History (Ancient History)

PRE HISTORIC TIMES

 Periodization of Indian Pre History

 Sources of Pre History
 Palaeolithic Or Old Stone
 Mesolithic Or Middle Stone Age
 Neolithic Age Or New Stone Age
 Chalcolithic Age
 Major Chalcolithic Cultures
 Early Iron Age
 Geographical Distribution and Characteristics

 
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

 IVC Geography and Archaeological Findings

o Major cities
o Town Planning
 IVC Society and Culture
o Script and Language
o Crafts
o Religions
o Seals and Images
 IVC Economy
o Harappan Trade
o Agriculture
o Domestication of animals
o Weights and Measures
 Decline of Harappan Culture

 
RIG VEDIC PERIOD

 Sources for Reconstructing Vedic Society and Culture

 Geography of the Rig Vedic Period - Area of Settlement
 Political Organisation and Evolution of Monarchy
 Social Organization
 Economy
 Religious Practices and Culture

 
LATER VEDIC PERIOD

 Geography of the later Vedic Phases - Area of Settlement

  Political System
 Social Organisation and Varna System
 Economy
 Religious Practices and Culture

 
JAINISM

 Birth and Life of Mahavira (540- 468 B.C.)

 Teachings of Mahavira
 Organisation and Sects of Jainism
 Literature of Jainism
 Councils, Spread and Royal Patrons

 
BUDDHISM

 Birth and Life of Buddha (563-483 BC)

 Teachings of Buddha
 Organisation and Sects of Buddhism
 Literature of Buddhism
 Councils, Spread of and Royal Patronage
 Causes for the Decline

 
MAHAJANAPADAS PERIOD

 Republics and Monarchies

 16 Mahajanapadas
 Magadha
 Key Dynasties
o Haryanka dynasty
o Shishunaga Dynasty
o Nanda Dynasty
 Persian Invasions
 Alexander’s Invasion
 Society and Rise of urban centres
 Economy
 System of Administration

 
MAURYAN EMPIRE

 Sources: Inscriptions and Sites and

Literary Sources (The Arthasastra)
 Rulers and Political History of the Mauryas
o Chandragupta and Bindusara
 o Megasthenes
o Asoka and His Successors
 Asoka’s Inscriptions and Sites
 Asokan Reign
 Asoka and Buddhism
 Asoka Policy of Dhamma
 Mauryan Administration
 Foreign Relations
 Decline of the Mauryas

 
POST-MAURYAN INDIA

 Society: Evolution of Jatis

 Satavahanas
 Sungas and Kanvas
 Sakas
 Kushanas
 Kanishka

 
GUPTA PERIOD

 Sources of Gupta Rule

 Rulers and Political history of Guptas Chronology
 Foreign Travellers Visit – Fahien’s Visit
 Gupta Administration
 Other Important Dynasties
 Society Religion and Culture
 Urban centres in Gupta period
 Economy
 Science and Technology
 Literature
 Later Guptas
 Other Important Dynasties

 
HARSHAVARDHANA PERIOD

 Harsha Military Conquests

 Harsha and Buddhism
 Administration
 Society and Culture
 Economy

 
SANGAM PERIOD (SOUTH INDIAN DYNASTIES)

 Sangam Literature
 South Indian Dynasties
o Cholas
o Cheras
o Pandyas
 Sangam Polity, Society and Culture
 Economy of Sangam Period
 Foreign Dynasties                                   
 Commercial Contacts with the Outside World
 Schools of Art

History (Medieval India)

MAJOR DYNASTIES (750-1200) OF EARLY MEDIEVAL INDIA

 The Pratiharas (8th to 10th Century)

 The Palas (8th to 11th Century)
 The Tripartite Conflict
 The Senas (11th to 12th Century)
 The Rajaputas
 Pallavas
 Chalukyas
 Rashtrakutas
 Indian Feudalism
 Administration
 Society and Culture
 Economy and the decline of Trade

 
CHOLAS AND OTHER SOUTH INDIAN KINGDOMS

 Chola Rulers and Political History

 Chola Administration
 Socio-Economic Life
 Education and Literature
th th
 The Cheras (9  to 12  Century)
th th
 The Yadavas (12  to 13  Century)
 Contact with South-East Asia

 
EARLY MUSLIM INVASIONS

 The Arab Conquest of Sindh

  Mahmud of Ghazni
 Muhammad Ghori

 
THE DELHI SULTANATE (1206-1526 AD)

 Slave Dynasty
 Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD)
 Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414 AD)
 Provincial Kingdoms and Resistance
by Indian Chiefs
 Sayyid Dynasty
 Lodi Dynasty
 Attacks by Mongolas and other Turks
 Administration
 Economy
 Urbanization
 Society and Culture
 Scientific Knowledge and legal System
 Challenges leading to the decline of the Sultanate

 
STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE IN NORTH INDIA (AFGHANS, RAJPUTS AND MUGHALS)

 Struggle between Ibrahim Lodi and Babur

 The Battle of Panipat
 Babur’s problems after the Battle of Panipat
 Struggle with RanaSanga
 Problems of the Eastern Areas and the Afghans
 Babur’s Contribution and Significance of his Advent into India
 Humayun and the Afghans
 Early Activities of Humayun, and the Tussle with Bahadur Shah
 The Gujarat Campaign
 The Bengal Campaign, and Struggle with Sher Khan

 
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH INDIAN EMPIRE

 Social and Political Background of Bihar  and the Rise of Sher Shah to Power
 The Sur Empire (1540-56)
 Contributions of Sher Shah
 Coinage
 Architecture

 
CONSOLIDATION AND EXPANSION OF THE EMPIRE – AKBAR

 Conflict with the Afghans - Hemu

o nd
2  Battle of Panipat
 Struggle with the Nobility: Bairam Khan’s Regency; Revolt of Uzbek Nobles
 Early Expansion of the Empire (1560-76) - Malwa, Garh-Katanga, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Eastern India
 Relations with the Rajputs - Growth of a Composite Ruling Class
 Rebellions, and Further Expansion of the Empire in the North West

 
STATE AND GOVERNMENT UNDER AKBAR

 Akbar’s Concept of Suzerainty

 Structure of Government, Central and
Provincial -the Vikalat, the Central Ministries, Provincial
 Government, District and Local Government
 The Working of Government - the Ruler, Land-Revenue System, the Dahsala System, the Mansabdari System and
the Army

 
AKBAR’S RELIGIOUS VIEWS

 Relations with the Ulama and Social Reforms

 The Early Phase (1556-73)
 The Second Phase (1573-80) - the Ibadat Khana
 Debates - the Mahzar - Breach with Orthodox
 Ulama - Re-organisation of Madadd-i-Maash Grants
 Third or Final Phase - Din-i-Ilahi - State
 Policies and religious toleration

 
THE DECCAN AND THE MUGHALS (UP TO 1657)

 The Deccani States up to 1595

 Mughal Advance towards the Deccan
 Mughal Conquest of Berar, Khandesh and Parts of Ahmadnagar
 Rise of Malik Ambar Mughal Attempt at Consolidation (1601-27)
 Extinction of Ahmadnagar,Acceptance of Mughal
 Suzerainty by Bijapur and Golconda
 Shah Jahan and the Deccan (1636-57)
 Cultural Contribution of the Deccani States

 
FOREIGN POLICY OF THE MUGHALS

 Akbar and the Uzbeks

 The Question of Qandahar and Relations with Iran
  Shah Jahan’s Balkh Campaign
 Mughal - Persian Relations - the Last Phase

 
INDIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

 Jahangir’s Accession - his Early Difficulties

 Territorial Consolidation and Expansion of the Empire - Mewar, East India and Kangra
 NurJahan, and the NurJahan ‘Junta’ The Rebellions of Shah Jahan,
and the coup de main of Mahabat Khan
 Jahangir as a Ruler
 State and Religion in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century
 Shah Jahan - Consolidation and Expansion of the Empire
 Evolution of the Mughal Ruling Class and the Mansabdari System

 
CLIMAX AND CRISIS OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE: THE MARATHAS AND THE DECCAN

 Rise of the Marathas - Early Career of Shivaji

 Treaty of Purandar - the Agra Visit
 Aurangzeb and the Deccani States (1658-87)
 Marathas and the Decean (1687-1707)
 Assessment of Aurangzeb and the Jagirdari Crisis

 
THE MARATHA AND OTHER INDIAN STATES AND SOCIETY IN THE 18TH CENTURY

 The Marathas and their Policy of Expansion

 The Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk
 The Maratha Advance into Gujarat and Malwa
 The Maratha Advance into Doab and Punjab:
 First Phase (1741-52); Second Phase (1752-61);
 Third Battle of Panipat
 Shivaji (1627-1680)
 Shivaji’s administration
 Successors of Shivaji
 The Peshwas (1713-1818)
 Other Indian States ( The Bhonsles The Gaikwads Holkars Sindhias)
 Economic Condition in 18th Century
 Social and Cultural Life

 
VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE

 Sources
 Political History
 Administration
  Social and Cultural Life
 Economic Condition
 Conflicts with the Bahmani Kingdom

 
REGIONAL STATES IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

 Regional States of North and South India (Bahmani, Bengal, Avadh, The Sikhs, Rajput States Jats
Hyderabad Mysore)
 Social and Cultural Conditions
 Economic Conditions
 Military Conditions

 
NORTHERN INDIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

 Bahadur Shah I, and the Beginning of the Struggle For Wizarat

 Rajput Affairs
 Marathas and the Deccan – Accentuation of the Party Struggle
 Struggle for ‘New’ Wizarat: Zulfiqar Khan and Jahandar Shah (1712-13)
 The Saiyid Brothers’ Struggle for ‘New’ Wizarat
 The Saiyid ‘New’ Wizarat
 The Wizarat of M. Amin Khan and Nizam-ul-Mulk
 Rise of Regional States, Beginning of Foreign Invasions of India (1725-48)

 
SOCIETY-STRUCTURE AND GROWTH

 Rural Society
 Towns and Town Life
 Artisans and Master-Craftsmen
 Women
 Servants and Slaves
 Standard of Living
 The Ruling Classes - Nobility, Rural Gentry
 The Middle Strata
 The Commercial Classes

 
ECONOMIC LIFE-PATTERNS AND PROSPECTS

 Inland Trade
 Overseas Trade - Role of Foreign Trading
 Companies - Position of Indian Merchants Over-land Trade
 The Mughal State and Commerce
 Trend of India’s Economy and Prospects during the First Half of the Eighteenth Century
History (Modern History)
THE ADVENT OF EUROPEANS IN INDIA

 The Portuguese in India

 De Almeida
 Albuquerque
 Causes of failure of Portuguese empire in India
 The Dutch in India
 The Danes in India
 The English
 The French
 Anglo-French Rivalry
 First Carnatic War
 Rise of the Hyderahad State
 The Second Carnatic War
 The Third Carnatic War
 Causes of English Succes

 
BRITISH EXPANSION IN INDIA

 Bengal
 Anglo Maratha Wars
 The Subsidiary Alliance System
 Second Phase of British
Expansion In India                                 
 The Conquest of Sindh
 Anglo-Sikh Wars
 Doctrine of Lapse
 Annexation of Oudh

 
ADMINISTRATION BEFORE 1857

 The Dual System

 The Charter Acts
 Judicial System
 Impact of British Administration

 
ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THE BRITISH

 Phase of Mercantilism (1757-1813)

 Phase of Free Trade (1813-1858)
 Phase of Finance Imperialism (1858 onwards)
 Land Revenue Policy                             
 o Ryotwari                                   
o Mahalwari
o Permanent Settlement
 Impact of British Policy on Indian Economy
 Drain of Wealth Theory

 
IMPACT OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION

 Industrialization—Ruin of Artisans and Handicrafts men

 Impoverishment of Peasantry
 Emergence of New Land Relations, Ruin of Old Zamindars
 Stagnation and Deterioration of Agriculture
 Commercialization of Indian Agriculture
 Development of Modern Industry
 Rise of Indian Bourgeoisie
 Economic Drain
 Famine and Poverty
 Nationalist Critique of Colonial Economy
 Abolition of the Dual System

 
THE REVOLT OF 1857

 Causes of the Revolt

o Economic Causes
o Political Causes
o Administrative Causes
o Socio -Religious Causes
o Influence of Outside Events
o Discontent Among Sepoy’s
 Centres and Spread of the Revolt
 Leaders of the Revolt
 Causes of Failure of the Revolt
 Nature and Impact of the Revolt
 Consequences

 
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES AFTER 1857

 Administration - Central, Provincial, Local

 Changes in the Army
 Public Services
 Princely States
 Foreign Policy

 
DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SERVICES

 Indian Civili Services Act, 1861

 Aitcision Comminittee on Public Services (1886)
 Montford Reforms (1919)
 Lee Commission (1924)
 Government of India Act, 1935

 
DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

 Charter Act of 1813

 Orientalist-Anglicism Controversy
 Efforts of Thomson
 Wood’s Dispatch (1854) Hunter Education Commission (1882-83)
 Indian Universities Act, 1904
 Government Resolution on Education Policy—1913
 Saddler University Commission (1917-19)
 Education Under Dyarchy
 Hartog Committee (1929)
 Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937)
 Sergeant Plan of Education
 Kothari Education Commission (1964-66)
 Development of Vernacular Education
 Development of Technical Education
 Evaluation of British Policy on Education

 
DEVELOPMENT OF PRESS

 Different Publications and Journals

 Acts related to Press
o Vernacular Press Act, 1878
 Struggle by Early Nationalists to
Secure Press Freedom ,
 During and After the First World War
 During the Second World War
 After Independence

 
SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORMS

 Factors causing Reforms

 Directions of refroms
 Hindu Reform Movements
 Reform Movements Among Muslims
 Sikh Reform Movement
  Parsi Reform Movement
o Parsi Religious Reform Association               
 Significance of Reform Movements
 Impact of Reform Movements

 
PERSONALITIES

 Raja Ram Mohan Roy

 Swami Vivekananda
 Swami DayanandaSaraswati
 Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
 Keshab Chandra Sen
 Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
 Mahadev Govind Ranade
 Annie Besant–Theosophical Society  
 Syed Ahmad Khan
 Baba Dayal Das                                     
 Pandita Ramabai Sarojini Naidu
 Jyotiba Phule
 Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

 
PEASANT, TRIBAL AND OTHER MOVEMENTS

 Tribal Movements
o Bhil Uprising
o Kol Uprising
o Santhal Rebellion
o Jaintia and Garo Rebellion
o Rampa Rebellion
o Munda Rebellion
o Khonda Dora Uprisings
o Tana Bhagat Movement
 Peasant Movements
o Champaran Satyagraha
o Kheda Peasant Struggle
o Bardoli Movement
o Moplah Rebellion
o Tebhaga Movement
o Telangana Movement

 
REVOLUTIONARY NATIONALISM

 Early Phase Indian National Congress

 The Moderate Congress (1885-1905)
  Opinion Against Economic Exploitation Administrative Reforms Constitutional Reforms : Weaknesses &
Evaluation
 The Extremist (1905-1920)
o Terrorist Movements
o The Revolutionary Movement
o Reasons for Failure
o Revolutionary Activities in Maharashtra
o Revolutionary Activities in Bengal
o Revival of Revolutionary Nationalism
o Surya Sen
o Revolutionary Activities Outside India
o The Indian Independence Committee in Berlin
 Differences between the Moderates and the Extremists

 
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT – I (1905-1918)

 Partition of Bengal (1905)

 Swadeshi Movement
 Muslim League, 1906
 Surat Session of INC, 1907
 Indian Council Act (Morley-Minto Act) 1909
 Ghadar Party, 1913
 Komagata Maru Incident 1914
 The Lucknow Pact (1916)
 Home Rule Movement (1915–1916)
 August Declaration, 1917

 
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT –II (1918-1929)

 World War I-Reforms and Agitation

 Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
 Ahmadabad Mill Strike (1918)
 Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
 The Government of India Act, 1919
 Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre (1919)
 Khilafat Movement
 The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
 Bardoli Resolution
 Nagpur Session of Congress
 Swaraj Party and its Evaluation
 Muddiman Committee (1924)
 Simon Commission (1927)
 Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
 Nehru Report (1928)
  Jinnah’s Fourteen Points
 Lahore Session, 1929
 Allahabad Address (1930)

 
INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT - III (1930-1947)

 Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1931)

 First Round Table Conference, 1930
 Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931
 Karachi session of 1931
 Second Round Table Conference, 1931
 Civil Disobedience Movement (Second-Phase)
 Third Round Table Conference (17 November 1932)
 Communal Award
 Poona Pact, 1932
 Government of India Act, 1935
 World War II and Indian Nationalism
 Resignation of Congress Ministers (1939)
 Poona Resolution and Conditional Support to Britain (1941)
 August Offer of 1940
 The Individual Civil Disobedience
 Two-Nation Theory
 Demand for Pakistan (1942)
 Cripps Mission (1942)
 Quit India Movement
 Azad Hind Fauj
 Indian National Army
 N.A. Trials
 I.N. Rebellion
 Rajagopalachari Formula, 1945
 Desai - Liaqat Pact
 Cabinet Mission (1946)
 Wavell Plan
 Jinnah’s Direct Action Resolution
 Mountbatten Plan of June 1947
 Indian Independence Act 1947

