1. As the number of candidates taking the exam is huge, the competition automatically becomes very tough. This necessitates extremely intense preparation, and a mindset to take multiple attempts. One can earmark at least 4-5 years of his/her life for this exam. This period can get reduced only if the candidate succeeds in the first or first two attempts. If the candidate has completed his/her studies and is able to give his/her entire time for the exam preparations, it’s necessary that he/she dedicates 8-9 hours daily in all days of the week for at least 2 years before the prelims of the exam targeted. If the time period left before the prelims of the exam targeted is lesser, say 1 to 1.5 years, then the studies need to be done for a minimum of 12-14 hours daily. Dedicating a period less than a year is very unlikely to bring success.

2.The next decision is about the choice of optional. Although there’s no optional paper for Prelims, one has to take this subject in the Mains Written where it’s weightage is around 29% (500 out of 1750 marks). Very often the subject studied in PG becomes a natural choice but the optional needs to be chosen very carefully. One can chose any optional depending upon one’s aptitude, previous exposure, scoring chances and time available for preparation.

3.The heaviest portion of the syllabus for the entire exam is General Studies (GS) which carries 100% weightage in UPSC Prelims, has 5 (including Essay) out of 7 papers (1250 out of 1750 marks) or 71% weightage in Written Mains and 100% in Personality Test (Interview).

4.The syllabus for the General Studies is virtually unlimited, and, therefore, the choice of topics to be covered and those to be left relatively uncovered becomes very important and requires a lot of intelligent decision making. On this count, HIA assures that it will teach the most appropriate and correct choice to its students. It would be advisable to give 65-75% of the time to GS and around 25-35% to the optional. Out of the time given to GS, it would be advisable to give around 80-85% to conventional GS (GS1 of Prelims) and around 15% to CSAT portion. After selection in the Prelims for the Mains Written, the 15% portion can be allotted to Ethics.

5.The above allocation is only indicative, the important thing to remember is that preparing for such tough competitive exams requires 360 degrees all round development of oneself. In addition to studying in the conventional manner by reading books etc, one needs to remain alert all the time to ensure no learning escapes from the day-to-day happenings like news, developments in the society etc. It’s essential to develop the habit of reading from good sources like “The Hindu”, “The Times of India”, “Ghatna Chakra”, “Pareeksha Manthan”, Yojana (published by Publication Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting), Kurukshetra (Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India), India Year Book (published by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India), Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha TV.

6.In addition to the above, it’s essential also to read Guides, PYQs and take tests from Test Series (Both Prelims and Mains) published by authentic sources.

7.It’s essential also to have a peer group having the same aims i.e. those appearing in UPSC/ MPPSC etc. This will also help in the 360 degrees preparation. Preparation also needs to necessitate cover carrying out Answer writing exercises, taking part in Group Discussions and Debates.

8.The requirements spelt out by the UPSC require a 360 degrees development of the students and their personality. Therefore, it is imperative that the students are also taught about other related subjects like literature, painting dance forms etc. Painting is one of the oldest forms of expression and communication as evident from various the pre-historic paintings discovered including the Bhimbetka rock shelters (just 45 kms from Bhopal), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which spans the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods exhibiting the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of the Stone Age, with the earliest dated to 10,000 BCE. Verse also has been a very dominant form of documentation as evident also from the most revered Indian/ Hindu scriptures – Ramayana, Mahabharat and Geeta…………………. As such, some knowledge of literature and fine arts is a must for any serious UPSC/ MPPSC candidate. HIA will also incorporate teaching of Hindi (including Urdu and other variations), English and world literature. Sports is also another area which is seen to have been prominent even in pre-historic times with the Olympics held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Famous or prominent sports personalities would be invited to deliver Guest lectures. Guest lecture or in-house lectures would also be organised on the topics of motivation, soft skills, management techniques, yoga etc. Similarly, the power of observation, analysis and expression is a prerequisite for the Essays in the civil services exams (CSE). Book reading, diary maintenance, group discussion, quizzes and debates will also add the much-needed holistic development, variety of thought, and development of all faculties of the students would be as much a part of the exam preparation as the knowledge-based teaching. The above are also expected to make teaching learning more interesting. HIA would also encourage the students to read the quality newspapers/ media house publications more closely, including reading of the Editorials. Its curriculum will also include exercises on Editorials and literature.

9.A number of students feel that the syllabus being huge (almost infinite), is it possible to clear the exam through mugging, or only those with good memory can succeed. A number of students feel that despite covering almost the entire syllabus why they have been unable to clear even the Prelims. They also feel that whether studying the entire syllabus is essential or not.

10.Another question which arises in their minds is about the choice of books and resource material.

11.हजेला आईएएस अकादमी का कोर्स कितना प्रभावी है? HIA Notes

12.Choice between UPSC and MPPSC: MPPSC CSE has lesser number of candidates appearing in it and is considered relatively less tough than the UPSC CSE. But the syllabus is largely similar. It’s felt that every MPPSC aspirant should once try the UPSC CSE as it can safely be considered as the mother of all similar examinations and has the following advantages:
1.  It broadens the horizons and gives deeper insights,
2.  It takes the candidate on the path to becoming a global citizen just by preparing for the exam a bit,
3.  It brings one closer to the country, it’s culture, heritage etc,
4.  It inculcates analytical power in the candidates.
Preparations for MPPSC should not be inferior to that of UPSC. Even if UPSC is not the final aim, it would be desirable to take at least one attempt at UPSC. HIA doesn’t try to compartmentalise the two exams and would offer the Foundation Consolidated Course both foe UPSC and MPPSC together.

13.All the above will require reliable mentorship. Mentoring means guidance about the all-round 360 degrees personality and knowledge development of the student. This guidance would start from suggesting the correct choice of resource material and go much beyond to proportion of effort to be used for various subjects, peer group management, time management, motivation and perseverance, managing conflicting pressures of work and studies etc.

14.As mentioned earlier, it requires a lot of study and analysis to find out the most appropriate topics of study. This study is not just that of the proportion of various topics in the earlier years papers (PYQs), the degree of difficulty of those questions but also that of other trends in teaching learning, resources etc. A good Coaching Institution would have done this study and analysis, and therefore become an indispensable part of one’s war to crack the competition. will also be essential as

15.HIA eminently fits the bill of both best mentorship and coaching requirements.

16.Types of students:
 i. Available full time for CSE preparations:
  a) PG completed and not working
  b) Graduate completed and not working not studying (available full time for CSE)
 ii. Not available full time for CSE preparations:
  a) PG completed and studying
  b) PG and working
  c) Graduate completed and studying
  d) Graduate completed and working
  e) Doing Graduation
  f) Doing Schooling HS

17.Normalisation, choice of optionals.

18.Books

19.Guides

20.PYQs

21.Test Series (Both Prelims and Mains)

22.Current Affairs – good sources
 iiii. The Hindu
 iiv. TOI
 iv. Ghatna Chakra
 ivi. Pareeksha manthan
 ivii. Yojana
 iviii. Kurukshetra
 iix. India Year Book (published by PIB)
 ix. Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha TV

23.Correct Coaching

24.Correct mentorship

25.360 degrees

26.Answer writing

27.Group Discussions/ Debates

28.Choice between UPSC and MPPSC