Keshav Gupta (AIR- 439, CSE-21) Economics Strategy

Keshav Gupta, an aspirant who secured an impressive rank of 439 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, has shared his valuable insights and strategies for tackling the Economics optional subject. In this comprehensive article, Keshav outlines his approach to achieving a commendable score of 281 marks in the Economics optional paper.

The Importance of Previous Year Questions

Keshav emphasizes the significance of analyzing previous year questions in the Economics optional subject. He has observed that many questions are repeated or belong to recurring areas, such as the kinked demand curve, monopolistic competition, and capital account convertibility. Keshav advises aspirants to focus extensively on these core topics, as they can contribute to a substantial portion of the syllabus, potentially leading to a safe score.

Covering the Syllabus Rather Than Relying on Books

Keshav acknowledges that the Economics optional syllabus is vast and cannot be covered solely from one book. While there are specific books available for certain parts of the syllabus, he notes a lack of comprehensive material, particularly for Paper 2 topics. Keshav recommends using the internet extensively, reading research papers on core topics, and integrating relevant current affairs from Mains 365 into the study notes. He also suggests adding graphs, trends, and tables to improve the presentation of the content.

Leveraging Comparative Advantage

Keshav advises aspirants to identify their comparative advantage in the two papers of the Economics optional subject. For some, Paper 2 may be easier, while for others, Paper 1 may be more manageable. By recognizing their strengths, aspirants can allocate more time and effort to the subject they find easier, thereby maximizing their overall score.

Importance of Multiple Revisions and Consolidated Notes

Keshav emphasizes the need for multiple revisions and the consolidation of notes, especially in the month leading up to the exam. He acknowledges that his lengthy notes and excess of material impacted his ability to revise effectively, which in turn affected his performance in Paper 1. Keshav recommends focusing on core topics and the syllabus-specific content during the final preparations to ensure a thorough understanding and the ability to revise efficiently.

Strategic Question Selection

Keshav highlights the importance of strategic question selection during the examination. He acknowledges that some "bouncers" (unexpected or challenging questions) are bound to appear, and it is crucial to avoid attempting them. Instead, Keshav advises aspirants to carefully select the questions where they can maximize their scores, rather than attempting new or unfamiliar questions.

Booklist Recommendations

Keshav provides detailed recommendations for the booklist for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Economics optional subject.

Paper 1 Booklist

For Paper 1, Keshav suggests the following books:

• Microeconomics by Hal R. Varian
• Macroeconomics by N. Gregory Mankiw
• International Economics by Paul R. Krugman and Maurice Obstfeld
• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

Paper 2 Booklist

For Paper 2, Keshav recommends:

• Indian Economy by Uma Kapila (limited pages edition)
• Readings on the Indian Economy from the Delhi School of Economics
• Indian Economy by Mishra and Puri (for understanding, not for final notes)
• Economic History of India by Tirthankar Roy
• Extensive use of the Economic Survey from the past 8 years
• The Ideas for India website
• Research papers available on Google, using the topic and "pdf" as keywords

Keshav also suggests referring to toppers' notes, such as those by Abhijeet Sinha and Yash Jaluka, but advises aspirants to create their own personalized versions rather than relying solely on these resources.

Value Addition Sources

Keshav recommends utilizing the following sources for value addition:

• Mains 365 Economy
• Ideas for India website
• Avoiding Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)
• Toppers' notes and test copies

Keshav has also offered to clarify specific doubts related to the Economics optional subject through his Telegram channel.

Keshav Gupta's comprehensive strategy, grounded in his personal experience and insights, provides a valuable roadmap for aspirants seeking to excel in the Economics optional subject of the UPSC Civil Services Examination.