In my previous threads
I talked about how to prepare
General studies &
current Affairs. And
how to make notes from it.
Now the third and last nail in the coffin-
How to prepare Public Administration for 2010 prelims for UPSC civil service IAS IPS Exam.
there is already some threads made about how to prepare Public Administration prelims. My strategy is not much different from them. But still, I want to add my experience.
MYTHS REGARDING Public Administration
- Very short syllabus & very easy to understand.
True , but its short and easy to understand for everyone – not just only for you. so it requires perfect preparation. Because any tom, dick and harry can get at least 70M /120 in Public Administration , & competition is very high, so to be successful in prelims you've to score high + be very good in General Studies as well.
Like I explained ago,
Don't neglect General studies.
HOW NOT TO PREPARE Public Administration
I did following things in 2008's attempt and failed.
- I was over confident that I'll make, (since the Public Administration syllabus is so easy to understand, hence you always feel like you are in the power, "oh yes I've understood everything" but its not the case until you encounter the real prelim papers of UPSC.) = revision is the key. Otherwise you're going to mix up the answers, like contribution of Argyris / Likert, Bernard vs Simon and many more. Success in Public Administration prelims doesn't require only understanding but also, how much can you recall with out getting confused.
2. I thought Laxmikanth was bible and hence Ignored the rest of the reference books i.e.
- Stephen Robbins
- nicholas
- Mohit.
(i read them only once, and
did not revise.- on the night before prelims, since i had to cover both Public Administration And G/S ,i only glanced over to them one more time, and that didnot help.)
3. I did not make any notes.
4. I was poor in G/S.
how to prepare Public Administration Prelims.
First is you get all of your weapons ready.
that's buy following books or get them xerox. (or photocopy them , to be grammatically correct.) don't go like you buy one book now and once you finish reading it then you go buy another book
(cause you'll waste time going to market buying every time. ) + this strategy requires that you've all your books @ hand cause you'll have to finish each topic from multiple books @ once. all your tools have to be on your table no matter when you want to use it.
buy them all at once and then lock yourself in the room. and start preparing (I'll tell you how.)
Book List
- Mohit Bhattacharya- (New Horizons Of Public Administration )
- M.Laxmikanth <-- don't go xerox here - buy original.
- Nicholas Henry (Public Affairs and Public Administration ) <-- only some chapters are imp so you can go xeroxing.
Stephen Robins : Essentials in Organizational Behavior (Low Price Edition)
- There are two Stephen Robbin books in the market, one is thick like encyclopedia but you've to buy the thinner book –which is only 300 pages.
- Prasad & Prasad (Administrative thinkers) OR TMH/S.R.Maheshwari (most people use Prasad & Prasad.)
- Avasthi & Avasthi (Indian Administration)<- MUST, because this covers entire Paper-2 syllabus. OR Arora & Goyal (not recommended cause its not updated)
- Wizard Indian Polity .
Solved prelim Paper set of Public Administration Prelim
- (Arihant / Wizard) –
don't buy the yearwise paperset (i.e. 2001,2002,...)
but buy Topic wise arranged papersets (like Arihant / Wizard etc) which gives you answers + detailed explaination as well, so you can see what UPSC asks from each topics and why is the given answer the correct answer.
Optionally
- Avasthi & Maheshwari (you'll notice that some chapters of it are copy paste of Avasthi & Avasthi.)
Don't buy Sharma Sadana (its just one thick boring book– but if you do A& M then no need to go for S& S )
Instead of A&M, you use Fadia And Fadia (same things, but I like A&M. for no rational reason.)
If you've been reading list of books from other websites / coaching classes.
Then you'll see that they've recommended
- LM Prasad
- OG Glen Stahl
- Terry & Franklin
- Nigro & Nigro
- IIPA Journals.
All these are good books but I did not use them cause
- Lack of time
- I can't find them in the book stores where I live.
- They're more about MBA and less about Public Administration
- I did not see many questions in UPSC that my books did not cover and these books did. i.e. you might get 1 or 2 questions from them, but for that you've to read and revise 1000+ pages. Its not worth it with respect to, Cost benefit ratio. (at least it isn't for a lazy person like me.)
However if you read these books - its well and good but if you can't due to lack of time, then don't worry much.
