UPSC Syllabus — subject-wise, with free notes for every unit
The complete UPSC Civil Services syllabus organised by subject. Every unit links to a free study note.
Indian History
- Pre-history & proto-history · Stone Age sites
- Indus Valley Civilisation · town planning · seals · decline
- Vedic Age · Rig-Vedic vs Later-Vedic society
- Buddhism, Jainism & heterodox sects
- Mahajanapadas & rise of Magadha
- Mauryan Empire · Chandragupta · Ashoka · administration · edicts
- Post-Mauryan kingdoms · Sungas · Kushans · Satavahanas
- Sangam Age · Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas
- Gupta Empire · classical synthesis · science · art
- Post-Gupta · Harshavardhana · Pallavas · Chalukyas · Rashtrakutas
- Early Medieval — Tripartite Struggle · Cholas under Rajaraja & Rajendra
- Bhakti & Sufi movements · regional saints
- Delhi Sultanate · Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi dynasties
- Vijayanagara & Bahmani kingdoms
- Mughal Empire · Babur to Aurangzeb · Mansabdari · land revenue
- Maratha Confederacy · Shivaji · Peshwa rule
- Sikh Misls & Maharaja Ranjit Singh
- Important battles of medieval/early-modern India — Panipat I 1526 · Khanwa 1527 · Panipat II 1556 · Talikota 1565 · Haldighati 1576 · Wandiwash 1760 · Panipat III 1761
- Advent of Europeans · Portuguese, Dutch, English, French
- Battle of Plassey 1757 · Buxar 1764 · Diwani · Company rule
- British constitutional/administrative Acts — Regulating 1773 · Pitt's India 1784 · Charter 1813/1833/1853 · GoI 1858 · Indian Councils 1861/1892/1909 (Morley-Minto) · Mont-Ford 1919 · GoI 1935 · Indian Independence Act 1947
- Governors-General & Viceroys — Hastings · Cornwallis · Wellesley · Bentinck · Dalhousie · Canning · Lytton · Ripon · Curzon · Minto · Hardinge · Chelmsford · Reading · Irwin · Willingdon · Linlithgow · Wavell · Mountbatten
- British administration · Permanent Settlement · Ryotwari · Mahalwari
- Tribal uprisings — Santhal · Munda · Bhil · Khasi · Kol · Chuar · Naga · Kuki
- Peasant movements — Indigo · Deccan · Bardoli · Tebhaga · Telangana · Champaran · Moplah
- Workers/labour movements · AITUC · trade unions · strikes
- Famines under British rule (Bengal 1770, 1943; Madras, Bihar)
- Educational reforms · Charter Act 1813 · Macaulay Minute · Wood's Despatch · Hunter Commission
- Indian press history · vernacular press · censorship · Gagging Acts
- Revolt of 1857 · causes · spread · aftermath
- Socio-religious reform · Brahmo, Arya, Prarthana, Aligarh
- Reformers — Raja Ram Mohan Roy · Vidyasagar · Phule · Ranade · Periyar · Sayyid Ahmad Khan
- INC foundation · Moderates · Extremists · Surat Split
- Swadeshi & Boycott movement · partition of Bengal
- Gandhian phase · Champaran · Kheda · Non-Cooperation
- Civil Disobedience · Dandi March · Round Table Conferences
- Revolutionary nationalism · HRA · HSRA · INA · Bose
- Revolutionaries — Bhagat Singh · Chandrashekhar Azad · Sukhdev · Rajguru · Surya Sen (Chittagong) · Khudiram Bose · Madan Lal Dhingra · Ras Behari Bose
- INA Trials 1945-46 · Red Fort Trials · Bhulabhai Desai defence
- Royal Indian Navy Mutiny 1946 · trigger for British withdrawal
- Women in freedom struggle — Sarojini Naidu · Aruna Asaf Ali · Bhikaji Cama · Kasturba · Captain Lakshmi
- Pre-Independence missions/plans — August Offer 1940 · Cripps 1942 · CR Plan 1944 · Wavell Plan 1945 · Cabinet Mission 1946 · Mountbatten/3-June Plan 1947
- Quit India 1942 · Cabinet Mission · Mountbatten Plan
- Partition & Independence 1947 · integration of princely states
- Post-Independence — linguistic reorganisation · States Reorganisation Commission 1953-56
- Land reforms post-1947 · abolition of zamindari · ceiling acts · Bhoodan
- Five-Year Plans · Nehruvian socialism · mixed economy debates
- Operation Polo · Kashmir accession · 1962, 1965, 1971 wars
- Bangladesh liberation 1971 · Simla Agreement 1972
- Operation Vijay 1961 (Goa liberation) · Operation Cactus 1988 (Maldives) · IPKF in Sri Lanka 1987-90
- Pokhran-I (Smiling Buddha) 1974 · Pokhran-II (Shakti) 1998 · NSG response
- Kargil War 1999 · Operation Vijay · Tiger Hill · NDA-led response
- Emergency 1975-77 · Mandal · Mandir · Liberalisation 1991
- Home Rule Movement 1915-16 · Tilak & Annie Besant · Lucknow Pact 1916
- Growth of communalism · Muslim League · Two-Nation Theory · Lahore Resolution 1940
- Constitutional negotiations 1927-32 · Simon Commission · Nehru Report · Poona Pact · Communal Award
- Economic impact of colonialism · Drain of Wealth · deindustrialisation · commercialisation of agriculture
- Dr B.R. Ambedkar & the anti-caste movement · Mahad · temple entry · Poona Pact · annihilation of caste
- Sino-Indian War 1962 · NEFA & Aksai Chin · Forward Policy · Henderson-Brooks
- Rowlatt Act · Jallianwala Bagh massacre 1919 · Rowlatt Satyagraha
Art & Culture
- Indian architecture — temple styles · Nagara · Dravida · Vesara
- Buddhist architecture · stupas · chaityas · viharas
- Cave architecture — Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Bagh
- Indo-Islamic architecture · Delhi Sultanate · Mughal
- Colonial & post-colonial Indian architecture
- Indian sculpture · Gandhara · Mathura · Amaravati schools
- Bronze sculpture · Chola
- Painting — Murals · miniatures · Rajput, Mughal, Pahari schools
- Modern painting — Bengal school · Progressive Artists Group
- Tribal & folk paintings — Warli, Madhubani (Mithila), Pithora, Gond, Kalighat, Kalamkari, Pattachitra, Phad
- Textile heritage — Banarasi, Kanchipuram, Pochampally, Phulkari, Chikankari, Kalamkari, Bandhani, Pashmina
- Embroidery traditions — Zardozi, Kantha, Kasuti, Aari, Chamba Rumal
- Pottery traditions — Khurja, Khanapur, terracotta, blue pottery of Jaipur
