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Less than a year left- what to select: PSIR or Philosophy?

2

Comments

  • @DramaLlama

    How are you preparing for PSIR optional?
  • http://discuss.forumias.com/discussion/28719/baswan-recommendations-and-govt-decisions/p1
    cant confirm on the veracity of this info but thought maybe you should look at this
  • @Rodion Raskolnikov this would be awesome if implemented this year!
  • @DramaLlama

    How are you preparing for PSIR optional?
    self study. I have my college books and notes with me.
  • Hi folks

    So I have read in some places that it is possible to complete philosophy optional in 2 months. Also that PSIR optional is really lengthy and takes at least 4 months.How true is any of that?

    If someone is in my position and has yet to start any optional studies for 2018- what should they pick: PSIR or Philosophy? Not particularly interested but like both of them.

    I can not afford to join coaching, but am open to joining test series and correspondence. Is it possible to do justice to either PSIR or Philosophy if I Study them until March 2018- for about 2-3 hours everyday?

    Kindly guide, dear seniors :smile:
    I'm a Political Science graduate and believe me, PSIR has the syllabus of 2 subjects under one name. Don't go with it if it's your first time dealing with the subject. It's hard to comprehend and remember all the stuff.

    Don't go by high scores of the said toppers in the subject. It's not easy. If you're a fast learner, you can try.

    In my opinion, don't listen to others advise, read a few books from each subject and see what interests you.
    Abe Kya keh rahe ho yr hard to comprehend...ye subjective cheez Hai ...btw mere roomie ka pol sci Hai...Jesa aap keh rahe ho usme comprehend krne wala part nikal Diya Jaye to baki ho sakta Hai tough kam
    I was saying that from a fresher's perspective. If it's your first time dealing with PSIR, it won't be a cakewalk like you think it would be. It has far wider syllabus and more theoretical part than any other optional. Like I said, in the end, you should choose what interests you. Pick up a few books and see it for yourself.
  • @abhinavdube @ashuks21
    To those saying PSIR helps in GS2 and 4 it's wrong it doesn't. Last year I got 321 in PSIR but only 80 in GS2 and 95 in GS4 mainly because I thought same and didn't study those.

    PSIR needs multiple revisions and you cannot write your opinion it will never fetch you marks.

    It's syllabus is huge around 1.25 times of Pub Ad.

    In 2015 PSIR was least scroing after Pub Ad with average score being 215 only last year people scored good.

    So take your decision accordingly.
  • Go for PSIR...it will help u immensely in GS paper 2 and GS Paper 4( wrt public administration) and essay....plus PSIR is on the rise ....u can see the liberal marking done in Mains for this subject for past 2 years....but course is a bit more as compared to other optionals.....
    Philosphy would help in essay, GS 4 only.....plus philosphy is on its downfall...u can see it through with meagre selection previous year as well.....
    @abhinavdube

    Hi, I noticed your optional is sociology. how is it as an optional? How has it performed among top 100 rankers in previous years?

    I saw the syllabus and noticed that many topics of P1 are similar to P2. Like P1 had family and kinship and P2 had family and kinship in Indian societies! Is there a difference between the two papers?

    Are there any cons along with pros of socio? What are the challenges of taking this optional?

    Can you compare socio with PSIR?

    Thanks!

    Sociology as an optional is good...It helps u in GS Paper 1 Society Section...It would be an added advantage in essay.....but there in gs and essay need to write through generalist perspective using sociological concepts.....

    It generally gives average performance in civils...It performed well till 2015.....but in 2016 it was a little below average with only few ranks in Top 100

    Syllabus of Socio Paper 1 and Paper 2 are similar in some sections...but in paper 1..most of these questions are seen through western societies whereas in paper 2...everything is in indian society.....

    Cons are most of the questions of socio are generalist in nature and it’s quite difficult to bring sociological perspective in them especially in paper 2.....Good study material is not available for paper 2....

    Most major challenge is how to increase marks beyond an average limit say above 260.....as per previous year checking ...

    PSIR is quite different as compared to socio....but it’s dimensions of answers are limited to political domain mostly ...however in sociology u are also expected to add political economic and socio perspectives as sociology is a combination of most social sciences....

    PSIR does not suffer from general perspective syndrome like socio....

    PSIR syllabus is huge as compared to socio.....but it’s contribution to gs 2 and 4 is huge along with essay....but when I say contribution of optional to gs and essay.....then that contribution is wrt to understanding of topics only ...content in gs and essay should always be from generalist view...u should quite only famous thinkers from ur optional in them or else it would lead to reduction in marks....as faced by many...

    So if u have sufficient time left go for PSIR ..as it is on the rise and socio is on its demise like geography...
    In 2017....most difficult paper was of Geography optional followed by socio...rest optionals were easy to moderate papers and people in other optionals are expecting above 300 this time..

  • @abhinavdube @ashuks21
    To those saying PSIR helps in GS2 and 4 it's wrong it doesn't. Last year I got 321 in PSIR but only 80 in GS2 and 95 in GS4 mainly because I thought same and didn't study those.

    PSIR needs multiple revisions and you cannot write your opinion it will never fetch you marks.

    It's syllabus is huge around 1.25 times of Pub Ad.

    In 2015 PSIR was least scroing after Pub Ad with average score being 215 only last year people scored good.

    So take your decision accordingly.
    Help of optional in gs and essay is limited to understanding of a topic in gs and essay..otherwise u r always required to write from a generalist perspective...if u quite too much of optional concepts in these papers directly it might lead to reduction in marks.....
  • Hi folks

    So I have read in some places that it is possible to complete philosophy optional in 2 months. Also that PSIR optional is really lengthy and takes at least 4 months.How true is any of that?

    If someone is in my position and has yet to start any optional studies for 2018- what should they pick: PSIR or Philosophy? Not particularly interested but like both of them.

    I can not afford to join coaching, but am open to joining test series and correspondence. Is it possible to do justice to either PSIR or Philosophy if I Study them until March 2018- for about 2-3 hours everyday?

    Kindly guide, dear seniors :smile:
    1. Philosophy can be done in 3 months, if not 2months. But please dont go by advertisements.
    2. Philosophy requires multiple revisions as compared to PSIR. in PSIR you can have your opinions, but in Philosophy, there is no scope for opinions of "new knwoeldge" . What is given is given, and dont be creative with Paper 1.
    3. The problem with Philosophy is that while studying, you will find all things logical and easy, but when you write answer - at least in first attempt, you will face lot of issues.
    4. Philosophy used to be safe optional, and if you write well, there was some guarantee of an above average score, but now there is no such scope. In Philo also average marks have come down.
    5. Having said, so yes many people do Philo after Prelims and clear it that year itself.
    6. Aks someone else in more detail about PSIR optional. Tag me here if you want any other infor with respect to Philo , Pub Ab
    Psir ka kuch bata do coaching mandatory hai
    Paaper 1 ka strategy
    Or syllabus vast hai to revision kaise kreenge iss ka kuch dekho
  • No PSIR Please.. Easier said than done!
    Try looking into Anthro !
    No PSIR at any cost !
    Koin bhi I am also looking antro or psir kuch pata ho psir ka bolo anthropology also
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