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Economics OptionalPosted on June 26, 2014 by THESUPERMANRETURNS 47 Comments

Has Optional Weight Gone Down in CSE 2013?

Even though on paper, UPSC has reduced the weightage of optional to half and doubled GS, by its marking

pattern the effective weightage of optional has become more than GS! This is because in GS people have been

awarded very low marks. So even if someone has done exceptionally well in GS, it is likely that his/her difference

UPSC / IAS Preparation: Economics Optional | Khelo India http://thesupermanreturns.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/eco_optional/

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from others will still be less. On the other hand people have been awarded higher marks in optional, so that if

someone has done exceptionally well in optional, he/she will score a lot of marks more than others. UPSC is a

relative exam, only difference of marks matters. So importance of optional in CSE 2013 is more than GS for sure!

This year I have scored 296 / 500 in Economics (last year I scored 280 / 600). It won’t be unfair to say it was

economics that made me an IAS this year.

Choosing an Optional

People often have many criteria to choose the optional.. some of them are…

– ‘Scoring’ optional: People think some optionals are more scoring than others.. Don’t know what to say on this.

Every year UPSC changes the optionals it favors / punishes, so u never know whether the ‘scoring’ optional u

took may end up in the ‘butchering’ list of UPSC next year..

– Overlap with GS: “Pubad le lo, GS ki bhi taiyyari ho jaayegi”… Nothing could be more dangerous than this

attitude.. coz if we don’t like pubad, and still take it, then we anyways won’t be able to study it well enough and

not only will we screw the pubad portion of GS but also additional 500 marks optional. We only amplify our

weakness by this attitude.

I believe an optional must be chosen out of our strength. When I took economics, many people advised me

against it saying economics is technical, not scoring etc. etc. But I knew economics was my strength… doesn’t

matter if no one has scored 400/600 in economics so far, I know I would score it (as per the older marking

scheme). When UPSC is giving us 500 marks to play by our strength, why should we pick anything else? These

are our marks and let us score the maximum out of it. And ofcourse, such a strength can only develop when we

have deep interest and luv for the subject.

Optional preparation requires a great deal of in depth study as well as wide coverage. One has to write like a

historian to take history optional, one has to write like an economist to score well in economics. This is only

possible when the subject is our strength.

I have no Economics degree. Should I take Economics as Optional?

That depends on your reason. If you want to take Economics optional only because the topper this year had it

(and so it has become ‘scoring’), pls don’t.


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If, on the other hand, you want to take it because u have been exposed to it briefly and found it very interesting

and could understand it, then you can explore more. Even if you have no prior exposure, but think you will like it

once exposed, you can explore more.

The only way to decide whether to take it or not is to study it for a week or two. Take any topic from the syllabus,

say macro. Read the books i am mentioning below (or any other standard textbooks). If you are understanding

what you are reading and can read it for long hours and still feel good, economics is your subject. Don’t worry if

you can’t attempt previous years’ questions at this stage. That will come later. Only your understanding and keen

interest should suffice at this stage.

So How to Prepare Economics Optional?

Stages of Preparation

There are multiple stages of preparation in a subject like Economics.

– Stage 1: In this stage, we just focus on understanding what we are reading. While reading, we must

understand the concept fully. We will forget the thing 2 days after we have read it, don’t worry. We will not even

understand half the questions which have been asked in previous years, don’t worry. We don’t even have a clue

of how to write answers in the exam, don’t worry. Just ensure you understand what you are reading and finish the

syllabus.

– Stage 2: This begins after the syllabus has been finished once. In the second time, we again focus on

understanding what we are reading. This time we would find, it takes less time to understand all the stuff and

most of it seems familiar once we read. Our retention would increase at this stage. Read, re-read, revise the

syllabus 2-3 times, ensure that we can recall without any aid what was said in a given topic / theorem and can

reproduce it on paper. At the end of this stage, we would still not be able to even understand half the questions in

the paper.

