Free General Studies Notes
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How to Prepare for General Studies
Paper - I
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
- Effects of globalisation on Indian society
- Salient features of world's physical geography
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone
- Urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Population and associated issues
- Poverty and developmental issues
- Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms and effect on the society
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world
- Role of women and women's organization
- World History: World wars
- World History: colonization and de-colonization
- World History: Industrial revolution from 18th century
- Indian culture: the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
Paper - II
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
- Salient Features of the Constitution of India: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine
- Salient features of the Representation of People's Act
- Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
- E Governance-- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
- Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs
- Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable section
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes
- Separation of powers between various organs
- India and Its Neighbourhood Relations
- Pressure Groups and formal/Informal Associations and Their Role In The Polity
- Comparison of The Indian Constitutional Scheme With That of Other Countries
- Appointment to Various Constitutional Posts,Powers,Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
- Functions and Responsibilities of The Union and the States
Paper - III
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
- Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks
- Money Laundering and Its Prevention
- Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges
- Linkages of Organised Crime with Terrorism
- Land reforms in India
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Issues relating to intellectual property rights
- Awareness in the fields of IT
- Awareness in the fields of Computers
- Awareness in the fields of Robotics
- Awareness in the field of Space
- Awareness in the fields of Bio-technology
- Awareness in the fields of nano-technology
- Conservation
- Environmental pollution and degradation
- Environmental impact assessment
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
- Security challenges and their management in border areas
- Disaster Management
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
- Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country
- Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage
- E-technology in the aid of farmers
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
- Public Distribution System-, functioning, limitations, revamping
- Issues of buffer stocks and food security
- Economics of Animal Rearing
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
- Science and Technology
- Effects of science and technology in everyday life
- Application of science and technology
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology
- Developments Science and Technology
- Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology
- Role of External State and non-state Actors increating Challenges to internal Security
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices
Paper - IV
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
- Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
- Probity in Governance
- Probity in Governance: Right to Information
- Probity in Governance: Philosophical Basis of Governance and Probity
- Information sharing and transparency in government
- Concept of public service
- Codes of Conduct
- Challenges of corruption
- Citizen's Charters
- Utilization of public funds
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions
- Ethics in private and public relationships
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world
- Accountability and ethical governance
- 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.
- Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance
- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions
- Corporate governance
- Dimensions of ethics
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems
- Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance
- Moral and political attitudes
- Human Values: role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
- Social influence and persuasion
- Codes of Ethics
- Ethical Issues in International Relations and Funding