# 🏛️ UPPCS Crack Plan — Senior Full-Stack Dev Edition
> **Duration:** April 2025 → April 2026 | **Study:** ~4 hrs/day on office schedule | **Target:** PCS / SDM / DSP

---

## 📋 Table of Contents

1. [Exam Structure Overview](#1-exam-structure-overview)
2. [Prelims Syllabus](#2-prelims-syllabus)
   - [GS Paper I Topics](#gs-paper-i-topics)
   - [CSAT Paper II](#csat-paper-ii--your-dev-superpower)
3. [Mains Syllabus](#3-mains-syllabus)
   - [GS-I — History, Geography, Society](#gs-i--history-geography-society)
   - [GS-II — Polity, Governance, IR](#gs-ii--polity-governance-ir)
   - [GS-III — Economy, Environment, Tech](#gs-iii--economy-environment-technology)
   - [GS-IV — Ethics & Integrity](#gs-iv--ethics-integrity--aptitude)
   - [GS-V — UP Special](#gs-v--up-special)
   - [Hindi & Essay](#hindi--essay-papers)
4. [Optional Subject Guide](#4-optional-subject-guide)
5. [12-Month Roadmap](#5-12-month-roadmap)
6. [Daily Schedule (Office-Friendly)](#6-daily-schedule--office-friendly)
   - [Weekday Schedule](#weekday-schedule-mondayfriday)
   - [Weekend Schedule](#weekend-schedule-saturdaysunday)
7. [Books & Resources](#7-books--resources)
   - [NCERTs (Free)](#ncert-books--read-first)
   - [Standard Reference Books](#standard-reference-books)
   - [Online Resources & Links](#online-resources--links)
8. [Dev Superpowers for UPPCS](#8-your-dev-superpowers-for-uppcs)
9. [Strategy — Do's & Don'ts](#9-strategy--dos--donts)
10. [Weekly Tracker Template](#10-weekly-tracker-template)

---

## 1. Exam Structure Overview

UPPCS (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) is conducted in **3 stages**:

| Stage | Papers | Marks | Nature |
|-------|--------|-------|--------|
| **Prelims (PT)** | GS Paper I (150Q) + CSAT (100Q) | 200 + 200 = 400 | Qualifying (CSAT), Ranking (GS-I) |
| **Mains (Written)** | GS-I to GS-V + Hindi + Essay + Optional (×2) | 1500 marks | Merit-based |
| **Interview** | Personality Test | 100 marks | Final merit list |

### Mains Paper Breakdown

| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|-------|---------|-------|----------|
| GS-I | Indian History, Culture, Geography of World & India | 200 | 3 hrs |
| GS-II | Indian Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice | 200 | 3 hrs |
| GS-III | Economic Development, Biodiversity, Technology, Security | 200 | 3 hrs |
| GS-IV | Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude | 200 | 3 hrs |
| GS-V | UP History, Culture, Polity, Economy, Geography | 200 | 3 hrs |
| Hindi | Essay + Letter + Precis in Hindi | 150 | 3 hrs |
| Essay | Essay writing (Hindi medium) | 150 | 3 hrs |
| Optional I | Your chosen optional subject | 200 | 3 hrs |
| Optional II | Your chosen optional subject | 200 | 3 hrs |

> **Total Mains Marks: 1500** (+ 100 Interview = **1600 final**)

---

## 2. Prelims Syllabus

### GS Paper I Topics

150 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours. **Only GS Paper I marks count for ranking.**

#### 🏛️ History & Culture
- Ancient India — Indus Valley, Vedic Age, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Period
- Medieval India — Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Bhakti & Sufi movements
- Modern India — 1857 revolt, National Movement, Gandhian era, Partition
- Art & Architecture — Temple styles (Nagara/Dravidian), cave paintings, classical dance forms
- UP-specific History — Awadh Nawabs, Bundelkhand Rajas, freedom fighters from UP

#### 🌍 Geography
- Physical Geography — Landforms, rivers, climate, ocean currents
- World Geography — Continents, mountain ranges, deserts, seas
- Indian Geography — Soils, vegetation zones, minerals, agriculture
- UP Geography — Districts, rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti), industrial zones