– Stage 3: Many questions in the eco question paper are not direct i.e. they ll not ask write abt XX theorem.

These questions are indirect and we won’t even know which theorem / model to apply! The aim of this stage is to

identify which model to apply. This can only come if we sit down with previous years’ question papers and think

and think and discuss with others on what model to apply for a particular question. Group study helps, there is a

nice google group “econprepforias” created by Amit Sahu, where fellow aspirants discuss and some seniors


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guide. Requesting Amit Sahu to tell ppl how to join that group. In this stage, we revise our syllabus again.. by

now we have internalised all the stuff, we can not only reproduce the entire model / theorem on paper but also

understand when and where to apply them. We will be able to answer most (90-95%) of the questions in

previous years’ question papers now.

Method of Studying

– In economics, diagrams are of utmost importance. UPSC economics is completely non mathematical and

totally diagramatical. So while reading any model / theorem, we should simultaneously practise its diagram on

paper / computer.

– Assumptions are very important while writing answers. We should clearly state all the assumptions in our

answers and so we should systematically remember all the assumptions in any theorem / model.

– Stats: In eco 2, stats are very important. If we supplement our answers with stats, nothing like it. Not all stats

need to be remembered, only important ones. I am mentioning the important stats to be remembered in the book

list section.

Book List / Sources for Syllabus

Paper – I

1. Advanced Micro Economics:

(a) Marshallian and Walrasiam Approaches to Price determination.

(b) Alternative Distribution Theories: Ricardo, Kaldor, Kaleeki

(c) Markets Structure: Monopolistic Competition, Duopoly, Oligopoly.

(d) Modern Welfare Criteria: Pareto Hicks & Scitovsky, Arrow’s

Impossibility Theorem, A.K. Sen’s Social Welfare Function.


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These topics have to be studied from HL Ahuja “Advanced Microeconomics”. Find the relevant chapters to study

from this thick book. In addition, questions are asked on “Rent, quasi rent” and “Product Exhaustion Problem”, so

study the relevant chapters also. HL Ahuja is UPSC exam standard book for micro. Sen’s swf and proof of Arrow

can be studied from my notes. I took Sen’s swf from one of his book and proof of Arrow from one of Sen’s paper.

Proof of Arrow given in HL Ahuja and taught by most coachings is wrong, it is simply a proof of Concordet’s

paradox, not Arrow. Just imagine, had the proof of Arrow been so elementary, would he have got the Nobel prize

for it?

2. Advanced Macro Economics: Approaches to Employment Income and

Interest Rate determination: Classical, Keynes (IS-LM) curve, Neo classical

synthesis and New classical, Theories of Interest Rate determination and

Interest Rate Structure.

These topics should be first studied from HL Ahuja’s “Macroeconomics” book. This book is below UPSC exam

standard, but reading this is essential to understand higher concepts. The UPSC level book is Brian Snowdon

and Howard R Vane “Modern Macroeconomics”. Only first 5 chapters need to be studied from this book.

3. Money – Banking and Finance:

(a) Demand for and Supply of Money: Money Multiplier Quantity Theory of

Money (Fisher, Pique and Friedman) and Keyne’s Theory on Demand for

Money, Goals and Instruments of Monetary Management in Closed and

Open Economies. Relation between the Central Bank and the Treasury.

Proposal for ceiling on growth rate of money.

This can be studied from HL Ahuja’s Macroeconomics and Snowdon’s Modern Macroeconomics (Ch 2, 3). Also,

although UPSC doesn’t mention post keynesian Baumol’s and Inventory theory of money demand in syllabus, it


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asks questions on these. So read them from HL Ahuja. There are some topics for which material may be scarce,

read them from my notes.

(b) Public Finance and its Role in Market Economy: In stabilization of

supply, allocation of resources and in distribution and development.

Sources of Govt. revenue, forms of Taxes and Subsidies, their incidence and

effects. Limits to taxation, loans, crowding-out effects and limits to

borrowings. Public Expenditure and its effects.

