Physical Geography of the world

Origin and evolution of Universe Solar system

• Geological History of the Earth

• Geological Time scale Latitude and Longitude including important Parallels and Meridians

• Motions of the Earth and their effects Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and its effects

• Local and Standard Time and the International Date Line, Calendar

• Eclipses - Solar, Lunar

Geomorphology

• Interior structure of the earth

• Rock

• Landform Development

• First order (continental drift theory, sea floor spreading, plate tectonics theory)

• Second order (Mountains, Plateaus, Plains & other landforms)

• Internal forces & their impact - Volcanoes, Earthquakes,

• Folding, Faulting, Isostasy

• External forces & their impact - Weathering, Erosion & landforms thus developed

Climatology

• Structure, Composition of atmosphere

• Weather & Climate

• Heat & temperature

• Insolation

• Heat Budget

• Distribution of temperature

• Temperature Inversion

• Pressure and Pressure belts

• Winds

• Planetary winds

• Seasonal winds

• Local winds

• Precipitation-Forms & Types, Distribution of rainfall

• Air Masses

• Cyclones and anti-cyclones

• World Climatic regions

Oceanography

• Bottom relief Features

• Ocean waves, currents, tides & Tsunamis

• Temperature distribution

• Salinity distribution

• Marine resources

Biogeography

• Soils

• Classification

• Distribution

• Erosion & Conservation

• Biomes

World Economic and Human Geography:

1. Natural resources and mineral resources and distribution of key natural resources across the world

2. Agriculture and agro-climatic regions

3. Industry and location factors

4. Infrastructure

5. World Population, density & distribution, races & tribes,

6. settlements & migration

Continents - Major physical features, natural resources

Physical Geography of India

Location

• Latitude

• Longitude

• Physiographic division of India

• Northern Mountains

• Plains of India

• Peninsular Plateau

• Islands of India

• Drainage System

Himalayan Drainage System

Peninsular Drainage System

Other small river system

Indian Climate

• Spatial and temporal distribution of temperature & pressure

• Winds

• Rainfall

• Indian Monsoon

• Mechanism

• Onset

• Variability

• Rainfall distribution

• Climatic Regions of India

Soils

• Classification of Soils

• Problems of Soil and Conservation

Indian Flora & Faun

• Forests and their distribution

• Forest Conservation

• Fauna

Indian Economic and Human Geography

1. Water Resources- Availability and potential: Lakes, rivers, dams, power and irrigation projects, wetlands and interlinking of rivers

2. Mineral Resources- classification and distribution

3. Energy Resources- conventional and non-conventional resources

4. Population and Growth trends - density, sex ratio, literacy, tribes and racial groups in India

5. Rural and Urban Settlements- types and patterns

6. Industries- types and their locational factors

7. Transport and Communication -railways, highways, inland

8. water transport, shipping and sea-ports, air transport

Map Based Questions from India (Location of state, city, river, lakes, important places including Ramsar sites, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks)

Agriculture Technologies

• Sustainable Sugar Cane Initiative

• System of Rice Intensification

• Mycorrhizae Bio-Technology

• Agriculture Extension Services

Cropping System and Pattern

• Food Crops

• Commercial Crops

• Animal Husbandry

Agriculture Institutions

• ICRAI

• FAO

• IFAD

• Farmer Produce Organisations

• World Food Programme etc.

Food Grain Management in India

• Buffer Stock Management

• Issue Price

• Ration Shop

Agri Inputs

• Fertilizers

• Pesticides

• Seed etc. and associated issues

Agro Energy

• Bio- Fuels

• Sea Grass

• Sea Weed

Agricultural Marketing and Reforms

• Fair and Remunerative Prices

• Minimum Support Price

• E-NAM

• APMC

• Essential Commodities Act

Irrigation

• Schemes related to Irrigation.

• Long Term Irrigation Fund

• Traditional Water Conservation Strategies

Agro Revolutions

• Green Revolution

• Blue Revolution

• Operation Flood

• Pink Revolution etc.

• Sustainable Agriculture, Conservation Agriculture, Climate Smart Agriculture, Zero Budget Natural Farming etc.

