I prepared for Economics on my own, and have done it in both good as well as bad way 🙂
Last year (1st attempt) I had one of the lowest scores in optional, 89+129 = 218. And it became the single reason why I did not find my name in the final rank list. It may have been in part,because Economics as a subject was almost completely new to me. But, much more importantly, it was more down to my own structural fallacies. I had hardly written down a word before the exam, did not solve past years papers…… and had many more strategical flaws
Based on this, I modified my strategy to focus on the following
- Solving past 5–10 years papers is the most important of all tasks, since questions are generally repeated. Since, standard answers to question are missing, one can take the help of solved Past years papers by my senior Tejasvi Rana, who is like an elder sister to me. Previous Year Papers – Google Drive
- Practising drawing the diagrams. While, it is easy to appreciate and understand the Income effect and Substitution effect in a Labour Supply curve, believe me, while actually drawing, one realises it isn’t as easy as it seems. The more you practise, the easier it will become
- Focussing on every word of the syllabus ( for GS as well). For instance, Q 6a of this years Paper 2 simply asked to write on Poverty Schemes and their performance. The question was almost exactly like the phrase written in the syllabus. Had one prepared notes on it, he/she could have done this question very easily
- Making OWN notes. Last time, I just used to read from the notes of Gaurav Sir. But, now I can say that making your own notes helps to understand better, revise better and helps in writing practise. But, yeah, take the notes of Gaurav sir, Tejasvi, my own etc as a guidance
- For Paper 1, I tried to cover the main topics from Indian authors as well, especially key terms and definitions. For eg q 5a ( 2017) asking on Differential Tax Incidence has been elaborated in Bhatia’s book.
- Revising regularly. This is more needed for Eco Paper 2, where there is a need to memorise things. As an example, I was able to revise between 4–5 times between prelims and mains, each revision being of a shorter duration than the previous one.
- For Answer Writing
- Putting a lot of data and names of Economists in my Eco Paper 2 answer
- Making my answers more concise and succinct, and not being verbose. See Tejasvi’s answers to appreciate this point.
- I tried to interlink Eco 1 and Eco 2. For eg, on the question on Gravity model of trade in Paper 1 , I quoted actual examples of India and UAE ( how UAE is small, but we have a trade of 60 billion $)
- Trivial changes like Using pencil and scale to draw 🙂
- Taking help from my peers, seniors and the group econsiasprep@googlegroups.com whenever required.
Booklist for Economics Optional
Paper 1
- Micro –
- Primarily from Ahuja As Tejasvi said last time, a thumb rule to find out what is important and what is not is to see past years papers. If a question is being asked from a chapter, then it is important
- Abhimanyu’s notes as a summary
- Macro and Money Banking
- International
- Growth and Devleopment
- Public Finance
Paper 2
- Instead of going cover to cover, I went topic by topic, browsing every word / phrase of syllabus, and making my own notes from various sources such as
- Gaurav Sir’s notes – Khelo India
- Tejasvi’s notes – ECONOMICS OPTIONAL Strategy: Tejasvi Rana Rank 12 (Marks – 325, CSE-2016), Download Her Economics Optional Notes and Related Documents – INSIGHTS
- Riju Mam notes – Riju Bafna
- Mishra and Puri
- Uma Kapila
- Dutt and Sundaram
- My own notes – https://1drv.ms/u/s!Am-XDyZeJwRZjJkuXjXNDxvI6uss-A
All of these did help me to improve my score from 218 to 288 this time ( 140 + 148). Although, its not an excellent score, but it was good enough to give me a good rank. And I hope and wish, it helps you as well 🙂
sir, which newspaper u followed for economics optional
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I followed Liveint. But, my belief is that one does not really need to read Business Newspapers for mains. But, yes, it is definitely needed for the Interview round
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sir , i have just started preparing for CSE 2019 , i find economics interesting and planning to take it as optional . So in your view is it the right choice as i have no background in economics and considering the timeline . THANK YOU
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It is a right choice, provided you are willing to work hard. I too took Economics as an optional , without having a background. But, I did not bad, did I ? 🙂
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Sir, If u have any of your practiced economics optional answer writing, can u please upload it here for both paper 1 and 2.
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I practised myself taking Tejasvi’s notes as a reference. So, treat that as the main benchmark. But, i’ll upload the papers of those years that Tejasvi has not uploaded
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Sir can you please upload solutions to those papers that Tejasvi mam has not uploaded
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You followed ‘Advanced Economic Theory: Microeconomics’ by HL Ahuja for Micro and ‘Macroeconomics: Theory and Policy’ for the macro part in Paper 1 right ? There are a lot of these books with minor variations in name. Just wanted to be sure. Thank you 🙂
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Yes.