I studied from Musgrave and Musgrave, selected chapters. People also mention HL Bhatia a lot. I was satisfied

with my preparation until I saw the public finance questions this year. I couldn’t even understand the questions. I

don’t know where else to study public finance from.

4. International Economics:

(a) Old and New Theories of International Trade

(i) Comparative Advantage

(ii) Terms of Trade and Offer Curve.

(iii) Product Cycle and Strategic Trade Theories.

(iv) Trade as an engine of growth and theories of under development in an

open economy.

(b) Forms of Protection: Tariff and quota.

(c) Balance of Payments Adjustments: Alternative Approaches.


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(i) Price versus income, income adjustments under fixed exchange rates,

(ii) Theories of Policy Mix

(iii) Exchange rate adjustments under capital mobility

(iv) Floating Rates and their Implicationns for Developing Countries:

Currency Boards.

(v) Trade Policy and Developing Countries.

(vi) BOP, adjustments and Policy Coordination in open economy macro-

model.

(vii) Speculative attacks

(viii) Trade Blocks and Monetary Unions.

(ix) WTO: TRIMS, TRIPS, Domestic Measures, Different Rounds of WTO

talks.

There is only one book on International Economics and it is by Dominick Salvatore. Diagrams are the key in

IntEco.

5. Growth and Development:

(a) Theories of growth:

(i) Harrod’s model,

(ii) Lewis model of development with surplus labour

(iii) Balanced and Unbalanced growth,

These topics are covered well in A P Thirwall’s book. Todaro may also be referred for some topics.


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(iv) Human Capital and Economic Growth.

(v) Research and Development and Economic Growth

These are dicey topics and cover many models. I studied them from a paper by John Bluedorn “The human

capital augmented solow model” and a book “Introduction to Economic Growth” by Charles I. Jones (given to me

by Amit Sahu).

(b) Process of Economic Development of Less developed countries: Myrdal

and Kuzments on economic development and structural change: Role of

Agriculture in Economic Development of less developed countries.

Myrdal and Kuznets can be studied from AP Thirwall. Not all aspects of Myrdal are covered in Thirwall, I had one

pdf I found after googling on Myrdal which covered aspects like how less developed economies have backwash

effects strong and how developed democracies have stronger spread effects, I don’t seem to have the pdf now.

(c) Economic development and International Trade and Investment, Role of

Multinationals.

(d) Planning and Economic Development: changing role of Markets and

Planning, Private- Public Partnership

(e) Welfare indicators and measures of growth – Human Development

Indices. The basic needs approach.

(f) Development and Environmental Sustainability – Renewable and Non


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Renewable Resources, Environmental Degradation, Intergenerational

equity development.

These are general topics and haven’t found a single source for them so far. Very little preparation.

Paper – II

1. Indian Economy in Pre-Independence Era: Land System and its changes,

Commercialization of agriculture, Drain theory, Laissez faire theory and

critique. Manufacture and Transport: Jute, Cotton, Railways, Money and

Credit.

These I studied mainly from my hitory optional preparation for cse 2012. You can see some in my notes.

2. Indian Economy after Independence:

A The Pre Liberalization Era:

(i) Contribution of Vakil, Gadgil and V.K.R.V. Rao.

Till date I have not found a single decent source to prepare this. I have never been able to prepare this. If

someone has a good source, pls let me know, I ll update here.

(ii) Agriculture: Land Reforms and land tenure system, Green Revolution

and capital formation in agriculture,

(iii) Industry Trends in composition and growth, Role of public and private


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sector, Small scale and cottage industries.

(iv) National and Per capita income: patterns, trends, aggregate and

Sectoral composition and changes their in.

(v) Broad factors determining National Income and distribution, Measures

of poverty, Trends in poverty and inequality.