- Classical dance · Bharatanatyam · Kathak · Odissi · Kathakali · Manipuri · Kuchipudi · Mohiniyattam · Sattriya
- Dance gurus & exponents — Rukmini Devi · Birju Maharaj · Sonal Mansingh · Mrinalini Sarabhai · Yamini Krishnamurthy · Sitara Devi · Kelucharan Mohapatra
- Folk and tribal dances — region-wise mapping (Bhangra, Garba, Lavani, Bihu, Chhau, Ghoomar, Dollu Kunitha, Yakshagana, Kalbelia, Karagam, Bhavai)
- Hindustani vs Carnatic classical music · gharanas
- Indian musical instruments — string (sitar, sarangi, veena, sarod, santoor) · wind (shehnai, bansuri, nadaswaram) · percussion (tabla, mridangam, pakhawaj, ghatam, dholak)
- Notable musicians — Tansen · Tyagaraja · Bhimsen Joshi · Bismillah Khan · Ravi Shankar · MS Subbulakshmi · Lata Mangeshkar · Hariprasad Chaurasia · Zakir Hussain · Amjad Ali Khan
- Folk music traditions
- Theatre · Sanskrit drama · folk theatre — Yakshagana, Nautanki, Ramleela, Tamasha, Jatra
- Indian cinema heritage · Dadasaheb Phalke · regional cinema · National Film Awards
- Indian literature — Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Tamil Sangam
- Bhakti literature · regional languages
- Modern Indian literature · Jnanpith laureates
- Religion & philosophy — six orthodox systems (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta)
- Buddhism · Hinayana · Mahayana · Vajrayana · Theravada · 4 Buddhist Councils (Rajagriha · Vaishali · Pataliputra · Kashmir)
- Jainism · Mahavira · Digambara · Shvetambara · Sthanakvasi · Terapanthi · Jain Councils
- Sikhism · 10 Gurus · Adi Granth · Khalsa · Singh Sabha movement
- Famous temples of India — Brihadeshwara (Thanjavur) · Konark Sun Temple · Jagannath Puri · Meenakshi (Madurai) · Kailasanatha (Ellora) · Khajuraho · Modhera Sun Temple · Somnath · Vaishno Devi · Tirupati · Lingaraja · Lord Venkateswara · Padmanabhaswamy · Akshardham
- Famous mosques · churches · gurdwaras · synagogues of India
- Indian science heritage — Aryabhata, Bhaskara, Brahmagupta, Sushruta, Charaka, Nagarjuna
- Languages of India · scheduled languages · script families
- Major festivals · pan-India and regional · tribal festivals
- Numismatics · coins from Indus to Mughal · British coinage
- Crafts & GI tags · folk crafts · contemporary craft revival
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India
- Intangible cultural heritage — Kumbh, Yoga, Vedic chanting, Durga Puja, Garba
- Martial arts of India — Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Mardani Khel
- Important institutions · ASI, INTACH, Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, IGNCA
- Indian Puppet Theatre · Kathputli · Shadow Theatre · Regional Traditions
- Sacred Geometry in Indian Temples · Sulbasutras · Vastu & Proportions · Astronomical Alignments
- Indian Metalwork & Decorative Arts · Bidri · Dhokra · Metal Casting · Woodcraft
World History
- Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Discovery · Da Vinci · Michelangelo · Galileo · Copernicus · Erasmus · Shakespeare · Luther · Calvin
- American Revolution & US Constitution · Washington · Jefferson · Franklin · Federalist Papers
- French Revolution 1789 & rise of nationalism · Voltaire · Rousseau · Diderot · Montesquieu · Robespierre · Marat
- Latin American independence · Simón Bolívar · José de San Martín · Toussaint Louverture (Haiti)
- Industrial Revolution · phases · global impact
- Napoleonic era & Congress of Vienna
- Unification of Germany & Italy
- Imperialism in Asia & Africa
- World War I · causes · course · Treaty of Versailles
- Russian Revolution 1917 · Bolsheviks · USSR · Lenin · Trotsky · Stalin
- Inter-war period · Great Depression · rise of fascism · Mussolini · Hitler · Tojo
- World War II · causes · theatres · UN formation
- Decolonisation · Asia · Africa · Middle East
- Pan-Africanism · African nationalism · Nkrumah · Nyerere · Mandela · apartheid struggle
- Latin American independence movements · Bolivar · 19th-century revolutions
- Suez Crisis 1956 · Arab-Israeli wars · Iran-Iraq war · Palestinian question
- Cold War · NATO · Warsaw Pact · proxy wars
- Chinese Revolution & Mao Zedong · Long March · Cultural Revolution
- Vietnam War · Ho Chi Minh · Korean War · Cuban Revolution · Fidel Castro · Bay of Pigs · Cuban Missile Crisis
- Détente · Glasnost · Perestroika · disintegration of USSR
- Globalisation · WTO · regional blocs · 21st-century challenges
- Political philosophies — liberalism, socialism, communism, fascism, capitalism
- Enlightenment · Locke · Hobbes · Kant · Montesquieu · empiricism · rationalism · natural rights
- American Civil War · Union vs Confederacy · abolition of slavery · industrial warfare · global implications
- Opium Wars & Western imperialism in China · Treaty of Nanking · extraterritoriality · Meiji Restoration context
Indian Geography
- Location, extent, neighbours · maritime claims
- Physiographic divisions · Himalayas · Northern Plains · Peninsular · Coastal · Islands
- Himalayan ranges — Trans-Himalayas (Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar) · Greater Himalaya (Himadri) · Middle Himalaya (Himachal) · Shivalik (Outer) · Purvanchal
- Major Himalayan passes — Khyber · Bolan · Karakoram · Khardung La · Banihal · Zojila · Shipki La · Rohtang · Lipulekh · Mana · Niti · Nathula · Jelep La · Bumla · Bomdila · Pansela
- Major peaks — K2 (Godwin-Austen) · Kanchenjunga · Nanga Parbat · Nanda Devi · Anamudi (Western Ghats) · Doddabetta (Nilgiris) · Mahendragiri (Eastern Ghats) · Dhupgarh (Satpura)
- Major lakes of India — Wular (largest freshwater) · Dal · Chilika (largest brackish) · Pulicat · Sambhar (largest saltwater) · Pangong · Tso Moriri · Loktak · Vembanad (longest in Kerala) · Kolleru
