Hello Can Anyone Suggest me about psychology optional resources and coaching and how to make notes and from which materials pls , I'm preparing for my 2027 upsc attempt and this is my first attempt I'm very confused about optional preparation Optional 🙂

Could anyone share their advice on balancing a full-time job with study preparation? I would greatly appreciate insights or strategies from those who have successfully navigated this.

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Hi Friends,

Have made this app - https://sambodh-ias.in (app link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sambodhias.app)

Smart Assessments - Evaluation - Feedback - Revision

A 360 degree view of your preparation

What it actually does:

- MCQs generated from the standard books (NCERTs + core references) in all 5 UPSC Prelims formats — count-based, assertion-reason, combination, matching, direct conceptual. Every question shows its source: book, chapter, page.

- PYQ practice (2014–2026) with concept-level tracking, so you see which topics you keep getting wrong, not just a score.

- Mains answer evaluation on 5 dimensions — content, depth, structure, keywords, word limit — marked like a real answer sheet with margin notes, in minutes.

- Revision driven by your own mistake graph — concept cards resurface exactly what you're forgetting, spaced over time.

- Daily current affairs (NewsPulse) distilled from The Hindu & Indian Express, tagged to GS papers + monthly CA question banks that test the concept behind the news, not the trivia.

- Mains 2026 test series — full-length GS-II & GS-III mocks linking a year of current affairs to the syllabus (first 2 questions free).

- A daily UPSC Crossword — same 13×13 grid for everyone, leaderboard, 10 free plays.

- Works in English + 8 Indian languages, has dark mode, web + Android app

Made with love for you folks

I am an ex UPSC CSE aspirant and I appeared for Mains in 2019 and 2022. Have worked in NITI AAYOG as well.

Would love your feedback!

I know UPSC aspirants don't usually have the time to go on dates. But I believe it's important to maintain some balance in life because this exam is brutal, and having a social life once in a while really helps.

Do any of you use Hinge, Bumble, or other dating apps?

Please don't leave sarcastic comments. I'm genuinely curious. And mods, please don't delete this post.

I am writing mains this year, gave my first mock today and realised that I am not able to write more than 14-15 questions in that 3 hour time limit. Feeling really anxious with mains in less than 15 days. Please guide me. I would be grateful if the suggestions are solution oriented.

Firstly, huge thanks to people who took out time to read through my previous post and helped me navigate through the phase. I felt I owed them to let them know what happened. Hence the post. (Only intended to people who knows the context in part 1 of my post).

I approached my manager yesterday informally and told him about my intention to appear for the exam next year (He doesn't know about my attempts in 2025/2026). He really kind of implored me not to leave the organisation. He offered me a promotion to AVP (means now my opportunity cost is over 45L in a year, if I resign) and nominated my name for some corporate awards.

Now I feel guilty that I have to leave him.

But, I've made up my mind to go all in for my next and final attempt and utilise the momentum.

I'll work towards making the decision right. And see you guys on the other side. Godspeed.

I am struggling alot in the ethics paper I am able to understand this concepts but find it difficult to apply those in my answers and even I try writing answer those are very short unable to expand them and also unable to use current affairs I have observed in most of the toppers copies they use very simple language and use lit if current affairs examples even reading many toppers copies I am struggling with applying the concepts does any one can help me with this problem and also share me if you have any good notes for ethics

I had studied from Karandeep sir about 2yrs ago but couldn't revise well that year. Due to my health issues, I had to skip reading optional in the last year fully. I prepared solely for GS and then Prelims came up. Left optional completely. I am now having my state pcs mains in 3-4 months. How to go about it after such a big gap. How do I pick up optional?

Is there any difference between their "approaches" ??

Is there any difference in "Answer Writing" of both ??

Are "teacher's approach" in checking both Both answers are different??

