TISSNET is an online exam that tests a candidate on English Proficiency, Math & Logical Reasoning and General Knowledge.

While the English and Reasoning sections can be mastered with ample practice, the General Knowledge section poses to be an obstacle for TISSNET exam takers. This is mainly because this section has the highest weightage in the test. TISSNET GK section has a blend of static and dynamic general awareness questions.

Candidates who wish to do well in TISSNET 2020 cannot afford to take the GK section lightly. Individuals who have already been admitted into TISS swear that aspirants who secure a 30+ score in this section will surely get a call from the institute. So, in this article, we will look at ways to achieve mastery in the TISSNET GK section and tools to help you do it.

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Importance of TISSNET GK Section

Any applicant aiming to secure a seat in the programs offered by TISS will agree that GK section is the most important section for the online test. Those who do well in this section have a higher chance of getting admitted into the institute.

Candidates generally tend to focus more on the English and Math & Reasoning sections and this is where they lose the edge. In TISSNET 2020, GK has the highest number of questions and doing well in this section can assure a very good score. To understand why this section is important, let us look at the significance of TISS GK section given below:

• Considerable Weightage: Out of the 100 questions asked in TISSNET, 40 questions are asked from the GK section. This section has more weightage as compared to other tests like XAT, IIFT or SNAP which give relatively less weightage to GK. Thus, this section plays a critical role in boosting the scores obtained in the test.
• Better Accuracy: The questions of the GK section provide applicants with a distinct advantage of improving their accuracy. This is because if they know the answer to a question, there is very little scope for confusion. Even if individuals do not know the answer, they will not waste their time pondering over the question. Since there is no negative marking scheme in TISSNET 2020, aspirants can also guess the answers rationally.
• Time Management: In TISS GK, questions asked are highly time-efficient as they can be solved within a few seconds. Applicants can use this to their advantage especially in papers like TISSNET, which do not have sectional time limits and allocate more time on sections that are more time-consuming.

Read How to Synchronize TISSNET Preparation with CAT Exam?

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Preparation for TISSNET GK

Questions in the GK section of TISSNET 2020 can be roughly divided into 2 categories- Static and Dynamic. This combination of questions is usually asked in equal proportion.

Static questions are those which have been more or less the same throughout the course of history i.e. on established facts and figures. The questions of the dynamic category include the current affairs, new events unfolding in the business, political, social and technological world.

Students generally tend to focus more on the dynamic aspect and this is where their preparation lacks. The static category is equally important. Aspirants should have a different strategy or approach so as to cover both types of questions. They can follow the preparation tips given below to do well in this section-

Dynamic General Knowledge:

• The only way to do well in such type of questions is to read a good newspaper like The Hindu or Indian Express. Applicants can also read a business newspaper like The Economics Times or magazines to stay in touch with the entrepreneurial events happening around the world.
• Watch English news channels at least once or twice a day. This can help keep students be updated with the current events. Watching news has an added advantage of improving the individual’s visual memory. Aspirants should also listen to debates on various socio-political topics as this can not only help in TISSNET, but it will also prepare them for the GD/ PI rounds. Debates help form opinions on issues by widening our perspective and considering both sides of the stories.
• Candidates appearing for TISSNET must also be thorough with the past 6- 12 months’ current affairs.

Static General Knowledge:

• The only way to be able to answer static GK questions is by referring to books and digests. These provide a comprehensive collection of figures and facts from almost all genres of topics.
• Apart from these, candidates can also refer to GK capsules and other devices available online.
• Applicants should make it a point to solve TISSNET 2019 mock tests and previous years’ papers which can help them analyze the pattern of questions asked in the GK section.

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TISSNET GK Important Topics

Students should know the topics they must focus on while preparing for TISS GK. Not all topics are important and they must not waste time preparing for such topics. We have mentioned a few important topics that should be studied so as to attempt the maximum number of questions in this section:

• Current affairs- Polity, Geography, Socio-political and socio-economic issues, cases, merger and acquisitions, economic affairs, national and international major events.
• Art & Culture- Famous artists, traditional dances of states, customs
• Recent awards and honors- Nobel Prize winners of 2019, award-winning books and authors
• Sports personalities and latest achievements
• Government schemes
• General science
• Basic economy- RBI, annual budget highlights, revolutions in agriculture, etc.
• Committees formed by RBI and government
• History- Indian freedom struggle, freedom fighters, and books are written by them, major achievements in socio-economic front post-independence, etc.
• Labor laws, trade unions and NGOs in current news
• Important bills passed by government- GST, RERA, maternity bill, etc.

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TISSNET GK Online Material & Books

In this contemporary world, Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia are our best teachers. Candidates should use all the available internet sources to look up current events for the GK section. Some useful online resources for TISSNET 2020 GK section are:

• CareerAnna: Applicants can try the comprehensive GK course offered by CareerAnna. It provides notes, modules and even mock tests to prepare for TISSNET.
• Call 4 Trick: This is a YouTube channel that showcases free tricks to remember topics of static GK like national parks dams, etc.
• gkplanet.in: This website has information and articles on conventional GK topics.
• Affairscloud: It has voluminous content on a day to day events which if studied thoroughly can help do well in TISSNET GK section.
• Inshorts: Students can install this on-the-go application which will not only save time but will also keep them updated across all genres.

TISSNET GK Books

• Pratiyogita Darpan
• Manorama Year Book
• Wiley’s exam xpert GK and issues of social concern- IRMA and TISSNET
• Competition success review

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TISSNET 2019 GK Analysis

The GK section in TISSNET 2019 was the toughest of the three sections and was the deciding factor for many test-takers. It was challenging mainly because a large number of questions were from areas like Economics, Science, Art, and Culture, etc. The questions on current affairs were of easy to moderate level of difficulty, while the static questions were more on the difficult side.

Some questions that were asked in TISSNET 2019 GK section are given below. This can give individuals a fair idea about what to expect in TISSNET 2020.

Q. What is the official name of Mangalyaan? - Mission on Mars (M.O.M)

Q. India's first transgender mayor was elected from which city? - Raigarh, Chattisgarh.

Q. The Madhubani painting has originated from which state? – Bihar

Q. River on the banks of which Battle of Plassey was fought? – Bhagirathi

Q. The contribution of which sector of India’s GDP has increased the most over the past few years? – Services

Q. Who is the author of ‘Poverty and Unbritish rule in India’? – Dada Bhai Nawroji

Q. Which computer language is used for AI? – Prolog

Q. Indus water treaty was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and? – Ayub Khan

Q. Who is Atal Pension Yojana meant for? – Old persons in unorganized sector

Q. What is ESI meant for? – Health Insurance and social security

We hope this article was helpful in preparing for TISS GK. It holds a lot of weightage in the exam and must be practiced well. TISSNET 2020 is scheduled on January 12. Good luck for the exam!

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