- Drainage — Himalayan rivers · Peninsular rivers · river interlinking
- Climate · monsoon mechanism · Indian seasons
- Climate classification · Köppen · agro-climatic zones
- Soils of India · ICAR classification · degradation
- Natural vegetation & forest types · Champion classification
- Wildlife · biogeographic zones
- Agriculture · cropping patterns · MSP · Green Revolution
- Irrigation · canal · tank · groundwater · micro-irrigation
- Mineral resources · iron, coal, oil, atomic minerals · distribution
- Energy resources · thermal · hydro · nuclear · renewable
- Industries · iron-steel · textile · IT · pharma · automotive · chemicals
- Industrial location factors — raw material · labour · market · power · transport · capital (Weber, Lösch)
- Industrial regions — Mumbai-Pune · Hugli · Bangalore-Chennai · Gujarat · Vizag-Guntur · Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram · Chota Nagpur
- Services sector geography — IT corridors · BPO cities · tourism circuits · healthcare hubs
- Industrial corridors · DMIC · CBIC · ABIC · ECEC · BMIC
- Major dams & multi-purpose projects — Bhakra-Nangal · Hirakud · Tehri · Sardar Sarovar · Indira Sagar · Nagarjuna Sagar · Almatti
- Transport — rail · road · National Highways · Golden Quadrilateral · NS-EW Corridor · waterways · ports · Sagarmala · UDAN
- Population — distribution · growth · sex ratio · literacy
- Tribes of India · scheduled tribes · isolated tribes
- Urbanisation · smart cities · migration patterns
- Settlements — rural and urban patterns
- Disasters in Indian geography — floods, droughts, cyclones, landslides
- Western & Eastern Ghats · Sahyadri · orographic rainfall · biodiversity hotspot · peninsular river sources
World Geography
- Origin & evolution of Earth · Continental drift · Plate tectonics
- Interior of Earth · earthquakes · volcanism
- Landforms — fluvial · glacial · aeolian · marine · karst
- Atmosphere · composition · temperature · pressure · winds
- Climatic regions of the world · Köppen system
- Oceanography · ocean currents · salinity · tides · marine resources
- Soil & biomes — tundra · taiga · temperate · tropical
- Continents — physical features mapping
- World agriculture — staple zones · wheat belt · corn belt · cotton belt · rice belt · plantation belts
- World agroecological regions · soil-climate-crop matrix
- Major rivers of the world — Nile · Amazon · Yangtze · Mississippi · Yenisei · Ob · Yellow · Congo · Mekong · Volga · Danube
- Major mountain ranges of the world — Himalayas · Andes · Rockies · Alps · Atlas · Urals · Caucasus · Pyrenees · Drakensberg · Great Dividing Range
- Major deserts of the world — Sahara · Arabian · Gobi · Patagonian · Great Victoria · Kalahari · Thar · Atacama · Namib · Karakum · Sonoran
- Major lakes of the world — Caspian Sea (largest) · Superior · Victoria · Huron · Michigan · Tanganyika · Baikal (deepest) · Great Bear · Malawi · Erie · Aral · Dead Sea
- Major islands of the world — Greenland · New Guinea · Borneo · Madagascar · Baffin · Sumatra · Honshu · Great Britain · Ellesmere · Sulawesi
- World industries — major industrial regions (Ruhr, Tokyo Bay, Northeast US, Silicon Valley, Pearl River Delta)
- World mineral & energy resources · global distribution
- Population — global distribution · migration · demographics
- Climate change · global warming · ice-cap melt · sea-level rise
- Ocean acidification · coral bleaching
- Important straits, canals, channels, gulfs
- Critical geographical features in news (Israel-Palestine, Sahel, Arctic, etc.)
- Tropical cyclones · formation · eye & eyewall · storm surge · hurricane/typhoon/cyclone · naming · intensity scales
Indian Society
- Salient features of Indian society · unity in diversity
- Caste system · jatis · varnas · contemporary dynamics
- Religious diversity & communalism
- Linguistic diversity · regionalism · sons-of-soil
- Tribal society · vulnerable tribal groups · PVTGs
- Family — joint, nuclear, transition
- Indian family laws — Hindu Marriage Act 1955 · Special Marriage Act 1954 · Hindu Succession Amendment 2005 · Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act 2019 · UCC debate
- Khap panchayats · honour killings · inter-caste/inter-faith marriages
- Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 · Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act 2021
- Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021
- Status of women · gender gap · GSI · violence against women
- Women movements in India · feminism · #MeToo
- Population trends · demographic dividend · ageing
- Family planning policies · NFHS findings
- Child issues · child labour · child marriage · POCSO
- Urbanisation · slums · migration · gentrification
- Globalisation impact on Indian culture, family, work
- Poverty & hunger · multidimensional poverty · HDI
- Social empowerment — SC, ST, OBC, EWS reservation
- Disability — Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016
- Transgender community · NALSA case · 2019 Act
- Communalism, regionalism, secularism · Indian state and religion
- Role of NGOs, SHGs, civil society
- Social movements — Chipko, Narmada, Anti-corruption
- Processes of social change · Sanskritisation · Westernisation · Modernisation · Secularisation · social mobility
- Ageing society & welfare of the elderly · Maintenance & Welfare of Parents Act 2007 · silver economy · NPOP
- Digital society & social media · misinformation · digital divide · online polarisation · gig culture
Indian Polity & Constitution
- Historical underpinnings · Constitutional development · GoI Acts 1858-1935
- Making of the Constitution · Constituent Assembly · drafting committee
- Sources of the Constitution · borrowed features · UK, US, Ireland, Canada, etc.
