how to read news articles in newspaper

Learn to dissect the current affairs for prelim, mains, interview

first lets take an example -- I'm copy pasting a news article from TimesofIndia.

NEW DELHI: Myanmar's ruling junta plans to launch coordinated operations with India to flush out Northeast militants in its territories and has promised to help track down elusive ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah.

The assurance to New Delhi was given at a three-day home secretary-level talks between the two countries which concluded in Myanmar capital Nay Pay Taw on Thursday.

"Security forces of India and Myanmar will conduct coordinated operation in their respective territories in the next two-three months. The objective of the operation is that no militant can escape to the other side after facing heat in one side," a home ministry official said.

Major insurgent groups in the Northeast like NSCN and ULFA have over two dozen camps and training centres along both sides of 1,650 km long India-Myanmar border, which touches Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah is also believed to have been hiding in the Kachin area of Myanmar.

"We have conveyed to the Myanmar delegation that we have information that Paresh Baruah is hiding in their territory and they assured us to track him down if found in their territory," the official said.

The security forces of both India and Myanmar will also intensify their vigil along the border to check smuggling of arms, narcotic drugs and other goods.

The Indian delegation, headed by union home secretary G K Pillai, had held extensive discussions with the Myanmar contingent led by Brigadier General Phone Swe on issues like border security, cross-border movement of militants, border trade and cross-border projects.

"The meeting was very positive as Myanmar has assured us to address all our security concern and promised us to carry forward the cordial relations between the two countries," the official said.

just another boring kind of article, isn't it?
Well you need to train your eyes to spot the exam oriented content from this.
Lets see how the UPSC's examiner will ask questions from this!

prelim : important facts

Nay Pay Taw is capital of Myanmaar.
India-Myanmar border is 1,650 km long.
this border touches Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
3rd fact is especially imp. they'll generally give you 4 statements and ask you to find the correct one.

a.Indo-Myanmar border touches only Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
b.Indo-Myanmar border touches only Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
c.Indo-Myanmar border touches only Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
d.Indo-Myanmar border touches only Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

Now what was not important in above news-item for the prelims exam.

1)name of ULFA chief is Paresh Barua (they won't ask it in prelims because its like indirectly giving him publicity, same rule applies for naxals / maoists leaders.)
2)Brigadier General Phone Swe (this is absolutely not required to be remembered. besides if you waste your energy in remembering such tiny information you'll end up wasting your time and memory which could be used to remember something more important.)
3)union home secretary G K Pillai, (as far as i remember they don't ask you names of Secretaries.)

Mains

What is Nay Pay Taw / Write about Indo-Myanmar border. (2 Marks / 20 words)
Indo-Myanmar relations (15-20-30 marks)
Essay - Insurgency in India (200 Marks)

Interview

tell us something about recent trends in Indo-Myanmar relations?
What solutions do you suggest to fight insurgency in North East?
you won't get any 100% full content for any answer in mains /essay / interview from just one particular news-article. but slow and steady when you read newspapers everyday, you'll build up enough material and knowledge in your brain to answer a genuine, unique & good answer.

by mrunal patel