I realise that. That’s why I have added the links of the books to purchase with the book itself.
Btw, most of these books are available on the google group or on ‘appropriate websites’
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Oh my mistake, I totally missed the links part.
Thank you so much for the suggestion. It’s a great help.
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Sir i have problem in selecting optional plz help me in selecting this as I’m from physics honours.
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Sir , could you please upload past year question papers pdf !
THANK YOU
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Ok, I’ll do that
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Sir , I have made notes from Uma Kapila’s book(EPW articles) for Paper 2 . What additional sources do I need to refer to apart from that ? Looking at your notes for paper 2 gives me the feeling that I have a lot to cover . Can you suggest a simple strategy to cover paper 2 in an easy manner ?
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Why do you need to re-invent the wheel ? 😛 I have done all the hard work. Now, just try to utilise it optimally . But, for Eco 1 make your own notes
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Sir i m pursuing economics from IGNOU.. as its a distance learning.. i have not studied it properly.. but my 12 concepts are very strong. And i am opting for this optional only sir. But reading FROYEN for MACRO seems very hard and confusing. Sir what should i do.. should i read ahuja for macro first or FROYEN?? PLZZ help me out..
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Sir how to self-evaluate answers? How can I improve?
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Take Tejasvi’s ansswer booklets I shared as a benchark and then evaluate
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Sir, It will be very helpful if you can please mention good source for these two topics:
(1) Human Capital and Economic Growth
(2) Research and Development and Economic Growth
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Both actually have a very sstringent mathematical derivation, which you will find on the google group . But, since, generally it won;t be asked, I read the theoretical details from Todaro and Smith. Try finding the book at the ‘right’ places
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hello sir
i have some doubts relating to answer writing for cse-economics optional
1. do we need to follow the same structure of intro-body-conclusion in both paper 1 and 2?
2. need of writing multi dimensional(socio-eco-cultural-political etc) answers specially in paper2 or do we need to write specialisation relating to economics only?
3.adding concepts of paper1 in paper2 and vice versa?
4.adding national,societal interests,individual interest,optimistic answers?
5. linking/comparing indian economy with rest of world?
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I think I have already answered the questions on a different platfrom. Haven’t I ? 🙂
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yes sir,thank you 🙂
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Thanks Abhijeet…for sharing your preparation strategy….It was really helpful!
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Hello sir,
Did you go for EPW subscription (offline or online)? Do you think it is worthy enough in our preparation for Economics optional?
Thanks!
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Hi Amisha,
I did take, but it is not very helpful. You can avoid it if you want
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Hi Abhijeet…Request you to post solutions for Economics paper I (2017)…this will help lot of aspirants to understand the approach to attempt questions in actual exam….this could be a bit time consuming, but your efforts would be really appreciated!
Thanks,
Krishan
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I’d try to do that, but truth be told its been 8-9 months since I have given my mains and I have forqotten quite a lot of things 😛
If you want, i can try and help with particular questions
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haha…no worries!…Thanks for offering help….I will surely get back to you if I needed your guidance in any particular question….Cheers!
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Hi Abhijeet, it would be of great help if you could elaborate on which chapters to study from Thirlwall and what to leave 🙂
Like Abhimanyu did for Micro.
Thanks 🙂
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Hello Sir,
I think you will recognize me as soon as you read this comment.
Sir, I had requested you (on Quora) to let us know Chapters which we can skip in different books in the same manner Abhimanyu Gahlaut did. Sir please update that part.
Thanks
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Hi Anubhav, I am really sorry. But I am traveling right now, so am unable to do it. But let me know if you want of any specific book. I’ll try to get that
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Hello sir,
Disturbing you yet again! But wanted to know are the appendices of Salvatore to be done in its entirety? Because they are quite rigorous (graphically). Though, I understood the curx of the same but are they require to be re-produce in my notes? Have you done the same?
Thanks!
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Sir if can please upload economics optional question papers of 2006 and 2008, that would be really helpful. I can’t find any particular book containing past questions of the optional. Hope you can help me out with at least 2008 paper, so I have past 10 year papers in total. Also I’m unable to find adequate material on welfare topics like A.K Sen’s welfare function in H.L Ahuja Advanced book. Please help me out. Thank you so much.
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Hi, I don’t have the past years papers in soft copy. And before 2011, questions were repeated a lot. So question paper of 2006-2008 would not be very different from 2009-2011.
I myself am not sure where to cover that from. But you can see Gaurav Sir’s notes for some reference
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Sir, a small question. How much labelling needs to be done in the diagrams ?(eg do we need to mention E1, E2 for showing equilibriums)
Also, do we need to write explanations of the diagrams for instance in case of shift in IS-LM curves, that this curve moves rightward/leftwards and thus a particular change happens.
