Environment for Prelims

My journey

Importance of Environment

Decoding syllabus:

An observation – broadly 7 type of Questions are being asked in UPSC prelims environment section.

I had segregated the same in my prelims notes for 2018 (refer below link) and in 2018 also, questions were asked from these types. [this was purely my personal observation in limited time for prelims prep, also UPSC is known for unpredictability, hence advance apologies for inclusion /exclusion errors. ]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sAC3_-XsL9VRwp5dzdUonJ4wx28p7_6A

Current affairs is an important part for environment section. Hence, while doing this section focus should be on things which have been in news for last 1-2 years.

Plan of action:

Before prelims

• 1st method – Take a book available in market, complete cover to cover, solve UPSC PYQ. Disadvantage – no book as precise as Laxmikant for polity, bookish language of available books taking longer time with lesser retention, Images are a must for environment specially species section which are absent in most books, inclusion/exclusion errors etc.
• Hence, I adopted 2nd method as below:
• Complete 7 question types (described below) from below method/any other source.
• One should check index and headlines for any one source (any standard environment book for UPSC) to confirm that all basic concepts have been covered. 
• Studying with Question type in mind keeps us around actual prelims questions and good cost benefit is obtained.

only core environment Questions are analysed here (Geography and agriculture to be prepared separately, which may be shown as Environment questions by others). The above distribution is given so that aspirants know relative importance of each type while preparing. UPSC PYQ asked from the type should be referred, while reading that area. This will help targeted approach and increase productivity (more output in less input).

The answer to how much detail is needed and which topics to read/leave will be understood from UPSC PYQ of that particular area (not from coaching institute test papers).

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a2ueco73IBQhwA6tni7Av5m81JpLxLwR

In case someone has more time and wants to invest in Forestry optional, she can first do the common portion of environment and forestry (highlighted in Forestry optional analysis, separate post). But, this should not come at the cost of basic sources for prelims. A maximum of total 20 hours for these topics is suggested as a good investment.  These chapters done from M&P has potential to help in Pre also. E.g. Critical wildlife habitat (2018 prelims Q, M&P page 586), Watershed management (2014 prelims Q, Ch 9 M & P), Contour bunding (2013 prelims Q , M &P Page 230), Gypsum application (2017 famous prelims Q, Gypsum application mentioned in page 233, under chemical measures for soil moisture conservation) etc.

Link for species videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-usI6WK-W4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh_w9NwEhxw

Prelims to CSM

• Anyone current affairs compilation/Self made newspaper notes
• Revise prelims notes (2018 mains Q – Biodiversity act, Ramsar etc)

All the best.

Mail me your queries at ifssaurabhkumar@gmail.com

In case, I get more queries on same topic, I would try to make a post on the same.

Some abbreviations used above

CSP- Civil services prelims, CSM- Civil services mains, M & P – Manikandan and Prabhu book, PMF – Poor man’s friend book, PYQ – Previous year questions, Q- questions,