GS 1 Syllabus Of UPSC CSE Mains Examination

General Studies Paper GS 1 Syllabus

General Studies Paper GS 1 Syllabus is a significant component of the UPSC Mains, encompassing subjects like History, Geography, Art and Culture, and Indian Society. It is a subjective paper among the four general studies papers. In addition to GS Paper 1, the Mains stage of the IAS Exam includes eight other papers. This article aims to provide you with the General Studies Paper GS 1 Syllabus and its structure to aid your preparation.

Historical changes in exam pattern

In 2013, significant structural changes were implemented in the UPSC IAS Exam, accompanied by minor adjustments in 2015 and 2016. The changes primarily focused on the General Studies section, and they are outlined below:

2013: The number of General Studies papers increased from 2 to 4.

2015: The marks obtained in the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) were no longer considered for the merit list. Instead, the merit ranking was based on the scores achieved in the General Studies papers, essay paper, and optional papers. CSAT became a qualifying paper.

2016: The marks distribution for General Studies papers underwent a two-tier system, departing from the earlier equal marks distribution for all questions.

These alterations in the UPSC IAS Exam aimed to refine the evaluation process and ensure a more comprehensive assessment of candidates’ knowledge and aptitude.

PATTERN

THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS & THEIR ASSOCIATED WEIGHTAGE MARKS MAY DIFFERENTIATE AS PER THE EXAMINER’S OR COMMISSION’S DECISION ( IN A NUTSHELL, WE CAN’T ASSUME WHAT & HOW THEY WOULD SURPRISE US IN THE EXAM ROOM )

AS PER THE CURRENT TREND, THERE ARE 20 COMPULSORY QUESTIONS PRINTED IN HINDI AND ENGLISH WHICH ARE TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LANGUAGE SELECTED WHILE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION FORM. QUESTIONS THAT ARE RESPONDED TO IN ANY OTHER LANGUAGE ARE NOT EVALUATED.

THE PAPER IS OF A TOTAL OF 250 MARKS. (FIXED)
THE WORD LIMIT FOR 10 MARKS QUESTIONS IS 150, AND FOR 15 MARKS IS 250. (IT CAN VARY, NOT SURE, JUST TAKE IT AS A SURPRISE )

General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

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 women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Effects of globalization on Indian society.

General Studies Paper 1 Syllabus decoded

Indian Culture

1. Architecture from ancient to modern times

Harappan Architecture
Mauryan Architecture
Post-Mauryan Period Gupta Period
Temple Architecture
- Nagara Style
- Dravida Style
- Vesara Style
Cave Architecture
- Buddhist Cave
- Jaina Caves
- Gupta Period Caves
Medieval and Indo-Islamic Architecture

Colonial Architecture & Modern Architecture
- European Influence
- Indo-Saracenic Architecture
- Post-Independence Period
Contribution of Buddhism & Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture
Rock Cut
- South Indian
- Western Indian
- Eastern Indian
Medieval and Indo-Islamic Architecture
- Imperial Style Delhi Sultanate
- Provincial Style
- Mughal Style
- Sikh Style of Architecture
- Rajput Architecture
- Salient features

2. Literature

Classical Sanskrit Literature
- Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas
- Books written by Kalidasa, Vishakhadatta etc
Ancient Buddhist Literature
Ancient Jainism Literature

Early Dravidian Literature (eg Sangam Period)
Medieval Literature
Trends in Medieval Literature
Modern Indian Literature

3. Indian Art Forms

Indian Paintings
- Mural Paintings
- Miniature Paintings
- Mughal, Rajput, Pahari Paintings
Dances in India
- Classical Dance Forms
- Folk Dance Forms
- Modern Dance
Music
- Classical Music
- Folk Music
Puppetry
- String Puppets
- Shadow Puppets
- Rod Puppets
- Glove puppets
- Modern Puppetry
- Tribal Puppetry

Pottery
- Ochre Coloured Pottery(OCP)
- Black and Red Ware (BRW)
- Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
- Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)
- Glazed and Unglazed Pottery
Bhakti & Sufi Movements
- Spread of Bhakti and Sufi Movements
- Women Poets of Bhakti
Drama/Theatre
- Classical Sanskrit Theatre
- Regional Theatre
- Modern Theatre

Ancient history

1. Pre-Historic

Stone Age
Chalcolithic Age
Iron Age

2. Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)

Town Planning
Harappan Society
Characteristics of Major Centers
Harappan Art & Architecture
Decline of Harappan Culture

