1. ANCIENT INDIA

• Pre-historic Period: Palaeolithic Period or Old Stone Age; Mesolithic Age or the Late Stone Age; Neolithic or the New Stone Age.
• Proto-Historic Period: Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization (2600-1900 BC): Origin and Evolution; The Extent; Important Centres; Major Characteristics’; Decline; Chalcolithic Settlements.
• The Vedic Age: The Aryans; Early Vedic Society (1500-1000 BC); The Rig-Vedic Polity; Later Vedic Period; Post-Vedic Period; The Position of Women.
• Sixth Century BC to Fourth Century BC: Pre-Mauryan Period: Sources of Information; Emergence of New Social Groups; Polity.
• Jainism: Doctrines of Jainism; Sects of Jainism; Spread of Jainism; Decline of Jainism;
• Buddhism: Gautama Buddha; The Decline of Buddhism; Other heterodox Sects.
• Mahajanapadas: Emergence of Mahajanapadas; List of Mahajanapadas and Their Capitals; Rise of Magadh; Persian Invasion;; Milieu of Religious Movements: Socio-economic Developments; Alexander’s (Greek ) Invasion.
• The Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC): The Mauryan Conquests; Land Revenue; The Urban Economy; Society and Religion; Ashoka’s Policy of Dharma; Mauryan Administration; Downfall of the Mauryan Empire; Mauryan Art.
• Post-Mauryan Age (200 BC-AD 300): (India after the Mauryas): The Sungas (185-75 BC); Local Powers; Hunas; The Kanva Dynasty (75-30 BC); Chedi Dynasty of Kalinga Chetas; The Satavahana Dynasty (230 BC-220 AD); The Shakas (90 BC-100 AD); The Parthians (247 BC-224 AD); The Kushanas (AD 45-73); North-Western India; Impact of Central Asian Contacts; The Deccan; Sculptural Art.
• Age of the Guptas: Rise of the Guptas; Sources of the Gupta Rule; The Dynastic History of the Guptas; Political Background; Chandra Gupta; Samudra Gupta (AD 335-376); Chandra Gupta II (AD 376-412); Gupta Administration; Revenue Administration; Trade and Towns; Society; Art and Architecture; Literature; Science and Astronomy; The Success of the Guptas; The Age of Smaller Kingdoms; Decline of the Guptas.
• Post-Gupta Era: North India; Deccan and South India; The Kingdom of South India.
• Harshavardhan (AD 606-647).
• The Sangam Age: The Sangam Era; Sangam Age Sources; The Early Kingdoms; Socio-Economic Life in the Sangam Age; Sangam Literature. The Epics.

2. GEOGRAPHY

Introduction

• Branches of Geography: Physical Geography; Human Geography; Economic Geography

A Study Of The Earth

• Origin of the Earth: Nature of the Matter Forming the Earth; Geological History of the Earth.
• The Earth and Its Position in the Solar System: The Solar System; the Shape and the Size of the Earth; Location on Earth Surface and Latitude and Longitude; Some Important Parallels and Meridians; Great Circles and Small Circles; Motions of the Earth and Their Effects; Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and Its Effect; Local and Standard Time and the International Dateline; The Solar and the Sidereal Time.
• Calendar: The Earth and the Moon; Eclipses and Phases of the Moon; Moon and Tides.
• The Lithosphere: Interior Structure of the Earth; Layers of the Earth; Materials of the Earth’s Crust: Rocks and Minerals; Classification of Rocks.
• Landforms: Landforms of the First Order—Oceans and Continents; Tetrahedral Theory; Continental Drift Theory; Plate Tectonics Theory; Seafloor Spreading; Landforms of the Second Order; Plains; Plateaus; Mountains.
• Forces and Processes Affecting the Earth’s Crust: Internal Forces and their Impact; Volcanic Activity; Types of Volcanic Activity and Volcanoes; Volcanic Features; Distribution of Volcanoes; Diastrophic Forces and Earth Movements; Folding and Warping; Faulting; Earthquakes; Earthquake Waves; Earthquake Shadow Zone; Origin of Earthquakes; Tsunami; Isostacy.
• External Forces and Their Impact: Weathering; Types of Weathering; Processes involved in Chemical Weathering; Biological Weathering.
  
