[Himachal GK] How to Prepare Himachal GK/HP GK for HPAS, Naib Tehsiladar, Allied services, CDPO etc Exams ?

Every Now and Then I receive a lot of messages regarding How to prepare Himachal GK/ HP GK for HPAS, Naib Tehsiladar, Allied services, CDPO etc Exams. Many asks which books to follow? Many asks which topics are Very Important ? Some ask for HP GK pdf. Some ask for Himacal GK Notes.
While some ask for Himachal MCQs. 

I don't have many solutions for that. Whenever somebody asks me anything regarding Himachal GK/HP GK Studyplan, Strategy, Notes and Books, I simply say one thing that follow : "The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's Book. Then I further receive messages that what to read, what to skip, How to read such a bulky book etc. So I decided to write a small post about Himacahl GK strategy and Studyplan. But Before that I want make few things clear :


1. Which Books to read for Himachal GK / HP GK?


Answer :
I know many of you that which books to study but many don't know which books to follow. Since there are hundreds of books on Himachal so it becomes very difficult for aspirants to choose the right ones. 

From Exam point of view there are many books in the market from the price range of 30 Rs to 500 Rs. But Frankly Speaking none of the these books are useful for exams. These Books are copy paste and have lot of errors in it. These books are total waste of money. So first of all I will request not to choose these books, believe me these books are not even good enough for a clerk exam. Level of clerical exams have also gone up and previous questions form HPAS etc appear in clerical exams nowadays. Those days are gone now when very straightforward questions used to come in these exams. What I want to say is that These books are not useful because they contain very less and unauthentic materiel, there are lot of errors in these books and that will puzzle too. So I advise you to read some reliable sources. So Please don't buy these cheap books just because they are very less in price and have exciting looks or few MCQs. There are some books online available too, Like Arihant's HP GK, R Gupta's Book etc. These books are very cheap in cost but in reality they are useless and contain very less material. These days many people do online shopping so I will suggest not to buy these cheap price books as they are not enough for even Prelims exams and forget about the Mains. I am writing all this because I haven't seen anyone who are preparing for these exams and read the GOOD HP GK books, most of the aspirants have 3-4 books and none of them are really useful. There are three things that they ignore Good books : First is that they think that its useless and difficult to read a bulky Book. Second thing is that they want to read small books in which important things are given. Third thing is everyone like to buy a book which is cheaper in cost.  And the problem arises for them in exams when they can't answer many questions from those books. This happens because HPPSC prepare papers after a lot of research and ask difficult questions. So for that kind of situations you have to study these subjective bulky and good Books. That's why say bye to these Jholla chaap books and read some Good Books.

Few More things I want to say for those Guys who ask me for HP GK pdf, HP GK Notes or Online Quizzes on Himachal, Himachal GK MCQs etc stuff: 

- HP GK pdf on few topics are useless, you won't get any pdf on the internet so don't waste your time on these things, they will be unauthentic too, Few topics may be available but you will only get 5% of what you actually need. Don't waste time on that, Buy a "The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's Book and make notes out of it and utilize your time carefully. You will get nothing useful on the internet about Himachal GK.

- Few Guys ask for Himachal GK MCQs, I would say that its wastage of time, you will get some copy pasted question from here and there and totally unauthentic materiel. Other day someone told me that in Himachal High court Clerk exam they asks Himachal GK questions from my site and from some random facebook posts of some users and many of those questions are wrong on the internet. In Himachal High court Clerk exam they may ask from internet anything useless but when it comes to HPPSC or HPSSC they are professional and they prepare tough questions from bulky books, so the mcqs on the internet are useless, highly unauthentic and hardly get repeated in HPAS etc exams. So its good that you read an authentic and original source. That's why I advise to read "The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's Book or Mia Govardhan Singh's Books. Don't waste your time on HP GK MCQs or Quizzes on the internet and read proper Books. Use Internet for Current affair but when it comes to Static Himachal GK then read a Good Book. It will save your time and energy. 


Some very good books for Himachal GK are followings:

1. "The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's
If you are having this book then it is enough, No need to look for any other source, believe me its sufficient and covers almost 90% of syllabus for 
HPAS, Naib Tehsiladar, Allied services, CDPO etc Exams. Only problem is that it's a huge book of 1600 plus pages so you need to read it selectively. Read it in Parts or Sections. There are some errors in it too but that's not a problem with one or two reading you will come to know about that. This is one authentic source for Himachal GK. This Book is easily available at various book centers at various Places of the Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi.  

Book is Available Online also  :

ENGLISH Edition : The Wonderland HIMACHALPRADESH

HINDI Edition : Alloukik HIMACHAL PRADESH

All Other Balokhra Books : Here / Here 

2. If you don't like above book then you can read a series of books by Mian Goverdhan Singh. They are highly authentic and useful.