3. Vedic Society

Original Home of Aryans
Socio- Economic Characters of Vedic Society
Vedic Literature
Social Organization and Varna System
Religion and Thought

4. Pre-Mauryan Period

Mahajanpadas
Haryanka dynasty
Shishunaga dynasty
Nanda dynasty

5. Jainism and Buddhism

Gautam Buddha
Mahavira
Growth of Jainism and Buddhism

6. Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta and Bindusara
Arthasastra (Book by Kautilya)
Megasthenes
Asoka and His Successors
Asoka’s Inscriptions and Sites
Asoka’ a Dhamma
Mauryan. Administration, Economy, Society and Art
Decline of Maurya

7. Post-Mauryan India

Arrival of Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians & Kushana
Satavahanas and Other Indigenous Dynasties
Schools of Art: Gandhara; Mathura; Amravati
Imperial Guptas
- Political history of Guptas
- Gupta Administration
- Development of Art & Culture
- Age of Golden age
- Economic Conditions
- Urban centres in Gupta period
Harshavardana
- Sources for Harsha’s Period
- Early life of Harsha
- Harsha’s Administration
- Important Officials of the empire
- Economy under Harsha
- Huen Tsang
- Society
- Religion
The Southern Dynasties
- Satavahanas (230 BC TO AD 225)
- Pallavas (AD 330–796)
- Chalukyas (AD 535–1190)
- Pandyas of Madurai (AD 590–1323)
- Chola Dynasty (AD 850–1310)
- Rashtrakutas (AD 753–973)

8. Delhi Sultanate

Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk Dynasty
Khilji Dynasty
Tughluq dynasty
Sayyid Dynasty
Lodi dynasty

Struggle for Empire in North India (Afghans, Rajputs and Mughals)

Babur
Humayun
Akbar
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb
Later Mughals
Decline of Mughal Empire

Sur Dynasties
Maratha Empire
Deccan Sultanate

Babur
Humayun
Akbar
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb
Later Mughals
Decline of Mughal Empire

MODERN HISTORY

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

1. Important Modern History Events Before 1857

Later Mughals
Regional powers in 18th Century
Carnatic Wars
Battle of Plassey & Buxar
Anglo-Mysore War
Anglo Punjab War
Socio-economic Condition of People
European Penetration of India
British Conquest of India
British Policies & Their Impact – Economic, Administrative & Socio-cultural
Socio-cultural Reform Movements
Uprisings Against British Pre-1857

2. Revolt of 1857

Causes, Leaders, and Nature of revolt of 1857
Suppression of revolt of 1857
Consequences of Revolt of 1857
Act of Good Governance 1858

3. Growth of Nationalism in India (1858-1905)

Political, Economic & Administrative Unification of the Country
Role of Western Education
Role of Press
Rediscovery of India’s Past
Early Political Movements
Formation of INC
Era of Moderates

4. Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905-1918)

Swadeshi & Boycott Movement
Surat Split
International Influence
Morley – Minto Reforms
Growth of Communalism

5. Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919-1939)

Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas & Leadership
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
Rowlatt Act, Satyagrah and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Non-cooperation & Khilafat Movement
Swarajists & No-Changers
Emergence of New Forces – Socialistic Ideas, Youth & Trade Unionism
Revolutionary Activity
Simon Commission & Nehru Report
Civil Disobedience Movement
Round Table Conferences
Communal Award & Poona Pact
Participation in Elections to Central Legislature (1934) & Provincial Assemblies (1937)
Government of India Act, 1935

6. Towards Freedom & Partition (1939-1947)

National Movement During World War II
August Offer
Individual Satyagraha
Growth of Communalism
Peasant Movements
State People’s Struggle
Cripps Mission
Quit India Movement
Wavell Plan
INA & Subhash Chandra Bose
Cabinet Mission
Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II
Independence with Partition

INDIAN AND WORLD GEOGRAPHY

1. Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

Classification of Industries
Location & Distribution of the Industries on the Basis of
- Raw Material
- Labour
- Market
- Capital
- Land
- Grants & Financial Incentives
- Power
- Transport
- Water
- Communication
Distribution of Major Industries – Iron & Steel, IT, Cotton Textile
Agglomeration & Footloose Industries