• Erosion: Landforms made by Rivers; Landforms made by Glaciers; Landforms made by wind; Coastal Landforms; Landforms made by underground water or Karst Landforms.
• Soils: Pedogenic Regimes; Classification and Distribution of World Soils; Classification and Distribution of World Soils; Major Soil Types; The Soil Taxonomy Used by US Soil Conservation Service
• Atmosphere & Geological Phenomena: Composition; Insolation and Temperature; Atmospheric Pressure; Winds; Humidity; Clouds; Precipitation; Rainfall; Air Masses; Fronts; World Climatic Types and Their distribution; Changes in Critical Geographical features (including water bodies & icebergs); Flora and Fauna, and Effects of such Changes.
• Hydrosphere: Hydrological Cycle; Oceans and Seas; Temperature and Salinity of Ocean; Ocean Currents; Coral Reefs; Marine Resources; Various Ocean Developments Programmes in India; Govt. Institutions Regarding Research and Development in Ocean; Lakes; Wetland.
• Social and World Geography: Race; Aborigines of the World; World Population; Human Development; Migration; Settlement.
• Natural Resources of the World: Distribution of Natural Resources across the World; Factors Responsible for Location of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sectors. Land Resources; Forest Resources; Water Resources; Mineral Resources; Energy Resources.
• Agriculture: Introduction; Major Crops; Modern Agricultural practices.
• Industries and Industrial Regions: Industries: Factors Influencing the Location of Industries; Important Industries of the world; World Industrial Regions; Industrialisation in the Developing world.
• Transport and Communication: Transport: Roadways; Railways; Air Transport; Water Transport; Pipeline Transport. Communication: Mass Communication.
• Continents of the World: Asia; Europe; North America; South America; Africa; Australia; Antarctica.

3. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

General Issues on Environmental Ecology

• Introduction: Physical Environment; Biotic Environment—Interaction among Organisms; Ecosystem; Ecosystems and Human Interference.
• Energy Resources: Non-renewable Energy Resources; Renewal Energy Resources; Energy Conservation.
• Biomes and Natural Vegetation: Biomes and Vegetation; Major Biomes of the World; Importance of Forests; Deforestation; Conservation and Management of Forests; Forest Survey of India (FSI); India State of Forest Report 2013; National Forest Policy; Forest Conservation Act 1980; National Forest Commission; Global Forest Policy.
• Depletion of Natural Resources: fishing; Logging (the felling, skidding, on-site processing and loading of trees onto trucks); Mining.
• Anoxic Waters: Causes and Effects; Anoxic Events; Hypoxia; Dead Zones.
• Solid and Hazardous Wastes: Solid Waste; Hazardous waste.
• Environmental Pollution: Pollution; Pollutants; Kinds of Pollution; Air Pollution; Ozone Layer; Noise Pollution; Radioactive Pollution; Water pollution; Water Pollution; Thermal pollution; Marine pollution; Soil and Land pollution; e-Waste; International Efforts to Protect Environment; Environment protection in India; National River Conservation Plan.
• Overpopulation: National Burial; Water Crisis; Overpopulation in Companion Animals; Tragedy of the Commons.
• Natural Hazards and Disaster Management: Natural Disaster; Man-made Disaster; Disaster management; Disaster Management in India.

4. INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE

• Making of the Constitution: Historical Background; Constitutional Developments; Creation of the Constituent Assembly; Objectives Resolution; Drafting; Enactment of the Constitution. Objectives of Constitution. Sources of the Constitution.
• Preamble and Features of Indian Constitution:  Parts and Important Articles of Constitution; Salient Features.
• Union and Reorganisation of States: Integration of Princely States; Dhar Commission and JVP Committee; Provisions regarding Territories in the Constitution; First Linguistic State and State Reorganisation Commission; New States and Union Territories created after 1956.
• Citizenship: Provisions for Citizenship; Acquisition and Termination of Citizenship; Amendment of Citizenship Act; Commonwealth Citizenship; Single Citizenship; Dual Citizenship for People of Indian Origin; Voting Rights to NRIs; Significance of Citizenship.
• Fundamental Rights: Introduction; Need and Importance of Fundamental Rights; Features of Fundamental Rights; Classification of Fundamental Rights; The Writs; Suspension of Fundamental Rights; Special Rights; Writ Jurisdiction of Supreme Court and High Courts; Parliament’s Right to Amend Fundamental Rights. India as a Secular, Democratic State; Important Cases.
  
