PSIR Strategy Articles

It is said that ‘a goal without a plan is just a wish’. Extending it further, we can also say that a ‘plan without knowledge is doomed to fail’.

UPSC-CSE preparation is one of a kind. The exam has multiple stages, each with its own set of challenges. There are also multiple subjects, each requiring a different approach while preparation.

With so many forces pulling in different directions, it is difficult to remain focused on task at hand. Naturally aspirants tend to prioritize something which they should not. All of this results in wastage of time.. and not just few hours or days.. but months and years together. There are many UPSC veterans who share – how if they would have known something from beginning, things would have been probably different.

Trying, failing and then learning – is not a good strategy for UPSC-CSE. You get few attempts, and because the exam takes away the most precious years of your life.

For all these factors, it’s very crucial that you should know the correct strategy that can be followed in preparation for this exam. This will ensure that you do not commit beginners mistakes. If you follow the strategy diligently, it will ensure that you are able to clear the exam in very first -second attempts.

And, even if you don’t clear the exam – you will know where you are going wrong. Accordingly, you can either improve on it, or leave the preparation altogether, knowing that you did your best. In fact, many students are not able to move on from CSE, just because they don’t know where they’re going wrong. This creates a false hope that probably, next time things will fall in place.

With this mindset, I will invite you to  scrutinizingly go through the following articles on PSIR Strategy. As some of you must be aware, we’ve already penned down a series of articles on UPSC Prelims preparation strategy. That series have received a very good feedback and many students could clear 25 Prelims following that.

On same lines, we’re presenting you PSIR preparation strategy. These are well researched articles. A lot of things shared here will feel obvious when you read, but don’t occur to us otherwise. We’ve tried to address all aspects of preparation from preparing a schedule to making notes and reading current affairs and so on… If only you can follow only 90% of what has been given here, we assure you that the success in PSIR is guaranteed.

So don’t wait.. go through everything, line by line, word by word and try to implement it in your preparation. If you have any suggestions for any article topic, please feel free to share.. we will be obliged to address it.

Warm regards & best wishes,
Abhijeet Pimparkar

P.S. As of July-Aug 2025, we’re still in process to write some of the articles. We plan to finish all the articles by August end (2025). We’ll also write more as we get suggestions from you all.