(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

• Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development, and Employment.
• Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major Crops – Cropping Patterns in various parts of the country, – Different Types of Irrigation and Irrigation Systems; Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce and Issues and Related Constraints; E-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices; Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology Missions; Economics of Animal-Rearing.
• Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Significance, Location, Upstream, and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.
• Land Reforms in India.
• Effects of Liberalization on the Economy, Changes in Industrial Policy and their Effects on Industrial Growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
• Investment Models.
• Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
• Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Biotechnology, and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
• Conservation, Environmental Pollution, and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Disaster and Disaster Management.
• Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism.
• Role of External State and Non-state Actors in creating challenges to Internal Security.
• Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks, Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges, Basics of Cyber Security; Money-Laundering and its prevention.
• Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas – Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism.
• Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Indian Economy & Issues Relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development & Employment

Planning

• Meaning of Planning
• Need for Planning in Economic Development
• Imperative Vs. Indicative Vs. Structural Planning
• Objectives of Planning
• Indian Planning History
• Techniques of Indian Planning
• Achievements & Failures of Indian Planning
• Shortcomings of Planning in India
• NITI Aayog Vs. Planning Commission

Mobilisation of Resources

• Types of Resources – Financial, Human, Natural, etc.
• Need for Resource Mobilisation
• Role of Savings & Investment
• Government Resources – Tax & Non-Tax ( or Fiscal & Monetary Policy)
• Banking Sector & NBFCs
• Capital Market
• External Sources – FDI, ODA, etc.
• Public Borrowing & Management of Public Debt
• Challenges in Mobilising Resources for Development
• Steps That Can Be Taken

Growth & Development

• Meaning of Development & Growth
• Difference between Development & Growth
• Determinants of Growth & Development
• Importance & Limitations of Economic Growth
• Jobless Growth
• Pro-Poor Growth
• Balanced & Unbalanced Growth
• Dimensions of Development
• Measurement & Indicators of Development
• Approaches to Development:
  • Market-Based Approach
  • Role of State and Planned Approach
  • Mixed Economy Approach
• Challenges to Development & Growth

Employment

• Nature – Rural vs. Urban, Formal Vs. Informal
• Terms Related to Employment – Labour Force Participation Rate, Employment Rate, Working Age Population, etc.
• Sectoral Distribution of Employment
• Quality of Employment
• Causes of Lack of Employment
• Restructuring of Workforce
• Government Initiatives for Generating Employment

Inclusive Growth & Issues Arising From It

• What is Inclusive Growth?
• Elements of Inclusive Growth
• Need for Inclusive Growth
• Indicators of Inclusive Growth
• Challenges in Achieving Inclusive Growth in India
• 12th FYP & Inclusive Growth

Government Budgeting

Need for Government Budgeting

Components of the Government Budget

• Revenue Account – Revenue Receipts & Revenue Expenditure
• Capital Account – Capital Receipts & Capital Expenditure

Changes in Budgetary Process in 2017

Measures of Government Deficit

• Revenue Deficit
• Fiscal Deficit
• Primary Deficit

Fiscal Policy

Deficit Reduction

FRBM Act

Other Types of Budgets – Outcome, Zero-Based, etc.

Land Reforms in India

• The rationale for Land Reforms
• Components of Land Reforms
• Impact of Land Reforms
• Problems in Implementation of Land Reforms
• The success of Land Reforms
• Recent Initiatives – Land Leasing, Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Act, etc.

Effects of Liberalization on the Economy

Phase of Liberalisation

• Impact on Different Sectors of the Economy

Changes In Industrial Policy & their Effects on Industrial Growth

• Industrial Policy Before 1991
• Industrial Policy After 1991
• Phases of Industrial Growth
• Linkage Between Economic Reforms and Economic Outcomes
• Weaknesses and Failures of Industrial Policies
• National Manufacturing Policy
• SEZs
• Make in India

Infrastructure

• Energy
• Ports
• Roads
• Airports
• Railways

Investment Models

Need for Investment

Sources of Investment

Types of Investment Models

• Domestic Investment Models
  • Public Investment Model
  • Private Investment Model
  • Public-Private Participation Investment Model
• Foreign Investment Models:
  • FDI
  • FII, etc.
• Sector Specific Investment Models
• Cluster-Based Investment Models

Investment Models Followed by India

AGRICULTURE

Major Crops Cropping Patterns in Various Parts of the Country

• Importance of Cropping Pattern
• Types of Cropping Pattern
• Reasons Why Cropping Pattern Differ
• Factors Influencing Cropping Pattern
• Emerging Trends in Cropping Pattern
• Long-Run Effects of Current Trends in Cropping Pattern

Different Types of Irrigation & Irrigation Systems Storage

• Modes of Irrigation
• Sources of Irrigation
• Choosing an Irrigation System
• Problems Associated with Irrigation
• Progress of Irrigation Under Five Year Plans
• Environmental Effects of Irrigation
• Need for Systemic Irrigation Reforms
• Need for a National Water Policy

Transport & Marketing of Agricultural Produce & Issues & Related Constraints

• Process of Agricultural Marketing – Marketing Channels, Functionaries, Costs, etc.
• Role of FCI
• Regulated Markets
• Warehousing
• Cooperative Marketing
• Shortcomings of Current Agricultural Marketing Process
• APMCs
• National Agricultural Market (NAM)
• Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO)
• Contract Farming
• Futures Trading in Agricultural Commodities