Apart from that – most importantly,
don't even waste your time glancing over coaching classes etc stuff or even listening to people who talk about it. because more you listen - more your brain starts doubting about your method of preparation. read my
thread on notes making for further explanation on why shouldn't you use coaching classes readymade notes.
Bad things about coaching classes books are,
- Many of them cover only easy to understand topics so when you read- you feel happy "oh yes my syllabus finished so quick and I learned everything" but that won't help any in the prelims. Your reading has to be broad and of a PG student level.
- Mostly they consolidated everything from the reference books written above, and wrote it in their own words, along with some copy paste website articles, some tables, chart etc.
- Some of them overburden you with unnecessary facts and data & statements
(I DON'T have any commercial interest in criticizing any books, classes, but I'm writing what I felt reading them.)
There are many 'guides' available for paper 1 & paper 2. Like Unique/ Jawahar etc. but they're good for M.A. like college Exam, for UPSC – its completely different approach about understanding the basic concepts and then their practical application + current affairs related to it. so don't waste time on such guides.
Its better to read the standard books instead and make your own notes- that way you won't skip what he might have. And when you write it in your own words, you'll remember it permanently. It's the best way in my opinion. Since Public Administration is short- making notes doesn't take huge time.
e.g. the readymade notes will talk ornamentally about what are Max Weber's ideas on bureaucracy etc. but it won't go in your long term memory (nor will you understand the basic concept) UNLESS you write it with your own hand , in your own language about what you understood. Otherwise the moment UPSC asks any twisted question on Max Weber , you'll feel like its outside of the syllabus. (not just Max Weber, this applies to everything.)
Now
how to start reading.
Click me to see Public Administration's syllabus in UPSC.
Public Administration syllabus is divided into two parts.
- Theories – principles
- Indian Administration (for convenience in this article, I also include Financial/Accountability –control / Administrative system in it : everything that has only fact and data to remember or practical application of part 1- then its part 2)
(and
keep making NOTES- refer to
this page of mine to see how to make notes, and why its imp to make notes.)
Now pick up Laxmikanth
Don't Read 1st Chapter right now,
Instead of that - read
Chapter #2 Basic Concepts.
once done, open
Stephen Robbins, & Read Chapter #13 - it gives you elaborate practical examples- advantages and
disadvantages of those Basic Concepts.
*test time*
done making Notes?
good now Solve the papers given after Laxmikanth's Chapter #2 once you solve it, then Open your UPSC paperset (Arihant/Wizard) and see how UPSC has been asking since last 10 years.
Now to next step
Thinkers
Laxmikanth Chapter #3 : Theories of Administration
once you are done
Open Prasad & Prasad and read about the thinkers that you saw in Laxmikanth's Chapter#3.
Do make a good comparative note, along with positive contribution, and criticism of the thinkers. If you don't then you'll end up answering criticism of Follet into Bernard's and contribution of Fayol into Urwick's etc. UPSC ask very tricky questions ,so you'll feel like all of the given statements are correct (in those questions)- don't let them confuse so ,for even a second during the prelims- so its essential that you make the note in your own words and keep revising it as much as you can.
*Test Time* as explained ago.
Administrative Behavior
Laxmikanth Chapter #4
refer following books for topics related to it
Prasad (Simon, Argy, Maslow etc)
Nicholas Henry (leadership etc.)
Stephen (Decision Making, motivation etc)
WARNING- DON't GO LAZY.- KEEP MAKING NOTES AS You GO, if you think that
"ok i'll make the notes once I'm done covering entire syllabus "- then you'll have to re-read everything again for making the notes, cause by the time
you reach the last chapter - you'd have forgotten what you read in 1st Chapter."
Especially in this topic make a really good note- otherwise you'll make lot mistakes in answers related to Thinkers especially- Argyris – Likert , Leadership Models, motivational theory etc. (prepare them well from Stephen.)
*Test Time*
Accountability & control
Laxmi #5
Avasthi
Polity (SC/HC/ parliament )
Read newspapers/ editorials for latest happening in this area (RTI, Suo moto, Judicial Activism, Judges' inquiry bill etc)
*Test Time*
Administrative System
Laxmi
They rarely ask anything out side what's given in Laxmi.
Keep an eye on newspaper to see how Govt. works in America etc.
This topic can evaporate quickly from you mind because its only facts and data, and you'll make mistakes like US 's answer in UK 's question etc, so do revise it a lot.