2. 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

Earthquakes
- Why Does Earth Shake?
- Earthquake Waves
- Shadow Zone
- Types of Earthquake
- Measuring Earthquake
- Effects of Earthquake
Tsunami
- What Causes Tsunami
- Effect of Tsunami
- Mitigating the Impact of Tsunami
Volcanoes
- Types of Volcanoes
- What Causes Volcanoes?
- Volcanic Landforms
- Intrusive volcanic Landforms
- Extrusive Volcanic Landforms
- Distribution of Volcanoes
Cyclone
- Tropical Cyclones
- Anti-Cyclone
- Extra Tropical Cyclones
Factors Causing Changes in Critical Geographical Features
Examples of Changing Geographical Features – Melting of Ice Sheets, Desertification etc.
Impact of Changing Geographical Features
Physical Geography of India
- Physiography of India
- Drainage System
- Climate
- Soils in India
- Natural Vegetation
Human Geography
- Demography
- Urbanization
- Census
Economic Geography
- Agriculture
- Mineral resource
- Energy resources
- Industry
- Transport and Communication

3. Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)

Types of Resources
- On the Basis of Origin, Ownership, Exhaustibility etc.
Land Resources
- Land Utilisation
- Land Use Pattern
- Land Degradation & Conservation
Forest Resources
- Types & Distribution – Grasslands, Forests etc.
- Causes of Depletion
- Conservation of Forests
Water Resources
- Marine & Freshwater
- Water Scarcity & Need For Conservation
- Integrated Water Resources Management
Agricultural Resources
- Types of Farming
- Cropping Patterns
- Contribution to Economy, Employment & Output
- Food Security
Mineral & Energy Resources
- Classification of Minerals – Ferrous & Non-Ferrous
- Occurrence of Minerals
- Conservation of Minerals
- Classification of Energy Resources – Conventional & Non-Conventional
- Occurrence of Energy Resources
- Conservation of Energy Resources

4. Salient features of World’s Physical Geography

Geomorphology
- Origin & Evolution of Earth
- Interior of the Earth
- Distribution of Continents & Oceans
- Plate Tectonic Theory
- Distribution of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
- Rocks & Rock Cycle
- Geomorphic Processes – Endogenic & Exogenic
- Landforms & their Evolution
- Geological Time Scale
Oceanography
- Hydrological Cycle
- Seafloor Spreading
- Ocean Floor Configuration
- Temperature & Salinity of Oceans
- Movement of Oceans – Waves, Tides, Currents
Climatology
- Earth’s Atmosphere – Composition & Structure
- Solar Radiation, Heat Budget & Temperature
- Atmospheric Circulation & Weather Systems
- World Climate (examples)
Soil Geography
- Soil & Soil Contents
- Process of Soil Formation
- Soil Forming Factors
- Types of Soils (examples)
- Soil Erosion & Conservation

INDIAN SOCIETY

1. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

Features of Indian society
Diversity (Types – caste, linguistic, social and religious, race, tribe and ethnicity, culture)
Challenges posed by Diversity
Unity
Pluralism
Unity in Diversity
Inequality and Exclusion
Family System

2. Role of Women and Women’s Organization

Women’s organizations in Indian history
Types of women’s organizations
Level of penetration
19^th Century Social Reform Movements and Early Women’s Organisations –
- Agrarian Struggles and Revolt
- Participation in Freedom Struggle
Women’s organization (With Examples)
Problems faced by women’s organizations
Is a larger vocal role possible and ways to achieve the same
Role of SHGs, Micro finance Institution

3. Population and Associated Issues

Basic Demography of India
Population Trends in India and their Implications
Causes and Effects of Over Population
Challenges of Population Explosion
Changing Age Structure of Indian Population
Demogarphic Dividend: Boon or Bane for India
Population Aging in India
India’s Population Policy & Initiatives

4. Poverty and Developmental Issues

Concept of Development and Poverty
Types of Poverty
Measurement of Poverty – Poverty Line
Causes of Poverty
Poverty as a Social Problem
Socio-economic Spread of Poverty
Consequences of Poverty –
- Inequality
- Continuation of Vicious Cycle
- Who is worst affected by poverty?
Problem of Rising Urban Poverty
Poverty Alleviation Initiatives
Policy shifts from “Trickle Down” Economics to Inclusive or Pro-poor Development to Reduce Poverty
Relation between Poverty Reduction and Development: Poverty-Inequality-Development Nexus

5. Urbanization, their problems and their remedies

Urbanisation Trends in India and Their Implications – Demographic and Social Dimensions
Factors Driving Urbanisation
State of Service Delivery and Challenges posed by Urbanisation
Problems of Urban Areas
Social Consequences of Urbanisation
Impact of Urbanisation in Rural Areas
Urban Planning and Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
Reforms Required and Government Initiatives Taken So Far
Problems of Slums

6. Effects of Globalization on Indian society

Understanding Globalisation – Its Different Dimensions
Globalisation & Culture – Homogenisation vs. Globalization
Factors Driving Globalisation
Globalisation & India
Impact of Globalisation on India – Socio-cultural, economic, on women, agrarian sector etc.
Does Globalisation cause Poverty?