Uma Kapilla is a very good source for these topics. One should also focus on economic stats. Can also see my

notes. Stats on efficacy of land reforms need to be remembered (see my notes), stats on economic growth rate,

growth rates of agriculture, industry, manufacturing, capital goods, services, per capita income need to be

remembered for 3 periods – 1950s to 1965, 1965 to 1980, 1980 to 1990.

B The Post Liberalization Era:

(i) New Economic Reform and Agriculture: Agriculture and WTO, Food

processing, Subsidies, Agricultural prices and public distribution system,

Impact of public expenditure on agricultural growth.

(ii) New Economic Policy and Industry: Strategy of industrialization,

Privatization, Disinvestments, Role of foreign direct investment and

multinationals.

(iii) New Economic Policy and Trade: Intellectual property rights:

Implications of TRIPS, TRIMS, GATS and new EXIM policy.

(iv) New Exchange Rate Regime: Partial and full convertibility, Capital

account convertibility.

(v) New Economic Policy and Public Finance: Fiscal Responsibility Act,

Twelfth Finance Commission and Fiscal Federalism and Fiscal

Consolidation.


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(vi) New Economic Policy and Monetary system. Role of RBI under the new

regime.

(vii) Planning: From central Planning to indicative planning, Relation

between planning and markets for growth and decentralized planning:

73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments.

(viii) New Economic Policy and Employment: Employment and poverty,

Rural wages, Employment Generation, Poverty alleviation schemes, New

Rural, Employment Guarantee Scheme.

No single source. EPW helps. One also has to study a lot of research papers by eminent economists working in

India. I studied a lot of them n put the gist in my notes. So can see my notes. Stats on poverty, unemployment

(recent ones as well as from 1993-94) need to be remembered. See notes.

Answer Writing in Economics

Neeraj Singh (AIR 11, CSE 2011) told us the following things about answer writing. I am sorry I am reproducing

his email without his permission but I hope he won’t mind. I don’t think I can put it in better words than him…

For paper 1

1. Make maximum use of graphs – I think ‘a picture is worth thousand words’ is much more than just an adage.

Graphs are extremely helpful in writing precise answers in Econ. When you look at a question in paper 1 the first

question you should be asking yourself is – What graph(s) would best answer this question? Try to think of ways

in which you can answer the question through graphs. The benefit of using graphs is that once you make a

graph, the writing part becomes very easy as it is only an explanation of the graph. It might not be possible to put

graphs in every question but do give your best shot at explaining things through graphs.

2. Precision matters – We would agree that Econ is quite technical a subject with it own vocabulary. Being an

economist you cannot hence afford to use words loosely. For example, if we are using the term ‘depreciation’ we

must mean ‘depreciation’ and not ‘devaluation’. The answer that you write should reflect your absolute clarity


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over technical economic terms. Where it is possible to use a technical word go ahead and use it instead of

explaining it in layman’s terms provided that you know that it is the precise technical term to be used in that

place. I am sure all of us on the group are already good at this but just felt like pointing it out explicitly.

Precision is equally important in graphs as well. One simply cannot afford to draw graphs that look rough in the

exam. If you are drawing isoprofit curves, for example, for firm A marked on X axis you have to ensure that the

higher isoprofit curves are such that the maxima is always to the left of the lower one and the reaction curve

passes through all these maxima. If you happen to draw the curves in such a way that the reaction curve does

not pass through all maximas then you are drawing an imprecise graph. I believe one’s basic understanding of

microeconomics is tested in the precision of these graphs. If the graphs are not precise it leaves a bad

impression about your basic understanding. Agreed that it is near impossible to draw graphs as good as the

computer generated ones but at least we can practice enough to ensure that we do not violate any principle of

mircoeconomics while drawing our graphs. I personally had devoted a lot of time and effort before the exam in

getting my graphs right. It so happened that on the day of my Econ paper I had forgotten to take an eraser with

me (it isn’t a nice feeling when you get to know that in the exam hall) but I had all my graphs so well etched in my

mind that I didn’t need to use an eraser in my paper.