 
GOVERNOR GENERALS DURING BRITISH INDIA

 Governor of Bengal (Before 1773)

 Governor Generals of Bengal (1773-1833)
 Governor Generals of India (1832-1858)
 Viceroy and Governor Generals of India (1858-1947)

 
LIST

 Robert Clive (1754-1767)

 Lord Warren Hastings (1773-1785)
 Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)
 Sir John Shore (1793-1798)
 Lord Arthur Wellesley (1798-1805)
 Lord George Barlow (1805-1807)
 Lord Minto-I (1807-1813)
 Francis Rawdon Hastings (1813-1823): (Marques of Hastings)       
 Lord Amherst (1823-28)
 Lord William Bentinck (1828-1835)
 Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835-1836)
 Lord Auckland (1836-1842)
 Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844)
 Lord Hardinge-I (1844-1848)
 Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856 great imperialist and colonist)
 Lord Canning (1856-1857 and 1858-1862)
 Lord Elgin-I (1862-1863)
 Lord Lawrence (1864-1869)
 Lord Mayo (1869-1872)
 Lord Northbrook (1872-1876)
 Lord Lytton (1876-1880)
 Lord Rippon (1880-1884)
 Lord Dufferin (1884-1888)
 Lord Lansdowne (1888-1894)
 Lord Elgin-II (1894-1999)
 Lord Curzon (1899-1905)
 Lord Minto-II (1905-1910)
 Lord Hardinge-II (1910-1916)
 Lord Chelmsford (1916-1921)
 Lord Reading (1921-1926)
 Lord Irwin (1926-1931)
 Lord Willingdon (1931-1936)
 Lord Linlithgow (1936-1944)
 Lord Wavell (1944-1947)
 Lord Mountbatten (1947-1948)

 
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

 Regulating Act 1773

 Pitts India Act of 1784
 Charter Act of 1793
 Charter Act of 1813
 Charter Act of 1833
  Charter Act of 1853
 Government of India Act 1858
 The Indian Councils Act 1861
 Indian Councils Act 1892
 Indian Councils Act 1909 or Morley - Minto Reforms Government of India Act 1919 or Montague -
Chelmsford Reforms
 Government of India Act 1935
 Indian Independence Act, 1947

BEFORE EUROPEAN PENETRATION IN INDIA

 Later Mughals
 Disintegration of Mughal Empire
 Rise of Regional States
o Bengal
o Hyderabad and Carnatic
o Awadh           
o Mysore
o Kerala
o The Sikhs
o Rajput states and Jats
o Marathas
 Rise and fall of Marathas
th
 Socio and Economic condition of people in 18  Century
th
 Cultural life of people in 18  Century
 Scientific outlook in 18th Century

 
BEGINNING OF EUROPEAN PENETRATION IN INDIA

 Trade between India and Europe

 Portuguese Domination
 Spice trade of Dutch
 British trade expansion in India and its effect on India from 1600-1744
 Anglo-French Struggle and Subversion of Indian political power

 
EXPANSION OF BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA 1756-1818

 British expansion in Bengal

 Importance of Battle of Plassey
 Clash between Mir Qasim and East India Company
 Dual system of administration in Bengal
 Wars under Warren Hastings and Cornwallis
 Expansion under Lord Wellesley
 Subsidiary Alliance policy of Wellesley
 Expansion under Cornwallis
  Overpowering of Maratha Confederacy

 
CONSOLIDATION UNDER BRITISH RULE, 1818-1857

 Conquest of Sind
 Conquest of Punjab
 Policy of Annexation of Dalhousie

 
STRUCTURE OF BRITISH RULE IN INDIA

 End of Dual Government and Direct Administration of Bengal (From 1772)

 Relations between East India Company and British state between 1765-1833             
 Regulating Act of 1773 and Pitts India Act
 Charter Act of 1813 and 1833

 
BRITISH ECONOMIC POLICY IN INDIA FROM 1757-1857

 Commercial Policy of British from 1757-1857

 Effect of Battle of Plassey on Indian Trade
 Effect of Industrial Revolution on Economic relations with India
 Factors that Make Britain Favorable for Industrial Revolution
 Drain of Wealth
 Development of Means of Transport and communication and industries
 Land Revenue Policy of British (Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari)
 Effect of Land Revenue Policy on Agrarian relations in India

 
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY OF BRITISH

 Civil Service in India

 Role of Army
 Police
 Judicial organization during British Rule
 Introduction of Rule of Law
 Equality Before Law

 
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL POLICY OF BRITISH

 Modern Thoughts that influenced British Policies in India

 Conservatives and Radicals
 Policy of partial modernization
 Humanitarian Measures (Abolition of Sati etc)
 Spread of modern education
 
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS IN 19TH CENTURY

th
 Social and Religious reforms in 19  Century
 Role of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in social and religious regeneration
 Radical trend between 1820 & 1830 (Derozio)
 Ishwar Chandra VidyaSagar (Girl education, child marriage, widow remarriage and caste hierarchy)
 Why impact of western Ideas felt more in Bengal than in Western India
 Fight Against Caste System, Untouchability and Widow remarriage, Child marriage
 Parsi Reforms
 Sikh Reforms
 Role of women
 State of Education in India during 19th Century

 
REVOLT OF 1857

 Reasons for revolt of 1857

 Participation in Revolt
 Spread of Revolt
 Response of British
 Impact of Revolt of 1857
 Factors responsible for failure of Revolt of 1857

 
ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES POST REVOLT OF 1857

 Government of India Act of 1858

 Indian council Act of 1861
 Role of Mayo, Lytton and Ripon
 Promotion of Local bodies and role of Ripon
 Changes in Army
 Changed Relationship with Princely States
 Reactionary policy of British
 Divide and Rule
o Restrictions on Press and Acts Related to it
o Attitude towards social reform
o Hostility towards educated Indians
o Carrot and Stick policy
 Labor Legislations

 
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRITISH RULE

 Ruin of Traditional Economy

 Impoverishment of peasantry
 Ruin of old zamindars
  Rise of new Landlordism
 Deterioration of Agriculture
 Development of modern industries
 Rise of new social class in India
 Poverty and Famines
 Drain of Wealth theory

 
NATIONALIST MOVEMENT (1858-1905)

 Factors responsible for Rise of Nationalism

 Predecessors of Indian National Congress
 Indian National Congress
 Constitutional Reforms by Moderates
 Economic Reforms by Moderates
 Administrative and other reforms by Moderates
 Defence of Civil rights
 Method of Constitutional agitation of Moderates
 British Repsonse
 Evaluation of role of moderates

 
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORM AFTER 1858

th
 Factors responsible for Religious reform of 19  Century
 Religious reforms in Maharashtra
 Swami Dayanand and AryaSamaj
 Raja Ram Mohan Roy
 Theosophical society
 Swami vivekanand
 Aligarh School of Thought
 Reform among Parsis
 Limitations of religious reform movement
 Movement to Improve position of Women
 Struggle Against Caste
 Effect of National Awakening on social reforms
 Social legislations in the 19th and 20th century

 
NATIONALIST MOVEMENT (1905-1918)

 Growth of militant Nationalism

 How militant nationalists different from moderates
 Swadeshi and Boycott Movement and participation from different sections
 Women Participation before Gandhi
 Growth of Revolutionary Terrorism
 Indian National Congress between 1905-1914
  Morley Minto Reforms
 Muslim league and growth of communalism
 British used Muslim league to fight rising nationalism
 Nationalist and World War I
 Home rule league movement
 Revolutionary Organization like Ghadar Party
 Lucknow session of 1916

 
STRUGGLE FOR SWARAJ

 Post world war scenario favorable for Nationalism    

 Impact of Russian Revolution on National Movement
 Montague Chelmsford reforms
 Rowlatt Act
 Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas
 Champaran Satyagraha, Ahmedabad Mill strike
 Satyagraha against Rowlatt Act
 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
 Khilafat movement and Non cooperation movement
 Impact of ChauriChaura Incident
 Role of Swarajists
 State peoples conference movements
 Rise of Socialism within congress
 Peasant, Tribal and workers agitation
 Socialist turn to Revolutionary terrorism
 Response of British to revolutionary terrorism
 Boycott of Simon Commission
 Nehru Report
 Significance of PoornaSwaraj Resolution
 Dandi March
 Programme of CDM (1930-34) and British response
 First Round table conference
 Gandhi-Irwin pact and second RTC
 Second phase of CDM
 Women Participation after coming of Mahatma Gandhi
 Communal Award
 Poona Pact and Mahatma Gandhi fast unto death
 Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar approach to caste and untouchability
 Third RTC

 
NATIONALIST POLITICS (1935-1939)

 Government of India Act, 1935

 Formation of Congress Ministries
 Growth of Socialist Ideas
  Congress and International Affairs

 
TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE

 National Movement in Princely States

 Growth of Communalism
 National movement and World War II
 August Offer , 1940
 Individual civil disobedience movement (1940-41)
 Cripps Mission and Reasons for Failure
 Quit India Movement and British Response
 Women participation in end stages of freedom struggle
 Azad Hind Fauj and SC Bose
 INA Trials
 Wavell Plan and Shimla Conference
 1945-46 elections and the communal divide
 RIN (Royal Indian Navy Mutiny)
 Labour and peasant Unrest all over Country
 Reasons Behind British Support for India’s demand for freedom
 Cabinet Mission
 Towards Partition and independence
 Rise of Muslim communalism and partition of India
 The Indian independence Act July, 1947
 Role of Various Leaders
 Factors leading to Partition
 Why congress accepted partition of India
History (Indian Culture (Prelims))
VISUAL ARTS

 Architecture
o Harappan Period
o Mauryan Architecture
o Post-Mauryan Period
o Gupta Period
o Temples of Khajuraho
o Temples of Odisha
o Temples of Gwalior
o Temples of Gujarat
o Temples of Rajasthan
o Temples of Bengal
o Temples of Assam
o Temples of Himachal Pradesh
o Temples of Jammu and Kashmir
o Pallava Period Temples
o Chola Period Temples
o Pandya Temples
o Vijaynagar Period Temples
o NayakaTemples
o Temples of Kerala
o Rashtrakuta Period Temples
o Schools of Temple Architecture
 Nagara Style
 Vesara Style
 Hoysala Style
 Dravidian Style
o Indo-Islamic Architecture
 Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)
 Provincial Style
 Mughal Style
 Sikh Style of Architecture
 Avadh (Oudh) Style
 Rajput Architecture
 Jaina Art
o Modern Architecture
 European Influence
 Portuguese
 Danish
 British
  Indo-Saracenic Architecture
 Post-Independence Period
 Sculptures
o
 Sculptures of Harappan Civilisation
 Sculptures of Mauryan Age
 Post-Mauryan Period
 Jain Sculptures
 Buddhist Sculpture
 Gupta Sculpture
 Medieval School of Sculpture
 Modern Indian Sculpture
 Paintings
o
 Cave Paintings
 Tradition of Mural Paintings in India
 Tradition of Miniature Paintings in India
 Paintings in the Deccan
 Rajput School of Painting
 Pahari School of Painting
 Miniature Painting in South India
 Regional Paintings
 Modern Paintings
 Contemporary Paintings
 Pottery Tradition
o
 Ochre: Coloured Pottery(OCP)
 Black and Red Ware (BRW)
 Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
 Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)
 Glazed and Unglazed Pottery
 Numismatics

o

 Coinage

 
PERFORMING ARTS

 Music in India
o Classical Indian Music
 Hindustani Music
 Gharanas
 Carnatic Music
o Main Pillars of Indian Music
o Forms of Indian Music
 o Musical Instruments
o Institutions Related to Music in India
o Folk Music
 Dances in India
o Concept of Dance in India
o Concept of Ashta Nayika
o Rasa and Bhava
o Eight Classical Dance Forms in India
o Folk Dances
o Modern Dances
 Sports in India
o Various Type of Sports
o Genesis of Martial Arts
o Forms of Traditional Martial Arts
o Animal Sports
 Indian Theatre
o History of Theatre in India
o Classical Sanskrit Theatre
o Traditional Theatre
o Regional Theatre
o Modern Theatre in India
o Renaissance of Indian Theatre
o Cinema in India
 History of Indian Cinema
 Classification of Indian Cinema Film
 Indian Puppetry

o

 String Puppets
 Shadow Puppets
 Rod Puppets
 Glove puppets
 Modern Puppetry
 Tribal Puppetry

 
RELIGION, LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

 Religions in-India
o Pre-Vedic Religion
o Hinduism
o Buddhism
o Jainism
o Sikhism
o Islam
o Christianity
 o Zoroastrianism
o Judaism
o Philosophy in India
o Bhakti Movement
o Saints of Bhakti Movement
o Sufism
 Languages and Literature in India
o Classical Language
o Sanskrit Literature
o Pali Literature
o Prakrit Literature
o Tamil Literature
o Telugu Literature
o Malayalam Literature
o Kannada Literature
o Odia Literature
o Assamese Literature
o Bengali Literature
o Gujarati Literature
o Rajasthani Literature
o Punjabi Literature
o Marathi Literature
o Hindi Literature
o Persian Literature
o Urdu Literature
o Influence/Contribution of foreign languages & Literature to India language

 
MISCELLANEOUS

 Government Cultural Institutions in India

 UNESCO’s List of Cultural Heritage in India
 Protection and Promotion of Indian Culture and Heritage :Legal Provisions
 Schemes and Awards
o Awards and Honours Associated with Culture
o International Yoga Day
o Indian Handicrafts
 Personalities Related to Culture
 Places of Cultural Interest
 The Calendar & the Eras                       
 Science and Technology in Ancient India

 Recent developments
o Important Festivals
o Kheer Bhawani festival
o Mahapushkaram
o Bathu kamma
o Manipur Sangai Festival
o Losar festival
o Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO has inscribed ´Kumbh Mela’
o Sankalp Parva-Sankalp se Siddhi’
o Paryatan Parv
o Bharat Parv
o Orange Festival Nagpur
o Protest against Sunburn fest                 
o 2017 Teesta Rangit Tourism Festival
o Ganga sagarmela
o Nabakalebar Rath Yatra
o Chapchar Kut Festival
o Hornbill Festival
o Wangala Festival
o Schemes for Cleanliness of Tourist Places
o Swachh Bharat Swachh Smarak
o ‘Swachh Bharat Swachh Paryatan’
o Incredible India 2.0 Campaign
o Schemes for Development of Cultural Heritage
o Sanskriti App
o Cultural Mapping of India
o Schemes for Monument Development
o HRIDAY
o SWADESH DARSHAN
o PRASAD SCHEME
o AdarshSmarak Yojana
o Cultural Scheme Monitoring System
o Schemes for promotion of Culture
o Schemes for Serious Literature and Litterateurs
o National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities
o National Mission on Manuscripts
o Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission
o Muziris Heritage Site
o International Initiatives for Cultural Development and Recognition
o Project Mausam
o International Buddhist Conclave
o World’s Heritage
o UNESCO inscribes Yoga in the representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
o UNESCO Creative Cities Network
o UNESCO Global Geopark
o National Virtual Library of India
o Jallikattu
o Kambala
o GI Tag
 Definition
  GI vs. Trademark
 Rights under GI
 Famous Goods
 Latest addition
o Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

History (Indian Culture (Mains))

CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF INDIA

 Aims and objectives of performing arts and their development through various stages.
 Utility of performing arts during the ancient and the medieval period.
 Appreciate the contribution of classical dances, folk music as well as folk dances in Indian culture and
Challenges faced by performing Arts  
 Development of drama through various phases in India and recognize the contribution of folk theatre
 Examine the importance of the three art forms in the development of human personality.   
 Religious and secular Art in India

 
MUSIC

 Evolution of Indian Music

 Contribution of Some personalities : Amir Khusro, Mohammad Shah
 Hindustani Music evolution, features and impact  
 Carnatic Music evolution, features and impact
 Hindustani and Carnatic music differences and similarities
 Regional music and its impact
 Modern Music

 
DANCE

 Tracing Evolution of Dance (Rig Veda, Harappa, Nataraja)

 Classical Dances of India, their evolution and Theme
 Well known Classical dancers of India.
 Themes in Indian folk dances

 
DRAMA

 Introduction ( Natyashastra)
 Evolution of Drama in India
 Various texts relating to Drama period wise (ex Mahabhasya, mrichhakatika)
 Famous Modern Dramas and Dramatists.
 