7. Social Empowerment

Which are the Socially Disadvantaged Groups?
Meaning and concept of social empowerment
Dimensions of Social Empowerment
Why do we need social empowerment?
Government Initiatives to Aide Social Empowerment
Empowerment in reality and India’s experience

8. Communalism

Communalism – Its Characteristics
Communalism in India in the Past
Communalism in Contemparory India
Causes of Communalism
Consequences of Communalism
Measures to Control & Eradicate Communalism
Secularism as an Antidote to Communalism

9. Regionalism

Concept of Region & Regionalism
Different Forms of Regionalism
Regionalism in India
Causes of Regionalism
Concept of ‘Sons of Soil’
Consequences of Regionalism
Federalism & Regionalism
Role of Regional Parties
Measures to Contain Regionalism
Regionalism in the International Sphere

10. Secularism

Concept of Secularism
Indian Model of Secularism
Secularism in India
Nature & Practice of Secularism in India
Uniform Civil Code
Challenges faced by Secularism in India
Measures to Make India Truly Secular

WORLD HISTORY

1. Beginning of the Modern World

Renaissance
Discovery of Sea Routes
Reformation
Counter Reformation
Industrial Revolution
European Nations Settle North America
Rise of Slave Trade
American War of Independence
- Foundation of American Colonies
- The Independence of United States of America
- The American Revolutionary War
- What was the impact of American Revolution?
- US Civil War
- Impact of Civil War on USA
- Global Impact of US Civil War
- Impact on India
French Revolution
- Causes
- The revolution in France
- France under Napoleon
- Impact of revolution
- Significance of revolution
Nationalism in Europe
- Rise of the nation- state system
- Unification of Italy
- Unification of Germany
Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism & Imperialism
- Colonialism
- The age of Imperialism (1870-1914)
- Imperialism in Asia
- Analysis of Colonialism

2. World War I

Causes of the War
Scope & Course of the War
Russian Revolution
- Major events in pre-revolution Russia
- Causes
- Course of revolution
- Consequences
- Aftermath of the war
- Post-Lenin Russia
End of the War & Peace Treaties
Consequences of the War
League of Nations

3. World Between the Two Wars

Europe After the War – Fascism & Nazism
The Great Depression
Emergence of Soviet Union
Nationalist Movements in Asia & Africa
US as a Strong Power

4. World War II

Fascist Aggression & Response of Western Democracies
Outbreak of the War
Theatres of the War
US Entry into the War
Global Nature of the War
The Holocaust
Resistance Movements
After-effects of the War

5. Decolonialisation & Redraw of National Boundaries

Europe after World War II
Cold War
Rise of Asia & Africa
Developments in West Asia & North Africa
Spread of Communism
Korean War
Vietnam War
Cuban Crisis
Collapse of Soviet Union

6. Concept, Types & Social Impact of Political Philosophies

Communism
Capitalism
Socialism

POST-INDEPENDENCE INDIA

1. Nation Building

Partition and Its Aftermath
Integration of Princely States
- Linguistic Regionalism in India
Reorganisation of States
Issue of Official Language
Tribal Consolidation
Regional Aspirations

2. Foreign Policy

Non-Aligned Movement
Panchsheel
Wars with Pakistan & China
Nuclear Policy

3. Economy

Planned Development
Green Revolution, Operation Flood & Cooperatives
Agrarian & Land Reforms
Industrial Reforms
LPG Reforms

4. Polity

Era of One-Party Dominance
Emergence of Opposition Parties
Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order
Rise of Regional Parties
Coalition Era

5. Social

Popular Movements
Communalism
Indian Women Since Independence
- Issue of Women and Evolution of Women Movement
Naxalism

6. Post-Independence Policy of Science And Technology

India’s Policy in the Field of the Science and Technology
Impact of Economic Reform on the Science and Technology in India