UPSC PRELIMS SYLLABUS

GENERAL SCIENCE – I
CURRENT AFFAIRS:

 Yojana & Kurukshetra magazine

 Economic & Polity Weekly
 Press Information Bureau Releases (PIB)
 The Hindu & Indian Express

HISTORY & INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT:

 Prehistoric cultures in India

 Indus Valley Civilization : Origins- the different phases- society, economy, and
culture- Contacts with other cultures- factors lead to the decline.
 Geographical distribution and characteristics of pastoral and farming society.
 Vedic society-Vedic texts- change from Rigvedic to later Vedic phases.
 Vedic society Religion- Upanishad thought-Political and social organisation, the
evolution of the Varna system and monarchy.
 Formation of the State and urbanisation, from the Mahajanapadas to the
Nandas.
 Buddhism and Jainism- Factors for the spread of Buddhism.
 The Mauryan Empire- Chandragupta and Megasthenes.
 Ashoka and his inscriptions, his dhamma, culture, administration, and art
 Society of Post-Mauryan India, BC 200- AD 300- Evolution of Jatis.
 The Satavahanas and formation of the state in the Peninsula.
 Sangam texts and society.
 Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Kanishka-Contacts with the outer
world.
 Different Religion- Bhagavatism, Shaivism, Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana,
Jainism and Culture and art.
 The Guptas and their descendants.
 Literature Science, Arts, Economy, and society -Modification in the political
organisation of empire.

MEDIVAL INDIAN HISTORY:

 Early Medieval India: Major dynasties; Political and Agrarian organisation.

Status of women, Extent of social mobility. The Arabs in Sind and the
Ghaznavids.
 Cultural trends, 750-1200, Religious circumstances: the significance of temples
and monastic institutions; Sankaracharya; Islam; Sufism. Art and architecture.
Literature and Science.
 13th and 14th Centuries: Ghorian invasions reasons and consequences. Delhi
Sultanate under the Slave Rulers. Aladdin Khalji: invasion; administrative,
agrarian and economic measures. Muhammad Tughlug’s innovations. Firuz
Tughluq and the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Development of urbanisation
 and commerce. Spiritual movements in Hinduism and Islam. Literature.
Architecture, Technological changes.
 The 15th and early 16th Century: Key Provincial dynasties; Vijayanagara
Empire. The Lodhis, First stage of the Mughal Empire: The Sur Empire and
administration. Monotheistic movements: Kabir; Guru Nanak and Sikhism;
Bhakti. The spread of regional literature. Art and Culture.
 The Mughal Empire, Akbar: invasion, administrative measures, Policy of Sulh-I-
Kul. Jagir and Mansab systems; Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb: extension
of Mughal empire in the Deccan; religious policies. Shivaji. Persian and
regional literature. Religious idea: Abul Fazl; Maharashtra dharma.
Architecture. Painting. Economy: state of affairs of peasants and artisans,
escalation in trade; trade with Europe. Social stratification and position of
women.
 The decline of the Mughal Empire, Reason behind the decline. Maratha power
under the Peshwas. The Afghans. Regional states. Most important components
of composite culture. Sawai Jai Singh, astronomer. The rise of the Urdu
language.

MODERN INDIA – INM

 British extension: The Carnatic Wars, invasion of Bengal. Mysore and its
confrontation to British expansion: The three Anglo-Maratha Wars. Regulating
and Pitt’s India Acts. Early composition of the British raj.
 Economic Impact of the British Raj: land revenue settlements like Zamindari,
Ryotwari, Mahalwari; Deindustrialisation; Railways and commercialisation of
agriculture; increase of landless labour.
 Cultural encounter and social changes: the inception of western education and
modern thoughts. Indian Renaissance, religious and social reform movements;
Social reforms events before 1857. Development of Indian middle class; the
vernacular press and its effects: the rise of modern literature in Indian
languages.
 Confrontation to British rule: Early uprisings; The 1857 Revolt-reasons,
character, course and result.
 Indian Freedom struggle the first stage: Growth of national consciousness;
creation of Associations; Establishment of the Indian National Congress and its
Moderate stage; Swadeshi Movement; Economic Nationalism; The
development of Extremism and the split in Congress; The policy of Divide and
Rule; Congress-League Pact of 1916.
 Gandhian thoughts and techniques of mass mobilisation- Civil Disobedience,
the Khilafat movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement;
another strand in the National Movement-Revolutionaries, Subhash Chandra
Bose, and the Indian National Army.
 Separatist movements in Indian politics- the Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim
League; Partition and Independence; The post -1945 developments.
 India independent to 1964. A parliamentary, democratic, secular. Jawaharlal
Nehru’s vision, Foreign policy of Non-alignment, Planning and state-controlled
industrialisation. Agrarian modification.

INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

 The basic idea about India

  Location, latitude, longitude, time zone,
 Neighbouring countries
 States and its position and the states on International boundaries
 Important straits

 Physical features of India

1. The Himalayas

 Geological Formation
 Physiographic divisions
 Climate, Vegetation, Soil and Biodiversity
 Major passes
 Significance
 Recent issues

2. The Great North Indian plains

1. Geological Formation
2. Physiographic divisions
3. Climate, Vegetation, Soil and Biodiversity
4. Significance
3. Peninsular Plateau

 Geological formation
 Deccan plateau
 Central Highlands
 Western and Eastern Ghats
 Socio-economic issues related

4. Indian Desert
5. Coastal plains and Islands
 River systems – Characteristics, comparison and significance

 Himalayan rivers
 Peninsular rivers
 River basins
 Hydro-Power projects, Power plants and Major Dams
 Regional development and planning
 West flowing and east-flowing rivers
 Interlinking of rivers

 Climate in India
1. Monsoon

 Driving mechanism
 Effects of La-Nino and El-Nino
 Recent theories
 2. Season of India
3. Cyclones
 Mineral and industries

 Distribution of minerals
 Industrial policies
 Location factors
 Issues and challenges of the industries
 Industrial clusters

 Agriculture and Allied-characteristics and Problems

 Land utilisation
 Types of agriculture practices
 Soils and Crops
 Trends agriculture (Green revolution )
 Irrigation
 Major irrigation projects
 Land reforms
 Government policies and schemes
 Animal husbandry (livestock resources)

 Natural vegetation and fauna- Characteristics, importance, comparison and

significance

 Classification of natural vegetation

 Rainfall distribution
 Wildlife sanctuaries
 National Forest Policy
 Biosphere reserve
 National parks
 Environmental issues
 Red-listed species (in recent news)

 Economic infrastructure

 Transportation,
 Road(National Highways)- Rail- Air- Water(Major inland waterways) and
its Significance
 Power and energy sector
 Sources of conventional and non-conventional energy
 Energy conservation and crisis
 Recent developments

 Human Geography

 Demographics
 Recent census- 2011
WORLD GEOGRAPHY & PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

 Universe

 Theories related to Solar System

 Theories related to the formation of the universe
 Recent updates on the same

 The basic idea about Earth

 The motion of the Earth – Rotation and Revolution

 Latitudes and Longitudes
 The inclination of the Earth’s Axis – effect on seasons
 Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Tides and their significance

 Geomorphology

 Earth’s movement (exo-genetic and endo-genetic)

 Earthquakes, volcanic activity
 The basic idea about Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory,
Sea Floor Spreading

 Interior of the earth

 lithosphere
 Interaction of lithosphere with other spheres
 Boundaries and composition

 Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits

 Basic information about geographical landforms and their significance

 Rock system and Classification of Rocks

 Climatology

 Structure and composition of the atmosphere

 Factors controlling the temperature distribution
 Insolation and terrestrial radiation
 Heat budget
 Global warming and ozone layer
 Humidity and condensation
 Clouds
 Classification of clouds
 Precipitation
 Precipitation mechanism
 Different types and forms of precipitation
 Pressure belts
 Atmospheric circulation
  Winds
 Planetary Winds
 Seasonal and Local Winds
 Cyclones Tropical and Temperate cyclone
 Formation of cyclone, characteristics and impact
 Jet streams
 Various atmospheric phenomenon

