Summary of "45 topics = 75% of UPSC pre questions, dont read everything"

Summary of the Video

“45 topics = 75% of UPSC pre questions, don’t read everything”

The speaker shares insights from 7 years of UPSC prelims preparation and extensive analysis of previous year questions (PYQs) from 1979 to 2025. The main message is that aspirants should not attempt to read the entire syllabus exhaustively but rather focus on a core set of 40-45 important topics that consistently contribute to around 75-80% of the prelims questions. The speaker breaks down these key topics subject-wise and highlights specific areas of emphasis, combining both static and current affairs elements.

Main Ideas and Lessons

Avoid reading the entire syllabus blindly: It’s inefficient to cover everything equally. Instead, prioritize topics based on past question trends.
Focus on 40-45 high-yield topics: These topics cover approximately 75-80% of UPSC prelims questions historically.
Use past year questions (1979-2025) for trend analysis: This long-term analysis helps identify consistent areas of questioning.
Combine static knowledge with current affairs: Many questions come from the intersection of static concepts and current news/events.

Detailed Topic-wise Breakdown

1. Environment

Important subtopics include:

Environment-related terms and concepts (ecology, codes of practice, etc.)
Protected areas: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, Wetlands
Pollution: gases involved, largest sources, methane from paddy fields
Species in use (flora and fauna)
International and national laws (Wildlife Protection Act, Biodiversity Act, amendments)
National bodies (National Tiger Conservation Authority, National Board for Wildlife)
International conventions (COP 30, Minamata Convention) and global organizations (WWF)

2. Geography

Key areas to focus on:

Climatology: (~40% of recent questions)
- Climate phenomena: fog, cyclones, moisture content
Physical Geography:
- Plate tectonics, volcanism, ocean currents
- Drainage and river systems, dams, tributaries
- Physiography: mountains, plateaus, waterfalls
Soil and Vegetation:
- Types of soil and vegetation, with almost one question every year
Mapping and places in news (including IR-related places)
Human Geography:
- Resources, industries, minerals, mines, producers

3. International Relations (IR)

Focus only on:

Places in news
International organizations

4. Science and Technology

Important topics include:

General science, especially biology:
- Animal and plant cells, plant kingdom, animal kingdom, diatoms
Biotechnology:
- Genetic engineering, emerging technologies (blockchain, AI, IoT)
Defence technology and space technology (current affairs heavy)
Health and diseases: 1-3 questions annually

5. Indian Economy

Focus areas:

50% questions from money and banking:
- Fiscal policy, public finance, government budgets, GDP, inflation, WPI, CPI, unemployment data
External sector:
- Open economy, external trade, balance of payments, rupee-dollar exchange rate
Economic growth, unemployment
International organizations related to economy
Government schemes and Economic Survey for current trends

6. Modern History

Key topics include:

Important Acts: British Acts, Government of India Acts
Indian National Movement: chronology, personalities, literature, movements, disobedience movement, parties, socio-religious reforms
Key figures: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Dada Bhai Narayan
Peasant and tribal movements
Literature and philosophy: ancient and medieval literature, schools of philosophy, Bhakti and Sufi movements
Architecture: temple, cave, Mughal, Vijayanagar, Delhi Sultanate
Administration of medieval empires (Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagar, Mughal, Maratha Empire)
Trading centers, ports, feudal systems, jagirdari
Arrival of Europeans
Ancient terminology (Lucent recommended)
Regional kingdoms, Buddhism, Jainism
Harappan sites, Indus Valley Civilization, Mauryan, Gupta administration
Foreign travelers and famous literary works
Sangam literature

7. Indian Polity

Based on Laxmikant’s book, focus on:

Constitution basics: philosophies, fundamental rights, DPSP, directive principles, emergency provisions, federalism
Parliament and State Legislature
President and governance
Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, tribal courts
Constitutional and non-constitutional bodies
Local self-government
Schedule and amendment procedures, emergency, list system

Additional Notes

The speaker offers a PDF with all topics and notes on their Telegram channel “Civil Soldier.”
Mentions a “Tracked Trap Initiative” for detailed thematic PYQ analysis from 1975-2025 with logical elimination techniques.
Offers a live mentorship program “Mission Prelims” for 100 students to complete prelims syllabus in 120 hours with multiple revisions, live classes, notes, and personalized guidance.
Course links and resources are shared on Twitter, Telegram, and in the video description.

Speakers and Sources Featured

Primary Speaker: Unnamed UPSC mentor/instructor (likely the video creator, possibly associated with “Civil Soldier”)
Reference Books Mentioned:
- Laxmikant (Indian Polity)
- Lucent (Ancient Terminology and History)
Platforms Mentioned:
- Telegram channel: Civil Soldier
- Twitter channel (for topic list)

This summary encapsulates the core message that focusing on a select group of high-yield topics, combining static and current affairs, and leveraging past question trends is the most efficient strategy for UPSC prelims preparation.