Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India.

Union Public Service Commission

Shaurya Arora

How I attempted the paper

- First 5 to 10 minutes, choose your questions wisely. You cannot change in between once you start writing

- I used to start with the 20 markers, followed by 15 markers and finally 10 markers in the end. Put maximum effort in the 20 markers and 15 markers. (I used to do Q1 and Q5 at the end)

- Be Fast ! Avoid time crunch at the end else it may lead to silly mistakes in numericals. This is why all derivations and formulas must be on your fingertips, so that you can write the answers fast and save time for value addition and also extra time for new and tough questions, or buy an extra minute incase you are stuck in a derivation you can't recall.

Note - Try to save a minute in the easy questions you already know. At the same time there is no point finishing the paper 30 minutes in advance. I would always try to finish the paper in full 3 hours, not less nor more. Use all the time you have to write as much as you can, Show effort in your answers (refer to the subsection: 'what worked for me')

- Always prefer questions which you have done/seen before, rather than choosing new questions. These new questions can be risky if you get stuck in them in the exam. Also, I would prefer choosing derivations over numericals.

- Q7 and Q8 are often the toughest in the exam - be wary and choose them only if you are confident about solving them

- tough questions will be tough for all, thus dont panic in the exam seeing a random bouncer.
Finally, breaking some misconceptions 
 
1. One needs 480/500 correct to get 300+ marks - Myth/False 
 
This year (CSE 2023) - In paper 1, I didn't know the answer to Q6(a), and in paper 2 - I completely skipped Q1(b) and Q1(c), and made a small silly mistake in final numerical value in Q6(b) and partially in one of the subparts of Q1(a). Moreover in both papers, there were many vague and ambiguous questions as well, such as Q5(b) in paper 2, etc. Thus 480/500 correct required is a myth for 300+ score. 
 
2. Mistake in Numerical leads to zero marks - Myth/False. There is certain partial marking for the steps and procedure followed. (else I wouldn't have gotten the score that I have)
With all due humility, what worked for me in the real exam:  
 
Apart from the pointers I mentioned above such as adding diagrams, presentation using boxes/labels, writing like a class 10 board exam, including interpretations and applications, neatness, etc, what worked for me (with humility) is that I put in effort in each question I wrote. Every aspirant will study Rutherford scattering model and will know the answer to it in the exam, but one must put in the effort in the given 3 hours and write as much as possible within the allotted time and show the examiner that he has put in the effort (but note - address the demand of the question only! Don't unnecessarily write those things which have not been asked unless they are linked to the question/answer and add value, else this will waste time and may not fetch extra marks either). This is what matters. Fill all the pages and demonstrate your extra effort in the exam by writing as much as you can (within the stipulated time limits of course, and keeping few extra minutes to face tough/new questions as well). No point finishing the exam within 2 hours and 30 minutes. Remember, that all aspirants will be using the same textbooks and notes as you, thus use the 3 hours fully and carefully and put in maximum effort and maximum VAM (value addition material) to differentiate your answer from the others. 
 
Note - this doesn't mean that all answers will be perfect. Most will be average/normal answers, and only some will be excellent. It is a myth that all answers have to be perfect in the exam (it is not possible either). It is the few excellent answers that will fetch you a good score.
Extra Stuff one can do over and above what has been mentioned earlier: 
(Note - I didn't have time to do the below mentioned stuff, and it is optional to do it. It is first advised to focus on the simple 90% and only later venture into extra stuff if time and energy permits)

-  IFoS PYQ's of past ten years (you can refer to this book for solutions - https://www.amazon.in/IFS-Physics-Previous-Papers-Solved/dp/9383299916, however, there may be many mistakes in the solutions and not all questions are covered, hence this book is not recommended)
 
- Portions/sections from the standard textbooks which haven't been asked in PYQ's until now but can be asked in the future.

- WE's (worked examples) from multiple books (over and above the golden rule of one topic one book).  
(Note - For choosing a single book per topic, it is always recommended to go for Indian authors since questions are directly picked up from Indian author books. However for this next stage, foreign author books can be used)

- Do the difficult portions of Analog Electronics (Wien Bridge Oscillator, RC Phase Shift Oscillator, etc) in detail

- Quantum IAS scanned notes (from free Quantum Yoddha crash course) - has few extra topics, these can be indexed page number wise, and then scanned, printed and finally appended to your pre-existing notes. (same exercise can be done for previous year topper notes as well, for relevant parts/important pages to get extra diagrams, value addition, content, etc)

- make a VAM (value addition material) sheet topic-wise for the 8 topics and include pre-existing interpretation, applications, unique material for differentiation in the exam.

how i attempted the optional paper how i attempted the paper

- first 5 to 10 minutes, choose your questions wisely. you cannot change in between once you start writing

- i used to start with the 20 markers, followed by 15 markers and finally 10 markers in the end. put maximum effort in the 20 markers and 15 markers. (i used to do q1 and q5 at the end)

- be fast ! avoid time crunch at the end else it may lead to silly mistakes in numericals. this is why all derivations and formulas must be on your fingertips, so that you can write the answers fast and save time for value addition and also extra time for new and tough questions, or buy an extra minute incase you are stuck in a derivation you can't recall.

note - try to save a minute in the easy questions you already know. at the same time there is no point finishing the paper 30 minutes in advance. i would always try to finish the paper in full 3 hours, not less nor more. use all the time you have to write as much as you can, show effort in your answers (refer to the subsection: 'what worked for me')

- always prefer questions which you have done/seen before, rather than choosing new questions. these new questions can be risky if you get stuck in them in the exam. also, i would prefer choosing derivations over numericals.

- q7 and q8 are often the toughest in the exam - be wary and choose them only if you are confident about solving them

- tough questions will be tough for all, thus dont panic in the exam seeing a random bouncer.
finally, breaking some misconceptions 
 
1. one needs 480/500 correct to get 300+ marks - myth/false 
 
this year (cse 2023) - in paper 1, i didn't know the answer to q6(a), and in paper 2 - i completely skipped q1(b) and q1(c), and made a small silly mistake in final numerical value in q6(b) and partially in one of the subparts of q1(a). moreover in both papers, there were many vague and ambiguous questions as well, such as q5(b) in paper 2, etc. thus 480/500 correct required is a myth for 300+ score. 
 
