CAPF Study Plan and Book List
CAPF Study Plan and Book List
CAPF Study Plan and Book List
[Study-plan] Central Police Forces Exam (Assistant Commandant) Booklist Strategy, cuto s
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In terms of General studies Questions, the CAPF and CDS exams run almost parallel. differences are:
CDS CAPF
English paper contains MCQ only, no essay writing / descriptive stuff. Essay Comprehension paper, worth 2 hours and 200 marks.
1. NCERT and NIOS textbooks (even here, you’ve to do very limited study of specific chapters, as explained in this article. free download
links @bottom)
2. Indian Polity by M.Laxmkanth (religiously mugup this book for ~10 marks in the exam.)
3. General Studies Manual (for filling up the gaps/topics left in NCERTs + for practice of mock questions) you don’t need to buy latest
edition, because static topics (history, geography, science) remain one and same in all edition. So grab second hand/used copy for a
cheaper price or borrow it from a friend. Any publication will work: Unique, TMH, Spectrum etc.
First we’ll see how to approach static topics (history, geography, science, EnB, economy and polity.) then we’ll see how to approach the
current affairs (for IR and Misc.GK). I’m copy pasting the content from my article on CDS strategy because GS/GK/GA syllabus-points are
running parallel.
for History/culture portion, use the Tamilnadu (TN) State education board books. They’re better than NCERTs. (Free download @bottom).
–end of update
Historycan be sub-classified into following:
Historycan be sub-classified into following:
Culture Music, painting, dance, religion, architecture, books etc. in above 3 periods.
World history rarely anything asked from it. So ignore world history.
In old times, UPSC used to ask trivial GK question from kings, war timelines etc. =waste of time in preparation.
But nowadays, questions usually centered around culture or just ‘true/false/find correct statement; cause-effect-reasons’ type questions.
I suggest you look at last 2-3 years papers by yourself (given in the appendix) and see it yourself.
Ancient
In Ancient period, the MCQs mostly come from 2 topics:
1. Harappa
2. Jainism-Buddism (includes Asoka etc.)- Although this can be classified under culture.
I’ve already uploaded the NCERTs according to topics (and not according to standards/classes), so just download from appendix and start
reading. If you already have downloaded NCERTs from any other source, then prepare in following sequence:
Medieval
If you’re willing to take the risk (or running out of time), you can even skip this topic (kings, wars, dynasties etc.). Because rarely 1-2
question come from medieval portion nowadays. But do prepare culture related things from medieval period.
After that: Read the Medieval history section in your GS Manual and finally mock questions. But keep in mind: GS manuals contain truckload
of kings and timelines in the medieval period, don’t waste time mugging them up.
Modern History
Important: NCERTs don’t cover all MCQ worthy topics from within the Modern history / freedom struggle. Therefore you must do following
Culture
While reading above NCERTs, you’ll come across lot of culture related topics (in painting, literature, dance, music, religion etc.) however for
better and consolidated preparation, I suggest you also go through the NIOS study material for Culture. (Free download links @bottom)
2: Science
@Arts/commerce students
“yeh mujse nahi hoga / science is not my cup of tea ” = this is loser talk. You want to pass CAF, CDS or SSC, then science has to be prepared,
whether you like it or not. Besides, NCERT textbooks explain the science in very lucid, layman friendly manner, so science is that not difficult,
just read and revise often.
@Science/Engineer/Medical students
don’t live in some overconfidence that “ Just because I’m M.Sc (Botany) so I don’t need to read these stupid class7 NCERT science textbooks.
I know everything!”
Because, you may be good at the technical and latest things happening in your graduation field, but UPSC asks from basic principles and
theories that might have evaporated from your head after you left highschool years ago. Therefore, no matter what your academic
qualification is, always start with NCERTs.
Physics 1. This is to be prepared from NCERTs, then General Studies (GS) Manual and finally mock questions at the
end of GS Manual.
Chemistry 2. (optional): you may also read NIOS material on Geography for additional grip over the subject. Free
download links @bottom.
