How to Use the Last 100 Days Before UPSC Prelims Effectively

How to Use the Last 100 Days Before UPSC Prelims Effectively

The last 100 days before the UPSC Prelims can make or break your chances of clearing the exam. This is the time to revise, practice, and refine your strategy. Below is a structured plan to maximize your performance in the given time.


๐Ÿ”น Key Principles to Follow

  1. Revision is the Priority โ€“ No new books or notes; revise what you have already studied.
  2. Practice More than You Read โ€“ Solve daily mock tests and analyze mistakes.
  3. Eliminate Weaknesses โ€“ Identify subjects where you lack confidence and focus on them.
  4. Time Management โ€“ Strictly follow a daily study schedule.
  5. CSAT is Important โ€“ Do not neglect CSAT, as it is qualifying but tricky.

๐Ÿ“… 100-Day Strategy for Prelims

The 100 days can be divided into three phases:

๐Ÿ“Œ Phase 1: (Day 1โ€“50) โ€“ Intensive Revision & Subject-wise Focus

  • Revise one subject per day and finish 2-3 subjects in a week.
  • Solve previous years’ questions (PYQs) after revising each subject.
  • Make short notes and mind maps for quick revision.
DaysSubjects to FocusAction Plan
1-7PolityRead Laxmikanth, revise notes, attempt 50 MCQs daily
8-14HistoryCover Modern (Spectrum), Ancient & Medieval (NCERTs), Art & Culture (Nitin Singhania)
15-21GeographyCover NCERTs, GC Leong, Mapping
22-28EconomyFocus on NCERTs, Economic Survey, Budget, Current Affairs
29-35EnvironmentCover Shankar IAS Book, Government Reports, Current Issues
36-42Science & TechRevise current affairs, government schemes, and basic NCERTs
43-50Full-Length Mock TestsTake 4-5 full-length tests and analyze weak areas

๐Ÿ“Œ Phase 2: (Day 51โ€“85) โ€“ Full-Length Tests & Intensive Current Affairs

  • Solve at least 25 full-length tests (1 test every 2 days).
  • Revise Current Affairs (Past 1.5 years) from monthly magazines & newspapers.
  • Focus on eliminating weak areas (Based on mock tests).
  • CSAT Practice: Solve 1-2 CSAT papers per week.
DaysFocus Area
51-57Revise Polity + History + Geography
58-64Revise Economy + Environment
65-71Revise Science & Tech + Government Schemes
72-78Current Affairs Marathon
79-85Daily Full-Length Mock Tests (Analyze mistakes)

๐Ÿ“Œ Phase 3: (Day 86โ€“100) โ€“ Final Revision & Exam Simulation

  • Do not study new topics.
  • Revise your own notes and quick summary sheets.
  • Solve at least 5-7 full-length mock tests under exam conditions.
  • Focus on high-yield topics and previous mistakes.
DaysAction Plan
86-90Full-length Tests + Error Analysis
91-95Polity, Economy, Current Affairs Revision
96-98High-Yield Topics Quick Recap
99CSAT Final Revision + Light Reading
100Relax, Sleep Early, Prepare for Exam Day

๐Ÿ›  Tips & Techniques for Each Subject

๐Ÿ“– Polity

  • Revise Laxmikanthโ€™s important chapters (Parliament, President, FRs, DPSP, Amendments).
  • Solve previous year questions (PYQs).

๐Ÿ“– History

  • Focus more on Modern History.
  • For Art & Culture, revise Buddhism, Jainism, Architecture, Literature.

๐Ÿ“– Geography

  • Mapping is crucial โ€“ India & World Maps.
  • Revise climatic regions, rivers, monsoons, vegetation.

๐Ÿ“– Economy

  • Focus on budget, economic survey, banking, monetary policies, inflation.
  • Revise important economic terms.

๐Ÿ“– Environment

  • Revise National Parks, Biodiversity Hotspots, Climate Change Treaties.
  • Solve previous year environment-related questions.

๐Ÿ“– Science & Tech

  • Focus on space, biotech, AI, cybersecurity.
  • Cover current affairs-based science.

๐Ÿ“– Current Affairs

  • Any Current Affairs Magazine for 1.5 years.
  • Revise government schemes, reports, important events.

๐Ÿ“– CSAT

  • Solve basic math and reasoning questions daily.
  • Reading Comprehension is crucial.

๐Ÿ’ก Golden Tips for the Last 100 Days

โœ” Study Smart, Not Just Hard โ€“ Prioritize high-yield topics.
โœ” Mock Tests are Key โ€“ Solve 50-100 MCQs daily.
โœ” Analyze Mistakes โ€“ Do not just attempt tests, learn from errors.
โœ” Optimize Time Management โ€“ Stick to the study plan, minimize distractions.
โœ” Keep Health in Check โ€“ Exercise, meditate, and sleep properly.
โœ” Avoid Negativity & Panic โ€“ Stay confident and trust your preparation.


โณ Final 24 Hours Before Exam

โŒ No new studies.
โœ… Revise quick notes, formulae, and key facts.
โœ… Sleep early (6-7 hours minimum).
โœ… Stay calm, avoid last-minute panic.


๐ŸŽฏ Summary

โœ” First 50 Days โ€“ Subject-wise revision & topic-wise MCQs
โœ” Next 35 Days โ€“ Full-length mock tests & current affairs
โœ” Final 15 Days โ€“ Quick revision & exam simulation

By following this 100-day strategy, you can maximize retention, improve accuracy, and boost confidence for UPSC Prelims.