2. mistake in numerical leads to zero marks - myth/false. there is certain partial marking for the steps and procedure followed. (else i wouldn't have gotten the score that i have)
with all due humility, what worked for me in the real exam:  
 
apart from the pointers i mentioned above such as adding diagrams, presentation using boxes/labels, writing like a class 10 board exam, including interpretations and applications, neatness, etc, what worked for me (with humility) is that i put in effort in each question i wrote. every aspirant will study rutherford scattering model and will know the answer to it in the exam, but one must put in the effort in the given 3 hours and write as much as possible within the allotted time and show the examiner that he has put in the effort (but note - address the demand of the question only! don't unnecessarily write those things which have not been asked unless they are linked to the question/answer and add value, else this will waste time and may not fetch extra marks either). this is what matters. fill all the pages and demonstrate your extra effort in the exam by writing as much as you can (within the stipulated time limits of course, and keeping few extra minutes to face tough/new questions as well). no point finishing the exam within 2 hours and 30 minutes. remember, that all aspirants will be using the same textbooks and notes as you, thus use the 3 hours fully and carefully and put in maximum effort and maximum vam (value addition material) to differentiate your answer from the others. 
 
note - this doesn't mean that all answers will be perfect. most will be average/normal answers, and only some will be excellent. it is a myth that all answers have to be perfect in the exam (it is not possible either). it is the few excellent answers that will fetch you a good score.
extra stuff one can do over and above what has been mentioned earlier: 
(note - i didn't have time to do the below mentioned stuff, and it is optional to do it. it is first advised to focus on the simple 90% and only later venture into extra stuff if time and energy permits)

-  ifos pyq's of past ten years (you can refer to this book for solutions - https://www.amazon.in/ifs-physics-previous-papers-solved/dp/9383299916, however, there may be many mistakes in the solutions and not all questions are covered, hence this book is not recommended)
 
- portions/sections from the standard textbooks which haven't been asked in pyq's until now but can be asked in the future.

- we's (worked examples) from multiple books (over and above the golden rule of one topic one book).  
(note - for choosing a single book per topic, it is always recommended to go for indian authors since questions are directly picked up from indian author books. however for this next stage, foreign author books can be used)

- do the difficult portions of analog electronics (wien bridge oscillator, rc phase shift oscillator, etc) in detail

- quantum ias scanned notes (from free quantum yoddha crash course) - has few extra topics, these can be indexed page number wise, and then scanned, printed and finally appended to your pre-existing notes. (same exercise can be done for previous year topper notes as well, for relevant parts/important pages to get extra diagrams, value addition, content, etc)

- make a vam (value addition material) sheet topic-wise for the 8 topics and include pre-existing interpretation, applications, unique material for differentiation in the exam.  shaurya arora strategy upsc

How I attempted the optional paper

HCS Physics 2021.pdf

HCS 21 + DIAS Rough.pdf

Test Series:

I had written few tests for Physics (not ideal, it is better to practice as much as possible - the more the practice, the better is the time management and presentation)

I used the 20 DIAS tests available on Akash Dagar sir's Telegram channel. I wrote 8 of them at home (without evaluation) and the remaining 12, I solved selectively quick and in rough. I had referred to the solutions available (Akash sirs DIAS copies) on the same channel. Also, I gave 3 tests in the Quantum Yoddha crash course. 

Another alternative to test series is to directly attempt the PYQ's year-wise within the three hours provided.

I am sharing below my notes from the DIAS test series question papers which I prepared after seeing the solutions. Along with it, I am also sharing few selective solutions to the HCS 2021 Physics optional paper (considered to be one of the toughest ever)

physics optional test series - shaurya arora test series:

i had written few tests for physics (not ideal, it is better to practice as much as possible - the more the practice, the better is the time management and presentation)

i used the 20 dias tests available on akash dagar sir's telegram channel. i wrote 8 of them at home (without evaluation) and the remaining 12, i solved selectively quick and in rough. i had referred to the solutions available (akash sirs dias copies) on the same channel. also, i gave 3 tests in the quantum yoddha crash course. 

another alternative to test series is to directly attempt the pyq's year-wise within the three hours provided.

i am sharing below my notes from the dias test series question papers which i prepared after seeing the solutions. along with it, i am also sharing few selective solutions to the hcs 2021 physics optional paper (considered to be one of the toughest ever)  shaurya arora notes upsc

Physics optional Test series - Shaurya Arora

JEE Formula Sheet.pdf

Flash Notes.pdf

2. Notes - max revision, revision, revision, revision..... One will have to do multiple iterations and this will be never-ending. Keep on iterating again and again and again. There is no limit to the number of revisions that is required. The more revision the better. Keep annotating your notes with different color pens each time you iterate and keep adding mnemonics, tricks, etc to your notes to help in memorization.

3. Minimum sources, maximum revision - Every year there will be 2-3 very tough questions which are almost impossible to solve. Studying ten different books for a single topic in anticipation of solving one tough question which we cant predict anyways in not recommended. Instead focus on the simple 90% which will be directly from the notes and PYQ's. Often aspirants make the mistake of focusing on the difficult fringe topics instead of solidifying the easy 90% of the paper. Consistency means not missing the easy questions. There is no use of solving a tough question, if you miss 2-3 easy ones. Thus focus on the 90% (Static notes + PYQ's) - this itself will be time consuming and will require good effort. 

Note - One can go beyond the simple 90% once he/she has a very very strong hold over the core static portions of the subject and sufficient practice has been done.  

4. Tough questions will be tough for all - thus don't panic. 99% aspirants have the same notes as you. If you find a question very tough, everyone will find it the same. No need to worry. however if a tough question has been asked in the PYQ's, now it has to be prepared very thoroughly for next year

5. Syllabus must be on your fingertips. That will allow you to finish a question quicker and thus add value addition, diagrams, interpretation, applications in the 7 minutes. Moreover, if the derivations are on your fingertips, then you can solve the known questions quicker and save yourself time for the tough or new questions

6. Make your own notes !!! Only refer to other topper notes for adding missing topics or finding some value addition. Your own notes for Physics will be as important as Laxmikant is for Polity
Derivations - the best way to do them is to practice many times and mug up few intermediate steps for all the long derivations (eg - Quantum harmonic oscillator derivation). It is not recommended to derive the question each time without having intermediate steps. Mugging up few intermediate steps helps in increasing pace and also will ensure you never get stuck in between. Mugging few intermediate steps are very important and useful.

Numericals - Practice the PYQ's and Worked examples from textbook. Use Calculator also for practice.

Analog electronics - This is a tough topic for those not from electrical engineering background, thus prepare the easy sitters such that you will be able to solve the compulsory subpart of 10 marks if it comes in Q5. My strategy was usually to skip Q7 and Q8 since the analog electronics question in them is very hard. To cover the basics you can use VK Mehta book or refer to Quantum crash course or use any YouTube resource for simple basics of Analog electronics .

Flash notes and Formula sheets - Very important for last minute revision and also for topics on your fingertips. You can refer to Prateek Jain sir flash notes from his blog, and Akash Dagar sir flash notes from his telegram channel (message link - https://t.me/upscphysics_by_dagar/61) and from https://t.me/physicsupsc_official/1088. I am also sharing mine below:
Note - My flash notes are compiled from my DIAS notes plus some other content from textbooks and PYQ solutions. Unfortunately my handwriting is very poor. This is only shared for reference and each one must make there own flash notes/formula sheets. 

However, at the same time, the above sheet (my flash notes) also contain some very nice content, especially for paper 2 (example - from page 14 onwards)
Some questions in paper 1 may require our past knowledge of class 11/12. Thus I have compiled a JEE Formula sheet using the internet which I am sharing below:
Pointers for answer writing in Physics:

- Fill all the pages given in the QCA. Many people advocate for 1/2/3 pages for 10/15/20 markers (even though 2/3/4 pages are given respectively) (note - sometimes there is a deviation from the trend, for example, it may happen that only 3 pages are given for a 20 marker, see the number of pages available for each question before starting to write). I would recommend writing more spaciously and using diagrams, graphs, etc to fill all the 2/3/4 pages in the QCA provided for each question. It gives a very good impression and shows that you have put effort in the answer. Space and time management will be key for this.