Few years ago, in syllabus Russian administrative system was also included, so when you are solving old papers- don't get confused if you see it.
*Test Time*
Personnel administration
Laxmi #7
and then
Avasthi & Avasthi's chapter on same topic
Stephen,
finally
Mohit's Chapter on Personnel administration
*Test Time*
Financial Administration
Laxmi #8
Wizard Polity 's chapter on budget discussion
Nicholas – various types of budget
Mohit – same topic
(
always read Mohit @ Last- otherwise you'll not understand what the old man is trying to say, Cause he doesn't give any data, facts but only a philosophical review so you need to learn the facts and data first before you want to understand him.)
Additional – read the budget /economy special PT issue in Chronicle/Wizard when the budget comes.
*Test Time*
Union Govt. & Administration in India
The lengthiest and most imp of all topics
Laxmi # 9
Avasthi's first few chapters dealing with Evolution of Indian administration since Maurya times. And what are the functions of Each dept / Ministry.
(you'll have plenty of time till December – so it'd not hurt you if you prepare some mains topics as well like this Evolution part. Or administrative adjudication / delegated legislation.
+ this thing might help you in G/S-History Topic in prelims as well.
+ you'll understand the current administration better if you learn how it evolved.)
Constitution of India also comes in this section so Finish the Wizard Polity .
Indian Polity is also worth 110 M in Mains G/S and 15-17 Marks in Prelims G/S so prepare it PERFECTLY.
Do make a good note cause lot facts and data coming here. And it all obvious, common sense like things, nothing hard to understand, so you must not lose any marks here.
*Test Time*
Civil Service in India
Laxmi # 10
Avasthi's chapter
*Test Time*
State & District Administration
Same as above.
Local Administration
Same as above.
Chapter #1 :Introduction
Now go back and read the 1
st Chapter of Laxmikanth
Nicholas : Phases of Public Administration , PCA, NPA,NPM
And
then finish Mohit – entirely – each and every chapter.
You'll understand everything, and see the 'big picture.'
Alternatively you can do this thing , once your part-1 is over.
Parallel
As I've explained ago, how to use newspaper for preparing current affairs and Essay. (
here) Same way they're very important in Public Administration.
Keep an eye on newspaper- for the administration related issues coming
Cut them , note them do whatever you want but you must have it in your brain
DON't rely on magazines for Public Administration's current affairs, you've to do it by yourself from newspaper.
e.g
- name of New CAG etc,
- new policies for poor ,
- Administrative reforms
- New laws, bills introduced
- Nice editorials written for improvement of administration
- New e-gov initiatives
etc etc. you refer the old papers and you'll see what's imp in newspaper from Public Administration point of view.
Now time for finishing touch-
Basic Checklist
Have you Read each and every chapter of .. & made your notes?
- Laxmikanth
- Mohit
- Stephen ? (Stephen is like story book – not a big deal you can finish it in a week.)
- Polity
alright – now you are good enough to attend at least 60-70 correct questions in UPSC. (but its not going to make you clear prelims. So move to the advanced check list.)
Advanced Checklist
Have you read following things? (and made note of it)
- Nicholas
- Avasthi (finish entire book and your mains paper 2 syllabus is also covered – don't give time limit as an excuse – you can do it till December. It'll help you in some questions.)
Better- 90 M
Ultra Advanced Checklist
Have to read following things? (and made note of it)
- Avasthi & Maheshwari (Administrative law, delegated Legislation and everything else)
- Local administration : S.R.Maheswari (especially the different types of urban bodies- Cantonment etc)
- Keeping a sharp eye on newspaper for anything related to Public Administration ?
- Reading any other reference books as you come across?
Great.- you can expect 90+
Its easy to reach upto 70 Correct answers in Public Administration
But getting from 70 to 90+ requires heavy preparation.
Keep in mind
- just because you understood Public Administration doesn't mean the mission is over, Challenge is how much can you recall with out getting Confused (like don't make mistakes in contribution of Argyris & Likert etc) cause if you don't make notes and if you don't keep revising it then you're going to mix up everything.
