General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Indian Society) 

• Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times. 
• Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues. 
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. 
• Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country. 
• History of the World will include events from the 18th century such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism, etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. 
• Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems, and their remedies. 
• Effects of Globalization on Indian society. 
• Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism. 
• Salient features of the World’s Physical Geography. 
• Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India). 
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones, etc., geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. 

HISTORY:

Indian Heritage & Culture 

Indian Art Forms:

1. Indian Paintings:

• Wall Paintings of India
• Miniature Painting
• Modern Indian Painting

2. Dance of India-Classical, Regional

• Bharatnatyam
• Kathakali
• Kathak
• Manipuri
• Odissi
• Kuchipudi
• Sattriya 
• and also the regional dance of India that depends on the State-wise.

2. Music of India- Hindustani, Carnatic, and Regional Musi

• Indian Classical Music
• Carnatic Classical Music
• Regional Music

3. Theatre/Drama Forms of India:

• Traditional
• Modern
• and the Puppet Forms of India-String Puppets, Shadow Puppets, Rod Puppets, and Glove Puppets.

4. Pottery

5. Martial Arts

Literature

• Ancient Indian Literature
• Classical Sanskrit Literature
• Literature in Pali and Prakrit
• Early Dravidian Literature
• Medieval Literature
• Women Poets of Bhakti
• The Purana
• The Emergence of Nationalism
• Dalit Literature
• The Indian Literary Scene After Independence
• Trends in Medieval Literature
• Modern Indian Literature

Architecture

• Pre-historic
• Indus Civilization
• Temple Architecture
• Cave Architecture
• Indo-Islamic Architecture
• Medieval Architecture
• Modern Architecture
• Buddhist Architecture
• Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period

Modern Indian History

Middle of the Eighteenth Century Until the Present

• India in 1750
• Socio-economic Condition of People
• European Penetration of India
• British Expansion.
• Changes introduced by the British in India
• Socio-Religious Movements.
• Popular Uprising and Revolutions against the British.

The Freedom Struggle

Revolt of 1857

Growth of Nationalism in India (1858-1905)

• Political, Administrative & Economic Unification of India
• Role of Education
• Role of Press
• Rediscovery of India Past
• Early Political Movements
• Formation of INC
• Era of Moderates

Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905-1918)

•  Recognition of the True Nature of British Rule
• Growth of Education and Unemployment
• International Influences
• Existence of a Militant Nationalist School of Thought
• The Partition of Bengal
• The Swadeshi and Boycott
• The Role of Students, Women, Muslims, and the Masses
• The Nationalists and the First World War
• Ghadar
• Lucknow Session of the Congress (1916)
• Surat Split
• Morley – Minto Reforms
• The Growth of Communalism

Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919-1939)

• Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
• Rowlatt Act, Satyagrah and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
• Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas & Leadership
• Non-cooperation & Khilafat Movement
• The Swarajists & No-Changers
• The emergence of New Forces – Socialistic Ideas, Youth & Trade Unionism
• Revolutionary Activity
• Simon Commission & Nehru Report
• Civil Disobedience Movement & Round Table Conferences
• Communal Award & Poona Pact
• Participation in Elections to Central Legislature (1934) & Provincial Assemblies (1937)
• Government of India Act, 1935

Towards Freedom & Partition (1939-1947)

• World War II and Indian Nationalism
• Resignation of Congress Ministers,1939
• August Offer, 1940
• The Individual Satyagraha
• Two-Nation Theory
• Peasant Movements
• State People’s Struggle
• Cripps Mission, 1942
• Quit India Movement
• Wavell Plan and Simla Conference 1945
• INA & Subhash Chandra Bose
• Cabinet Mission plan, 1946
• Jinnah’s Direct-Action Resolution
• Indian Independence Act 1947
• Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II
• Independence with Partition

Post-independence Consolidation

Nation Building

• Partition and Its Aftermath
• Integration of Princely States
• Reorganization of States
• Issue of Official Language
• Tribal Consolidation
• Regional Aspirations

Foreign Policy

• Non-Aligned Movement
• Panchsheel
• Wars with Pakistan & China
• Nuclear Policy

Economy

• Planned Development
• Green Revolution, Operation Flood & Cooperatives
• Agrarian & Land Reforms
• Industrial Reforms
• LPG Reforms

