Preparing for General Awareness in the NIC Exam: A Unique Approach
As someone who has gone through the process of preparing for the NIC exam, I must say that the experience was quite unique. Though I did not focus specifically on the General Awareness (G.A.) section, I was still able to achieve a decent score by combining GATE preparation with the syllabus of the NIC exam. This article will discuss my approach, highlighting the strategies I used for static G.K. and current affairs, as well as the role of subconscious learning.
Understanding the NIC Exam Syllabus
The NIC (National Informatics Centre) exam has a comprehensive syllabus that includes technical areas, General Awareness (G.A.), and even other subjects such as General Science and Mathematics. Given the vast nature of the G.A. syllabus, I decided to focus mainly on the technical areas, as they are closely aligned with the GATE syllabus. This allowed me to cover the necessary material without the need for an exclusive G.A. preparation.
Static G.K. Preparation
Static G.K. refers to knowledge that is built over a long period, typically covering subjects such as history, geography, culture, and general knowledge accumulated over the years, especially from school to 10th grade. I was confident that my school education, which covered topics from 6th to 10th grade, was sufficient to handle the static G.K. component. Therefore, I didn't delve into detailed preparation until the final weeks leading up to the exam. In the last couple of weeks, I simply searched for standard sets of static G.K. such as capital cities and currencies and read them a couple of times.
Current Affairs Preparation
Current affairs require a significant amount of time for in-depth preparation, including newspaper reading, note-taking, and regular updates. This preparation typically requires around 4-5 months, which is not feasible for exam preparation. Instead of going through current affairs in detail, I opted for a mobile application that highlighted the top 10 news highlights of the day with a brief summary. These applications are readily available online and made it easier to stay updated without dedicating too much time.
The Role of Subconscious Learning
A unique factor in my preparation was the unintentional learning I experienced while staying in a private hostel. Two of my hostel mates were preparing for SSC (Staff Selection Commission) and Banking exams. Since the rooms were partially separated by glass and plywood, I could hear their discussions on current affairs and static G.K. Although I didn't take notes or engage in the conversation, I retained some information subconsciously. This practice inadvertently helped me answer a few G.A. questions during the exam.
Real-Life Example: The Power of Subconscious Learning
One example that comes to mind is a question from the 2017 NIC exam that asked about the location of the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA). Without thinking, I answered with the location Dehradun, knowing that the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing IIRS is indeed located there. However, the correct answer was Shadnagar. This experience highlights the potential dangers of half-knowledge and the importance of being thorough.
Final Thoughts
My approach to the NIC exam demonstrated that a balanced preparation, combining technical topics with unintentional learning, can be quite effective. Despite not having dedicated time to G.A., I still achieved a reasonable score. This experience, much like the story of Slumdog Millionaire, shows that there are many ways to absorb and retain information, even if it comes without conscious effort. I hope that this advice will be helpful for those preparing for similar exams, emphasizing the importance of being thorough and avoiding half-knowledge.