Secondly, its said about Public Administration , that the one who understands part 1, is the winner. (because as explained ago, any one can get upto 70M due to part 2, that's Indian administration, Constitution etc lot facts and data so its nothing hard for anyone. But in the part 1- that's theory & thinkers, only the people who understood it very well, can answer the questions. So you must not make any mistakes in part 2 but at the same time, to stand ahead of the competition you've to be perfect in part-1.That's why I told you – going from 70 to 90+ is tougher. So do give extra attention to part-1. Don't ignore anything- keep your concepts clear as your glasses.)
Once your syllabus is over- then buy some practice test paper sets and practice them.
Practice is really important because
Most of the questions from part-1 are like , they give you two sentences and ask you which of them is correct/ wrong. But the problem is – almost 90% of the time you'll feel that both of them are correct (because its tricky, so if your concepts and revision is not perfect, then it'll all look correct to you. that's why keep practicing test papers.)
Myself on my own strategy
August 2008- I got result that I did not clear the prelims.
So I went into depression , and thinking of quitting and coming back to pharmacy job, people nagging me, people making fun of me etc.
So that thinking and depression did not let me start preparing again until about November 2008.(that's a really bad thing – If you fail in prelims don't go like that- start preparing immediately in August, DON'T let anyone suck you into negative thinking / depression.) so, in November 2008 I finally got my confidence back and decided that since I've invested so much time already – let me do it one more time, (incremental Decision Making ) And then I rectified my shortcomings, I started making the notes since about November end 2008 - it was a tiresome job, but I finished it before March 2009 came.
Then I hanged on to it, I kept revising and a sharp eye on newspaper. Since I had everything written in my own short notes
, I NEVER EVEN TOUCHED LAXMIKANTH or any other big book after March 2009.
Cause I've all of it in my own notes- short & Sweet- I kept revising from it. and I had & have & shall always have faith in my notes.
That's important- to have faith in your strategy & notes and not to fluctuate from the path during the floods – like following….
When the March end comes- you'll see a flood of material from Delhi.
(if you go to some coaching class) – you'll notice that all your friends are Xeroxing some imp notes that came from some big classes of Delhi. Most people go greedy and stop their routine.
They stop reading newspapers, or revising their own notes, or practice test papers. and concentrate on that imp 'material' only but UPSC doesn't ask anything from it (just like they did not ask anything from Vaji's Current affairs this time lol- don't waste your time )
My Prelim-2009 Performance
In 17
th May 2009, Sunday morning "D-Day" I gave the Public Administration Prelims exam
This time it was very easy paper. (I was angry throughout the paper – that "
damn, I wasted so much time preparing all difficult topics and these people have set up paper like Primary School") Anyways, It went nice and smooth. I hanged on to the principle of not going the 'bluffing way' Except a few though –but I made logical guess work. (cause in the easy papers you've pressure to attend more answers.)
I've not solved the paper yet- because if I solve and find that few of my answers were wrong (Because I'm sure some of them would be wrong) then I'll start worrying "
whether I'll clear prelims this time or not?" and this in turn will not let me concentrate on my mains preparation until Second week of August 2009 when prelim result will be declared.
(although I did posted answer keys of Public Administration here on Forum.)
I can't say it's a full proof strategy cause I'm the only person who used it and I've not yet got the result of prelims 2009, but know that theoretically - this is certainly one of the best way to prepare for prelims.
I enjoyed preparing Public Administration by this method.
However I wish that I don't have to go through this entire procedure one more time, That's why I'm telling you – don't take Public Administration lightly.- train hard & fight to finish–
The more you sweat now (reading reference books & making notes),
less you'll have to bleed on the battlefield. (prelims)
2 more things
Why Mohit is important?
Some friends feel that they've A&M so no need to refer to Mohit.
But that's not a good idea. Reason is, every book except Mohit shows you what are the limbs, bones, muscle and skin of Public Administration – but Mohit shows you what's the heart of Public Administration – how all those things are combined and related to each other. If you directly read it then it'll be as boring as DD Basu but you first need to complete the entire topic from other books- get the fact,data,description and only then read Mohit's Chapter- then you'll understand it easy. And unlike DD Basu- there is no alternatives of Mohit, cause Mohit is a separate entity . At the same time, Mohit is also not an alternative to any other books- cause he won't give you much fact/data to you. Mohit is like Gita, - which you can't understand unless you've read the Mahabharat first.
Mohit is imp not just for prelims but mains as well.
Why Stephen is Important?
