Should I study old NCERTs for UPSC Exam?

NCERT books have long been regarded as among the most reliable resources for preparing for the IAS Exam. Furthermore, they are generally known for being among the best resources for gaining crystal clarity of all concepts. Any IAS candidate understands the significance of NCERTs for the UPSC exam. They are a must-read if you want to get a true sense of the UPSC’s questions each year. It is essential to solve Past Year’s UPSC question papers in order to understand what sort of questions are asked by the UPSC. Students preparing for the UPSC test sometimes wonder whether they should read the old NCERT textbooks or just focus on the conventional books. This post attempts to provide some light on the question of whether to use the old NCERT for the UPSC IAS exam.

Relevance of Old NCERTs

It is often advised that IAS aspirants should begin by reading the NCERT books for class 6. Reading all of the NCERT books from class 6 to 12 will help you gain a broad understanding of a variety of subjects. NCERT would not only present you with complete clarity of the fundamental ideas, but also with a solid comprehension of the topics. However, it also relies on each individual’s study strategy, ability, and preparation style. Old textbooks can be read by those who want concise and to-the-point notes. Others who like explanations and subjective viewpoints might avoid reading the old textbooks and opt for new NCERT books or the conventional textbooks.

The old NCERTs are text-heavy, with a lot of data, facts and figures. The data is also old and not updated because the books are out of print. They do not provide the information in a narrative style. Some people may find these textbooks uninteresting since they are black and white, and the emphasis is on the substance rather than the explanation. However, the old textbooks are often to the point. For History and Economics, it is usually recommended that aspirants choose older textbooks because they include more extensive material than current textbooks.

To return to the point of whether you need to read the Old NCERTs for the UPSC Exam, it is recommended that a candidate must analyse his/her way of studying as well as the amount of time he/she has in hand for the preparation. If you start a year before the exam, it is a good idea to spend a few days or weeks going through older textbooks and jotting down important facts, but if you are short on time, it is recommended to forego reading the old textbooks and instead follow notes from NCERTs. You can check NCERT Notes for UPSC in the linked article.

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