LANGUAGES & LITERATURE

 Vedic Literature
 Tamil language and Sangam Literature
 Classical languages : Evolution & impact on society
 Trends in Medieval Literature
 Modern Indian Literature

 
ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA

 Architectural Style of Harappan Civilisation

 Influence of Buddhism and Jainism on Indian architecture
o Stupas, Chaityas and Viharas
 Impact of Persian and Greek invasion on Indian culture
 Mauryan Architecture (322-182 BC)
 Post Mauryan Architecture
 Gandhara and Mathura school of Art
 Cultural development during Gupta Age
 Temple Architecture and Sculptures
o Nagara and Dravida Styles
o Early Temples
o Rock Cut temples
o Monolithic Temples
o Free Standing Temples
 Pallavas as great temple builders
 Emergence of Nalanda as centre of learning
 Medieval Period architecture
o Delhi Sultanate
o Regional Kingdoms ( Mandu, Jaunpuretc)
o Vijaynagara Architecture
o Mughal Architecture
 Indo Islamic Architecture
 Colonial Architecture
 Utility of Architectural structures today and in Past
 Conservation and Preservation of Architectural Structures
 Spread of Indian Culture to Southeast Asia

 
BRONZE SCULPTURES IN INDIA

 Harappan “Dancing Girl”

 Jain Tirthankaras Bronze Images
 Buddha bronze Images (ex Guptas and Vakatakas)
 Pala school of Art (Bronze images, Manuscripts)
 Pallava Bronze Images
  Chola Bronzes
 Nataraja

 
PAINTINGS IN INDIA

 Prehistoric Rock Paintings

 Ancient Period
o Murals Paintings
o Bagh Caves
o Sittanavasal Paintings
o Armamalai caves
 Medieval Period
o Pala school of miniature paintings
o Mughal miniature paintings (synthesis           of Indian and Persian style)
o Role of Akbar and his successors
o Development of Pahari, Rajput and Deccan Paintings
o Theme of paintings in Medieval period
 Modern Period
o Bengal school of Art
o Renaissance or revivalist painting
o Madras School of Art
 Decorative Art
o Madhubani
o Kalamkari
o Kalighat
o Warli
o Pattachitra
o Theme of decorative paintings in India
 Theatre Forms of India
o Significance of Traditional folk theatre in India
o Different forms of traditional folk  theatre in India
o Sanskrit theatre in India
o Challenges faced by theatre in India
 Puppet forms in India
o Themes of puppetry in India
o Forms of Puppetry
 Religious Philosophies
o Buddhism and its impact
o Jainism and its impact
o Sufism and its impact
o Vedanta Philosophy
 Bhakti Traditions
History (Post Independence Consolidation (Mains))

CHALLENGES BEFORE INDIA AFTER INDEPENDENCE

 Communal Riots and Regions most affected

 Partition and then Independence: Punjab, Bengal and Assam, Sindh
 Radcliff Commission and challenges before boundary commission
 Radcliff Commission and its composition
 Drawbacks of Commission
 Division of sources
 Finances
 Defence personnel and equipment
 Civil government
 Assassination of Gandhi
 Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Refugees
 Shift to Constitutional Democracy

 
THE INDIAN STATES

 Policy of Equal Federation (1935-1947)

 Plan of consolidation
 Integration of Princely States: Junagadh, Kashmir and Hyderabad
 Aftermath of Integration
 Goa and Pondicherry
 Tribal Integration
 Roots of India Tribal Policy
 Reasons for dismal performance of Tribal Policy
 Positive Development happened due to state’s Initiative since 1947
 Issue of language
 The Official Language
 Features of Official Language Act

 
FRAMING OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

 Evolution of the Constitution and main provisions

 Steps to the Constitution
 Constitutional Developments
 The Indian Constitution: Main Provisions
 The Constituent Assembly
 Formation of the Constituent Assembly
 Compulsions and Issues in front of Assembly
 
FROM COLONY TO DEMOCRACY

 Challenge of building democracy

 Challenges before ECI and conduction of first general election
 Starting of one party dominance
 Dominance of Congress System
 Nature of Congress Dominance
 1967 elections
 Split in the Congress
 Emergence of Opposition Parties
 Role of opposition parties
 Various opposition parties

 
ECONOMIC CONSOLIDATION

 Economic Development and Planning

 Ideas of Development
 Planning
 Formation of Planning Commission
 First five year plan
 Second five year plan
 Achievements of Plans from 1947 to 1965
 Key controversies regarding 5 year plans
 Green Revolution
 Prevailing Conditions before the introduction of Green Revolution
 Initiatives prior to Green Revolution to boost Agriculture
 Government’s other positive initiative during Green Revolution Period
 Positive and negative impact of Green Revolution
 Operation Flood and Cooperatives
 Formation of Amul
 Starting and impact of Operation Flood
 Limitations of Co-operativization
 Development of land reforms in India between 1947 and early 1960’s
 Abolition of intermediaries
 Tenancy reforms
 Ceiling on land holdings
 Bhoodan Movement
 Aims and advantages of Bhoodan movement

 
INDIA’S EXTERNAL RELATIONS

 Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy

 Strategic Issues
 Features of Indian Foreign Policy
  Emergence of NAM and its Summits
 Organizational structure & membership
 India and its neighbours
 India and China
 India and Pakistan (Indo-Pak War, Kargil War, Shimla Agreement, Tashkent Declaration and Agra
Summit)
 India and Bangladesh (Creation of Bangladesh)
 India and Sri Lanka
 India with Nepal and Bhutan
 India’s relations with USA and USSR during cold war
 Analysis of Nehruvian Foreign Policy

 
THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRATIC ORDER

 The JP movement and Emergency 1975-77: Testing of Indian democracy tested

 Background to emergency (Economic context, Gujarat and Bihar movements, Conflict with
Judiciary)                                                   
 Declaration of emergency (Crisis and Response)
 Controversies regarding emergency
 Lessons from emergency
 Politics after Emergency (LS elections 1977 and Janata Party)
 The Opposition: Initial years of BJP
 The Naxalite Movement
 Communalism
 Secularism and democracy
 Ayodhya dispute: Demolition and after
 Communalism and use of state power
 Revival and growth of communalism
 Anti-muslim riots in Gujarat
 The Punjab Crisis
 Operation Blue Star
 Demand of Khalistan
 Basis of Regionalism: Politics in the states
 Roots of tension
 Challenges of Regionalism
 Tamil Nadu (Dravidian Movement), Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and J&K (external and internal
disputes)                                                    
 Secessionist movement in North-Eastern states
 Accommodation and National Integration

 
POPULAR MOVEMENTS

 Nature of Popular Movements

 Environment Movements
 Chipko Movement
  Narmada Bachao Andalon (Sardar Sarovar Project, Debates and struggles)
 Party based Movement and Non-party based movements
 Caste, Untouchability, Anti-caste politics and strategies      
 Issues of Dalit
 Dalit panthers: Origin and their activities
 Agrarian Struggles
 Bharatiya Kisan Union: Growth and its characteristics
 National Fish Worker’s Forum
 Anti-Arrack Movement: Origin and its linkage
 Indian Women since Independence
 Lesson from popular movements

 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIAN POLITICS

 Context of the 1990s

 Era of Coalition
 Decline of Congress
 Alliance politics
 Political Rise of other Backward Classes
 Mandal Implemented: The Mandal Commission
 Political fallouts
 NEP-1991, LPG policy, Tax reforms, Privatisation, Globalisation and ICT
 Nuclear policy
 Emergence of new consensus
 LS Elections 2004
 Terrorist troubles and relations with Pakistan

History (World History (Mains))

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

 Decline of feudalism
 Beginning of Renaissance
 Pre-industrial Europe
 Factors that led to industrial revolution and its Impact

 
FRENCH REVOLUTION

 Causes of the revolution in France

 France under Napoleon
  Impact and Significance of revolution

 
NATIONALISM IN EUROPE

 Rise of the nation- state system

 Unification of Italy and Germany

 
COLONIALISM AND IMPERIALISM

 Colonialism and its Analysis

 The age of Imperialism (1870-1914)
 Imperialism in Asia

 
EMERGENCE OF USA

 Foundation of American Colonies

 The Independence of USA
 The American Revolutionary War and its impact
 Political Effects of the Revolution
 How did the American Revolution influence the French Revolution?

 
WORLD WAR-I

 Causes and Course of the war             

 Consequences of World War I
 Aftermath of World War I
 League of Nations

 
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

 Major events in pre-revolution Russia

 Causes and Course of revolution
 Consequences and Aftermath of the war
 Post-Lenin Russia

 
INTER-WAR YEARS (1919 TO 1939)

 The Great Depression- an economic perspective

 Rise of Fascism in Italy & Nazism in Germany
 Soviet Union (USSR)

 
WORLD WAR- II

 Causes &Course of the war

 Aftermath &Analysis of the war
 Decolonization Phase

 
DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE EAST

 Democratic reforms in Middle East

 Arab nationalism
 Israel and Palestine

 
COLD WAR ERA

 Impact in India
 Indian Policy

 
POST COLD-WAR WORLD

 Global issues since 1991

 Integration of Europe
 Rise of global Islamic terrorism
 Rise of China

 
COMMUNISM, SOCIALISM AND CAPITALISM

 Capitalism (concept, types and example)

 Communism (concept, types, example)
 Relevance of capitalism in present era

History (Contemporary Issues: PIC (Mains))

POLITY

 Reorganisation of States
 Emergency in India                                
 Linguistic Regionalism in India.
 Lok Sabha Elections 2014 and 2018.
 
ECONOMY

th
 Agriculture since 12  five year plan  
th
 Industry since 12  five year plan        
 New Economic Policies and its Impact

 
SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO VULNERABLE SECTION

 Tribal Issue and Policy Consolidation

 Issue of Women and Evolution of Women Movement 
 Agrarian Struggles                                   
 Problem of Caste and Social Consolidation
 Communalism Secularism and Social Consolidation
 Regionalism Issues in India
 Issue of Linguistic Minorities
 Environmental Movements

GENERAL GEOGRAPHY

 Universe
o Theories of development of Universe
o Galaxy
o Star formation
o Planet formation
o Solar system
o Moon
o Asteroid
o Meteor
o Kupier belt
o Comets
o Dwarf planets
 Earth Evolution
o Geological History of Earth
o Evolution of the Earth Layered Structure
 Evolution of Lithosphere
 Evolution of Atmosphere
 Evolution of Hydrosphere
o Latitude and Longitude including important Parallels and Meridians
o Motions of the Earth - Rotation, Revolution and their effects
o Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and its effects
o Time Zones, Local and Standard Time and the International Date Line, Calendar
o Eclipses - Solar, Lunar
o Earth’s magnetic field
o Earth’s Geological time scale
o ORIGIN of LIFE
 
GEOMORPHOLOGY

 Earth’s Interior
o Interior of the Earth
 Crust
 Mantle
 Core
o Sources of Information
 Direct
 Indirect - Earth Quake Waves Volcanoes    
o Theories – Suess Theory
 Geology and Rock system
o Minerals
o Major Elements of the Earth’s Crust
 Minerals – Feldspar, Quartz, Pyroxene Amphibole, Mica , Olivine
 Physical Characteristics–Crystal Form, Cleavage Fracture, Lusture, Color, Streak
 Transparency, Structure, Hardness, Specific Gravity
 Metallic minerals – precious Ferrous, Non Ferrous
 Non-metallic Minerals – Sulphur, Phosphates, Cement
o Rocks (Aggregate of Minerals)
 Petrology
 Rocks & landforms
 Rocks & Soils
 3 Family of Rocks
 Igneous
 Sedimentary
 Metamorphic
 Geomorphic Processes
o Earth’s Surface
 Exogenic Forces
 Endogenic Forces
 Gradation , Degradation & Agradation
o Endogenic Forces
 Diastrophism
 Orogenic
 Epierogenic
 Earthquakes
 Plate movements
 Volcanism
o Exogenic Forces
 Denudation Processes
 Weathering
 Mass movements
 Erosion Transportation & Deposition
 Earthquakes and Volcanism
 o Earthquakes
 Waves: P,S, Body, Surface,
 Shadow Zone
 Types of Earthquakes
 Effects
 Frequency
 Locating an Epicentre
o Volcanism
 Types
 Shield
 Composite
 Caldera
 Flood Basalt
 Mid Ocean Ridge
 Landforms (intrusive)
 Batholiths
 Lacoliths
 Lopoliths
 Phacoliths
 Sills
 Dykes
 Distribution of Continents & Oceans
o Theories
o Continental Drift Theory
 Alfred Wegner
 Pangea, Panthalasa
 Laurasia, Gondwanaland
o Evidence in support of Continental Drift Theory
 Jigsaw Fit
 Rocks of Same age across oceans
 Tillite
 Placer Deposits
 Distribution of Fossils
o Isostacy
o Sea Floor Spreading
o Forces of Drifting
 Pole Fleeing Force
 Tidal Force
o Post Drift Studies
o Convectional Current Theory
o Mapping of the Ocean Floor
o Plate Tectonics
 Lithospheric Plates - Major Plate - Minor Plates
o Plate Boundaries – Divergent – Convergent – Transform
o Rates of Plate Movements
o Force of plate movement
 o Indian Plate
 Landforms and their evolution
o Causes
 Geomorphic Processes
 Geomorphic Agents
o Geomorphic Agent
 Erosional or Destructional
 Depositional or Constructional
o Agents and their Impacts - Wind, Running Water, Ground Water, Glaciers, Waves & Currents
o Winds
 As agents in Hot deserts
 Cause – Deflation Abrasion Impact
 Erosional landforms
 Pediments and Pediplains
 Playas
 Deflation Hollows and Caves
 Mushroom , Table & Pedestal Rocks
o Depositional Landforms
 Barchans
 Seif
 Parabolic
 Transverse
 Longitudinal
o Running Water
 Erosional Landforms
 Valleys
 Rills
 Gullies
 Valleys – V Shape , Gorge (Hard Rocks), Canyon (Sedimentary)
 Potholes & Plunge pools
 Incised or entrenched meanders
 River Terraces – paired & unpaired
 Depositional Landforms
 Alluvial Fans
 Delta
 Flood plains, Natural Levees, Point Bars
 Meansders, Slip off bank, Under cut bank
 Oxbow lake
 Braided Channels
o Ground Water (Karst Topography)
 Permeable Rocks
 Percolation
 Bedding Plains
o Limestone and Dolomite Regions
 Balkans , Adjacent to Adriatic regions
o Erosional Landforms
  Pools - Swallow Hole, Valley Sinks (Uvalas), Sinkholes, Collapse sinks (Dolines),
Lapies, Ridges, Limestone Pavements
 Caves – Altering bed of Rocks (Shale sandstone quartzit, Caves and Tunnels
o Depositional landforms
 Stalactites
 Stalagmites
 Pillar Columns
o Glaciers
 Erosional Landforms
 Cirque of Tarn Lakes
 Hors and Serrated Regions – Arete
 Glacial Valleys / Troughs – Fiords
 Depositional Landforms
 Glacial Tills
 Moraines
 Eskers
 Outwash Planes
 Drumlins
o Waves and Currents
 High Rocky Coasts &
Low Sedimentary Coasts
 Erosional Landforms
 Cliffs
 Terraces
 Caves
 Stacks
 Depositional Landforms
 Beaches and Dunes
 Bars, Barriers, Spits
o Weathering
 Factors
 Geological
 Climatic
 Topograhic
 Vegetative
 Major Processes
 Chemical
 Physical or Mechanical
 Biological
 Chemical – Forces Chemical Action
 Solution
 Carbonation
 Hydration
 Oxidation & Reduction
 Physical Forces Gravitational, Expansion, Water Pressure
 Unloading & Expansion
  Temperature changes and Expansion
 Freezing, Thawing, & Frost Wedging
 Salt Weathering
o Biological Weathering
 Burrowing
 Wedging
 Plant Roots
o Effects of Weathering
 Exfoliation (Flakin) – Exfoliation Domes
o Significance of Weathering
 Soil Formation
 Biomes and Biodiversity
 Leaching / Enrichment
o Mass Movements
 Activating causes
 Forms of movement – Heave Flow Slide
 Landforms across the world
o Rivers and lakes (Factual)
o Mountain and Peaks (Factual)
o Plateaus (Factual)