- Neatness and presentation matters alot !! Avoid scratching out and shabby writing. Try to ensure neat and clean, ordered presentation of your answer. box and label your figures, underline important content, number your equations, box the final answer, etc. (see topper copies for this, I have shared them below)

- Interpretation/application - after the conclusion, try to add interpretation/application at the end. It acts as a great value addition and also can lead to extra marks in the exam. Even 1-2 bullet points for this will suffice (no need to write large paragraphs). Prioritize this especially for the 15 and 20 markers (it's okay if you miss this for a few questions, but try as much as possible to write them). For some of the common topics, this VAM (value addition material) can be prepared beforehand very selectively. 

Eg - for questions on Quantum, you can mention quantum dots, tunneling, WKB approximation, etc, etc. 

- Try to incorporate diagrams, graphs, etc, and be creative to show effort in your answer and differentiation.

- Numericals: Always double check your values from scratch !

- For answers and derivations, write like a class 10 school board examination. Start the answer with, Given: mass = x, charge = y.... Also, list and number the equations as follows:
a + b = c ----- eq. 1
2a + 2b = 6d ----- eq. 2
Now dividing equation 2 by equation 1
Thus c = 3d ----- eq. 3
etc, etc, etc....

The examiner will appreciate this step by step approach and it shows that you have put in effort. Marks are given for this simple approach, neatness, effort and formality. (This is an exam for average students, they are not looking for geniuses or raw intelligence)
Topper Copies (downloaded from DIAS Website):

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Hn-yl_5pIVoDRt7nFiMQUrSKfi8qlcK-?usp=sharing

Many have asked me to upload my answer copies, but the reason for me not putting my copies are because:
1. I had written them earlier and they are written in initial stage (not close to the exam)
2. Not a correct representation of how I wrote in my final exam in September 2023 (may end up in misguiding aspirants)

physics optional strategy 2. notes - max revision, revision, revision, revision..... one will have to do multiple iterations and this will be never-ending. keep on iterating again and again and again. there is no limit to the number of revisions that is required. the more revision the better. keep annotating your notes with different color pens each time you iterate and keep adding mnemonics, tricks, etc to your notes to help in memorization.

3. minimum sources, maximum revision - every year there will be 2-3 very tough questions which are almost impossible to solve. studying ten different books for a single topic in anticipation of solving one tough question which we cant predict anyways in not recommended. instead focus on the simple 90% which will be directly from the notes and pyq's. often aspirants make the mistake of focusing on the difficult fringe topics instead of solidifying the easy 90% of the paper. consistency means not missing the easy questions. there is no use of solving a tough question, if you miss 2-3 easy ones. thus focus on the 90% (static notes + pyq's) - this itself will be time consuming and will require good effort. 

note - one can go beyond the simple 90% once he/she has a very very strong hold over the core static portions of the subject and sufficient practice has been done.  

4. tough questions will be tough for all - thus don't panic. 99% aspirants have the same notes as you. if you find a question very tough, everyone will find it the same. no need to worry. however if a tough question has been asked in the pyq's, now it has to be prepared very thoroughly for next year

5. syllabus must be on your fingertips. that will allow you to finish a question quicker and thus add value addition, diagrams, interpretation, applications in the 7 minutes. moreover, if the derivations are on your fingertips, then you can solve the known questions quicker and save yourself time for the tough or new questions

6. make your own notes !!! only refer to other topper notes for adding missing topics or finding some value addition. your own notes for physics will be as important as laxmikant is for polity
derivations - the best way to do them is to practice many times and mug up few intermediate steps for all the long derivations (eg - quantum harmonic oscillator derivation). it is not recommended to derive the question each time without having intermediate steps. mugging up few intermediate steps helps in increasing pace and also will ensure you never get stuck in between. mugging few intermediate steps are very important and useful.

numericals - practice the pyq's and worked examples from textbook. use calculator also for practice.

analog electronics - this is a tough topic for those not from electrical engineering background, thus prepare the easy sitters such that you will be able to solve the compulsory subpart of 10 marks if it comes in q5. my strategy was usually to skip q7 and q8 since the analog electronics question in them is very hard. to cover the basics you can use vk mehta book or refer to quantum crash course or use any youtube resource for simple basics of analog electronics .

flash notes and formula sheets - very important for last minute revision and also for topics on your fingertips. you can refer to prateek jain sir flash notes from his blog, and akash dagar sir flash notes from his telegram channel (message link - https://t.me/upscphysics_by_dagar/61) and from https://t.me/physicsupsc_official/1088. i am also sharing mine below:
note - my flash notes are compiled from my dias notes plus some other content from textbooks and pyq solutions. unfortunately my handwriting is very poor. this is only shared for reference and each one must make there own flash notes/formula sheets. 

however, at the same time, the above sheet (my flash notes) also contain some very nice content, especially for paper 2 (example - from page 14 onwards)
some questions in paper 1 may require our past knowledge of class 11/12. thus i have compiled a jee formula sheet using the internet which i am sharing below:
pointers for answer writing in physics:

- fill all the pages given in the qca. many people advocate for 1/2/3 pages for 10/15/20 markers (even though 2/3/4 pages are given respectively) (note - sometimes there is a deviation from the trend, for example, it may happen that only 3 pages are given for a 20 marker, see the number of pages available for each question before starting to write). i would recommend writing more spaciously and using diagrams, graphs, etc to fill all the 2/3/4 pages in the qca provided for each question. it gives a very good impression and shows that you have put effort in the answer. space and time management will be key for this.

- neatness and presentation matters alot !! avoid scratching out and shabby writing. try to ensure neat and clean, ordered presentation of your answer. box and label your figures, underline important content, number your equations, box the final answer, etc. (see topper copies for this, i have shared them below)

- interpretation/application - after the conclusion, try to add interpretation/application at the end. it acts as a great value addition and also can lead to extra marks in the exam. even 1-2 bullet points for this will suffice (no need to write large paragraphs). prioritize this especially for the 15 and 20 markers (it's okay if you miss this for a few questions, but try as much as possible to write them). for some of the common topics, this vam (value addition material) can be prepared beforehand very selectively. 

eg - for questions on quantum, you can mention quantum dots, tunneling, wkb approximation, etc, etc. 

- try to incorporate diagrams, graphs, etc, and be creative to show effort in your answer and differentiation.

- numericals: always double check your values from scratch !