#### ⚖️ Indian Polity
- Constitution — Preamble, all Parts, Schedules, Amendments
- Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Fundamental Duties
- Parliament, President, PM, Council of Ministers
- Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, structure and powers
- Local Government — 73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments

#### 💰 Economy
- National Income — GDP, GNP, NNP concepts and differences
- Monetary & Fiscal Policy, RBI functions and tools
- Five Year Plans → NITI Aayog transition
- Banking system, Inflation types, Poverty measurement indices
- UP Economy — Agriculture, MSME sector, ODOP (One District One Product)

#### 🔬 Science & Technology
- Physics — Basic concepts, nuclear energy, space technology
- Chemistry — Periodic table, common reactions, nanotechnology
- Biology — Human body systems, diseases, genetics, biotechnology
- IT & Computers — Basics, cybersecurity, AI/ML concepts (your strong suit!)
- Current S&T achievements — ISRO missions, DRDO projects

#### 📰 Current Affairs & Miscellaneous
- National & International events (last 12 months)
- Awards — Nobel, Padma, Khel Ratna, Bharat Ratna
- Government schemes — PM-KISAN, Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas etc.
- Books & persons in news
- UP current affairs — state budget, new policies, appointments

---

### CSAT Paper II — Your Dev Superpower

> ⚡ **Qualifying threshold: 33% (66/200). As a senior dev, target 180+/200. This is free marks.**

| Topic | Your Difficulty Level |
|-------|-----------------------|
| Comprehension passages | Easy |
| Logical Reasoning & Analytical ability | Very Easy — dev strength |
| Decision making & problem solving | Very Easy |
| General mental ability | Easy |
| Basic numeracy (Class 10 maths) | Very Easy |
| Data interpretation — Tables, graphs, charts | Very Easy — you do this daily |

**Strategy:** Spend max 2 weeks on CSAT in Month 1. Then never touch it again. Use saved time for GS-I.

---

## 3. Mains Syllabus

### GS-I — History, Geography, Society

**200 marks | Focus: Descriptive answers, 15–20 marks each**

#### Indian Heritage & Culture
- Salient features of Indian Society and regional cultural practices
- Diversity of India — regional, linguistic, caste and social
- Role of women and women's organizations in Indian history
- Population issues, urbanization, effects of globalization on society

#### Modern Indian History (1757–1947)
- Significant events and personalities from 1857 to independence
- Freedom Struggle — stages, social reform movements
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization of states
- History of UP — Ancient (Kashi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya), Medieval, Modern

#### World History
- World Wars I & II — causes, events, consequences
- Industrial Revolution and its global impact
- Colonialism, decolonization, Cold War
- Political philosophies — communism, capitalism, fascism
- Redrawal of world map post-1919 (Treaty of Versailles era)

#### World & Indian Geography
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world
- Factors responsible for location of industries
- Important geophysical phenomena — earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis
- Climate change — causes, effects, international agreements

---

### GS-II — Polity, Governance, IR

**200 marks | Focus: Governance critique, policy analysis**

#### Indian Constitution & Polity
- Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments
- Separation of powers — Parliament, Executive, Judiciary
- Functioning of Parliament and State Legislatures
- Structure and functioning of Executive at Centre and State
- Statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies

#### Governance & Social Justice
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections — SC/ST, women, children, elderly
- Issues relating to poverty, hunger, education, health
- Transparency, accountability, e-governance initiatives
- Role of civil services in a democracy

#### International Relations
- India and its neighborhood — Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings — SAARC, BRICS, SCO, G20
- Effect of policies of developed countries on India's interests
- Important international institutions — UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank
- Indian diaspora and its role in foreign policy

#### UP Governance
- UP polity — Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet structure
- UP Legislature — Vidhan Sabha + Vidhan Parishad (bicameral)
- Local self-government in UP — Panchayati Raj, Urban Local Bodies
- UP administrative divisions — 18 Divisions, 75 Districts