 
OCEANOGRAPHY

 Hydroshpere
o Water on the Surface of the Earth
o Hydrological Cycle
 Component
 Processes
 Submarine Relief Features
o Oceans
o Relief of the Ocean floor
o Divisions of the ocean floor
 Continental Shelf
 Continental Slope
 Deep sea plain
 Oceanic deep and Trenches
 Minor relief features
o Mid oceanic ridges
o Seamount
o Submarine canyons
o Guyouts
o Volcanic Islands
o Fracture Zones
o Hotspots
o Coral Islands
 o Atoll
 Temperature and Salinity
o Temperature of the Ocean Water
 Vertical
 Spatial
 Factors affecting Temperature distribution
 Latitude
 Unequal distribution of land & Water
 Prevailing wind
 Ocean Currents
 Horizontal & Vertical Distribution
 Salinity of the Ocean Water
o Factors affecting salinity
 Evaporation and precipitation
 Fresh water flow from rivers
 Ocean currents
 Horizontals distribution of salinity
 Vertical Distribution of salinity
o Density of Ocean Waters
 Waves, Ocean Currents, Tides
o Movements of ocean Water                
o Factors influencing Movement
 Temperature
 Salinity
 Density
o Motion – Horizontal and Vertical Currents
o Waves
 Motion of waves and water molecules
 Characteristics of wave
 Crest and Trough
 Height
 Amplitude
 Period
 Length
 Speed
 Frequency
o Tides
 Relation between Gravitational Forces and Tides
 Tidal currents
 Types of Tides
 Based on Frequency – Semi Diurnal, Diurnal, mixed
 Based on SME position – spring and Neap Tides
 Importance of Tides
o Ocean Currents
 Primary Force that initiates the movement
 Heating of solar energy
  Wind
 Gravity
 Coriolis force
 Secondary force that influence the currents to flow
 Types of ocean currents:
 Surface currents & Deep water currents based on Depth
 Cold and Warm Currents based on Temperature
 Major Ocean currents of the World
 Effects of Ocean Currents
 Marine Resources
o Underground water resource
o Surface water resources
o Inland water resources: Utilization of inland water resources
o Oceanic Water Resources (Marine Resource)
o Utilization of oceans by man
o Water consumption patterns
o Conservation of Water Resources
o Techniques of Water Conservation
 Ocean Deposits and Corals
o Terrigenous Deposits
o Volcanic Deposits
o Biotic deposits
 Neritic
 Pelagic ( Calcereous , Siliceous )
o Abiotic Deposits
o Coral Reefs
o Great Barrier Reef

 
CLIMATOLOGY

 Atmosphere
o Composition
o Gases
o Water Vapour
o Dust Particles
o Structure
o Exosphere
o Thermosphere
o Mesosphere
o Stratosphere
o Troposphere
o Altitude vs. Temperature
 Inversion of Temperature
o Temperature
o Factors controlling Temp distribution
 o Distribution of Temp Month of January-July
o Range of Temp Month of January-July
o Inversion of Temperature
 Insolation and Heat Budget
o Solar Radiation Heat Balance Temperature Insolation
o Aphelion and Perihelion
o Variability of Insolation at the surface of the Earth
 Day Season Year
 Rotation on Axis, Angle of Inclination of sun rays, Length of the day
 Transparency of Atmosphere, configuration of land in terms of its aspect.
o Heat Balance
o Heating and cooling of atmosphere
 Conduction
 Convection
 Advection
o Terrestrial Radiation
o Heat Budget of the Planet Earth
o Macro Budget
 Albedo
 Shortwave Radiation
 Long wave Earth Radiation
o Variation in the net Heat Budget at the Earth’s Surface
 Winds and Pressure belts
o Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
o Atmospheric Pressure
o Vertical variation of pressure
o Horizontal distribution of pressure
o World Distribution of Sea Level Pressure
o Factors affecting the velocity and direction of the Wind
o Pressure Gradient Force
o Frictional Force
o Coriolis Force
o Pressure and Wind (Cyclonic & Anticyclone Circulation)
o General Circulation of the Atmosphere – Pattern of Planetary Winds
o Latitudinal Variation of Atmospheric Heating
o Emergence of Pressure Belts
o Migration of Belts Following apparent Path of Sun
o Distribution of continents & Oceans
o Rotation of the Earth
o Circulation
o Simplified Global Circulation – Hadley Cell , Ferrel Cell
o Seasonal Wind
o Local Wind
o Land and Sea Breezes
o Mountain and Valley Winds
 Air Mass, Fronts, Cyclones and Jet Stream
 o Air mass & fronts
o Cyclones
o Thunderstorms
o Tornadoes
o Monsoons
o Fronts
 Precipitation
o Water in the Atmosphere
o Water Vapour
o Precipitation
o Humidity – Absolute and Relative
o Saturation – Dew Point
o Evaporation and Condensation
o Dew
o Frost
o Fog & Mist
o Clouds
 Types – Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratus, Nimbus
 High – Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus
 Middle – Altostratus, Altocumulus
 Low – Stratocumulus, Nimbostratus
o Vertical Development – Cumulus and Cumulonimbus
o Precipitation
o Rainfall, Snowfall, Sleet Hail, Hailstones
o Types of Rainfall
o Conventional
o Orographic
o Cyclonic
o World Distribution of Rainfall
 Climatic Zones of the World
o Koppene’s Classification Climatic Zones
o World Climate
o The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate
o The Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates
o The Savanna or Sudan Climate
o The Hot Desert and Mid-Latitude Desert Climates
o The Warm Temperate Western Margin (Mediterranean) Climate
o The Temperate Continental (Steppe Climate)
o The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin  (China Type Climate)
o The Cool Temperate Western Margin (British Type Climate)
o The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate
o The Cool Temperate Eastern Margin (Lauren-tian) Climate
o The Arctic or Polar Climate

 
BIO-GEOGRAPHY

 Soil Characteristics
o Soil Characteristics
o Factors Responsible for Soil Formation
o Stages of Soil Formation
o Soil Forming Processes
o Soil Profiles and Horizons
o Soil Classification
o Soil Erosion and Conservation
 Vegetation resources
o Types of natural vegetation
o Forests
o Significance of forests
o Economic significance, Ecological significance
o Cultural significance
o Factors of forest development
o Extent of forest cover
o Classification of forests
o Grasslands
o Desert vegetation
o Tundra Vegetation
o Economic utilization of forests
o Deforestation
o Deforestation in tropical forests
o Deforestation in temperate forests
o Rate and extent of deforestation
o Causes and factors of deforestation: Immediate causes of deforestation
o Indirect deforestation
o Underlying causes of deforestation
o Conservation of forests
o Forest conservation strategies
o Reforestation
o Monoculture plantation
o Afforestation
o Types of forestry
o Social forestry
o Agro-forestry

 
HUMAN AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD

 Demography and Census

o Concept of human resources
o Factors affecting the distribution of Population
 Geographical Factors
  Availability of water
 Landforms
 Climate
 Soils
 Economic Factors
 Minerals
 Urbanisation
 Industrialisation
 Socio-cultural factors
o Population Growth

 Growth of Population
 Growth Rate of Population
 Natural growth of Population
 Positive Growth of Population
 Negative Growth of Population
o Components of Population change
 Crude Birth Rate
 Crude Death Rate
 Migration – Place of Origin and Place of Destination
 Immigration
 Emigration
 Push Factors and Pull Factors
o Trends in Population Growth
o Doubling time of world population
o Spatial pattern of Population change
o Impact of Population Change
o Demographic Transition
 Demographic Transition Theory
 Demographic Cycle
o Theories of population growth
 Malthusian theory
 Marxian theory
 Demographic Transition Theory
 Optimum population
 Over-population
 Under-population
o Population Control Measures
o World population distribution, Density and Growth
 Continent-wide distribution of population
 Pattern of population density globally
 Population increase in the world
o Population Composition

 Sex composition
 Sex Ratio
  Natural Advantage vs Social Advantage
 Age Structure
 Age – sex Pyramid
 Expanding Populations
 Constant Population
 Declining Popoulation
 Literacy – literacy Rate
 Rural Urban Composition
 Occupational Structure
 Religion based Composition
o Population problems
 Population problems of developing countries
 Population problems of developed countries
 Population Policies: of China, of India
o Census 2011
 Census Terminologies
 Census of India important information
 Human Development
o Growth vs Development
o The four pillars of Development
 Equity
 Sustainability
 Productivity
 Empowerment
o Approaches to Human Development
o Measuring Human Development
 Income Approach
 Welfare Approach
 Basic Needs Approach
 Capability Approach
o Internation Comparisions of Human Development
 Economic Activities
o Primary Activities
 Hunting and Gathering Pastoralism
 Nomadic Herding
 Commercial livestock Rearing
 Agriculture
 Subsistence Agriculture
 Primitive Subsistence Agriculture
 Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
 Planation Agriculture
 Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation
 Mixed Farming
 Dairy Farming
 Mediterranean Agriculture
 Viticulture
  Market Gardening and Horticulture – Truck Farming
 Cooperative Farming
 Collective Farming
 Mining
 Factors affecting Mining
 Methods of Mining – Open Cast and underground mining
o Secondary Activities
 Manufacturing
 Characteristics of Modern large scale Manufacturing
 Specialisation of Skills/ methods of Production, Mechanisation  - Technological
Innovation 
 Access to market, Access to labour Supply, Access to Sources of Energy, Access to
Transportaion and communication Facilities
 Government Policy
o Classification of Manufacturing Industries
 Industries based on size
 Small Scale manufacturing
 Large Scale manufacturing
 Industries based on Inputs/Raw Materials
 Agro Based industries
 Mineral Based Industries
 Chemical based Industries
 Forest based Raw material using industries
 Animal Based industries
 Industries based on Output/Product
 Industries based on ownership
o Tertiary, Quaternary and Quinary Activities                
 Types of Tertiary Activities
 Retail trading
 Trade and commerce
 Wholesale Trading
 Transport
 Communication
 Services
 People engaged in tertiary Activities
 Tourism
 Medical Services
 Quaternary Activities
 Quinary Activities
 Concept of Digital Divide
 Transport and Communication
o Transport
 Modes of Transportation
 Land Transport
 Roads
 Railways
  Water Transport
 Sea Routes
 Inland Waterways
 Air Transport
 Pipelines
o Communications
 Satellite communication
 Cyber space internet
 International Trade
o History of international Trade
o Basis of International Trade
 Difference in national resources
 Population Factors
 Stage of Economic Development
 Extent of Foreign Investment
 Transport
o Important aspects of International Trade
 Volume of Trade
 Composition of Trade
 Direction of Trade
 Balance of Trade
o Types of International Trade
o Case of Free Trade
o WTO – World Trade Organisation and Regional Trade Blocs
o Gateways of International Trade
 Ports
 Industrial Ports
 Commercial Ports
 Comprehensive Ports
 Inland Ports
 Out Ports
 Oil Ports
 Port of call
 Packet station
 Entrepot Ports
 Naval Ports
 Settlement
o Types and Patterns of settlements
 Compact of Nucleated Settlements
 Dispersed settlement
o Rural Settlements                                   
 Factors affecting location of rural settlements
 Patterns of Rural settlements
o Urban Settlements
 Classification of Urban Settlements
 Factors affecting location of rural settlements
  Functions of Urban Centre
 Classification of Towns on the basis of Forms
 Types of Urban Settlements
 Town, City, Conurbation, Megalopolis, Million City
o Issues of Urbanization in India
o Rural Urban Migration
o Emergence of Slums
o Inclusive Cities/Smart cities

 
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

 Physiography of India
o Geological Region
o Location
o Physiographic Sub-Units
 Himalayans
 Northern Plains
 Peninsular Plateau
 Thar Desert
 Coastal Plain
 The Islands
o Mountain System
 Classification of The Himalayan System
 Regional Division of the Himalaya
o The Peninsular - Peninsular Plateaus
o Plains - Northern Plains of India          
o Lakes
o Deserts
o Indian Coasts and Islands
 Drainage System
o Classification of Drainage
o Himalayan Drainage
o Indus river system
o Indus drainage system
o Ganga River System
o Brahmaputra river system
o Peninsular River System
o East flowing Rivers
o West flowing Rivers
o Mains Rivers and their tributaries
o Famous cities and river banks
 Climate
o Factors influencing the climate of India
o Monsoon
o Mechanism of the Monsoon
  Classical Theory
 Modern theory
 Air mass theory
 Jet stream theory
o EL NINO and LA NINA
o Seasonal rhythm
o Koppen’s Climatic classification
o Indian Droughts and Floods
 Soils in India
o Soil Acidity
o Soil textures
o Minerals of Soil
o Soil Erosion
o Soil Conservation
 Natural Vegetation
o Vegetation
o Mangroves
o Distribution of Forest Area
o Forest Problems in India
 Population
o Size, growth rate and distribution of population
o India in World Population
o Demographic transition
o Census in India
o Ranking of States and Union
o Territories by population: 2001 & 2011
o Population Growth Rates
o Population: States and UT
o Decadal growth rate
o National Population Policy                   
o Density of population
o Literacy
o Literacy in major states
o Literacy rate in India: 1951-2011
o Ranking of States and UTs by 206 literacy rate: 2011
o Gender composition of the Population
o Trends in Sex Ratio in India
o Child sex ratio in age group 0-6 yrs
o Sex ratio of age 7 years and above population
o Old Age People
o Health Indicators
 Settlements and Urbanization
o Rural Settlements
o Factors affecting settlement patterns
o Settlement types
o Urbanization
 o Urban Agglomeration / Cities
 Land Resource
o Land-use
o Land capability classification
o Causes of Land Degradation
o Impact of Land Degradation
o Steps taken by GOI
o Sustainable Land Management
 Mineral Resource
o Types of minerals: Metallic minerals
o Non-metallic mineral
o Distribution of minerals and mining regions
o Distribution, production and international trade of Metallic minerals: Ferrous metals: Iron ore
o Ferro-alloys and non-ferrous
o Manganese
o Chromium
o Nickel
o Tungsten
o Antimony
o Copper
o Bauxite and Aluminium
o Zinc; Lead
o Tin
o Gold
o Silver
o Platinum
o Mineral chemicals
o Mica
o Potash
o Phosphate
o Nitrates
o Sulphur
o Conservation of mineral resources
 Energy Resources
o Classification of energy
o Production of conventional energy
o General trends of energy production and consumption
o Reserves and sources of energy
o Coal
o Nature and origin of coal
o Constituents and kinds of coal
o Coal fields and coal production
o Byproducts of coal
o Conservation of Coal
o Petroleum
o Nature and properties of petroleum
 o Origin and recovery
o Exploration
o Petroleum refining
o Petroleum reserves
o Producing areas
o Consumption of petroleum
o International trade
o OPEC and its role in oil trade
o Natural gas: Reserves and Production
o Hydro-electricity
o Advantages of hydro-electricity
o Ideal conditions for generation of hydro-electricity
o Distribution of potential hydro-power
o Hydro-electric power generation in India
o Atomic (nuclear) energy
o Atomic: source minerals: Uranium
o World distribution of Uranium
o Production of Uranium
o Thorium
o Production of Atomic (Nuclear) Energy
o Nuclear Energy
o Alternative (non-conventional) sources of energy
o Solar energy
o Wind energy
o Geothermal power
o Tidal energy
o Wave energy
o Biomass energy
 Agriculture Basic Terminologies
o Performance of the agriculture sector
o Types of farming in India
o Dry zone farming
o Organic farming
o Cropping seasons in India
o Cropping Pattern in India
o Agriculture regionalization
o Infrastructure factors: Seeds; Fertilizers; Irrigation
o Land use pattern in India
o Institutional Factors as land reform
o Horticulture sector in India
o Agricultural revolutions
o Agricultural labours
o Price Policy for Agriculture
o Agricultural marketing
o Agricultural Insurance
o Agricultural Census
 o Major schemes in agricultural sector
o National Policy for farmers
o Impact of climate change on agriculture
o What is sustainable agriculture?
o Use of IT in agriculture
o Agriculture Issues and Challenges
 Recent Developments in Agriculture Field
o NITI Aayog proposed the idea of taxation of agricultural income
o Removing agricultural commodities from the essential commodities Act: NITI Aayog
o Feminization of Agriculture
o e-auction portal : e-Rakam for selling agricultural produce
o “AGRI-UDAAN” – Food and agri-business acceleration 2.0 to bring startup revolution
o APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food  Products Export Development Authority Act)
o SMAM (Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization)
o Jute-ICARE Project
o Project CHAMAN
o Doubling the farmers income: Ashok Dalwai Committee
o RKVY-RAFTAAR
o Agro Irradiation Centers
o Agricultural Marketing and Farm Friendly Reforms Index
o National Food Security Act
o Digitization and Agriculture
o Direct Benefit Transfer in Fertilizer Sector
o Draft Regulation on Fortification of Foods
o Law Commission Recommendation on Food Laws
o Concept of Modern Terminal Markets
o Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries
o e-Pashuhaat Portal
o Schemes of Bio-Tech Kisan and Cattle Genomics
o RashtriyaGokul Mission
o Mission Fingerling
o Ornamental Fishing
o Agricultural Science Congress
o RubSiS
o Ethanol Blending
o National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
o Amendments to the NABARD Act, 1981
o Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops
o Neem Coating of Urea
o National Agriculture Market
 Productivity of Crops and conditions for growth
o Wheat
 Conditions of growth
 Varieties
 Types of cultivation
 Production pattern
  International trade
o Rice
 Conditions of growth
 Varieties
 Methods of cultivation
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Maize (Corn)
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Barley
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Oats
o Rye
o Beverages
o Tea
 Condition of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Coffee
 Types of coffee
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Cocoa
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Tobacco
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Fibre Crops
o Cotton
 Varieties of cotton
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Jute
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
o Substitutes of Jute: Flax, Hemp
  Raw Silk
 Production pattern
o States
o Natural Rubber
 Other sources of rubber
 Plantations in South-east Asia
 Production pattern
o Sugarcane
 Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 International trade
 Sugarbeet—Conditions of growth
 Production pattern
 Sugar industry
 Sugar consumption
 International trade.
 Industry
o
 Industrial development
 Iron and Steel Industry
 Location of iron and steel industry
 Development of iron manufacture
 Distribution of iron and steel industry
 Global steel production
 International trade in Steel
 Textile Industry
 Cotton Textile Industry: Location of the industry
 Recent trends in localization
 Distribution and production of cotton textiles
 Woollen textile industry: Location of the industry
 Silk textile industry: Raw silk manufacture
 Silk textile manufacturing
 Synthetic (artificial) silk industry
 Distribution of man-made fibre and fabrics
 Engineering Industries
 Machine tools and machines: Areas of production
 Industrial machinery: Textile machinery
 Agricultural machinery
 Manufacturing of transport equipment
 Automobile industry
 Shipbuilding
 Aircrafts Industry
 Fertilizer industry: Nitrogen fertilizers
 Phosphate fertilizers
 Potash fertilizers
 Agro-industries
  Synthetic rubber industry
 Pulp and paper industry: Essential conditions for pulp production
 Production of paper and paper board
 Newsprint
 Cement industry
 Distribution of cement industry
 Recent trends: Main global competitors
 Petroleum refining industry: Localization
 Site selection of petroleum refineries
 History of oil refineries
 World pattern of oil refining
 Petroleum products
 Industrial Regions
 Characteristics of industrial regions
 Delimitation of an industrial region
 Principal intrial regions of the world
 Industrial regions of Anglo America—USA, Canada, Western Europe and Central
Britain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, Eastern Europe, Poland, Former
USSR
 Eastern Asia—Japan, China, the ‘Dragons’, India, High tech patterns.
 Transport
o
 Importance and development of transport
 Means of transport
 Transport costs and economic distance
 Operating costs in transport
 Relative importance of means of transport: Railways, Roads, Pipeline, Oceans, Air
transport
 Profits and freight rates
 Government’s transport policy
 Ocean transport routes
 Inland waterways
 Main regions of inland waterways
 Railways: Factors affecting the railroads
 Distribution of railroads in the world
 Air transport: Factors influencing air transport
 Air transport in various continents
 Pipeline transport
 Petroleum (oil) pipelines
 Gas pipelines
 Recent Development in Transport Sector
o
 Rural electrifi cation corporation: First green bond
 Time and costs over runs of infrastructure projects
 India’s First Mega Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ) to come up in Maharashtra
 Logistic sector gets infrastructure status
  AIIB approves $150 million for India infrastructure fund
 Ro-Ro Ferry service
 Bharatmala project for construction of 24,000 km of highway connecting Western and
Eastern part
 Union Ministry of shipping is planning
to expand Logistics Data Bank (LDB)
 Railways India Development Fund
 National Infrastructure Investment Fund
 Defence Innovation Fund
 Flexi Fare Method in Railway
 Rail Cadre Management
 TRI-NETRA in Railways
 National Rail Plan 2030
 India’s First Caterpillar Train
 Green corridor concept
 Made in India ‘Medha’ train
 Antyodaya Express
 Smart Railway Station
 Yatri Mitra Seva
 National Highways Interconnectivity
 Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme
 Transit Oriented Development Policy
 Logistic Effi ciency Enhancement Programme
 Indian Bridge Management System
 National Road Safety Policy
 TARANG
 E-trans
 DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Pric
 GARV II APP
 Trading of Energy Saving Certifi cates
 Powers for all 24x7
 Draft National Electricity Plan
 Habitat Commitment Index
 Recent developments in Industrial Sector