- for answers and derivations, write like a class 10 school board examination. start the answer with, given: mass = x, charge = y.... also, list and number the equations as follows:
a + b = c ----- eq. 1
2a + 2b = 6d ----- eq. 2
now dividing equation 2 by equation 1
thus c = 3d ----- eq. 3
etc, etc, etc....

the examiner will appreciate this step by step approach and it shows that you have put in effort. marks are given for this simple approach, neatness, effort and formality. (this is an exam for average students, they are not looking for geniuses or raw intelligence)
topper copies (downloaded from dias website):

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hn-yl_5pivodrt7nfimqurskfi8qlck-?usp=sharing

many have asked me to upload my answer copies, but the reason for me not putting my copies are because:
1. i had written them earlier and they are written in initial stage (not close to the exam)
2. not a correct representation of how i wrote in my final exam in september 2023 (may end up in misguiding aspirants)  shaurya arora strategy upsc

Physics optional strategy

PYQ Mini Sheet.pdf

Selective PYQ Soln A4 Paper 2.pdf

Selective PYQ Soln A4 Paper 1 .pdf

My PYQ solutions :

Selective PYQ solutions prepared by me from 2001 to 2022 onwards shared below (it was the first iteration - so I skipped some of the tough ones, from which I had again selectively solved a few of them (2013 onwards). They are shared in the next PDF which will be shared next):

(Note - These are very rough solutions and not final/complete. There may be some mistakes. These are very rough and thus I wouldn't recommend studying from them, just use it if you get stuck somewhere)

in the sheet: (AJG - Ajoy Ghatak, JCU - JC Upadhyay, GBG - Garg Bansal Ghosh, SPEM - Satyaprakash EM theory & electromagnetics, BJS - Brijlal Subramanyam, DSM - DS Mathur, HCV - QM, Griffiths - QM, RJK - Raj Kumar, BNW - Banwell, SBP - S B Patel, DCT - D C Tayal Nuclear, P&B - Puri and Babbar, RGTUTS - Rishav gupta Tut Solutions, DIAS - personal notes)
The next PDF contains some extra material/content as well as some PYQ solutions to some tough questions (2013 onwards). The question numbering has been taken from the QuantumIAS compilation of PYQ's (2023 edition - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/501)

physics - pyq solutions my pyq solutions :

selective pyq solutions prepared by me from 2001 to 2022 onwards shared below (it was the first iteration - so i skipped some of the tough ones, from which i had again selectively solved a few of them (2013 onwards). they are shared in the next pdf which will be shared next):

(note - these are very rough solutions and not final/complete. there may be some mistakes. these are very rough and thus i wouldn't recommend studying from them, just use it if you get stuck somewhere)

in the sheet: (ajg - ajoy ghatak, jcu - jc upadhyay, gbg - garg bansal ghosh, spem - satyaprakash em theory & electromagnetics, bjs - brijlal subramanyam, dsm - ds mathur, hcv - qm, griffiths - qm, rjk - raj kumar, bnw - banwell, sbp - s b patel, dct - d c tayal nuclear, p&b - puri and babbar, rgtuts - rishav gupta tut solutions, dias - personal notes)
the next pdf contains some extra material/content as well as some pyq solutions to some tough questions (2013 onwards). the question numbering has been taken from the quantumias compilation of pyq's (2023 edition - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/501)  shaurya arora notes upsc

Physics - PYQ solutions

Rishav Gupta tut soln - 2.pdf

old DIAS Tut sheet 2.pdf

Rishav Gupta tut soln - 1.pdf

old DIAS Tut sheet 1.pdf

UPSC Physics 2008 paper 1 and 2.pdf

Step 1 - Make your own notes and cover the full static syllabus. Then revise them multiple times, get all the derivations and formula's on your fingertips. Refer to the notes of Rishav Gupta sir, Abhijeet Aggarwal sir, Aniket Hirde sir, Vishu Mahajan sir, etc (any of them) and fill all the gaps in your own notes. (There notes can be found on there respective blogs, or telegram channel, or the following link - https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/477) 
 
Step 2 - Go through the PYQ's year-wise for last 20 years. Now identify all the extra topics in PYQ's which are not covered in your notes. They are all important because PYQ's are repeated very often (even the tough ones) ! 
 
Note - The syllabus changed in 2013, thus many topics such as Cornu's spiral, Bose-Einstein condensate, Saha Ionization formula, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian, etc which are present in the PYQ's before 2013 are not required to be prepared. These topics can be skipped. 
 
(For Physics PYQ's, use Sathish and Brothers publication (https://raajkart.com/satish-brothers-previous-years-solved-papers-physics-civil-services-3.html) or directly download the individual papers from the UPSC website or get all the papers from the Examrace website - https://www.examrace.com/IAS/IAS-Mains-Papers/Physics/ - it has all the papers from 1987 onwards (except 2008 which I will share below) or use this link - https://t.me/physicsupsc_official/1112. In the DIAS tutorial sheets, some of the tough questions may be missing) (one can also use the PYQ compilation from here - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/501) 
 
step 3 - Start using the textbooks now to cover those parts/questions which are asked in PYQ's but are not in your notes. Textbooks must be used selectively to do the Worked examples and some extra topics which are not in your notes but are in the PYQ's/Syllabus. No need to read the textbook page to page and word to word and cover each and every random topic outside the syllabus - always remember that tough questions will be tough for everyone  
 
Tip - For some tough questions of PYQ's, which are neither in your notes, nor in the textbook, nor in the PYQ resources, then you can use Chegg and get the solution by pasting the Chegg question link in homeworkify website (https://homeworkify.st/mirror-1/). 
 
Note - it becomes very hard to study content from the textbook since all the relevant parts are scattered and multiple books for multiple topics are bulky, so there are two options. Either you can handwrite the extra content into your notes, or you can index the pages and then scan them, print and finally append to your written notes. This way you will have a single compilation of all the important textbook pages along with your handwritten notes all in the same place.

(one can also do the same exercise of index, scan, print and append for relevant parts/important pages from topper notes of Rishav Gupta sir, etc, because even these notes may have some extra value addition/content/extra diagrams, etc - but this exercise for the topper notes is completely optional and only if time permits, not at the first instance) 
 
Step 4 - Answer Writing Practice 
 
Step 5 - Value Addition sheets and optional steps shared in this channel
Below I'll be sharing the 2008 UPSC Physics paper 1 and paper 2 since it is not available online on the internet:
Pointers from my end: 
 
1. Majority of paper is repeated from the PYQ's year-on-year. In fact 90% of the paper can be traced to PYQ's only, just asked in a different fashion or different wordings. Thus PYQ's are the MOST IMPORTANT. It is sine qua non to solve atleast past 10 years PYQ's and ideally last 20 years if time permits.  
 