• The Directive Principles of State Policy: Introduction; Difference between Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights; Important Directive Principles; New Directive Principles; Directive Principles in Practice; Relationship between Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights.
• Fundamental Duties: List of Duties; Significance of Fundamental Duties.
• Union Executive: The President: Powers and Functions of the President; Constitutional Position of the President of India; Vice-
• President: Powers and Functions.
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers: Role of the Prime Minister as the Head of Government; Difference between Cabinet and Council of Ministers; Cabinet Committees.
• The Parliament: Constitutional Arrangement and Provision for Parliament; Lok Sabha; Rajya Sabha; Presiding Officers of Parliament; Sessions of Parliament; Joint Sessions; Powers of Parliament; Privileges of Members; Legislative Procedure in Parliament; Budget  in Parliament; Vote on Account; Parliamentary Committees; Parliamentary Terms; Motions in Parliament.

5. INDIAN ECONOMY

• Introduction: Branches of Economics; Classification of Economy; Social and Economic Development Index; Human Development Report; Sustainable Development; Millennium Development Goals; Economy of India; Sectors of Indian Economy.
• Economic Development: What is economic Development? Growth and Development; Government and Economic Development; Government’s Role in Economic Development.
• Measuring Economic Growth and Development: National Income and Per Capita Income; Physical quality of life Index; Human Development Index; Gross National Happiness; World happiness Report; Green GDP.
• Planning for Development: History of Planning; Types of Planning; Development Strategy; An Assessment of India’s Planning Experience; NITI Aayog; National Development Council; Five Year Plans.
• Sustainable Development: Introduction; Agenda; The Earth Summit Rio+10; Rio+20—United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; The Conference of Parties (CoP 21)—Paris Agreement; India’s Strategy on Sustainable Development; National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC); India’s Response to Paris Agreement (CoP 21); United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Poverty: Concepts; Poverty and Public Policy; Inequality and Vulnerability; Measurement of Poverty; GDP Per capita; Head Count Ratio, Poverty Gap and Poverty Severity Index; Expert Groups for Estimating Poverty and BPL families; SECC 2011; Poverty among Indian States; Universal Basic Income (UBI).
• Inclusion: Concepts; Inclusive Growth; Financial Inclusion; Gender Exclusion; Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

6. POLITICAL SCIENCE

International Organizations and Regional Groups:

• Bretton Woods Conference
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• World Trade Organization  (WTO)
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
• SAARC, ASEAN
• European Union (EU).

Developmental Studies

• Government Policies and Intervention for developments in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry—role of NGOs, SHGs, Various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of these schemes.
• Mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection & betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Various issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating poverty and hunger.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies, minimum support prices.
• Issues related to buffer stock and food security.

1. MEDIEVAL HISTORY

• Early Medieval India (750-1200 AD): Features of Early Medieval India;  Kannauj after Harsha; Ayudha Rulers of Kannauj; The Palas of Bengal; The Senas of Bengal; The Rashtrakutas in Deccan; Contributions of the Rashtrakutas; Southern India; The Cheras; The Rajputs in Northern India; The Paramaras of Malwa; The Solankis.
• Arabs and Turks: Arab Conquest of Sindh; Impact of Arab Rule in Sindh; The Ghaznavis; Mohammed Ghur.
• The Delhi Sultanate: Foundation of the Muslim State; The slave Dynasty (1206-90 AD); The Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD); Market Control and Economic Reforms; The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1412 AD); The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-51 AD); The Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526); Administration in the Sultanate Period; The Iqta System; Economy of the Sultanate Period; Relations between the Hindus and the Muslims.
• The Emergence of Provincial Kingdoms: Bengal; Orissa; Kashmir; Gujarat; Malwa; Jaunpur; Marwar; Amber.
• The Vijayanagara Empire: Origin of the Empire; Sangama Dynasty (1336-1485); Decline of the Sangama Dynasty; The Saluva Dynasty (1505-1570 AD); The Aravidu Dynasty (1570-1652 AD); Vijayanagara Administration; Vijayanagara Society; Bahmani Kingdom; Independent Kingdoms of Deccan; Art and architecture.
• Religious Movements in Medieval India: Sufism in India; Important Sufi Saints; Bhakti Movement; Some Important Philosophers; Nirguna and Saguna Saints; The Sikh Gurus.
• The Mughal Empire: Mughal Rule; Babur (1526-1530); Humayun (1530-1556); Shersha’s Administration; Akbar (1556-1605); Jahangir (1605-1527); Prince Salim’s Rebellion; Shah Jahan (1627-1658); Aurangzeb (1658-1707); Sikh Revolts; Later Mughals; Mughal Administration; Provincial Administration; Mansabdari System; The Jagir System; Methods of Land Revenue Assessment; Jagirdari Crisis; Categories of Agriculturists; Military Organisation of the Mughals.
• The Maratha Empire: The Marathas; Shivaji (1627-1680); Maratha Administration; Maratha Power under the Peshwas; Baji Rao I (1720-1740); Maratha Confederacy

