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

Muskan Singh

Manoj Bhargav

Abhishek Sharma

Modern History Theme based notes- Abhishek Sharma.pdf

These are my entire Modern History theme based notes for mains. If you just want to understand how to make notes look at the last page "Famines" heading, 21st theme Communalism, 22nd theme Role of women in IFS etc. you'll get a good idea.

You can also refer to these notes for your revision and value addition (agar smjh aajae to😅)

modern history theme based notes these are my entire modern history theme based notes for mains. if you just want to understand how to make notes look at the last page "famines" heading, 21st theme communalism, 22nd theme role of women in ifs etc. you'll get a good idea.

you can also refer to these notes for your revision and value addition (agar smjh aajae to😅)  abhishek sharma notes upsc

Modern History theme based notes

5. Modern History, Ancient, Medieval and Art and Culture.

Modern History

I have not read Spectrum, even once. That book was too bulky for me to read. I had started with Bipin Chandra, it was useful for mains and getting that overall picture.
For Prelims specifically I used ForumIAS summary book for modern history. It contains everything that is important in Spectrum and that too in 100 odd pages. I read it as many times as I could so that I could get it in my long term memory. For mains I made the thematic notes based on PYQs as I discussed in detail in the audio note above. 

Ancient and Medieval

I did read RS Sharma and Satish Chandra very early in my preparation (before 1st attempt) and made notes but my main source here was again coaching handouts (FRC). I included them in my notes along with updation from the test series over 3 years. So in the end I had my notes and I relied upon them for both medieval and ancient.

Art and Culture

I read the important chapters like Architecture, Literature etc from Nitin Singhania and made notes. I again filled the gaps from a booklet provided by Shubham sir at FRC and the information from Test Series solutions. I had also glanced upon Udaan booklet at some point in my preparation.

The ROI in these 3 subjects is not that great, but still you have to do a decent level of preparation so as to not miss out on simple questions like in 2025 Prelims. Again DON'T IGNORE THEM COMPLETELY. Don't make the blunder I made in my first attempt.

5. modern history, ancient, medieval and art and culture. 5. modern history, ancient, medieval and art and culture.

modern history

i have not read spectrum, even once. that book was too bulky for me to read. i had started with bipin chandra, it was useful for mains and getting that overall picture.
for prelims specifically i used forumias summary book for modern history. it contains everything that is important in spectrum and that too in 100 odd pages. i read it as many times as i could so that i could get it in my long term memory. for mains i made the thematic notes based on pyqs as i discussed in detail in the audio note above. 

ancient and medieval

i did read rs sharma and satish chandra very early in my preparation (before 1st attempt) and made notes but my main source here was again coaching handouts (frc). i included them in my notes along with updation from the test series over 3 years. so in the end i had my notes and i relied upon them for both medieval and ancient.

art and culture

i read the important chapters like architecture, literature etc from nitin singhania and made notes. i again filled the gaps from a booklet provided by shubham sir at frc and the information from test series solutions. i had also glanced upon udaan booklet at some point in my preparation.

the roi in these 3 subjects is not that great, but still you have to do a decent level of preparation so as to not miss out on simple questions like in 2025 prelims. again don't ignore them completely. don't make the blunder i made in my first attempt.  abhishek sharma notes upsc

5. Modern History, Ancient, Medieval and Art and Culture.

Fundamentals of Essay freeupscmaterials.org.pdf

I remember reading this book by Anudeep Durishetty sir very early in my preparation, when I was totally clueless about answer writing and essay writing vis a vis UPSC mains.
I won't lie, the clarity that this book provided was unmatched.

So I am sharing it here, for those who are finding it difficult to write good answers, who are not sure how to start, how to prepare and how to practice. Give this book a good read and you'll find clarity. This book will make answer writing and essay writing simple for you. Take whatever resonates with you, not everything will be relevant/useful for you today, but you'll definitely find something useful.