- Preamble · keywords · 42nd Amendment
- Salient features of the Constitution
- Schedules of the Constitution · 1st to 12th · contents & evolution
- Comparative constitutional schemes — India vs USA, UK, France, Australia
- Citizenship (Articles 5-11) · CAA · OCI · PIO
- Fundamental Rights (Part III) · Articles 12-35
- Article 21 jurisprudence · right to privacy (Puttaswamy) · right to life · death penalty
- Right to Freedom of Religion · Article 25-28
- DPSP (Part IV) · Articles 36-51 · Fundamental Duties
- Union Executive · President · Vice-President · PM · Cabinet · AGI
- Parliament · Lok Sabha · Rajya Sabha · sessions · functions
- Parliamentary procedures · motions · committees · privileges
- Anti-defection law · Schedule X · Speaker's powers
- Women's Reservation (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) Act 2023
- Supreme Court · jurisdiction · judicial review · PIL
- High Courts · subordinate courts · NJAC verdict · collegium
- Tribunals — CAT · AFT · NCLT · NCLAT · ITAT · CESTAT · NGT
- State Government · Governor · CM · Council of Ministers · Legislature
- Centre-State Relations · legislative · administrative · financial
- Inter-State Council · Zonal Councils · GST Council · National Integration Council
- Inter-State Water Disputes — Cauvery · Krishna · Godavari · Mullaperiyar · Ravi-Beas · Mahadayi · ISWD Act 1956
- Important committees & commissions — Sarkaria (1983) · Punchhi (2007) · Verma 2013 (women safety) · Lodha 2014 (cricket reforms) · Mukul Mudgal · Kothari 1986 (civil services) · ARC I & II · NCRWC
- Finance Commissions — 14th, 15th, 16th · ToR · vertical/horizontal devolution
- Local Government · 73rd & 74th Amendments · PRIs · ULBs
- Scheduled & Tribal Areas · 5th & 6th Schedule
- Special Provisions — J&K Art 370 abrogation · Art 371 series for NE
- Emergency Provisions · National · State · Financial
- Constitutional Amendments · process · basic structure · Kesavananda
- Constitutional Bodies — ECI · UPSC · State PSC · Finance Commission · CAG · AG
- Statutory Bodies — NHRC · SHRC · CIC · CVC · Lokpal · NCW · NCM · NCBC · NCST · NCSC
- Regulatory & Quasi-judicial Bodies — TRAI · SEBI · IRDAI · CCI · NGT
- Non-Constitutional Bodies — NITI Aayog · National Development Council
- Political Parties · Anti-defection · Representation of People Act 1950 & 1951
- Pressure groups & civil society — FICCI · CII · ASSOCHAM · ICAR · trade unions · farmer unions · student unions
- Elections · Model Code of Conduct · electoral reforms · NOTA · VVPAT · Electoral Bonds case
- Coalition politics · pre-poll/post-poll alliances · Sarkaria-Punchhi on governor
- One Nation One Election debate · simultaneous elections committee
- Lateral entry in civil services · Mission Karmayogi
- Recent landmark SC judgments — Sabarimala · Triple Talaq · Section 377 · Aadhaar · Article 370
- Writs & writ jurisdiction · Article 32 & 226 · habeas corpus · mandamus · certiorari · prohibition · quo warranto
- Constitutional doctrines · judicial review · separation of powers · basic structure · pith and substance · colourable legislation
- Cooperative & competitive federalism · NITI Aayog · GST Council · fiscal federalism
- Official Language & the Eighth Schedule · Articles 343-351 · classical languages · three-language formula
- Delimitation & reservation of seats · Article 82 · 330-334 · Delimitation Commission · seat freeze
Governance
- Governance — meaning, dimensions, good governance
- Citizen Charters & service delivery
- Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 · amendments
- e-Governance · Digital India · UMANG · DBT · Aadhaar · DigiLocker · e-Courts Mission Mode · MyGov · BharatNet · CSC
- Civil Services in democracy · neutrality · accountability
- Civil Service reforms · 2nd ARC recommendations · lateral entry
- Cooperative federalism · NITI Aayog · GST Council
- Public Policy formulation & implementation — agenda setting · design · execution · evaluation · feedback (Lasswell, Dye)
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections · convergence
- Issues in implementation · last-mile delivery · leakage
- Mechanisms, laws, institutions for protection of vulnerable sections
- Health, Education, Human Resources — sector overview
- Poverty & hunger interventions
- NGOs, SHGs, charities, institutional & non-institutional actors
- Pressure groups in policy
- Sevottam framework · public service delivery standards
- Right to Services Acts · state-level guarantees
- Public-Private Partnership in governance · viability gap funding
- Mission Karmayogi · iGOT · capacity building of civil servants
- Social audit · MGNREGA audits · social accountability
- Specific government commissions — Sarkaria, Punchhi, ARC I & II, Kothari
- Probity in governance · code of ethics · code of conduct
- Whistleblowers Protection Act 2014
- Lokpal and Lokayuktas
- Public Procurement and CSR
- Regulatory governance & the regulatory state · independent regulators · Regulatory Impact Assessment · Jan Vishwas Act 2023
- Grievance redressal & citizen-centric governance · CPGRAMS · ombudsman · feedback loops
- Digital Public Infrastructure & India Stack · Aadhaar · UPI · DigiLocker · ONDC · DPI diplomacy
Social Justice
- Constitutional and legal framework for vulnerable sections
- Schedule Castes — welfare, reservation, atrocities
- Scheduled Tribes — PESA, Forest Rights Act 2006, TSP
- Other Backward Classes — reservation, sub-categorisation
- Economically Weaker Sections — 103rd Amendment
- Minority Welfare — National Commission for Minorities
- Women — laws, schemes, institutions (NCW, OSC, SHe-Box)
- Key women-focused schemes — Beti Bachao Beti Padhao · PM Ujjwala Yojana · Sukanya Samriddhi · Mahila Samakhya · Mission Shakti · Sakhi One-Stop Centres · Stand-up India
- Frontline women workers — ASHA · Anganwadi · ANM · roles, recognition, remuneration debates
- Children — POCSO, ICDS, Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN), juvenile justice
- Persons with Disabilities — RPwD Act 2016, accessible India
- Senior Citizens — MWPSC Act 2007, schemes
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019
- Health policy — NHP 2017, Ayushman Bharat, PMJAY, HWCs
- Maternal & child health — NHM, JSY, POSHAN Abhiyaan
- Mental Health Care Act 2017 · NIMH
- Education policy — NEP 2020 · NCF · ASER findings
- Higher Education — NIRF, RUSA, HEFA, regulators (UGC/AICTE)
- Skill development — NSDC, PMKVY, Skill India
- Hunger & nutrition — PDS, NFSA 2013, ICDS
- Important welfare schemes — PMAY, PM-KISAN, MGNREGA, PMUY, PM SVANidhi, PM-DAKSH
- LGBTQ+ rights — NALSA 2014, Section 377 striking (Navtej Singh Johar), Transgender Act 2019
- Migrant workers · inter-state migrants · e-Shram portal · welfare schemes
- Urban poor & slum dwellers · PMAY-U · DAY-NULM
- Mental health awareness · MH Care Act 2017 · Tele MANAS · suicide prevention
