02/09/2023
Should we read newspapers at the beginning?
That is an intriguing question. However, I do not recommend that my students read newspapers at the beginning of their preparation. Here's why: opinions, articles, and editorials are authored by experienced and well-informed experts. Consequently, you cannot fully comprehend and effectively utilize this knowledge in your journey unless you possess a foundational understanding of the particular topic.
For example, if you were to read an article on the "Kashmir issue and the revocation of Article 370" without prior knowledge of the accession of Kashmir and the status of Kashmir in the Indian constitution before the revocation of Article 370 and 35A, you would struggle to grasp the article's contextual and historical significance.
Furthermore, reading such articles would primarily provide you with facts, figures, a few names, and the opportunity to expand your vocabulary with new English words. However, if you approach these articles after acquiring a comprehensive historical understanding of the Kashmir issue, the benefits would be far greater in opinion-building, critical thinking, and mature knowledge base analysis. In the CSS exam, examiners tend to focus on topics from the past 6 to 7 months.
Therefore, it is unnecessary to delve into newspaper reading at the outset, at least until you have completed your study of Pakistan Affairs. Additionally, there are specific methods for effectively reading newspapers, but it would be impractical to describe them here due to the length constraints of this note. If you have any inquiries, I recommend discussing them in person via messenger. Thank you.
