text books with proper guidance.
For that you can go for Vajiram materials(best for both Public administration and Geography). But You have to surly read with the text books. all the best Rudra. wish you all success.