Millions of aspirants dream to make a career as an IAS officer. This dream can be true if the aspirant clears one of the toughest UPSC exams. Besides IAS, the aspirant can look forward to a career as IFS, an IPS officer.

The UPSC exams play a vital role in succeeding a candidate. Therefore, one of the main questions that many aspirants ask is how to start preparing for IAS exams. Before you start, it is advised to decide whether you would opt for self-study or take training.

Below, we will discuss some of the most critical steps that will help you prepare for the UPSC syllabus with the right approach.

Know the dates of the exams:

The first thing to ascertain is to look for the dates of the exams. Knowing the dates in advance will help you start preparing with the right approach. This way, you can also decide on the number of hours you will require.
It is best to have at least 12 to 14 months to prepare before the exam date. The IAS Syllabus is vast and will require a lot of time if you are looking for the best results.

Keep yourself motivated:

One of the first approaches a UPSC aspirant should be positive. Having a positive attitude will help you be motivated and attain the best results. The exam preparation takes almost a year, and the exam then lasts for another year. This will give you enough reasons to stay motivated for the exams.

SWOT Analysis:

If you are looking for the best results, a SWOT analysis is essential. This analysis will help you ascertain the strengths and weaknesses that you have. Besides, you can also ascertain the opportunities and be cautious of the threats.
A SWOT analysis is essential to ascertain the requirements to give your best. You can take cautions to deliver the best results irrespective of the number of people cheering you.

Read NCERT Books:

If you are appearing for the UPSC exams for the first time, read NCERT books. All the books from class 8 to class 12 will offer you the best results for UPSC preparation.
The syllabus includes a lot of information from the NCERT books. A lot of the questions have been asked during the UPSC exams. Questions that have informative answers are generally asked.
Reading NCERT will help you build your foundation and adopt the right attitude to get started.

Stay updated:

If you are an IAS aspirant, reading the newspaper daily is the best thing for you. The Indian and The Hindu newspaper are best for reading and staying updated. The UPSC syllabus covers recent happenings, so it plays a vital role.

Understand the union budget:

The union budget plays a vital role when it comes to UPSC exams. Every year the UPSC exams are held between May to June. The union budget taking place just before that plays a vital role in the UPSC exams.

Choosing optional:

When preparing for the IAS syllabus, choosing the right optional subject is essential. During the final tally for UPSC exams, optional subjects hold around 500 marks. Therefore, one should take the optional subjects seriously if looking for the best results.

Watch out for the pros and cons of the subject and make an enhanced decision. It would help if you kept in mind certain factors when choosing the right optional subject for yourself. Having prior knowledge and interest in the subject is a plus point.

Besides, these ensure you take the right coaching and get available study materials. Studying materials correctly can help you a long way.

Make Notes:

As we all know, the UPSC syllabus is vast, so taking notes while preparing is wise. This will help you to keep track of the portions you have covered. Also, you will be able to go back to your revision, referring to notes instantly.

Notes can be very vital when preparing for current affairs. Keeping a note of all the current happenings will give you an upper hand.

Conclusion:

Mentioned above are some points that will help you prepare for the UPSC syllabus by having the right approach. A positive attitude with proper planning and strategy is essential if looking for the best results.