How to Prepare for the UPSC EPFO, Strategy for EO/AO and APFC

Are you looking for the UPSC EPFO preparation strategy that helps you outshine your competitors? We got your back!

Below, we have mentioned a practical and effective preparation strategy for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams including:

• Subject-wise list of important topics
• List of recommended books & other resources
• A detailed study plan cum timetable
• Tips and tricks by previous toppers

Following this UPSC EPFO strategy can help you streamline your preparation and boost your chances of cracking the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams.

UPSC EPFO Preparation Strategy

Before jumping right into the UPSC EPFO preparation strategy, it is essential to get familiar with the latest UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC syllabus and pattern: 

• UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Syllabus
• UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Pattern

Important Topics for UPSC EPFO

Based on our PYQs analysis, here are the subject-wise important topics for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC exams.

Important Topics of Quantitative Aptitude for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of quantitative aptitude:

• Simplification
• Number series
• Number system
• Percentage
• Ratio and proportion
• Mensuration
• Profit and loss
• Simple and compound interest
• Time and work
• Time and distance

Important Topics of Reasoning Ability for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of reasoning ability:

• Coding decoding
• Blood relation
• Direction sense

Important Topics of General English for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of general English:

• Subject verb agreement
• Tenses
• Preposition
• Complex preposition
• Advance verbs
• Phrasal verbs
• Sentence improvement
• Reading comprehension
• Synonyms & antonyms
• Idioms & phrases + one word substitution

Important Topics of Current Affairs for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of current affairs:

• Government schemes
• Reports/surveys
• National news
• Awards and honors
• Sports
• Defence news
• Persons in news
• Science and technology
• Days in news
• Terms in news

Important Topics of Indian Polity for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of Indian polity (for EO/AO)/Governance and Constitution of India (for APFC):

• Regulating Act of 1773
• Indian council Act of 1909
• Government of India Act of 1919 and 1935
• Features of Indian Constitution 
• Preamble of Indian Constitution 
• Fundamental rights 
• Directive principle of state policy (DPSPs)
• Emergency In India
• President of India and governor of state
• Parliament of India 
• Supreme court of India
• Finance commission and its recommendations
• National human right commission election commission
• Committees of electoral reforms
• Panchayati raj institution 
• Urban local government
• Scheduled and tribal areas

Important Topics of Indian Economy for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of Indian economy:

• Law of demand and law of supply
• Movement and shift in the demand curve and supply curve
• Types of market structure
• Elasticity of demand – price elasticity, cross elasticity, and income elasticity
• National income and related aggregates 
• Concept of inclusive growth, growth versus development, real GDP, nominal GDP, and GDPdeflator
• Meaning and types of poverty
• Meaning and types of unemployment
• Five year plans
• Economic reforms since 1991  
• Instruments of monetary policy – quantitative tools and qualitative tools
• Monetary policy committee (MPC)
• Components of budget – types of receipts and expenditure
• Types of government deficit with significance
• Meaning, tools, and types of fiscal policy
• Inflation and measurement of inflation – wholesale price index and consumer price index 
• All about IMF and world bank 
• All about WTO
• Regional economic cooperation
• Meaning and components of balance of payments – current account and capital account
• Determination of exchange rate – flexible, fixed and managed floating exchange rate
• Industrial performance – situation and growth of indian industries since independence
• Special economic zones

Important Topics of General Science for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of general science:

• Kinematics including distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration
• Dynamics and Newton’s laws of motion
• Electricity
• Light
• Magnetism
• Elements, compounds, and mixtures
• Atoms and molecules
• Physical and chemical changes
• Chemistry in daily life
• Metals and non-metals
• Acids and bases
• Food components
• Health and diseases
• Cells and tissues
• Organ systems – digestive system, skeletal system, muscular system, respiratory system, circulatory system and reproductive system
• Biotechnology
• Space technology 
• Information and nano technology

Important Topics of Indian Freedom Struggle for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of Indian freedom struggle:

• Indian national congress
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Important policies & laws by British
• Important peasant and tribal uprisings
• Major social reformers
• Revolutionary leaders
• Important battles

Important Topics of Basics of Computer Applications for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of basics of computer applications:

• History and generation of computers 
• Computer organization 
• Computer memory 
• Computer hardware 
• Computer software 
• Operating system 
• Computer network 
• Number system 
• Microsoft office 
• Database management system 
• Computer security 
• Miscellaneous topics 

Important Topics of Industrial Relation, Labor Laws & Labor Codes for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of industrial relation, labor laws, and labor codes:

• Industrial Relations
  • Industrial relations and the constitution of india
  • National commission on labour
  • Theoretical perspectives of industrial relations
  • Conditions influencing an employee’s decision to join trade unions
  • Robert hoxie’s trade unionism
  • Types of trade union
  • Collective bargaining
  • Industrial discipline
  • Methods of discovering grievances
  • Strikes
  • Settlement of industrial disputes
  • Labour welfare
  • Wages
  • Workers’ participation in management
  • International labour organisation (ILO) and philadelphia declaration
  • Theories of accidents
  • Different concepts of labour
  • Union security measures/agreements