Polity

• The era of One-Party Dominance
• The emergence of Opposition Parties
• Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order
• Rise of Regional Parties
• Coalition Era

Social

• Popular Movements
• Communalism
• Indian Women Since Independence
• Naxalism

History of the World

Industrial Revolution

• Beginning of Renaissance
• Discovery of Sea Routes
• Reformation
• European Nations Settle North America
• Rise of Slave Trade
• American War of Independence
• French Revolution
• Nationalism in Europe
• Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism & Imperialism

World War I

• Causes and Course of the World War-I
• Consequences of World War I
• Russian Revolution
• End of the War & Peace Treaties
• The aftermath of World War I
• League of Nations

World After First World War

• Europe After the War – Fascism & Nazism
• The Great Depression
• The emergence of the Soviet Union
• Nationalist Movements in Asia & Africa
• The US as a Strong Power
• French Revolution
• Russian Revolution

World War II

• Fascist Aggression & Response of Western Democracies
• Causes & Course of the World war-ll
• Aftermath &Analysis of the war
• An outbreak of the War
  • Theatres of the War
• US Entry into the War
• Global Nature of the War
• The Holocaust
• Resistance Movements

Decolonization & Redrawal of National Boundaries

• Europe after World War II
• Cold War
• Rise of Asia & Africa
• Developments in West Asia & North Africa
• Spread of Communism
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Cuban Crisis
• The collapse of the Soviet Union

Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism-Concept, Types & Social Impact of Political Philosophies

• Capitalism (concept, types, and example)
• Communism (concept, types, example)
• Socialism (concept, types, example)
• Relevance of capitalism in the present era

INDIAN SOCIETY:

Salient Features of Indian Society

• Diversity (Types – caste, linguistic, social and religious, race, tribe and ethnicity, culture)
• Challenges posed by Diversity
• Unity
• Pluralism
• Unity in Diversity
• Inequality and Exclusion
• Family System
• Examples of the above.

Role of Wome and Women’s Organization

• Women’s Organisations – Empowerment through Action
• 19th Century Social Reform Movements and Early Women’s Organisations – (1) Agrarian Struggles and Revolt, (2) Participation in Freedom Struggle
• Women’s Organisations Post – 1947
• The resurgence of Women’s Movement in the 70s: (1) Emergence of New Organisations, (2) Approaches and Issues
• Contemporary Women’s Issues & Organisation Response
• Women’s Organisations and SHGs
• Challenges faced by Women’s Organisations
• Violence Against Women
• Uniform Civil Code

Issues Related to Women

• Gender Discrimination in Corporate Sector
• Female Genital Mutilation
• Bill on Banning Triple Talaq
• Issues of women entry to the place of worship
• Adultery No Longer a Crime: SC
• Unwanted Girls 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

Population and Associated Issues

• Basic Demography of India
• Population Trends in India and their Implications
• Causes and Effects of Over Population
• Challenges of Population Explosion
• Changing Age Structure of Indian Population
• Demographic Dividend: Boon or Bane for India
• Population Aging in India
• India’s Population Policy & Initiatives

Poverty and Developmental Issues

• Concept of Development and Poverty
• Types of Poverty
• Measurement of Poverty – Poverty Line
• Causes of Poverty
• Poverty as a Social Problem
• Socio-economic Spread of Poverty
• Consequences of Poverty –
  • Inequality
  • Continuation of Vicious Cycle
  • Who is worst affected by poverty?
• The problem of Rising Urban Poverty
• Poverty Alleviation Initiatives
• The policy shift from “Trickle Down” Economics to Inclusive or Pro-poor Development to Reduce Poverty
• Relation between Poverty Reduction and Development: Poverty-Inequality-Development Nexus

Urbanization

• Urbanization Trends in India and Their Implications – Demographics and Social Dimensions
• Factors Driving Urbanisation
• State of Service Delivery and Challenges posed by Urbanisation
• Problems of Urban Areas
• Social Consequences of Urbanisation
• Impact of Urbanisation in Rural Areas
• Urban Planning and Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
• Reforms Required and Government Initiatives Taken So Far
• Problems of Slums

Effects of Globalization on Indian Society

• Understanding Globalization – Its Different Dimensions
• Globalization & Culture – Homogenisation vs. Glocalisation
• Factors Driving Globalization
• Globalization & India
• Impact of Globalization on India – Socio-cultural, economic, on women, agrarian sector, etc.
• Does Globalization Cause Poverty?