- Elderly welfare · MWPSC Act · NPHCE · elder abuse · pensions
- Poverty estimation — Tendulkar, Rangarajan, MPI
- Denotified Tribes · Criminal Tribes Act repeal · rehabilitation & welfare schemes
- Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 1976 · rescue & rehabilitation mechanisms
- Unorganized Sector Workers · Building Construction Act · occupational safety & welfare
Indian Economy
- National Income & accounting · GDP · GVA · NNI · Per capita
- Inclusive growth · concept · measurement
- Planning in India · five-year plans legacy · NITI Aayog
- Bombay Plan 1944 · People's Plan · Gandhian Plan · Sarvodaya Plan · historical antecedents
- Public Sector Undertakings — Maharatna · Navratna · Miniratna · CPSE governance
- Disinvestment — DIPAM · strategic vs minority · Air India · BPCL · LIC IPO · privatization debates
- Mobilisation of resources · domestic savings · investment
- Money supply · M0 to M3 · monetary aggregates
- Reserve Bank of India · monetary policy · MPC · repo rate
- Inflation · types · CPI vs WPI · core inflation · stagflation
- Banking sector · public · private · cooperative · RRBs
- Bank nationalisation history — 1969 & 1980 · post-1991 consolidation
- Banking reforms · NPAs · IBC · AMC · Bad Bank
- Demonetisation 2016 · objectives · outcomes · cash-to-GDP debate
- UPI ecosystem · NPCI · RuPay · BHIM · cross-border UPI
- Cryptocurrency · RBI digital currency (CBDC e-Rupee) · regulation
- Capital markets · SEBI · primary vs secondary · IPO · F&O
- Stock markets · BSE · NSE · Sensex · Nifty · indices
- Mutual funds · AIFs · REITs · InvITs
- Insurance sector · IRDAI · LIC IPO
- Public Finance · taxation · direct vs indirect
- GST · structure · GST Council · compensation
- Direct Tax Code debate · personal income tax reforms
- Fiscal policy · FRBM Act · fiscal deficit · revenue deficit
- Union Budget · components · cycle · capital vs revenue
- Finance Commission · devolution · grants-in-aid
- Public Debt · sustainability · external commercial borrowings
- External Sector · BoP · current account · capital account
- Foreign exchange · reserves · exchange rate regimes
- FDI · FPI · routes · sectoral caps
- Trade policy · Foreign Trade Policy · SEZs · MEIS replacement
- Industrial policy · LPG reforms · Make in India · PLI · Start-up India
- Atmanirbhar Bharat · 5 pillars · sector-wise reforms
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) — 14 sectors · outcomes
- MSMEs · classification · Udyam · credit access
- Cooperative movement · IFFCO · KRIBHCO · cooperative federalism
- Microfinance · MFIs · SHGs · Bandhan · joint liability groups
- Financial inclusion · Jan Dhan · Mudra · PM Vishwakarma
- Industrial corridors · National Infrastructure Pipeline · Gati Shakti
- Services sector · IT-BPO · tourism · financial services
- Infrastructure · PPP models · HAM · BOT · TOT
- Energy sector · electricity, oil & gas reforms
- Employment · NSSO/PLFS data · informal sector
- Inequality · Gini coefficient · top-decile share · World Inequality Report
- Economic Survey · annual themes · key chapters · advance estimates
- NITI Aayog reports & indices — Aspirational Districts · SDG India Index · Health Index · Innovation Index · Export Preparedness
- Inclusive growth schemes · MGNREGA · DBT · UBI debate
- Land reforms · ceiling acts · land records digitisation
- Effects of liberalisation · benefits · inequalities · environmental cost
- WTO & India's trade architecture · GATT · Agreement on Agriculture · TRIPS · SPS/TBT · dispute settlement · peace clause
- Climate finance & green economy · sovereign green bonds · ESG · carbon markets · climate budgeting · just transition
- Poverty & its estimation · poverty line · Tendulkar (2009) · Rangarajan (2014) · Multidimensional Poverty Index
Agriculture
- Major crops · cropping patterns · cropping seasons
- Land use & landholding · operational land holdings
- Irrigation systems · canal · tank · drip · sprinkler · PMKSY
- Agricultural inputs · seeds · fertilisers · pesticides
- Agricultural credit · KCC · NABARD
- Agricultural marketing · APMC · e-NAM · Model APLM Act · Contract Farming Act
- Crop insurance — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) · Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance · subscription mechanics
- Minimum Support Price · CACP · procurement · DCP
- Public Distribution System · TPDS · NFSA 2013
- Food security · Right to Food · ICDS · PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
- Agricultural subsidies · fertiliser, power, irrigation subsidies
- Buffer stocks · FCI · operational, buffer norms
- Cooperative & contract farming
- Land reforms — ceiling, tenancy, consolidation
- Soil health card · soil conservation
- Horticulture · MIDH · Operation Greens
- Indian Revolutions — Green · White (dairy) · Yellow (oilseeds) · Pink (poultry/meat) · Blue (fisheries) · Silver (eggs) · Golden (horticulture/honey)
- Animal rearing · dairy · poultry · fisheries · cattle breeds · Rashtriya Gokul Mission
- Food processing · Mega Food Parks · PMKSY pillars · PMFME for micro units
- Food fortification · FSSAI standards · rice fortification scheme
- Agricultural exports · APEDA · spices · marine · agri-export policy
- Climate-smart agriculture · zero budget natural farming · ZBNF · agroecology
- Organic farming · Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana · NPOP · Jaivik Bharat
- Watershed development · Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana · soil moisture conservation
- GM crops · Bt Cotton · Bt Brinjal · GEAC
- Farmers' producer organisations (FPOs) · 10,000 FPOs scheme
- Recent reforms — 3 Farm Laws (repealed) · MSP committee
- PM-KISAN · Modified Interest Subvention Scheme · KCC saturation
- Agricultural mechanisation · farm machinery · SMAM · custom hiring · reduce drudgery
- Integrated pest and disease management · IPM systems · extension services · pest outbreaks
- Soil testing labs and nutrient management extension · NTEP · soil health diagnostics infrastructure
Science & Technology
- Space technology · ISRO history · launch vehicles (SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV, LVM3, SSLV)
- Space missions — Chandrayaan series · Mangalyaan · Aditya-L1 · XPoSat · Gaganyaan · Shukrayaan
- NavIC / IRNSS · GAGAN · communication satellites
- Recent launches and commercial space (NSIL, IN-SPACe, Skyroot Vikram-S, Agnikul Agnibaan, Pixxel)
- Famous Indian scientists — Vikram Sarabhai · Homi Bhabha · CV Raman · Satish Dhawan · APJ Kalam · MS Swaminathan · K Radhakrishnan
- Defence technology · DRDO · indigenous platforms (Tejas, Arjun, INS Vikrant)
- DRDO laboratories — DRDL, ARDE, HEMRL, RCI, ADE, ADRDE, DEAL, DLRL, SSPL, INMAS · 50+ labs across domains
- Atomic energy infrastructure — BARC · IGCAR · VECC · AERB · NPCIL · UCIL · BRNS