3. Cut the chase and get to the point – Your first sentence of the answer should itself reflect that you have a

command over the topic. Even if you know the topic and you don’t get down to the job right from the first

sentence it gives an impression that you are trying to fool your way around. So at least for Econ paper 1 get

straight down to the core of the answer. You need not explain what’s the background or history – the examiner

isn’t really looking for that.

4. Avoid math – Yes, for UPSC at least. The less equations you put the better. If at any place there is a way to

show something through a graph and the same thing through a mathematical proof, go for the graph.

5. Be logical – Economics is as close to decuctive logic as any social science can get. Most answers in paper 1

are based on deductive logic. Make sure you get the premises right and place arguments in such a way that the

conclusion flows.

6. Choose questions wisely – At times there may be some questions from the similar topics. Like for HO there

maybe two questions of 20 marks, one in question 3 and one in question 5. As far as possible attempt either

question 3 or 5, not both. But if you have no other choice attempt them anyways but be strategic there. Suppose

question 3 is about criticisms of HOS model and question 5 is about Leontief Paradox then you have to make


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sure that you don’t get carried away writing a lot about Leontief Paradox in question 3 because anyways you

have to answer that in detail in question 5. You cannot write similar things in two answers and expect the

examiner to give you marks for both.

7. Cut the et cetera – This is a small point but I say this because I see people all too often using the

indeterminate ‘et cetera’ (yours truly being guilty himself). In Econ, you have to show your precise knowledge and

understanding of the topic asked. Using ‘et cetera’ simply gives an impression that you are trying to cover for

things you do not know. So if there are multiple things and you want to mention only few of them state upfront

that the ones you are stating are in your opinion to more relevant ones for this particular answer.

For paper 2

1. Have a narrative – In my opinion, this is the most important thing in both Econ paper 2 and Pub Ad answer

writing. Paper 2 is where you have the luxury to present your own opinions. Your opinions, should hence look like

they are firmly grounded in facts. For that you need to build a narrative into your answer. By narrative I mean it

should be a piece standing all by itself. It shouldn’t be on crutches. If shouldn’t read like an excerpt from a

chapter. It shouldn’t read like a part incomplete without the whole. It should read like a whole in itself. A precise,

clinical dissection of the issue in hand and inferences drawn from the dissection aided by facts – that is what a

good answer is according to me.

2. Use data wherever possible – It is good to use data if you remember. If you don’t, do not attempt the questions

that require you to. I, for one, am bad at remembering data. So I let the data heavy questions in paper 2 pass.

3. Use examples liberally – Use them to support your arguments. Use innovative examples, not the routine ones.

Keep your ears and eyes open for such examples when you are reading newspaper. Look around you, see what

is happening in your state or district. You could quote examples from your state which will make your answer

different.

4. Never take a radical stand on any issue unless you have strong data and facts behind you.

5. Use a style that befits the question – You will have to decide then and there whether the question best lends

itself to a paragraph format, point format or tabular format. Do not go with preconceived notions about one style

being better than the other.


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47 thoughts on “UPSC / IAS Preparation: Economics Optional”

Finally, practice writing answers a lot and set absolutely high standards for yourself. When you have written a

piece you cannot let yourself be content if your don’t think it is your absolute best. Re-write, re-write – that’s the

only key.

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UPSC GS Mains: How to

Improve Answer Writing

UPSC / IAS Prep:

Psychology Optional

Strategy by IAS Ravi Ranjan

(AIR 92 CSE 2013)

IAS / UPSC Preparation:

Public Administration

Optional - IAS Prem Ranjan

Singh (Rank 62, CSE 2013)

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RAJESH says:

June 26, 2014 at 1:41 am


14 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

Hi Gaurav.. I have 2 questions, can you please answer them.. As you never did any coaching for

Eco and neither did you study it in your Grad(MBA courses donot cover so much Hard Core

Economics)

1)How did you find economics while preparing, is it too tough for one to grasp these concepts if we go by the

books you have mentioned in your blog?(I am a pgdm myself so asking this).