3. Please note: in GS Manuals, they often go into very minute details, like chemical formulas of hormones
Biology etc. don’t waste that much time. You just need basic science concepts, principles and their day-to-day
application clear.
Physics
1. Sci10_13_Magnet
2. Sci10_12_electricity
3. Sci10_10_light
4. Sci9_12_Sound
5. Sci9_11_Work And Energy
6. Sci9_10_Gravitation
7. Sci9_9_Force And Laws Of Motion
8. Sci9_8_Motion
9. Sci8_16_Light
10. Sci8_14_Chemical Effects Of Electriccurrent
11. Sci8_13_Sound
12. Sci8_12_Friction
13. Sci8_11_Force And Pressure
14. Sci7_15_Light
15. Sci7_14_Electric Current and its Effects
16. Sci7_13_Motion and Time
17. Sci7_4_Heat
18. Physics11_1_What is Physics
Chemistry
1. Sci7_5_Acids,Bases andSalts
2. Sci7_6_Physical and Chemical Changes
3. Sci8_3_Synthetic Fibres And Plastics
4. Sci8_4_Materials Metals And Non-Metals
5. Sci8_5_Coal And petroleum
6. Sci8_6_Combustion And Flame
7. Sci9_1_Matter In Our Surroundings
8. Sci9_2_Is Matter Around Us Pure
9. Sci9_3_Atoms And Molecules
10. Sci9_4_Structure Of The Atom
11. Sci10_1_Chemical Reactions and Equations
12. Sci10_2_Acids, Bases and Salts
13. Sci10_3_Metals and Non-metals
14. Sci10_4_Carbon and its Compounds
15. Sci10_5_Periodic Classification of Elements
Biology
1. Sci7_1_Nutrition in Plants
2. Sci7_2_Nutrition inAnimals
3. Sci7_10_Respiration in Organisms
4. Sci7_11_Transportation in Animals and Plants
5. Sci7_12_Reproduction inPlants
6. Sci8_2_Microorganisms Friend And foe
7. Sci8_8_Cell Structure And Functions
8. Sci8_9_Reproduction In Animals
9. Sci8_10_Reaching The age Of Adolescence
10. Sci9_5_The Fundamental Unit Of life
11. Sci9_6_Tissues
12. Sci9_7_Diversity In Living Organisms
13. Sci9_13_Why Do We Fall ill
14. Sci10_6_Life Processes
15. Sci10_7_Control and Coordination
16. Sci10_8_reproduction
17. Sci10_9_evolution
18. Sci10_11_human eye
19. Biology12_11_Biotechnology Principle and Processes
20. Biology12_12_Biotechnology and its Applications
3: Geography
Geography can be further classified into
Earlier geography used to encompass Environment biodiversity (EnB) + agriculture, but now both of them have grown up and getting
more ‘special’ attention from UPSC Examiners.
Again, our approach is NCERT => GS Manual => Mock questions.
(optional): you may also read NIOS material on Geography for additional grip over the subject. Free download links @bottom.
Note: In GS manual, they sometimes go in very minor details e.g. state where particular breed of goat/pig/cow/buffalo is found. don’t
waste time in such details. Even for Indian geography, you should know broad things. If you try to prepare every detail, you’ll be stuck
there forever.
Physical Geography
Universe
When you go to universe, there is no dearth of GK regarding relative size, color, distance of various planets etc. but again keep the time
factor in mind.
Earth: Basics
From earth basics, UPSC usually asks a few questions on
Rocks/Geology related
1. Geo11_5_Minerals and Rocks (after that, immediacy read the Indian geography chapters related to distribution of mines and
minerals in India)
2. Geo11_6_Geomorphic Processes
3. Geo11_7_Landforms and their Evolution.
Ocean related
6. Geo11_13_Water (Oceans)
7. Geo11_14_Movements of Ocean Water
Disaster related
8. Geo11_7_India_Natural Hazards and Disasters
9. Sci7_8_Winds, Storms and Cyclones
10. Sci8_15_Some Natural Phenomena lightening earthquakes
Misc
11. Geo11_1_Geography as a Discipline
12. Geo11_Glossary
Indian Geography
Here UPSC often asks questions on rivers-tributaries. but then again, no point in mugging up beyond a level. Apart from NCERT, also read
chapter 30 from India Yearbook (free download link @bottom).
