Education
Top Tips to Crack the UPSC Exam
The UPSC interview is one of the most competitive jobs in the world. But for many candidates, it’s also one of the most daunting. The application process takes months and months of research, source-refining, and strategic planning.
And even among top applicants, there are usually bound to be some gaps in skills—such as those related to administration or communication—that a candidate might be best equipped to fill.
UPSC Exam – A Brief Overview
Every country has a governing structure that directs and monitors the daily operations of the system. Administrative officers and public servants are common names for these people. India has a respectable number of civil servants who work for the benefit of the country.
Depending on the circumstances, those seeking employment in the public sector must pass tests administered by the state or federal governments. In this case, the UPSC exams come in handy. It is the exam with the highest level of competition for civil service jobs in India.
Top-Notch Tips To Crack The UPSC Exam
Thankfully, there are a number of tips that can help you crack the tough exam. Here are some of the most beneficial tips that can help you with the best UPSC preparation. Let’s take a look at them!
Cover the Whole Syllabus
One of the most effective ways to crack the exam is to start the whole scenario in your head. This will make the experience much more interesting and challenging—and, hopefully, earn you a spot in the top 10%. The best way to start is by covering the whole syllabus in detail.
This will help you develop a good knowledge of almost every term and concept within the syllabus. Be careful, though. If you start thinking about the exam in a different way, you might find that the questions aren’t as clear-cut as you’d like them to be. And the exam itself might become more challenging!
Attempt Mock Test
One of the best ways to crack the exam is to try to do the actual test. This will help you get a sense of the exam itself and also provide insight into what questions may come up in the actual test. You can do this as early as possible in the year so that you can get the most out of the test. It’s also a great way to practice language awareness and understand the structure of sentences. Put this in your bag, and if you’re successful, head to the next step!
Do Proper Revision
One of the best ways to crack the exam is to do proper revision. This will help you to clarify your understanding, testifies to your capacity for increased vocabulary and many other important skills, and is a good indicator of when you’ll be successful at the test.
The more you understand the concepts and language, the easier it will be to pick up the vocabulary and phrases as they come up during the test. Regularly review your answers, but only do so if you’re completely clueless about the words and phrases you’ve just WRITTEN! The more confused you are, the easier it will be to get some of your words right as you go.
Make Proper Notes
If you’re going to the complete lengths of an entire field like the UPSC, you’re going to want to make a significant amount of note of what you’ve encountered. This will help you to remember the context of words and phrases and will also help you to recognize the difference between modifiers and sub-dominant clauses.
Avoid Exploring New Portions or Topics Before One Month
One of the most effective ways to crack the exam is to put the ins and outs of the topic in your head. This will help you to visualize the entire topic, make decisions with respect to your understanding of the concepts, and help you to plan out the walkthrough for when you get to the actual Steps 1-3.
If you’re just getting started, try to complete the challenging part one at a time. This will help you to keep your mind healthy and your brain young. It’ll also help you to stay focused!
CSAT Should Be Taken Very Seriously
If you’re going to the full length of the test, you’re going to want to be at its core. You can’t just sit and observe while the rest of the team is doing the test.
You’re going to have to step into the flow of the test, discuss your understanding with your classmates, and process the information as it comes to you. You’re going to want to take turns in the group chat, answer questions briefly, and take notes as you go.
Taking notes will help you to stay focused and to come away with a better understanding of the concepts and questions as they come up.
Current Affairs Are the Most Amorphous Part of Prelims
Many candidates find it hard to take the first step in online coaching for UPSC civil services. They’re not quite sure where to start, what questions to ask, and even what questions are necessary to fully understand the questions being asked.
This is where current affairs come into the picture. The less obvious things that come up in the current affairs portion of the questionnaire will help you see things in a new light. You’re not just trying to understand the questions; you’re trying to learn and interpret them!
Conclusion
The best way to crack the UPSC is to study the topic, read the question and answer manual, and try out different exercises. When you’ve got that down, you can tackle the actual test and see if you can Personalize it to fit your particular needs.
FAQ
How to Prepare For UPSC Exams?
To crack UPSC exam with high scores, you need a solid plaor a strategy n and a focused mind set. There is no doubt that the competition will be worthwhile. Thus, it is essential to have a thorough comprehension of each idea. The majority of candidates think it’s impossible to pass the UPSC exam without coaching. No longer! Unacademy has created a comprehensive UPSC preparation plan for beginners that will let you to master the syllabus on your own.
Is It Possible to Clear UPSC Exam in 1st Attempt?
To pass this exam, students typically need more than two tries. However, each year a number of applicants pass the UPSC exam on their first try. Some of them even succeed in passing the test with excellent grades.
How Many Years Are Sufficiant For IAS preparation?
