Syllabus of GS 4 paper as given by UPSC is in some way misleading !. Yes, we say that because it lists down 7 units and then just writes at the end “Case Studies on the above topics”. This makes one feel that it is a very tiny part of the GS 4 syllabus. However, we know that it has 50 % weightage of the 250 marks. Every year, UPSC asks Case Studies worth nearly 125 marks!. Further, each case study is for 20 or 25 marks! This gives aspirants a huge scope to maximise their score in each Case Study by writing holistic, multi-dimensional, practical answers which reflect your values and morals and shows that you deserve to be a civil servant!

Over the years, we have seen that aspirants take a very simplistic approach to Case studies. We read answers of students and we find that

• Approach adopted is very typical – a pros/cons, stakeholder approach without much originality
• Aspirants write too ideal answers, which are far fetched from reality. A civil servant is expected to be a balance of practicality and idealism and also show some inventiveness in solving problems and taking decisions. This is hardly reflected in the answers
• All the Case Studies are written in the same format and structure which becomes very monotonous for the evaluator
• Most of the aspirants analyse the issues in the Case study with common dimensions but very few are able to analyse the issue from all possible angles and come out with a holistic solution.

To address the above issues, one first needs to understand the correct approach to answer Case Studies, how should the issues be analysed from all perspectives and exactly like how a Civil Servant would do. Then it takes practice every day for atleast 15 min (1 case study) to perfect the art of writing Case Studies.

Our Case Study Workshop is an endeavour to systematise your preparation for approaching Case Studies. Attend the classes with an open mind. You will discover and hone the art of writing comprehensive case studies, analysing the issues from multiple perspectives, different ways to structure the answer, and a whole lot of value addition material which will make your answers unique and rich.

• Understanding the art of analysing case studies from all dimensions
•  Different ways to structure your answer: incorporating flow charts, SWOT charts, examples, quotes, value premises etc
• Live Practicing of case studies in the class with detailed discussion
•  Previous Year Case Studies discussion
•  Compendium of Keywords to be used in the Case Studies

Answering case studies is an art which can be honed only if you start early and practice consistently. We are confident that this module will boost your confidence about your preparation and it can make a huge difference to your scores in the GS 4 paper