With the help of this article, we shall explore how to prepare the Polity section for the CDS exam in an efficient manner. What will you get in the article:
- Importance of Polity section in CDS exam
- Analysis of previous year’s questions
- Available books and study materials
- Strategies and tips to prepare the Polity section.
Let us begin!
Importance of Polity Section in CDS exam
The questions in the Polity section will have a huge impact on one's success in the exam.
- The number of questions from the Polity section ranges from 20-22.
- The questions are pretty straightforward and usually picked up from the standard text books.
- Practicing few mock tests will enable one to sail through the polity section easily.
- Polity-based questions are also asked in other competitive exams such as the Civil Services Exam and the SSC Exam.
Hence a strong foundation in this subject will help the aspirant to attempt other exams also.
Previous year questions analysis for Polity section
We shall now see the distribution of questions from the Polity Section.
- We can divide Indian Polity into various sub-topics such as Preamble, Fundamental rights and duties, DPSP, Centre-State relations, the Parliament and the State legislature, Panchayati Raj, various schedules, Constitutional, Statutory and Regulatory bodies and Miscellaneous topics.
- This division broadly reflects the division in the book: Indian Polity by Laxmikant.
- Questions in the CDS exam are asked from each of these topics.
Check here: CDS Question Papers
Which of the following is not related to the powers of the Governor?
- Diplomatic and military powers
- Power to appoint Advocate General
- Summoning, proroguing and dissolving State Legislature
- Power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remission of punishments
The above question has been picked up from the chapter about Governor and the answer is option (A). Only the President has diplomatic and military powers and not the governor.
Likewise, the question given below was directly picked up from the chapter about Supreme Court:
Which of the following is not required to be qualified for appointment as judge of the Supreme Court?
- At least five years as a judge of a High Court
- At least ten year as an Advocate of a High Court
- In the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist
- At least twenty years as a Sub-Judicial Magistrate
The answer is (D). Under Article 124 of the Constitution, a Sub-judicial magistrate cannot be appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court.
This analysis can be done for many such questions. Hence the bottom line of the analysis is that questions are direct, factual, and easily understandable. The sources of the questions are from reliable and standard textbooks which are widely available online and in most of bookstores. Sound knowledge in Indian Polity will help in cracking every question right.
Books to be referred for Polity section of CDS exam
One may refer to the under-mentioned books in order to prepare the Polity section properly:
- Democratic Politics – Class IX and Class X NCERTs
- India Constitution at Work – Class XI NCERT
- Political Theory – NCERT
- Indian Polity by Laxmikant
- The Constitution of India – Bare Text
Also Check: Best Books for CDS 2021 Exam Preparation
How to Prepare the Polity Section for CDS Exam?
- Start with the NCERT’s. NCERT books explain concepts in a simple and lucid manner. They also give a broad understanding of the subject. Once a chapter is read, then solve the multiple-choice and descriptive type questions given at the end of the chapter to understand the subject holistically.
- Once the NCERTs are completed, Indian Polity by Laxmikant should be taken up for reading. This book must be read properly to understand the concepts thoroughly.
- Just go through a chapter in the first reading. It is much like reading a fiction novel. Specificities should be ignored at this stage. A general idea about the subtopic, for instance, Union Judiciary, must be understood.
- After the first reading solves multiple-choice questions based on that chapter. This will give you an idea on where to concentrate more and where to concentrate less.
- Frequent revision is necessary while studying the Polity section. One must jot down the important points of the chapter for easy revision.
- The bare text of the Constitution can be read after fully understanding the chapter. Legal language can be hard for first-timers. Hence reading the bare constitution is only optional.
- To have a better understanding of the subject, one may also watch the Samvidaan series. It is available on YouTube. This series gives an idea of the evolution of the Constitution.
Tips and Strategy to Score Better in Polity Section of CDS 2021
- The scope of Current Affairs based questions is large in the Polity section. Hence reading the Hindu or Indian Express daily along with reading Current Affairs magazines will give a good understanding of the subject.
- Since Polity is very factual, revising the subject is the key to success.
- Previous year UPSC CSE, CAPF (AC) and CDS questions on Polity will give an idea on how the questions are framed, the level of understanding, etc. Hence aspirants need to solve previous year's questions a number of times to familiarise themselves with the type of questions being asked in the exam.
- Candidates must remember that there is negative marking associated with the exam. Hence accuracy in marking right answers and eliminating wrong ones will come only with adequate practice. To practice that, sectional tests in Polity should be practiced. The explanations must be read thoroughly after the test and the topics should be read once again.
The above tips and strategies, if followed properly, will help aspirants to read and understand the Polity section in a better manner. So, study now to crack CDS 2021 with a good score!
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