- ICAR institutes — IARI, NDRI, IVRI, CIFE, CIFRI, NBPGR · research network of 100+ institutes
- Missile programs — Agni, BrahMos, Akash, Astra, K-series SLBMs, hypersonic
- Nuclear programme · 3-stage · thorium · fusion research (ITER, SST-1)
- Civil nuclear cooperation · NSG · IAEA · safeguards
- IT & Computers · AI · ML · deep learning · LLMs
- Quantum technologies · National Mission · NQM
- Semiconductors · ISM · fabs · India Semiconductor Mission
- 5G / 6G · TSDSI · indigenous telecom stack
- Biotechnology · DNA technology · CRISPR · gene editing · GM crops
- Health tech · mRNA vaccines · Co-WIN · digital health
- Stem cells & gene therapy · BIRAC initiatives
- Nanotechnology · National Mission · applications
- Robotics & automation
- Drone technology · Drone Rules 2021 · DGCA · Kisan Drones · counter-drone
- Genome India project · DNA Technology (Use & Application) Bill
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023
- INSPIRE & innovation programmes · DST initiatives
- Energy technologies · solar (NSM) · wind · hydrogen mission · nuclear fusion
- Electric vehicles · FAME-II · battery technologies
- Indian pharmaceutical industry · generics · CRAMS · vaccines
- Awareness in IPR · TRIPS · Indian Patent Act 1970 · patent filing trends
- Achievements of Indians in S&T — recent Nobel/Bhatnagar/Ramanujan
- Indigenisation of technology · technology missions · NITI Frontier Tech Hub
- Supercomputing & HPC · National Supercomputing Mission · C-DAC PARAM series · AIRAWAT · exascale
- Space debris & Space Situational Awareness · NETRA · IS4OM · Kessler syndrome · Debris-Free Space Missions 2030
- India in global mega-science · LIGO-India · CERN · ITER · SKA · India-based Neutrino Observatory
- Synthetic biology & bio-manufacturing · BioE3 Policy 2024 · bio-foundries · smart proteins
Environment & Ecology
- Ecosystems · structure · functions · energy flow · food chains, webs
- Productivity · ecological pyramids · ecotones · niche
- Biogeochemical cycles · carbon · nitrogen · phosphorus · water
- Biodiversity · genetic, species, ecosystem · hotspots in India
- Protected Area network · National Parks · Wildlife Sanctuaries · CR · BR
- IUCN Red List · CITES · CMS · Ramsar Convention
- Indian flagship species & schemes · Project Tiger, Elephant, Snow Leopard, Dolphin, Lion, Crocodile, Hangul, Dugong
- Endemic species of India — Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Asiatic Lion, Sangai, Pygmy Hog, Great Indian Bustard, Olive Ridley
- Important biosphere reserves — Nilgiri, Nanda Devi, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Pachmarhi, Khangchendzonga, Seshachalam, Cold Desert, Manas, Simlipal, Dibru-Saikhowa, Dehang-Debang, Agasthyamalai, Achanakmar-Amarkantak
- Major Tiger Reserves — Jim Corbett · Bandhavgarh · Kanha · Tadoba · Periyar · Sundarbans · Manas · Kaziranga · Ranthambore · Nagarjunsagar Srisailam · Sariska · Pench · Satpura · Buxa · Indravati · Anamalai · Bandipur · Mudumalai · BRT · Sariska (54+ total)
- Important bird sanctuaries — Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur) · Salim Ali (Goa) · Sultanpur · Vedanthangal · Chilika · Nal Sarovar · Ranganathittu · Kumarakom · Mayani
- Marine protected areas — Gulf of Mannar Marine NP · Marine NP Gulf of Kachchh · Wandur (A&N) · Mahatma Gandhi Marine NP
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 · Schedule changes
- Forest types of India · Champion classification · NFP
- Forest Conservation Act 1980 · 2023 Amendment · forest rights
- Joint Forest Management · agroforestry · social forestry
- Climate change · greenhouse gases · feedback loops
- UNFCCC · Kyoto · Paris Agreement · NDCs · CBDR-RC
- COP outcomes · loss & damage fund · Article 6
- IPCC reports · AR6 findings
- Carbon markets · CDM · India CCTS · ETS
- Climate change adaptation & mitigation in India · NAPCC · SAPCCs
- Air Pollution · sources · NCAP · SAFAR · CPCB · graded action
- Water pollution · CWC · Namami Gange · Yamuna · groundwater
- Soil pollution · industrial · agricultural · remediation
- Plastic & solid waste · EPR · Single-Use Plastic ban · SWM Rules
- E-waste · Hazardous waste · biomedical waste rules
- Noise pollution · radioactive contamination
- Environmental Impact Assessment · EIA 2006 · Draft EIA 2020
- Environment (Protection) Act 1986 · Air, Water acts
- National Green Tribunal · CPCB · SPCBs
- Sustainable development · SDGs · ESG · circular economy
- Renewable energy targets · ISA · green hydrogen mission · 500 GW non-fossil 2030
- Wetlands · Ramsar sites in India (80+) · Montreux Record
- Eco-sensitive zones · ESZ around protected areas · ESA
- Western Ghats · Gadgil & Kasturirangan reports · ESAs
- Sundarbans · Himalayan ecology · NMHS
- Invasive alien species · Lantana, Prosopis, African catfish, GLAS
- Project Cheetah · Kuno reintroduction · African cheetahs
- Vulture Action Plan · diclofenac ban · breeding centres
- Marine biodiversity · corals · mangroves · MPAs · sea grass
- COP28 outcomes · loss & damage fund · global stocktake
- India's 2070 net-zero pledge · LiFE mission
- ESG investing · sovereign green bonds · taxonomy
- Pollinator decline · bees · IPBES warnings
- Important international reports · LPR · GBO · IPBES · Emissions Gap
- Convention on Biological Diversity · Nagoya & Cartagena Protocols · Biological Diversity Act 2002 & 2023 · NBA · Global Biodiversity Framework
- Ozone depletion · Montreal Protocol · Kigali Amendment · ozone hole · CFCs & HFCs
- Genetically Modified crops & biosafety · GEAC · Bt cotton · Bt brinjal · GM mustard · Cartagena Protocol
- Desertification & land degradation · UNCCD · COP14 Delhi · Land Degradation Neutrality · Bonn Challenge
Internal Security
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Left-Wing Extremism · Red Corridor · SAMADHAN strategy
- Insurgency in NE · AFSPA · Naga, Mizo, Manipur, ULFA
- Cross-border terrorism · Pakistan, Afghanistan trade-routes
- Major attacks & responses — 26/11 Mumbai 2008 · Uri 2016 · Surgical Strikes 2016 · Pulwama 2019 · Balakot Airstrike 2019 · Galwan Valley clash 2020 · Tawang skirmish 2022
- Communal terrorism · home-grown radicalisation · NIA action
- Role of external state actors · proxy war · grey-zone
- Role of non-state actors · ISI · LeT · JeM · Indian Mujahideen
- Linkages of organised crime with terrorism · narco-terror
- Money laundering · PMLA · ED · FATF · FIU-IND
- Cyber security · National Cyber Security Policy · CERT-In
- Cyber threats · ransomware · DDoS · APTs
- Cyber crimes · Indian IT Act 2000 · Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023
- Critical infrastructure protection · NCIIPC
- Social media regulation · IT Rules 2021 · fact-checking
- Border management · LoC · LAC · IB · BSF · ITBP · SSB · Assam Rifles
- Smart Fencing · CIBMS · Border Roads
- Coastal security · ICG · Coastal Command · Sagar Prahari Bal