---

### GS-III — Economy, Environment, Technology

**200 marks | Focus: Data-backed answers, schemes, current policies**

#### Economic Development
- Indian Economy — planning, inclusive growth, budgeting
- Agriculture — major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, food processing
- Land reforms in India — history and current status
- Effects of liberalization, privatization, globalization (LPG reforms)
- Infrastructure — energy, ports, roads, airports, railways
- UP Economy — Sugar industry, Leather (Agra/Kanpur), IT (Noida/Lucknow)

#### Science & Technology *(Your Strength!)*
- Developments in S&T and their applications in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science and technology
- Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
- IT, Space (ISRO), Computers, Robotics, Nano-tech, Bio-tech
- Cybersecurity — a topic you understand deeply as a dev

#### Environment & Disaster Management
- Conservation, environmental pollution and its types
- Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
- Climate change, biodiversity, wetlands, coral reefs
- Disaster and disaster management — NDMA, SDMA

#### Internal Security
- Role of external state and non-state actors in internal challenges
- Organized crime and terrorism linkages
- Security challenges in border areas and insurgency
- Money laundering, hawala, its prevention
- Cybersecurity threats and state response *(dev advantage again)*

---

### GS-IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

**200 marks | Highly Scorable — Structured Thinking Wins**

> ⭐ As a developer, your structured problem-solving IS ethical reasoning. Use it.

#### Core Topics
- Ethics and human interface — essence, determinants, consequences
- Attitude — content, structure, function; influence on thought and behavior
- Emotional intelligence — concepts and application in governance
- Aptitude and foundational values for civil services
- Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity

#### Public Service Ethics
- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government institutions
- Codes of Ethics, Code of Conduct, Citizen's Charters
- Work culture, quality of service delivery
- Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
- Corporate governance

#### Case Studies (60–80 marks)
- 10–12 case studies on ethical dilemmas in public service
- Apply structured reasoning: **Situation → Stakeholders → Options → Ethical Analysis → Decision**
- Think of it like a bug report: identify problem → trace root cause → propose fix → document decision

---

### GS-V — UP Special

**200 marks | You're from Prayagraj — this is HOME TURF**

> 🌟 Being a Prayagraj native gives you natural context. Exploit this paper fully.

#### UP History & Culture
- UP Ancient History — Hastinapur, Kashi/Varanasi, Ayodhya, Prayagraj (Sangam)
- UP Medieval History — Nawabs of Awadh, Bundelkhand Rajas
- UP Modern History — 1857 revolt (Meerut, Lucknow), Kisan Movements, local freedom fighters
- UP Culture — Kathak dance, Thumri music, Chikan embroidery (Lucknow), Benarasi saree
- Fairs & Festivals — Kumbh Mela (Prayagraj), Ram Navami, Dev Deepawali

#### UP Geography & Economy
- UP Geography — Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Vindhya range, Terai belt
- Major rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gomti, Betwa, Son, Ken
- UP Agriculture — Wheat, Sugarcane (top producer), Potato, Mango (Malihabad)
- UP Industries — Sugar mills, Leather (Agra/Kanpur), Carpet (Bhadohi), IT (Noida)
- ODOP — One District One Product (all 75 districts' products)

#### UP Governance & Current Affairs
- UP Constitution structure — Governor, CM, Cabinet
- UP Legislature — Vidhan Sabha (403 seats), Vidhan Parishad (100 seats)
- Panchayati Raj & Urban Local Bodies in UP
- UP Welfare Schemes — Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana
- UP Budget, new infrastructure (Purvanchal Expressway, Ganga Expressway)
- Current appointments — DGP, Chief Secretary, Commissioners

---

### Hindi & Essay Papers

| Paper | Marks | What to Write |
|-------|-------|--------------|
| **Hindi** | 150 | Essay (nibandh), Letter (patra), Precis (saar-lekhan), Translation |
| **Essay** | 150 | 2 essays of 700-800 words each, in Hindi |

> 📝 **Hindi strategy:** Even if your Hindi is rusty, practice 1 nibandh per week from Month 3. Examiner rewards structure and flow, not literary flourish.

