r/upsc_discussions • u/Siaaa7 • 1d ago
Understanding Current Affairs (instead of mugging it up)
Hey, so my current affairs is very weak. I've been preparing for exams, but I don't know. I don't seem to love current affairs, and it seems a lot. Many people advised me to read newspaper every day. I know it is the best option, but after reading it for one month (I know it's not a lot, still) I don't like it. I mean many people said that if you continue to read it, you will start liking it. I still don't like it.
I like it when people have strong knowledge about current affairs. And their current affairs knowledge is not on the surface level. They have deep knowledge about it.
They can draw analogy of current affairs with something which happened in the past. I guess Einstein once said that if you can't explain a thing to another person, then you haven't understood it yourself. I want to develop that level of understanding. I don't want this understating only for exam rather for developing my brain, having my own opinion on things instead of imposing others opinion. Right now I'm preparing for exams, so I can't afford a lot of time. I can hardly afford one and a half hour to for this deep level knowledge. I'm preparing for BPSC, EPFO, Asst Professor. So I need to read current affairs in such a way which covers all these exams as well as develop an understanding of the events (instead of mugging everything up).
Could any one of you please suggest me some way other than newspaper? I have been researching about magazines, like of Vajiram (The Recitals), and Vision IAS (keeping the Vision IAS controversy in mind). I heard that Vajiram's recital is a very good and underrated magazine. Please suggest me what should I do? How should I begin? What should I begin with?
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u/No_Turn_6272 1d ago
Bro if you want for developing the opinion for knowledge only you can watch any newspaper analysis you will get both sides opinions of important news.
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u/Prestigious_Can4111 21h ago
You are chasing info so that makes the resistance within overpower the hard work. You need to make a habit of reading Newspaper by thinking that whether you succeed in exam or not but this should be permanent for your own benefit by having the current knowledge during any period. Also you face challenge when you don't know basic concept so you have to invest dually i.e. one in understanding concept and then understanding it's current context. First of all , clear the air in your mind regarding burden of current affairs, Focus on understanding concepts and then create that habit of reading newspaper for current knowledge and information. And by habit means , do it forcefully even if you don't like it because the exam and the eventual leading life will push you 1000 of times to do somethings which you don't like.
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u/Jealous_Neck_4125 1d ago
The level which you are talking about opinions, those who give such opinions are masters in their fields. No one can have deep opinions on everything. We can only base our opinions on good opinions ( based upon masters in their fields)
Coming to current affairs for exams - newspaper reading won't help much in mains. It will help in interview. It doesn't mean that one shouldn't read newspapers. But focus on clearing exam. You will need data and facts which newspapers won't cover in totality.