Whenever it comes to exam preparation, newspaper reading is an unavoidable component. The newspaper reading section is much more essential in examinations like the UPSC. Aspirants who want to prepare for the UPSC examinations should know that current affairs play a significant part. One must be aware of what is going on around the world and keep updated on current affairs. But, how does one stay up to the preparation with UPSC’s current affairs? According to experts, reading newspapers for UPSC is the best and most reliable technique for doing well in this discipline. But the question is –Which is the Best Newspaper for UPSC?
Best Newspaper for UPSC Preparation
It is a commonly asked question among UPSC/IAS aspirants in the early phases of their UPSC preparation. Reading a newspaper is the most common requirement for the UPSC examination. This will assist you in increasing your knowledge of current affairs. You will get insights about what is happening in the world, which is essential for prelims especially. Besides this, aspirants may learn more about the exam by reviewing the UPSC previous year’s question paper.
As one source is never enough, it becomes essential to read different newspapers. Since every newspaper is 10-12 pages long on average, it consumes a lot of time to read 3-4 newspapers daily and make notes. Join The Thought Tree’s IAS coaching for preparation. You will get newspaper analysis analysed by highly qualified faculties and other essential reading materials to assist you in current affairs preparation. This will surely make your task easy and save you time. But before we get into the list of the important newspapers, it is highly recommended to join a good IAS Coaching Institute for UPSC preparation.
Now, getting back to which newspaper is best for UPSC preparation, we have compiled a list of the top newspapers. The following are the leading newspapers that would help aspirants in General Studies papers of the Prelims and Mains.
1. The Hindu
The Hindu is the first name that comes to mind when people ask Which Newspaper is Best for UPSC? People consider The Hindu as one of the most reliable news sources. The Hindu is an English newspaper that began as a weekly publication in 1878. This newspaper prioritises relevant national news. It doesn’t devote too much attention to any unimportant news. In addition, The Hindu newspaper provides truthful information that has been analysed by professionals and official websites such as PIB and PRS. To prepare for the UPSC examinations, candidates should pay close attention to The Hindu newspaper’s Business section and editorials. The Science and Technology and the Art and Culture part of The Hindu are also perfect and can help you answer writing.
The following are some of the reasons why a lot of people suggest the Hindu be one of the finest choices for preparing current events for UPSC:
● The main focus of the newspaper is on what’s going on in India and around the world.
● High-quality editorial and opinion pieces.
● No irrelevant news.
● Publish only authentic news.
2. Business Standard
As the name implies, it is a business newspaper. Business Standard offers daily news about business and the economy and features important articles or editorials. Business Standard, however, also provides comprehensive coverage of the national and worldwide economic situations.
It is a fantastic newspaper to develop an opinion about current economic problems, which will help you write your answers in the UPSC Mains. Economics is also an essential prelims topic.
Why should you go with Business Standard?
● Business Standard contains all the economic news that is important for the IAS exams.
● One may learn about what is going on in the economy and its effects in the future.
● Aspirants also get information about the new notifications from the Union Public Service Commission through this newspaper, which they update regularly. Excellent editorial section.
3. The India Express
The Indian Express is another highly recommended newspaper for IAS aspirants. This newspaper is well-known for emphasising national news. The Indian Express is unique because it impartially covers the news. When seen from the perspective of an aspirant, The Hindu and Indian Express complement each other.
The Indian Express newspaper, founded in 1932 by Ramnath Goenka, is also helpful for the UPSC IAS Exam. The Indian Express and The Hindu are widely regarded as the best source of current affairs knowledge for competitive exam preparation like UPSC. This paper includes both the bad and good aspects of any event. Aspirants may use this newspaper to get a high-level summary of the news or any event in an impartial way.
Why should you read The Indian Express?
- Contains high-quality news articles on topics such as governance, the economy, and politics.
- This English newspaper covers a broad range of topics, including national, international, sports, science, and technology, and has a wealth of experience.
- The editorial part, which is full of relevant information, is written by eminent people.
4. British Broadcasting Corporation
British Broadcasting Corporation is one of the finest publications for IAS exam preparation when it comes to foreign issues. Aspirants are advised to take notes from this newspaper and review them regularly. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the world’s oldest national broadcaster. The articles released by the BBC are essential for UPSC prelims and, in particular, the mains. Reading the BBC will assist the aspirant in developing an understanding of world events.
For a highly competitive exam like the Civil Services Exam, just reading the newspaper is insufficient. Aspirants should take notes from newspapers and connect them with the UPSC curriculum to be quickly reviewed.
Read More: Best UPSC Interview Tips
Some Important Hindi Newspapers for UPSC Preparation
1. Dainik Bhaskar
Dainik Bhaskar is one of the most popular Hindi Daily Newspaper. It’s also a great newspaper to get information from the ground up. The Dainik Bhaskar Group is present in 14 states, with Madhya Pradesh being the most well-known. It’s available in four different languages: Hindi, English, Marathi, and Gujarati. They also have a city Bhaskar edition if you want to get local updates.
2. Dainik Jagran
Dainik Jagran has a large number of daily readers in India. It started as a daily Hindi newspaper. Because the National Newspaper Association recognises it, it is a reliable source of information. It is also included in the international paper. As a Hindi newspaper, UPSC aspirants can refer to Dainik Jagran for national news.
It has a relatively small reader base in the country. It is primarily available in the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra regions, as well as the Malwa regions. Their focus is on contemporary Indian issues. For excellent information on current national affairs, aspirants should read this Hindi newspaper. It is a daily publication.
Read More: List of NCERT Books for UPSC Preparation
Some Important Tips for Newspaper Reading
1. Read UPSC Syllabus
Ensure that you have a comprehensive grasp of the UPSC Syllabus. A comprehensive syllabus study will enable you to choose relevant news topics, saving a significant amount of time. Only read the sections that are relevant to the UPSC exam.
2. Take Digital Notes for the Weekly Newspaper
Writing handwritten notes may be complex and time-consuming. You can store the newspaper clippings using digital programs such as Evernote, etc. You may also locate relevant newspaper clips on other websites. Save them to your smartphone for easy access.
3. Read Monthly Collections for Fast Revision
Revision is much more essential than just reading lots of piles of books. As a result, schedule weekly and monthly reviews of what you’ve written or stored from news articles.
4. Examine PYQs
Previous Year questions, particularly those from the current events area, will provide you with an indication of the kind of questions that could be given, allowing you to read more methodically. You do not have to take in all of the information in the newspaper. Just go for appropriate reading.
5. Give Additional Time to Read Editorials
Editorials are a great source of inspiration for UPSC Mains answer writing. As a result, give it the attention it deserves; for editorials, write handwritten notes and maintain updating them regularly.
Read More: Timetable for UPSC Preparation
Newspaper Reading Time Limit
Candidates should set out a particular period in their daily schedule. Two hours should be enough time to read and complete the newspaper. Do not devote more time to the newspaper since it will interfere with the preparation of other components of the IAS. Every candidate should read and complete the newspaper regularly. The next day, the candidates really shouldn’t read the earlier day’s newspaper. Because it will all build up one day, and the applicant will feel the burden.
Prioritize Important Things to Read in the Newspaper
Candidates should study the national news or the newspaper’s top item and conduct some research on it. The UPSC examinations usually include questions about national events. Candidates should constantly be up to speed on current events of national and international significance. After completing the national news, the applicants should look for any new efforts of the states or the technological institution to be reported and their background investigated. The candidate should not spend his time on petty politics and criminal news, such as robbery news, crime news, and leaders’ political statements (in their capacity).
Now, it is pretty much clear that reading newspapers and making notes out of them is pretty time-consuming. It is thus advisable to join a coaching center like The Thought Tree that provides a detailed analysis of newspapers and additional facts. It will save up a lot of time, and you can efficiently utilize that time for preparing something else.
Besides this, a student can miss out on some important things related to the exam. But the faculty there will be able to cover up everything. This way you will easily be able to read the newspaper in very little time, giving you an advantage over other students.
Read More: Best UPSC Preparation Tips for Working Professionals
FAQs
- Which kind of note is preferable—handwritten or typed?
Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
The handwritten notes may provide necessary daily writing practice and help you retain information for a lengthy period of time. However, arranging them takes a lot of time and effort since articles from various genres emerge here and there.
On the other hand, typed or copied notes may be quickly created and managed. However, it will be challenging to recall problems if they were not written and were just taken from other sources.
2. Can I skip the newspaper and rely only on the Current Affairs Monthly PDF Files?
You should never do that. The current affairs monthly files are a good source for quick revision but reading the newspaper will give you in-depth information about the event and help you in answer writing.
3. I’m confused by reading the newspaper. When I read editorials, I get the impression that everything is significant. What should I read, and what should I omit?
It takes time to discover critical problems at first. Reread the UPSC syllabus many times, get familiar with the examination’s requirements, and review previous papers. It would be very beneficial to you. As the preparation becomes more proficient, it will need less and less work.