---

## 4. Optional Subject Guide

The optional (400 marks across 2 papers) can **make or break your rank.**

| Optional | Scoring Potential | GS Overlap | Recommended If |
|----------|------------------|-----------|----------------|
| **Public Administration** ⭐ | Very High | High (GS-II, V) | You want structured, logical subject — perfect for devs |
| Sociology | High | Medium | You enjoy reading about society and culture |
| Mathematics | Very High (if strong) | Low | B.Tech with strong maths background |
| Political Science & IR | High | High (GS-II) | Interest in geopolitics and international affairs |
| Geography | High | High (GS-I) | Enjoy maps, physical environment topics |
| History | Medium | High (GS-I) | Love extensive reading and narrative writing |
| Economics | High | High (GS-III) | Finance/analytics background |

### 💡 Developer's Recommended Pick: Public Administration

- Rewards **structured, logical thinking** — exactly like software design
- Maximum overlap with GS-II (Polity, Governance) and GS-V (UP Governance)
- Most scoring optional in UPPCS history
- Answer framework = **define → describe → analyze → critique → suggest** (like PR review)

**Books for Pub Admin:**
- *Public Administration* — Mohit Bhattacharya
- *Public Administration for UPPCS* — Prasad & Prasad
- *Administrative Thinkers* — Prasad & Prasad
- Previous year UPPCS Optional papers (Drishti IAS)

---

## 5. 12-Month Roadmap

> Assumes: 9–6 office job, 4 hrs study on weekdays, 8 hrs on weekends = ~1,400 study hours/year

| Month | Period | Focus Area | Target / Milestone |
|-------|--------|------------|-------------------|
| **1** | Apr 2025 | Foundation — Ancient + Medieval History | Fix optional subject • Buy all books • Set up Notion/Anki • Finish NCERT History 6–10 |
| **2** | May 2025 | Modern History + Freedom Struggle + Polity Basics | Spectrum (Modern History) complete • Laxmikanth Ch 1–15 • Start newspaper habit |
| **3** | Jun 2025 | Indian Polity (Deep Dive) + UP Polity | Laxmikanth complete • Start UP Polity notes • Subhash Kashyap Constitution |
| **4** | Jul 2025 | Indian Economy + UP Economy + Environment | Ramesh Singh Economy • Shankar IAS Environment • Economic Survey summary |
| **5** | Aug 2025 | Geography (India + World + UP) + Science & Tech | NCERT Geography 11–12 • GC Leong • S&T from PIB/current affairs |
| **6** | Sep 2025 | Ethics (GS-IV) + Essay Writing + UP Culture | Lexicon Ethics • 5 case studies/week • UP GK: Lucent + Dr. Bhagwat |
| **7** | Oct 2025 | Optional Subject — Paper I + First Full Revision | Pub Admin Paper I • 1st complete revision of all subjects • Start Prelims mocks |
| **8** | Nov 2025 | Optional Subject — Paper II + Current Affairs Compilation | Pub Admin Paper II • Current affairs binder (Apr–Nov) • 10 mock tests |
| **9** | Dec 2025 | Prelims Intensive Mock Testing + Weak Area Fixing | 1 full mock daily • Vision IAS/Drishti mock series • Solve 10 yrs PYQs |
| **10** | Jan 2026 | 🔴 PRELIMS MONTH — Revision + Mocks Only | No new topics • Revise all notes • 2 mocks/day • Final PYQ sprint |
| **11** | Feb 2026 | Post-Prelims: Mains Preparation + Answer Writing | Daily answer writing starts • Join mains test series • GS-I and GS-II focus |
| **12** | Mar–Apr 2026 | Mains Full Preparation + Essay + Optional Intensive | 20 answers/day • Hindi essay practice • Optional mains mock tests |

### Phase Summary

```
Phase 1 (Months 1–6):  FOUNDATION — Build concepts subject by subject
Phase 2 (Months 7–8):  INTEGRATION — Optional + First revision + Mock testing begins  
Phase 3 (Months 9–10): PRELIMS SPRINT — Mock tests, PYQs, revision only
Phase 4 (Months 11–12): MAINS PREP — Answer writing, test series, essay practice
```

---

## 6. Daily Schedule — Office Friendly

> Assuming office hours: **9:00 AM – 6:30 PM** | Total study time: **~3.5–4 hours/day**

