Schedule

Test Series-1

S.No.

Test

Date

Reference Material

1.    

Indian Polity

27/8/2019

Reference Books and Other Sources for Polity:

Basic reading (best book for governance for UPSC)

• NCERT Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work (New)
• NCERT Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics(New)
• NCERT Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence(New)

Detailed references

• Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth
• Arihant Mag Book
• Constitution of India by Subhash Kashyap
• Our Parliament by Subhash Kashyap

Other sources:

• Newspaper- The Hindu, Indian Express
• Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazines,
• ‘India Yearbook’ published by the Publication Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

2.    

Ancient History

3/9/2019

1.    Recommended Books are as:

·         India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma (For Ancient Indian History)

·         Ancient History- D.N.JAH

·         NCERT Class VI Ancient India (Old)

·         NCERT Class XI Ancient India (Old)

·         Arihant Mag Book

3.    

Medieval History

10/9/2019

2.    Recommended Books are as:

• History of Medieval India – Satish Chandra vol I,II

 or J.L. Mehta vol I,II, III

• NCERT Class VII Medieval India (Old)
• NCERT Class XI Medieval India (Old)
• NCERT Class IX Story of Civilization Part-I (Old)
• NCERT Class X Story of Civilization Part-II (Old)

·         Arihant Mag Book

4.    

Modern History

17/9/2019

• India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipin Chandra.
• A brief History of Modern India – Spectrum (History)

• History of Modern India – Bipin Chandra
• Modern Indian History- Grover & Grover

·         Arihant Mag Book

5.    

Geography- General

24/9/2019

·         Book by G.C. Leong

·         NCERT Books of XIth & XIIth

·         Geography of India – Majid Husain

·         Arihant Mag Book

6.    

Geography- Indian

1/10/2019

·         World Geography – Majid Husain 

·         NCERT-XI-XII- all

·         Arihant Mag Book

7.    

Economics

8/10/2019

·         NCERTs XI-XII

·         Dutta & Sundaram

·         McGrawHill- Ramesh Singh

·         Arihant Mag Book

8.    

General Science

15/10/2019

·         Lucent General Science

·         Arihant Mag Book

·         NCERTs IX-X

9.    

Environment

22/10/2019

·         Arihant Mag Book

10.                 

GK

29/10/2019

·         GK Lucent

Test Break

Test Series- 2

11.                 

Current Affairs (covering june-july 2019)

5/11/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

·         Civil Service chronicle

12.                 

Current Affairs (covering Aug-Sep. 2019)

12/11/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

·         Civil Service chronicle

13.                 

Current Affairs (covering Oct-Nov 2019)

19/11/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

·         Civil Service chronicle

14.                 

Current Affairs (covering Dec 2019-Jan 2020)

26/11/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

Civil Service chronicle

15.                 

Current Affairs (covering Feb-Mar 2020)

3/12/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

·         Civil Service chronicle

16.                 

Current Affairs (covering Apr-May 2020)

10/12/2019

·         The Hindu

·         Yojana

·         Kurukshetra

·         Civil Service chronicle

Test series 3

17.                 

Consolidate G.S -Prelims

17/12/2019

All the Above sources

18.                 

Consolidate G.S -Prelims

24/12/2019

All the Above sources

19.                 

Consolidate G.S –Prelims

31/12/2019

All the Above sources

20.                 

Consolidate G.S –Prelims

7/1/2020

All the Above sources

21.                 

Consolidate G.S –Prelims

14/1/2020

All the Above sources

22.                 

Consolidate G.S -Prelims

21/1/2020

All the Above sources

To Be Done as yet

23.                 

Test no. 23

28/1/2020

To be decided as yet

24.                 

Test no. 24

4/2/2020

To be decided as yet

25.                 

Test no. 25

11/2/2020

To be decided as yet

26.                 

Test no. 26

18/2/2020

To be decided as yet

27.                 

