General Studies / General Knowledge
Monsoon Onset Order — KATAK: Kerala (June 1) → Andaman → Tamil Nadu → Andhra → Karnataka. Helps remember monsoon progression from south to north-west for geography questions.
BRICS Nations — BRICS itself: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. Recently expanded - use "BRICS + 6" for Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina (2024).
Five-Year Plan Fathers — PC Mahalanobis (2nd Plan-Heavy Industry), Manmohan Singh (1991 Reforms), Niti Aayog replaced Planning Commission in 2015. Link names to their signature contributions.
Budget Components — Revenue (REpeat yearly) vs Capital (CReates assets). Revenue deficit = Revenue expenditure exceeds Revenue receipts. Fiscal deficit includes borrowing needs.
RBI Functions BICEP — Banker to government, Issue currency, Credit control, Exchange rate management, Payment systems. Core functions for banking questions.
Karnataka — History, Culture and Administration
Dynasties Timeline CRHV — Chalukyas (6th-12th), Rashtrakutas (8th-10th), Hoysalas (11th-14th), Vijayanagara (14th-17th). Chronological order for Karnataka history.
Vachana Poets BBB — Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi. Three pillars of 12th-century social reform movement and Vachana literature.
Dasa Composers PPK — Purandara Dasa (father of Carnatic music), Kanaka Dasa (Rama Dhanya Charite), Vyasa Tirtha. Remember their signature works alongside names.
Administrative Divisions 4-31-236 — 4 Revenue Divisions, 31 Districts, 236 Taluks in Karnataka (approximate current structure). Update numbers if changed in exam year.
Karnataka Formation Date — November 1, 1956 (Rajyotsava Day). Remember as "11/1956" - day and month both have '1', year forms "1956 = States Reorganisation Act."
Quantitative Aptitude
Divisibility by 11 — Alternating digit sum: (sum of odd-position digits) minus (sum of even-position digits) must be 0 or multiple of 11. Quick check for 121, 1331, etc.
Square Shortcuts (40-50) — 41²=1681, 42²=1764, 45²=2025, 46²=2116, 49²=2401. Memorize these five; adjacent squares differ by consecutive odd numbers.
Percentage-Fraction Bridge — 12.5%=⅛, 16.67%=⅙, 33.33%=⅓, 66.67%=⅔, 87.5%=⅞. Instant conversion saves calculation time in profit-loss problems.
Time-Distance D=S×T Triangle — Cover any variable to get formula: D on top, S and T at base. Distance=Speed×Time, Speed=Distance/Time, Time=Distance/Speed.
Compound Interest Shortcut — For 2 years: Total% = r + r + r²/100. For 10% over 2 years = 10+10+1 = 21%. For 3 years add another +r+ terms.
Average Addition Rule — New average = Old avg + (difference per item). If 5 students avg 60, one scoring 80 raises avg by (80-60)/6 = +3.33, not 4.
Work Rate Formula — If A completes in 'a' days and B in 'b' days, together = ab/(a+b) days. For A=6, B=3: together = 18/9 = 2 days.
Profit% vs Markup% — Profit% on CP; Markup% on CP but discount on MP. If CP=100, sell at 120 (MP), give 10% discount = SP 108 = 8% actual profit.
Mental Ability and Reasoning
Relation Decoder GUPSPAMDA — Grandfather, Uncle, Parent, Sibling, Partner/spouse, Aunt, Mother, Daughter, Aunt. Create family tree quickly; mark gender and generation.
Direction Clockwise NESW — Never Eat Shredded Wheat. Start North, go clockwise: North→East→South→West. Right turn = clockwise, left turn = anticlockwise, about-turn = 180°.
Blood Relation Gender Traps — "Brother's wife"=sister-in-law (female), "Son's wife"=daughter-in-law. Exam tricks often hide gender; draw symbols (△ male, ○ female) immediately.
Clock Angle Formula — Angle = |30H - 5.5M| degrees, where H=hours, M=minutes. At 3:15, angle = |30(3) - 5.5(15)| = |90-82.5| = 7.5°.
Syllogism Venn Method — Draw circles for each statement. "All A are B" = A circle inside B. "Some" = overlapping circles. "No" = separate circles. Check conclusion overlap visually.