- One will have to make the PYQ solutions himself/herself, that is the only way forward. However, there are few resources to help, namely: 
 
a. Rishav Gupta sir DIAS Tutorial Solutions (until 2012) - Shared below  
 
b. Prafull sir PYQ solutions for paper 2 - https://t.me/prafull_loksevak22/63 (shared below as well) 

c. Use this YouTube channel (OuThink) - https://www.youtube.com/@outhink7671/videos 

d. QuantumIAS PYQ solutions - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/710 or t.me/physicsoptionalpyqsol 

e. Use this Telegram group (https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions or https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/459), or message link - https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/459/460  
 
f. Selective PYQ solutions prepared by me (shared below)
 
Tip - to get the solutions to some tough PYQ's, one can also refer to chegg to get verbatim solutions. Just use homeworkify website (https://homeworkify.st/mirror-1/) and paste the Chegg solution link to get the free solution. One can also use the bot from https://t.me/FreeportSuperChannel for solutions from Numerade, etc.

how to prepare physics optional : step 1 - make your own notes and cover the full static syllabus. then revise them multiple times, get all the derivations and formula's on your fingertips. refer to the notes of rishav gupta sir, abhijeet aggarwal sir, aniket hirde sir, vishu mahajan sir, etc (any of them) and fill all the gaps in your own notes. (there notes can be found on there respective blogs, or telegram channel, or the following link - https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/477) 
 
step 2 - go through the pyq's year-wise for last 20 years. now identify all the extra topics in pyq's which are not covered in your notes. they are all important because pyq's are repeated very often (even the tough ones) ! 
 
note - the syllabus changed in 2013, thus many topics such as cornu's spiral, bose-einstein condensate, saha ionization formula, lagrangian and hamiltonian, etc which are present in the pyq's before 2013 are not required to be prepared. these topics can be skipped. 
 
(for physics pyq's, use sathish and brothers publication (https://raajkart.com/satish-brothers-previous-years-solved-papers-physics-civil-services-3.html) or directly download the individual papers from the upsc website or get all the papers from the examrace website - https://www.examrace.com/ias/ias-mains-papers/physics/ - it has all the papers from 1987 onwards (except 2008 which i will share below) or use this link - https://t.me/physicsupsc_official/1112. in the dias tutorial sheets, some of the tough questions may be missing) (one can also use the pyq compilation from here - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/501) 
 
step 3 - start using the textbooks now to cover those parts/questions which are asked in pyq's but are not in your notes. textbooks must be used selectively to do the worked examples and some extra topics which are not in your notes but are in the pyq's/syllabus. no need to read the textbook page to page and word to word and cover each and every random topic outside the syllabus - always remember that tough questions will be tough for everyone  
 
tip - for some tough questions of pyq's, which are neither in your notes, nor in the textbook, nor in the pyq resources, then you can use chegg and get the solution by pasting the chegg question link in homeworkify website (https://homeworkify.st/mirror-1/). 
 
note - it becomes very hard to study content from the textbook since all the relevant parts are scattered and multiple books for multiple topics are bulky, so there are two options. either you can handwrite the extra content into your notes, or you can index the pages and then scan them, print and finally append to your written notes. this way you will have a single compilation of all the important textbook pages along with your handwritten notes all in the same place.

(one can also do the same exercise of index, scan, print and append for relevant parts/important pages from topper notes of rishav gupta sir, etc, because even these notes may have some extra value addition/content/extra diagrams, etc - but this exercise for the topper notes is completely optional and only if time permits, not at the first instance) 
 
step 4 - answer writing practice 
 
step 5 - value addition sheets and optional steps shared in this channel
below i'll be sharing the 2008 upsc physics paper 1 and paper 2 since it is not available online on the internet:
pointers from my end: 
 
1. majority of paper is repeated from the pyq's year-on-year. in fact 90% of the paper can be traced to pyq's only, just asked in a different fashion or different wordings. thus pyq's are the most important. it is sine qua non to solve atleast past 10 years pyq's and ideally last 20 years if time permits.  
 
- one will have to make the pyq solutions himself/herself, that is the only way forward. however, there are few resources to help, namely: 
 
a. rishav gupta sir dias tutorial solutions (until 2012) - shared below  
 
b. prafull sir pyq solutions for paper 2 - https://t.me/prafull_loksevak22/63 (shared below as well) 

c. use this youtube channel (outhink) - https://www.youtube.com/@outhink7671/videos 

d. quantumias pyq solutions - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/710 or t.me/physicsoptionalpyqsol 

e. use this telegram group (https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions or https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/459), or message link - https://t.me/physics_optional_solutions/459/460  
 
f. selective pyq solutions prepared by me (shared below)
 
tip - to get the solutions to some tough pyq's, one can also refer to chegg to get verbatim solutions. just use homeworkify website (https://homeworkify.st/mirror-1/) and paste the chegg solution link to get the free solution. one can also use the bot from https://t.me/freeportsuperchannel for solutions from numerade, etc.  shaurya arora strategy upsc

How to prepare Physics Optional :

Physics in JEE vs UPSC 
 
IIT JEE Physics is conceptual in nature and requires questions to be solved on the spot. Focus is on concepts and less on mugging, 
 
UPSC physics requires rote memorization of long derivations (sometimes even a few pages long). Questions can only be solved if they are known previously (eg - Describe Stern Gerlach experiment? A - This can only be answered if one remembers the details, less scope of logic/concept here) 
 
However, Physics in UPSC is also very fun and topics like Special Theory of Relativity, Quantum Tunneling, Nuclear and Particle Physics (quarks, mesons, etc) are very interesting. These topics are not present in JEE Physics.
Advantages of Physics optional: 
- Static portion (no current affairs) 
- Fixed and well defined Syllabus 
- Can score very well if done properly 
 
Disadvantages of Physics: 
- Difficulty level is higher 
- Very time taking 
- Requires many repeated revisions  
 
Physics is a fantastic optional and I would recommend it to all of you, It has served me really well and is very fun to study (especially if you have a strong passion for Physics), however it would be a dis-service on my part to not mention the following warnings: 
 
1. Physics can be very difficult/hard and a soul crushing experience as mentioned by many of the previous toppers as well - many students get stuck in the trap of low marks and thus this optional must be prepared with smart work. Difficulty level is high.
 
2. May require even upto a year to be fully ready and well versed with the full static subject and PYQ's (not 6 months like other optionals)  
 
3. Requires lots of self effort because: 
 
a. DIAS only covers 80% of the syllabus, rest must be done by oneself 
b. No book for solved PYQ's and other stuff 
c. Very less guidance and material available online 
d. Difficulty of the subject and the topics 
 
The above-mentioned points are not to discourage anyone. It is important to be aware about the following before starting as well so that the aspirant will take cognizance of the following and prepare accordingly.  
Having said this, Physics is truly beneficial to those with science and technical backgrounds because it it your strength vis-à-vis other humanities optionals. As Abhishek Surana sir had said earlier, this optional favours average students. If I hadn't had Physics optional, I wouldn't probably have gotten this rank. Don't be afraid of putting in the hard work and the extra hours, it'll be worth it in the end. Physics optional is beautiful ❤️
Various help I had taken : 
 
1. DIAS (DP Vajpayee sir) --> I had taken Physics online coaching from DIAS Institute. The classes are pre-recorded and also include a classroom test series (4 sectional + 2 FLT). I found the online recorded classes to be very good for covering the syllabus in a timebound quick manner in around 100 classes. (However only 80% is covered, remaining one has to do oneself from the PYQ's and textbooks). Most toppers of previous years have all taken classes from DIAS for Physics optional and it has a great track record. 
 
DIAS Website: https://diasindia.com/ 
 
Advantage of online coaching: 
- The pace of the class is very fast, thus online lectures allow for the student to pause the video and also rewind any part. This is a major advantage since the pace of the classes is very fast and keeping up can be challenging at times 
- it is cheaper cost wise  
 
Disadvantage of online: 
- I had enrolled in the online classes in May 2020 and at that time the tutorial sheets (PYQ's) were not discussed in the recorded classes (I am not sure of the same now) 
- Doubt solving can be an issue  
 
2. QuantumIAS (Shivam sir) --> I had enrolled for Quantum Yoddha test-series cum crash course mentorship program (https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/495). It happened between prelims and mains in 2023 and it was free (1000/- refundable) then for all the mains qualified students. It lasted for about 6-8 weeks. The following were the deliverables of the course: 
- Doubt solving on the telegram group by Shivam sir was very useful 
- Analog Electronics portion (basics) covered in the crash course 
- Scanned QuantumIAS Physics Notes of all topics  
- 10 Tests (8 sectional + 2 FLT) 
- Daily practice problems - DSET 
 
QuantumIAS Telegram - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial 
Shivam sir Telegram ID - @QuantumIasSupport  
 
3. Neil sir discussion group - https://t.me/PHYSICSneil 
 
Disclaimer - Which coaching to join?  
Answer - I don't endorse DIAS or QuantumIAS or any other coaching institute. All coaching institutes are good with their own respective pros and cons. Each aspirant must spend adequate time and do his/her own research/due diligence before choosing. Many toppers with physics background have also done self-study and cleared, so coaching is not a compulsion, but I would strongly recommend coaching for optional subjects (not GS), because they provide structure and stick to the demand of exam and syllabus.
Basic booklist and exam pattern - I will not mention these here myself as they have already been explained in great detail by my seniors and previous toppers. There is nothing more to add as the below mentioned sources are the one-stop solution for starting out: 
 
YouTube: 
- Abhishek Surana sir DIAS Seminar Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7keFo130XK0&t=1445s 
- Anshuman Rajhans sir YT channel video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07ajmgH84M&list=RDCMUCPsqZ2T3Fq6dGm6l6AsGLVw&start_radio=1&rv=z07ajmgH84M&t=4 (very informative and also includes great insights into attempting the paper) (one can also watch his DKT video) 
- Varjeet Walia sir DKT Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY6KCYG0ojE 
 
Blogs: 
- Abhijeet Agrawal sir blog - https://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.com/search/label/Physics (scroll down and refer to all the posts written on sirs blog) 
- Rishav gupta sir blog - https://rishavgupta.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/strategy-for-physics-preparation/ (and his notes - https://rishavgupta.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/my-notes/) 
- Avadh Singhal sir blog - https://avadhsinghal.wordpress.com/physics-optional/ 
- Divyanshu Jha sir blog - https://unacademyupsc.blogspot.com/2015/05/upsc-preparation-physics-optional-tips_26.html (also contains links of other topper blogs of previous years) 
- Prateek Jain sir blog - https://iprateekjain.wordpress.com/ 
- Abhishek Surana sir blog - https://abhisheksurana.wordpress.com/2018/05/22/cse-physics-strategy/ 
 
Telegram Channels of Toppers: 
- Akash Dagar sir - https://t.me/upscphysics_by_dagar (very important: contains many physics test papers along with the solutions of the test papers, his flash notes and his short notes) 
- Aniket Hirde sir - https://t.me/Aniket_Hirde (contains Aniket sirs notes) 
- Prafull sir - https://t.me/prafull_loksevak22 (contains PYQ solutions for paper 2) 
- Ashish Mishra sir - https://t.me/alphapandeyreturns/176
 
It is compulsory to go through all of the above sources atleast once before starting out ! the blogs and other sources are very very good. It is extremely important to refer to all of them. Just keep in mind to prefer books of Indian authors. 
(For E&M book of author Satya Prakash, there are two books, go for the electromagnetic theory and electrodynamics one and not the electricity and magnetism book) 
(for Nuclear and Particle Physics - S B Patel is BSc level and D C Tayal is MSc level - both are compulsory. Start with S B Patel first) 
(Puri and Babbar - solid state physics and electronics - take the edition which contains electronics as well and not just solid state physics) 
 
Note - The textbooks are more important for topics in paper 2 compared to paper 1. Prioritize your time accordingly.

physics optional strategy , resources and notes physics in jee vs upsc 
 
iit jee physics is conceptual in nature and requires questions to be solved on the spot. focus is on concepts and less on mugging, 
 
upsc physics requires rote memorization of long derivations (sometimes even a few pages long). questions can only be solved if they are known previously (eg - describe stern gerlach experiment? a - this can only be answered if one remembers the details, less scope of logic/concept here) 
 
however, physics in upsc is also very fun and topics like special theory of relativity, quantum tunneling, nuclear and particle physics (quarks, mesons, etc) are very interesting. these topics are not present in jee physics.
advantages of physics optional: 
- static portion (no current affairs) 
- fixed and well defined syllabus 
- can score very well if done properly 
 
disadvantages of physics: 
- difficulty level is higher 
- very time taking 
- requires many repeated revisions  
 
physics is a fantastic optional and i would recommend it to all of you, it has served me really well and is very fun to study (especially if you have a strong passion for physics), however it would be a dis-service on my part to not mention the following warnings: 
 
1. physics can be very difficult/hard and a soul crushing experience as mentioned by many of the previous toppers as well - many students get stuck in the trap of low marks and thus this optional must be prepared with smart work. difficulty level is high.
 
2. may require even upto a year to be fully ready and well versed with the full static subject and pyq's (not 6 months like other optionals)  
 
3. requires lots of self effort because: 
 
a. dias only covers 80% of the syllabus, rest must be done by oneself 
b. no book for solved pyq's and other stuff 
c. very less guidance and material available online 
d. difficulty of the subject and the topics 
 
the above-mentioned points are not to discourage anyone. it is important to be aware about the following before starting as well so that the aspirant will take cognizance of the following and prepare accordingly.  
having said this, physics is truly beneficial to those with science and technical backgrounds because it it your strength vis-à-vis other humanities optionals. as abhishek surana sir had said earlier, this optional favours average students. if i hadn't had physics optional, i wouldn't probably have gotten this rank. don't be afraid of putting in the hard work and the extra hours, it'll be worth it in the end. physics optional is beautiful ❤️
various help i had taken : 
 
1. dias (dp vajpayee sir) --> i had taken physics online coaching from dias institute. the classes are pre-recorded and also include a classroom test series (4 sectional + 2 flt). i found the online recorded classes to be very good for covering the syllabus in a timebound quick manner in around 100 classes. (however only 80% is covered, remaining one has to do oneself from the pyq's and textbooks). most toppers of previous years have all taken classes from dias for physics optional and it has a great track record. 
 