Test no. 27

25/2/2020

To be decided as yet

S.No

Subject

Topics

Indian Polity

Topics to be covered in Indian Polity:

Preamble

• Features of preamble
• 42nd Amendment
• Swaran Singh committee

Schedules

• Basic idea about 12 schedules

Constitution of India

• Basic idea about All articles
• Historical Background
• Drafting committee and making of the Constitution
• Influence of other constitutions
• Its salient features
• Union and its Territory

·         Basic idea about Article 1-4

·         State reorganization and different Commissions

·         Federal nature

·         Recent issues

• Citizenship

·         Basic idea about Article 5-11

·         PIO, NRI, OCI and Pravasi Bharathiya Divas

·         Privileges available for Indian citizens and foreigners

·         Citizenship Amendment Act 2016

·         New policies, schemes and recent changes in voting.

• Fundamental Rights (FR)

·         Basic idea about Article 12-35

·         A thorough understanding about Articles 14- 30 and Art. 32

·         Rights and privileges available to citizens of India only and both to citizens and foreigners

·         44^th amendment act

·         Different types of Writs

·         Enforcement and Exceptional cases with regard to FR’s

·         RTE and recent issues related to FR

• Fundamental Duties(FD)

·         Article 51A

·         Difference between FR and FD

·         Significance and Criticism

·         Enforcement of FD’s

·         Recent issues about FD

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)

·         Basic idea about Article and Article 36-51 and Article 368

·         Sources and key features of DPSP

·         Classification of DPSP

·         Comparison/ conflicts between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

·         Keshavananda Bharathi, Minerva Mills, Golaknath Case, Maneka Gandhi case.

·         Important Amendments- 42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and 97th amendment

• Union 

·         Basic idea about Article 52-73

·         Qualification and Election

·         Function and Powers- (Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial, Diplomatic, Military and Emergency Powers)

·         Resignation and impeachment

·         Role and responsibilities and relationship with Prime minister, Council of Minister, Cabinet ministers.

·         Prime minister and council of minister- Basic idea about Article 74-75

·         Powers and Functions

·         Council of ministers

·         Resignation and Removal

·         Attorney general

• Parliament

·         Basic idea about Article related

·         Role and functions of the Parliament

·         Sessions, Motions, Parliamentary procedure – Summoning, Prorogation, Joint sitting

·         Parliamentary proceedings like Question Hour, Zero Hour, and Adjournment Motion etc.

·         Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,

·         Special powers of Rajya Sabha

·         Anti defection law and 10^th schedule

·         Parliamentary Privileges

·         Bill and law making procedure

·         Budget, funds and its summary

·         Parliamentary Committees

• Judiciary

·         Basic idea about Article related to the judiciary.

·         Powers of Supreme court and high court

·         Qualification and appointment

·         Removal procedure

·         Recent controversy, verdicts, and constitutional provisions.

• State Government- State Executive

·         Governor- appointment, removal and special powers.

·         Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial powers and discretionary of governor

·         7^th constitutional amendment

·         Chief minister and council of ministers

·         Power of chief minister

• State Legislature

·         State legislature compared to the Parliament with regard to composition, powers, and functions.

·         Bicameral legislatures

·         Creation and abolition of the Legislative councils

• Administration of Union Territories (UT)

·         Special provision for Delhi

·         Administration and jurisdiction in UT’s

• Administration of Special Areas

·         Basic idea about 5^thSchedule 6th Schedule

·         Recent issues related to Administration of Special Areas

·         Special provision for Jammu and Kashmir-Article 370

·         Difference between constitutional provisions related to Jammu and Kashmir

• Emergency Provisions

·         National emergency- Article 352

·         President’s rule or State emergency- Article 356

·         Financial emergency- Article 360

·         44^th amendment act

·         Effects and implications of emergency

·         Role of President in emergency time

·         The State of FR, Lok sabha, and Rajya sabha

·         Revoking emergency

• State- centre and interstate relations

·         Basic idea about Articles 262 and 263

·         Composition and functions of Interstate council and Zonal council

·         Inter-State trade and Commerce

·         Recent disputes between states, controversies etc

·         New policies or schemes which impact interstate relations

• Panchayati raj and municipalities

·         Elections, auditing, powers and authority of panchayats

·         3 tier structure

·         73rd Amendment Act and 74th Amendment Act

·         Relation with FR and DPSP

·         Schemes introduced

·         Metropolitan planning committee and urban development

·         Reservation

• Constitution Bodies

·         Election Commission

·         UPSC

·         SPSC

·         JPSC

·         Finance Commission

·         National Commission for SCs and ST’s,

·         Composition, Powers and functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies

• Non-Constitutional Bodies

·         Basic idea about Composition, Functions, Working of the Non-Constitutional bodies such as National Human Rights Commission, Central Information Commission, Central Vigilance Commission, Central Bureau of Investigation, State Human Rights Commission, State Information Commission etc

• Tribunals

·         Basic idea about Article 323A and tribunals under Article 323B

·         Recent controversial issues related to tribunals

·         Different tribunals and importance

• Special Provisions for SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians

·         Privileges and right issued to SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians

·         Issues related to vulnerable sections like women, child, SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians

• Current affairs

·         Recent issues related to above-mentioned categories

·         Important schemes, programs, missions, laws, and policies launched by the government.

·         Recent Government Bills and Governance- actions

Ancient History of India

Topics to be covered in Ancient History of India

1. Prehistoric cultures in India
2. Indus Valley Civilization. Origins- the different phases- society, economy, and culture- Contacts with other cultures- factors lead to the decline.
3. Geographical distribution and characteristics of pastoral and farming society.
4. Vedic society-Vedic texts- change from Rigvedic to later Vedic phases.
5. Vedic society Religion- Upanishad thought-Political and social organization, the evolution of Varna system and monarchy.
6. Formation of the State and urbanization, from the Mahajanapadas to the Nandas.
7. Buddhism and Jainism- Factors for the spread of Buddhism.
8. The Mauryan Empire- Chandragupta and Megasthenes.
9. Ashoka and his inscriptions, his dhamma, culture, administration, and art
10. Society of Post-Mauryan India, BC 200- AD 300- Evolution of Jatis.
11. The Satavahanas and formation of the state in the Peninsula.
12. Sangam texts and society.
13. Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Kanishka-Contacts with the outer world.
14. Different Religion- Bhagavatism, Shaivism, Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana, Jainism and Culture and art.
15. The Guptas and their descendants.
16. Literature science, Arts, Economy, and society -Modification in the political organization of empire.

Medieval Indian History

Topics to be covered in Medieval Indian History

1. Early Medieval India. Major dynasties; Political and Agrarian organization. Status of women, Extent of social mobility. The Arabs in Sind and the Ghaznavids.
2. Cultural trends, 750-1200, Religious circumstances: significance of temples and monastic institutions; Sankaracharya; Islam; Sufism. Art and architecture. Literature and Science.
3. 13th and 14th Centuries: Ghorian invasions reasons and consequences. Delhi Sultanate under the Slave Rulers. Aladdin Khalji: invasion; administrative, agrarian and economic measures. Muhammad Tughlug’s innovations. Firuz Tughluq and the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Development of urbanization and commerce. Spiritual movements in Hinduism and Islam. Literature. Architecture, Technological changes.
4. The 15th and early 16th Century: Key Provincial dynasties; Vijayanagara Empire. The Lodhis, First stage of the Mughal Empire: The Sur Empire and administration. Monotheistic movements: Kabir; Guru Nanak and Sikhism; Bhakti. The spread of regional literature. Art and Culture.
5. The Mughal Empire, Akbar: invasion, administrative measures, Policy of Sulh-I-Kul. Jagir and Mansab systems; Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb: extension of Mughal empire in the Deccan; religious policies. Shivaji. Persian and regional literature. Religious idea: Abul Fazl; Maharashtra dharma. Architecture. Painting. Economy: state of affairs of peasants and artisans, escalation in trade; trade with Europe. Social stratification and position of women.
6. The decline of Mughal Empire, Reason behind the decline. Maratha power under the Peshwas. The Afghans. Regional states. Most important components of composite culture. Sawai Jai Singh, astronomer. The rise of Urdu language.