๐Ÿ’ฏ Success is in your hands! ๐Ÿš€ Stay disciplined, stay consistent, and you will clear Prelims with flying colors!

PS: You can add changes as per your level of preparation or as per your need.

Preparing to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Scheduling time to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Making a to-do list for the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Telling people you’re going to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Messaging friends who may or may not be doing the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Writing a banger tweet about how you’re going to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Hating on yourself for not doing the thing isn’t doing the thing. Hating on other people who have done the thing isn’t doing the thing. Hating on the obstacles in the way of doing the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Fantasizing about all of the adoration you’ll receive once you do the thing isn’t doing the thing.

Reading about how to do the thing isn’t doing the thing. Reading about how other people did the thing isn’t doing the thing. Reading this essay isn’t doing the thing.

The only thing that is doing the thing is doing the thing. (The Strangest Loop)

Case Study on Online Child Abuse and Ethical Dilemmas in Governance

Case Study:

You are a senior officer in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) responsible for drafting policies related to online safety and digital governance. Recently, a high-profile report published in The Lancet has highlighted a disturbing trend of increasing online sexual abuse faced by children worldwide, with India being one of the most affected countries due to high internet penetration and inadequate digital literacy.

A national debate has emerged about stricter regulations and AI-driven content monitoring on social media platforms to prevent online child abuse. Civil society groups advocate for stronger privacy laws to protect childrenโ€™s online data, while tech giants argue that AI surveillance may infringe upon usersโ€™ privacy and lead to censorship issues.

The government is considering the following measures:

  1. Mandatory AI-Based Content Filtering: Implementation of AI-driven algorithms to detect and block child abuse content in real-time.
  2. Stringent Reporting Obligations: Mandating social media companies to report and remove abusive content within 24 hours.
  3. Digital Literacy Campaigns: Educating children, parents, and educators about online safety and child abuse risks.
  4. Cross-Border Cooperation: Collaborating with international agencies like INTERPOL and tech firms to curb the menace globally.

Questions:

  1. What are the ethical dilemmas involved in this case? Explain using ethical theories and principles.
  2. As a policymaker, what measures will you propose to balance online child safety and digital privacy? Justify your approach.
  3. How will you ensure that the governmentโ€™s measures do not lead to excessive censorship or misuse by authorities?
  4. What steps can be taken to improve inter-agency cooperation between law enforcement, civil society, and tech companies to address online child abuse?
  5. Discuss how ethical values such as responsibility, accountability, and transparency should guide your decision-making in this situation.
  6. Suggest a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed policy while ensuring ethical compliance.

While framing the policy, you face several ethical dilemmas:

  • Privacy vs. Protection: AI surveillance may reduce online abuse but could also violate usersโ€™ privacy.
  • Freedom of Expression vs. Regulation: Overregulation may suppress legitimate content and lead to censorship.
  • Corporate Interests vs. Public Safety: Tech companies may resist compliance due to financial costs and legal risks.
  • Victimsโ€™ Rights vs. Enforcement Challenges: Lack of robust enforcement mechanisms may leave victims without justice.

Suggested Solutions:

1. Ethical Dilemmas Involved

  • Utilitarianism vs. Deontology: A utilitarian approach supports AI-based surveillance as it maximizes overall safety, while a deontological perspective stresses respecting individual rights like privacy.
  • Right to Privacy vs. Right to Protection: The childโ€™s right to safety must be balanced against the right to digital privacy.
  • State Regulation vs. Corporate Autonomy: Governments have a duty to protect children, but excessive intervention may stifle innovation and free speech.
  • Freedom of Expression vs. AI Censorship: Automated content moderation may misinterpret legal content and limit free speech.
  • Enforcement vs. Ethics: Swift removal of content is crucial, but tech companies may hesitate due to financial and legal burdens.

2. Measures to Balance Safety and Privacy

  • Ethical AI Algorithms: Implement AI models that prioritize privacy while filtering harmful content.
  • Transparent Reporting Mechanism: Establish an independent oversight body to review content removal decisions.
  • Data Protection Laws: Strengthen the Personal Data Protection Bill to ensure AI surveillance doesnโ€™t compromise individual privacy.
  • Age-Appropriate Online Policies: Enforce child-specific safety settings on digital platforms.

3. Preventing Censorship and Misuse

  • Judicial and Civil Oversight: Content moderation decisions should be reviewed by an independent regulatory body.
  • Transparency Reports: Platforms must publish periodic reports on content takedowns.
  • Limited Scope of AI Surveillance: AI tools should focus only on harmful child exploitation content, avoiding overreach.

4. Steps for Inter-Agency Cooperation

  • Public-Private Partnerships: Establish a task force involving tech firms, NGOs, and law enforcement.
  • Cross-Border Intelligence Sharing: Engage with INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and UN agencies to track and prevent online abuse.
  • Capacity Building: Train law enforcement and judiciary on cybercrime and digital evidence handling.

5. Ethical Values in Decision-Making

  • Responsibility: The state must ensure a safe digital space for children.
  • Accountability: Transparent processes should be established for content removal.
  • Transparency: Policymaking should involve multi-stakeholder consultations, including child rights organizations.

6. Framework for Policy Effectiveness

  • Periodic Policy Review: Regular assessments to measure impact and unintended consequences.
  • Feedback from Stakeholders: Inputs from tech companies, law enforcement, and civil society.
  • Benchmarking with Global Standards: Align with best practices from the EUโ€™s GDPR and UNICEFโ€™s Child Online Protection Framework.