#7: How to make Current Affairs notes for UPSC?

Everything you need to know about CA to ace the UPSC exam

"Shall I make notes from newspaper? If yes, what all notes shall I make?" Often asked question by aspirants!
Observation: A lot of people fear making notes because they don't know how to!

This post will teach you how to cover Current Affairs

Identify the segments to be notes

I have divided the note making from Current Affairs in following segments:

1. Keywords
2. Quotes
3. Prelims Facts
4. Mains centric

1. Keywords

For keywords, I have a 2 way approach:-

- Newspapers
- Speeches of Prime Minister

a) You might find some articles in newspaper valuable but won’t know how to note them. Try to highlight the enriching keywords and note them!

Unsure on what to note? Join my Telegram. I post keywords there everyday

b) For speeches of the PM, I compile keywords from these in a google doc. You can access it for free here

2. Quotes

Quotes come handy in essays and many GS answers. We all come across them all the time but since we don’t take a note of them, we tend to forget them. How to never forget these quotes again? Make a Quote-Bank!

How? See the image below 👇

3. Prelims Facts

Some facts for prelims go a long way. You can understand the concepts but hard to memorize all the facts in one go. How to make the revisable?

-Maintain a subject wise copy and take quick notes there. eg: See Question I posted a few days ago and my notes for pre on same

4. Mains centric

For this:
a) 1-2 page notes on every topic of syllabus
b) value addition from current affairs

I have explained this better in this Twitter Thread

UPSC CSE WHY @CseWhy

In wake of pregnancy debate, 2 classic articles came up. One by H’nble WCD Minister Mrs Irani in IE and other in TH text and context section. But major Q: what to note & How? (1/3)

Lastly, why handwritten notes?

- to train your brain to remember by writing
- revising what you have written has better returns
- Visual memory pushes for retention

(if you make notes. If you rely on monthly magazines, up to you!)

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