 The hydrosphere

 Bottom relief of ocean

 Salinity and temp variation
 Ocean Currents
 Ocean deposit
 Ocean resources
 Recent issues and development with ref to oceanography- Eg: UNCLOS

 Biosphere

 Major Biomes
 Flora and fauna
 International organisation for biodiversity
 Conservation of Biodiversity
 Recent issues

 Economic geography
 Map work
 Places in News

INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNENCE

 Preamble
o Features of preamble
o 42nd Amendment
o Swaran Singh committee
 Schedules
o The basic idea about 12 schedules
 Constitution of India
o The basic idea about All articles
o Historical Background
o Drafting committee and the making of the Constitution
o Influence of other constitutions
o Its salient features
 Union and its Territory
o The basic idea about Article 1-4
 o State reorganisation and different Commissions
o Federal nature
o Recent issues
 Citizenship
o The basic idea about Article 5-11
o PIO, NRI, OCI and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
o Privileges available for Indian citizens and foreigners
o Citizenship Amendment Act of 2016
o New policies, schemes and recent changes in voting.
 Fundamental Rights (FR)
o The basic idea about Article 12-35
o A thorough understanding of Articles 14- 30 and Art. 32
o Rights and privileges available to citizens of India only and both to
citizens and foreigners
o 44th amendment act
o Different types of Writs
o Enforcement and Exceptional cases with regard to FR’s
o RTE and recent issues related to FR
 Fundamental Duties(FD)
o Article 51A
o Difference between FR and FD
o Significance and Criticism
o Enforcement of FD’s
o Recent issues about FD
 Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
o The basic idea about Article and Article 36-51 and Article 368
o Sources and key features of DPSP
o Classification of DPSP
o Comparison/ conflicts between Fundamental Rights and Directive
Principles
o Keshavananda Bharathi, Minerva Mills, Golaknath Case, Maneka Gandhi
case.
o Important Amendments- 42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and 97th
amendment
 Union
o The basic idea about Article 52-73
o Qualification and Election
o Function and Powers- (Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial,
Diplomatic, Military and Emergency Powers)
o Resignation and impeachment
o Role and responsibilities and relationship with Prime minister, Council of
Minister, Cabinet ministers.
o Prime minister and council of ministers- Basic idea about Article 74-75
o Powers and Functions
 o Council of ministers
o Resignation and Removal
o Attorney general
o Parliament
 The basic idea about article related
 Role and functions of the Parliament
 Sessions, Motions, Parliamentary procedure – Summoning,
Prorogation, Joint Sitting
 Parliamentary proceedings like Question Hour, Zero Hour, and
Adjournment Motion, etc.
 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,
 Special powers of Rajya Sabha
 Anti-defection law and 10th schedule
 Parliamentary Privileges
 Bill and lawmaking procedure
 Budget, funds and it’s summary
 Parliamentary Committees
 Judiciary
o The basic idea about article related to the judiciary.
o Powers of Supreme court and high court
o Qualification and appointment
o Removal procedure
o Recent controversy, verdicts, and constitutional provisions.
 State Government- State Executive
o Governor- appointment, removal and special powers.
o Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial powers and discretionary of the
governor
o 7th constitutional amendment
o Chief minister and council of ministers
o Power of chief minister
o State Legislature
State legislature compared to the Parliament with regard to
composition, powers, and functions.
 Bicameral legislatures
 Creation and abolition of the Legislative councils
o Administration of Union Territories (UT)
o Special provision for Delhi
o Administration and jurisdiction in UT’s
 Administration of Special Areas
o Basic idea about 5thSchedule 6th Schedule
o Recent issues related to Administration of Special Areas
o Special provision for Jammu and Kashmir-Article 370
o Difference between constitutional provisions related to Jammu and
Kashmir
 Emergency Provisions
o National emergency- Article 352
o President’s rule or State emergency- Article 356
o Financial emergency- Article 360
o 44th amendment act
o Effects and implications of emergency
o Role of President in emergency time
o The State of FR, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha
o Revoking emergency
 State- centre and interstate relations
o The basic idea about Articles 262 and 263
o Composition and functions of Interstate council and Zonal council
o Inter-State trade and Commerce
o Recent disputes between states, controversies etc
o New policies or schemes which impact interstate relations
 Panchayati Raj and municipalities
o Elections, auditing, powers and authority of panchayats
o 3 tier structure
o 73rd Amendment Act and the 74th Amendment Act
o Relation with FR and DPSP
o Schemes introduced
o Metropolitan planning committee and urban development
 Reservation
 Constitution Bodies
o Election Commission
o UPSC
o SPSC
o JPSC
o Finance Commission
o National Commission for SCs and ST’s,
o Composition, Powers and functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies
 Non-Constitutional Bodies
o The basic idea about Composition, Functions, Working of the Non-
Constitutional bodies such as National Human Rights Commission,
Central Information Commission, Central Vigilance Commission, Central
Bureau of Investigation, State Human Rights Commission, State
Information Commission, etc.
 Tribunals
o The basic idea about Article 323A and tribunals under Article 323B
o Recent controversial issues related to tribunals
o Different tribunals and importance
 Special Provisions for SCs, STs, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-
Indians
 o Privileges and right issued to SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities
and Anglo-Indians
o Issues related to vulnerable sections like women, child, SC’s, ST’s,
Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians
 Current affairs
o Recent issues related to above-mentioned categories
o Important schemes, programs, missions, laws, and policies launched by
the government.
o Recent Government Bills and Governance- Actions