dias website: https://diasindia.com/ 
 
advantage of online coaching: 
- the pace of the class is very fast, thus online lectures allow for the student to pause the video and also rewind any part. this is a major advantage since the pace of the classes is very fast and keeping up can be challenging at times 
- it is cheaper cost wise  
 
disadvantage of online: 
- i had enrolled in the online classes in may 2020 and at that time the tutorial sheets (pyq's) were not discussed in the recorded classes (i am not sure of the same now) 
- doubt solving can be an issue  
 
2. quantumias (shivam sir) --> i had enrolled for quantum yoddha test-series cum crash course mentorship program (https://t.me/quantumiasofficial/495). it happened between prelims and mains in 2023 and it was free (1000/- refundable) then for all the mains qualified students. it lasted for about 6-8 weeks. the following were the deliverables of the course: 
- doubt solving on the telegram group by shivam sir was very useful 
- analog electronics portion (basics) covered in the crash course 
- scanned quantumias physics notes of all topics  
- 10 tests (8 sectional + 2 flt) 
- daily practice problems - dset 
 
quantumias telegram - https://t.me/quantumiasofficial 
shivam sir telegram id - @quantumiassupport  
 
3. neil sir discussion group - https://t.me/physicsneil 
 
disclaimer - which coaching to join?  
answer - i don't endorse dias or quantumias or any other coaching institute. all coaching institutes are good with their own respective pros and cons. each aspirant must spend adequate time and do his/her own research/due diligence before choosing. many toppers with physics background have also done self-study and cleared, so coaching is not a compulsion, but i would strongly recommend coaching for optional subjects (not gs), because they provide structure and stick to the demand of exam and syllabus.
basic booklist and exam pattern - i will not mention these here myself as they have already been explained in great detail by my seniors and previous toppers. there is nothing more to add as the below mentioned sources are the one-stop solution for starting out: 
 
youtube: 
- abhishek surana sir dias seminar video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kefo130xk0&t=1445s 
- anshuman rajhans sir yt channel video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z07ajmgh84m&list=rdcmucpsqz2t3fq6dgm6l6asglvw&start_radio=1&rv=z07ajmgh84m&t=4 (very informative and also includes great insights into attempting the paper) (one can also watch his dkt video) 
- varjeet walia sir dkt video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6kcyg0oje 
 
blogs: 
- abhijeet agrawal sir blog - https://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.com/search/label/physics (scroll down and refer to all the posts written on sirs blog) 
- rishav gupta sir blog - https://rishavgupta.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/strategy-for-physics-preparation/ (and his notes - https://rishavgupta.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/my-notes/) 
- avadh singhal sir blog - https://avadhsinghal.wordpress.com/physics-optional/ 
- divyanshu jha sir blog - https://unacademyupsc.blogspot.com/2015/05/upsc-preparation-physics-optional-tips_26.html (also contains links of other topper blogs of previous years) 
- prateek jain sir blog - https://iprateekjain.wordpress.com/ 
- abhishek surana sir blog - https://abhisheksurana.wordpress.com/2018/05/22/cse-physics-strategy/ 
 
telegram channels of toppers: 
- akash dagar sir - https://t.me/upscphysics_by_dagar (very important: contains many physics test papers along with the solutions of the test papers, his flash notes and his short notes) 
- aniket hirde sir - https://t.me/aniket_hirde (contains aniket sirs notes) 
- prafull sir - https://t.me/prafull_loksevak22 (contains pyq solutions for paper 2) 
- ashish mishra sir - https://t.me/alphapandeyreturns/176
 
it is compulsory to go through all of the above sources atleast once before starting out ! the blogs and other sources are very very good. it is extremely important to refer to all of them. just keep in mind to prefer books of indian authors. 
(for e&m book of author satya prakash, there are two books, go for the electromagnetic theory and electrodynamics one and not the electricity and magnetism book) 
(for nuclear and particle physics - s b patel is bsc level and d c tayal is msc level - both are compulsory. start with s b patel first) 
(puri and babbar - solid state physics and electronics - take the edition which contains electronics as well and not just solid state physics) 
 
note - the textbooks are more important for topics in paper 2 compared to paper 1. prioritize your time accordingly.  shaurya arora strategy upsc

Physics Optional Strategy , Resources and Notes

Interview Preparation -- Don't neglect this stage !!! The swing in marks is maximum here (120 to 216) (just like swing in marks is large in essay, ethics and optional)    
    
- DAF --> 80% of the interview preparation is DAF-based only.     
- Transcripts -->Transcripts are also very important (The same as PYQ's for prelims and mains)    
    
< Don't underestimate the effort required in this stage. I was initially very cocky and over-confident about the interview prep, and only later realized how much time and effort is required here as well. It took me significant time to prepare and practice for the interview stage, don't take it lightly at any cost !! >  
  
For interview Guidance, I took individual and personalized guidance from:  
 
1. Sudhir Chandra sir (ex-CBDT chairman) - you can visit ianugrah website or directly call sir as well. He individually mentors and grooms students for interview prep. Sudhir sir was an ex-UPSC interview panel member as well.  
 
2. Sachin Jain sir - I visited Sachin sir in EnsureIAS and he spent 2-3 sessions with me, each of an hour long, and gave very pragmatic and useful tips for the interview.
PS - some more pointers:

1. Each question in the exam wont be perfect/excellent (not possible also). Paper completion is the most important, with around 10-12 average answers, maybe 2 below average for very tough vague questions and remaining 4-5 very good and well written answers. It's a myth that all 20 have to be perfect answers.

2. Addressing the demand of the question is most important.

3. Intro should be nice, but no need to waste 2 minutes in just thinking for the intro, gradually with time it'll improve. Doesn't need to be catchy everywhere (not possible also)

interview preparation strategy , daf , personal guidance interview preparation -- don't neglect this stage !!! the swing in marks is maximum here (120 to 216) (just like swing in marks is large in essay, ethics and optional)    
    
- daf --> 80% of the interview preparation is daf-based only.     
- transcripts -->transcripts are also very important (the same as pyq's for prelims and mains)    
    
< don't underestimate the effort required in this stage. i was initially very cocky and over-confident about the interview prep, and only later realized how much time and effort is required here as well. it took me significant time to prepare and practice for the interview stage, don't take it lightly at any cost !! >  
  
for interview guidance, i took individual and personalized guidance from:  
 
1. sudhir chandra sir (ex-cbdt chairman) - you can visit ianugrah website or directly call sir as well. he individually mentors and grooms students for interview prep. sudhir sir was an ex-upsc interview panel member as well.  
 
2. sachin jain sir - i visited sachin sir in ensureias and he spent 2-3 sessions with me, each of an hour long, and gave very pragmatic and useful tips for the interview.
ps - some more pointers:

1. each question in the exam wont be perfect/excellent (not possible also). paper completion is the most important, with around 10-12 average answers, maybe 2 below average for very tough vague questions and remaining 4-5 very good and well written answers. it's a myth that all 20 have to be perfect answers.

2. addressing the demand of the question is most important.