o
 Disinvestment of PSUs
 Report titled “India’s Labor Market: A New Emphasis on Gainful Employment
 nd
Wage code Bill in line of recommendations of 2  National Commission on Labor
 CAR for the operation of Drones in India.
 Draft Evaluation template for the star rating of Minor Minerals
 Online database containing GIS-Enabled portal Maps land related information
 Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor
 Apex Corridor Developmental Authority
 Tamra Portal
 Mining Surveillance System
  Coal Mitra
 M-SIPS for Electronic Sector
 Indian Enterprise Development Service
 Trade Receivables Discounting System
 SME Business Environment Index

 
WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY

 Continents Countries and Cities

o Continents and Important Cities of the World
o Important Cities Situated on the Banks of Rivers
o Changed Names of Some Cities, States, and Countries
o Distinctive Names of Countries/Towns— Geographical Epithets
o Regional Grouping of Countries of the World
o Economic Classification of Countries of the World
 Location in NEWS
o Govardhan Eco village
o City livability index
o Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat
o Yethinahole Project
o SMARTGRAM
o Kaladan project in Myanmar
o Doklam plateau
o Gilgit-Ballistan
o SCO Summit-Astana
o Bosporus strait
o Nathu-La
o Lisbon
o Mahadayi tribunal
o Jaravas
o Bengaluru declaration
o SASEC road connectivity
o Doklam
o dams bottom trawling
o Hambantota Port
o World Petroleum Congress, Turkey
o Kaleshwaram project
o Mega food park in Kapurthala
o Assam’s disturbed area tag
o North Koel project
o BIMSTEC
o Conservation of Pagodas to Bagan
o Bridge over Mechi River
o Pangong Lake
o World’s most liveable city
 o Asia Africa Corridor
o Xiamen declaration
o Sir Creek
o Chakma, Majong Refugees Rohingya
o Cleanest Iconic place Meenakshi temple
o OBOR
o Hambantota
o Chahbahar Port
o Gwadar Port
o National Waterway – 4
o Polavaram project
o UNESCO creative cities network
o Singapore Changi Naval base
o India in Antarctica
o Concept of Resilient Cities
o Sericulture
o Blizzards
o New tectonic plate discovered
o Report on Palaeo Channel of North West India
o Cyclones in News

Geography (Physical Geography: World & India (Mains))

GENERAL GEOGRAPHY

 Universe
 Theories of evolution of Universe
 Star Formation
 Formation of planets
 Earth Evolution& Basics
 Evolution of Earth
 Evolution of Atmosphere
 Evolution of Hydrosphere
 Earth’s Geological time scale
 Origin of life
 The Earth’s Movements-Revolution and Rotation and Seasons
 Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and its ffects

 
GEOMORPHOLOGY

 Earth’s Interior
  Sources of Information about the Interior (Direct Sources, Indirect Sources - Earth Quake Wave,
Volcanoes)                                
 Structure of the Earth’s Interior
 Mechanical and Chemical categorization of internal structure
 Geology and Rock System
 Minerals
 Major Elements of the Earth’s Crust
 Physical Characteristics
 Classification -
 Rocks ( Aggregate of Minerals )
 Classification
 Igneous
 Sedimentary
 Metamorphic
 Rocks & landforms
 Rocks & Soils
 Geomorphic Processes
 Endogenic Forces
 Diastrophism
 Orogenic
 Epierogenic
 Earthquakes
 Plate movements
 Volcanism
 Exogenic Forces
 Denudation Processes
 Weathering & its Significance
 Mass movements & their impact
 Erosion Transportation & Deposition
 Earthquakes and Volcanism

 Earthquakes: Reasons, Distribution & impact
 Volcanism
 Types and distribution of Volcanoes
 Volcanic Landforms (intrusive)
 Distribution of Continents & Oceans
 Theories
 Continental Drift Theory
 Convectional Current Theory
 Mapping of the Ocean Floor
 Sea Floor Spreading
 Plate Tectonics
 Isostasy
 Landforms and their evolution
 Causesof landform development
 Geomorphic Processes
  Geomorphic Agents
 Geomorphic Agents and Landforms
 Running Water
 Development of a river System
 Erosional Landforms
 Depositional Landforms
 Ground Water (Karst Topography)
 Erosional Landforms
 Depositional landforms
 Glaciers
 Erosional Landforms
 Depositional Landforms
 Waves and Currents
 Winds
 Erosional Landforms
 Depositional Landforms
 Landforms across the world
 Rivers and lakes
 Mountain and Peaks
 Plateaus

 
OCEANOGRAPHY

 Hydrosphere
o Water on the Surface of the Earth
o Hydrological Cycle
 Submarine Relief Features
o Relief of the Ocean floor
o Divisions of the ocean floor
o Minor relief features
 Temperature and Salinity
o Temperature of the Ocean Water
o Factors affecting Temperature distribution
o Horizontal and Vertical Distribution
 Salinity of the Ocean Water
o Factors affecting salinity
o Horizontals distribution of salinity
o Vertical Distribution of salinity
 Density of Ocean Waters
 Movements of Ocean Water
 Factors influencing Movement
 Waves
o Motion of waves
o Characteristics of wave
 Tides
 o Types of Tides
o Importance of Tides
 Ocean Currents
o Characteristics of Ocean Currents
o Types of ocean currents:
o Major Ocean currents of the World
o Effects of Ocean Currents
 Marine Resources
o Surface water resources
o Ground water resources
o Inland water resources
o Oceanic Water Resources (Marine Resource)
o Utilization of oceans by man
o Water consumption patterns
o Water Conservation and Management (Techniques)
 Ocean Deposits and Corals
o Terrigenous Deposits
o Volcanic Deposits
o Biotic deposits
o Abiotic Deposits
o Coral Reefs
 Probable origin of Coral Reef
 Types and significance of Coral Reef
 Issue of Coral Bleaching

 
CLIMATOLOGY

 Atmosphere
o Composition of the Atmosphere
o Structure of the Atmosphere
 Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature
o Solar Radiation and Isolation
o Heating and cooling of atmosphere
o Terrestrial Radiation
o Heat Budget of the Planet Earth
o Temperature
o Factors Controlling Temperature Distribution
o Distribution of Temperature
 Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
o Atmospheric Pressure
o Vertical variation of pressure
o Horizontal distribution of pressure
o World Distribution of Sea Level Pressure
o Factors affecting the velocity and direction of the Wind
o General Circulation of the Atmosphere – Pattern of Planetary Winds
 o Latitudinal Variation of Atmospheric
Heating
o Emergence of Pressure Belts
o Hadley Cell , Ferrel Cell, Polar Cell
o Seasonal Wind
o Local Wind
o Land and Sea Breezes
o Mountain and Valley Winds
o Air Mass, Fronts, Cyclones and Jet Stream
 Air mass & fronts
 Cyclones
 Thunderstorms
 Tornadoes
 Water in the Atmosphere

o

 Water Vapour
 Humidity – Absolute and Relative
 Saturation – Dew Point
 Evaporation and Condensation
 Dew
 Frost
 Fog & Mist
 Clouds
 Precipitation
 Rainfall
 Snowfall
 Sleet Hail
 Hailstones
 Types of Rainfall
 World Distribution of Rainfall
 Climatic Zones of the World
o World Climate
o Koeppen’s Scheme of Classification of Climate            
o Climatic Zones of World

 
BIO-GEOGRAPHY

 Soil & Its Characteristics

o Soil Characteristics
o Factors Responsible for Soil Formation
o Process of Soil Formation
o Soil Profiles and Horizons
o Classification of Soil
o Soil Degradation, Erosion and Conservation
  Vegetation resources
o Types of natural vegetation
o Forests
 Significance of forests
 Factors of forest development
 Classification of forests
 forest cover
o Grasslands
o Desert vegetation
o Tundra Vegetation
o Deforestation
o Conservation of forests
o Reforestation
o Afforestation
o Forestry
 Social forestry
 Agro-forestry
 Farm Forestry
 Community Forestry

 
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA

 Physiography of India
o Location
o Geopolitical Significance of India
o Geological Divisions
 The Peninsular Block
 The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains
 Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
 Physiographic Divisions
 Drainage System
o
 Drainage Patterns
 Drainage System of India
 Himalayan Drainage System
 River Systems of Himalayan Drainage
 Indus river system
 Ganga River System
 Brahmaputra river system
 Peninsular Drainage System
 River Systems of Peninsular Drainage
 Small Rivers Flowing Towards East and West
 Climate
o Factors influencing the climate of India
o Monsoon
 o Mechanism of the Monsoon
 Classical Theory
 Modern theory
 Air mass theory
 Jet stream theory
o ELNINO and LANINA & their impact
o The rhythm of Seasons        
 The cold weather season
 The hot weather season
 The southwest monsoon season
 The retreating monsoon season
o Climatic Regions of India
 Soils in India
o
 Classification of Soils
 Soil textures
 Issue of Soil degradation & Soil Erosion
 Soil Conservation
 Natural Vegetation
o Types of Forests in India
o Forest Cover in India
o Forest Conservation
o Forest Problems in India

 
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

 Floods and Droughts  

 Forest fires
 Deforestation
 Desertification
 Pollution
 Climate Change and Global Warming

Geography (Economic & Human Geography (Mains))

BASICS OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

 Definition, Development and scope of Economic Geography

 Type of Economic Activities
o Primary Activities
o Secondary Activities
o Tertiary, Quaternary and Quinary Activities                
  Recent Themes and Concepts in Economic Geography
 Agglomeration Economies
 Neo-liberalism
 Rise of macro regional Economic block
 Ethnicity in Economic Geography
 Concept of digital divide

 
RESOURCE

 Land Resource
o Land-use Pattern and changes
o Problems of Land Resources:
 Land Degradation: Causes and Impact
 Concept of Land Degradation Neutrality
o Land Use Planning and Policy
 Water Resources
o Extent of Water Resources
o Water Resource Potential of India
o Utilization and related problems (Pollution)
o Inter- state water disputes in India
o Water management, conservation and Development
o National Water Policy
 Mineral Resources
o Types of Mineral Resources
o Distribution Pattern of Minerals in World
o Major Mineral Belts of India
o Problems related to mining
o Conservation of Mineral Resources
o National Mineral Policy, 2019
 Energy resources
o Classification of Energy Resources
o Distribution and production trend of major energy Resources
 Coal
 Petroleum
 Natural gas
o Strategic Oil Reserves
o Exploration of Coal Bed Methane
o Non-Conventional Energy Resources
 Solar Energy
 Wind Energy
 Geothermal
o Nuclear Energy Resources: Challenges and prospects in India
 Recent Debates on Resources
o Geopolitics of Natural Resources
o Globalisation and Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources
 o Depletion of natural resources versus Economic Growth
o Changing Pattern of Land Use and Causes
o Water Crisis: Causes, Conflicts and Resolution
o Energy Crisis
o Challenges and constraints faced by coal sector
o Challenges in Hydropower sector
o Renewable Energy: way toward sustainability
o Energy Security: Energy Policy and strategy in India

 
AGRICULTURE

 Agriculture Basic Terminologies

o Cropping pattern
o Agriculture Productivity
o Agriculture Intensity
o Land capability
 Location of agriculture
 World Agriculture Typologies
 Salient features of Indian Agriculture
 Problems of Indian Agriculture
 Factor Affecting Agriculture
o Geographical factors
o Institutional factors
o Technological factors
 Major Crops and conditions for growth
 Regionalization of Agriculture
 Various Revolutions in Agriculture Sector
o Green Revolution
 Impact of Green Revolution
 Evergreen Revolution
o White Revolution
o Operation Flood
o Blue Revolution
 Agricultural Policies and Initiatives
o Minimum Support Price: Benefits and Challenges
o Agriculture Market Produce Committees: Issues
o National Agriculture Market (NAM)
o Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitating) Act (APLM), 2017
o National Livestock Mission
o National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBD) 
o Rashtriya Gokul Mission
o Agriculture Export Policy, 2018
o Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
o Pradhan Mantri Annadataaay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (Pm-Aasha)
o Operation Greens
 o Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF)
o Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
o Agriculture Census
 Food Security
o Nature of Food Insecurity: Duration, Severity and types
o Trend and Pattern in Food Insecurity
o Causes and Geography of famine
o Key Dimension of food security
o Efforts and Remedies to ensure food security
 Agricultural in Discussion
o Controversy over GM Crops: Benefits and Issues
o Impact of climate Change on Agriculture
o Evergreen Green Revolution for Sustainable Livelihood
o Rainbow Revolution
o Blue Revolution: Impact on Rural Economy
o Climate Smart Agriculture
o Need of Agriculture Diversification
o Mixed farming: Hedging Agriculture Risks
o Problems and Prospects of dry-zone agriculture
o Plantation Agriculture: Issues involved
o Challenges of increasing Agriculture Productivity and Production
o New ‘White Revolution’: Need, Scope and Challenges
o Contract Farming: Benefits and Challenges
o Role of infrastructural and institutional
factors in the recent transformation of Indian agriculture         
o Impact of advanced agricultural technologies on the Environment
o Soil Health Card scheme and  rationalisation of fertilizer subsidies
o Food Security: India’s Vulnerability and way-out