Modern India -Indian National Movement

Topics to be covered in Modern India -Indian National Movement

1. British extension: The Carnatic Wars, invasion of Bengal. Mysore and its confrontation to British expansion: The three Anglo-Maratha Wars. Regulating and Pitt’s India Acts. Early composition of the British raj.
2. Economic Impact of the British Raj: land revenue settlements like Zamindari, Ryotwari, Mahalwari; Deindustrialization; Railways and commercialization of agriculture; increase of landless labour.
3. Cultural encounter and social changes: inception of western education and modern thoughts. Indian Renaissance, religious and social reform movements; Social reforms events before 1857. Development of Indian middle class; the vernacular press and its effects: the rise of modern literature in Indian languages.
4. Confrontation to British rule: Early uprisings; The 1857 Revolt-reasons, character, course and result.
5. Indian Freedom struggle the first stage: Growth of national consciousness; creation of Associations; Establishment of the Indian National Congress and its Moderate stage; Swadeshi Movement; Economic Nationalism; The development of Extremism and the split in Congress; The policy of Divide and Rule; Congress-League Pact of 1916.
6. Gandhian thoughts and techniques of mass mobilization- Civil Disobedience, the Khilafat movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement; another strand in the National Movement-Revolutionaries, Subhash Chandra Bose, and the Indian National Army.
7. Separatist movements in Indian politics- the Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League; Partition and Independence; The post -1945 developments.
8. India independent to 1964. A parliamentary, democratic, secular. Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision, Foreign policy of Non-alignment, Planning and state-controlled industrialization. Agrarian modification.

The art, culture and architecture in the ancient and medieval times are quite important from the IAS exam perspective.

World Geography & Physical Geography

1. Universe
1. Theories related to Solar System
2. Theories related to the formation of the universe
3. Recent updates on the same
2. The basic idea about Earth
1. The motion of the Earth – Rotation and Revolution
2. Latitudes and Longitudes
3. The inclination of the Earth’s Axis – effect on seasons
4. Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Tides and their significance
3. Geomorphology
1. Earth’s movement (exo-genetic and endo-genetic)
2. Earthquakes, volcanic activity
3. The basic idea about Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory, Sea Floor Spreading
4. Interior of the earth
1. lithosphere
2. Interaction of lithosphere with other spheres
3. Boundaries and composition
5. Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits
1. Basic information about geographical landforms and their significance
2. Rock system and Classification of Rocks
6. Climatology
1. Structure and composition of the atmosphere
2. Factors controlling the temperature distribution
3. Insolation and terrestrial radiation
4. Heat budget
5. Global warming and ozone layer
6. Humidity and condensation
7. Clouds
8. Classification of clouds
9. Precipitation
10. Precipitation mechanism
11. Different types and forms of precipitation
12. Pressure belts
13. Atmospheric circulation
14. Winds
15. Planetary Winds
16. Seasonal and local Winds
17. Cyclones Tropical and Temperate cyclone
18. Formation of cyclone, characteristics and impact
19. Jet streams
20. Various atmospheric phenomenon
7. The hydrosphere
1. Bottom relief of ocean
2. Salinity and temp variation
3. Ocean Currents
4. Ocean deposit
5. Ocean resources
6. Recent issues and development with ref to oceanography- Eg: UNCLOS
8. Biosphere
1. Major Biomes
2. Flora and fauna
3. International organization for biodiversity
4. Conservation of Biodiversity
5. Recent issues
9. Economic geography
10. Map work
11. Places in news

Note – Part of Geography portion and Environmental Ecology overlap in the syllabus of UPSC Prelims.

Indian Geography

1. The basic idea about India
1. Location, latitude, longitude, time zone,
2. Neighbouring countries
3. States and its position and the states on International boundaries
4. Important straits
2. Physical features of India
1. The Himalayas
1. Geological Formation
2. Physiographic divisions
3. Climate, Vegetation, Soil and Biodiversity
4. Major passes
5. Significance
6. Recent issues
2. The Great North Indian plains
1. Geological Formation
2. Physiographic divisions
3. Climate, Vegetation, Soil and Biodiversity
4. Significance
3. Peninsular Plateau
1. Geological formation
2. Deccan plateau
3. Central Highlands
4. Western and Eastern Ghats
5. Socio-economic issues related
4. Indian Desert
5. Coastal plains and Islands
3. River systems – Characteristics, comparison and significance
1. Himalayan rivers
2. Peninsular rivers
3. River basins
4. Hydro-Power projects, Power plants and Major Dams
5. Regional development and planning
6. West flowing and east flowing rivers
7. Interlinking of rivers
4. Climate in India
1. Monsoon
1. Driving mechanism
2. Effects of La-Nino and El-Nino
3. Recent theories
2. Season of India
3. Cyclones
5. Mineral and industries
1. Distribution of minerals
2. Industrial policies
3. Location factors
4. Issues and challenges of the industries
5. Industrial clusters
6. Agriculture and Allied-characteristics and Problems
1. Land utilization
2. Types of agriculture practices
3. Soils and Crops
4. Trends agriculture (Green revolution )
5. Irrigation
6. Major irrigation projects
7. Land reforms
8. Government policies and schemes
9. Animal husbandry (livestock resources)
7. Natural vegetation and fauna- Characteristics, importance, comparison and significance
1. Classification of natural vegetation
2. Rainfall distribution
3. Wildlife sanctuaries
4. National Forest Policy
5. Biosphere reserve
6. National parks
7. Environmental issues
8. Red-listed species (in recent news)
8. Economic infrastructure
1. Transportation,
2. Road(National Highways)- Rail- Air- Water(Major inland waterways) and its Significance
3. Power and energy sector
4. Sources of conventional and non-conventional energy
5. Energy conservation and crisis
6. Recent developments
9. Human Geography
1. Demographics
2. Recent census- 2011

Economics

UPSC Prelims Syllabus – Indian Economy

The UPSC Syllabus for Prelims mentions the broad topic Economic and Social Development which includes Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc. While Indian Economy portion is common to the syllabus of UPSC Prelims and Mains, Economics is also an Optional Subject in the UPSC Mains.

For UPSC Prelims, the focus should be on current affairs related to the Indian Economy and basic concepts.

Economic and Social Development

1. Economic growth and development – basic concept and definition of economy and economics, uses and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and micro economic policy, micro-macro balance, distributive impact of economic policies, development versus growth, determinant of growth and development, concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII, TAI, Green index, sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices.
2. Poverty – definitions, causes, distribution-deprivation, income versus calories, measurement of poverty, the status of poverty, eradication programmes, poverty and resource policy, tribal rights and issues, livelihood mission.
3. Inclusion – definition, relevance, types, financial inclusion, recent initiatives.
4. Demographics – census data, populations by gender, by state, by age group, socio-economic status, caste, religion, literacy levels, etc. Trends in human development – interstate comparison, etc.
5. Fiscal policy – definition, component, receipts, revenue and capital account, tax revenue, expenditure, budget.

General Science

UPSC Prelims Syllabus – General Science

In UPSC Prelims, candidates should not spent a lot of time preparing General Science from theory books as most questions come from topics/issues in the news. However, some focus areas as a broad reference are given below as:

1. Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift
2. Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life Cycle of A Star
3. Solar System Formation – Nebular Theory of Laplace
4. Solar System – Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets
5. Sun – Internal Structure, Atmosphere
6. Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types
7. India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
8. Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell
9. Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides, Polysaccharides
10. Proteins – Amino Acids, Enzymes
11. Vitamins and Minerals – Deficiency Diseases
12. Fats – Healthy Fats and Unhealthy Fats
13. Animal Tissues – Epithelium, Connective Tissues
14. Human Digestive System – Digestive Glands
15. Respiratory System – NCERT General Science
16. Endocrine Glands and Hormones
17. Human Neural System – Human Brain
18. Muscular and Skeletal System
19. Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA, Recombinant DNA
20. Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis – Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison
21. Inheritance – Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Chromosomal Theory, Human Genome Project
22. Sex Determination – Genetic Disorders
23. Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
24. Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful Microbes
25. Immunity – Human Immune System
26. AIDS, Cancer – causes
27. Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
28. Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable Diseases
29. Blood – Blood Groups – Formed Elements
30. Circulatory System, Double Circulation
31. Excretory System – Kidney, Urine Formation
32. Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
33. Biological Classification
34. Five Kingdom Classifications of Plants and Animals
35. Plant Parts and Their Functions
36. Plant Kingdom – Halophytes, Bryophytes
37. Plants with Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
38. Plant Tissue – Simple, Complex Permanent Tissue
39. Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation
40. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Plants
41. Classification of Animal Kingdom (Animalia)
42. Classification of Vertebrata (Phylum Chordata)
43. Human Reproductive System
44. Biotechnology – Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications
45. Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom