Best Sources for Current Affairs — Newspapers, Apps & Websites for Competitive Exams
Choosing the right sources for current affairs is more important than the time you spend studying. With hundreds of websites and apps claiming to be the best, aspirants suffer from source overload. The truth is simple: you need exactly three sources — one newspaper, one monthly compilation, and one daily quiz app.
Which Newspaper Should You Read?
| Newspaper | Cost | Best For |
| The Hindu | ₹220/month | SSC CGL, UPSC, State PCS |
| Indian Express | ₹200/month | Banking, SSC, UPSC |
| Times of India | ₹180/month | SSC CGL only |
| Economic Times | ₹250/month | Banking (SBI PO, IBPS PO) |
| Hindustan Times | ₹190/month | All exams (secondary) |
**For SSC CGL:** The Hindu is best. Read page 1 (national headlines), page 5 (government policy), page 7 (international), page 9 (science/technology), and page 12 (sports).
**For Banking:** Indian Express + Economic Times combo. Indian Express for national news, Economic Times for banking and economy news.
Best Monthly Current Affairs Compilations
| Magazine | Price | Best Feature |
| GKToday Monthly | Free | Most comprehensive |
| AffairsCloud Monthly | Free | Banking-focused, MCQ bank |
| Gradeup Monthly | Free | Beginner friendly |
| Topicly Monthly Digest | Free | Category-wise, quiz integrated |
| Vision IAS Monthly | ₹150-200 | UPSC focused, extremely detailed |
**Verdict:** GKToday Monthly for SSC CGL, AffairsCloud Monthly for Banking, Topicly Monthly Digest for compact category-wise revision.
Best Mobile Apps
| App | Daily Quiz | Best Feature |
| Topicly | 10 questions | Category-wise accuracy tracking |
| Gradeup | 10 questions | Notifications for important news |
| AffairsCloud | 15 questions | Banking-focused questions |
| Testbook | 10 questions | Exam-specific tests |
Topicly's quiz stands out because it shows your category-wise accuracy, telling you exactly which area needs focus.
YouTube Channels for Current Affairs
| Channel | Language | Best For |
| StudyIQ IAS | Hindi/English | UPSC, SSC |
| Byju's Exam Prep | Hindi/English | Banking |
| Adda247 Current Affairs | Hindi | Banking, SSC |
| Let's Crack It (Pratik Nayak) | English | Banking |
Pick one channel and stick to it. Do not watch more than one daily show.
How to Read a Newspaper in 30 Minutes
| Time | Section | Method |
| 0-5 min | Front page + national | Skim headlines, read first 2 paragraphs of key stories |
| 5-10 min | Editorial page | Read first editorial fully, skim second |
| 10-15 min | International | Focus on India-related news, UN/IMF/World Bank reports |
| 15-20 min | Economy/Business | Read first 3 stories - note RBI, Budget, GDP news |
| 20-25 min | Science + Environment | ISRO, DRDO, climate change |
| 25-28 min | Sports page | Winners, tournaments, records |
| 28-30 min | Review and tag | Mark 5 most important stories |
Source Selection Based on Exam Type
| Exam | Primary Source | Monthly Magazine | App |
| SSC CGL | The Hindu | GKToday Monthly | Topicly |
| IBPS PO/SBI PO | Indian Express + ET | AffairsCloud Monthly | Topicly |
| UPSC Prelims | The Hindu | Vision IAS Monthly | Daily CA Quiz |
| Railways RRB | Any Hindi daily | Jagran Josh Hindi | Adda247 |
Digital Tools for Revision
| Tool | Use | Cost |
| Anki | Spaced repetition flashcards | Free |
| Notion | Digital notebook with categories | Free |
| Telegram Channels | Daily updates + PDFs | Free (follow 2-3 only) |
| Topicly App | Integrated daily quiz + notes | Free |
Weekly Schedule
| Day | Morning (20 min) | Evening (15 min) |
| Monday-Friday | Newspaper reading | Topicly daily quiz + revise week so far |
| Saturday | Revise 5 most important events | Attempt 25 MCQ weekly test |
| Sunday | Off / monthly magazine reading | — |
Start with the minimum viable setup: one newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express), one monthly magazine (GKToday or AffairsCloud), and one quiz app (Topicly). Use this for 30 days. 20 minutes of focused reading + 5 minutes of daily quiz is all you need to score 30+ out of 40 in Banking Mains and 20+ out of 25 in SSC CGL.
Visit topicly.in for free daily current affairs quizzes, monthly digests, and exam-specific tests.