Saikaran Nandala -Ethics (GS-4) Strategy:

Ethics (GS-4) Strategy:

This is the most rewarding of all the GS and relatively needs less effort compared to other GS papers. It is very joy to write these paper as well.

My Sources:

1. Vision Value addition material

2. Forum Red book

3. Toppers value addition notes

4. Model answers from test series and test discussions

5. Sunya IAS PYQ book.

Preparation journey:

1. Jan 2022( before 2022 prelims): Started with preparation using Vision VAM and complementing it with Forum. Got familiar with the subject in 2-3 readings and referred to PYQ on how UPSC frames questions and what to be done to address the demand. Also, referred to some videos on YouTube for approch on case studies ( mainly Vision IAS). < I didn't make any notes during this time>

2. Post Prelims - for Mains 2022: enrolled for Lukmaan ethics test series ( contains around 6-7 FLT). Read the Vision VAm again and made short notes for few topics. Wrote 4 full length tests of lukmaan and religiously watched the test discussions videos by Ansari Sir. This helped me to analyse my performance and to see how I'm addressing the demand, adding examples. I used to compare my answers with toppers answers for that particular tests, this indeed was very helpful!

3. Mains 2022 analysis: I didn't attempt one 10 marker and actually I'm not that satisfied with my performance . I got around 108. Contrary to my opinion, I didn't do that bad.

4. Post Mains 2022( Nov 2022): invested around 10 days of time to look at toppers value addition materials, their answers and made my value addition notes and completed my short notes as well

5. For Mains 2023: since I did everything beforehand for this attempt, I didn't invest much time to study. Rather I brainstormed PYq from 2015-2022 and referred sunya IAS PYQ book and updated my value addition material. Enrolled for tests in forum and daily answer writing by Digicate IAs helped.

6. Mains 2023 analysis: I completed the paper 3 minutes before this time and scored 122 in Mains 2023.

My key takeaways to increase scores:

1. Balance case studies and theoretical questions: Many people tend to focus much on case studies at the cost of theoretical questions. I used to devote not more than 95 mins for case studies (16 mins for each case study; 6 case studies) and 85 mins for theoretical questions ( 6.5 mins for each question; 13 q)

2. Providing more examples works: give as much substantiation as possible.

3. The more practical your answers are the more better it is.

4. Ethical vocabulary: gives that extra edge, try to incorporate

5. Frameworks: Have frameworks for case studies, questions on ethics in public administration theoretical questions.

6. Quality over quantity: Add more depth in your points rather than just providing surface level analysis.

7. Time management: complete paper at all cost, that's half battle done!

2. Notes made for ethics value addition over the course of my journey.

A lot of effort was put in to do this, hope it helps you all!!

3. GS4_FLT

I wrote only one FLT and one more for theory section for 2023.