India: rivers
1. Geo9_3_drainage
2. Geo10_3-water resources
3. Geo11_3_India_Drainage System
4. Geo12_India_6_Water Resources
4. Geo12_India_6_Water Resources
Agriculture
Here is the list of NCERT chapters that should be specifically read and revised. More emphasis on soil-types, crops and cropping
technologies.
1. Geo8_4_agri
2. Geo10_4-agriculture
3. Geo11_6_India_Soils
4. Geo12_5_Primary Activities
5. Geo12_India_5_Land Resources and Agriculture
6. Sci7_3_Fibre to Fabric
7. Sci7_9_Soil
8. Sci8_1_Crop Production And Management
9. Sci9_15_Improvement In Food Resources
4: Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)
In 2012’s CAPF prelims they asked 10 Qs. from this topic. Some from static/theory, some from current affairs like National plan on
climate change etc. but they’re covered under my articles on economic survey.
For EnB, the foundation /base material is NIOS (free download links @bottom).
also Go through the articles posted on Mrunal.org/enb
Besides, certain chapters of NCERT Geography and Science textbooks also help in EnB. Here is the list:
5: Polity
In all three exams: Civil service exam, CAPF and CDS exam, polity MCQs form a signification portion. The cost: benefit ratio is quite good.
3. Depending on your time and mood, the NCERT, NIOS political science and sociology textbooks. (again free download
Peripheral
@bottom).
Here are some tips on how to Laxmikanth’s book efficiently and get a good grip over the polity within a short period of time?
1. First you read the chapter on President, Vice President and immediately move to the chapter on governor. Then read on Emergency
provisions.
2. Read chapter on PM and cabinet, then move to CM and state council of Ministers.
3. Chapter on “Parliamentary system” and then directly to parliament, but after budget topic is done pause this chapter and move to on
CAG. Then come back and resume the chapter on parliament.
4. Once parliament is finished, move to State legislative assembly.
5. Supreme Court and then High court, tribunals.
6. Attorney Gen =>Advocate General
7. UPSC =>State PSC
8. Finance Commission =>Planning Commission=>Nat.Development council
9. Now Centre State relation and Interstate relations.
10. Election Commission=> chapter on election, Anti-defection
11. All the National Commissions on Women, SC, ST,OBC, CVC, Lokpal and so on.
Note: the short explanations given in appendix of every chapter= should be read.
Single time reading of Laxmikanth= useless. Revise his book, minimum 3 times.
An allied topic of Polity is “rights-issue” for example women rights, children rights, SC/ST/OBC/PH/Minorities and various schemes meant for
that. Although not much is asked from It and Most of that stuff is already covered under my economic survey chapter summaries
:Mrunal.org/economy and Mrunal.org/polity
6: Economy
In 2012’s exam, 6 questions came from Economy. Mostly based on current affairs and economic survey.
but Don’t waste your time in mugging up stupid numbers (like IIP in xyz month, how much sharemarket went up or down etc.).To prepare
Economy use following resources
1. NCERT class 11 and 12. (free download link @bottom.) Class 12 macroeconomics=good, but class-12 microeconomics=ignore.
2. NIOS material for economy (free download link @bottom)
3. Mrunal.org/economy (most of the economic survey related summaries given in it)
4. Finally GS Manual Mock questions for practice.
You don’t need to specifically buy “ Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh ” for CAPF exam, but if you have it (or can borrow from a friend) then
do read it.
7: Yearbook
yearbook means government schemes, policies, institutes etc. MCQs. Most of them already covered under my Economic survey articles
hence no need to purchase India 2013/Yearbook.
7: International relations/events/diplomacy
Just like CDS exam, the IR questions are also asked in CAPF exam. 2012’s paper contains 6 MCQs from this topic. So, what type of details
Just like CDS exam, the IR questions are also asked in CAPF exam. 2012’s paper contains 6 MCQs from this topic. So, what type of details
should be prepared?