 
INDUSTRY

 Classification of Industries
 Factors affecting location of Industries
o Weber’s Model of Industrial Location
o Losch theory of Profit Maximization
 Various Industries: Location, Prospects and Challenges
o Iron and Steel Industry
o Textile Industry
o Jute Industry
o Auto Mobile Industry
o Fertilizer Industry
o Agro-based Industries
o Other Industries
 Industrial Regions and its Characteristics
o Major Industrial Regions of the World
 o Industrial Regions of India
o Industrial Policies and Development
o A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship
o Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries
o Stand Up India
o Fourth Industrial Revolution
o Role of Industrial development in minimizing regional inequalities
o Problems of Industrial regions
o Factors behind the growth and present location pattern of automobile industry in
India                                                                                                                
o Pharmaceutical industry: Locational pattern and reasons
o Sugar industry: Problems and challenges of current pattern
o Food Processing Industry: Untapped Potential
o Agro based Industries: Problems and Prospects
o Impact of agro-based industries on cropping pattern
o Tourism: Prospects and Impact on Environment

 
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

 Land Transport
o Roads
 Classification of roads
 National Highway Grid
 Problems and Prospects
 Bharatmala Pariyojana
o Railways
 Significance and Problems of Indian Railways
 Dedicated Freight Corridors
 Privatisation of Railways
o Pipelines
 Significance, Distribution and Challenges
o Water Transport
 Inland: National Waterways
 Factors affecting Inland waterways
 Significance and Challenges
 Jal Marg Vikas Project
 Seaways and Oceanic Route
 Shipping
 Major Ports of World and India
 Challenges in Port Development
 Sagarmala Project
 Air Transport
 National Airways
 National Civil Aviation Policy
 Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN)
  International Airways
 Communications
 Communication Infrastructure
 National Telecom Policy
 Major Issues in Transport and Communication
 Role of Transport in Regional Development
 Need for holistic transport planning to improve the city’s mobility
 Carbon footprint of the transport sector
 Road Transport: Investment Challenges
 Inland Waterways: Development challenges and prospects
 Ports: Inclusive centres of economic  development
 Problem of Pot Development
 Analysis of Sagarmala Project
 Environmental issues of maritime shipping
 Role of Transport in Regional Development
 Eco Tourism: Way toward Responsible Tourism
 Trade
 World Trade Pattern
 Major Oceanic Trade Routes
 Basis of Overseas Trade
 Types of International Trade
 Bilateral Trade
 Multilateral Trade
 Various Organisation Related to International Trade
 Regional Trade Blocks
 Foreign Trade: India
 Trends in India’s Foreign Trade
 Composition Indian Trade
 Direction of India’s Foreign Trade
 Trade Pattern and Policies
 Changing Pattern of India’s foreign trade
 Challenges and prospects of foreign trade of India
 Impact of trade liberalisation on the geographical distribution of industries
 Neo-liberal reforms in Africa: Race of India and China

 
DEMOGRAPHY AND CENSUS WORLD & INDIA

 Concept of human resources

 Factors affecting the distribution of Population
 Population growth
o Theories of Population Growth
 Malthusian Theory
 Marxian Theory
 Demographic transition theory
 Optimum Population Theory
 o Size, growth rate and distribution of population
o Components of Population growth
 Demographic Dividend
o Demographic Window of Opportunity
 Components of Population change
o Birth Rate
o Death Rate (Mortality Rate)
o Migration
 Factors responsible for migration
 Type of Migration
 Issues related to migration
 Migration pattern in world and India
 World Migration Report, 2018
o Population Composition
 Age Sex Pyramids & their significance
 Trends and Pattern in Sex Ratio
 Initiatives to improve Sex ratio
 Trends and Patterns in Literacy
 Government’s Efforts
o Fertility Rate
o Impact of Population Change
o Population Policies
 Need for revision of National Population Policy
o Population problems
 Global Nutrition Report, 2018
 Global Hunger Index

 
SETTLEMENTS AND URBANIZATION

 Rural Settlements
o Classification of Rural Settlements
o Function of Rural Settlements
o Patterns of Rural Settlements
o Changing Pattern of Rural Settlements
 Urban Settlements
o Origin of Urban Settlements- Functional  Classification of Towns
o Urbanization
 Indian Mega Cities
 Central Place Theory
 Primate City
 Morphology of Indian Cities
 Conurbations
 Urban Slums
 Rural Urban Fringe
 Rural Urban Continuum
 o Issues related to Urbanization in India
 Habitat – III Conference
o Schemes
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Housing for All Scheme
 Smart City Initiative
 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)
 HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana)

 
REGIONAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

 Concept of Region
 Types of Regions
 Issues of Regional Imbalances
 Strategies for Regional Development

 
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

 Growth v/s Development

 Approaches to Human Development
 Human Development Index
 International comparisons of Human Development
o World Development Report, 2019
 Human Development Report    

Indian Society (Indian Society (Mains))

UPSC SYLLABUS

 Salient features of Indian Society

 Diversity of India
 Effects of globalization on Indian society
 National Integration, communalism, regionalism & secularism
 Role of women and women’s organization
 Social empowerment, poverty and developmental issues
 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable section
 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education,
Human Resources
 Issues relating to poverty and hunger
 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
 
UNITY IN DIVERSITY

 Concepts of Unity and Diversity

 Forms of Diversity in India
 Reasons for so much Diversity
 Bonds of Unity In India
 Geo-political Unity
 The Institution of Pilgrimage
 Tradition of Accommodation
 Tradition of Interdependence
 Role of Sensitive Leaders
 Constitutional Safeguards – Role of Constitution Framers

 
CHALLENGES OF DIVERSITY TO UNITY (CHALLENGES TO NATIONAL INTEGRATION)

 Diversity of Constituents
 Regionalism and Cultural Identities
 Casteism
 Linguism
 Communalism
 Social Inequalities
 Regional Disparities
 Ethno-Nationality and Ethnic Conflicts
 Tribal Identity
 Basic Sociological Concepts
 The Family and Kinship
 Concept of Patriarchy In India

 
SECULARISM

 Secularism And Secularization

 Western and Indian Concept
 Process of Secularization
 Secularism and Forced Conversion in India

 
REGIONALISM, COMMUNALISM, FUNDAMENTALISM AND COMMUNAL VIOLENCE

 Regionalism
 Regionalism in India
 Types of Regionalism
 Effects of Regionalism
 Regionalism: Demand for Smaller States
 Strategies to tackle Regionalism
  Sons of Soil Concept
 Communilism Concept, Orgin, Impact
 Fundamentalism-religious, Cultural
 Communal Violence

 
SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

 Constitutional Provisions Relevant to Social Justice & Empowerment of Scheduled Caste & Scheduled
Tribes
 Status of Minorities In India

 
THE SCHEDULED CASTES: FROM UNTOUCHABLE TO DALIT

 Population of the Scheduled Castes

 Types of Disabilities of the SCs
 From Untouchables to the Dalits: The Process of Identity Formation
 Combating Mechanism against Caste Atrocities and Violence
 The State Efforts for Dalit Emancipation
 Identify Political Implications on Dalits

 
TRIBALS IN INDIA

 Chronic Indebtedness
 Forest Related Problems
 Destruction of the Forest Environment and the Tribal People
 Development and Displacement
 Analysis of Forest Rights Act

 
WOMEN MOVEMENTS

 19th Century Women Movements – Under Social Reform Movements

 Women’s Issues During Gandhian Era
 Issues in Post Independence Era
 Violence Against Women
 Developmental Movement
 Uniform Civil Code
 Feminism and Post Feminism

 
SOCIAL JUSTICE

 Concept of Casteism in India

 Caste and Politics
  The Reservation Policy Debate
 Social Justice and Social Development

 
SOCIAL SECURITY IN INDIA

 Concept
 Social Security System in India
 Organized Sector and Social Security
 Unorganised Sector and Social Security
 Centrally Funded Social Assistance Programmes
 Public Initiatives
 Review of the implementation of Social Security Laws in the Country
 Suggestions for Improving the Social Security Matrix
 Social security code for all

 
UNDERSTANDING POVERTY

 Dimensions of Poverty
 Linkage between Poverty and Development
 Recommendations of Rangarajan Committee Report
 Poverty Alleviation Strategy Since Independence
 Programmes for Poverty Alleviation
 Concept of Inequality

 
GLOBALIZATION

 Meaning of Globalization
 Reasons for Globalization
 Dimensions/Impact
 Political
 Cultural and Social
 Economic
 Anti-Globalization Movement
 New Localism
 NPM (New public management)          

 
URBANIZATION & CENSUS 2011

 Urbanization
 Trend and pattern of Urbanization
 Issues Related to Urbanization in India
 Status of Service Delivery and Governance
 Urban Development Projects
  Critical Analysis of Smart City Mission
 SDG’s and urbanization

 
CENSUS 2011

 Highlights of 2011 Census

 Analysis of Sex Ratio Data
 Impact of Skewed Ratio
 Laws related to Prevent Female Infanticide
 Recent initiatives
 Trend and Current Scenario of Literacy in India
 Literacy Challenges in India as Whole
 Efforts to Improve the Literacy in Country
 Child Health Indicators and Maternal Health             
 Initiatives taken by the Government
 Why the Health schemes fail to bring change?
 Family Planning and Population Policy of India
 Analysis on Status of Old Age Population: Issues & Policy Initiative
 Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011
 NRC

 
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

 Secularism, Regionalism & Communalism

o Secularism and Anti Conversion    
o Regionalism: Demand for Smaller States     
o Socio-Economic Caste Census, 2011            
o Gender Discrimination in the Corporate Sector

 
ISSUES RELATED TO WOMEN

 Gender Discrimination in Corporate Sector

 Female Genital Mutilation
 Bill on Banning Triple Talaq
 Issues of women entry to place of worship
 Adultery No Longer a Crime : SC
 Unwanted Girls in India
 Altruistic Surrogacy in India
 Women in Panchayats
 Women Participation in Economy
 # Me Too Movement
 Draft National Policy for Women, 2016
 Laws Related to Stalking in India
 Debate on the Issue of Marital Rape
  India’s Maternity Laws need Serious Tweaking         
 Women in Judiciary Matters
 SC’s Judgment on Dowry
 Gender Budgeting: Critical Analysis

 
ISSUES RELATED TO CHILDREN

 Issues Faced by Children in War Zone

 High Dropout Rate of Girls in India
 Child Trafficking
 Safety of Children in Schools
 Issue of Malnutrition in India
 Amendments Proposed in Child Labour Act
 Plight of Street Children
 Juvenile Justice System
 Child Marriages in India
 Death for child Rape
 Draft National Child Protection Policy
 National Action Plan for Children, 2016

 
OTHER ISSUES

 India’s Family Planning Programme: Critical Analysis

 Demography and Policy Planning
 India’s Ageing Report
 Legalising Same Sex Marriage
 Domestic Workers: Issues and Laws
 Development Leading to Displacement
 Moral Policing
 Euthanasia and Living Will
 Inadequacies in existing Human Trafficking laws in India
 Transgender Bill passed in Lok Sabha with Amendments
 Mental Health Care Bill
 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
 Manual Scavenging
 Mob lynching and Rule of Law
 Issue Related to Under trials
 Income Inequality in India
 Indigenous People in India : An Analysis
 Debate Over Death Penalty
 Global Slavery Index Report
 Right to Privacy Judgement
 SC Verdict on SC/ST Atrocities Bill
 Social Stigma Attached with HIV
 
HEALTH & EDUCATION

 Status Health sector

 Status of Education sector
 Allied Health Care Professions Bill, 2018
 Ahead on Malaria: On reduction in cases in India
 India and Neglected Disease Treatment
 TB Status in India and Bedaquiline Patent Challenge
 Status of E-Pharmacies in India
 Changes Proposed in No Detention Policy
 National Policy on Education
 Capacity Building for Primary Health Care
 NITI Aayog on Privatisation of Urban Health Care
 National Health Policy, 2017
 Regulating Private Healthcare
 India’s Nutrition Challenge
 Food Fortification
 Sanitation and Nutrition Linkage
 Ayushman Bharat

 
MISCELLANEOUS

 Is social media polarizing society?

 Online political adverstising and challenge for democracy and society
 Draft Social Security Code
 Uniform Civil Code
 Critical Analysis of Stand Up India Scheme
 SC Suggests for Prison Reforms
 Statue of Unity

Polity & Governance (Indian Polity And Governance (Prelims))

EVOLUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

 The Company Rule (1773-1858)

o Regulating Act, 1773
o Amending Act, 1781
o Pitt’s India Act, 1784
o Amending Act of 1786
o Charter Act, 1793
 o Charter Act, 1813
o Charter Act, 1833
o Charter Act, 1853
 The Crown Rule (1858-1947)
o Government of India Act, 1858
o Indian Councils Act, 1861
o Indian Councils Act, 1892
o Indian Councils Act, 1909
o Government of India Act, 1919
o Simon Commission
o Government of India Act, 1935
o Indian Independence Act, 1947
 Drafting and Sources of Indian Constitution)
o Seminal Sources
o External Sources
o Developmental Sources
o Constitutional Practices
o Important Committees of the Constituent Assembly and their Chairman

 
SALIENT FEATURES OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION

 Constitution and Types

o What is a Constitution?
o Types of Constitution
o Functions of the Constitution
o Historical evolution of the Constitution
o Constituent Assembly
o Objectives of the Constitution
o Unitary features
o Federal features
 Types of Political System
o Types of Political System
o Types of Government
o Parliamentary form of government
o Features of the Presidential System
o Features of Semi-Presidential System
 Types of Majorities as per the Indian Constitution
o Absolute Majority
o Effective Majority
o Simple Majority
o Special Majority
 Preamble and Values in the Constitution
o The objectives laid down in the Preamble
o Whether the Preamble is a partof the Constitution or not?
o Whether Preamble can be amended or not?
  Ideals (mentioned in the Preamble)
 Democratic
 Sovereign
 Socialist
 Secular
 Republic
 Justice
 Equality
 Liberty
 Fraternity
 Integrity
 Amendment of the Constitution
o Procedure for amendment
o Types of Amendments
o Amendability of FR’s
o Ingredients of basic structure
 Doctrine and Terms
o Doctrine of severability
o Validity of Re-Constitutional Laws
o Doctrine of Eclipse
o Doctrine of Harmonious Construction
o Doctrine of Pith and Substance
o Doctrine of Colorable Legislation (Article 246)
o Doctrine of Territorial Nexus
o Doctrine of Laches
o Due Process of Law
o Procedure Established by Law
 Other Constitutional Dimensions
o Schedules and Subjects
o Official Languages

 
UNION & ITS TERRITORY

 ARTICLE 1-4
o Article 1: Name and Territory of the Union
o Committee/commission for StateRe-organisation
o The State Reorganization Commission(SRC) 1953
o Article 2: Admit or Establish new State
o Article 3: Formation of new States andalternation of areas, boundaries or names of existing
States
o Article 4: Laws made under articles2 and 3 to provide for the amendment of the First and the
Fourth Schedule and Supplemental.
o Delimitation Commission

 
CITIZENSHIP

 Constitutional Provisions
o Constitutional provisions of citizenship
o Citizenship Act, 1955
o The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2016
o Methodology of getting citizenship
o Modes of Losing the Citizenship of India
o Concept of dual citizenship
o Special privileges enjoyed bycitizens in India
o Rights and Duties of Citizens
 Indian Diaspora
o Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
o Non-Resident Indians

 
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

 Evolution Objectives And Features

o Meaning
o Objectives
o Features
o Importance
o Restrictive limitations on fundamental rights
 Article 12 and Article 13
o Definition of state
o Laws Inconsistent with Fundamental Rights
 Right to Equality
o Article 14: Equality before the lawor the Equal protection of Law
o Article 15: Prohibition of Discriminationon the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of
birth
o Article 16: Equality of Opportunityin matters of Public Employment
o Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability
o Article 18: Abolition of Titles
 Right to Freedom
o Article 19
o Article 20: (Protection in respectof conviction for offenses)
o Article 21: Protection of life andpersonal liberty
o Article 22: Protection against arrestand detention
 Right against Exploitation
o Article 23: Prohibition of Trafficin human beings and forced labour
o Article 24: Prohibition of employmentof children in factories, etc
 Right to Freedom of Religion
o Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation or religion
o Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs
o Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion.
 o Article 28: Freedom from attendance religious instruction or worship in educational institutions
 Cultural and Educational Rights
o Article 29: Protection of interest of Minorities
o Article 30: Right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
 Right to Constitutional Remedies
o Article 32: Right to Constitutional Remedies:
 Habeas Corpus
 Mandamus
 Certiorari
 Prohibition
 Quo Warranto
 FR’s other Dimensions
o Article 33
o Article 34
o Article 35
o Article 35A         