- Maritime security · IB-Mauritius-Sri Lanka cooperation · IFC-IOR
- Central police forces · CRPF · CISF · NSG · SPG
- Indian Coast Guard · Special Frontier Force · Assam Rifles
- Intelligence agencies · IB · RAW · NIA · NCB · NTRO
- Police reforms · Prakash Singh case · model Police Act
- UAPA · special laws · AFSPA debate (Manipur · J&K · NE)
- Historical special laws — MISA 1971 · TADA 1985 · POTA 2002 · lessons learnt
- Defence reforms · CDS · DMA · theatre commands
- AGNIPATH scheme · Agniveers · Defence HR transformation
- Aatmanirbhar Defence · indigenisation · positive lists · iDEX
- Major joint military exercises — Yudh Abhyas · Vajra Prahar · Indra · Garuda · Malabar · Tarang Shakti
- Defence Acquisition Council · Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020
- Counter-radicalisation programmes · de-radicalisation cells
- Refugee policy · 1951 Convention · India's position · Rohingya/Tibetan/Sri Lankan refugees
- Defence modernization · ATM-NIRBHAR Bharat · DAP 2020
- Arms & Weapons Smuggling · Networks & supply chains · Border routes · DRI & agencies
- Media, Propaganda & Strategic Communications · Terror narratives · Counter-messaging · Information warfare
- Jammu & Kashmir Security Framework · Post-2019 governance · UT model · Special provisions
International Relations
- Evolution of India's foreign policy · Non-Alignment to Multi-Alignment
- India & Pakistan · IWT · ceasefire violations · cross-border terror
- India & China · LAC · trade · Wuhan, Mamallapuram, Galwan
- India & Nepal · Kalapani · open border · 1950 Treaty
- India & Bangladesh · LBA · Teesta · CAA spillover
- India & Sri Lanka · Katchatheevu · Tamil issue · economic crisis support
- India & Bhutan · Doklam · hydropower
- India & Myanmar · refugee crisis · KKMM corridor
- India & Afghanistan · post-Taliban diplomacy
- India & Maldives · IOR · debt diplomacy
- India & USA · 2+2 dialogue · QUAD · defence agreements (BECA, LEMOA, COMCASA)
- India & Russia · S-400 · CAATSA · energy · UN coordination
- India & EU · BTIA · climate · digital · TTC
- India & UK · FTA · diaspora · post-Brexit
- India & Japan · Special Strategic Partnership · Indo-Pacific
- India & ASEAN · Act East · summits · RCEP withdrawal
- India & West Asia · I2U2 · IMEC · Saudi · UAE · Iran (Chabahar)
- India & Israel · defence · agriculture · technology
- India & Africa · IAFS · LoC · Pan-Africa e-Network
- India & Latin America · Mercosur PTA
- India & Pacific Islands · FIPIC · climate cooperation
- India & Antarctica/Arctic · Maitri · Bharati · Dakshin Gangotri · Arctic Policy 2022
- Regional groupings — SAARC · BIMSTEC · SCO · BRICS · G20 · G7
- New corridors & frameworks — IMEC · I2U2 · IPEF · INSTC
- UN — Security Council reform · UNGA · ECOSOC · ICJ · UNSC sanctions
- WTO · Doha Round · TRIPS · public stockholding
- IMF, World Bank, BIS, FSB · WHO · WIPO · WMO · ILO · UNESCO · UNICEF · UNHCR · UNCTAD
- Specialised treaty bodies — IAEA · OPCW · NSG · MTCR · Wassenaar Arrangement · Australia Group
- FATF · grey list · black list · India's role
- India & OPEC+ · energy diplomacy · oil import basket
- Indian diaspora · OIA · Pravasi Bharatiya Divas · remittances
- India & Indo-Pacific · QUAD · AUKUS impact
- Maritime — UNCLOS · SLOC · piracy · IORA
- Cultural diplomacy · ICCR · AYUSH · International Yoga Day · ITEC programme
- Cyber & space diplomacy · IGF · ITU · IN-SPACe MoUs
- Climate diplomacy — UNFCCC · CBDR · CDR-LIFE · loss & damage
- Defence diplomacy · joint exercises · arms exports · DAP 2020
- Defence deals · trade balance · agreements in news
- India & the Global South · Voice of Global South Summits · G20 presidency · reformed multilateralism · South-South cooperation
- India & Central Asia · Connect Central Asia policy · India-Central Asia Summit · INSTC · Chabahar · SCO
- India's humanitarian & niche diplomacy · Vaccine Maitri · HADR · Operation Ganga & Kaveri · SAGAR doctrine
Disaster Management
- Disaster — definition · classification · vulnerability
- Disaster Management Act 2005 · NDMA · SDMA · DDMA
- National Policy on Disaster Management 2009
- NDRF · SDRF · CDRI
- Hazard-specific — earthquakes · Himalayan seismicity
- Floods · river vs urban floods · flood plain zoning
- Cyclones · Bay of Bengal vs Arabian Sea · IMD warnings
- Drought · types · DPAP · NMSA
- Landslides · GLOFs · cloudbursts
- Tsunami · Indian Tsunami Early Warning System
- Heatwaves · cold waves · forest fires
- Industrial disasters · Bhopal · oil spills · nuclear
- Sendai Framework 2015-30 · 4 priorities · 7 targets
- Predecessor frameworks — Yokohama Strategy 1994 · Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-15
- Sphere Standards · humanitarian charter · minimum standards in response
- Pandemic management — COVID experience · One Health
- Climate-induced disasters · loss & damage · COP28 fund
- Climate refugees · internal displacement · IDMC reports
- Disaster Risk Financing · insurance · CAT bonds · parametric insurance
- Build Back Better framework · Resilient infrastructure (CDRI)
- Public health emergencies · vaccine logistics
- Heat action plans · Ahmedabad model · NDMA heatwave guidelines
- Recent Indian disasters — case studies — Uttarakhand 2013, Kerala floods 2018, Cyclone Fani 2019, Cyclone Amphan 2020, Joshimath 2023, Sikkim GLOF 2023, Wayanad landslides 2024
- Community-Based Disaster Management · local participation · indigenous knowledge · grassroots resilience
- State and District Disaster Management · SDMA-DDMA framework · operational coordination · inter-agency protocols
- Relief, Rehabilitation and Recovery · post-disaster frameworks · compensation mechanisms · livelihood restoration
Ethics & Integrity
- Ethics & Human Interface — essence, determinants, consequences
- Dimensions of ethics — descriptive, normative, meta-ethics
- Ethics in private and public relationships
- Human Values — lessons from leaders, reformers, administrators
- Role of family, society, educational institutions in inculcating values
- Attitude — content, structure, function
- Influence and relation with thought and behaviour
- Moral and political attitudes; persuasion
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service
- Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity
- Dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, compassion
- Emotional Intelligence — concepts, utility, application
- Goleman model — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, social skills
- Contributions of moral thinkers — Indian (Buddha, Gandhi, Vivekananda, Ambedkar, Tagore, Tiruvalluvar, Akka Mahadevi, Kabir, Sri Aurobindo, Kautilya)
- Contributions of moral thinkers — Western (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill, Bentham, Rawls, Nietzsche, Sartre)
- AI & technology ethics — bias, transparency, accountability, algorithmic justice