5. Basic things about international organizations such you’ll find them covered under your GS Manual + in sociology/political science
as UN, UNESCO, WTO, ASEAN, NATO etc. related NCERTs
8: Defense
The questions about various missiles, DRDO technology, joint-military exercises with other countries.
A lot of topics that happened from 2012 upto March 2013, are already compiled in the following article
https://mrunal.org/2013/03/defense-current-affairs-compilation-2012-13-missiles-joint-exercises-operations-organizations.html
beyond that, again Goto library, read whatever competitive magazine you get (CST, Pratiyoigta, Chronicle, Wizard) and note down
important things from diary of international events + Person in news.
for basics about army, navy, airforce: organization, recruitment, training etc. read Chapter 9 “Defense” From India Yearbook. (You don’t
need to specifically buy India 2013, just refer the India 2011 free PDF given at bottom of this article. Because that chapter remains almost
one and same in all editions of India yearbook.)
9: Misc GK
It involve sports, awards, books-authors, persons in news and all other stupid infinite trivial database.
I’ve published compilation from 2012 to March 2013 click me after that, goto library, read whatever competitive magazine you get (CST,
Pratiyoigta, Chronicle, Wizard) and note down important names/details. Following areas to concentrate
Maths/Quantitative aptitude 3
Data interpretation 4
Reasoning 13
Total 20
just some basic stuff, if you’ve already given SSC / Bank exam sincerely then this portion should not pose much challenge. anyways, for
those who’re new to this game, what to do?
CAPF: Maths
Divisibility, remainders
my article explaining the concept of HCF, LCM click me
LCM and HCF
Number NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)
LCM and HCF
Number NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)
Unknown numbers from given
theory NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)
conditions
Finally practice sums from your Quantitative aptitude book.
Fractions-comparisions.
Wine-Water mixture (Alligations) Can be solved without formula. read this article click me
Simple Average Just practice sums from your quantitative aptitude book.
Avg and
Ratios
Ratio-Proportion-variations For ratio-proportion NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.
Basics explained in NCERT Class 8 Chap 3, 11.Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12,
Mensuration Area, Volume, Perimeter 13.
Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 13
Profit, loss, market price, discount how to solve without formulas: explained here click me
%
Simple interest (SI), compound interest
how to solve without formulas, explained here click me
(CI), population growth
Once this is done, practice maximum questions from your quantitative aptitude book (RS Agarwal, Sarvesh Kumar, Rajesh Verma, M.Tyra)
and or previous IBPS/Bank papers.
Maintain a diary of mistakes, so whatever shortcuts you discover or whatever mistakes you make while practicing sums, note them in
this diary. and refer to this diary in night before exam.
Also depending on time and mood; prepare permutation, combination, probability, arithmetic progression. (they’re not “priority topics”).
1. trigonometry
2. Geometry theory except the area, volume, perimeter (AVP).
3. coordinate geometry
4. quadratic equations
5. logarithms
CAPF reasoning
the Recommended Book is as usual: RS Aggarwal’s Modern Approach to verbal and non-verbal reasoning . Then the question is, how to
prepare reasoning in systematic manner in the given time? Do it in following manner:
RS Aggarwal Chapter
Sr.No Topic
No.
Sitting arrangement: “table” based e.g. lecture schedules, job-car-cloth color, building-car-newspaper
4. 6
etc.
1. Coding-decoding 4
1. Analogy 2
1. Word based.
2. Number based.
If it is word based, you don’t need pen and paper, you can solve it in your head and proceed.
If it is number based, then depending on your proficiency (and luck) it may be very easy question for example
1. Find odd man: 13,17,21,23. (ans. 21 because it is not a prime number). So this is quick and easy.
But at times it can be difficult and may require lot of trial and error for example
^in this case, you may or may not be able to see the pattern immediately. It may take you five seconds, it may take 5 minutes. So don’t sit on
just one question. Move to next question. You don’t have to tick all answers to get selected.
syllogism
Syllogism= “All cats are dogs,…” statement and conclusion. Usually a set of 3-5 questions. First Understand the UP-UN method explained
here click me
Then solve all the questions given in RS Agarwal’s book Section II, Chapter 1 : Logic.
