Why an effective study plan is required?
UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is one of most competitive & challenging exams in country requiring deep understanding of diverse subjects, strong conceptual clarity & effective time management. The vast syllabus covering History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Environment & Current Affairs etc often overwhelms aspirants especially those who have limited time left for preparation. However in last 45 days with right strategy, structured study plan & disciplined execution one can improves their chances of clearing Prelims with confidence.
UPSC Prelims is not just about reading & memorization it demands strategic approach focusing on revision, multiple mock tests, previous year question analysis & intelligent elimination techniques. A well crafted 45 day study plan ensures efficient time utilization, targeted revision & maximum retention so that aspirants can perform optimally under real exam conditions.
APTI PLUS UPSC Coaching in Kolkata presents suggestive study plan that will enable aspirants to cover all critical topics, integrate active learning methods, master question solving techniques & optimize their overall performance.
Key Principles of 45 Day UPSC Prelims Study Plan
Before diving into actual plan it is essential to understand five key principles that will guide your preparation
1. Prioritize High Weightage Topics
Subjects like Polity, Economy, History, Environment etc hold highest weightage in UPSC Prelims.
While covering entire syllabus is essential focusing on high yield areas will give best results in a short time.
Analyze previous year question (PYQ) trends to identify most frequently asked topics.
UPSC IAS Prelims Subject Wise Weightage for GS (2014-2023)
Key Observations
Current Affairs remains dominant which means that staying updated with recent events is non negotiable.
Polity, Economy, Environment are major pillars reflecting their importance in governance & administration.
History, Geography, Science & Tech fluctuate so cover them comprehensively but allocate study time based on recent trends.
Focus Areas Polity saw a spike in 2017 while Environment had peaks in 2014 & 2016. Analyze such trends to prioritize subjects during preparation.
UPSC IAS Prelims CSAT Subject Wise Weightage (2014-2023)
| Year | Reading Comprehension | Quantitative Aptitude | Logical Reasoning |
| 2014 | 32 | 15 | 33 |
| 2015 | 27 | 18 | 35 |
| 2016 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
| 2017 | 28 | 22 | 30 |
| 2018 | 25 | 25 | 30 |
| 2019 | 29 | 23 | 28 |
| 2020 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
| 2021 | 28 | 24 | 28 |
| 2022 | 30 | 20 | 30 |
| 2023 | 26 | 44 | 10 |
Insights
Increasing focus on Quantitative Aptitude particularly in 2023.
Logical Reasoning has seen a decline but remains critical in earlier years.
Reading Comprehension maintains a consistent presence.
2. Integrated Revision & Testing
The biggest mistake aspirants make is postponing revision & mock tests until last few weeks.
To ensure long term retention & conceptual clarity integrate revision & testing from day one.
Mock tests will enhance accuracy, improve time management & train you to handle tricky questions effectively.
Revising for UPSC Prelims in last 45 days requires strategic study plan, expert guidance, rigorous practice which is exactly what APTI PLUS UPSC Coaching offers through its structured courses, targeted revision programs & high-quality mock tests.
3. Static + Current Affairs Balance
UPSC does not test isolated facts it checks application of concepts in both static subjects & current affairs.
Integrate current affairs (last 12-18 months) into your static subject revision for better contextual understanding.
Use government sources like PIB, Economic Survey, Budget Highlights to strengthen current affairs knowledge.
4. Multiple Revisions are Key
No matter how well you study you will forget most things if you don’t revise multiple times.
Aim for at least three rounds of revision for every subject with quick recall techniques like mind maps, notes, flowcharts.
5. Smart Elimination Techniques for MCQs
UPSC often frames tricky & ambiguous options making intelligent guessing important.
Develop techniques like identification of statements that are extreme, understanding logical contradictions & using context based clues to increase your accuracy by removing options based on same.
45-Day Study Plan for UPSC Prelims 2025
| Phase | Days | Focus Area |
| Phase 1 | Days 1–15 | Subject-Wise Revision + Daily Topic Tests |
| Phase 2 | Days 16–30 | Full-Length Mocks + Error Analysis + CSAT |
| Phase 3 | Days 31–45 | Rapid Revision + Final Practice + Mental Conditioning |
Phase 1 Days 1 to 15 (Subject Wise Deep Revision)
| Subject | Daily Task | |
| History | Major Concepts/Facts + High Yield Topics(separate article on list of topics has been shared) | Revise + Timeline-making + 20 MCQs |
| Geography | Map Practice + Concept Review + 20 MCQs | |
| Economy | Basic Concepts + PIB/Budget snippets | |
| Environment | Location mapping + 20 MCQs | |
| Science & Tech | Revise 2-3 themes + 10 MCQs | |
| Art & Culture | Static + Past Year trend practice | |
| Schemes & Reports | Daily 1–2 Schemes revision |
Daily Targets
1 core subject + 1 test (20 to 25 questions)
30 minutes CSAT practice (Quant or Reasoning)
Maintain an error logbook
Phase 2 Days 16 to 30 (High Yield Topic Fast Revision, Full Length Mocks, CSAT & Analysis)
| Component | Activity |
| Full Mocks + High Yield Topic Fast Revision | 1 mock test every alternate day (Paper 1) + detailed error analysis |
| CSAT | Daily practice: 5 comprehension passages + 10 quant/reasoning questions |
| Weak Areas | Identify from mocks & revise those specific themes |
| Time Management | For CSAT Practice 2 hour mock with timer like 1 hour per 50 questions |
| Topics to Avoid Wasting Time On | Deep theory in IR/Science, obscure facts, long reports unless recurring in PYQs |
Key Tips
Attempt mock tests in actual exam slot (9:30–11:30 AM) for GS.
Use performance matrix like <60 (danger zone), 60–85 (borderline), >90 (safe zone).
