If you are preparing for the Gujarat Public Service Commission exams you have probably heard this at least a thousand times and stay updated with current affairs. But have you ever wondered why current affairs are so important in GPSC exam preparation?
What are current affairs?
First things first. Current affairs are the daily happenings around us: political changes, government schemes, international events, sports science updates, economic news and environmental developments and more. Anything that’s going on in your city, state , country or even the world, if it matters to people and impacts the governance it actually falls under current affairs.
Why are current affairs so important in GPSC?
The GPSC exam is not just a test of your memory or your academic knowledge. It’s a test of your awareness, understanding and your connection to the society as a whole. As a future civil servant you need to know what’s happening in the world around you.
Weightage in prelims and mains
A lot of questions in the GPSC preliminary exam come directly from current affairs. This could be from the past six months to one year. The topics can include government schemes Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Ayushman Bharat and others. It can also include awards, recognition national international summits. Similarly, in the main exam a lot of essay topics and general studies questions are based on the current issues. If you are well read you can write better answers with relevant examples.
Helps you in interviews
The GPSC interview panel often asks about recent events. They want to check how aware and opinionated you are about current developments. For example, they might ask you what do you think about India’s recent foreign policy decisions? Only regular reading of current affairs will help you answer such questions confidently.
Improves answers
Let’s say you’re writing an essay on women’s empowerment. If you mentioned some schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao or government initiatives for women entrepreneurs, your answer will truly stand out. Current examples add richness, depth and relevance to your main answers. Good answers in the GPSC main are not just about writing about writing smartly.
How many months of current affairs should you cover?
A common doubt is how far you should study? Ideally, prepare current affairs of the last 12 months for your prelims or main exams. But give importance to events from the last six months. Quality matters more than quantity, always remember that.
Conclusion
So you don’t need to become a current affairs expert overnight. But you do need to be consistent. Spend at least 20 to 30 minutes every day reading and noting things down. With time your knowledge and confidence will surely grow. To learn more about the exam preparation check out the GPSC Guide now!