 (a) Himachal Pradesh : History, Culture And Economy by Mian Goverdhan Singh - This Book is the Main book and very Useful.


(b) History of Himachal Pradesh/HimachalPradesh ka itihasa  (Hindi Edition) by Mian Goverdhan Singh - Very Useful

(c) Festivals,Fairs and Customs of Himachal Pradesh by Mian Goverdhan Singh - Useful

(d)WoodenTemples of Himachal Pradesh by Mian Goverdhan Singh - Not very useful

(e) HimachalPradesh Aek Aithihasik Sarvekshan  (Hindi) - Somewhat useful

(f) Artand Architecture of Himachal Pradesh Hardcover by Mian Goverdhan Singh - Somewhat useful


[ Book (a) is the Main book,  (b) (c) (e) (f) are also useful while Book (d)  is not very useful, only Selective Chapters and Topics ]


Apart from these Books I consider few more books useful but alone they are not sufficient :

These Books are More Important from HPAS Mains Himachal GK point of view but for Prelims The Wonderland HIMACHALPRADESH by Balokhra is Enough. 


(Concise and Comprehensive Books - Covers about everything) 

[Books 1 and 2]

1. Social, Cultural and Economic History of Himachal Pradesh M.S. Ahluwalia

2. HimachalPradesh: Land and People S.S. Negi

(
Useful for Economic Development Section )
[Books 3,4 and 5]

3. Perspectiveson a Growth-Oriented Hill Economy: Himachal Pradesh by LR Sharma

(
Useful for Environment & Biodiveristy Section) [Book 6]
6Folk Traditions and Ecology in Himachal Pradesh by Usha Bande

(Useful for Geography Section) 
[Book 7]
7. Geographyof Himachal Pradesh Manoj Jereat



Apart from these books you can read as many as you want to read but I don't recommend any other books. I don't recommend any Jholla chaap Arihant HP GK, R Gupta type books which are useless books and those who say to you to choose these kind of books are fooling you for sure. So It's Up to you to choose Good Books. 


2. What to read in The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's Book ? Or What are important Topics of Himachal GK ?

Answer : Important Chapters of  "The Wonderland Himachal Pradesh - Jag Mohan Balokhra's Book

Following Chapters are Important and Must Read for HPAS, Naib Tehsiladar, Allied services, CDPO etc Exams :

Chapters No-
1. Land (Geography)
2. People (Demography, Culture and Some History)
3. Social Life & Customs (Culture)
4. Art & Architecture  (Culture)
6. History of  Himachal (History)
7. District Profiles (History, Geography and Profile of District)
8. Freedom Struggle to Statehood (Modern History)
9. Himachal's Administrative History (Polity & Political History)
10. State Politics n Political History (Polity & Political History)
14. Wild Life in Himachal (Environment & Biodiversity)
15. Planning in Himachal (Selective topics)
16. Places (Not Very Important But one reading is necessary)
17. Personalities (Not Very Important But one reading is necessary)
18. Tourism (Selectively Important)
19. Economy of HP ( Most of the topics are Important, Economy is Now more Important because of NEW pattern for Mains Exam point of View )

Conclusion:
-History & Geography is Most Important Sections.
-Kings, Kingdoms, Battles, Treaties, Dynasties, Mystic Stories are most important.
-Rivers, Peaks, Glaciers, Passes, Lakes, Springs, Valleys are most important in Geography.
- All Social Customs are Important Like Marriage, Death, Tribal customs etc are very important.
- Statehood Struggle n formation and after period is very Important. So keep the all the developments in mind.
- Wild Life in HP : Parks, Sanctuaries, flora n fauna of HP.
- Planning sector scattered topics but important all of them.
-Tourism Policy in HP and developments, This book lacks in this section.
- Economy : Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Industrial Development, Natural resources and Hydro power etc. This is most important section now from mains point of view.
- Some misc topics are important. you can see the previous papers and analyse the trend of questions in Prelims. Mains will be more analytical rather than factual things.   

How to Read This Book :

- Divide it into sections or parts e.g. History, Geography, Culture etc...- Underline the Important facts or information when you read it first or second time.
- Make notes from it after a reading or side by side.
- Skip topics or content that is not useful from exam point of view. There is lot of thing useless in this book. So analyse the previous papers and find out important questions/topics.
- This is bulky book to read but you have to read it any cost no matter how you read it.


3. How to prepare Himachal GK/HP GK for HPAS, Naib Tehsildar, Allied Services and CDPO etc Exams ?


Answer :
- Most effective way is Know the syllabus and break the syllabus into Sections or Parts. Give a focused reading to any topic once and then give 2nd reading and side by side make notes of important points. You can make notes according to your style. Notes can be short or bit explanatory. Don't mug up anything.

