General knowledge books are quite interesting and not just when mandated for a class. Most famously, UPSC candidates for the all India services are increasingly using them as exam preparation. A vast majority of these books are being published in a variety of regional languages. The Lucent Book of General Knowledge is available in both English and in Hindi. The former is on the market for Rs. 133 and the latter for Rs. 90. Other General Knowledge books, such as the Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review, are quite useful. You can also order them online from vendors like Flipkart.com, which give you the option of paying while ordering (through credit card, debit card or net banking) or by payment on delivery.
In addition to learning these books by rote, it is very useful to actively engage in the world around you, particularly though keeping abreast with the newspapers and news channels. Try and follow the news in all parts of the country, by watching the English newscast on the local channels.
School and college libraries also subscribe to a variety of news magazines that regularly feature in-depth articles on the kinds of questions that you might get posed during a test or an interview. Covering the national heavyweights such as India Today, Tehelka, The Week and Outlook will broaden your horizon and provide real-world context and colour to the facts from your general knowledge books. If you have online access, I would strongly recommend that you also include online newspapers and political journals as valuable source to use.
In addition to learning these books by rote, it is very useful to actively engage in the world around you, particularly though keeping abreast with the newspapers and news channels. Try and follow the news in all parts of the country, by watching the English newscast on the local channels.
School and college libraries also subscribe to a variety of news magazines that regularly feature in-depth articles on the kinds of questions that you might get posed during a test or an interview. Covering the national heavyweights such as India Today, Tehelka, The Week and Outlook will broaden your horizon and provide real-world context and colour to the facts from your general knowledge books. If you have online access, I would strongly recommend that you also include online newspapers and political journals as valuable source to use.
