I lack the Financial Resources to Prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. What should I do?

UPSC Civil Services is a highly competitive examination for which aspirants put in a lot of time, effort and money. However, today, with access to the internet, candidates can do self-study and reduce their expenditure on coaching. Moreover, there are various platforms that provide free study materials for IAS exam preparation. Even if you do not have the financial resources, you can still prepare and clear the UPSC CSE. Let’s look at some options available for candidates who lack the financial resources to prepare for the UPSC exam.

Options Available for UPSC Candidates who Lack Financial Resources

Aspirants who are from economically weaker sections have the following options available to them if they want to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services exam:

• All-India Scholarship Tests:

Some NGOs, Government/private coaching institutes, colleges etc in different States provide scholarships to candidates who belong to economically backward sections. Certain coaching institutes conduct All-India entrance tests online or at various test centres to select candidates based on the merit list. Some coaching institutes may also provide free coaching to women candidates. Therefore, aspirants who do not have the necessary financial resources should make use of these opportunities to prepare for the Civil Services exam. You can also refer to the official website of UPSC coaching institutes (both private and government-supported) in your respective States to know more about the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for these entrance tests.

• Self-study:

Nowadays, many students opt for self-study rather than joining coaching centres. A plethora of UPSC materials is also available online. Candidates can listen to interviews of various toppers and understand the exam pattern, expectations from a UPSC candidate, IAS strategy, dos and don’ts etc. You can also read the linked article to understand How to Prepare for UPSC by Self-Study. If you are planning to do self-study, then you should start with NCERT books and then read other advanced textbooks. Make a plan and implement it well.

Remember: If you are going to focus on self-study, you should definitely join paid mock tests or make use of free mock tests available online.

Important Resources for UPSC Civil Services Examination

If you are going to rely on self-study, then you may refer to the following websites, books, newspapers while preparing for the UPSC CSE. You don’t have to go through all the resources. Choose what is necessary based on the time available for preparation.

List of Important Websitesfor UPSC Preparation

List of Important Newspapers, Magazines and Programmes

List of Important Books for UPSC Preparation

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