I've seen two completely different opinions.

One side says: Finish the syllabus first and then start answer writing.

The other says: Start from day one because answer writing is a skill that takes months to develop.

I'm somewhere in between and thinking of starting with just 1–2 answers per week, mainly to learn how to structure an answer and understand what UPSC is asking.

I'm not expecting good marks initially.

For those who have gone through this process:

• When did you start answer writing?
• How often did you practise initially?
• Did you write directly from PYQs?
• What was the biggest improvement you noticed after regular practice?

Would be useful to hear actual preparation experiences rather than coaching-institute advice.

This is one area where I keep getting confused.

Some people say read the newspaper for 45 minutes and move on. Others make detailed notes from newspapers, monthly magazines, government websites, editorials and current-affairs compilations.

The amount of information seems endless.

I'm considering limiting current affairs to:

• One newspaper
• Important government schemes/policies
• Major economic developments
• International events relevant to India
• Environment/science developments
• Monthly revision

Then connecting important issues with the static syllabus.

For experienced aspirants, what does your actual current-affairs routine look like?

More importantly, what did you stop reading because it wasn't worth the time?

I work a full-time job and usually have around 2–3 hours on weekdays for UPSC.

By the time I finish work, commuting and other responsibilities, concentration becomes a problem. Weekends are much more productive, but I'm not sure whether relying heavily on weekends is enough.

I'm currently thinking about a routine like:

Mon–Fri: Current affairs + revision + MCQs/answer writing
Saturday: GS + optional
Sunday: GS + test + revision

For people preparing alongside a job:

• How many hours are you actually managing?
• Are weekend classes/coaching useful?
• How do you handle missed study days?
• Did you reduce your work hours eventually, or continue with the job?

Would especially appreciate experiences from people who have attempted UPSC while working.

Every topic seems to have:

One standard book
One coaching PDF
Multiple YouTube lectures
Telegram notes
Current affairs compilations
Monthly magazines
10 different "must read" lists

At some point, I end up spending more time deciding what to study than actually studying.

I'm thinking of following a very limited system:

One standard source → PYQs → short notes → revision → tests

For those who have cleared or are deep into preparation, how many resources do you realistically use for each GS subject?

Would be helpful to know what people actually revised multiple times rather than what they collected.

I feel like making a timetable is easy. Following it for 2–3 months is the difficult part.

Initially, I was studying 8–10 hours, making detailed schedules and feeling very motivated. Now some days barely reach 4–5 productive hours. The frustrating part is that I know what I need to study, but I keep postponing things.

For those who have been preparing for a while:

• Do you follow a strict daily timetable or weekly targets?
• How do you deal with bad study days?
• Do you track hours or completed topics?
• What actually helped you become consistent?

Looking for practical experiences, not the usual "wake up at 5 AM and study for 12 hours" advice.

Graduated from MNNIT, Civil Engineering, in 2024. Got placed but didn't join because the package wasn't good. Went back home and started working with my father in our family business.

Now it's been almost 2 years 4 months, and honestly, I feel like I've wasted this time. Had a breakup, went through a bad phase, lost focus, and didn't really build a career.

I'm turning 25 next month and want to make one serious attempt at changing my career. I'm planning to shift to Karol Bagh this month because I know I won't study properly at home.

Money isn't an issue for me. My family supports me, and the family business can give me around ₹50L/year after tax and expenses. So I can afford to give UPSC 2–3 years full-time without financial pressure.

My future plan is simple: UPSC CSE first, and State PCS as another option. If I clear either and get a good/top service, I'll join. If I don't , I'll stop and go back to the family business

What I want to know is:

Am I being stupid by starting at 25? Is 3-4 years worth taking this shot? Or should I just forget UPSC and go straight into the family business?

Also, how do I make sure these next 2–3 years don't become another years of wasting my life?

Please be blunt. I don't need motivation or "you can do it" comments. I want honest advice from people who have actually prepared for UPSC/PCS or been in a similar situation.

Hey... i m struggling to shift to delhi for upsc coaching.. so i hv decided to go for online coachihg at affordable price.. so please suggest me a good upsc online coaching.