• Labor Laws
  • Payment of wages act, 1936
  • Minimum wages act, 1948
  • Industrial employment (standing orders) act, 1946
  • Trade unions act, 1926
  • Factories act, 1948
  • Industrial disputes act, 1947
  • The child and adolescent labour (prohibition and regulation) act, 1986
  • Inter-state migrant workmen (regulation of employment and conditions of service) act, 1979
  • Contract labour (regulation and abolition) act, 1970
  • Payment of bonus act, 1965
  • Building and other construction workers (regulation of employment and conditions of service) act, 1996
  • Mines act, 1952

• Labor Codes 
  • The code on social security, 2020
  • The code on wages, 2019
  • The industrial relations code, 2020
  • The occupational safety, health, and working conditions code, 2020

Important Topics of Social Security for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of social security:

• Social security schemes
• Employees compensation act, 1923
• Employees’ state insurance act, 1948
• Employees’ provident funds and miscellaneous provisions act, 1952
• Maternity benefit act, 1961
• Payment of gratuity act, 1972
• Unorganized workers social security act, 2008

Important Topics of General Accounting Principles for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of general accounting principles:

• Basics of accounting
• Preparation of financial statements
• Ratio analysis
• Cash flow statement
• Accounting for share capital transactions
• Accounting for bonus shares and rights shares
• Buyback of securities
• Accounting standard for inventories
• Accounting standard for revenue recognition
• Accounting standard for property, plant and equipment
• Accounting standard for investments
• Preparation and presentation of company final accounts
• Accounting for not-for-profit organisation

Important Note: The important topics outlined above are for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams. However, the UPSC EPFO APFC exam syllabus includes some additional subjects, important topics of those subjects are mentioned below.

Important Topics of Auditing for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of auditing:

• Nature, objective, and scope of auditing
• Audit strategy, audit planning, and audit programme
• Risk assessment and internal control
• Vouching and verification/audit of items of financial items
• Company audit
• Auditor’s report
• Audit of different types of entities
• Classification of audit

Important Topics of Insurance for UPSC EPFO 

Here are the important topics of insurance :

• Basics, history, and features related to the insurance
• Fundamental principles governing insurance contract 
• Types and classification of insurance 
• Difference between life and general insurance 
• Insurance sector in india 
• Emerging concepts and products in the insurance sector

Important Topics of Population, Development & Globalization for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of population, development and globalization:

• Growth of population
• Characteristics of population
• Concept of human development
• Information in latest human development report by UNDP
• Impact of globalisation

Important Topics of Indian Culture and Heritage for UPSC EPFO

Here are the important topics of Indian culture and heritage:

• Buddhism & Jainism
• Caves and temples in India
• Indian dance styles
• Indian scriptures
• UNESCO heritage
• Archaeology in India
• Important dynasties in India
• Bhakti movement

Best Books for UPSC EPFO Preparation

Let’s now learn about books you should refer to prepare for the UPSC EPFO exam:

Below are the recommended books and resources to prepare for only the UPSC EPFO APFC 2024 exam:

UPSC EPFO Preparation Timetable

Below, we have explained a 6 month study plan for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams. But first, let’s understand how much you need to study each day.

Here is the 6-month study plan.

Important Notes: 

• The above table is just a general UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC preparation strategy. 
• You should tailor the above-given preparation strategy to align with your strengths, weaknesses, and available time. 
• Avoid Auditing, Insurance, Statistics, and Population, Development, and Globalization if you are only preparing for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO exam.

Tips for UPSC EPFO Preparation

Here are the preparation tips for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC 2024 exams:

• Devote extra time to subjects you find challenging while maintaining a balance with your strong subjects.
• Regularly take mock tests to practice time management to familiarize yourself with the exam environment.
• Analyze your mock test performance, pinpoint areas of weakness, and rectify them to avoid repeating mistakes.
• Keep a separate notebook for important formulas, concepts, and notes for quick reference.
• Prioritize understanding the underlying principles rather than simply memorizing facts.
• Stay physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle for optimal performance.

Important Note: If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution that increases your chances of clearing the UPSC EPFO exam, you can opt for EduTap’s: UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC Master Course. Here you’ll get in-depth notes, live classes, and summary sheets, for every topic asked in the UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC exams.  

In the meantime, you can enroll in our UPSC EPFO EO/AO & APFC 10-Day FREE Starter Pack, where you’ll get a taste of what UPSC EPFO preparation is all about.

Conclusion

Here’s a quick recap of the entire UPSC EPFO preparation strategy:

1. Identify the important topics of each subject.
2. Refer to the right books and resources.
3. Create and follow the study plan.
4. Keep the additional tips in mind.