2)How did you gauge your preparation vis-à-vis others.. i mean there is hardly any good economics coaching let

alone Test Series.. how did you know how to write balanced answers, please share this as well

Thanks

Rajesh

Reply

MOHIT says:

June 26, 2014 at 1:42 am

any insight Gaurav ji how to deal with paper 2 of commerce. It deals with Organisational Theory,

Organisational Behaviour, HRM, Industrial Relations. I am a chartered accountant and paper 1 is

all practical. But ppr 2 is new and purely theoretical. Seek your advice how to handle this.

Reply

RAHUL says:

June 26, 2014 at 1:42 am

Hey Gaurav

Can u go through the pain of writing the same for History optional.

Reply

GOVIND PRASAD says:

June 26, 2014 at 1:57 am

sir, whats your opinion for taking any literature subject as optional, sir before starting preparation

of civil services i am eagerly desirous for taking my background sub MECH ENGG. as my

optional subject, but when m start my preparation then lots of senior who is already qualify and non-qualify civil

services both are prohibited me to take this subject as opt, so sir plz give your opinion…………….


15 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

Reply

THESUPERMANRETURNS says:

June 26, 2014 at 8:50 am

i ve already given my opinion in the blog yaar

Reply

KRISHAN says:

June 26, 2014 at 2:20 pm

Can u share the strategy of writing for History optional.??

Reply

RAJIVRKP says:

June 26, 2014 at 2:07 am

Sir, it will be great if you could guide us for History Optional as well.

Reply

SIDDY says:

June 26, 2014 at 2:48 am

I second that …Please Sir..brief strategy if time is constraint would be immensely

beneficial since u scored well in history in 2012 mains..i believe..

Reply

MANJARI says:

June 26, 2014 at 8:05 am

Hello gauravji.. Kya history optional k liye v isi tarah guide kar sakte hai??? Book list and other

materials and the strategy. . And if possible (not necessary) in hindi medium..

Reply

NISHANT CHOUBISA says:


16 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

June 26, 2014 at 8:13 am

sir kindly give some tips for interview

Reply

MAST says:

June 26, 2014 at 8:57 am

Sir, please guide us for History optional too.

Reply

NITISH says:

June 26, 2014 at 10:39 am

Hi Gaurav,

Thanks for sharing your experience with Economics…I have few of the books you mention

above…regarding few topics that you weren’t able to find anything it’s true for others also..these topics need to

searched on internet only…I wonder how did you find A P Thirwall book, it is very very difficult to get this atleast

online..I hvn’t searched it in delhi though I finally bought through internet but the price that I have to pay for it is

very high not every student can buy it..I hope UPSC is not going to drop the optionals now otherwise this costly

book will loose its value to zero for me….

Reply

LOVEKESH says:

June 26, 2014 at 10:57 am

HHmm, never heard of snowdown’s book in my life. While i was preparing for Delhi School of

Economics entrance, i studied Branson and have read somewhere that even Froyen was

referred by UPSC candidates. Guess, i’ll take a look at Vane’s book you mentioned. I’m sure they’re all same

with varying levels of difficulty. Thanks for writing this long post. I wanted to take Statistics as my optional as i

love statistics and already know alot of topics in Paper 1 but uncertainity over scaling/moderation plus almsot nil

support for stat guys put me off. anyways,

Thanks again

Reply


17 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

DEXTER says:

June 26, 2014 at 11:07 am

Hi ,

You have answered most of the questions I had in my mind.

Thanks for that.One more question I have, can you please help me with that.

You had some experience in economics, as most of people who are taking they are mostly from economics

background or they have some experience.

So is it a good idea to take economics because you have a lot of interest and not any experience or knowledge

before starting your preparation ??

