One of the toughest entrance examinations in India, Civil Services, is around the corner. If you ask aspirants which section is most difficult in the preliminary exam, most of them will say Indian economy. There is no surprise here, because a lot of critical thinking is involved and candidates should memorise many facts.
Indian economy is a crucial section in both the preliminary and main examinations. Every year, over 15 questions in the preliminary exam will be based on the Indian economy. Most of the questions in the preliminary exam will be related to the current affairs such as government policies and schemes. During the last days of the preliminary preparations, one must not ignore the topics which will help you fetch a good score. Prior to the important topics in the economy section, let's explore a few preparation tips.

Be it Indian economy, polity or geography, aspirants should start their preparations by reading the NCERT textbooks. Starting from class IX and XII, all the NCERT textbooks related to the Indian economy are very important; they help you understand topics such as poverty, food security, consumer rights, population, etc.
One should meticulously read about the national income, globalisation and sectors of the economy. This will give you a better understanding of the concepts for the preliminary and main examination. If you have any doubts during the last days, never hesitate to refer to the NCERT textbooks.
The organiser of the Civil Services, UPSC, has not clearly mentioned the preliminary syllabus for the economy section. The responsibility of the aspirants is to figure out which topics to read for the preliminary exam. You will find a detailed syllabus of the economy section in many guidance books. Pick a book which you understand best and try to keep at least two or three additional books to refer to.
Aspirants should master everything about the Union Budget of the respective financial year. While reading, make a note of the economic terms. Keep the Economic Survey as your first reference book and refer to this book only when you come across any dubiety about the facts mentioned. One should be familiar with the money spent on social schemes and plans.
Also Read: Civil Service 2018: You Can't Expect A Question Paper Without These Topics