 
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY (DPSP)

 Evolution, objectives, and features

o Basic features
o Types
o Amendments
o Implementation
 Socialistic Principles
o Article: 38
o Article:39
o Article: 39A
o Article: 41
o Article: 42
o Article: 43
o Article: 43-A
o Article: 47
 Gandhian Principles
o Article: 40
o Article: 43
o Article: 46
o Article: 47
o Article: 48
 Liberal-Intellectual Principles
o Article: 44
o Article: 45
o Article: 48
o Article: 48A
o Article: 49
 o Article: 50
o Article: 51
 Directive Principle Outside Part IV
o ARTICLE 335 IN PART XVI
o ARTICLE 350-A IN PART XVII
o Article 351 in Part XVII

 
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

 Article: 51A
o Features
o Relation between of Fundamental Rightsand Fundamental Duties
o List Of Fundamental Duties
o th
86  Constitutional Amendment Act 2003 : RTE
 Recent Developments
o Fundamental Duties – Awareness Campaigns is the Duty of Centre
o National Anthem - Mandatoryin Cinema Halls - Article 51(a)
o Prevention of Insults toNational Honour Act, 1971
o Triple Talaq Issue
o Uniform Civil Code
o MGNREGA: Right to Work
o Making Aadhar mandatory

 
SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE

 Centre-State Relations
o Legislative relations (Articles) 245
o Related to Territorial Powers
o Related to Legislative Powers
o Related to Parliament’s Powersto make Laws in State
o Sarkaria Commission’s Opinionon Legislative Relations
o Administrative Relations
o Delegation of Union Functionsto the States
o Sarkaria Commission’s Opinionon Administrative Relations
o Financial relations
o National Integration Council
 Inter State Relation
o Inter state water dispute
o Inter state councils
o Inter state trade and commerce
o Zonal Councils
 Special Provisoions for some States
o Provisions for Maharastra and Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam and Manipur
o Provisions for Jammu and Kashmir (A370) (now abrogated)
 Types of Emergencies
 o National Emergency
o Constitutional/State Emergency /President’s Rule
 Financial Emergency

 
UNION EXECUTIVE

 President
o Eligibility
o Conditions of Office
o Term of Office
o Election
o Manner of Election
o Impeachment of the President
o Impeachment of the President
o Vacancy in the Office of President
o Powers of the President
 Executive powers (Article 53)
 Legislative Powers
 Financial Powers
 Ordinance Issuing Power (Article 123)
 Judicial/Pardoning Power
 Military
 Diplomatic
 Emergency Powers
 Vice President
o Qualification
o Conditions of Office
o Term of Office
o Election
o Removal
o Vacancy
o Functions of the Vice-President
 The Prime Minister
o Appointment
o Eligibility
o Powers and Functions of Prime Minister
o Relationship between the President
and the Prime Minister
o Deputy Prime Minister
o Prime Minister’s Office
 Union Council of Minister
o Article 74: Council of Ministers to aidand advice President
o Article 75: Other Provisions as to Ministers
o Article 77: Conduct of Businessof the Government of India
o Article 78: Duties of Prime Minister
 o Nature of advice by Ministers
o Strength of the Council
o Appointment of a Non-legislator as a Minister
o Collective responsibility of the Ministers
o Individual Responsibility of Ministers

 
UNION LEGISLATURE

 Organisation of Parliament
o Organisation of Parliament
o Qualifications and Disqualifications forbeing a Member of Parliament (Article 84)
o Functions of the Parliament
o Functioning of the Parliament
o Sessions of Parliament
o Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings
o Parliamentary Privileges and Immunities
o Collective Privileges of the House
o Individual Privileges
o Houses of the Parliament
 Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
o Lok Sabha Composition
o Rajya Sabha Composition
o Presiding Officers of the Parliament
o Speaker
o Powers & Functions of the speaker
o Deputy Speaker
o Panel of Chairpersons of Lok Sabha
o Speaker Pro Tem
o Chairman of Rajya Sabha
o Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
o Panel of Vice-Chairpersons of Rajya Sabha
o Chairman and Deputy chairman of the Council of States
 Legislative Procedure and Committees of Parliament
o Legislative Procedure in Parliament
o Ordinary Bill
o Money Bill
o Financial Bill
o Constitution Amendment Bill
o Lapsing of Bills
o Annual Financial Statement: Budget (Article 112)
o Demand of Grants
o Appropriation Bill
o Cut motions
o Stages in Enactment of Budget
o Other Grants
 o Related Information of Budget
o Parliamentary committees

 
STATE EXECUTIVE

 Governor
o Article 152: Definition
o Article 153: Governors of States
o Article 154: Executive power of State
 Powers of Governor
 Executive power
 Legislative power
 Financial Power
 Judicial Power
o Discretionary power
o Article 155: Appointment of Governor
o Article 156: Term of office of Governor
o Article 157: Qualifications for Appointment as Governor
o Article 158: Conditions of Governor’s office
o Article 159: Oath or affirmation by the Governor
o Article 160: Discharge of the functions of the Governor in certain contingencies
o Article 161
o Article 162: Extent of executive power of State
o Recommendations on the office of Governor
o ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission)
o Sarkaria Commission
o National Commission to Review the working of the Constitution
 The Chief Minister and the CoM
o Powers and Functions of Chief Minister
 In Relation to Council of Ministers
 In relation to the Governor
 In Relation to State Legislature
 Other Powers and Functions
o Composition of the Council of Ministers
o Responsibility of Ministers
o Advocate-General for the State

 
STATE LEGISLATURE

 Legislative Assembly
o Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)
o Powers and Functions
o Speaker & Deputy Speaker
o Parliament’s Control over State Legislature
 Legislative Council (Article 169)
 o Qualifications
o Powers and Functions

 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 Panchayati Raj
o Evolution of the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)
o rd
73  Amendment Act of 1992
o Compulsory and Voluntary Provisions
 Urban Local Government
o th
74  Constitutional Amendment Act
o Types of Urban Governments In India

 
UNION TERRITORIES AND SPECIAL AREAS

 Union Territories
o Creation of Union Territories
o Administration of UT’s
o Special provisions for Delhi
o Special Category Status
 Schedule and Tribal Areas
o Administration of Schedule Areas
o Administration of Tribal areas

 
THE JUDICIARY

 The Supreme Court

o Chief Justice of India
o Acting Chief Justice of India
o Appointment of Supreme Court Judges
o Qualifications for Supreme Court Judges
o Removal of a Supreme Court Judges
o Process of Impeachment
o Ad hoc and Retired Judges
o Salaries and allowances of SupremeCourt Judges
o Chief Justices of India (Since 1951)
o Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
o Judicial Independence
o Judiciary Executive Relations
 The High Court Subordinate Courts & Lok Adalats
o The High Courts
o Jurisdiction of the High Courts
o Subordinate Courts
o Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008
 o Alternative dispute Resolution
o Lok Adalat
o All India Judicial Service
o E-governance in Judiciary
o Judicial Impact Assessment
o Judges Standards and AccountabilityBill, 2010
o National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)

 
CONSTITUTIONAL & NON CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

 Constitutional Bodies
o Finance Commission
 Constitution
 Functions
o Comptrollerand Auditor General of India
 Comptroller and Auditor-General
o Attorney-General of India
 Appointment
 Functions and Responsibilities
o Other Constitutional Bodies
 All India Services
 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
o State Public Service Commission (SPSC)
o Joint State public Service Commission (JSPSC)
o National Commission For SCs
o National Commission For STs
o Special Officer for Linguistic Minority
o The Advocate General (Article 165)
 Non Constitutional
o Special officer for linguistic Minorities
o Central Information Commission
o State Information Commission
o Lokpal and Lok Ayukta
o National Human Rights Commission
o State Human Right Commission
o CVC (Central Vigillance Commission)

 
POLITICAL DYNAMICS

 Political Parties and Election

o Electoral System in India
o Electoral Reforms Since 1988
o Salient features of the Representation of People Act, 1950
 Salient features of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951
 Elections in India
  Electoral reforms since 1988
 Criminalization of politics
 Negative or neutral voting
 State funding of Election
 Irregularities in polling
o Types of Political Parties
o Party System in India
o Political Parties in India
 Problems in the working of parties
 Casteism and Politic
 Strengthening of Anti-defection measures
o Pressure Groups
 Meaning and Techniques
 Pressure Groups in India
 Types of pressure groups
 Role of pressure groupin developing countries
 Functions of pressure groups in India
 Pressure groups methods
 Pressure groups and Democracy
 Criticism of pressure groups       

 
GOVERNANCE

 Governing Institutions in India

o Structure of Ministries/departments
o Political head
o Secretariat organization secretary
o Functions of the secretariat
o Functions of attached and subordinate office
o Other organizations
o Public sector undertakings
o The Executive organization
o Advantages of the separation ofsecretariat and executive organization.
o Strengths and weaknesses of theexisting structure
o Recommendations for improvingthe Organizational structure
 Audit and other Transparency initiatives
o CVC
o CAG
o Lokpal
o Lok Ayukta
 Role of SHG, NGOs, Civil Society
o SHGs
 Characteristics
 Role of SHGs in development
o NGOs
  Functions
 Role of NGOs in development
o Micro Finance Institutions
 Salient features
 Role of MFIs in development
 Social Sector Bills
o
 The Juvenile Justice (Care andProtection of Children) Act
 Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016
 Child Labour (Prohibitionand Amendment) Bill, 2016
 Maternity Benefit Bill, 2016
 Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act
 Mental Health Care Bill, 2013
 Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO)
 Anti Trafficking Bill with Stringent Penalty
 HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control)Bill- 2014 - Amendments
 Domestic Violence Act, 2005 - SC WidensAmbit
 Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesBill, 2014 with more Benefit
 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights)Bill 2016
 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)
Amendment Act
 Welfare Schemes

o
 Health                                                       
 National Health Mission
 National Ayush Mission
 Jan Aushadhi Scheme
 Mission Indradhanush
 NFHS-4 survey
 Education
 Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat
 Mid Day Meal Scheme
 GIAN (Global Initiative ofAcademic Networks)
 SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active –Learning for Young Aspiring Minds)
 Start-up and Skill Development
 Start Up India Scheme
 Stand up India Scheme
 National Student Start-up Policy
 National Skill Development Mission
 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
 Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana
 Skill Development Initiative Scheme
 Self-Employment & Talent Utilisation (SETU)
 Atal Innovation Mission
 Vulnerable Sector
  Social Security
 Atal Pension Yojana
 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
 Nai Roshni Scheme
 USTAAD Scheme (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts
for Development)
 Nai Manzil Scheme
 Women and Child Development
 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
 Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
 Digital Gudda Guddi Board
 Ujjawala Scheme
 Janani Suraksha Yojana
 Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram
 SC/ST
 Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
 Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
 Disability
 Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan)
 Rural and Urban Development
 Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana
 Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan
 Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Rurban Mission
 Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana
 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
 Swachch Bharat Abhiyan
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban
 Housing for all by 2022
 Smart Cities Mission
 Hriday - National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana
 Amrut (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)
 Inclusive growth
 Measurement criteria
 Government initiatives for inclusive growth
 Basic Amenities: Housing/Drinking Waters/Sanitations
 Sustainable Development
 Rural Development
 Rural development and poverty alleviation
 Review of the existing Programmes
 Development Administration
 Panchayati Raj
 Agriculture and Rural Development
 Miscellaneous schemes
 Digilocker
  Bharatnet Project (National Optical Fibre Network)
 INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
 SAKAAR
 Digital India
 Namami Gange Project (Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission Project)
 Ganga Gram Yojana
 Khelo India
 PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)
 Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)              

 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

 India’s Foreign Policy

o Evolution of India’s Foreign Policy
o Post 1990 Scenario
o Global Issues
 South Asia
o India – Nepal Relations
o India and Bhutan
o India-Afghanislam Relations
o India-Bangladesh Relations
o India-Maldives Relations
o India-Sri Lanka Relations
o India-Myanmar Relations
o India-Pakistan Relations
o SAARC
o NAM (Non-Alignment Movement): Relevance
 Central Asia
o Mongolia
o Kazakhastan
o Tukmenistan
o Uzbekistan
 West Asia
o India – UAE Relations      
o India IRAN Relations
o Israel and Palestine Relations
o India – Israel Relations
o India – Saudi Arabia
 Asia – Pacific
o Asia-Pacific Region
o India-South East Asia Relations
o India-Asean Cooperation
o Indo-Japan Relations
o Indo-Australia Relations
o India – South Korea Relations
 o India-Vietnam
 Africa
o India-South Africa Relations
o India-Nigeria Relations
o India-Kenya Relations
o India-Sudan Relations
 Europe
o India-Russia Relations
o India-France Relations
o India-Germany Relations
o India-United Kingdom Relations
o India-EU Kingdom Relations
 US-China
o India-USA Relations
o India-China Relations
 Indian Ocean Region
o Seychelles
o Mauritius
o Maldives
 Indian Diaspora
o Indian Diaspora in West
o Indian Diaspora in Gulf
o Indian Diaspora in Eastand Middle East

Polity & Governance (Features Of Indian Polity & Constitution (Mains))

UPSC SYLLABUS

 Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions

and basic structure
 Separation of powers Fundamental Rights, Preamble, DPSP, Fundamental Duties, etc.
 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
 Salient features of RP Act.

 
HISTORICAL UNDERPINNING

 Constitution: Why and How?

 Historical Background
 
EVOLUTION

 Constituent Assembly and its vision of future

 Making of the Constitution
 Constitution as a living document
 Democracy and diversity
 Outcomes of democracy
 Crisis of Democratic order
 National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution
 Comparison of the Indian Constitutional scheme with that of other countries

 
FEATURES

 Sources of the Constitution

 Salient features of the Constitution
 The Philosophy of the Constitution
 System of Government: Parliamentary & Presidential System
 Role of Convention under the Constitution
 Comparison between Judicial Review and Parliamentary Supremacy

 
AMENDMENTS

 The Constitution Amendment of the Constitution

 Keshvananda and Bharti Case Judgement
nd th
 42  and 44  Amendment to the Constitution
 The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 (124th Constitution Amendment Bill) to provide 10%
reservation in government jobs and educational  institutions to the economically weaker sections (EWS)
th
 (125  Amendment) Bill, 2019

 
SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS

 Preamble of the Constitution

o Debate : Is Preamble part of the Constitution and its amendment
 Citizenship
o National Register of Citizens
 Fundamental Rights
o Rule of Law
o Procedure Established by Law vs Due Process of Law
o Exceptions to Fundamental Rights
o Amenability of Fundamental Rights
o Rights following from other provision  of the Constitution
 Major Debates/ Issues around Fundamental Rights:
o Limitations upon the Freedom
 o Freedom of Press and Censorship
o Free Speech: Rights & Limits and Hate speech
o Data protection: Privacy Vs. Innovation
o RTI amendments
o Sedition-Law- Comprehensive public discussion regarding Section 124A of the Indian Penal
Code 1860
o Right To Information Act 2005.
o Defamation-Should it be decriminialised
o ‘Living wills’/ Euthanasia
o Restriction on the entry of women in places of worship
o Reservation in India – Explained in Layman’s Terms
o Reservation in promotion
o Aadhaar and Privacy issues
o Constitutionality of article 35A
 Directive Principles of the State Policy
o Scope of DPSP: Economic and Social Democracy
o Implementation of Directives
o Conflict between Fundamental Rights and role of judiciary in harmonizing them
o Challenge of implementing Uniform civil code
 Fundamental Duties
 Union Territories
o Chief Minister Vs Lieutenant Governor: Rules, Rights and Responsibilities
 Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir
o Kashmir Unrest
 Special Provisions for some States
 Scheduled and Tribal areas
 Official Language
o th
Reasons for the 58  Amendment

 
MAJOR DOCTRINES

 Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution

 Doctrine of Harmonious Construction
 Doctrine of Eclipse
 Doctrine of Pith and Substance
 Doctrine of Incidental or Ancillary Powers
 Doctrine of Colourable Legislation
 Doctrine of Severability
 Doctrine of Territorial Nexus
 Doctrine of Laches

 
PRESSURE GROUPS AND FORMAL/INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITY

 Pressure Groups
 Popular Struggles and Movements
  Rise of Popular movements

 
ELECTION & THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE’S ACT

 Political Parties
o Criminalisation of politics
o Freebies Politics in India
o Issues Related to the Working of Political Parties
o Inner Party Democracy
o Significance of Strong Opposition in Democracy
 Elections
o Role of Civil Society in Free and Fair Election
o What is Tactical Voting and Proportional Representation?
o What is Absentee Ballot?
 Voting Behaviour
 Election Laws
o Representation of People (Amendment) Bill 2010- Voting rights to NRI
o Introduction of NOTA
o Bill on Right to Recall Legislators
 Electoral reforms
o Demand For A Hybrid Electoral System
o Simultaneous Elections
o About Paper Trail units
o Election Funding (Electoral bonds) Corporate funding laws
o State Funding in elections
o Women voices in elections
o Law Commission Report on Electoral Reforms
 Anti-Defection Law
o Anti-Defection Law: Is it time for reconsideration?