Reply

LOVEKESH says:

June 26, 2014 at 12:08 pm

Let me answer this one . In my class of Final Year MA people, we have 8-10 guys

from IIT and they face absolutely no problem in coping with economics, be it

conceptually or mathematically. And our course is quite mathematical. So the point is if you like

economics and when you open your economics text, you only want to go deeper, take it as sign of

your interest and capacity. So, it is possible to study economics and cover it to the level of UPSC

rigor in adequate amt of time ( which is a function of your aptitude and interest). Most of my friends

covered BA(H) syllabus of DU in 2-3 months for their entrance preparation for Delhi School of Eco. ,

just because they like studying economics and can appreciate technical as well as sometimes

abstract ideas in the subject.

Reply

DEXTER says:

June 28, 2014 at 11:22 am

Hi Lovekesh,

Thanks for your reply. I agree with your point of understanding of

economics may not be a problem for students who do not have economics background.

What doubt I have is that can the same student complete syllabus in1 year time bound,

without having any prior knowledge and reach to the same level of competence which is

required to get selected.

Hi Gaurav , can you also put some guidence into this questions ?

Thanks


18 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

Reply


June 28, 2014 at 1:39 pm

Yes, it can be done

Reply

LOVEKESH says:

June 28, 2014 at 4:26 pm

you can check this link as well for some more info about

economics

http://rijubafna.com/2014/06/economics-upsc/

She’s an alumni of Delhi School of Economics and got 77 rank in CSE 2013.

Reply

DEXTER says:

June 28, 2014 at 5:25 pm

Hey Gaurav and lovekesh,

Thanks for your replies , which is very useful for me

right now .

Reply

RACHNA says:

June 26, 2014 at 11:35 am

Hi Gaurav, Congratulations on your success and Kudos to your efforts! If I only I had access to

this information before the exam. I had economics as an optional this year and though (I hope) I

made it to my desired service, I had serious issues with economics preparation because of lack of proper

material (and the fact that I was a didn’t spend enough time and effort on it). Never the less, brilliant work man!

Keep inspiring!

Reply

PRASHANTH says:

June 26, 2014 at 1:29 pm


19 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

Thanks Gaurav ji for this nice article. Was looking for something like this. Also, one more

question. Do you recommend Eco optional for working professional? I am currently preparing

being at onsite and have limited time to prepare. So, want to know your opinion. Thanks in advance.

Reply

PAVNIT says:

June 26, 2014 at 2:04 pm

thanks Gaurav,but i m not finding this ecnopreforias by amit sahu

can u plz tel me this

Reply

DEVIKA says:

June 26, 2014 at 6:00 pm

Thanks a lot. How abt RBC and post keynesian econ, are they important for paper1 macro part?

From where did you do Sen’s works? I find too many ques from Sen’s works.

How good are test series from Axiom?

Reply

KSHITIJ says:

June 27, 2014 at 1:38 am

Hi Gaurav,

Thanks for the write up!

One question – I know that I am interested in the subject and I have spoken to many a economics teachers. They

suggested me not to take up the subject unless I have spent a few years with the subject and I have had proper

guidance in it. Do you think it holds true? If yes, can you please suggest some good source for guidance?

I have background in Computer Science and I have read CFA Level 1 economics.

Reply


20 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM


June 27, 2014 at 8:28 am

Sab kuch to isi blogpost mein likha hai yaar

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KSHITIJ says:

June 27, 2014 at 10:22 am

I didn’t want to irritate you but I was asking for any coaching where I can

get my basics clear

Ya fir aap suggest kar rahe ho ki coaching classes are not important, self study and

“econprepforias” group should do?

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June 27, 2014 at 4:41 pm

yes kshitis

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KSHITIJ says:

June 27, 2014 at 5:48 pm

Thank you!

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AAHAT says:

June 27, 2014 at 5:04 pm

sir

i will not go for economics as my optional subject..therefore can u please answer me that how

one can know which books to study(as there are many) and how to know which chapters to cover from that

particular book.

PS- asking in reference of management.


