If the prelim’s is to be compared with one day match, mains could be described as test match. The temperament and technique to play it is different then prelims.
Prelim is mainly factual study, many times without knowing how or why. On the other hand main’s is analytical study, knowing the essence of the story.
With introduction of 30 marks questions instade of 60 marks, you are suppose to know the essence of many more stories.
As it is rightly said that history is not a study of facts, but interpretation of facts. Facts are just raw material with which interpretation is done. Answers in the main’s are about your interpretation of History. Here you have to balance different view points. For that purpose you have to know different view points. At least three main currents i.e. leftist, centrist and rightist.
The angle of focus on history has constantly changed. From Political to Cultural to Economic. Now the subaltern approach is in vogue.
How much scoring history is?
History is most popular option is U.P.S.C. examination for obvious reasons. It has synergy with General studies. 50 marks questions of modern India get covered in optional history (As per mains 2009). It is also useful in writing essay. Since at least one socio-cultural issue comes as a topic, historic vision gives depth to the arguments. (for e.g. .‘ Globlisation’ vs. ‘ Nationalism’ in mains 2009)
History complements with any combination of optional but goes best with political science.
Second best combination is Public Administration.
Percentile method is not applied in the mains. History is directly compared with other subjects.
History is highly subjective subject. Suppose the question was given ‘Evaluate the Gandhi’, then all candidates will write different answers. Who of them is right & who is wrong? No one. It depends on how arguments are pushed. This makes the subject safe. Generally it is not possible that you don’t know anything about the answer. Ultimately you fetch some minimum marks in each question. That way no body goes below 200 in history.
But going by same logic history also does not give very high marks. There is nothing called perfect answer. Because of this phenomenon marks do not go above 380. But then to get into IAS one need to get 55-60% marks in the subject and that makes this subject an attractive proposition.
We can refer to the data of those written mains 2009. This is the larges sample group of 9026 (excludes only those handful who are chosen for interview). We can observe that History is third most popular optional taken (2777), just after Public Administration (3067) and Geography (3190)
But if we the average marks secured by the candidates then History (242) is better then Public Administration (232) and Geography (221)
History is the scientific subject and can be studied scientifically. It is as scientific as physics or mathematics, only since it is from humanities side, things are open ended.
For those who are having History as first optional in prelim, - Be cautious, don’t overestimate your knowledge of History. Prepare separately for mains. For those who are having History as second optional, - Be cautious, you have to compete with candidates who are having history as a first optional in prelims.
For prelim’s tracking syllabus may not be a fruitful exercise, but for mains it is. The vast syllabus cannot be covered without the pointers. What is interesting is that syllabus of mains is clearly defined and examiners remain stick to it. (For e.g. in 2009 mains question asked word to word from lines of syllabus, Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese (60) Coinage of the Guptas (30) “Indian Feudalism”(20), Muhammad Tughluq: agrarian measures(20), theory of Sulh-i-kul(20), Mughal Population(20), Kalhan’s Rajtarangini(30) Akbar :Court patronage of art and technology (30))
The compulsory map question should be solved first and prepared first. Twenty sites are given & you have to mark the fifteen sites on the given map and describe its importance in four lines. Two marks for marking site and two for description. Sites given are of specific importance in history (for e.g. Kuchai, Utnar, Daojali Hading in mains 2009)
By daily practice this question can turned into scoring one.
They give blank map with only India’s international boundaries.(As in 2009 mains) It is safer to make blocks and practice. Sites from Ancient and medieval India are asked. Spectrum has published the book about Ancient Indian places. Ensemble has come out with ‘History Through Maps’, a well researched and royally presented work.
In paper II world history is to be targeted. On modern India now so much research is available that there is no end of interpretation. Comparatively world history is straight and neutral. There are controversies in France about how the fall of Napoleon took place, but there are no such controversies in India. As it is, if world history questions are difficult you can jump to modern India in the last moment but reverse is not true.
IGNOU books are useful for mains too. Publication Division has published a book on Ancient India. Each of its 16 article’s is like long answer of mains.
The most recommended one are the three books on Society, culture and State of Ancient and Medieval India by National Book Trust (NBT)
For world History good work is done by Jain & Mathur. Their book for world History mains is excellent. It has covered our syllabus topic wise, but it is also true that it is not edited properly. Recently a book is published by Krishna Reddy by the name ‘Modern World’ overcomes this issue. It has avoided the bulkiness and is updated with recent changes in syllabus. World History by L.Mukherjee is lucid and will make answers readable. It can be used as complementary with Jain & Mathur or Krishna Reddy.
If you analyze the past papers you will be surprised to find that most of the questions are repeated from the last ten year papers. So that’s the hint. Here some analysis of past papers from 2001 onwards.
Study for mains cannot be general like prelims. Reading generally will not do. One has to focus on relevant areas. Guesswork has to be done to what will come and what will not. Nothing likes that if the notes are prepared in question-answer format. If you get ready with say 150-200 questions with outline of answers then you can stuck a jackpot. Chronicle Publication has published the book in such format and will prove useful for reference.
It may sound absurd, but NCERT books on History, both old and new versions are highly useful in writing the mains answers. They present the clue about direction and the structure of the answer.
It is very common to say that one has to do writing practice. I repeat it is necessary. Candidates dream that as soon as study is over they will give tests. That’s ideal, seldom has this happened. Studies may never get over. Just make a timetable of tests, follow it strictly, and get it checked from competent authority and discuss them out. Handwriting, speed, fluency and structure of answer play a main role in marks.
One should give full attention to the direction of the question like Discuss, Explain, Evaluate, Describe, Compare etc. Each of them connotes different meaning.
Where ever possible the answer should be substantiated with tables, diagrams and flowcharts.
The sudden twist in the story
In last Mains (2009) UPSC surprised (or shocked) the candidates by changing the question format. Instade of 60 marks question, they divided it into two questions of 30 marks. This was not done only in History but in all other optional’s. Its like test match suddenly turned into 20-20.
With this examiner were able to cover far more syllabus, they are able ask the questions on such areas on which its not possible to ask questions in 60 marks pattern (for e.g. use of gold coins by commoners in Gupta period)
Earlier hardly three questions are asked on Ancient, Medieval, Modern and World each. That means luck played important role. If you have luckily touched a particular part which came then on the top. Those who otherwise studied harder but not studied a part that came in the paper, then you are gone.
This is balanced now, with much more areas asked, covering the range of syllabus has become important.
There is one more twist. Since the old format is divided into two questions. It bought the catch-22 situation for the candidates. Suppose you know the (a) answer of question 4 and (b) answer of question (5), no use, you have to answer either 4 or 5.
Many found themselves helpless and lost the battle in the exam hall itself. Actually every mains UPSC will surely keep throwing new surprises, keep changing the pattern of questions ask so that nobody should take disadvantage of it.
So those who accepted the changes with open heart survived. Those, who were not able to and remain rigid.
Not to forget that the biggest test scorer in the world Sachin Tendulkar has won the Orange Cap for the best batsman in the 20-20 format.
Every subject has its own weight-age in the examination and needs to be prepared well by the candidates. But you are free to make your own strategies and study accordingly. You should focus more on the subject that you feel difficult. It would help you to strengthen your confident about answering any type of questions that may come. The two main thing that should be within the IAS aspirants are, perseverance and time management. You should not focus on the failure rather on the success only. No matter how much success you are getting, but you should only measure your success.
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