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Sir,
on what basis did you find mira puri better than datt sundharam for eco optional??
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*misra puri
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Within which month it’s better to complete the studying 1st time both subjects for upsc 2019 exam
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I have advanced economic theory 20th Edition.If anybody wants to buy, please contact @ khansaifmohd93@live.com.
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Sir How should I start studying for economics(gs+optional). Should I start with ncert or direct optional books which you have mentioned. I am not from economocs background. Please tell
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Sir ,do we need to get updated editions of books in Economics or old editions will suffice?
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sir, Is there require to join any institution. It helps or i study my self. Because, I changed my optional so pleas guide me if possible….
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Sir which institute’s test series should one follow?
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sir I am udergradute economics student completing my second year BA economics , my attempt will be in 2020 .what will you suggest should I complete optional first or gs study
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Sir, what is the role of RBI’s Financial Stability report in optional ? Do we need to cover it ?
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Respected Abhijeet Sir,
I’m Shrirup Ghosh from Bhubaneswar and right now I’m pursuing my graduation in economics(hon).[1st yr] and right after it I’m planning to give upsc cse examination with eco optional i.e the year 2022.
so sir, we are following m. l. Jhingan book for macro which is a good book and when i was going from Gaurav sir’s classical theory of employment (micro economics), notes then at that time i could not understand many diagrams which where not given in Froyen book too.
so sir you should i follow it exactly or i should make changes on my own??
Thank you sir
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hello sir, i am preparing for 2020 exam and the main hurdle i am facing is of answer writing for mains. how should i plan my strategy subject wise for all GS papers along with writing answers.
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Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!
Very useful info specifically the ultimate section 🙂 I care for such information a lot.
I was seeking this particular info for a very lengthy time.
Thank you and best of luck.
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Can you please suggest me economics coaching institutes in Delhi.
Thank you ☺
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Hello sir,
I find Economy very interesting so i am planning to go with Economics optional.I am a working professional.It would be helpful if you could provide a rough idea of whether this optional can be managed along with a job ,given the time constraints .Also I am from Engineering background.
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Hi Sir,
I want to ask you that is it advisable to take Economics as an optional for one with no Eco background? I’m an Engineering graduate (Not from IIT with average Maths & I can comprehend graphs well). Earlier I took Geography as an optional, but I can’t study it as I find it boring. Economics is the subject that interests me. It fascinates me. I wanted to pursue graduation in Economics but studied engineering.
And how much part does Mathematics play in Economics optional? Can we skip math part if possible as I fear that Engineering Mathematics.
Also, I want to ask you that what should i.e. book or other should I study now to really know that I can study it. I just want to know that is it attraction or I can really study it. I have 9 months so that I can plan it study well in advance.
I would be grateful for your help on this!
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What topics should I read from ncert 12th std economic textbook microeconomics and macroeconomics for preparation…and am going to take economics as my optional subject for mains then should I read 12th std eco textbook completely
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econsiasprep@googlegroups.com
How to login to this group. Does it still exists
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Hi Abhijeet, how does one prepare for environmental economics portion? Tejasvi Rana had mentioned IIT-Gandhinagar material in one of her interviews but they seem to have removed it.
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Sir can you please upload previous year answers economics optional apart from 2011-15, which we students can use as our guide and model answers, for this act of kindness I and the rest students will be grateful to you. Thank you very much sir 😊
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Sorry, now really don’t remember enough to answer the questions 😛
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Hello Sir,
How much time it will take to complete the syllabus for the economics optional?
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About 1 year
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hello sir,
i am following your booklist and other sources but sir may you please give me an strategy to follow like what is to be done and read first.
it would be a great help if you could help.
thank you.
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Hi Sir, Hope you are Doing Well . Wanted to Know that which book of Uma Kapila will suffice for Paper 2 the Big One( Indian Economy Since Independence) or the Concise edition ( Indian Economy Performance and Policies).. Plzzz answer 🙏
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Hello Sir, I am preparing for 2022 as economics optional. But for utilization of lockdown, can you please tell that which test series should i follow and specially for paper 2 because there is less no of paper in any serieses.
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Radhey Radhey sir ,how r doing?
Sir, my question’s about, how we can get uor notes, back year questions and booklist for .
Thank you
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kindly provide tejesvi mam previous years paper solution if someone have.unable to open above google drive
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kindly provide if someone have tejesvi mam previous year solutions
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Sir,
I have decided to take economics optional and I am very confused whether to take coaching for it or not as I feel I will be able to do it on my own but still do I need any mentor so that I can get conceptual clarity?
kindly guide me.
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