Top 10 Magazines for Competitive Exam Preparation

Preparing for a competitive exam is an extremely tough task and requires utmost dedication and hard work. The most significant aspect that is relevant here is the study source as that is what helps the student prepare effectively. Now, different students opt for different study materials and modes of learning. While some choose to watch educational videos, others resort to buying books, referring to online study materials, or monthly magazines. With so many of such magazines available in the market, we know how confusing it might get to choose one, especially if you are thinking to prepare for multiple exams. So, in this blog, we will cover top 10 magazines that will help you prepare for multiple exams at the same time. This will save you tremendous amount of time, effort and money and will help achieve the desired preparation results.

10 All- Rounder Magazines for Competitive Exam Preparation

1. Pratiyogita Darpan

'Pratiyogita Darpan' is the name that is no longer unknown to any candidate aspiring to take any government or institute related competitive exam. Pratiyogita Darpan has been on the top of the list for every student since years. This Indian bi-lingual magazine is available in English as well as Hindi. It contains material related to current affairs, general knowledge, geography, economy, politics, and history. The information provided by the magazine is apt and correctly laid out according to the importance of each topic for an exam. Since current affairs and general knowledge are common to all exams, it can be used for all the exams from undergraduate levels to postgraduate levels. However, since the magazine is a little detailed, it is best recommended for civil services and similar competitive exams.

Link to Pratiyogita Darpan's official website

2. Competition Success Review

This is one of the most trusted current affairs magazines for candidates appearing for IAS. Many previous year IAS test takers have referred Competition Success Review or CSR for preparation of general knowledge. As claimed by CSR itself, it is “India’s largest” magazine in this genre since the past 40 years. Apart from general knowledge, the magazine also contains helping tips for college interviews, IAS special mock tests from India's top institutes as well as solved papers for UPSC CDS exam, MBA Admission Test and SBI PO exam for practice purposes.

Link to Competition Success Review's official website

3. Exambazaar Monthly Current Affairs PDFs

Much like an e-magazine, Monthly Current Affair PDFs covering extensive exams including UPSC, CLAT, SSC, Banking, Railways, and all Government examinations is now offered at Exambazaar. The best part about these PDFs is its extremely reasonable one-time price, under which students are able to benefit with all monthly and all weekly PDFs for an year. Furthermore, for the convenience of readers, the news is segregated section-wise as per national, international, sports, etc.

Link to Exambazaar Monthly Current Affair PDFs

4. Chronicle

Chronicle is another name that is very famous amongst the students and in the market as well. Commonly know as Civil Services Chronicle, the name by which it was published for the first time, the book is known best for UPSC Civil Services and other similar competitive exams. This monthly magazine helps candidates to be more precise about their preparation and accommodate themselves into a time zone that delivers them the best results. There are several tests, tips, and special features such as mock tests and do's and don'ts in interviews for enhancing competitive exam preparation. Another prominent feature of this magazine is that it is designed in a very reader friendly manner.

Link to Chronicle's official website

5. Yojana

The next name on the list is again very familiar. Yojana is not just any of the general knowledge or current affairs magazines, it is a reputed monthly journal that addresses socio-economic issues. The magazine has been providing information to social activists, civil services aspirants, and several economists since 1957. Yojana is among the best for interviews as it covers social and national issues along with the government schemes. It is also referred to as a “must have element” for preliminary and main examination. The magazine is published monthly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. More so, it is now available in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Kanada, Odia, and Malayalam.

Link to Yojana's official website

6. LearnEnglish Magazines by British Council

Under the esteemed British Council, LearnEnglish is an online platform where young learners can work to enhance their English speaking, writing, and listening skills. The website offers e-magazines in General English and Business English. By reading and learning a variety of subjects, a reader will not only be able to enhance his/her knowledge but also will be able to improve their vocabulary and reading comprehension. Moreover, the e-magazine comes with a set of exercises that helps one understand and use the language effectively.

Link to LearnEnglish's official website

7. Samanya Gyan Darpan

Samanya Gyan Darpan is from the same publication as Pratiyogita Darpan. The magazine has content related to general knowledge and economy only. Finding an English version of this magazine can be tough as it is mostly published and purchased in Hindi. Hence, it is one of the top-selling Hindi general knowledge and current affairs magazines for competitive exams.

Link to Samanya Gyan Darpan's official website

8. Kurukshetra

Published by the Government of India, Kuruskshetra is a monthly magazine that presents government's views on various issues while also providing data and analytics on them. This is one of the best current affairs magazines, with major focus on recently launched government schemes, initiatives, etc. In fact, the magazine covers a good portion of general knowledge sections for almost all competitive exams. Entailing multiple perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds, this magazine is also beneficial for group discussions, college interviews, and essay writing on distinct subjects.

9. The Economic Times

The magazine, The Economic Times, is another fantastic source for candidates appearing for any undergraduate or post graduate exams. Just as the name reads, the magazine contains economic issues and its possible or complete solutions. Since it is published by an esteemed news organization, the information is a credible source and is presented in an orderly and well-structured manner. The magazine also features some opinionated articles that help in interviews of civil service and other competitive exam preparation.

Link to The Economic Times's official website

10. Civil Services Times

The name clarifies the exam for which the magazine is used. However, it can be used for other common competitive exams that requires information and analytical review of national issues and their solutions. Registered under the Registrar of Newspapers for India under Government of India (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting), this magazine has information from reliable sources from trusted organizations like PIB, government departments and ministries, etc. The magazine is a good source for analytical information that can be used for an in-depth understanding of a particular topic. Civil Services Times can further be referred for interviews and subjective questions for competitive exams like UPSC.

Link to Civil Services Times's official website

Therefore, these were the magazines that can be helpful for preparing for multiple exams. The subject matter of all these exams is either current affairs, general knowledge or English, which is common to most competitive exams of the country. Hence, picking up one of the will aid the time wasted for preparing the same topic for multiple exams.

Give a read to some of the following blogs for effective competitive exam preparation:

• Complete Student Guide for Competitive Exam Preparation | Know where to start
  
• How to Get the Edge in Your Competitive Exam Preparation | Start with Previous Year Question Papers Today
  
• Essential GK and Current Affairs Checklist for your Competitive Exams Preparation
  
• 9 Reasons to Prepare Using Exambazaar Current Affairs