What are the newspapers one should look for UPSC and SSC exams?

DEVIL

Best Newspapers for UPSC & SSC Exams – A Complete Guide

The choice of newspapers varies based on whether you’re preparing for UPSC or SSC, since the level of analysis and depth of current affairs required differs. Here’s a detailed breakdown for both English and Hindi medium aspirants.

For English Medium Aspirants

The Hindu
- Factual, balanced reporting
- Excellent editorials for Essays, GS Paper 2 & 3
- Strong coverage of national & international issues
The Indian Express
- Best for analytical articles and governance/social issues
- “Explained” section is especially helpful
- Great for polity, international relations, and internal security
Business Standard or Livemint (Optional for Economy – GS Paper 3)
- Recommended if you have an interest in economics or a commerce background
- Otherwise, economic articles from The Hindu/Indian Express are enough

For Hindi Medium Aspirants

दैनिक जागरण (Dainik Jagran)
- Widely read across India
- Covers politics, economy, and international affairs well
- Recommended by top institutes like Vajiram & Ravi
दैनिक भास्कर (Dainik Bhaskar)
- Strong focus on current events
- Helpful for SSC and Hindi medium aspirants
नवभारत टाइम्स (Navbharat Times)
- Emphasis on Indian contemporary issues
- Improves analytical ability through editorials
जनसत्ता (Jansatta)
- Known for objective journalism
- Excellent editorials for Mains preparation

Summary Table

Category	UPSC	SSC
Editorials	✅ Crucial (for Essay, GS ⅔)	❌ Not Required
Focus Areas	Govt Schemes, Policies, IR, Social Issues, Economy	Static GK, Current Events, Appointments, Sports, Awards
Note-Making	✅ Highly recommended	❌ Optional (monthly compilations preferred)

Tips for Newspaper Reading

How Much Time Should You Spend Daily?

Exam	Time to Spend
UPSC	⏱️ 1 – 1.5 hours daily (with notes)
SSC	⏱️ 15 – 30 minutes daily OR use a monthly PDF/video

Newspapers vs Magazines: Which is Better?

Criteria	Newspapers	Magazines (like Yojana, Kurukshetra, Vision/Insights)
Daily Updates	✅ Yes	❌ No
Depth of Analysis	✅ High (especially editorials)	✅ High (for selected topics)
Best for	UPSC Mains, Essay, GS	Value addition, revision
Time Investment	High (daily habit needed)	Moderate (weekly/monthly)
Usefulness for SSC	Limited (except for current events)	Highly useful for last-minute revision

Conclusion:

For UPSC, newspapers are indispensable, especially for building perspectives. Complement them with magazines for deeper insights.
For SSC, a newspaper isn’t mandatory. Rely on monthly current affairs PDFs or videos to save time.

Let’s Discuss:

How should a candidate choose the right newspaper for their needs?
How can one manage time better while reading newspapers?
What’s the right balance between newspapers and magazines in a daily schedule?

kajal_123

For UPSC, is it enough to stick with The Hindu or should we also read Indian Express daily?

Aanchal

kajal_123
The Hindu → Best for editorials, polity, environment.
Indian Express → Best for governance, case studies, and “Explained” section.
👉 Most aspirants follow The Hindu daily and use Indian Express selectively for clarity on tricky topics.
So, don’t read both fully every day—pick one as your main source (preferably The Hindu).

AnkitTiwari

Can magazines like Yojana or Kurukshetra replace daily newspapers for UPSC?

Tarun

AnkitTiwari No, magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra cannot entirely replace daily newspapers for UPSC preparation, as newspapers provide comprehensive, real-time news and analysis crucial for Mains and Prelims, while the magazines offer in-depth, theme-based coverage of government schemes and rural development, serving as a valuable supplementary resource for revision and a deeper understanding of specific topics. You should read both to get a complete picture of current affairs

NehaM

How much should I actually devote to newspaper for exam preparation?

DEVIL

NehaM For exam prep, 1 to 1.5 hours daily on the newspaper is enough.

Focus only on relevant sections: national issues, international relations, economy, science & tech, environment, and important editorials.
Don’t waste time on crime, sports gossip, or entertainment.
Make short notes of key facts, govt schemes, policies, judgments.

👉 Quality > Quantity. Even 30–45 minutes with focus is better than reading the whole paper casually.