- Ratta Approach don't work because you have a lot of facts and information to study and remember, so apply some logic, interrelate topics.

- You can underline the main points in the book itself with a Highlighter or red pen.

- For Studying Geography Use Maps extensively, e.g. For River system, Mountain Ranges, Passes, Lakes, National Parks, Places, Roads etc,

- For better understanding of events in History make a chronology of Kings and Kingdoms along with their Works, features and demerits etc. More you read this section more you will retain.

- Have a clarity about the events since freedom movement days to statehood days.

- Learn about the Culture and Customs, tribal topics are very important.

-Form now onward economy section is going to be very important so make sure you read it well and read with analytical approach.

- Facts are important from Prelims point of view but Subjective approach is required to write answers in mains so you have to read accordingly.

- Skipping Himachal GK is not recommended at all, believe me its not very tough to prepare this section. All you need is have a Good Book and read it thoroughly and if possible make notes out of it. That's it.


4. How to Prepare for Himachal Pradesh Current Affairs and from Where to prepare ?

Answer: Current Affairs of Himachal can be read from Newspapers Like Giri Raj [ Most Preferred ], Amar Ujala, Denaik Bhasker, Some regional Magazines etc. But you will come to know that these may be full of gossips or useless material in these newspapers/magazines so you have to cleverly read the useful stuff like Govt plannings, declarations and policies, High court decisions, Budget and Economic Survey, Environmental topics and economic and social current topics etc. Apart from that You can also get information from Himachal Pradesh Govt's Website.  

- Best way to prepare Current affair is to make notes from Newspaper/Internet daily.
- You can make Notes on your notebook or E-notes on your Computer or Mobile.

Hot Topics:

Govt plannings, declarations and policies,
High court decisions,
Budget and Economic Survey,
Environmental topics and
economic and social current topics etc.


ALSO READ :

Books and Studyplan for HPAS Exam

Other Important Posts :  

72 comments:

  1. Thank you so much sir.....your site provides a great help to us...

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  2. wonderful information.keep posting such info in future.

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  3. khadu bhai mai delhi ka student hu mujhe mia goverdhan ki books delhi ya chandigarh ya shimla mein kis jagah milegi .

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    Replies
    1. In Shimla : Lower Bazar Books Market or at Mall Road Minerva Book Store
      At Chandigarh : Sector 17 Books Market
      About Delhi I am not Sure but Hopefully available at Mukherjee Nagar Or Rajendra Nagar

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  4. Khadu bhai plz tell me one important information that where we can get goverdhan books easily

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Shimla : Lower Bazar Books Market or at Mall Road Minerva Book Store
      At Chandigarh : Sector 17 Books Market
      About Delhi I am not Sure but Hopefully available at Mukherjee Nagar Or Rajendra Nagar

      Delete
  5. Nice sir...
    Plz visit and share http://thesnowvalley.blogspot.in

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  6. Allied mains on 25-26.....anybody appearing?

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  7. how to get admit card for mains allied ..pls suggest....admission letter mentioned in instructions with attested ..but didnt get that....in my login id...

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    Replies
    1. Admit card will be provided in examination centre only..... U only need to carry ur attested photograph

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    2. do we need to attest photo by gazetted officer or self attestation would suffice? As provided in notice i think self attestation would be enough. right?

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  8. You don't have to take admit card.....it will be provided on centre ....download admission list and take ID and photographs... Its mentioned in notice ...see notice with mains instructions...

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  9. To all those who are in dilemma regarding dates of allied mains.Final hearing is tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. Is there any news regarding final hearing of allied mains dates???

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  10. Source:HP high court website.

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  11. What is the estimated date of NAIB tehsildar exam 2017?

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  12. I have exam at degree college kotshera ,chaura maidan.Can anybody tell me what is the nearest place to it,where I can board and stay? on map iam not able to find clearly.

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    Replies
    1. Its nearby old bus stand....mine is also there

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  13. How was the paper guys.....GS m kitna kitna hai....

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  14. GS paper was a little bit tough as compare to last year but English paper was very tough as compare to last year

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  15. Khadhu bhai please create a blog for discussion of aliied mains

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  16. Bhaiyo ...koi to btao ....how was the GS exam ..

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    Replies
    1. Bro Paper tough tha GS ka.Acha nai hua...apka kaisa hua

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  17. Please upload the allied mains paper ..

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  18. Ha bhai....GS paper was tough as compare to last year....or English bhi kafi change tha....kuch pta hai ki how many students appear for the exam

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  19. Around 1300 appeared.....but female candidates were just 1% . really surprising.....

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  20. Bhaiyo iss bar merit kitni jayegi..last tym 267 thi gen ki

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  21. This time cutoff for Allied Mains will be more thn last year .may be around 290 300

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  22. Books for NT prelim plss...what is the date of NT prlims?

