GS PAPER-1
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present-
significant events, personalities, issues.
3. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from
different parts of the country.
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. 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.
6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
8. Effects of globalization on Indian society.
9. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
10. 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).
11. 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.
GS PAPER-2
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)
1. Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant
provisions and basic structure.
2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining
to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges
therein.
3. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
4. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
5. Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these.
6. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and
Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and
their role in the Polity. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. Appointment to
various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional
Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