2. ART AND CULTURE

• Introduction to Indian Culture: Culture; A Pre-view of Indian Culture; Characteristics of Indian Culture.
• Language and Literature: Indian language Families; Other Indian Languages and Indian Literature; Indian Literature in English.
• Religion and Philosophy: Proto-historic Religion; Ancient Indian Religions; Theistic Religions; The Schools of Indian philosophy.
• Art and Architecture: Meaning of Art; The Indus Valley Period; Mauryan Art; Indo-Islamic Art and Architecture; Mughal Architecture; Post-Mughal Architecture; European Influence on Indian art.
• Indian Painting: Cave Paintings; Madhubani Paintings; Kalamkari Art; Patachira Paintings; Kalight paintings; Batik Paintings; Lepakshi Paintings; Mughal Paintings; Rajput Paintings; Rajasthan Paintings; Pahari Paintings; Miniature paintings; Kulumandi Paintings; Mysore Paintings; Tanjore Paintings.
• Music, Dance and Drama: Development of Music in India; Famous classical singers of India; Emergence of Dance in India; Well-known Dancers of Modern India; drama and Theatre; Modern Indian theatre; Puppetry.
• Festivals and Fairs: State-wise Fairs and Festivals of India; Some Famous Fairs.
• Crafts: Crafts of India: Crafts in Various Phase; Classification of Crafts; Kinds of Handicrafts in India.
• Indian Cinema: The Era of Silent Films (1913-31); Pre-Independence Talkies (1931-47); Post-Independence Films (1947- ); Various Types of Indian Cinema

3. INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

• Introduction to Indian Geography: Location; Area and Extent; Administrative Divisions; Geological Aspects of India.
• Physiography: Relief and Physiographic Divisions; The Himalayas; The peninsular Plateau; The Indian Desert; The coastal Plains; The islands.
• Drainage System: Types of Drainage System in India; The Himalayan Rivers; The Peninsular Rivers; Lakes; National Water Grid.
• Climate: Characteristics of Indian Climate; Important Concepts about Origin of Monsoon; The Mechanism of the Indian Monsoon; Seasons; Rainfall Distribution in India;  Droughts and Floods; Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Soil and Vegetation: Soil: Major Soils of India; Natural Vegetation of India; Types of Vegetation; Classification of Forests in India; Wildlife in India.
• Agricultural Science: 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.
• Population and Settlement: Population: Enumeration of Population in India; Population Growth since 1901; Census 2011; National Population Register (NPR); Migration; Tribes of India; Scheduled Castes; Settlements and Urbanisation.
• Resources: Human Resources; Natural Resources; Mineral Resources; Energy Resources; Conventional Sources of Energy; Renewable Energy programmes and Schemes in India; Water Resources; Marine Resources; land Resources in India; Forest Resources.
• Agriculture: Agriculture in India; Cropping Seasons; Green Revolution; Problems of Indian Agriculture; Fertilizer; Live Stock and Dairy Farming; Pisciculture; Sericulture, Horticulture, Floriculture.
• Irrigation: Irrigation in India; Types of irrigation Technique; Irrigation Projects in India.
• Transport and Communication: Transport: Roadways; Railways; Air Transport; Water Transport; Pipeline Transport. Communication: Mass Communication in India. Trade.

GEOINFORMATICS

• Remote Sensing; Aerial Photography; Remote Sensing Satellites and Satellite Data products; Space Imaging Programmes; Meteorological Satellites; Radar systems; Lidar; Indian Space programme; Indian Remote Sensing Satellites; Indian Launch Vehicles; Indian Space Research Organisation.