• Food Processing

• Farm distress and government initiatives

Ecology and Functions of an ecosystem

• Terrestrial ecosystems

• Aquatic ecosystems

Environmental problems:

• Climate Change

• Acidification

• Eutrophication

• Ozone Depletion

• Mitigation Strategies

• India and Climate Change

Environmental pollution

• Pollutants

• Air pollution

• Water Pollution

• Soil Pollution

• Noise Pollution

• Radioactive pollution

• E-Waste

• Solid Waste

• Bioremediation

Biodiversity

• Basic Concepts

• Plant and Animal Diversity

• Marine Organisms

• Threat to Biodiversity

• Protected Area Network: National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, Reserved and protected forests, Conservation and community reserves, Village and panchayat Forests, Private protected areas, Conservation areas

• Biodiversity Conservation efforts

• Indian Biodiversity ad conservation efforts

• Bioprospecting

• Biosafety

• Biopiracy

Conservation efforts: India and World

• Institutional and Organizational mechanisms

• Environmental Acts and Policies

• Environmental conventions

• Sustainable development Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment

General Science

Bio-Technology

• Gene Therapy

• Stem Cell Technology

• Recombinant DNA Technology

• GM Crops

Defence

• Defence Institutions like DRDO, Defence Acquisition council, National Security Council etc.

• Missile Program – IGMDP, Cruise Missiles etc.

• Light Aircrafts

• Submarines, Air Craft Carrier etc.

• Military Exercises

• Weapons of mass destruction and treaties related to them.

Nuclear Technology

• Nuclear Energy Production Process

• Thorium Reserves

• Nuclear Energy Agencies – BARC, Nuclear Energy Corporation of India, IAEA etc.

Space Technology

• Basic of Space – Solar System, Asteroids, Kuiper Belt Objects, Comets etc.

• Gravitational Waves

• Space Observatories – International Space Station, Solar Observatories in India etc.

• Space Organisations like NASA, ISRO, Antrix Corporation Limited, Space X

• Satellites like INSAT, IRNSS, GPS, Galileo etc.

• Launch Vehicles – PSLV, GSLV etc.

• Outer Space Treaty

Elementary Physics

• Elementary Physics

• Neutrino and Observatory

• Research Centres – CERN, Belle II Experiment

Health

• Overview

• Bacterial Diseases

• Viral Diseases

• Health Programmes

Information Technology

• RFID

• 3D Printing

• Big Data

• LIFI

• Internet of Things

• Crypto currencies etc.

Architecture

• Cave Architecture

• Temple Architecture

• Indo-Islamic Architecture

• Modern Architecture

( Under Indus Valley Civilization, The Mauryan Architecture, The Sungas, Kushanas, Satavahanas & Guptas, Post Guptas, Delhi-Sultanate, Mughals etc)

Sculpture -- Indian Sculpture and Different schools of Art

Indian Paintings

• Pre historic painting & Cave paintings

• Mural Paintings

• Miniature Paintings - Pala School, Rajput Paintings, Mughal Paintings, Hill paintings etc.

• Folk Paintings

• Modern Indian Paintings Personalities Associated

Religion

• Hinduism

• Jainism

• Buddhism

• Islam

• Christianity

• Zoroastrianism

• Judaism

Philosophy

• Six Schools of Philosophy

• Ajivika

• Lokayata etc.

Indian Music

• Classical Music

• Hindustani Music

• Carnatic Music

• Folk Music Tradition

• Modern Music

• Personalities

Indian Dance

• Classical Dance forms in India – Odissi, Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniattay, Sattriya, Manipuri, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi

• Folk Dances

• Modern Dance in India

Theatre

• Sanskrit Theatre

• Folk Theatre

• Modern Theatre

• Personalities

Puppetry

• History

• Different forms of Puppetry in

• People Associated with Theatres

Indian Cinema and Circus

Bhakti & Sufi Movement

Language & Literature

• Indian Language

• Classical Languages

• Scheduled Languages

• Indian Literature

• Religious Literature

• Secular Literature

Fairs, Festivals and Craft -Religious Festivals, Secular

Festivals (States & UT’s), Art & Crafts

Science & Technology

• Ancient, Science & Technology

• Medieval Science & Technology

• Famous Personalities in

• Ancient and Medieval India

Promotion and Preservation of Indian Heritage

• Indian Word Heritage Sites – Tangible & non-tangible heritage, Tentative list

• Cultural Heritage Sites

• Natural Heritage Sites

• Important Institutions

Ancient History

Prehistoric period

• Paleolithic

• Mesolithic

• Neolithic

• Chalcolithic

• Harappan / Indus Valley Civilization

Vedic Age

•  Early Vedic period

•  Later Vedic period

• Mahajanapadas & Rise of Magadh

• Religious Reforms

• Iranian & Macedonian Invasion

• Mauryan Age

Post Mauryan Age

• Indo Greek Invasion

• Indo-Greeks

• Parthians

• Shaka

• Kushanas

• Indo-Sassanian

• Sungas

• Kanvas

• Satavahanas

• Guptas Age

• Sangam Age

• Regional Kingdoms

Post Guptas Age

• Harshavardhana

• Pallava

• Chalukya

Medieval History

Triparty Struggle

Prathiharas

Palas

• Chola Empire

• Turkish conquest of India

Ghaznavid

Muhammad Ghuri

• Rajput states

• Delhi sultanate

• Slave dynasty

• The Khaljis

• The Tughlaqs

• The Sayyids

• The Lodhis

• Mughal empire (Including later Mughals)

• Maratha Confederacy

• Southern Dynasties

• Hoysalas

• Yadavas

• Kakatiyas

• Vijaynagara

• Bahmani Kingdom

• Regional kingdoms

• Religious Movements

• Bhakti Movement

• Sufi Movement

(Brief History, Salient Features, Social, Economics,

Religious and Cultural conditions of all the above)

Fall of Mughals

Advent of Europeans

• Coming of Europeans

• Struggle among Europeans

• Rise of East India Company

India under East India Company’s Rule

• Administration

• Political policies

• Regulating Act of 1773

• Pitt’s India Act 1784

• Charter acts of 1784, 1793, 1813,1833, 1853

• British Expansion policy: Doctrine of lapse, Subordinate alliance etc.

• Economic policies and their impact

• Agricultural policies

• Famine policy

• Foreign Policies

• Social Policies

• Education Policies

• Religious policies

Indian Kingdoms in 18th century: Marathas, Punjab, Mysore, Hyderabad etc.

Socio - Religious Reform Movements in the 19th and 20^th CE India – Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj , etc.

• The Great Revolt of 1857

• Changes in Indian Administration after 1858 - GOI ACT 1858, Councils Act, 1861, 1892.

• Growth of Political Ideas and Political Organisations (up to

1885)

• Foundation of the Indian National Congress

National movement (1885 - 1919)

• Moderate Phase (1885 – 1905)

• Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement

• The first phase of Revolutionary and Terrorist Movement

• The Morley-Minto Reforms or the Indian Councils Act, 1909

• The Lucknow Pact (1916)

• The Home Rule Movement

National movement (1919 - 1939)

• Montague-Chelmsford Reforms or the Government of India act, 1919

• The Khilafat Movement (1920-22) and Non Cooperation Movement

• The Left Movement

• The second phase of Revolutionary and Terrorist Movement

• Anti-Simon Commission Agitation (1928-29)

• Nehru Report, 1928

• The Lahore Session, 1929

• The Civil Disobedience Movement

• The Government of India Act, 1935

• Provincial Elections and Formation of popular Ministries in Provinces, 1937

Freedom to Partition (1939 - 1947)

• The Second World War and the National Movement

• The August Offer 1940

• The Individual Satyagraha 1940-41

• The Cripps Proposal, 1942

• The Quit India Movement, I942

• Subhash Bose and Indian National Army

• Rajagopalachari Formula & Desai Liaqat Plan

• Wavell Plan and Simla Conference 1945

• General Elections in India, 1945

• Naval Mutiny: 1946

• The Indian Independence Act, 1947

Other Dimensions

• Tribal Movements

• Peasants Movement

• Dalit Movements

• Women movement

• Role of Press and Publications

• Role of Business groups

Miscellaneous: Reforms / Acts / Committee, Congress Sessions, Governor –General Viceroys etc.

• Constitutionalism

• Historical Underpinnings

• Evolution & Making of the Constitution

• Features and Significant Provisions

• Political systems

• Democratic & Non-Democratic

• Parliamentary & Presidential

• Unitary & Federal

• Direct and Representative

• Republic and Monarchy etc.

