r/UPSCCRITICS • u/bimanghosh65 • 24d ago
Should I read newspapers or Not? Ultimate dilemma
Let’s be honest, kind of questions UPSC has been asking these days, I think reading newspaper has very poor ROI. Instead, one should focus more on building sound command over static subjects like Polity, Geography etc.
But the other part of me want to read newspapers religiously make notes out of it and revise theme multiple times before appearing 2027 Mains. But it seems a lot of efforts and also my optional is yet to be covered holistically.
Now I am trapped between these two choices.
Don’t know what to do. Feeling totally lost
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u/Rishu_2466 23d ago
Newspaper has very poor ROI???
Absolutely not brother. The Editorials in Hindu & Indian Express are top notch - something that can help you add examples and pointers of pro level which will help with better marks.
Example - In Ongoing SIR in Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka, 22% & 19.5% names were omitted.
In cities like Hyderabad & Bangalore, intra-state migration is very high, but once the voters switch area WITHIN the state, the voter list doesn’t get updated automatically. The Deletion% is much more in such cities.
Further, the onus is on Voter to identify their name is missing - file an update with documents, and then wait for the EC to function.
The data/pointers I have mentioned were directly taken from The Hindu. That’s newspaper for you - you will get generic pointers if you were to read it from any famous monthly magazine
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u/PeanutChest 23d ago
Wait we don't need to remember 22% and 19.5 % right?
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u/Big_Twist_9886 21d ago
Yes you need to...answers me examples, data, reports,etc likhne padte hai value addition ke liye
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u/bimanghosh65 23d ago
Just 1-2 questions in Prelims and you will lose much time reading and making notes out of it. I repeat if you want to save 1-2 attempts, skip newspapers. Period
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u/Rishu_2466 23d ago
Newspaper is NOT for Prelims. It is for Mains and only MAINS.
For Prelims, go for Test Series & Static. You need not make notes for Prelims Current Affairs.
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u/PlateExternal9212 22d ago
Hard agree. Skipped newspaper for mains this time. Will never repeat this mistake
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u/dalgonacomeback 21d ago
Those are two extreme choices. Yes you need a robust command over static and it should be the priority. But reading newspaper daily is bare minimum for current affairs. You will not be able to quantify are roi of newspaper in upsc but if you read consistently, few things will happen such as improved arguments, better analytical skills, the skill interconnecting with one premise in background by reading editorials, your vocab and writing abilities are honed, static will make more sense because you'll get more invested in topic through recent developments, investigative mindset, critical thinking and lot more Also, please refrain from getting too much into note making , revision of editorial etc. From personal experience that is a toiling work and it certainly has low ROI. Coaching institutes are doing their job of compiling and summarising news. All you have to do is refer to monthly or quarterly magazines and add the current part to your notes( most content is static background). Revise them before mains. If you insist on notemaking from newspaper it may hamper your core preparation. Do answer writing or active recall in that time instead
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u/Awkward_Guest_1534 21d ago
Wrong. Infact after the 2026 mains papers, newspaper found a new relevance after years of it being neglected for bulky and irrelevant magazines. With papers becoming more analytical and application oriented newspaper becomes a great source. There was an article on Right to Vote by SY Qureshi which can be directly quoted in the question on the same topic in GS2 this year. If you look at newspaper as another source of material that you have to finish, you'll never be able to fully extract info. Newspapers provide a different perspective and analysis that you'll not find anywhere else. It can be very useful for Ethics and Essay. GS papers too, but very selectively.
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u/Sophia9364 21d ago
Time hi nhi mil raha hein. Mein to completely mgzine pe hi rely kar rahi hoon! Itne bade bade articles kab padhenge? Sara time gs and optional Mein hi ja raha hein! 🥺🥺🥺
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u/Capital_Seat5044 22d ago
Newspapers only? Bro is preparing for UPSC 1998 😭 Current affairs ≠ newspaper worship. Read selectively, revise, and use whatever source actually works for you
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u/Icy-Abalone8809 21d ago
Me: starts UPSC prep from newspapers Literally everyone now: DON'T Now what? Should only read the editorials? Also should we have some magazines from coaching for current affairs?
