MAINS General Studies-I Syllabus

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UPSC GS-I Syllabus

(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.

Onlyias GS-I Syllabus Breakdown

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 19^th 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 IndustriesLocation & 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