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 Economic growth and development – basic concept and definition of Economy

and economics, uses and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and
microeconomic policy, micro-macro balance, distributive impact of economic
policies, development versus growth, determinant of growth and development,
concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII, TAI, Green index,
sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices.
 Poverty – definitions, causes, distribution-deprivation, income versus calories,
measurement of poverty, the status of poverty, eradication programmes,
poverty and resource policy, tribal rights and issues, livelihood mission.
 Inclusion – definition, relevance, types, financial inclusion, recent initiatives.
 Demographics – census data, populations by gender, by state, by age group,
socio-economic status, caste, religion, literacy levels, etc. Trends in human
development – interstate comparison, etc.
 Fiscal policy – definition, component, receipts, revenue and capital account, tax
revenue, expenditure, budget.

GENERAL SCIENCE

 Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift

 Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life Cycle of A Star
 Solar System Formation – Nebular Theory of Laplace
 Solar System – Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets
 Sun – Internal Structure, Atmosphere
 Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types
 India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
 Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs Animal Cell
 Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides, Polysaccharides
 Proteins – Amino Acids, Enzymes
 Vitamins and Minerals – Deficiency Diseases
 Fats – Healthy Fats and Unhealthy Fats
 Animal Tissues – Epithelium, Connective Tissues
 Human Digestive System – Digestive Glands
 Respiratory System – NCERT General Science
 Endocrine Glands and Hormones
 Human Neural System – Human Brain
 Muscular and Skeletal System
 Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA, Recombinant DNA
 Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis – Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison
 Inheritance – Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Chromosomal Theory, Human
Genome Project
 Sex Determination – Genetic Disorders
 Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
 Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful Microbes
 Immunity – Human Immune System
 AIDS, Cancer – causes
 Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
 Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable Diseases
 Blood – Blood Groups – Formed Elements
 Circulatory System, Double Circulation
 Excretory System – Kidney, Urine Formation
 Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
 Biological Classification
 Five Kingdom Classifications of Plants and Animals
 Plant Parts and Their Functions
 Plant Kingdom – Halophytes, Bryophytes
 Plants with Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
 Plant Tissue – Simple, Complex Permanent Tissue
 Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation
 Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Plants
 Classification of Animal Kingdom (Animalia)
 Classification of Vertebrata (Phylum Chordata)
 Human Reproductive System
 Biotechnology – Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications
 Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom