GS IAS Logo

< Previous | Contents | Next >

General Studies-I


(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

Indian Culture - 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 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 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, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.


History



Indian Heritage & Culture


Indian Art Forms


Indian Paintings Classical Dance Forms

Folk Dance Forms Classical Music Puppetry

Pottery Drama/Theatre Martial Arts

Literature


Ancient Indian Literature Classical Sanskrit Literature Literature in Pali and Prakrit

Early Dravidian Literature


Medieval Literature Women Poets of Bhakti

Trends in Medieval Literature Modern Indian Literature


Architecture


Harappan Architecture Temple Architecture Cave Architecture

Indo-Islamic Architecture Medieval Architecture Modern Architecture

Contribution of Buddhism & Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture

Rock Cut Architecture

Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period



Modern Indian History



Middle of the Eighteenth Century Until The Present


Socio-economic Condition of People

European Penetration of India

British Conquest of India


British Policies & Their Impact – Economic, Administrative & Socio-cultural

Socio-cultural Reform Movements Uprisings Against British Pre-1857



The Freedom Struggle

Revolt of 1857


Growth of Nationalism in India (1858-1905)


Political, Economic & Administrative Unification of the Country

Role of Western Education Role of Press

Rediscovery of India’s Past Early Political Movements Formation of INC

Era of Moderates


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


Swadeshi & Boycott Movement Surat Split

International Influence Morley – Minto Reforms Growth of Communalism


Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919-1939)


Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas & Leadership

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Rowlatt Act, Satyagrah and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Non-cooperation & Khilafat Movement

Swarajists & No-Changers

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)


National Movement During World War II August Offer

Individual Satyagraha Growth of Communalism Peasant Movements State People’s Struggle Cripps Mission

Quit India Movement Wavell Plan

INA & Subhash Chandra Bose Cabinet Mission

Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II Independence with Partition



Post-independence Consolidation

Nation Building


Partition and Its Aftermath Integration of Princely States Reorganisation 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


Era of One-Party Dominance 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

Renaissance

Discovery of Sea Routes Reformation

Counter 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 of the War

Scope & Course of the War Russian Revolution

End of the War & Peace Treaties Consequences of the War League of Nations

World Between the Two Wars


Europe After the War – Fascism & Nazism

The Great Depression Emergence of Soviet Union Nationalist Movements in Asia & Africa

US as a Strong Power

World War II


Fascist Aggression & Response of Western Democracies

Outbreak of the War Theatres of the War US Entry into the War

Global Nature of the War The Holocaust Resistance Movements After-effects of the War


Decolonialisation & 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

Collapse of Soviet Union


Concept, Types & Social Impact of Political Philosophies


Communism Capitalism Socialism


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 above.

Role of Women 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


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



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

Demogarphic 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 are worst affected by poverty?


Problem of Rising Urban Poverty Poverty Alleviation Initiatives

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


Urbanisation Trends in India and Their Implications - Demographic and Social Dimensions

Factors Driving Urbanisation

State of Service Delivery and Challeges 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 Globalisation

– Its Different Dimensions Globalisation & Culture - Homogenisation vs.

Glocalisation

Factors Driving Globalisation


Globalisation & India

Impact of Globalisation on India - Socio- cultural, economic, on women, agrarian sector etc.

Does Globalisation 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 Geographicl Features - Mealting of Ice Sheets, Desertification etc.


Impact of Changing Geographical Features


 

General-studies-I syllabusGeneral-Studies-II syllabusGeneral-Studies-III syllabusGeneral-studies-iv-ethics-morality-paper-4 syllabus