The PFRDA Grade A Mains Descriptive English paper tests not only your writing ability but also your power of comprehension and precision. Among the three sections—Essay, Precis, and Comprehension—many aspirants find Precis Writing tricky because it demands accuracy, clarity, and conciseness within limited words. This post provides a step-by-step strategy, golden rules, and examples inspired by real exams to help you master this scoring area.
🔹 What is Precis Writing?
Precis writing is the art of summarizing a given passage into one-third of its original length without losing its central idea. The purpose is to show the examiner that you can read, understand, filter, and rewrite content in a crisp manner.
Think of it as presenting the soul of the passage in fewer words.
🔹 Golden Rules of Precis Writing
1. Understand the Passage Thoroughly
- Read the passage twice—first for general idea, second for details.
- Identify the central theme and the writer’s tone (critical, descriptive, persuasive, etc.).
📌 Example: If a passage explains bank mergers in India, the central theme may be “impact of consolidation on efficiency and financial stability.”
2. Word Limit is Sacred
- Generally, your precis should be one-third of the original passage.
- If the passage has 510 words, your precis should be around 170 words (with ±5% flexibility).
- Exceeding or falling short may cost marks.
3. Use Your Own Words
- Never copy sentences verbatim from the passage.
- Paraphrase smartly: use synonyms, restructure sentences, and compress ideas.
📌 Original: “The government has taken several initiatives to strengthen financial inclusion, particularly through schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana.”
📌 Precis: “Government schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana boosted financial inclusion.”
4. Retain Core Ideas, Omit the Rest
- Remove examples, statistics, and illustrations unless vital.
- Keep only the essential argument.
📌 Original: “Renewable energy like solar, wind, and biomass is gaining attention. For example, India’s solar mission aims to achieve 100 GW by 2022.”
📌 Precis: “India is focusing on renewable energy to ensure sustainable growth.”
5. Maintain Logical Flow
- Your precis should be a coherent passage, not disjointed notes.
- Arrange points in the same logical sequence as the original passage.
6. Be Objective, Not Personal
- Do not insert personal opinions or interpretations.
- Stick to the author’s intent.
7. Give a Suitable Title
- The title must reflect the core theme in 4–7 words.
- Examples: “Bank Mergers and Public Purpose”, “Role of Renewable Energy in Growth.”
🔹 Step-by-Step Approach in the Exam
- Read the passage carefully (2–3 minutes).
- Highlight keywords/phrases.
- Write rough notes of key points.
- Draft the precis in your own words.
- Count words and adjust to 1/3rd.
- Give a short, meaningful title.
- Revise quickly for grammar and flow.
🔹 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying lines directly.
- Exceeding/undercutting the word limit.
- Adding personal opinion.
- Missing the main idea due to over-compression.
- Using ornamental or verbose language.
🔹 Example from Real Exam Practice
Original Passage (approx. 180 words excerpt):
“The nationalization of banks in 1969 and again in 1980 achieved a larger public purpose of financial inclusion. Later, the establishment of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in the 1970s and 80s further expanded access to credit. However, with economic liberalization in the 1990s, the focus shifted towards profitability and efficiency. Recent moves to merge public sector banks aim at creating globally competitive entities, but the balance between public purpose and profitability remains a challenge.”
Precis (≈60 words):
Title: Public Purpose vs Profitability in Banking
“Bank nationalization, RRBs, and DFIs promoted financial inclusion in India. Economic liberalization later emphasized efficiency and profitability. Recent bank mergers seek global competitiveness, yet balancing public purpose with profitability continues to be a challenge.”
👉 Notice how length is reduced to 1/3rd, all key ideas retained, and language is fresh, not copied.
🔹 Final Tips for PFRDA Aspirants
- Aim for clarity, brevity, and accuracy.
- Practice with previous year passages and editorials from The Hindu or Business Standard.
- Time yourself—15–20 minutes is ideal for precis in exam conditions.
- Always proofread for grammar and word count before submission.
✅ Conclusion: Precis writing is a high-scoring section if you stick to the golden rules. With consistent practice and presence of mind, you can easily secure maximum marks in the Descriptive English paper of PFRDA Grade A 2025.