 
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY

 The role of NGOs

o NGOs and Development/ Crackdown on NGOs
o Accountability and transparency in NGOs
 SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

 
MAJOR ISSUES

 Dalit assertion and Politics of reservation

 Should India spend more on science or Social welfare?
 Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
 Agrarian crisis: Issues in farmer economy
 Issues related to Social Media
  Media freedom and Responsible reporting
 Marital rape
 Section 377: Constitutionality Vs Morality
 Legalising Sports Betting In India

 
MECHANISM, LAWS, INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES CONSTITUTED FOR THE PROTECTION AND
BETTERMENT OF THESE VULNERABLE SECTIONS

 Special Provisions relating to Certain Classes

o Muslim Personal law: Polygamy/ Triple talaq
 Scheduled and Tribal Areas
o SC/ST Act judgment: Protecting the innocent or diluting the Protection?

Polity & Governance (Executive, Judiciary, Legislature (Mains))

UPSC SYLLABUS

 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States

 Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure
 Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
 Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and
issues arising out of these.
 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive
 Ministries and Departments of the Government
 Structure, organization and functioning of the Judiciary
 Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

 
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES PERTAINING TO THE FEDERAL STRUCTURE

 Union and its territory

o Formation of state and Altercation of boundaries
 Nature of Federal System
 Peculiar features of Indian federalism
 A Critique of the Federal System
o Challenges of Nation building
o Challenges Of Special Status State And Problems
 Demand for New states: Gorkhaland, Nagalim, Vidharbha, Purvanchal etc.
 Era of One-Party dominance
 Regional aspirations
 Emergency Provisions
o Imposition of President Rule
o Fundamental Rights during Emergency
 Conversion of state to UT unilateraly by centre-A constitutional question
 
STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION EXECUTIVE

 President
o President of India – Discretionary Powers- Imposition of President’s rule
o Is President a mere Rubber Stamp
 Vice President
 Prime Minister
 Central Council of Ministers
 Cabinet Committees

 
STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE

 Governor
o Provisions related to removal of Governor (Article 156)
o Discretionary Powers
o Politicization of the Post of Governor
 Chief Minister
 State Council of Ministers

 
PARLIAMENT

 Parliament
o Sessions of Parliament: Adjournment, Prorogation, Dissolution etc.
o Lacunas in Parliamentary Functioning in India
o When Does a Bill Lapse in Indian Parliament?
o Types of Majorities Used in the Indian
o Election to Rajya Sabha: The Procedure.
o Relevance of Rajya Sabha
o Government Budgeting: Indian Budget for
o Budget Documents Made Simple: Key to Budget Documents.
o Cut Motions: Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut.
o Misuse of Ordinance promulgation power
o Office of the Speaker: Powers and Issues
o Issue related to office of profit
o Breach Of Privilege: Special privileges   to MP’s and its implications
 Parliamentary Committees
o Parliamentary Committees in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
o Diminishing importance of parliamentary committees

 
STATE LEGISLATURE

 State Legislature
o Full statehood to Delhi: Should it be granted or not?
 o Relevance of Council of State    

 
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNION AND STATES
7  Schedule
th

SEPARATION OF POWER

 Power Sharing
 Centre-State Relations
o Inter-State Council vs National Development Council.
o Separate State Flag in Karnataka
o NITI Aayog: The new ‘think-tank’ to replace Planning Commission.
 Foreign Policy
 States demand a say in Foreign Policy?

 
DISPUTE REDRESSAL MECHANISMS AND INSTITUTIONS

 Inter-State Relations
o Inter-state River Water Dispute
o Inter-state Councils
 Parliamentary Forums
 Parliamentary Groups
 Administrative Tribunals
 National Integration

 
DEVOLUTION OF POWERS AND FINANCES UP TO LOCAL LEVELS AND CHALLENGES THEREIN

 Local Governments
o Nagaland Reservation in Urban Bodies
o Education Qualification made mandatory for contesting Local Government Elections
 Panchayati Raj and PESA 1996
 Municipalities
o in Municipalities in Sync with Urban Development Missions

 
STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE JUDICIARY

 Higher Judiciary Appointments

o Collegium system and issues.
o Collegium Vs. NJAC
o CJI removal
 Judicial Review
 Judicial Activism
o Judicial activism and judicial Overreach
 o Judicial Accountability & RTI Act
 Public Interest Litigation
o Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2017 Controversy
o National Litigation Policy
 Other Judicial Issues
o All India Judicial Services
o Proposal for National Court of Appeal
o Judicial Pendency
o Judicial Reforms
o Problems with Tribunals, Problems arising out of sidestepping the HC
o Alternate Dispute Redressal (ADR)
 Major Judgements of Supreme Court
o RIGHT TO CONVERT-the Supreme Court’s judgement regarding a person’s right to choose a religion,
Issue of Religious  Conversion in India,
o Reservation in promotion, Argument in favour of reservation in promotion, Argument against the
reservation in  promotions
o Supreme Court judgement on Caste, Religion in Polls
o Validity of Aadhaar but with certain caveats
o Cauvery River Verdict
o Concept of Defamation in India
o Should the SC proceedings be live streamed?

Polity & Governance (Governance (Mains))

UPSC SYLLABUS

 Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation
 Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
 E-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential
 Citizens Charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
 Role of civil services in a democracy
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

 
GOVERNANCE

 Concept of Good Governance

 Issues Concerning Governance
 Right Based Approach in Policy Making
  Public Policy Making and Policy Implementation
 How to Establish Good Governance

 
TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

 Right to Information
o Information sharing and transparency in government
o RTI and Official Secret Act: Who’s winning and why Judiciary wants to remain isolated
 Citizen’s Charters
o Benefits of Citizen Charter
o Citizen Charter in India: An Evaluation
o Problems Faced in Implementing the Charters
o Steps to improve Citizen Charters
o Indian Approach to Citizen Charter: Sevottam Model
o Administrative Reforms Commission’s Seven Step Model for Citizen Centricity
o Right to Service
 Extent of regulations and openness of media and social networking sites
o K. Visanathan Committee On Hate Speech
o Role of MEDIA in bringing Transparency and Accountability
o Social Media and Accountability
 E-Governance
o Role of E-Governance in bringing Transparency and Accountability
o Major E-Governance Projects and challenges in their implementation
 Role of civil services in a democracy
o Linkage of Civil Services and Democracy
o Debate on Lateral Entry in Civil Services
o Relation between Civil Servants and Political Executives
o Performance Appraisal System in Bureaucracy
o Reforms Needed In Indian Bureaucracy
 Codes of Ethics and Code of Conduct
o Paid news abuse by social media a poll menace
o Model code of conduct
 Utilization of Public funds
o Significance of Public Accounts Committee
o Challenges of corruption and incompetence

 
REGULATORY STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE REFORMS

 Functions and responsibilities of various Bodies

o Analysis of Autonomy and functioning of CAG, CBI, CVC and NHRC
o Lokpal and rise of Ombudsman era: a critical evaluation of journey traveled  so far
o State and operational effectiveness of Local governments in India
o Corporate Governance in India - Why is it so critical
 Police Reforms in India
 Curb On VIP Culture
  Prison Reforms in India
 Improving Governance In Public Systems

 
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY

 Role of Self Help Group in Development

 Shortcomings and Recommendations to  Improve Self Help Group
 Role and functions of NGOs in the Development
 Challenges Faced by NGOs in India
 Issue of Fund Mismanagement
 Role of Microfinance Institutions in Development Process
 Issues Related to Microfinance Institutions and Recommendations
 Role of Foreign aid in Development
 The role and function of pressure groups in India
 Changing Pattern of Pressure Group Politics in India

 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 Concept of Human Development

o Economic Growth and Human Development: Two-Way Link
o Measurement of Human Development
 Understanding Poverty
o Dimensions of Poverty
o Linkage between Poverty and Development
o Recommendations of Rangarajan Committee Report
o Poverty Alleviation Strategy Since Independence
o Programmes for Poverty Alleviation
o Concept of Inequality
o World Inequality Report 2018: Findings of the Report
o Income Inequality in India
o Recommendations to Reduce Inequality
 HUNGER
o Manifestations of Hunger and its causes
o Challenges to Food Security
o Global Hunger Index Report, 2018
o Recommendations
 Institutional Measures for Welfare of Vulnerable Sections
o Issues Related to the Weaker Sections & Vulnerable groups in India
o Constitutional Provisions for the  Welfare of Society
o Institutional Measures for the Welfare of the Society
o Issues with the Institutional Mechanisms
 HEALTH
o Public Health System of India
o Shortcomings of the Healthcare Sector
o Urgency of achieving Universal Health  Coverage
 o Evaluation of SWACHH BHARAT MISSION
o Global Nutrition Report 2018
o Initiatives Taken In Health Sector : Ayushman Bharat
o National Health Policy
 EDUCATION
o Challenges of Education sector in India
o Right to Education and Challenges to EWS Children
o Initiatives by Government

 
ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICES IN A DEMOCRACY

 Concept of civil services

 Need for civil services
 Different role of civil services
o Law making
o Policy formulation
o Policy implementation
o Policy evaluation
o Civil services as protector of democracy
o To protect minorities (religious and linguistic)
o To promote Inclusive and sustainable
growth
o Various Reforms in Civil Services

 
PRESSURE GROUPS AND FORMAL/INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITY

 What are pressure groups?

 Types of pressure groups
 Significance of pressure groups in India
 Differentiate between a pressure group and a political party
 Evaluation of pressure groups role

 
APPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL POSTS, POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

 Appointment of CAG (procedure of appointment)- composition of CAG

 Functions and responsibilities of CAG
 Powers and privileges of CAG (provided by constitution and different Acts of Parliament.)
 Appointment of ECI (procedure of appointment)- composition of ECI
 Functions and responsibilities of ECI
 Powers and privileges of ECI (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament)
 Appointment to UPSC (procedure of appointment)- composition of UPSC
 Functions and responsibilities of UPSC
 Powers and privileges of UPSC (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament.)
  Appointment to Finance commission (procedure of appointment)- composition of Finance commission
 Functions and responsibilities of Finance commission
 Powers and privileges of Finance commission (provided by constitution and different ACTs of
Parliament.)
 National commission for SCs and STs.

 
STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND VARIOUS QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES

 SEBI, CVC, CBI, Planning Commission NDC, PMO

 TRAI, IRDA
 National Human Rights Commission
 State Human Rights Commission
 Central Information Commission
 State Information Commission
 National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
 Medical Council of India
 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
 Biodiversity Authority of India
 Press Council of India
 Forward Markets Commission
 Inland Waterways Authority of India
 Role of CAG
 14th Finance Commission: Analysis
 7th Pay Commission Report and Repercussions
 AFSPA and Second ARC
 Inter-State River Water Dispute: Cauvery dispute
 Role of Niti Aayog

UPSC SYLLABUS

 Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation
 Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
 E-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential
 Citizens Charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
 Role of civil services in a democracy
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

 
GOVERNANCE

 Concept of Good Governance

 Issues Concerning Governance
 Right Based Approach in Policy Making
 Public Policy Making and Policy Implementation
 How to Establish Good Governance

 
TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

 Right to Information
o Information sharing and transparency in government
o RTI and Official Secret Act: Who’s winning and why Judiciary wants to remain isolated
 Citizen’s Charters
o Benefits of Citizen Charter
o Citizen Charter in India: An Evaluation
o Problems Faced in Implementing the Charters
o Steps to improve Citizen Charters
o Indian Approach to Citizen Charter: Sevottam Model
o Administrative Reforms Commission’s Seven Step Model for Citizen Centricity
o Right to Service
 Extent of regulations and openness of media and social networking sites
o K. Visanathan Committee On Hate Speech
o Role of MEDIA in bringing Transparency and Accountability
o Social Media and Accountability
 E-Governance
o Role of E-Governance in bringing Transparency and Accountability
o Major E-Governance Projects and challenges in their implementation
 Role of civil services in a democracy
o Linkage of Civil Services and Democracy
o Debate on Lateral Entry in Civil Services
o Relation between Civil Servants and Political Executives
o Performance Appraisal System in Bureaucracy
o Reforms Needed In Indian Bureaucracy
 Codes of Ethics and Code of Conduct
o Paid news abuse by social media a poll menace
o Model code of conduct
 Utilization of Public funds
o Significance of Public Accounts Committee
o Challenges of corruption and incompetence

 
REGULATORY STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE REFORMS

 Functions and responsibilities of various Bodies

o Analysis of Autonomy and functioning of CAG, CBI, CVC and NHRC
 o Lokpal and rise of Ombudsman era: a critical evaluation of journey traveled  so far
o State and operational effectiveness of Local governments in India
o Corporate Governance in India - Why is it so critical
 Police Reforms in India
 Curb On VIP Culture
 Prison Reforms in India
 Improving Governance In Public Systems

 
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY

 Role of Self Help Group in Development

 Shortcomings and Recommendations to  Improve Self Help Group
 Role and functions of NGOs in the Development
 Challenges Faced by NGOs in India
 Issue of Fund Mismanagement
 Role of Microfinance Institutions in Development Process
 Issues Related to Microfinance Institutions and Recommendations
 Role of Foreign aid in Development
 The role and function of pressure groups in India
 Changing Pattern of Pressure Group Politics in India

 
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 Concept of Human Development

o Economic Growth and Human Development: Two-Way Link
o Measurement of Human Development
 Understanding Poverty
o Dimensions of Poverty
o Linkage between Poverty and Development
o Recommendations of Rangarajan Committee Report
o Poverty Alleviation Strategy Since Independence
o Programmes for Poverty Alleviation
o Concept of Inequality
o World Inequality Report 2018: Findings of the Report
o Income Inequality in India
o Recommendations to Reduce Inequality
 HUNGER
o Manifestations of Hunger and its causes
o Challenges to Food Security
o Global Hunger Index Report, 2018
o Recommendations
 Institutional Measures for Welfare of Vulnerable Sections
o Issues Related to the Weaker Sections & Vulnerable groups in India
o Constitutional Provisions for the  Welfare of Society
o Institutional Measures for the Welfare of the Society
 o Issues with the Institutional Mechanisms
 HEALTH
o Public Health System of India
o Shortcomings of the Healthcare Sector
o Urgency of achieving Universal Health  Coverage
o Evaluation of SWACHH BHARAT MISSION
o Global Nutrition Report 2018
o Initiatives Taken In Health Sector : Ayushman Bharat
o National Health Policy
 EDUCATION
o Challenges of Education sector in India
o Right to Education and Challenges to EWS Children
o Initiatives by Government

 
ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICES IN A DEMOCRACY

 Concept of civil services

 Need for civil services
 Different role of civil services
o Law making
o Policy formulation
o Policy implementation
o Policy evaluation
o Civil services as protector of democracy
o To protect minorities (religious and linguistic)
o To promote Inclusive and sustainable
growth
o Various Reforms in Civil Services

 
PRESSURE GROUPS AND FORMAL/INFORMAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POLITY

 What are pressure groups?

 Types of pressure groups
 Significance of pressure groups in India
 Differentiate between a pressure group and a political party
 Evaluation of pressure groups role

 
APPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL POSTS, POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

 Appointment of CAG (procedure of appointment)- composition of CAG

 Functions and responsibilities of CAG
 Powers and privileges of CAG (provided by constitution and different Acts of Parliament.)
 Appointment of ECI (procedure of appointment)- composition of ECI
  Functions and responsibilities of ECI
 Powers and privileges of ECI (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament)
 Appointment to UPSC (procedure of appointment)- composition of UPSC
 Functions and responsibilities of UPSC
 Powers and privileges of UPSC (provided by constitution and different ACTs of Parliament.)
 Appointment to Finance commission (procedure of appointment)- composition of Finance commission
 Functions and responsibilities of Finance commission
 Powers and privileges of Finance commission (provided by constitution and different ACTs of
Parliament.)
 National commission for SCs and STs.

 
STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND VARIOUS QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES

 SEBI, CVC, CBI, Planning Commission NDC, PMO

 TRAI, IRDA
 National Human Rights Commission
 State Human Rights Commission
 Central Information Commission
 State Information Commission
 National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
 Medical Council of India
 Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
 Biodiversity Authority of India
 Press Council of India
 Forward Markets Commission
 Inland Waterways Authority of India
 Role of CAG
 14th Finance Commission: Analysis
 7th Pay Commission Report and Repercussions
 AFSPA and Second ARC
 Inter-State River Water Dispute: Cauvery dispute
 Role of Niti Aayog