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Overall Breakup
History
Polity
Environment & Biodiversity (enb)
Geography
Economy
Science & Technology (S&T)
Yearbook stuff
Current Affairs vs Static
4TF type of question
Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)
Make your own answerkey
Why Cut-offs talk is useless
Start preparing for mains
Was the CSAT-paper Tough?
Conclusion
Overall Breakup
In order to see the big picture, We must compare this data with the GS-papers of last two years. See how the topicwise-breakup
has evolved.
Markwise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)
Note1: column will not add to 100, because Ive not counted the international affairs etc. questions from 2011s exam.
However the total questions were 100.
Note2: in 2010, GS paper had 150 questions, including Aptitude. Therefore column will not add to 100. Secondly, in 2010
they did not have separate EnB section.
This Situation calls for % table.
%wise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)
For 2011 and 2012, the data will remain same (Because total 100 Questions) but for 2010, Im converting marks into approximate
percentages using 150 as total.
Charts and graphs
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Data interpretation
History has doubled in its importance from 2010 to 2012. Any sort of predictability helps the coaching classes and senior
players, and UPSC hates both of them. Most of us would have thought: history will decrease and S&T will remain steady.
So, UPSC does the reverse. Besides, it is my personal opinion, this year History + Polity given heavy emphasis to reverse
the Science and Engineer graduates-friendly trends of last two years.
Polity increased by more than double. 8% in 2011 and 18% in 2012. And curiously, as the number of questions increased,
the difficulty level of each question decreased!
Geography remained steady 11% of the paper for last two years.
Economy declined.
Science and technology declined: almost halved: From 18% in 2011 to 9% in 2012! To make room for the increased
number of History and Polity Questions
Just like Geography, the Yearbook stuff also remained: Steady 9% of the paper, for last two years.
You can do more data interpretation on your own.
Remaining chart
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Now time to take a look at individual subjects under General Studies paper.
1.History
A.Ancient and Medieval
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries
Distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances
hand gesture called Bhumisparsha Mudra. It symbolizes
religion of early Vedic Aryans was
Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices
guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role
scientific progress of ancient India
common to both Buddhism and Jainism?
Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Ryotwari settlement
Rowlatt act aimed at
Contribution made by dadabhai naoroji
Principal feature(s) of the government of india act, 1919
National social conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
Parties were established by dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932
Lahore session of the indian national congress (1929) is very important
Regarding brahmo samaj
Things introduced into india by the english
Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939
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Even with the lousiest half-hearted preparation, one could solve question number 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 from reading NCERTs, GS
Manual and Bipin Chandra.
Polity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Q. 7 on protected area, was directly discussed in my EnB article: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation.
Q. 18 on Vulture question had been directly discussed in my EnB article: Types of Species.
Q.14 Threats to biodiversity: the alien species were also discussed in above article (under title Non-native species.)
Seems UPSC is making a habit of asking location of some odd wildlife animal every year. (Oryx, Chiru and Crane this year.)
Almost 1/4th of the paper (25%) is EnB, because environment must be protected and candidates must be forced to prepare
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Almost 1/4th of the paper (25%) is EnB, because environment must be protected and candidates must be forced to prepare
heavily for Environment topic as if theyre going to actually implement everything they read in the books, into their real
lives!
One interesting thing: about the limits of current affairs, This Sea buckthorn initiative happened in 2010 (according to
MoEF public notification) and UPSC has asked this in 2012.
Anyways most of the questions- not really tough, provided that you had been following
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Geography
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Polestar
Duration of the monsoon
Characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region
Stages of demographic transition associated with economic
Chief characteristic of mixed farming
Crop that is used as pulse, fodder and green manure
Factors influence the ocean currents
Predominantly rainfed crop/crops
Travel in Himalayas, you will see the following
Temperature decreases with the increase in
Particular State in India has the following characteristics
Economy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Graphene
UV radiation in the water purification systems
Stem cells
Anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus)
Evidences for the continued expansion of universe?
Electrically charged particles from space
Capillarity
Advantage does thorium hold over uranium
Elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth
Graphene directly discussed in my Revision Note of Hindu S&T Part II.
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Yearbook stuff
Im combining the rights issue, Empowerment and Government scheme in one category:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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take it as their official score and start worrying about the cut-offs!
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And, Dont become a Devdas or Superman after the results. In either case itll be a minor setback or victory, life is long and
there are so many battles yet to be fought.
Conclusion
This CSAT-2012 paper is mere continuation of the trend started by UPSC since 2010 to break the backs of Coaching
Factories in Delhi and to provide level playing field to the small towners and first timers.
Less emphasis on mug-up type of current affairs
More emphasis on theory and standard reference books.
Apart from that, there is nothing much to say, same old stuff like in 2010 and 2011.
41 Questions from Guidance and Study material of www.mrunal.org in CSAT-2012
Months before the actual exam, I had posted articles on preparation strategy, booklist and studyplan:
1. CSAT GS study plan
2. 30 Days Revision 4 CSAT
3. 100 Days 4 CSAT, where are you?
If you had followed the advice given in them, then
even on a really conservative estimate, even with not-so-really-hard preparation: 6 In History, 15 in Polity, 3 in EnB, 4 in
Geography, 7 in Economy, 2 in S&T and 4 in Yearbook stuff, that is total
6+15+3+4+7+2+4=41 questions could have been solved easily using the study plan and articles provided by me.
That is 41 x 2 =82 marks from GS paper alone.
<Now I really hate to make such claims, but since plenty of coaching classes come up with their claims about how much was
asked from their study-material, I ought to create and protect my reputation with solid proofs.
Previous Articles on Exam Analysis
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Essays (1993-2011)
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CSAT11 P1 GS
CSAT 11 P2 Apt.
Pub Ad M10
GS M10
GS P10
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Older Comments
richa
September 29, 2012 at 3:05 PM Reply
sir, is manorma year book and India 2012 as recommended by you are same, sir should we refer manorma yaer book? For the
economy section in gs is Indian economy by Gaurav dutt and ashwani mahajan good Plz reply
Thank you
Mrunal
September 29, 2012 at 3:13 PM Reply
Theyre totally different.
How to use India Yearbook, is given in this article
http://mrunal.org/2012/07/strategy-iyb.html
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http://mrunal.org/2012/07/strategy-iyb.html
And Manorama Yearbook is not really necessary. The reasons are given in this article
http://mrunal.org/2012/08/studyplan-acio.html#75
Vibin
October 15, 2012 at 10:47 AM Reply
Im not able to download NOS notes of biodiversity , an error been shown , Plz suggest alternative link to download the same .
Mrunal
October 15, 2012 at 1:59 PM Reply
try this link
http://mrunal.org/2012/05/nos-studymaterial.html
Baji
October 30, 2012 at 9:48 PM Reply
Sir,
please suggest the books used for MPSC (MAHARASHTRA) Preparation pre and main as per new syllabus .
ramya
November 6, 2012 at 5:34 PM Reply
really nice one
Older Comments
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