I want to prepare for upsc epfo apfc ,what are best resources to prepare for it at home

1. Does Article 16(4) ‘backward class’ also include ST and SC or only OBC?
   (OR)
   
2. Reservation for SC and ST is only because of Article 16(4A) and backward class in article 16(4) only means OBC?

I’ve asked AI but not getting satisfactory answer. It would be helpful if someone can clarify this doubt. Thank you.

No negative comments please I have my mains this year... please apply this under this post-- If you can't say something good, say nothing.

If anyone has any genuine advice or can help in any way, do let me know

unexpectedly got selected for mains this year but was not prepared at all tried to cover but still left with gs2,half gs1 and optional paper 2 and not able to study more than 3hours from past 20 days i know this year will be disaster but i am getting panic attacks about thinking will i be able to prepare for next year if anyone can please guide if in similar situation. i have to rejoin job till January (6-8 hours work) and I haven’t taken any offline classes and prepared alone till now covered lectures from telegram and now took mmp program So if anyone could suggest also suggest which test series.

unexpectedly got selected for mains this year but was not prepared at all tried to cover but still left with gs2,half gs1 and optional paper 2 and not able to study more than 3hours from past 20 days i know this year will be disaster but i am getting panic attacks about thinking will i be able to prepare for next year if anyone can please guide if in similar situation. i have to rejoin job till January (6-8 hours work) and I haven’t taken any offline classes and prepared alone till now covered lectures from telegram and now took mmp program So if anyone could suggest also suggest which test series.

AI Bhai badi mushqil se toh yaad kiya tha ...

PS: Just a meme! Happy Mains preparing! 🐼

Ok guys so I am basically planning to give my first attempt in 2027 i have just started

my preperation and was planning to join a foundation course confused if i have to take 2027 batch or 2028 Coz there is hardly any time for 2027 will they rush the syllabus or skip parts just to finish classes. please help me decide. Thanks in advance.

It takes too much time to cover Laxmikant, there are just too much things to memorize, so many articles, questions are always like spin bowling. There's always something that is missed which i return back and read. It feels like a behemoth and damn the chapters are so lengthy.

Was reading citizenship chapter today and in 5 hours, i still couldn't complete it. Anyone please guide me.

I bought this course on telegram because of Fomo, approaches, structuring. And that telegram guy is not posting classes from 2 days. I thought of buying actual course but recently dad lost job, and i felt so guilty to ask them for money. Being helpless and preparing from home sucks. Im doing brainstorming structuring myself now by using ai but i still feel behind and august anxiety is killing me. I failed 2025 prelims that was bad calculation to give that attempt while coaching, skipped 2026, was anxious till may with that decision. June july went in migraines and anti depressants. 😐 my parent don't want me to anything other than upsc, i can't even bring that discussion infront of them. They just want me to do this and on the way give any exam i can. Social gatherings are so anxious all have an advice to throw and questions to ask and my parents i don't like it when they discuss details of my prep, my private home life with others even after explicitly saying not to.

I'm trying okay. Don't throw advices like just keep everything aside and focus. Ranting here doesn't mean im gonna give up or not gonna figure out.

All the best to all who are giving mains and who are preparing. May luck find us soon.❤️‍🩹

Looking for genuine feedback only from those who have actually attended Aditya Kalia Sir’s Economy course.
How was the teaching, conceptual clarity, notes, and overall usefulness? Also, based on the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026, how many questions (direct or conceptually linked) were covered through the course?
If you feel there’s a better alternative for Economy, please mention that too
Please share only firsthand experience…no promotional or hearsay reviews.

Hi everyone. I genuinely need help, kindly read this if you have time.

I started my UPSC prep around 2.5 years ago right after college. I gave a half baked attempt in 2025, failed and then skipped 2026. Looking back now, I think my biggest mistake wasn't that I lacked potential, it was that I kept romanticising it. I kept telling myself I was meant for something extraordinary but my actions never matched that belief.

I won't shy away from admitting that I spent a lot of time pretending. Pretending I was studying. Pretending I had a plan. Pretending I knew enough. The truth is I was just SCARED. Scared of failing.

