How to decode Science & Tech Syllabus?

Inhale confidence Exhale doubt. Hola! aspirants welcome to the series of Encode-Decode. In this article, we’ll guide you through the strategy and syllabus of Science and technology for prelims and mains that are approached by the best IAS Coaching Centre in Bhubaneswar. We at Vajirao IAS Academy, help the aspirants to decode the aspects, attention, and approach the subject requires from the exam point of view.

Science and Technology, indeed being one of the important subjects in the UPSC examination, is also the most dynamic subject to prepare for. The subject is a combination of basic concepts and current affairs. This requires a huge spotlight to crack the exam. The high leads to cracking this subject are the concepts and the daily current affairs that you read. 

Syllabus for UPSC CSE

Science and Technology comprise 13% of questions in the prelims and you can expect 10+ questions in the preliminary examination. The GS-3 in mains has Science and Technology as one of the subjects and one can expect 4 questions in the second tier of the examination. This shows how important the subject is from an exam point of view. Now let’s have a look at the syllabus that the Union Public Service Commission has already provided. The major units include the following:

1. Defence

2. Space Technology

3. Green technology

4. Robotics and Information technology

5. Artificial Intelligence

6. Nuclear Energy and Particle Science

7. Nanotechnology

8. Biotechnology

9. Intellectual Property Rights

10. Health

11. Current Affairs

Standard Book List

Now let’s have a look at the booklist that is mandatory to cover the syllabus. Science and Technology are dynamic subjects, a candidate has to keep good track of Current Affairs and Analysis and that's what the Best OAS Coaching in BBSR tend to do, to bring the best out of their students. The booklist is as follows:

1. Basic Reading: NCERT Science (class VI-X)

2. Standard Books: Science and Tech by Neeraj Nachiketa, Esencia

3. Advanced Books: Science and Technology by Ashok Kumar Singh

Once you have the booklist, now you must amplify the concepts with daily current affairs. For good command over the daily news, you can refer to the following sources:

• PIB

• The Hindu

• International Solar Alliance Portal

• Computer Emergency Response Team Portal

• The Department of Biotechnology portal

• Ministry of Science and Technology Portal

• World Health Organization Portal

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Portal

• India Yearbook

• Prime Minister’s Office Portal

These sources for the preparation of news based on science and technology are sufficient to answer the questions. You can also refer to the current affairs study materials provided by the Best OAS Coaching in Bhubaneswar.

The 7-Step Strategy

Now, We have the syllabus and the booklist. Now let’s begin with the necessary strategy required for the best prep of the subject. Beginning from decoding the syllabus to properly grabbing the topics is a clean 7-step activity:

1. Start with NCERTs basic reading (Class VI to X) - This will help in basic concept building.
   
   

2. Now just mark the important terms in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
   
   

3. Try a topic-wise quiz and make small notes out of it - Topic-wise quizzes will help you to boost your confidence and more questions will help you with more information.
   
   

4. Attempt reading the standard book, ESENCIA - This book has good content on science and tech. You can start with any of your favorite units.
   
   

5. Interlink Current Affairs, Basic concepts - This is highly required for a proper understanding. Science and Technology questions are always daily news-based.
   
   

6. Start solving previous year’s questions - Start with marking the topics and calculating the weightage of each chapter.
   
   

7. Revise and keep adding current affairs, schemes, and financial updates to your notes from PIB, The Hindu, and monthly magazines.

If you feel misinterpreting any topic, follow advanced books.

This is the best way how you can approach and understand the subject. As it is said, if someone helps you guide you through anything then you can master it. Vajirao IAS, the best IAS Academy in Bhubaneswar has all the facilities to make their students achieve success in their lives. We provide the best and most limited material for UPSC preparation. New batches are starting soon.  We believe in Coming together is a big name, keeping together is progress and working together is a success.

Follow these steps religiously and in just a few days you’ll feel confident and spirited about this subject. The best way to excel in anything is to start loving and habituating it. Construct a proper routine and keep short targets for each day. Fetch your targets and revise regularly. Keep limited sources. Just follow the above-provided booklist. You’re all set for your Science and Technology mock series and The UPSC CSE Exam ahead. All the best. Keep reading, keep practicing. Carpe diem