### Weekday Schedule (Monday–Friday)

| Time | Activity | Notes |
|------|----------|-------|
| **5:00 – 6:30 AM** | ⭐ Core Study Session 1 | Conceptual reading — History / Polity / Economy. Fresh brain = complex topics |
| **6:30 – 7:00 AM** | Exercise + freshen up | Non-negotiable — memory consolidation |
| **7:00 – 8:00 AM** | 📰 Newspaper reading | The Hindu OR Dainik Jagran. Note 5–10 current affairs bullets max |
| **8:00 – 9:00 AM** | Commute / office prep | Listen to UPPCS podcast (Drishti/StudyIQ) |
| **9:00 – 6:30 PM** | 💼 Office hours | Lunch 30 min = read 1 topic summary on Drishti app |
| **6:30 – 7:00 PM** | Commute back | 1 YouTube lecture (15–20 mins) on phone |
| **8:00 – 9:30 PM** | ⭐ Core Study Session 2 | Answer writing practice OR optional subject OR current affairs |
| **9:30 – 10:00 PM** | 📝 Daily revision | Write 5 key points from morning. Update Anki flashcards |
| **10:00 PM** | Sleep | Protect 7 hrs — critical for memory |

**Daily total: ~3.5 hours focused study + 30 min passive (commute)**

---

### Weekend Schedule (Saturday–Sunday)

| Time | Activity | Notes |
|------|----------|-------|
| **5:00 – 8:00 AM** | ⭐⭐ Deep Study | 3 hrs on toughest topic (Economics / Ethics / Optional) |
| **8:00 – 9:00 AM** | Breakfast + newspaper + exercise | |
| **9:00 – 12:00 PM** | ⭐⭐ Mock Test or Answer Writing | Saturday: Full mock test. Sunday: Previous year papers |
| **12:00 – 1:00 PM** | Lunch + 1 UPPCS YouTube video | Drishti IAS / StudyIQ |
| **1:00 – 4:00 PM** | Weekly Revision | Revise all 5 days' notes, make 1-page summaries |
| **4:00 – 5:00 PM** | Personal time / family | Important — avoid burnout |
| **5:00 – 7:00 PM** | Current Affairs Compilation + MCQ practice | GK Quiz app |
| **7:00 – 9:00 PM** | Optional Subject — dedicated 2 hrs | |
| **9:00 – 10:00 PM** | Plan next week + tracker update + Anki | |

**Weekend total: ~12–13 hours**

> ⚡ **Developer Hack:** Treat UPPCS prep like a GitHub streak. Mark every study day. Missing 2 days in a row = red alert. Missing 5 days = restart sprint with a penalty mock test.

---

## 7. Books & Resources

### NCERT Books — Read First

> 🔗 Free download: **[ncert.nic.in](https://ncert.nic.in)**

| NCERT Book | Class | Topic |
|-----------|-------|-------|
| Our Pasts I, II, III | 6, 7, 8 | Ancient & Medieval History |
| India and Contemporary World I, II | 9, 10 | Modern History |
| Themes in World History | 11 | World History |
| Themes in Indian History I, II, III | 12 | Indian History (Advanced) |
| Indian Physical Environment | 11 | Physical Geography — India |
| Fundamentals of Physical Geography | 11 | World Physical Geography |
| India: People and Economy | 12 | Human Geography India |
| Indian Constitution at Work | 11 | Polity Basics |
| Political Theory | 11 | Political Concepts |
| Indian Economic Development | 11 | Economy Basics |
| Introductory Micro + Macroeconomics | 12 | Economy Advanced |
| Biology (selected chapters) | 12 | Environment / Science |

---

### Standard Reference Books

| Subject | Book | Author |
|---------|------|--------|
| **Modern History** | India's Struggle for Independence | Bipan Chandra |
| **Modern History** | A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum) | Rajiv Ahir |
| **Indian Polity** | Indian Polity *(must read)* | M. Laxmikanth |
| **Indian Polity** | Introduction to the Constitution of India | D.D. Basu |
| **Economy** | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh |
| **Economy** | Indian Economy: Key Concepts | Sanjeev Verma |
| **Geography** | Certificate Physical and Human Geography | GC Leong |
| **Geography** | Geography of India | Majid Husain |
| **Environment** | Environment by Shankar IAS | Shankar IAS Academy |
| **Ethics** | Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | Niraj Kumar |
| **Science & Tech** | Science & Technology in India | Spectrum |
| **Art & Culture** | Indian Art and Culture | Nitin Singhania |
| **CSAT** | Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| **CSAT** | Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal |
| **Pub Admin (Optional)** | Public Administration in India | Mohit Bhattacharya |
| **Pub Admin (Optional)** | Public Administration for UPPCS | Prasad & Prasad |
| **UP GK** | UP Vishesh (Uttar Pradesh Visheshank) | Lucent / Drishti |
| **UP GK** | UP Special for UPPCS Mains | Dr. Bhagwat Prasad |
| **Current Affairs** | Drishti Current Affairs (Monthly Magazine) | Drishti IAS |
| **Current Affairs** | Yojana & Kurukshetra (Govt. magazines) | Ministry of I&B |
| **Hindi Essay** | Nibandh Sagar / Hindi Essay Collection | Various |
| **Previous Papers** | UPPCS Previous Year Papers (10 years) | Drishti / Arihant |

---

### Online Resources & Links

#### 🆓 Free Study Material

| Resource | Link | Best For |
|----------|------|----------|
| NCERT Books | [ncert.nic.in](https://ncert.nic.in) | Foundation reading |
| UPPSC Official | [uppsc.up.nic.in](https://uppsc.up.nic.in) | Syllabus, notifications, admit cards |
| Drishti IAS | [drishtiias.com](https://www.drishtiias.com) | UPPCS-specific content, Hindi medium |
| Vision IAS | [visionias.in](https://visionias.in) | Mains notes, current affairs |
| Insights IAS | [insightsonindia.com](https://www.insightsonindia.com) | Free mains answer writing |
| ForumIAS | [forumias.com](https://forumias.com) | Community + mock tests |
| PIB | [pib.gov.in](https://www.pib.gov.in) | Authentic government press releases |
| India Yearbook | [indiayearbook.gov.in](https://indiayearbook.gov.in) | Annual data (free PDF) |
| Economic Survey | [indiabudget.gov.in](https://www.indiabudget.gov.in) | Economy data |
| UP Government | [up.gov.in](https://up.gov.in) | UP schemes, budget, policies |

#### 📺 YouTube Channels

| Channel | Best For |
|---------|----------|
| [Drishti IAS](https://www.youtube.com/@DrishtiIASvideos) | UPPCS, Hindi medium, current affairs |
| [StudyIQ IAS](https://www.youtube.com/@StudyIQ) | Comprehensive GS coverage |
| [Unacademy UPSC](https://www.youtube.com/c/UnacademyIAS) | Free lectures |
| [BYJU's IAS](https://www.youtube.com/c/BYJUSIASpreparation) | Concept clarity |
| [GS Score](https://www.youtube.com/c/GSSCORE) | Ethics & GS-IV |

#### 📱 Mobile Apps (Use During Commute)

- **Drishti IAS App** — Best for UPPCS current affairs (Hindi)
- **StudyIQ App** — Video lectures on the go
- **Anki** — Spaced repetition flashcards for facts/dates
- **Testbook** — Affordable UPPCS mock tests
- **GK Quiz App** — Daily 10-minute MCQ practice
- **Inshorts** — 60-word news summaries (quick current affairs)

#### 💰 Paid Test Series (Worth It)

| Provider | Series | Cost (approx.) |
|----------|--------|----------------|
| Drishti IAS | UPPCS Prelims Test Series | ₹1,500–2,000 |
| Vision IAS | PT 365 + Mains Test Series | ₹3,000–5,000 |
| ForumIAS | Mock Tests | ₹2,000 |
| Testbook | UPPCS Mock Tests | ₹500–1,000 |

> 💡 Pick **ONE** test series. Don't buy multiple — you won't finish them all.