Assumption reasoning
RS Agarwal’s book Section II, Chapter 3 :Statement assumptions.
From some bankPO buddy, you may borrow a book called “Analytical reasoning by MK Pandey” and refer to his theory as well.
Once above chapters are finished done, then go through the peripheral topics from RS Agarwal’s book: depending on your time and mood.
Part-B – Comprehension, précis writing, other communications/language skills – to be attempted in English only (Marks 120) – The topics
are Comprehension passages, précis writing, developing counter arguments, simple grammar and other aspects of language testing.
1. Long Essay (four essays are given; you’ve to write only one of them in 800 words.)
2. Short Essay ( two topics are given, you’ve to pick one and write 250 words)
3. Reading comprehension (a paragraph is given and you’ve to read and write answers based on that paragraph)
4. Précis (a long paragraph is given, you’ve to write short version of it.)
5. English grammar. (Fill in the blanks etc)
Just go through the old papers, and solve them (yes you should actually write the answers in blank papers at home, for practice).
No separate preparation is necessary. But still if you’re very uncomfortable with English, you can refer to AP Bhardwaj’s book.
Folder Comment
Contains NCERT history chapters from class 7 to 12, in three zip files: ancient, medieval and Modern
History +NIOS Culture material
Contains selective chapters from class 6 to 12 from science and geography textbooks that are relevant for
Environment and biodiversity.
EnB
+NIOS material for environment and biodiversity EnB.
Contains NCERT class 6 to 12 in five zip folders: physical, India, World, Agro and glossary.
Geography +NIOS material on geography (although lot of overlapping)
India yearbook
earlier government used to upload free PDF files for India yearbook (e.g. India 2010, India 2011 etc.)
But since 2012, they stopped. However, for CAPF you don’t need a latest edition and you don’t need to refer all chapters. (Most of the
schemes etc. covered in my economic survey articles).
so, just download the India 2011 edition click me And read chapter following chapters
1. for Essay fodder points: IGNOU booklet India Democracy and Development (MPS-003) Click Me
Single folder contains many courses from NIOS: sociology, political science etc. download as per your time, mood and
NIOS Download
requirement.
NCERTs
Social sci. 10 Democratic Politics Part 2 for Class X Social Science Download
World history 10 India and the Contemporary World 2 Class X Social Science Download
Cuto s
Year Gen OBC SC ST
Please note: In the year 2009 & 2010 paper I was for 250 marks & paper II was for 150 marks, Personality test for 200 marks. But From
2011 they have changed to paper I for 250 marks & paper II for 200 marks, Personality test for 150 marks.
Interview experience of Previous Toppers
For the interview experience of previous CAPF-2011s toppers read following:
Mrunal recommends
8 0 0 C o m m “ e[ nS tt su do yn - p l a n ] C e n t r a l P o l i c e F o r c e s E
B o o k l i s t S t r a t e g y , c u t o s ”
Ma
rgan
Yg
adav R E P L Y
Hi Sir,
Read your article. You made so much efforts to make this. Highly appreciated. _/\_
MAHESH
PA
L
TI R E P L Y
thanks for this valuable information and details regarding exam. your efforts to make this is clearly
visible and highly appreciable. thanks for study plan.
San
ay
j R E P L Y
Sir is there any changes in the syllabus for the year 2019.
because I am blindly following your syllabus.
There is nothing is covered from previous papers as compared to your
Syllabus
Sa
C
k
h
sa
iudha
y
r R E P L Y
Not able to access any pdf data.The links are disabled.Please provide correct links.
Su
sV
h
a
rtive
l R E P L Y
Anm
Mo
sh
la
ir R E P L Y
Sir can you please update the information for the upcoming CAPF 2020 .Topics like defence
exercise ,economic policies etc.
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