UPSC PRE SYLLABUS
UPSC PRE SYLLABUS
PRELIMS
General Studies Paper – I
Defined
Indian Geography
1. Universe
1. Theories related to Solar System
2. Theories related to the formation of the universe
3. Recent updates on the same
2. The basic idea about Earth
1. The motion of the Earth – Rotation and Revolution
2. Latitudes and Longitudes
3. The inclination of the Earth’s Axis – effect on seasons
4. Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Tides and their significance
3. Geomorphology
1. Earth’s movement (exo-genetic and endo-genetic)
2. Earthquakes, volcanic activity
3. The basic idea about Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory,
Sea Floor Spreading
4. Interior of the earth
1. lithosphere
2. Interaction of lithosphere with other spheres
3. Boundaries and composition
5. Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits
1. Basic information about geographical landforms and their significance
2. Rock system and Classification of Rocks
6. Climatology
1. Structure and composition of the atmosphere
2. Factors controlling the temperature distribution
3. Insolation and terrestrial radiation
4. Heat budget
5. Global warming and ozone layer
6. Humidity and condensation
7. Clouds
8. Classification of clouds
9. Precipitation
10. Precipitation mechanism
11. Different types and forms of precipitation
12. Pressure belts
13. Atmospheric circulation
14. Winds
15. Planetary Winds
16. Seasonal and Local Winds
17. Cyclones Tropical and Temperate cyclone
18. Formation of cyclone, characteristics and impact
19. Jet streams
20. Various atmospheric phenomenon
7. The hydrosphere
1. Bottom relief of ocean
2. Salinity and temp variation
3. Ocean Currents
4. Ocean deposit
5. Ocean resources
6. Recent issues and development with ref to oceanography- Eg: UNCLOS
8. Biosphere
1. Major Biomes
2. Flora and fauna
3. International organisation for biodiversity
4. Conservation of Biodiversity
5. Recent issues
9. Economic geography
10. Map work
11. Places in News
General Science
1. Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift
2. Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life Cycle of A Star
3. Solar System Formation – Nebular Theory of Laplace
4. Solar System – Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets
5. Sun – Internal Structure, Atmosphere
6. Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types
7. India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
8. Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs Animal Cell
9. Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides, Polysaccharides
10. Proteins – Amino Acids, Enzymes
11. Vitamins and Minerals – Deficiency Diseases
12. Fats – Healthy Fats and Unhealthy Fats
13. Animal Tissues – Epithelium, Connective Tissues
14. Human Digestive System – Digestive Glands
15. Respiratory System – NCERT General Science
16. Endocrine Glands and Hormones
17. Human Neural System – Human Brain
18. Muscular and Skeletal System
19. Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA, Recombinant DNA
20. Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis – Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison
21. Inheritance – Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Chromosomal Theory, Human
Genome Project
22. Sex Determination – Genetic Disorders
23. Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
24. Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful Microbes
25. Immunity – Human Immune System
26. AIDS, Cancer – causes
27. Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
28. Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable Diseases
29. Blood – Blood Groups – Formed Elements
30. Circulatory System, Double Circulation
31. Excretory System – Kidney, Urine Formation
32. Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
33. Biological Classification
34. Five Kingdom Classifications of Plants and Animals
35. Plant Parts and Their Functions
36. Plant Kingdom – Halophytes, Bryophytes
37. Plants with Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
38. Plant Tissue – Simple, Complex Permanent Tissue
39. Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation
40. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Plants
41. Classification of Animal Kingdom (Animalia)
42. Classification of Vertebrata (Phylum Chordata)
43. Human Reproductive System
44. Biotechnology – Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications
45. Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom
• Evolution of Earth
• Geomorphology
• Interior Geology and Rock System of the Earth
• Process of Geomorphology
• tremors and volcanism
• Ocean and Continent Distribution
• How landforms have changed over time
• The world’s landforms
• Oceanography
• Hydrosphere
• Relief Features of Submarines
• Thermodynamics and Salinity
• Oceans, waves, currents, and tides
• Sea Resources
• Corals, deposits, and the ocean
• Climatology
• Atmosphere
• Change in Temperature
• Air mass, fronts, cyclones, and jet streams in the insolation and heat budget
• Belts of Wind and Pressure
• Precipitation
• Global Climate Zones
Bio Geography
• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
– Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data suf ciency etc. – Class
X level)
REASONING
• Analogy
• Classi cation
• Series Completion
• Blood Relations
• Direction Sense Test
1. Verbal Reasoning • Logical Venn Diagrams
• Alphabet Test
• Puzzle Test
• Ranking and Time Sequence Test
• Mathematical Operations
• Logical Sequence of Words
• Series
• Analogy
• Classi cation
• Analytical Reasoning
• Mirror Images
• Water Images
2. Non-Verbal Reasoning
• Cubes and Dice
• Paper Folding and Cutting
• Figure Formation and Analysis
• Completion of Incomplete Pattern
• Embedded Figures
• Coding-Decoding
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• Syllogism
• Statement and Assumptions
• Statement and Arguments
• Statement and Courses of Action
3. Logical Reasoning • Statement and Conclusions
• Assertion and Reason
• Cause and Effect
• Analytical Reasoning
• Critical Reasoning
• Seating Arrangements
• Blood Relations
• Puzzles
4. Analytical Reasoning
• Logical Connectives
• Assumptions
• Cause and Effect
• Inference-Based Questions
• Strengthening And Weakening Arguments
5. Critical Reasoning
• Assumption-Based Questions
• Drawing Conclusions From Passages
• Tables
• Bar Graphs
5. Data Interpretation • Line Graphs
• Pie Charts
• Caselet Based Data Interpretation
• Trains
• Boats and Streams
6. Time, Speed and Distance
• Time and Work
• Time and Distance
• Probability
• Partnership
7. Other Miscellaneous Topics
• Pipes & Cisterns
• Work & Wages
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Decision-making and problem-solving
• Hypothetical questions based on ethical dilemmas
• Decoding facts logically into answers
General mental ability
• Syllogisms
• Logical Deductions
• Statement and Conclusions
• Statement and Assumptions
• Assertion and Reason
• Statement Courses of Action
• Set Theory and Venn Diagrams
• Network Diagrams
• Verbal Reasoning Based on Binary Logic