u/Remarkable-Oil6468

Hi everyone

I'm planning to seriously start preparing for UPSC CSE 2027 from now onwards. A little about me:
- I have completed my BA.
- I don't have a backup career option or another exam planned at the moment.
- I'll be preparing full-time and I want to make sure I follow the right strategy from the beginning instead of wasting time.

I would really appreciate guidance from people who have appeared for the exam or are currently preparing.

Here are my questions:

1. If you were starting from scratch today for CSE 2027, what would your roadmap look like?
2. Which books/resources are absolutely essential, and which ones should beginners avoid?
3. When should I start answer writing and mock tests?
4. How should I prepare current affairs? Is reading The Hindu daily enough, or should I also make newspaper notes? If yes, how detailed should those notes be? I've seen people say newspaper notes are a waste of time while others consider them essential, so I'm confused.
5. Since I don't have a backup option, would you recommend preparing for another exam alongside UPSC, or should I focus entirely on CSE?
6. Looking back at your own preparation, what are the biggest mistakes you wish you had avoided in your first year?

I'm not looking for shortcuts....just practical advice from people who've gone through this journey.

Thank you in advance!