Social Empowerment

• Which are the Socially Disadvantaged Groups?
• Dimensions of Social Empowerment
• Government Initiatives to Aide Social Empowerment

Communalism

• Communalism – Its Characteristics
• Communalism in India in the Past
• Communalism in Contemporqary India
• Causes of Communalism
• Consequences of Communalism
• Measures to Control & Eradicate Communalism
• Secularism as an Antidote to Communalism

Regionalism

• Concept of Region & Regionalism
• Different Forms of Regionalism
• Regionalism in India
• Causes of Regionalism
• Concept of ‘Sons of Soil’
• Consequences of Regionalism
• Federalism & Regionalism
• Role of Regional Parties
• Measures to Contain Regionalism
• Regionalism in the International Sphere

Secularism

• Concept of Secularism
• Indian Model of Secularism
• Secularism in India
• Nature & Practice of Secularism in India
• Uniform Civil Code
• Challenges faced by Secularism in India
• Measures to Make India Truly Secular

GEOGRAPHY:

Salient Features of World’s Physical Geography

Geomorphology

• Origin & Evolution of Earth
• Interior of the Earth
• Distribution of Continents & Oceans
• Plate Tectonic Theory
• Distribution of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
• Rocks & Rock Cycle
• Geomorphic Processes – Endogenic & Exogenic
• Landforms & their Evolution

Oceanography

• Hydrological Cycle
• Seafloor Spreading
• Ocean Floor Configuration
• Temperature & Salinity of Oceans
• Movement of Oceans – Waves, Tides, Currents

Climatology

• Earth’s Atmosphere – Composition & Structure
• Solar Radiation, Heat Budget & Temperature
• Atmospheric Circulation & Weather Systems
• World Climate (examples)

Soil Geography

• Soil & Soil Contents
• Process of Soil Formation
• Soil Forming Factors
• Types of Soils (examples)
• Soil Erosion & Conservation

Distribution of Key Natural Resources Across the World

Types of Resources

• On the Basis of Origin, Ownership, Exhaustability, etc.

Land Resources

• Land Utilisation
• Land Use Pattern
• Land Degradation & Conservation

Forest Resources

• Types & Distribution – Grasslands, Forests, etc.
• Causes of Depletion
• Conservation of Forests

Water Resources

• Marine & Freshwater
• Water Scarcity & Need For Conservation
• Integrated Water Resources Management

Agricultural Resources

• Types of Farming
• Cropping Patterns
• Contribution to Economy, Employment & Output
• Food Security

Mineral & Energy Resources

• Classification of Minerals – Ferrous & Non-Ferrous
• Occurrence of Minerals
• Conservation of Minerals
• Classification of Energy Resources – Conventional & Non-Conventional
• Occurrence of Energy Resources
• Conservation of Energy Resources

Factors Responsible for the Location of Industries

Classification of Industries

Location & Distribution of the Industries on the Basis of

• Raw Material
• Labour
• Market
• Capital
• Land
• Grants & Financial Incentives
• Power
• Transport
• Water
• Communication

Distribution of Major Industries – Iron & Steel, IT, Cotton Textile

Agglomeration & Footloose Industries

Important Geophysical Phenomena

Earthquakes

• Why Does Earth Shake?
• Earthquake Waves
• Shadow Zone
• Types of Earthquake
• Measuring Earthquake
• Effects of Earthquake

Tsunami

• What Causes Tsunami
• Effect of Tsunami
• Mitigating the Impact of Tsunami

Volcanoes

• Types of Volcanoes
• What Causes Volcanoes?
• Volcanic Landforms

Cyclone

• Tropical Cyclones
• Anti-Cyclone
• Extra-Tropical Cyclones

Geographical Features and their Location

• Factors Causing Changes in Critical Geographical Features
• Examples of Changing Geographical Features – Melting of Ice Sheets, Desertification, etc.
• Impact of Changing Geographical Features