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Home / IAS Preparation / which medium is best for upsc

Which Medium is Best for UPSC| Tips To Choose the Best Medium For UPSC IAS

Last Updated on Jun 24, 2024
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Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, one of India's most challenging exams, requires meticulous planning and strategy. Among the myriad of decisions an aspirant has to make, a crucial one is selecting the medium of instruction. The question, "which medium is best for UPSC," often perplexes candidates. This can significantly impact their preparation journey and performance.

This article on which medium is best for UPSC delves into the factors that should be considered when choosing the medium for UPSC Exam preparation. It aims to guide aspirants towards making an informed decision that aligns with their strengths and comfort.

Also, read How To Become An IAS Officer Here!

What do the Numbers from LBSNAA Reveal About Which Medium is Best for UPSC?

The numbers from LBSNAA reveal a trend that English remains the dominant medium for successful UPSC candidates, with a significant percentage of toppers opting for it. However, regional languages also see a fair share of success, indicating diverse possibilities. This data does not merely follow trends. It underscores the importance of comfort and proficiency when choosing a medium for UPSC preparation.

  • As per the LBSNAA Statistics, 15 of the 350 trainees passed the exam in Hindi and 329 in English in 2015.
  • In 2016, 13 out of 377 officer trainees passed the Hindi examination, while 350 passed the English exam.
  • Only eight of the 370 officer trainees took the Civil Service Examination in Hindi in 2018, compared to 357 who took the exam in English.
  • Total 326 Civil Officials joined the Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in 2019. 315 of them passed the IAS exam in English, while only eight of them had taken their Civil Services Examination in Hindi.
  • English is the most popular language among UPSC aspirants for both written examinations and personality test interviews.

Check out Which is the best pen for UPSC here.

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Which Medium is Best for UPSC IAS Preparation?

The numbers from LBSNAA suggest that the maximum number of UPSC aspirants choose the English language as a medium for the UPSC IAS exam. It is true that the number of candidates who choose English as their medium of instruction for the IAS examination is increasing.

Here are the reasons why English medium is best for UPSC IAS Examination:

  • The medium of the IAS exam should be chosen on the basis of the availability of resources. There is optimum availability of English books for subjects like Public Administration, Geography and Economy etc.
  • Most coaching centres, online learning materials, and even books are accessible in English, but this is not the case for regional languages.
  • The selection of English as the medium will also be useful in the Mains Essay and Compulsory English papers.
  • Clearing UPSC requires a lot of work, and if you spend half of your time looking for or translating study material, it will have an influence on your preparation. Thus, choosing English as a medium will save a lot of time.
  • The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) was added to the CSE 2011 to assess candidates’ understanding, communication, and decision-making skills. However, it also evaluates aspirants’ English Language skills.
  • If the aspirants have always studied in an English-medium school, it will naturally be the aspirant's first choice. It builds their mental capacity to think, write and talk in English.
  • To prepare for interviews, aspirants need to read only a few publications, including English newspapers daily such as The Indian Express and The Hindu.
  • Because students are studying for the written examination in English, they should not incur translation costs by opting a regional language in interviews. As a result, English becomes a safe choice for them.

Read the article on How to Improve English for the UPSC Exam!

How Does Testbook Help Aspirants Enhance Their Preparation for UPSC Exam?

Testbook provides comprehensive study material in the English Language for UPSC IAS Examination. General Studies have never been easier. Following are the Courses & Coaching provided by Testbook in English Medium:

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Personal Comfort: Choose a medium you are most comfortable with as it ensures better understanding and expression of complex concepts.
  • Resource Availability: Consider the availability of study materials, coaching, and peer support in the selected medium.
  • Precedence of Success: Analyze trends and success rates in different mediums, though personal proficiency should take precedence.
  • Medium of Schooling: Often, the medium used during schooling can influence your grasp and fluency. This makes it a practical choice for UPSC preparation.
  • Language of Optional Subjects: Ensure the medium chosen aligns well with your optional subjects and their resources.
  • Interview Phase: Reflect on how comfortably you can express yourself in the selected medium during the face-to-face interview.
  • Exam Pattern: The medium should facilitate understanding of the question patterns and effective answer writing in Mains.
  • LBSNAA Trends: Statistical data from LBSNAA indicates that English is commonly chosen. Regional languages also have a presence among successful candidates, emphasizing proficiency over trend-following.

More Articles for IAS Preparation

Best Medium For UPSC - FAQs

The definition of best medium for IAS exam can be different for different aspirants. The best medium depends on the ability of the aspirants to comprehend the concepts and answer the questions effectively. Still many prefer English as study notes and materials are easily available in this language.

For the Mains examinations, candidates must choose a medium of instruction. Instead of being concerned about the ongoing trends, the aspirant should choose the medium based on their interests and ability to interpret the language.

The most opted language medium for the Civil Services interview Examination is English and Hindi. However, candidates should opt for a language in which they are more comfortable.

English language is opted by the maximum candidates as their medium of instruction for UPSC IAS Exam.

To help aspirants enhance their UPSC Exam Preparation, Testbook provides comprehensive study material in English along with daily quizzes and papers.
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