Expert Talk: How to restart UPSC preparation for Prelims 2026, and why are November–December crucial for aspirants?

Q. With November-December being a key restart months for UPSC prep, how should aspirants prioritise the UPSC syllabus between static subjects, current affairs, and optional subjects in the remaining months before Prelims?

A. November and the start of December offer a unique reset for all aspirants: 6-7 months to UPSC Prelims, and 3 golden months, November to January, during which aspirants must get their Mains fundamentals firmly in place. What they build in these 90 days sets the rhythm for a commanding Prelims-focused prep till May and a confident return to Mains right after.

That said, at this stage, it is essential to follow a rule-based system for preparation – every hour of study must obey exam-logic, not instincts. The UPSC syllabus is too abstract to structure your focus areas. It gives aspirants the outline, but not the exam’s emphasis topics.

That clarity only comes through Microthemes: concrete, PYQs-backed prioritization that converts the vague syllabus into high-priority, actionable themes. 

Across GS 1, 2, and 3, there are 15 GS subjects covering 288 Microthemes, from which UPSC has asked more than 2 questions over the last 10 years. Out of these, 177 are Mains-specific.

Here our some key suggestions for aspirants:

1. Cover 177 Microthemes by January to be Mains-ready (2 Microthemes a day, that is roughly 90 days of structured work.)

Remember, Mains prep cannot wait until after Prelims anymore. The gap between the two stages is too short, and the level of competition too steep.

2. Optional subject: One dedicated slot daily, preferably in the afternoon, till January.  

3. Current Affairs: Prepare weekly Microtheme-wise, not by date. Daily newspapers help only if they fit your natural rhythm.

4. Testing: Attempt at least one full round of tests for all 15 Mains subjects.

5. Prelims transition: Shift focus from January onwards. Aspirants will need 4–5 months of exclusive Prelims preparation, covering 111 Prelims-only Microthemes.

The above discussed system assumes that aspirants have already done the groundwork with The Big 4 (Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment) through foundation prep and basic books. That itself can take up to 3-4 months. 

Finally, I will suggest aspirants to customise as per their weak areas:

• If 177 feels heavy, prioritise Microthemes from which UPSC has asked 5+ questions.
• If aspirants have missed Prelims repeatedly, they must start the transition by late December.
• If Mains has been their weak point, they should use these three months to close the content deficit as this window won’t return.

Q. ⁠Which topics or themes in General Studies are high-yield at this stage, and how can aspirants cover them efficiently without wasting time on low-impact areas?

A. This is the single most decisive question that determines the selection. Many aspirants put in long hours but miss two critical points:

1. Overlooking key Microthemes.

They read books cover to cover and skip crucial high-yield Microthemes.

For example, in Polity, areas like Judiciary → Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Tribunals, or Parliament → Parliamentary Committees, are often ignored despite being repeatedly tested.

Create a plan that ensures you are always in touch with Microthemes. For example:

Image credit: Shikhar Sachan

2. Missing the desired depth of coverage.

Understanding what depth UPSC demands is as important as knowing the topic.

For instance, under the Local Self Government Microtheme, one must go beyond surface-level understanding of merely knowing “success → failure → reform needed”. Such narratives won’t help an aspirant write a Mains-level answer.

If you fail to reach the required analytical depth, you will struggle to attempt questions despite assuming topic coverage.

3. ⁠Current Affairs play a major role in Prelims. What is the most strategic way to cover them from November onward without getting overwhelmed by daily news?

Reading daily newspapers without knowing what to focus on won’t be productive. You may end up spending disproportionate time on content with little or no exam relevance. If you don’t approach newspapers in an exam-oriented manner, you will only waste time. Most news items are not PYQ- or microtheme-oriented, making the process effort-heavy but low-yield.

On the other hand, monthly magazines are too reductionist -they summarise events but skip the context and build-up, leading to shallow understanding.

Aspirants may try the weekly approach of covering current affairs. This can be the golden mean.

1. Spend 2–3 hours every weekend consolidating Current Affairs.

2. Cover new schemes, policies, Acts, Supreme Court judgements, terms, indices, and rankings first.

3. Then move to news items with a strong static linkage — where concepts from Polity, Economy, or Environment can be reinforced. 

The question aspirants often ask is: how to select news for current affairs? Check out this framework:

CA5 framework shared by Shikhar Sachan

I have also observed that a high number of current affairs questions from December and January appeared in past prelims. Therefore, aspirants must take the upcoming months seriously. 

Q.  ⁠Mock tests are essential for Prelims readiness. How should aspirants balance mock test practice with syllabus coverage — how many tests, and when should they start?

A. The earlier discussions address the content deficit problem, but Prelims success depends on exam temperament and question-solving skills. Just as Answer Writing builds Mains readiness, Mock Tests build Prelims readiness.

Here are the best practices:

• Frequency: Attempt mini tests every day or full subject tests on weekends. Mini tests (30–45 mins) help maintain consistency without derailing study flow.
• Full-length tests: Attempt at least 10 full-length mocks before Prelims. They simulate real exam conditions and test endurance.
• Cutoff logic: With cutoffs hovering around 90 marks, you need roughly 50 correct answers. There are two strategies:
  1. Lower attempt – higher accuracy
  2. Higher attempt – moderate accuracy

The second strategy works better for UPSC, given its question pattern.

• Target: Practice to attempt 85/100 questions. This pushes you to apply logic, guesswork discipline, and elimination techniques under pressure.
• Post-test analysis: This is the most crucial step. Use it to track weak Microthemes, revise conceptual gaps, and refine elimination strategies.

A word of caution:

Attempt only UPSC-aligned questions. UPSC uses 12 question types – from single-statement to assertion-reason formats – each requiring distinct approaches. Choose a test series that mirrors this pattern to ensure your preparation translates to real exam performance.

Q. Given limited time, what are the “non-negotiable” strategies that aspirants must focus on between now and Prelims to ensure the highest chances of success?

A. I often tell aspirants that their system must be airtight. It should be very objective. 

From the selection of Microthemes to covering all key dimensions, preparing exam-ready notes, and finally attempting questions – the entire loop must be completed for every Microtheme. This end-to-end execution is an absolute non-negotiable. 

🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for November 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨

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