The examination is a year long event involving Preliminary Exam in May or June, Main Exam in Oct-Nov and Personality Test in March-April. The detail information regarding the exam can be found at the U.P.S.C website www.upsc.gov.in One can view the notifications uploaded on that site.
I shall just put forth approximate timelines associated with the preparation for the exam. The exam requires minimum 1 and half to 2 years of full time preparation before the preliminary exam in May/June. This period will involve preparation for General Studies, Optional 1 and Optional 2. The optional subjects require graduation level preparation while General Studies require matriculation level preparation.
Rough guide for new aspirants
Target Examination - June 2013
May 2011 - Graduation completion.
June 2011 till Dec 2011 - Read all NCERT books and create a strong foundation. Also select your optionals during this period. Get hold of all material that will be required for the optionals. I will post regarding the optionals separately.
Jan 2012 till Dec 2012 - Prepare for optionals and General Studies with the aim that one can write the main examination with 3 months revision.
Jan 2013 till June 2013 - Prepare for the preliminary examination. Give Preliminary Examination Test Series.
June 2013 till Oct 2013 - Prepare for Main examination. Give Main examination Test Series.
Nov 2013 onwards - Prepare for Personality Test. At the same time prepare for Prelims and Main examination, in case another attempt is required.
(These are rough estimates for aspirants who want to start now. If you have already been preparing for the exam, the timelines will change accordingly)
Starting with Preparations
Broadly the preparation involves 2 types of content - static (including foundation building in General studies, Optional 1 and Optional 2) and dynamic (Current Affairs). Static content as the name suggests does not change with time. So once you prepare, you only have to revise it later. The dynamic content keeps changing. Therefore one has to keep abreast of the latest happenings around us.
The best way to prepare for the exam is to create a strong foundation. So if one is confused of how to start, first thing to do is pick up NCERT 9th 10th 11th 12th standard text books. (NCERT books are the school text books used in CBSE schools). It may be a challenge to get these text books in Mumbai-Thane. Try to locate a CBSE school in your locality and make inquiries. One location is outside Matunga Central Station (East).
Try to get hold of as many relevant NCERT Books - History, Geography, Polity, Science, Economics etc. Start with 9th standard and then move forward. NCERT books are going to be the base and one has to read them a number of times to ensure one's preparation is on a strong footing. This is part of the static content of General Studies. It is advisable that if you are still doing your graduation or in junior college or school you start reading these books right now itself.
Newspaper reading is a MUST. Pick up any newspaper. Make a habit of reading the newspaper everyday. Make notes of what you think is important. It may happen that initially everything appears important but as time goes on and one has a look at the question papers, our focus improves. But for starters note down whatever you think is important. The idea is to revise things over and over again.
Tip: Crime, stock exchange can be eliminated.
To compliment the newspaper, read any current affairs magazine like India Today, Outlook, The Week etc. It helps in developing an analytical approach to current affair issues.
NCERT, Newspaper and current affairs magazine is a good way to start preparations. This can be done before you decide to enter into the exam preparations on a full time basis. Although current affairs keeps on changing still it is necessary to cultivate the habit of reading newspaper at an early stage.
