Introduction
The UPSC Prelims 2025 is just 100 days away,
and the clock is ticking. With over 10 lakh aspirants competing for fewer than
10,000 seats, a strategic plan is non-negotiable. According to a ClearIAS
survey, 78% of 2024 qualifiers credited their success to a structured
100-day strategy.
Take inspiration from IAS Anupma
Chandra (AIR 12, 2023), who cracked Prelims with 112 marks by focusing on “PYQs,
mocks, and phase-wise prep.” Meanwhile, 30% of aspirants fail due to
last-minute CSAT neglect. This guide reveals the exact 100-day roadmap used
by toppers, prioritized high CPC topics, and free resources to maximize your
score. Let’s dive in!
Why 100
Days is Enough for UPSC Prelims?
- PYQ Trends: 20–25% of questions repeat yearly (e.g., 23% in 2024).
- Static vs Current Affairs Ratio: 60:40 split allows focused revision.
- CSAT is Qualifying: A 66+ score is achievable with daily 1-hour practice.
Pro Tip: “Divide
your prep into 3 phases: Foundation, Application, and Revision.” – IAS
Vinutna, 110+ Scorer
Phase 1:
Days 1–30 – Build Your Foundation
Focus: Static
Subjects + NCERT Mastery
Daily
Schedule
- 6:00–9:00 AM: Polity (Laxmikant’s Indian Polity)
- 10:00 AM–1:00 PM: History (Spectrum’s Modern India)
- 2:00–4:00 PM: Geography (NCERT Class 11–12 + GC Leong)
- 4:30–6:30 PM: Environment (Shankar IAS)
- 7:00–8:00 PM: Solve 20 PYQs (2013–2024)
Pro Tip: “Highlight
100 key articles in Laxmikant and revise them weekly.” – Ravi
Kumar Sihag, UPSC Mentor
Also Read: Best UPSC Institute Topic wise Expert
Phase 2:
Days 31–60 – Integrate Current Affairs & Mocks
Focus: Current
Affairs (Jan 2024–Mar 2025) + Mock Tests
Resources:
- ClearIAS Current Affairs Compilation (CCC) – Monthly PDFs.
- VisionIAS PT 365 – Topic-wise CA notes.
- Yojana/Kurukshetra – Govt schemes analysis.
Daily Routine:
- 6:00–8:00
AM: CA Revision (Focus on High CPC
Topics): - Govt
Schemes: PM-JANMAN, SVAMITVA 2.0. - International
Relations: India-ASEAN Summit 2024, COP28 Outcomes. - 9:00–11:00 AM: Economy (Budget 2025, RBI Monetary Policy).
- 12:00–2:00 PM: Solve 1 Mock Test (Time-bound).
- 3:00–5:00 PM: Analyze Mock Results (Weak Areas + Accuracy Tracking).
Stat: Aspirants
solving 40+ mocks improve accuracy by 55% (Testbook TPP Data).
Phase 3:
Days 61–90 – PYQ Mastery + CSAT Prep
Focus: PYQ Trend
Analysis + CSAT Speed Practice
PYQ
Strategy:
- 2013–2024 Papers: Identify repeating themes (e.g., Environment topics appeared 12
times). - Subject-Wise
Weightage:
Subject |
Questions (2024) |
Polity |
18 |
Environment |
14 |
Economy |
16 |
Sci-Tech |
7 |
CSAT Hacks:
- Comprehension: Solve 3 passages daily (IASGYAN’s RC Bank).
- Quantitative Aptitude: Memorize 10 Shortcut Formulas (e.g., Percentage
Calculations). - Logical Reasoning: Practice 15 puzzles daily (Past CSAT Papers).
Pro Tip: “Aim
to solve CSAT papers in 1 hour 50 mins to build speed.” – IAS
Priya Khedar
Final 10
Days: Days 91–100 – Revision
Focus: Weak
Areas + High-Weightage Topics
Revision
Plan:
- 6:00–10:00 AM: Revise Polity + Environment Notes.
- 11:00 AM–2:00 PM: Re-attempt PYQs (2019–2024).
- 3:00–6:00
PM: CA Quick Notes
Last-Minute Tips:
- Avoid new topics; stick to your notes.
- Practice 3-2-1-0-E
Method for MCQs: - 3:
Confidently correct. - 2:
50% sure. - 1:
Guess. - 0: No
idea. - E:
Eliminate wrong options.
Topper
Strategies for 110+ Score
- TTT
Formula: - Test: 40+ full-length mocks (ClearIAS, VisionIAS).
- Technique: IET (Identify-Eliminate-Tick) for negative marking.
- Textbooks: Stick to 4 core books (Laxmikant, Spectrum, Shankar IAS, GC
Leong). - CSAT
Mastery: - Daily
1-Hour Practice: Focus on comprehension
(IASGYAN) and data interpretation. - Speed
Math: Learn ratios,
percentages, and averages formulas. - Avoid
These Mistakes: - Overloading
resources (e.g., reading 5 Economy books). - Skipping
revision cycles. - Ignoring
CSAT until the last week.
Free Tools
& Resources
- 100-Day Checklist: Download a day-wise plan (inspired by Anupma Chandra’s strategy).
- PYQ Analysis: APTI PLUS’s 12-year trend PDF.
- Telegram
Channels: - ClearIAS
(Daily CA Updates). - IASGYAN
(CSAT Practice Questions).
FAQs (Voice
Search Optimized)
- “Can I skip NCERTs in 100 days?”
No! 30% of 2023 Prelims questions were NCERT-based. - “How to improve accuracy in mocks?”
Analyze errors daily and revise weak topics for 2 hours. - “Is CSAT tough for science students?”
No. Focus on comprehension (50% weightage) and basic math.
Final Words
With 100 days left, your UPSC Prelims 2025
success hinges on focus, strategy, and discipline. Prioritize high
CPC topics, solve 40+ mocks, and revise PYQs thrice. Remember, as IAS
Anupma Chandra says: “The Prelims is a game of smart work, not
hard work.”
Ready to start? Download your free 100-daychecklist now and ace UPSC 2025!