4. BIODIVERSITY

• Biodiversity: Levels of Biodiversity; Importance of biodiversity; Biodiversity Hotspots of the world; Biodiversity in India; Conservation of biodiversity; Biosphere Reserves; Environmental laws in India; Coastal Regulation zone (CRZ).
• Biodiversity and Man: Biodiversity and Human Health; Biodiversity: Business and Industry; Leisure, Cultural and Aesthetic Value; Other Services.
• Wildlife in India: Lion Reserves in India; Latest population of tigers in India; List of endangered species in India; Wildlife Conservation Organisations; World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• Chemical Threats to Biodiversity: Chemical Toxicology; Toxic Chemicals  in Air; Toxic chemicals in water; Toxic chemicals in Soil; Important Chemical Toxicants; Toxicity caused by nano materials and nano particles; Contaminants present in leaking gasoline; Human waste treatment; Priority list of hazardous substances; Classification of toxic substances.
• Spotlight: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster; Pollution in Delhi; Recent developments; Latest developments.
• Saviours of Biodiversity: Green Chemistry; Combinatorial Chemistry; Computational Chemistry; Supra-molecular Chemistry; Biocatalysts; Biomaterials; Bio mimetics; Biopolymers; Bio assemblies.
• Conservation of Natural Resources: Species Extinction; Pollinator Decline; Coral Bleaching; Holocene Extinction; Invasive species; Poaching; Endangered Species.

5. INDIAN POLITY

• Constitutional Amendments: Meaning of Amendment; Procedure for Amendment; Important Constitutional Amendments.
• The Supreme Court: Introduction; Appointment of Judges; Composition of the Constitution Bench;  Independence of Judges; Removal of Judges; Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; Judicial Activism; Public Interest Litigation; Judiciary vs Legislature.
• Constitutional Bodies: Election Commission; Public Service Commission; Finance Commission; National Commission for SCs; National commission for STs; The Attorney General; Advocate General of India.
• Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies: National Human Rights Commission; National Commission for Women; National Commission for Minorities; National Commission for Backward Classes; National Law Commission; National Green Tribunal; National Consumer Redressal Commission; Central Information Commission; State Information Commission; National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission; State Consumer Redressal Commission; District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum; Armed Forces Tribunal.
• Regulatory Bodies: Advertising Standard Council of India; Competition Commission of India; Biodiversity Authority of India; Press Council of India; Directorate General Civil Aviation; Forward Markets Commission; Inland Waterways Authority of India; Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority; Reserve Bank of India; Securities and Exchange Board of India; Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal; Telecom Regulatory Authority of India; The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India; Central Pollution Control Board; Financial Stability and Development Council; Medical Council of India; Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.
• State Executive: Introduction; The Governor; Powers of the governor; The Chief Minister; Council of Ministers; The Advocate General.
• State Legislature: Legislative Assembly; Legislative Council; Powers of the State Legislature.
• High Court: Introduction: Transfer of Judges; Jurisdiction of High Court; Administrative Tribunals:  Family Courts; Lok Adalats; Gramin Nyayalas; Subordinate Judiciary: District Court & Lower Courts.
• Indian Federalism and Relations between the Union and the States: Indian Federalism; Unitary Features; Co-operative Federalism; Centre-State Relations; Sarkaria Commission; M. M. Punchhi Commission; PV Rajamannar Commission; Zonal Councils; North-Eastern Councils; Inter-State Councils.
• Comparison of Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of other countries—Britain, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia.

6. INDIAN ECONOMY

• Gender and Development: Introduction; Women Empowerment; National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001); Some Indicators of Gender Equality; Gender Budgeting; Draft National Policy for Women, 2016.
• Demographics: Introduction; Population Growth; Age Composition of the Population; State-wise Demographic Profile; Salient Features of Census 2011; Significant Changes; Alarming Sex Ratio; Population and Development; National Population Policy 2000; Why is India’s population growing?; Strategies.
• Agriculture:  Role of Agriculture in Indian Economy; Agriculture and Five –year Plans; Green Revolution in India; Major Agricultural Revolutions; Finance and Credit Facilities; Irrigation and Fertilisers; Foods Processing Industry; Agriculture Insurance; Promoting Green Economy.
• Industry: Role of Industry; Industrial Policies and Acts; Companies Act 2013; Index of Industrial Production; Government Measures to Promote Small-scale Industries; Navratna and Maharatna Companies; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Industrial Sickness; Industrial Growth; Central Government programmes.
• Urbanisation: Introduction; India’s Urban Scene—Some Projections; Issues in urbanisation; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Housing for All (Urban)[PMAY-HFA]; AMRUT; Smart Cities  Mission; National Investment and Infrastructure.
• Public Finance: Fiscal Policy; Union Budget; Taxation Policy; Indian Tax Structure; Public Expenditure; Deficit Financing; Black Money; Fiscal Federalism; Finance Commission; Fourteenth Finance Commission; Economic Survey Report (of Government of India).
• Money, Banking and Monetary Policy: Monetary Policy Theory; Indian Monetary Policy; Functions of RBI; Foreign Exchange management; Capital Account Convertibility (CAC); Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA); Money Market Instruments; Indian Financial System; Indigenous Banking; Commercial Banking; Capital Markets and G-Sec; Insurance Sector.
• Foreign Trade and Foreign Exchange: Historical Background; Composition of Trade; Direction of Foreign Trade; Foreign Trade Performance of India; Foreign Trade Policy, 2015, 20; Trade Composition; The Foreign Exchange Reserves; Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

7. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

• India and its Neighbourhood Relations
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and public affecting India’s interests.
• Effects of Policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
• Indian Diaspora.
• Important International Institutions, agencies and forums, their structure and mandate.

Public Administration

• Public 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 and moral values in governance;
• Ethical issues in International Relations and funding;
• Corporate Govern

1.  MODERN HISTORY

• India in the 18th Century: Rise of Autonomous States; Factors Responsible for the Creation of New States; Social and Economic Conditions in the 18th Century; Life in the Early Century.
• The Coming of the Europeans: The Portuguese; The Dutch; The English; The French; British Occupation of Bengal; The Nawabs of Bengal; The Battle of Buxar; The Sikhs.
• The British Administrative Structure and Economic policies: Acts and Amendments; Civil Services and judiciary.
• Peasant and Tribal Movements: Peasant Uprisings; All India Kisan sabha; Tribal Rebellions; Other Important Uprisings.
• Governors-General and Viceroys of India: Governors-General of the Company; Governors-General of India; Viceroys of India.
• Growth of Modern Education in India: Wood’s Despatch 1954; Hunter Commission or Indian Educational Commission 1882; Indian Universities’ Act 1904; Saddler Commission 1917-19; Hartog Committee 1929; Wardha Scheme of Education 1937; Sargent Plan 1944; Kothari Education Commission 1964; University Grants Commission (UGC) 1953.
• History of Press in India: Press Laws and Regulations in British India; The Vernacular Press Act 1878.
• The Revolt of 1857: Causes of the Revolt; Outside Influence on the Revolt of 1857; Impact of the Revolt/Mutiny; The Government of India Act 1858; Reorganisation of the Army; Significance of the Revolt.
• Socio-Religious Reform Movements in India: Causes for Socio-Religious Reform Movements; Reforms and Their Leaders; The Brahmo Samaj; The Young Bengal Movement; The Prarthana Samaj; The Arya Samaj; The Theosophical Society; Other Significant Hindu Reform Movements; Reform Movements among Muslims; Sikh Reform Movements.
• Rise of Indian Nationalism: Factors for Rise of Nationalism; Impact of Modern Education; The Programme and Activities of the Early Nationalists.
• Struggle for Independence—First Phase: Formation of Indian National Congress (INC), 1885; Moderates and the Era of Early nationalists (1885-1905); Rise of Extremism in Indian Politics; Partition of Bengal, 1905; Swadeshi Movement, 1905; Surat Split, 1907; Foundation of Muslim League; Revolutionary Activities during World War I; Home Rule Movement in India, 1916; The Gandhian Era in India.
• Other Political Trends during Indian national Movement: Communist Party of India (CPI); Formation of the Congress socialist Party.
• Struggle for Independence—Second Phase (1919-1927): Government of India Act 1919; Rowlatt Act 1919; Khilafat Act 1919; Non-Cooperation Movement 1920.
• Struggle for Independence—Third Phase: Simon Commission; Nehru Report; Nationalist Party; Civil Disobedience Movement; Salt Satyagraha (Dandi march); Gandhi-Irwin Pact; The Poona Pact.
• Struggle for Independence—Fourth Phase: August 1940 Offer; Cripps Mission (April 1942); Quit India Movement (August 1942); Subhas Chandra Bose and INA; Cabinet Mission Plan, March 1946; Interim Government; Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947); Partition of India; Important National Leaders.

