Economics optional is generally considered one of the most difficult optional paper choice. The syllabus is vast and is not as scoring as the Sciences and Mathematics. And not to forget, considering the relative competition, people have been doing far better taking subjects such as Anthropology and Literature subjects.
Then why Economics ?
1. With strategic preparation, it provides you a very balanced score. Very limited scope of subjectivity in this paper. Hence one can expect scores to be in the range 275-325 with good preparation.
2. Major overlap with General Studies and Interview preparation. Polity and Economics literally form the major chunk of the UPSC syllabus.
3. Provides a good base score for Personality Test. People taking Economics as their optional always receive appreciation and respect from the Interview Board. Thus tackling few questions respectfully in the board is enough to set a base score of 165 for the Personality Test.
# My Economics score:
# Approach:
# How to prepare:
Then why Economics ?
1. With strategic preparation, it provides you a very balanced score. Very limited scope of subjectivity in this paper. Hence one can expect scores to be in the range 275-325 with good preparation.
2. Major overlap with General Studies and Interview preparation. Polity and Economics literally form the major chunk of the UPSC syllabus.
3. Provides a good base score for Personality Test. People taking Economics as their optional always receive appreciation and respect from the Interview Board. Thus tackling few questions respectfully in the board is enough to set a base score of 165 for the Personality Test.
# My Economics score:
CSE 2017
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CSE 2018
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Economics Paper 1: 158
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Economics Paper 1: 159
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Economics Paper 2: 149
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Economics Paper 2: 155
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# Approach:
- One must target 300+ with a balanced score of around 150+ in both the paper.
- One requires around dedicated 5-6 months of preparation. So try finishing the notes and at least one round of reading before the prelims.
# How to prepare:
- Note making and consolidating the models topic wise in your own words is the key.
- Book list and reading list for related topics in the syllabus are mentioned in the link below for respective paper strategies.
- During the initial phase, give a general reading of the books. You have to read all the relevant chapters which are mentioned in the syllabus or either a question has been asked in the past.
- Once a first round of reading is done -> start making point wise notes for every topic.
For eg: In Micro -> Market Structure -> Monopoly related topics can be summarised from Ahuja in around 10 pages. Similarly do that for all the topics. - And the most important thing: Do all the past year questions. Do them thoroughly. See the favourite topics of UPSC. Questions and topics will get repeated without fail.
eg: Knife edge in Harrod etc
Topics
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Readings
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Microeconomics
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Advanced Economic Theory by HL Ahuja
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Macroeconomics
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- Macro Theory and Policy by HL Ahuja
- Froyen
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International Trade
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International Economics – Trade and Finance by Salvatore
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Growth and Development
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The Economics of Development and Planning – ML Jhingan
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MFM
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Macro Theory and Policy by HL Ahuja
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Public Finance
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- Public Finance by HL Bhatia
- Macro by HL Ahuja
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Sir please share ur economics notes.i will be vert thnqful to u.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir for sharing your strategies, especially considering the fact that coaching for Economics is limited.
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteSir please do share your notes
ReplyDeleteAs I observed, now a days ,weightage of "pre-independence" is increasing now a days ,also they are deliberately making 2-3 questions in compulsory part comparatively tougher (difficult to do during exam) , at-least for me, they are.How did you strategise then and there during examination ? I also had difficulty in "Growth and Development " part ,also saw video lectures of Ravindran Jha sir ,but still facing some issues.It would be much of help if you put special emphasis on nuances ,tweaks ,hacks(for instance ,name of economists ,research paper etc),and strategy that a non-economics background aspirant should follow.
ReplyDeleteYour candid write-up on "insights" is reflection of your great character.Congratulations and Great wishes from this side for your journey ahead.
Sir, kindly share your detailed strategy for IES as well, given that the exam is just a month away and there is presently a dearth of guidance for this exam. I would be extremely grateful, Sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations on your success! :)
I am aiming for CSE 2020 (preparing via self study) & have a few queries:
1. I am in my final year of bachelors in Economics and want to take it as an optional. While looking for people who had cleared CSE with this optional, I found that most of them had completed or were pursuing further studies in it. However, I have no desire to go down that road. With this in mind, what would you suggest? Should I continue with economics or look at other options? Can one handle the syllabus well without higher studies in the field?
2. I tried to find solved past year papers of Economics optional but I found only unsolved ones. How does one check whether one’s answers are correct or not because often there are contradictory answers on the internet?
3. Does one need a very in-depth understanding of the math behind the concepts (say like DSE entrance level :P) or is it sufficient to be able to understand the basic derivations and graphs?
4. Are there any good test series available? If no, then how does one test whether the answers one writes are up to the mark or not?
5. Is it preferable to study optional and GS simultaneously or complete one of them first and then do the other?
6. Should GS Economics and Economics Optional 2 be prepared simultaneously or separately? How does the approach to preparing and answering questions differ for in this case?
Hi sir,congrats i am sandeep kumar from j&k .plz tell me any test series for mains economics optional which u joined
ReplyDeleteI had joined test series at Bliss Point Studies at Karol Bagh, New Delhi. You can also solve past year papers extensively in case you are not finding it feasible to join any test series
DeleteSir please upload your notes and paper wise strategy.
ReplyDeleteWe students are waiting for it.
sir plz share sources for paper 2
ReplyDeletehad been updated
DeleteSir can you please share your bliss point test copies especially of paper 2
DeleteIt will be of great help to learn sir.
Thank you.
sir i m following hg mannaur for international economics and not salvatore,is it ok?
ReplyDeletego for Salvatore. It is sort of primary reading as per UPSC syllabus.
Deletesir..pls upload previous years model answers that you have prepared
ReplyDeleteSir can you tell me the importance of economics optional test series and how how many test you have written before actual exam ??
ReplyDeleteGreetings Sir..Congratulations on your big achievement..from where did you get your economics optional practise papers corrected during your preparation?
ReplyDeletesir pls share your notes.
ReplyDelete