History Optional Strategy by Vikas Ahlawat
Vikas Ahlawat, IRS IT 2017.
AIR 146, CSE 2018.
History Marks (168+156= 324).
His optional strategy:
Book List:
· Balyan
Notes for all for basic questions.
· Ancient
– Upiendra Singh & R S Sharma.
· Medieval
– B A Ignou & Satish Chandra with use of Internet for sources.
· Modern
– Shekhar Bandopadhya, B L Grover & Peasant and Tribal Movement from Bipan
Chandra.
· World
– Ranjan Chakraborty & Norman Lowe.
I have done coaching from Balyan Sir’s Insight Ias Academy
(2013-14) but I did not obtain good marks in 2014,15,16 as those notes cannot
cover the dynamic questions asked these days and also simplistic conclusions on
every topic hindered the answer writing.
So follow standard books plus notes for overall view.
I was able to improve my score in History Optional from 276(2017) to
324(2018) by changing my Strategy. It Includes:
· Focus
on completing the paper rather than writing few good answers and then leaving
few questions at the end due to paucity of time. Write few tests to ensure
this.
· I
limited my sources for every part of the syllabus and solved previous year questions.
· Used
Maps and Diagrams/Charts in Paper 1 and 2. For example in Paper 2, Reasons for
underdevelopment of Africa were asked. I made a map of continent and showed
Instability across the continent. Arab Spring, Boko Haram, Somalia efc.
Paper 1: I drew Map in Questions like Harappa, Ancient
Republics, Battle of Tarian. Chart in Mauryan Polity question and
Downfall of Mughals.
Paper 2: I drew Map in Africa, Japan Industrialization
impact on Neighbouring countries. Chart in Land Reforms, Classes made
by British rule
· Rigorous Map practice with quality information. For
this I limited the number of sites to cram information (75) while practiced 250
for pointing purpose.
· Covered
Topics not asked by UPSC so far as now they are covering these questions.
· Use
of Sources and Names of Historians in Debate type questions.
My Recommendations:
· Revise
the syllabus multiple times by limiting sources.
·
Write a good test series. M K Yadav’s IAShub History Optional Test
series is good in this regard.
· Solve
Previous Year questions and questions asked in GS1 History Questions (2013-18).
· Have
faith in your work and try to improve.
Overall History has vast syllabus and may not provide result quickly but
this year it has given dividends. I hope this trend will continue.
All the best.
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