2. WORLD HISTORY

• History of the World—Including events from the 18th century such as Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Re-drawing of National Boundaries; Colonization; Decolonization; Political Philosophies like Communism; Capitalism; Socialism, etc.; Their forms and effect on the Society

3. CLIMATE CHANGE

• Climate Change and Global Warming: Climate Change; Continent-wise Effects of Climate change; Global Warming; International Efforts on Climate Change and Global Warming; Land Use and Climate Change; India and global Treaties.
• Theories of Climate Change: Hypotheses based on Solar variations; Astronomical Hypotheses; Atmospheric hypotheses; Terrestrial Hypotheses.
• Global Warming: Mitigation of/and Adaptation to Global Warming; Differing views; Indian response to climate change and global warming.
• Ozone Layer Protection.
• International initiatives on Climate Change
  
• Sustainable Development: Sustainability; Origin of Sustainable Development; Parameters of Sustainable Development; Objectives of sustainable Development; Sustainable Agriculture; Biotechnology.

4. INDIAN POLITY

• Civil Services under the Union and States: Classification of Services; Public Service Commissions; Civil Servants and Fundamental Rights.
• Provisions for Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• Official Language: Hindi as Official Language and Use of English; Regional Languages; Classical Languages.
• Jammu and Kashmir: Special Status for Jammu and Kashmir; Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir; Demand for Abrogation of article 370. Jammu and Kashmir Resettlement Act; Special Provisions with respect to Other States; Act 371, 371 J
• Salient Features of the Representation of People Act: 1950 & 1951 Acts; Electoral Reforms; the Model Code of Conduct; Delimitation; Anti-Defection law; Pressure Groups; Interest Groups.
• Local Self Government: Institution and Evolution; Panchayati Raj; The Municipalities; Urban Local Self Governments in India.
• India as a Secular, Democratic State: Equality of Religions; Representative Democracy; devices of Direct Democracies; Initiative, Referendum, Plebiscite Recall.
• Constitutional Amendments: Procedure; Important Amendments: 1st, 7th, 24th, 25th, 26th, 42nd, 44th, 52nd, 61st, 69th, 73rd, 74th, 86th, 91st, 92nd, 94th, 97th, 9th, 100th, 101th.
• Important Cases: Keshavananda Bharati Case; Minerva Mills Case; Bijoe Emmanual Case; Indra Sawhney Case; Lily vs Union of India.
• Commissions: Constitution Renewal Commission; Justice Mallimath Commission; First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC); Second ARC
• Important Acts: The Right to Information Act 2005; The Right to Education Act 2009; Domestic Violence Act 2005; Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955; Scheduled Caste & Schedule Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989; Consumer Protection Act 1986.
• Electoral Systems and Elections: Electoral System; Electoral Procedure; Electoral Reforms; Elections held in India Since Independence; Highlights of the Lok Sabha Elections held so far. Anti-Defection Law; Political Parties; Registration of Political Parties; National and Regional Parties.

5. GOVERNANCE

• Important Aspects of Governance: Transparency & Accountability; e-governance—Applications; Models, Successes, Limitations and Potential; Citizen Charters, Institutional and other Measures
• New Policy Initiatives on Issues of Governance:

6. INDIAN ECONOMY

• Government Initiatives in Social Sector: Social Security; Persons with Disabilities; Women and Child Welfare; Welfare Schemes for Scheduled Castes; Welfare Schemes for Schedules Tribes; Welfare Schemes for Minorities; De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT).
• Food and Agriculture: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies, minimum support prices.  Public Distribution system: Objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping.
• Food Processing and Related Industries in India, scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Infrastructure and Industrial Sector: Effects of liberalisation on the economy; changes in Industrial Policy, effects on industrial growth. Infrastructure; energy, ports, roads, roads, airports, railways, etc.
• Investment Models—Technology Missions—Economics of Animal Rearing. 

7. INDIAN SOCIETY

• Indian Society—Salient Features & diversity of India
• Role of women & Women’s organisations
• Population and Associated issues
• Poverty and Developmental issues
• Urbanisation—problems and remedies
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Social empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism and secularism

Practical Study

• Probity in Governance; Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of Governance and probity
• Information sharing and transparency in governance
• Right to Information
• Codes of Ethics; Codes of Conduct
• Citizen charter
• Work culture
• Quality of Public Service delivery
• Utilisation of Public Funds
• Challenges of Corruption

Case Studies of above issues

• Important Land Reforms in India.
• Role of Civil Services in a democracy.

8. ETHICS