Months 1–3: Building the Foundation (NCERT Phase)
Focus Areas:
- Complete NCERTs from Class 6 to 12 for History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Science.
- Start with basic current affairs from reliable sources like The Hindu, PIB, or Gallant IAS’s daily digest.
- Familiarize yourself with the UPSC syllabus, previous year questions (PYQs), and exam pattern.
Key Activities:
- Make short, revision-friendly notes.
- Read one subject at a time instead of multitasking.
- Watch Gallant IAS’s NCERT-focused videos and concept boosters.
Months 4–6: Transition to Standard Books & Test Practice
Focus Areas:
- Shift to standard texts like Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (History), GC Leong (Geography), Ramesh Singh (Economy).
- Continue daily current affairs with notes and analysis.
- Start taking weekly GS Prelims mock tests.
Key Activities:
- Enroll in a structured test series.
- Revise NCERTs once more.
- Begin answer writing for Mains (GS2, GS3 topics).
Gallant Tip: Join our integrated Prelims + Mains program with curated test schedules.
Months 7–9: Strengthening Core + Optional Subject
Focus Areas:
- Begin serious preparation for your optional subject.
- Focus on Mains GS papers – particularly GS2 (Polity & Governance), GS3 (Economy, Environment), and Essay paper.
- Revise standard books and practice Mains-style answers.
Key Activities:
- Complete the first round of optional preparation.
- Continue with monthly current affairs consolidation.
- Practice writing 2 answers per day, especially on socio-economic issues.
Use Gallant IAS answer writing mentorship for individual feedback.
Months 10–11: Prelims Revision + Full-Length Mock Tests
Focus Areas:
- Revise everything you’ve studied so far.
- Focus exclusively on Prelims MCQ practice, CSAT, and static portions.
Key Activities:
- Solve previous year Prelims questions.
- Attempt full-length mock tests (both GS and CSAT).
- Work on accuracy, speed, and elimination techniques.
Download Gallant IAS’s Prelims Toolkit and attempt daily MCQ sets.
Month 12: Final Lap Before Prelims
Focus Areas:
- Rapid revision of static portions, current affairs, and test performance analysis.
- Keep stress low and confidence high.
Key Activities:
- Revise personal notes + test mistakes.
- Attempt 2–3 mock tests per week.
- Solve revision workbooks from Gallant IAS.
Post-Prelims: Gear Up for Mains (If Qualified)
- Immediately begin full-fledged Mains preparation after Prelims.
- Focus on Essay, GS Papers, Ethics, and Optional.
- Write at least 3–4 full-length Mains answers daily.
Our Mains Mentorship Program ensures topic-wise essay strategy and answer evaluations.
UPSC Preparation Success = Smart Planning + Consistent Action
This month-by-month guide is not rigid—it’s flexible by design. You can adjust it based on your background, job status, and learning speed. But the key is consistency and smart tracking.
Start Your UPSC Journey with Gallant IAS
At Gallant IAS, we offer:
- NCERT-based foundation programs
- Daily current affairs analysis
- Integrated Prelims + Mains test series
- Flexible mentorship for working professionals
Let’s plan your path to UPSC success—month by month, goal by goal.