IAS preparation can be completed in a year. If one prepares well with the appropriate guidance and UPSC test approach, one does not need to enrol in coaching for the IAS exam. For the first six months of IAS preparation, students must bear in mind the UPSC curriculum and properly study the pertinent material; after that, they should concentrate on revision, taking mock exams, and answering question papers from previous years.
Do IAS officers get paid during training?
According to the 7th CPC’s strict guidelines Special Pay Advance, IAS officers get paid while they are in training. At LBSNAA, an IAS officer is entitled to a stipend of Rs 45000 per month, of which Rs 38500 is the in-hand portion. There is a deduction of Rs 10,000 for food, housing, and transportation.
By Akeem Akinniyi
Playwright: Olutayo Irantiola
Publisher: Peo Davies Communications
Year of Publication: 2022
Reviewer: Akeem Akinniyi
Olutayo Irantiola’s The Okeho Exodus is a historical play set in 1916 but written in a modern-day language and filled with elements that will not alienate a reader in these present times. The play revisits the past of the descendants of Okeho, who resettled among the hills along with ten villages to stem the tide of invasion by the Dahomey and Fulanis. What follows are intrigues of betrayal and bastardisation of culture by colonialists, which eventually leads to the tragic end of not only the king but the loss of the town’s sovereignty to the colonial masters.
The theme of betrayal dominates the play, and the only character who survives it is Oba Arilesire, who built a harmonious home of settlers which sets the tone for successive kings before the turn of Onjo Olukitibi.
The emergence of Captain Ross and his fellow conquerors in Okeho with their laws and subjugation of the people leads to distrust among the chiefs and sets the plot to oust the king, Onjo Olukitibi.
A wave of betrayal rises among the chiefs who think Onjo Olukintibi has sold them out to the colonialists referred to as ‘Ajele’ (a Yoruba word for usurpers). The internecine fighting grows beyond the borders of Okeho and extends to other towns as Balogun Olele seeks allies from far and within against the king.
In the end, the king is captured and annihilated along with his family. Captain Ross avenges the death of the king, and attacks and arrests the unerring chiefs to bring law and order to Okeho, thereby establishing the sovereignty of the colonial masters.
The play deploys antithesis effectively to strike a balance in the events as well as the lives of the characters and the passing of the years. Oba Arilesire’s reign is filled with harmonious living and unity among the people. He would go on to die peacefully in his sleep. This is contrasting to the reign of Onjo Olukintibi whose reign ends in disarray with mistrust in the air and would later die agonizingly in the hands of his own people.
Another is the replacement of invaders; at first, it is the Fulanis and Dahomeys whose aggression make the people of Okeho flee to the new place. Little had they settled down when the colonialists invaded their space, and sadly, it will result in their return to the place they left earlier.
The challenges of colonialism to traditional laws and customs are symbolized by the emergence of Captain Ross whose influence and power conflicted with Onjo Olukintibi, thereby reducing his relevance before the people. His authority is challenged, and as Captain Ross’ influence grows, Olukitibi’s stature shrinks.
The people of Okeho begin to see him as the puppet of the white man. An example is the statement of Oladunni (41) “The reign of Olukitibi is already disheartening. We have never experienced this in Okeho Ahoro, I have been watching with keen interest, and I am getting to lose hope in his leadership abilities. People have been saying that Olukitibi was not the right person to be crowned, he was imposed on us by the colonial masters. But will the kingmakers and the oracle lie?”
The theme of betrayal echoes throughout the book, and it is expressed in many ways. Jinjin represents the modern, inquisitive, and courageous woman who believes in equality. She also represents the Biblical Eve, whose inquisitiveness led to the fall of man through her desire to partake in the Oro traditions. A Yoruba cult tradition that forbids the participation of women. She never hides her intent to break all patriarchal foundations (25):
Jinjin: My right to social equality, freedom of association and speech. I want to know more about Oro. If it was an entirely sacred thing, men should also stay out of the rituals.
To achieve her husband, Olojomo’s commitment to making her participate, she weaponises sex, and the poor man submits to her guiles: “Yes, my mind is at rest now. I am sure that I would soon partake of the ritual, and we would break all the limitations that have been set by many generations” ” (63). Olojomo would go on to get her involved in the ritual, a flaw that ridicules his legacy in the Oro cult leading to his disgrace from the group by fellow initiates who considered his actions a betrayal of trust.
Another female character of note is Oladunni, who challenges the status quo of the submissive housewife who must accept everything that her husband dishes out to her. She broke patriarchal norms by talking back at her husband Oga Akooda (37) who in a state of excitement and drunkenness about the Oro festival insults her father which she replied accordingly and disrespectfully. The husband chases her with the intent to beat her and, instead of being apologetic, tries to give reasons for his uncouth behaviour. (38)
Oga Akioda: She has to swallow those words if not, there won’t be peace any longer in this house. She thought I was tipsy and could not reason well.