Revisit NCERTs/foundation texts only for concepts you got wrong in tests.
Phase 3 Days 31 to 45 (Final Revision & Mental Prep)
| Focus Area | Action Plan |
| Revision | Use short notes, one-pagers, summary tables. No bulky books. |
| Flash Cards | Final 7-day flash card routine for facts, constitutional articles, etc. |
| Reverse Solving | Practice solving PYQs in reverse i.e. why other options are wrong |
| Mental Health | 15 min daily meditation, 7 hrs sleep minimum, light exercise |
| Exam Day Prep | Dry run with admit card, ID, travel time, test center distance |
Must Have Tools
Last 12 years UPSC Prelims PYQs
One-page summary notes per subject
CSAT Shortcut Tricks
India Map + World Map lists
Weekly Snapshot Table
| Week | Suggestive Focus | Target |
| Week 1 | Polity, History | Full revision + 2 topic tests each |
| Week 2 | Geo, Economy | Revise + 2 mocks + 5 CSAT drills |
| Week 3 | Environment, Art & Culture | 2 mocks + map + 100 MCQs |
| Week 4 | Full-length mocks + error fixing | 4 mocks + 4 CSAT sessions |
| Week 5 | Revision blitz + confidence building | 3 mocks + Flashcards + Chill mindset |
Another strategy to revise can be based on intensity suggestive plan for that is
| Phase | Days | Focus |
| Phase 1 | Days 1–15 | Build + First Revision + PYQs |
| Phase 2 | Days 16–30 | Deep Revision + Daily Mocks |
| Phase 3 | Days 31–40 | Final Revision + CSAT Mastery |
| Phase 4 | Days 41–45 | Relaxed Recall + Confidence Boost |
This 45-day strategy is suggestive not prescriptive. Every aspirant has a unique journey shaped by their strengths, weaknesses, attempt number, working schedule & mental health. Your plan should be tailored to factors like
Your coverage level of syllabus till now
Strength in static vs current vs CSAT
Your mock test scores & trends
Whether you are a first timer or a repeater
Your retention capacity & revision style
Available time per day & your stress levels
Don’t blindly follow any plan including this one. Reflect, adapt & create a schedule that works for you. The right strategy is one you can actually stick to.
Why APTI PLUS is Best IAS Coaching in Kolkata?
When it comes to best UPSC coaching in Kolkata APTI PLUS stands out leading choice for civil service aspirants.
Here is why:
- Delhi Quality Coaching LocallyAPTI PLUS brings expertise of Delhi top IAS coaching centres to Kolkata & Bhubaneswar offering aspirants best of both worlds quality education without need to relocate.
- Comprehensive PreparationWhether it is Prelims, Mains or Personality Test best UPSC coaching institute APTI PLUS provides complete & structured approach to preparing for all stages of UPSC CSE.
- Legacy of SuccessKnown for producing top rankers APTI PLUS combines expert faculty, innovative teaching methodologies & student centric focus to deliver consistent results.
APTI PLUS offers 12 years of live PYQ discussions (2013 to 2024) to help aspirants understand question patterns, identify important topics & predict expected questions for 2025. This also helps.
- Identify recurring trends in question patterns.
- Master elimination techniques for intelligent guessing.
- Develop analytical skills to tackle tricky questions with confidence.
This strategic approach bridges gap between knowledge & application making it an invaluable part of your preparation.
In prelims every second counts. APTI PLUS helps aspirants with an expert paper solving method approach designed to increase both speed & accuracy. This strategy includes.
- Prioritizing questions based on difficulty
- Mastering elimination techniquesto reduce guesswork
- Working on time allocation between General Studies (GS)& CSAT papers
In this regard APTI PLUS has come up with Prelims Mirror 2025 UPSC Prelims Open Mock Test
| Feature | Details |
| Purpose | Assess & enhance UPSC Prelims 2025 preparation with a real exam experience. |
| Organizer | APTI PLUS Academy |
| Test Name | Prelims Mirror 2025 |
| Test Dates | GS Test I & II 6th April 2025 GS Test I & II 4th May 2025 |
| Mode | Online |
| Registration Link | Register Now |
| Contact Number | 8100765577 |
| Benefits | In depth performance analysis Identify strengths & weaknesses Simulated UPSC exam experience Master time management All India Ranking Reduce exam anxiety Final readiness check |
| Study Material | Current Affairs study materials provided |
| Exam Updates | Added to a Telegram group upon registration |
APTI PLUS offers dedicated mentorship with clear roadmap to help aspirants stay organized & motivated.
- Day Wise PlansFocused daily targets to cover specific topics
- Weekly ReviewsTrack progress as well as identify areas for improvement
- Monthly MilestonesComprehensive assessments to ensure you are on track
APTI PLUS provides a subject wise current affairs listing making it easier to
- Link current events with static topics
- Focus on relevant news from reliable sources
- Revise current affairs before exam
Mock tests are cornerstone of UPSC preparation. APTI PLUS offers full-length GS & CSAT tests designed to simulate actual exam environment. Regular mock tests of this best IAS coaching Kolkata help in:
- Enhancing time management & building exam temperament.
- Identifying weak areas & focusing on targeted improvement.
Conclusion
The final 45 days are not about cramming they are about strategy, stamina & sharp execution. Remember thousands get eliminated not because they didn’t work hard but because they didn’t revise smart.
So build a strong revision + testing schedule, focus on high yield areas, tackle CSAT like it is GS Paper 1 & trust your preparation.
The real test is of your patience & discipline. And that is what makes you different from rest.
By integrating current affairs updates, personalized mentorship & exam-oriented techniques APTI PLUS best coaching for UPSC empowers aspirants to stay ahead & confidently tackle even toughest questions in Prelims. You got this!