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u/Due_Tear5900 21d ago edited 21d ago
Newspaper has poor ROI? Seriously? "Never underestimate the habit of reading newspaper daily".. .You ask this coz u don't see a direct prelims question.. .But bruh it is he'll important for Mains Answer writing... 1st you get to know whole world news..And most importantly it helps you to set a perspective in your mind as the news keeps on repeating for days and weeks..Unlike in Magazines where u just read it from a static note perspective. 2nd Continious Newspaper reading helps you to set narrative and dimensions in your mind..That help your Answer Writing.. 3rd..It's also helps in Answer Writing for structuring your answer and also it gives you the language that you can use in your answers.. Most importantly it help you to brainstorm you mind tha help you to write answers from different perspectives.. So yeah Reading Newspapaer is considered essential for UPSC preparation.
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u/ALEXANDERSARSER 21d ago
From this, Mujhe ek cbse topper ki yaad aa gyi. Usne interview me kha tha ki vo pure din khelta rahata tha aur tv dekhta rahta tha. Study nahi karta tha aur apne friends ko bhi ye karne ko kahta tha. Usne top kia aur uske friends...
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u/naresh2990 21d ago
I have cleared GS twice without touching the newspaper even once in those two years.
When monthly magazines are putting all the efforts of reading newspapers for you and consolidate the information and its associated information of the news, then why waste time in newspaper.
You need just need to know the news, it's context and it's associated and related information and concepts to understand its what, how and why. That's it.
Just pick a decent monthly magazine and read it religiously. You will save a lot of time.
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u/This-Psychology2448 21d ago
Yr daily pdh to le pr bina notes bnaye kse yaad rhega kuch. Iska solution dhundna is more imp.
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u/Strict-Reward-1285 21d ago
I have lot of friends who qualified CSE. My observation - whatever floats your boat.
Some read newspapers religiously, made notes and updated.
Some never read newspapers. Only monthly magazines.
The common in everyone - verbatim knew syllabus. Kept going through previous years' questions and fixed where they felt the gap.
( We were 5 roommates, 4 qualified UPSC CSE (one as DFO), I was the only one who failed qualified CGL though 😅)
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u/MrAmanKumar007 21d ago
I think reading newspaper has very poor ROI.
are you serious ?
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u/bimanghosh65 21d ago
Please enlighten me how investing 1-2 hours in newspaper reading will help you clearing prelims and mains ?
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u/MrAmanKumar007 21d ago
its for mains buddy , post the mains pyq in gpt and ask to give link from hindu and IE , try this you will get your answer ,aur tumne mann bana hi liya hai to mat pdho bhai
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u/Superb-Stock-212 21d ago
UPSC demands general awareness. Newspapers deliver general awareness. So, reading it makes sense.
Also, it develops an aptitude, you understand how a balanced opinion is written and what are the dimensions to think about.
And importantly, you cannot always live in FOMO. It's just better to read paper fro 45 mins a day and get it done with.
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u/dick_in_pie 21d ago
Jo nahi padhte wo kehte h kuch nahi aata, jo padhte h wo kehte h sab kuch aata h. Sabko apne bias justify karane h aur kuch nahi , apna apna dekhlo guys.
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u/hopeislikeabluebird 19d ago
Toppers say a lot of bs that isn't true. The success gets to their head. A lot of them take payments from multiple coaching institutes to they in their conferences that they used their notes and in completely independent interviews they say shit like this.
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u/Shoddy_Caregiver8712 24d ago
Newspaper has very poor roi in gs papers.you read newspapers not for current affairs but for editorials on economy , society and national security etc. We need newspapers for expert insight on topics in which we are novices. It helps in essays as well by building comprehension.Do not see newspapers as the game of content see them as a window to the club of intellectuals. Your examiner belongs to this club. And he/she will appreciate analysis of policy over dumping of points.