Cause he has explained the practical use of the principles of Public Administration – in American business. It helps you get a firm understanding of principles of communication , leadership etc (which are not explained with such lucid examples in any other book) it doesn't take much time to read this one – its like a story book, Also @ the end of the book there is appendix called 'Glindex' – its imp – because he's given definitions of the terminologies in between the appendix- so do read it and remember it.
Which chapter of Nicholas is imp?
If you can read the entire book- then well and good other wise at least DON'T miss following chapters.
Chapter #2
No book explains phases of Public Administration better than this chapter
Chapter #3,4,5
Chapter #7 : New public Management topic
#8: types of budget
WHY PRASAD AND PRASAD IN IMPORTANT?
Many people think that Laxmikanth has wrote about thinkers then why waste time reading again from Prasad? = cause Prasad has discussed them in detail along with good and bad points + their life, and works. So when you read, you can see the 'big picture'
How important is Laxmikanth?
It covers your basic syllabus of Public Administration prelim,
But gone are the days when UPSC asked every question from it
Nowadays you'll not find more than 60-70 questions from it (the fact –data based questions from part-2). UPSC instead has shifted its focus on reference books, current affairs, tricky questions in part-1. So never take Laxmikanth as final solution. Don't work lazy- you've to read as many reference books as you can (it'll be better if you read even more books than given in the list.)
Avoid Bluffing
so when I sat in the prelims 2008- many questions went above my head. I managed to answer 90 questions /120 (with taking completing gambler's risk in some questions - i didnot know their answers, but my seniors had told me if you don't attend 90+ in Public Administration you can never clear the prelims. and since i was new, I got scarred during the exam and did that foolish mistake, result= failed.)
that's very important Never Attend wrong questions, - Never do Bluff/blind Guess
UPSC questions are tricky, many times you feel like "oh yes this must be the answer" BUT if you've not read it earlier in some book/newspaper or magazines then its most likely you'll be wrong in it. even if you get only 50 or 40 correct answers in the paper- never ever take blind risk of attending the answers you don't know cause you're going to lose marks. (0.33 per wrong answer)
if you feel that the question paper is hard- then its hard for the rest of the India as well,
so if you can't answer something - chances are a lot others won't be able to answer it either. (provided that you really have prepared good.) so don't get scarred during prelims. its all about walking in with confidence and walking out with confidence
bluffing & guessing ain't gonna help.
if you don't believe it then take any test paper- answer it @ home and take complete risk- and once you are done, check it. and you'll see- you were wrong in most of your 'guesses.' (the test paper has to be of UPSC standard though. :) )
DO READ THE QUESTIONs carefully
Consider following questions
Q.1 Consider following statements and chose the incorrect statement
i. Gandhi was a lawyer
ii. Gandhi is preached truth and non-violence.
Ans
a.Only 1
b.Only 2
c.Both 1 & 2
d.Neither 1 or 2.
So the correct answer is D.
BUT many people are under stress and haste so when they see statement I and 2 – they think oh yes both are true, so they'll tick 'C' as true answer, with out seeing what's being asked. Don't you make that mistake- read it carefully what they've asked. (correct statement or incorrect statement) That's why I said practice test papers- they'll give you more accuracy and speed dealing with such questions.
And in Public Administration you're going to encounter a lot of questions like this (2 statements and which is correct) so do it carefully.
*UPDATE*
this stretegy works, and I'm living example of it.
I've cleared UPSC's Prelim 2009 following it.
A friend Asked
how much time should I give to each subject of pubad. First 4 chapters
take too much time.
break it down. move in topic to topic & thinkers to thinker format,
don't put pressure as 'finishing the chapters.'
these 4 are the most important chapters in the book.
because the rest part i.e. Indian administration etc are nothing but
fact and data- so you'll finish it quite quick.
but in this part it requires thorough reading and understanding.
part 2 (Indian Administration, etc) - any tom dick and harry
around can get all correct answers in that portion, hence
the real
'cut-off' competition starts and ends in these First 4 chapters only, so let
it consume as much time as it wants.
______________
*update*
please read this article as well
I provide Study Material,Notes,Question papers,Guidance For UPSC's Civil Services Exam (IAS,IPS) preparation in India. Went to LM college of Pharmacy, Cracked prelims in 2009, Moderator of Indianofficer.com forum