3. intro should be nice, but no need to waste 2 minutes in just thinking for the intro, gradually with time it'll improve. doesn't need to be catchy everywhere (not possible also)  shaurya arora strategy upsc

Interview Preparation Strategy , DAF , Personal guidance

For essay preparation - structure and format is the most important. I followed the strategy and intro/body/conclusion format from the following two sources : 
1. Anudeep Durishetty book - Fundamentals of Essay 
2. Shubham Kumar VisionIAS topper talk on YouTube (Essay timestamp: 2:11:54 - 2:34:40) 
 
One can also refer to the topper copies of Gautam Vivekanandan sir (to learn flow in essay) and Vikram Grewal sir (highest scorer in Essay) for value addition in essay.

shaurya arora essay preparation strategy  - structure and format for essay preparation - structure and format is the most important. i followed the strategy and intro/body/conclusion format from the following two sources : 
1. anudeep durishetty book - fundamentals of essay 
2. shubham kumar visionias topper talk on youtube (essay timestamp: 2:11:54 - 2:34:40) 
 
one can also refer to the topper copies of gautam vivekanandan sir (to learn flow in essay) and vikram grewal sir (highest scorer in essay) for value addition in essay.  shaurya arora strategy upsc

Shaurya Arora Essay preparation strategy  - structure and format

Ethics Keywords.pdf

Ethics Case Study.pdf

Quotes, Examples & Diagrams.pdf

For covering the static portion of mains, I heavily relied on the Sunya IAS GS mains books (I could not make handwritten notes since I had less time due to physics). These books proved to be very useful and had many advantages making them an amazing source and great for mains: 
 
- They are written in bullet point format with point sub-headers in bold making subsequent readings very easy and fast. Makes it very easy to scan the pages very fast.  
 
- Holistic coverage and concise based on all points of the syllabus, nothing is skipped (covers all PYQ topics as well).  Topics are discussed with multiple dimensions and from an analytical point of view which is required for mains. In fact it also contains adequate value addition material like committees, data, etc 
 
- Best for all those topics which are in mains but not in prelims (Security, Disaster Management, Society, World History) - one-stop solution for these topics in most concise manner (eg: only 40 pages for world history)  
 
- Also for those topics in prelims (eg: Polity) which are from a UPSC mains point of view (eg - inner party democracy, office of profit, Finance commission recommendations, Women in Judiciary, PESA). Similarly for Economics, Agriculture, etc. 
 
You can add VAM (value addition material) like SC judgements, data/facts, examples, committees, examples/case studies, government schemes from newspaper, test series solutions, etc into the book 
 
Other great sources for notes for GS Mains : 
- Jayant Nahatta Notes (very good for ethics too)
- Rushikesh Reddy Notes

Just like Prelims, even for mains, PYQ's are the most important (eg - every year a question on cyber security is asked in GS3)

For Mains PYQ's - I used the SunyaIAS Mains Solved PYQ book. But the best way is to solve them yourself, atleast for the last 5 years. Solving doesn't necessarily mean writing it in 3 hours, but alternatively, you can even brainstorm yourself over each question and try to generate maximum points yourself. This exercise will help for mains alot
For Ethics, I used Decode Ethics by Mudit Jain.  
 
One should make compilations on A4 sheets for examples, case study solutions, keywords, diagrams, civil servants, etc. I have shared some of my ethics notes below, which I made from the Decode Ethics book and also shared an example from Mehak Jain ma'ams notes

sunya ias gs mains books for covering the static portion of mains, i heavily relied on the sunya ias gs mains books (i could not make handwritten notes since i had less time due to physics). these books proved to be very useful and had many advantages making them an amazing source and great for mains: 
 
- they are written in bullet point format with point sub-headers in bold making subsequent readings very easy and fast. makes it very easy to scan the pages very fast.  
 
- holistic coverage and concise based on all points of the syllabus, nothing is skipped (covers all pyq topics as well).  topics are discussed with multiple dimensions and from an analytical point of view which is required for mains. in fact it also contains adequate value addition material like committees, data, etc 
 
- best for all those topics which are in mains but not in prelims (security, disaster management, society, world history) - one-stop solution for these topics in most concise manner (eg: only 40 pages for world history)  
 
- also for those topics in prelims (eg: polity) which are from a upsc mains point of view (eg - inner party democracy, office of profit, finance commission recommendations, women in judiciary, pesa). similarly for economics, agriculture, etc. 
 
you can add vam (value addition material) like sc judgements, data/facts, examples, committees, examples/case studies, government schemes from newspaper, test series solutions, etc into the book 
 
other great sources for notes for gs mains : 
- jayant nahatta notes (very good for ethics too)
- rushikesh reddy notes

just like prelims, even for mains, pyq's are the most important (eg - every year a question on cyber security is asked in gs3)

for mains pyq's - i used the sunyaias mains solved pyq book. but the best way is to solve them yourself, atleast for the last 5 years. solving doesn't necessarily mean writing it in 3 hours, but alternatively, you can even brainstorm yourself over each question and try to generate maximum points yourself. this exercise will help for mains alot
for ethics, i used decode ethics by mudit jain.  
 
one should make compilations on a4 sheets for examples, case study solutions, keywords, diagrams, civil servants, etc. i have shared some of my ethics notes below, which i made from the decode ethics book and also shared an example from mehak jain ma'ams notes  shaurya arora notes upsc

Sunya IAS GS mains books

GS3 2013-22.pdf

GS-1 PYQ's Analysis 2013-22.pdf

GS-2 PYQ's Analysis 2013-22.pdf

Answer Writing is the most difficult part of this exam, but we must keep practicing no matter how boring. Repetition is the key to improvement (just like cricketers keep practicing the same stroke thousands of times) 
 
Aspirants are the most hesitant of answer writing itself, whereas it is the most important part of mains preparation. Always maintain discipline with respect to answer writing and don't let your mind give yourself ten different reasons in the morning why you should postpone answer writing for that day and procrastinate it to the next day. 
 
To make writing tests less boring, one can experiment with combining half tests. For example, writing a full essay paper (two essays) is tiring, so try writing a 3-hour paper which is half essay (one essay) and half ethics. One can also mix GS papers to reduce monotony and make it interesting. For example - mix half GS-1 and half GS-3 (take Q 1-5 and Q 16-20 from GS-1 and Q 6-15 from GS-3). Such mix and match makes answer writing fun. One can experiment with various different combinations.

shaurya arora mock test copies answer writing is the most difficult part of this exam, but we must keep practicing no matter how boring. repetition is the key to improvement (just like cricketers keep practicing the same stroke thousands of times) 
 
aspirants are the most hesitant of answer writing itself, whereas it is the most important part of mains preparation. always maintain discipline with respect to answer writing and don't let your mind give yourself ten different reasons in the morning why you should postpone answer writing for that day and procrastinate it to the next day. 
 
to make writing tests less boring, one can experiment with combining half tests. for example, writing a full essay paper (two essays) is tiring, so try writing a 3-hour paper which is half essay (one essay) and half ethics. one can also mix gs papers to reduce monotony and make it interesting. for example - mix half gs-1 and half gs-3 (take q 1-5 and q 16-20 from gs-1 and q 6-15 from gs-3). such mix and match makes answer writing fun. one can experiment with various different combinations.  shaurya arora notes upsc

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