---

## 8. Your Dev Superpowers for UPPCS

| Dev Skill | UPPCS Benefit | Apply It Like This |
|-----------|--------------|-------------------|
| **Problem decomposition** | Break complex topics into manageable chunks | Map out syllabus like a system architecture diagram |
| **Logical thinking** | Ethics (GS-IV) and Governance (GS-II) papers | Apply decision-tree logic to case studies |
| **Data structures mindset** | CSAT — guaranteed 90%+ score | Trees/graphs mental models for reasoning questions |
| **Documentation skills** | Answer writing — structured, clear, precise | Use API-doc style: Context → Analysis → Conclusion |
| **Version control mindset** | Multiple revisions without confusion | Treat notes like git commits — v1 rough, v2 refined, v3 final |
| **Debugging** | Find knowledge gaps systematically | After each mock, debug every wrong answer like a stack trace |
| **Automation** | Save time on admin tasks | Build a simple RSS → Telegram bot for daily current affairs digest |
| **System design thinking** | Governance & Public Admin answers | Draw 'architecture diagrams' of government structures in answers |
| **Code review habit** | Answer evaluation | Self-review answers against the marking scheme like reviewing PRs |
| **Agile sprints** | Monthly study goals | 2-week sprints per topic, retrospective every weekend |

---

## 9. Strategy — Do's & Don'ts

### ✅ DO THIS

- Read The Hindu daily — 45 minutes max, use a pen to underline
- Make **SHORT notes** — not copy-paste of books. Your own words only
- Attempt 1 mock per week from Month 7 onwards
- Write answers daily — even 2 answers/day compounds to 700+ answers/year
- Focus on **PYQs** (Previous Year Questions) — patterns repeat every 3–4 years
- Stick to standard books — avoid hoarding too many sources
- Practice **Hindi answer writing** every day — even 1 para/day
- Join **ONE** good test series (Drishti or Vision IAS)
- Revise each topic **minimum 3 times**
- Use Anki for facts, dates, government schemes, constitutional articles
- Keep **UP current affairs separate notebook** — GS-V is 200 marks
- Build a **1-page summary** per topic for last-week revision

### ❌ AVOID THIS

- Reading 4–5 books on the same topic (analysis paralysis)
- Skipping mock tests ("I'll start when I'm ready" trap)
- Ignoring Hindi — it's **300 marks** (Hindi + Essay papers)
- Switching optional subject after Month 3
- Making thick 100-page notes (you will never revise them)
- Skipping UP-specific topics (GS Paper V = 200 marks, home turf!)
- Over-relying on YouTube — reading builds retention 3× better
- Cramming facts without understanding context
- Ignoring Ethics (GS-IV) — **200 marks** and very scorable
- Not tracking mock test performance (you can't improve what you don't measure)
- Studying 10 hours one day, 0 the next — **consistency beats intensity**
- Sacrificing sleep — REM sleep is where memory consolidation happens

---

## 10. Weekly Tracker Template

> Copy this into Notion, Google Sheets, or print weekly.

| Day | Topic Covered | Hours | Mock Score | Revised? | Key Points (3 bullets) |
|-----|--------------|-------|-----------|----------|----------------------|
| Monday | | | — | ☐ | |
| Tuesday | | | — | ☐ | |
| Wednesday | | | — | ☐ | |
| Thursday | | | — | ☐ | |
| Friday | | | — | ☐ | |
| Saturday | | | /200 | ☐ | |
| Sunday | | | /200 | ☐ | |
| **Weekly Total** | | **hrs** | **avg:** | | |

### Monthly Milestone Checklist

```
Month _____ Checklist:
[ ] All planned chapters read
[ ] Short notes made for each chapter  
[ ] Minimum 4 mock tests attempted
[ ] All mock mistakes reviewed and noted
[ ] Current affairs compiled for the month
[ ] Weak topics identified and flagged for next month
[ ] 1-page summaries created for all topics
[ ] Anki deck updated
```

---

## 🎯 Final Mindset Note

> You've shipped complex systems under deadlines. You debug under pressure. You write documentation no one reads but you write it anyway.
>
> **UPPCS is just another system to reverse-engineer.**
>
> The syllabus is the spec. The exam is the deployment. The interview is the code review.
>
> Ship it.

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*Generated: April 2025 | Based on UPPCS 2024–25 official syllabus notification | Always verify latest syllabus at [uppsc.up.nic.in](https://uppsc.up.nic.in)*