Just FYI, Anudeep Sir was AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2017 and he scored 950 in mains alone. That's no joke.

book by anudeep durishetty sir v i remember reading this book by anudeep durishetty sir very early in my preparation, when i was totally clueless about answer writing and essay writing vis a vis upsc mains.
i won't lie, the clarity that this book provided was unmatched.

so i am sharing it here, for those who are finding it difficult to write good answers, who are not sure how to start, how to prepare and how to practice. give this book a good read and you'll find clarity. this book will make answer writing and essay writing simple for you. take whatever resonates with you, not everything will be relevant/useful for you today, but you'll definitely find something useful.

just fyi, anudeep sir was air 1 in upsc cse 2017 and he scored 950 in mains alone. that's no joke.  abhishek sharma notes upsc

Book by Anudeep Durishetty sir v

Microthemes of UPSC Mains.pdf

This document also contains the microthemes and segregates the questions under different themes.

Now when you make short notes for a theme, make sure all the questions under that get somewhat covered in your content.

the microthemes this document also contains the microthemes and segregates the questions under different themes.

now when you make short notes for a theme, make sure all the questions under that get somewhat covered in your content.  abhishek sharma topic-discussion upsc

The microthemes

UPSC-Mains-TopicWise-PYQs-GS-3.pdf

These are topic-wise/theme-wise PYQs of GS papers of last 10 years. This will help you in theme identification.
All credit goes to the person/channel/institute who has compiled this document.

gs-3 pyq these are topic-wise/theme-wise pyqs of gs papers of last 10 years. this will help you in theme identification.
all credit goes to the person/channel/institute who has compiled this document.  abhishek sharma notes upsc

GS-3 PYQ

UPSC-Mains-TopicWise-PYQs-GS-2.pdf

gs-2 pyq these are topic-wise/theme-wise pyqs of gs papers of last 10 years. this will help you in theme identification.
all credit goes to the person/channel/institute who has compiled this document.  abhishek sharma topic-discussion upsc

GS-2 PYQ

UPSC-Mains-TopicWise-PYQs-GS-1.pdf

gs1 pyqs gs1 pyqs - mains topic wise   abhishek sharma topic-discussion upsc

GS1 PYQs

DOC-20240809-WA0002..pdf

DOC-20240819-WA0000..pdf

DOC-20240831-WA0001..pdf

essay practise essay practise by abhishek  abhishek sharma topic-discussion upsc

Essay practise

I am just telling what I did during my preparation. In no way, I am promoting or recommending any specific test series, coaching or teacher.
I have not joined any other test series apart from MGP and AWFG for mains and any other classes for CA apart from Dipin sir (he is not with Forumias anymore) so I can't comment on any other teacher/coaching/test series.
Do your own due diligence before buying any course.

test series i am just telling what i did during my preparation. in no way, i am promoting or recommending any specific test series, coaching or teacher.
i have not joined any other test series apart from mgp and awfg for mains and any other classes for ca apart from dipin sir (he is not with forumias anymore) so i can't comment on any other teacher/coaching/test series.
do your own due diligence before buying any course.  abhishek sharma strategy upsc

Test Series

DOC-20240906-WA0004..pdf

DOC-20240906-WA0005..pdf

DOC-20240909-WA0002..pdf

These are my actual answers, written under a strict 3 hour deadline. So these are not perfect. There will be some bad answers, some average answers and some good answers. The aim is to let you know that you don't need to write 20 perfect answers to score good in mains, it's not possible.

Go through these copies, try to understand how to go about answer writing. You can/must also refer other topper copies to see if they seem more doable to you. 
Just make it clear in your mind what you are aiming for in next 3 months.

test copies these are my actual answers, written under a strict 3 hour deadline. so these are not perfect. there will be some bad answers, some average answers and some good answers. the aim is to let you know that you don't need to write 20 perfect answers to score good in mains, it's not possible.

go through these copies, try to understand how to go about answer writing. you can/must also refer other topper copies to see if they seem more doable to you. 
just make it clear in your mind what you are aiming for in next 3 months.  abhishek sharma notes upsc

Abhishek Sharma

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