Oladunni: I will go to the court of Ross. You will learn lessons. I cannot tolerate you any longer. You are a violent man. (He wants to chase her again, but Akoda holds him).
The court of Ross is the court of the white man which allows room for divorce. This can be seen as a breakaway from the cultural norm of family and community elders settling marital conflicts. It reflects a subjugation of traditional authority. Some of the little cracks that, bit by bit collapse the wall of traditions and customs.
The playwright makes use of songs to communicate and express the mood. The language, though direct, is sometimes riddled with too much Yoruba aided by code-mixing and translations that somehow belabour the point. Some scenes appear intrusive, as we have during the choice of kingship. Above all, the playwright achieves his aim of telling an ancient story to a modern audience by reflecting on the effects of colonialism and its attendant evils of erosion of cultures and abuse of power.
Akinniyi Akeem is an advertising copywriter with one of the leading PR agencies in Nigeria. He enjoys the art of writing, and in his spare time, he loves to delight the blank page with poetry and short stories.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An Islamic endowment fund called MetWaqf, designed to support the education of underprivileged persons in Nigeria, irrespective of their religion, has been launched by The Metropolitan Law Firm with the support of FBNQuest Trustees.
The charity initiative is part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the two organisations and was unveiled at the 5th Islamic Estate Planning Clinic in Abuja.
The Managing Partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm, Mr Ummahani A. Amin, stated that the MetWaqf was established for the betterment of education in Nigeria.
According to him, MetWaqf is an Islamic endowment fund dedicated to promoting and providing education, most especially to underprivileged persons in Nigeria, saying he looks forward to the impact the initiative will have in society.
Also, the Managing Director of FBNQuest Trustees, Mr Adekunle Awojobi, said, as the first and leading providers of trust services in Nigeria, FBNQuest Trustees was particularly elated about the partnership and support on the MetWaqf initiative, expressing optimism that this charity initiative in its entirety will get the interest of everyone regardless of religion.
Speaking on the estate planning clinic, Mr Awojobi stated that the basic principle of estate planning was ensuring the preservation of legacies.
The event had some renowned Islamic financial scholars educating participants on the Islamic law of inheritance (Farā’id), the importance of estate planning in Islam and the various Shari’ah compliant estate planning tools like Waqf, Zakat, Hibah etc., and how they can be used to ensure that the affairs of all heirs and beneficiaries are adequately addressed in modern times.
These topics were dissected by Dr Nuruddeen Lemu, Director of Research and Training at the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria; Professor Ahmad Dogarawa, a professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Dr Warshu Tijjani, Rabi’u a Shariah Board member of Noor Takaful Nigeria, who is currently the Deputy Director, Research and Publication of International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State.
Others were Ummahani Amin, the Managing Partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm; Mohammed Yunusa of The Metropolitan Law Firm; Mutiat Olatunji, a Private Trust Specialist at FBNQuest Trustees; and Aminu Dabo Musa, the Relationship Manager at FBNQuest Trustees.
As part of activities marking International Women’s Day (IWD), female workers of a mining and drilling services company, Geodrill Limited, charged girls at Ofoase Kokoben Senior High School (SHS) in the Ashanti Region of Ghaha to take up courses in male-dominated fields, such as mining to contribute to the development of the country.
The employees of the mining firm, during the visit, interacted with the students, sharing their experiences in the field and explaining why they should consider technically-related courses.
Antoinette Ankutse of Geodrill told News Ghana in an interview that the motivation behind the visit was to “empower the girls regarding courses to be pursued at the universities. We are into mining, and we wanted to use ourselves as a case study for the girls to realize that it is possible.”
She expressed optimism that the engagement would encourage the Ofoase Kokoben SHS girls and others across the country to take a cue from the female workers of Geodrill.
“In general, females should not be pushed into secretarial and clerical work but rather directed towards the technical fields,” added Ankutse.
The students thanked the female employees of Geodrill for taking time out of their busy schedules to empower them about their future careers.
Earlier, Geodrill ran a staff consultation as part of the IWD to discuss greater community engagement to encourage women in mining, including Bernice Gbadam, Doris Danso, and Becky Elithia, the first woman to work in Geodrill, the first woman to obtain a Geodrill driving permit, and the first woman to pursue an accounting program, respectively.
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 around the world to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Geodrill has long set out to be a leader in championing strong economic, social and governance principals that drive the company’s activity.
Increasing the percentage of women employed in the company is clear target measured in the company’s annual ESG Impact report.