• The Preamble

• The Union and its Territory

• Citizenship

• Fundamental Rights

• Directive Principles

• Fundamental Duties

• Amendment of Constitution

• Basic Structure of the Constitution

• Emergency Provisions

Central Government

• President of India

• Vice President of India

• Prime minister

• Central Council of Ministers, Parliament

State Government

• Governor

• Chief Minister

• State Council of Ministers

• State Legislature

Judiciary

• Supreme Court

• High Courts

• Subordinate Courts

Indian Federalism

• Centre-State Relations

• Inter-state Relations

Local Government

• Panchayati Raj

• Local Urban Government

Other Dimensions

• Official Language

• Public Services

• Tribunals

• Special provisions for SCs, STs, BCs, Minorities & Anglo-Indians

• Rights and liabilities of the Government

• Authoritative text in Hindi Language

• Anti-defection law

Political dimensions

• Ministries and Departments of the Government

• Pressure groups

• Elections & political parties

• Representation of People's Act

• Election Process

• Governance

• Transparency & Accountability

• RTI

• Citizen’s Charter

e-Governance

Constitutional Bodies

• Election Commission

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• State Public Service Commission (SPSC)

• Finance Commission

• CAG

• Attorney general of India

• Advocate general of India

• Special officer for Linguistic Minorities

• National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

• National Commission for Backward Castes (NCBC) etc.

Non-Constitutional Bodies

NITI Aayog, NHRC, SHRC, CIC, SIC, CVC, CBI, Lokpal, Lokayukta, NCPCR etc.

National Income Accounting:

• Definition

• Concepts: GDP, GNP, Market Price and Factor Cost, NNP, NDP, transfer payments, National income at FC, Personal Income, disposable income, factors affecting national income, net foreign facto income

• Measurement of national income: value added method, income method, expenditure method, Application of various methods, Base year, GDP deflator

• Debates around GDP and other indices

Money and Banking

Money

• Definition

• Functions and significance

• Evolution of Money

• Money supply in India and factors affecting it

Banking

• Need of banks

• Function

• Commercial Banks

Central Bank:

Importance

Functions

Structure

Monetary Policy

Policy tools, (CRR, SLR, OMO, Repo and Rev Repo, MSF etc.)

Banking Reforms

Capital Markets & Money Markets

• Basic Terms and Concepts, Equity and debt Instruments

• Primary market and Secondary markets etc.

Inflation and Employment

Inflation

• Definition

• Inflationary Gap and Inflationary process

• Inflation Cycles: Demand Pull Inflation, Cost Push Inflation,

• Causes of Inflation

• Inflation Control measures

Unemployment

• Types of Unemployment: Structural, Seasonal, Frictional, Cyclical

• Nature of Unemployment in India

Government budgeting and Fiscal Policy

• Budgeting

• Evolution of Budgeting

• Institutions and Laws

• The Union Budget: Components - Revenue Account,

• Capital Account, Measures of Government Deficit etc.,

• Weaknesses in the Budgetary Process

• Fiscal Policy

• Public Finance - Role and Importance,

• Public Expenditure - Revenue and Capital, Development and Non-Development

• Public Revenue

• Sources of Revenue

• Taxes

• Classification - Direct and Indirect, Specific and Ad Valorem

• Social and Economic Objectives of Taxes

• Public Debt

• Deficit Financing

1. External Sector and Currency Exchange rate

• Balance of Payments: Definition, Current and Capital Accounts, Convertibility

• FDI, FII -- issues, challenges etc.

• Foreign Trade of India

• Trade Policy

• Product wise trade

• Region wise trade

• Subsidy boxes

• WTO related issues

• and India

• Intellectual Property Rights

2. International Trade and Bodies:

IMF: Purpose and

Objectives, Organization and Functions, Working and

Evaluation, IMF and Underdeveloped Countries, SDR's,

Reforms etc.,

World Bank

Bilateral and Regional Cooperation

3. Industrial Sector:

• Industrial Policies

• Licensing

• MSME

• Labour Reforms

• Companies Act

• Make in India, Skill India

• Challenges in Industrial development

• Organised and unorganised sector

• PPP

• Investment models

4. Initiatives by the govt.

• Government policies

• Five year Plans: Priorities and Performance, Issues

• related to planning

• Economic Policies till 1991

• Economic Reforms since 1991: End of license Raj, Liberalization, Privatisation and Globalisation

5. Infrastructure:

IT, Communication, Urbanisation, Transport, Mining, etc.

• Current Affairs from June 2018 to April 21 2019.

• Budget

• India Year Book

• Government Schemes

• National Institutions like SEBI, RBI, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and National Investigation Agency etc.

• International institutions like World Economic Forum, IMF, World Bank, WTO, G 20 etc.

• Regional Institutions like BIMSTEC, SAARC, ASEAN etc.