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  23. My Expected scoring in allied mains :-
    Gk......65
    English 100+
    Hindi 110+

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  24. Atleast 35% are needed in each subject ,bro...

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  25. Bhai gk was toooooo tough...last year mere one mark wale 60 theek thhe..iss bar 32 hi theek hain...please share ur one mark score.. estimated

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  26. My estimated score is GS 85 english 110 and Hindi 100+ ...rest depend upon marking....

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  27. GS-95+
    Eng-60-65
    Hindi 110-120

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  28. Bhai...iss bar paper tough that.. Last year mne bhi diya tha...cutoff pichle saal wali hi hogi general ki kyuki iss bar 32 seat hai...pichli bar 30 thi...

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  29. My correct 1 liner questions are-57,indeed paper was tough.

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  30. Gs paper was't tough.It is out of my mind that why were people calling it tough.According to my discretion If m correct i shall score 120 plus in GS.Guys....please don't mind

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  31. Never think that you will get 10+ marks in allied paper1 gs essay questions.At no cost you will get 10+ marks,even you are genius still you wont cross 10+marks in gs.

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    Replies
    1. My dear brother.....last tym i got 57 marks in essay portion nd in rest i got 54.So it all depends upon u and your writting skills.

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    2. Congo to you,if u got 57/80,it is huge achievement even mindblowing,i have seen people with 20-30 in essays portion and 70-80 in rest.So,definitely you are exceptional

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  32. Iam calling it tough as compared to last year ,and more over if you think places and persons were easy and you attempted all,then.indeed you are super intelligent.

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  33. Hello Sir

    Can you tell the probable date of HPAS 2017 prelims exam

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    Replies
    1. Probably on 4th June...

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    2. 25 June confirmed now....

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  34. Replies
    1. 25th june?? are they insane or what!! UPSC exam is on 18th june. How is one suppose to travel, revise(himachal current affairs and gk specially) in one weeks's time?

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  35. But guys....compare to last year,GS was tough...this is true...I am scoring 45 in 1 mark questions....

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  36. Anyone, kindly tell me probable date of naib tehsildar pre examination.

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    Replies
    1. Probably in April.

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    2. Kindly share your expected marks in allied mains.

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  37. I think cutoff will be same as previous year...as GS and Hindi paper were tough

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  38. Which lake in spiti banned for women..

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  39. I had taken both HASmains2015 and allied mains ,and i can say with surity that level of gs paper of allied was same as that of HAS mains. places persons khan se daale the,i hope to get only 24 in these both places and person,where one can easily get 30,acc.to me english was easier,hindi was very easy,this time 34 seats,so cut off may be in between of 260-270,pr cutoff ka kya krna.you must be in top 40 in written to get final rank.So hope for 300+.

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  40. Scored 109 in g's last year...but this time hardly 80+.very disappointed....

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  41. Very true .... but Is there anyone who is dam sure about getting over 300 .....

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  42. No body can be damn sure.but can be only hopeful...like me�� how much you are expecting.

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  43. Approximately 290.....

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  44. Iam expecting gs-105
    English-100
    Hindi-115
    Now its upto Almighty.

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  45. Khadubhai .....mains ka result KB tk aaega allied ka.....or NT me exam k KB to hone k chances hai.....please English grammar me solutions dal do please bhai ...bht Dr lg RHA h

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  46. Khadubhai is like us who is also preparing for civil services exams,I don't know why people keep asking him regarding exam dates ,cutoffs ,he is not in commission,he mere makes guesses. So ,better to call hppsc,you will get official answer there.

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  47. to tu bhi dala kr bhai,khadubhai serving stressful students he is gr8

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  48. khadubhi plz post full info about sub inspector hp ,books etc

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  49. Sir,
    What type of book is an encyclopedic study of the himalayan hill state : himachal : the paradise of india, by Dr. Pramod Sharma.
    http://www.saujanyabooks.com/details.aspx?id=40134
    please do tell

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  50. this post is just junk author has no idea what he is talking about .. he is suggesting to do so and so but nothing is logical....

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  51. It really very helpful information for beginners. Thanks you so much. So much appreciable..

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  52. Any good books for modern history , and teachings of mahatma ghandhi ,and other topics on alied pre section

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  53. Khadubhai 1simple ques... R u also preparing for allied services exams.. If yes then from how many years

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  54. Khadubhai...Kindly confirm which book do i need to follow for the preparation of Manager/Projects Manager,DIC,Class2,Gazetted,in the department of industries,HP

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  55. Hello sir main Una Himachal se hu .kya Una main available ho skti hai Mohan sing bhakna book

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  56. Please koi book batao Hindi prose or poetry book ... allied main k liye .... please humble request..

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  57. Sir ,
    this is first time to attend these allied exam so can u give me some suggestion regarding to my preparation

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