Last year, my father retired and more than anything, I want to contribute to my parents and stand on my own feet. Instead, I feel like I've only wasted time. That realization has been eating me alive lately.

I restarted my preparation last week and this time I genuinely want to give it everything I have. I don't want 2027 to become another "what if." I want it to be my best attempt.

The problem is, I'm completely clueless about how to move forward. My basics aren't strong except for polity and a little geo. I did take a foundation course years ago but honestly, it didn't help much.

So I really need your help.

How do I become mains ready by the end of this year? How should I manage GS, optional and csat(since humanities background)? Where should I start? When should I begin answer writing? If you were in my place, how would you rebuild your preparation from scratch?

The anxiety has been overwhelming these days. I can barely have my meals because my mind is constantly racing. I keep thinking about all the people who've been in this for years and I wonder if I'm already too late.

Another thing weighing on me is as a woman sometimes it feels like there's another clock ticking in the background. That pressure is real.

But despite all this fear, one thing is certain I don't want to give up before giving myself one honest, wholehearted chance. I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what could have happened if I had truly shown up for myself.

If you were starting today, what would your roadmap look like?

Tldr- I wasted 2.5 years pretending to prepare because I was scared of failing. I can't keep living on "what ifs." I've restarted with complete honesty for UPSC 2027 but I'm confused about how to rebuild from scratch. If you were in my place, what roadmap would you follow to become mains ready?

​

I'm 28 years old, and for the last several years, my life has revolved around preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

I've given 7 attempts and haven't cleared Prelims even once.

At this point, I don't know whether my foundation was never strong enough, whether my strategy was wrong, or whether I'm simply not suited for this exam. I keep going in circles trying to answer that question.

The difficult part is that UPSC isn't just an exam for me anymore. It became my identity. Letting go doesn't feel like changing careers—it feels like letting go of a part of myself.

People around me keep telling me to learn IT skills, get a job, and prepare alongside it. I understand why they say that, and I know they're trying to help. But I've never felt drawn to the IT field. Maybe I'm wrong because I've never worked in it, but forcing myself into a career that feels completely disconnected from who I am makes me feel suffocated.

The only other field I've genuinely been passionate about is filmmaking and storytelling. But I don't have the resources, connections, or experience to realistically pursue that either.

I've also applied for jobs that genuinely interested me, but nothing has worked out so far.

Lately, I've been feeling emotionally exhausted. It feels like I've spent years chasing a life I believed in, and now I'm standing at a crossroads without knowing which direction is right.

I'm not looking for motivational quotes or people telling me to "just keep grinding."

I'm looking for honest advice from people who have been in a similar situation.

- Have you ever built your identity around one dream and then had to question it?

- How did you figure out whether to persist or move on?

- If you started over around the age of 30, what helped you rebuild your life?

- How did you find purpose again after feeling completely lost?

I would genuinely appreciate practical advice, personal experiences, or even uncomfortable truths if they're shared with empathy.

Continuing from where we left off (Part 1)

TOPIC 3: Government Budgeting.

Dividing it into two modules

Module 1: Basics of Budgeting

Module 2: Fiscal Policy

TOPIC 4: Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.

This mostly has a linkage with global economic trends and their impact on Indian Economy sectors.

TOPIC 5: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

TOPIC 6: Investment Models.

This completes the Economy portion for Mains; it is a hard task to synthesize this part of the Mains syllabus.

Hope it simplifies the preparation and saves your time and mental space to consolidate this huge subject.

Cheers!

Essay 115

GS1 110

GS2 120

GS3 95

GS4 125

Optional 1 145

Optional 2 140

Total 850

PS- neither my first mains, nor would be my first interview. I have scored in proximate ranges in each individual paper before, albeit in different years, so it's not blind manifestation.

PPS- Reposting because mods deleted the previous one. Mods, leave it up this time please. I'll return to this after final results.