E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers, Technology Missions

Issues Related to Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies & Minimum Support Prices

• Agricultural Pricing Policy
• Rationale for Subsidies
• Types of Subsidies
• Effectiveness, Extent & Problems of Subsidies
• Clash with WTO Agreements

Public Distribution System Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping

• Objectives/Significance
• Functioning – Fair Price Shops, FCI, Ration Cards, Aadhar Linking, etc.
• Shortcomings or Problems Associated with PDS
• Need to Improve the Working of PDS
• Measures to Improve the Loopholes & Lacunaes Associated with PDS
• Steps Taken by Government in this Regard

Issues of Buffer Stocks & Food Security

• Buffer Stock – Objectives & Norms in India
• Impact of Government Procurement & Distribution
• Need for Food Security
• NFSM And the Food Security Related Government Initiatives

Economics of Animal-Rearing

Food Processing & Related Industries in India

• Scope & Potential in India
• Significance
• Location
• Constraints and Challenges
• Upstream & Downstream Requirements
• Supply Chain Management
• Government Policies and Initiatives – SAMPADA, 12th FYP, etc.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Chemicals in Food

• Artificial Sweetening Agents
• Food Preservatives

Drugs

• Antacid
• Antihistamines
• Neurologically Active Drugs
  • Tranquilizers
  • Analgesics
• Antimicrobials
  • Antibiotics
  • Antiseptic and Disinfectant
• Anti-Fertility Drugs, etc.

Cleansing Agents

• Soaps
• Synthetic detergents

Glass

Water Softener

Water Purification/Disinfection

Microwave Oven, etc.

Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

• Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
• Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose
• Satyendra Nath Bose
• Meghnad Saha
• Homi Jehangir Bhabha
• Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
• Vikram Sarabhai
• Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
• Har Gobind Khorana
• Tessy Thomas
• C.N.R. Rao

Indigenization of Technology & Developing New Technology

• IT & Computers
• Space
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology
• Robotics
• Defense
• Nuclear

Awareness in Different Fields

• IT & Computers
• Space
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology
• Robotics
• Defense
• Nuclear

Issues Relating to Intellectual Property Rights

• Need for Intellectual Property Rights
• Types of IPR
• IPR Regime in India
• International Agreements Related to IPRs
• Geographical Indicators
• Recent Issues – Evergreening, Compulsory Licensing, Prominent Cases, etc.

BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENT

Conservation

What is Biodiversity?

Types of Biodiversity – Genetic, Species, Ecosystem, etc.

Importance of Biodiversity – Ecosystem Services, BioResources of Economic Importance, Social Benefits, etc.

Reasons for Loss of Biodiversity

Conservation

• In-situ & Ex-Situ
• Eco-Sensitive Areas
• Ecological Hotspots
• National Guidelines, Legislations & Other Programmes.
• International Agreements & Groupings

Environmental Pollution & Degradation

Types of Pollution & Pollutants

Impact of Pollution & Degradation

• Ozone Layer Depletion and Ozone Hole
• Greenhouse Gas Effect & Global Warming
• Eutrophication
• Desertification
• Acid Rain
• Hazardous Waste, etc.

Causes/Sources of Pollution & Degradation

Prevention & Control of Pollution & Degradation

National Environment Agencies, Legislations and Policies

International Environment Agencies & Agreements

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• What is EIA?
• Indian Guidelines & Legislations
• EIA Process
• Need & Benefits of EIA
• Shortcomings of EIA in India
• Measures to Make EIA Effective

Disaster Management

• Types of Disasters
• Management of Disasters
• Community Level Disaster Management
• Government Initiatives on Disaster Management

SECURITY

Linkages Between Development & Spread of Extremism

• Factors Responsible for Spread of Extremism
• Steps that State can be Taken to Reduce the Spread of Extremism due to Underdevelopment
• Naxalism

Role of External State & Non-State Actors in Creating Challenges to Internal Security

Threats from Non-State Actors

• J&K Separatism
• Left-Wing Extremism
• North East Insurgency
• Terrorism in Hinterland & Border Areas
• Right-Wing Terrorism

Reasons for Spread of Terrorism

State-Sponsored Terrorism

Institutional Framework to Tackle Challenge of Internal Security

• NIA
• NATGRID
• MAC
• UAPA
• TADA
• POTA
• NCTC

Challenges to Internal Security Through Communication Networks

• Role of Media & Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges
• Challenges in Managing Social Media
• Steps That Can be Taken

Basics of Cyber Security

• Cyber Security
• Threats to Indian Cyber Security
• Steps were taken by India
• International Cooperation on Cyber Security
• Cyber Warfare
• Terms Associated with Cyber Security

Money-Laundering & its Prevention

• Process of Money Laundering
• Impact of Money Laundering
• Challenges to Tackle Money Laundering
• Steps to Counter Money Laundering
• Terms Related To Money Laundering

Security Challenges & their Management in Border Areas

• Challenges in Managing Border Security – Coastal & Terrestrial
• Land Boundary Disputes with Neighbours
• India’s Policy in Border Area Security Management

Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism

• Types of Organised Crime
• Challenges in Controlling Organised Crime
• Indian Context – Link between Organised Crime & Terrorism

Various Security Forces & Agencies & Their Mandate

• Central Armed Police Forces
• Central Paramilitary Forces
• Security & Intelligence Agencies – IB. R&WA, etc.