General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of

the World and Society.

HISTORY
AND
CULTURE

SOCIOLO
GY

GEOGRA
PHY

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and

International relations

POLITY

POLITY

Social
Justice

IR

General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity,

Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

ECONOM
Y

ECONOM
Y

S&T

ENV.
DM

SECURIT
Y
CHALLEN
GES

General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

Ethics

Ethics

PUB. AD.

Course Content
General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of
the World and Society.
Indian culture will cover the 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 womens 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 worlds physical geography.
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia
and the Indian subcontinent)
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 waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the
effects of such changes.

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and

International relations
Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features,
amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
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.
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms
and institutions

Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
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 Peoples Act
Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, egovernance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
measures
Role of civil services in a democracy.
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs,
SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other
stakeholders
Welfare
schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and
States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,
institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of
these vulnerable sections.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
India and its neighborhood- relations.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting Indias interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
Indias interests, Indian diaspora.
Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure,
mandate
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity,
Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources,
growth, development and employment.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Government Budgeting.
Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country,
different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and
related constraints
e-technology in the aid of farmers
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support
prices;

Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;

issues of buffer stocks and food security
Technology missions;
economics of animal-rearing
Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance,
location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain
management.
Land reforms in India.
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and
their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment models.
Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in
everyday life
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of
technology and developing new technology
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology,
bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental
impact assessment
Disaster and disaster management.
Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal
security
Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges
basics of cyber security
money-laundering and its prevention
Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of
organized crime with terrorism
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

IV: Ethics,
and Aptitude
This General
paper willStudiesinclude questions
to Integrity,
test the candidates
attitude and
approach to issues relating to integrity,probity in public life and his problem
solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with
society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these
aspects. The following broad
areas will be covered.
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of
Ethics in human actions;dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public
relationships

Human Values lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders,
reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational
institutions
in inculcating
Attitude:
content,
structure,values
function; its influence and relation with thought
and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and
persuasion.
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality
and non-partisanship,objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy,
tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections
Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and

problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private
institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical
guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical
and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and
funding; corporate governance.
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of
governance and probity;
Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,
Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality
of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

Case Studies on above issues.

Estimated Date of Completion

Text/ Basic Books/ Source

Gktoday plus UNESCO

Spectrum, Bipin Chandra
Spectrum, Bipin Chandra
Shankar, Sriram, Notes

Shankar, Sriram, Gktoday for some

other topics
Shankar,
Shankar, Own Notes, Gktoday
Shankar, Own Notes
Shankar, Own Notes
Shankar, Own Notes
Shankar, Own Notes
Shankar, Own Notes
Sriram
Sriram
Sriram, Mrunal
Youtube, Shankar Geography
Sriram

Laxmikant

Sriram - conflict resolution (water)

Own Notes
Laxmikant

Sriram and GK today

Gktoday, Sriram
Laxmikant

Governance Shankar book,

Sriram
Gktoday plus India Year Book

Sriram

Gktoday, shankarias Rights book

Gktoday
GK today, own notes
Sriram
Shankar
sriram
Shankar

own notes
Sriram
Pawan Kumar Notes
Shankar
Shankar
Shankar, Marketing part from
Gktoday
Shankar book, Gktoday (both not
good)
Shankar, Sriram

Shankar, Sriram
Shankar, Sriram
Mrunal
Mrunal
Shankar
Sriram, Shankar
Newspaper articles
Sriram, gktoday
Gktoday

Gktoday

Youtube
Shankar
Sriram
Own Notes , Shankar
Own Notes , Shankar
Articles from Internet

Articles from Internet

Sriram
Sriram, Shankar
Sriram, Shankar

Shankar

Shankar
Sriram

Shankar
Own Notes notes, Youtube videos
Sriram, Shankar
ARC

ARC

American Public Administration ebook on case studies, Michal

Sandel lectures on Justice