Current affairs never stops growing, which is why so many aspirants either over-read it or quietly give up on it. Here's a habit built to actually last.
1. Cap your daily reading time
45 to 60 minutes is plenty for a focused daily read, rather than an open-ended task that expands to fill however much time you have.
2. Read for the exam, not for general knowledge
Ask a simple filter question: could this plausibly become a Prelims option, a Mains reference point, or an essay example?
3. Take notes in your own words, immediately
A two-line note in your own words takes longer in the moment but saves far more time at revision.
4. Link every note to a static topic
This is the step most aspirants skip, and it's the one that actually makes current affairs useful for Mains.
5. Compile monthly, don't just accumulate daily
A short monthly compilation turns a growing pile into something revisable before your exam.
The habit that survives exam pressure
Keep the daily version small, and let the monthly compilation do the heavy lifting for revision.