GENERAL STUDIES – I
A. History & Culture
Indian Culture: Art forms • Literature • Architecture (Ancient to Modern)
Modern Indian History (Mid-18th Century to Present): Significant events • Personalities • Issues
The Freedom Struggle: Stages • Contributions from various regions • Important leaders
Post-Independence India: Consolidation • Reorganization
World History: Industrial Revolution • World Wars • Redrawing of national boundaries • Colonization • Decolonization • Communism • Capitalism • Socialism • Impact on society
B. Geography
Physical Geography: Salient features of world physical geography
Economic & Human Geography: Distribution of natural resources (World, South Asia & Indian Subcontinent) • Location factors for Primary, Secondary & Tertiary industries
Geophysical Phenomena: Earthquakes • Tsunami • Volcanoes • Cyclones • Important geographical features & locations • Changes in water bodies, ice caps, flora & fauna • Effects
C. Society
Indian Society: Salient features • Diversity
Social Issues: Women & women’s organizations • Population • Poverty • Development • Urbanization (Problems & Remedies) • Globalization • Social empowerment • Communalism • Regionalism • Secularism
GENERAL STUDIES – II
A. Polity & Constitution
Indian Constitution: Historical underpinnings • Evolution • Features • Amendments • Significant provisions • Basic Structure
Union–State Relations: Functions & responsibilities of Union and States • Federal structure • Issues & challenges • Devolution of powers & finances to local levels
Separation of Powers: Separation of powers • Dispute redressal mechanisms • Constitutional institutions
Comparative Politics: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with other countries
Legislature: Parliament & State Legislatures • Structure • Functioning • Conduct of business • Powers • Privileges • Issues
Executive & Judiciary: Structure • Organization • Functioning • Ministries & Departments
Electoral Politics: Representation of the People Act (RPA) • Salient features
Constitutional Bodies: Appointment • Powers • Functions • Responsibilities
Non-Constitutional Bodies: Statutory bodies • Regulatory bodies • Quasi-judicial bodies
B. Governance
Government Policies: Policies & interventions for development • Design • Implementation issues
Development Process: Development processes • Development industry • NGOs • SHGs • Donors • Charities • Institutional agencies
Welfare Schemes: Schemes for vulnerable sections • Performance • Protection mechanisms • Laws • Institutions • Bodies
Social Sector: Development & management of Health • Education • Human Resource Development (HRD)
Poverty & Hunger: Issues relating to poverty & hunger
E-Governance: Applications • Models • Successes • Limitations • Potential
Civil Services: Role of civil services in a democracy
C. Social Justice: Issues relating to Social Justice
D. International Relations
Neighbourhood Policy: India and its neighbourhood relations
Bilateral & Multilateral Relations: Bilateral relations • Regional groupings • Global groupings • International agreements affecting India’s interests
Global Policy & Indian Diaspora: Effect of policies & politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests • Indian diaspora
International Organizations: International institutions • Agencies • Fora • Structure • Mandate
GENERAL STUDIES – III
A. Economy
Indian Economy: Planning • Mobilization of resources • Growth • Development • Employment
Inclusive Growth: Inclusive growth • Issues arising from it
Government Budgeting
Agriculture: Major crops • Cropping patterns • Irrigation systems • Storage • Transport • Marketing of agricultural produce • E-technology for farmers • Buffer stocks • Food security • Technology missions • Animal husbandry economics
Food Processing Industry: Scope • Location • Upstream & downstream requirements • Supply chain management
Land Reforms: Land reforms in India
Liberalization & Industrial Policy: Effects of liberalization • Industrial policy changes • Industrial growth
Infrastructure: Energy • Ports • Roads • Airports • Railways • Investment models
B. Science & Technology
Science & Technology: Achievements of Indians • Indigenization of technology • Development of new technology
Emerging Technologies: Information Technology (IT) • Space • Computers • Robotics • Nanotechnology • Biotechnology • Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
C. Environment
Environment: Conservation • Environmental pollution • Environmental degradation • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) • Biodiversity
D. Disaster Management
Disaster • Disaster management
E. Internal Security
Development & Extremism: Linkages between development and spread of extremism
External & Non-State Actors: Role in creating challenges to internal security
Cyber Security & Media: Communication networks • Role of media & social networking sites • Challenges to internal security • Basics of cyber security
Money Laundering: Money laundering • Prevention
Border Security: Border security • Terrorism • Organized crime • Security challenges in border areas • Organized crime–terrorism linkages
Security Forces: Various security forces & agencies • Mandate
GENERAL STUDIES – IV
Ethics & Human Interface: Essence • Determinants • Consequences • Dimensions of ethics in private & public relationships
Attitude: Content • Structure • Function • Influence on thought & behaviour • Moral attitudes • Political attitudes • Social influence • Persuasion
Aptitude & Foundational Values for Civil Services: Integrity • Impartiality • Objectivity • Dedication to public service • Compassion towards weaker sections
Emotional Intelligence: Concepts • Utility in administration • Utility in governance
Moral Thinkers & Philosophers: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India & the world
Public/Civil Service Values: Ethics in public administration • Status & problems • Ethical concerns in international relations • Funding • Role of NGOs
Corporate Governance
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service • Philosophical basis • Information sharing • Transparency • Right to Information (RTI) • Work culture • Citizen’s Charters • Codes of ethics • Ethics committees • Challenges of corruption
Case Studies: Case studies based on the above topics