21 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

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June 27, 2014 at 5:48 pm

hi aahat.. tough yaar.. i dont know how to answer this for management… better asks

omeone with managment optional

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AAHAT says:

June 28, 2014 at 1:46 pm

thank u sir for the reply….but can you please share how you came to

know which books to refer and which topics to cover in that particular

book.

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SUMEET says:

June 27, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Hi Gaurav,

Can I ask you to please Explain Syllogism with logical Venn diagram without using the Formula

and tricks which other do. As using that might not help in Exam.

Thanks in advance.

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June 27, 2014 at 10:25 pm

srry bhai, kuch samajh mein nahi aaya

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22 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

SUMEET says:

June 28, 2014 at 12:27 am

Matlab Syllogism kaise solve kiya jaye…

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RAM says:

June 28, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Jiske beech relation nahi hai, use mat karo. Sahi answer aa

jaega.

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INNOVATION1988 says:

June 27, 2014 at 7:05 pm

Hi sir,

first of all accept my congratulations .Now i wanted to ask u one thing i.e only if u have read Uma

Kapila (Indian economy after independence ). I found it sound in terms of pin-pointing some key issues and must

say basic or root issues associated with agriculture and industry .,so topping it with recent happenings will suffice

that broad section of paper3 (eco and agri portion) or it will require some greater scrutiny?

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AMIT SAHU says:

June 28, 2014 at 3:27 am

Those who have economics as optional can join this group as mentioned by gaurav sir,i would

request to please introduce oneself to other group members once you join the group.click on this

link to join : https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/econsiasprep

Thanks

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CHETAN SHARMA says:

June 28, 2014 at 5:02 am


23 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

Hi Gaurav!!!

can you provide book list for history optional as well?? it ll be very helpful…

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PRIYA says:

June 28, 2014 at 12:44 pm

nice article..basic principles outlined here apply to all the optionals..thanks

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VINAY BARALA says:

June 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm

which subject is good as optional political science or law? fully confused kindly give me your

suggestion ………and which subject is more scorable and Plz help in this regard and suggest

some good coaching centre. I will b highly thankful!

pls help me gaurav sir !!

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VASANTKUNVARBA PARMAR says:

June 30, 2014 at 9:37 am

hello sir..many many congratulation…sir which websites you used for economics

preparation???pls help me sir..and also give me address of useful websites which you used in

your preparation time..thank you

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June 30, 2014 at 10:45 am

there were too many, basically scholarly papers… but wotever i found useful i put

down in my notes… so u can see my notes n then add wotever else u feel is good.

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RAVI SINGH says:

June 30, 2014 at 11:51 am

sir congratulation for big success. I am humanities student want to appear in prelims next year. I

am hindi medium student but most of study material is available in english only. As news paper

and also study material in new pattern of exam of coaching. No standard newspaper in hindi. Also use of internet

is essential and i dont know the proper use of computer (frankly). So what is the destiny of studentd in hindi

medium like me?

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July 1, 2014 at 7:10 am

Yaar kuch to seekhna hi padega.. Duniya sage badhi Hai tumko bhi aage badhna

padega

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ANTHEENCONTINUANCE says:

June 30, 2014 at 12:25 pm

Dear Sir,

In Economics there are some topics which are not explicitly mentioned in Syllabus but somehow

related to it. For instance, in international economics – tariff and quota is mentioned while reading about

protectionist policies we come across other policies as well like export subsidies etc. I face similar situation in

other topics as well. I your view, should we stick to the topic mentioned in syllabus or should we do wide reading.

In case of wide reading how should we decide to what extent we should go?

Thanks

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25 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

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July 1, 2014 at 7:10 am

Pls chk my notes

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ESPRITD says:

July 2, 2014 at 1:11 am

gaurav ji ,

it would of great help if you can persuade toppers with anthropology to share their strategy.

please consider my request

_ thanks

Reply


26 of 26 7/3/2014 4:31 PM

ias preparation_ economics optional _ khelo india

Documents

marks optional

optional preparation

history optional

importance of optional

scoring optional utook

economics optionalposted

economics degree

commentshas optional