- Public/Civil Service Values — accountability, responsiveness
- Probity in governance — concept, philosophical basis
- Sources of ethical guidance — laws · rules · regulations · conscience
- Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions
- Strengthening ethical and moral values in governance
- Information sharing & transparency · RTI · Citizen Charter
- Code of Ethics vs Code of Conduct
- Work Culture · Quality of Service Delivery
- Utilisation of public funds · Challenges of corruption
- Whistleblowing · Whistle-blower Act
- Corporate Governance · CSR · scandals (Satyam, Enron, IL&FS) as case anchors
- Probity in international relations · funding
- Case studies — administrative dilemmas
- Case studies — corruption · social pressures
- Case studies — moral dilemmas at workplace
- Case studies — environmental ethics, AI ethics, business ethics
- Anti-Corruption Institutions · CVC, Lokpal, Lokayuktas · mechanisms and independence
- Conflict of Interest & Personal Integrity · disclosure, asset declarations, cooling-off periods
- Nolan Principles & Public Service Ethics Frameworks · selflessness, integrity, accountability, leadership
Current Affairs
- National polity & governance — bills, judgments, schemes
- Economy & finance — RBI policy, budget, inflation, growth data
- Science & Tech — ISRO launches, defence, AI, semiconductors
- Environment & climate — COPs, IPCC reports, biodiversity
- International relations — bilateral, summits, diasporic events
- Reports & Indices — HDI · Global Hunger · Press Freedom · EPI · GFR · Logistics · Global Innovation · World Inequality
- Awards & honours — Padma · Bharat Ratna · Nobel · Booker · Magsaysay · Jnanpith
- Persons in news — appointments, obituaries
- Sports — major events, individual achievements
- Defence & security — exercises, acquisitions, deployments
- Health — disease outbreaks, vaccines, medical advances
- Government schemes — launches, achievements, criticisms
- Geographic in news — places, channels, straits, conflicts
- Important committees & commissions
- Important international institutions in news
- Books & authors in news · Sahitya Akademi · literary news
- Important days · national & international observances
- Census data · NFHS · PLFS · sample-survey findings
- Indian heritage — UNESCO, GI tags, intangible heritage
CSAT — Quantitative Aptitude
- Number system · LCM · HCF · divisibility · remainders
- Percentages · ratio · proportion · partnership
- Average · alligation · mixtures
- Profit & loss · discount · simple & compound interest
- Time, speed, distance · trains · boats & streams
- Time & work · pipes & cisterns
- Algebra basics · linear equations · quadratic equations
- Permutations & combinations · probability basics
- Geometry · lines · angles · triangles · circles · polygons
- Mensuration · area · volume · surface
- Trigonometry basics · heights & distances
- Statistics basics · mean · median · mode · variance
- Data interpretation · tables · bar · pie · line · multi-graph
- Data sufficiency
- Fractions made simple · understanding parts of a whole
- Decimals and place value · turning fractions into decimals
- BODMAS and simplification · the correct order of operations
- Squares, cubes and roots · quick mental shortcuts
- Powers and indices · the laws of exponents made easy
- Percentages from scratch · what percent really means
- Percentage increase and decrease · successive changes
- Ratio and proportion · sharing in the right amounts
- Averages · finding the middle value
- Profit, loss and discount · the maths of buying and selling
- Simple interest · the basics of borrowing and lending
- Compound interest · interest that earns interest
- Speed, distance and time · the basic relationship
- Trains, boats and streams · relative speed made easy
- Time and work · who finishes the job first
- Pipes and cisterns · filling and emptying tanks
- Mixtures and alligation · mixing in the right ratio
- Problems on ages · past, present and future
- Partnership · sharing profit fairly
- Permutations and combinations · the art of counting
- Probability · measuring how likely something is
- Perimeter and area · measuring flat shapes
- Volume and surface area · measuring solid shapes
- Clocks and calendars · time and day puzzles
CSAT — Reasoning & Comprehension
- Reading comprehension · passage strategies
- Interpersonal skills · communication · assertive vs aggressive · listening
- Vocabulary in context · synonyms · antonyms · idioms
- Inference & assumption questions
- Tone, theme, central idea identification
- Logical reasoning · syllogisms · venn diagrams
- Statement-conclusion · statement-assumption
- Strengthen-weaken arguments
- Cause and effect · course of action
- Coding-decoding · series · analogies · odd one out
- Seating arrangement · puzzles · blood relations
- Direction sense · ranking · order
- Cube · clocks · calendars
- Decision-making case studies (non-negative marking)
- Problem-solving frameworks · prioritisation
- Mental ability speed drills
- Syllogisms · drawing conclusions from all and some statements
- Analogies · finding the matching relationship
- Classification · finding the odd one out
- Logical Venn diagrams · relationships between groups
- Number series · spotting the hidden rule
- Letter and alphabet series · patterns in letters
- Coding and decoding · cracking secret codes
- Blood relations · solving family-tree puzzles
- Direction sense · finding your way
- Order and ranking · who stands where
- Linear seating arrangement · people in a row
- Circular seating arrangement · people around a table
- Floor and scheduling puzzles · who is where and when
- Cubes and dice · faces, painting and reading dice
- Mathematical operations and symbols · symbol substitution
- Statement and assumptions · what is taken for granted
- Statement and arguments · strong versus weak
- Inference and conclusion · what the passage really says
Essay
- Essay structure · introduction · body · conclusion
- Approaches — argumentative · narrative · descriptive · expository
- Brainstorming & mind-mapping · structural anchors
- Quotations · examples · case studies · data
- Philosophical themes — values, morality, time
- Political themes — democracy, governance, citizenship
- Economic themes — growth vs equity, globalisation
- Social themes — gender, caste, family, technology
- Ecological themes — climate, sustainability
- Education, art, literature, science themes
- International relations themes
- Women, youth, technology themes
- Practice — past 10 years UPSC essay topics
- Style — coherence, transitions, vocabulary
- Common mistakes · time management in essay paper
- Multilingual writing — English vs medium of choice
English Qualifying
Indian Language Qualifying
Optional: Geography
- Paper I — Geomorphology · plate tectonics, landforms, slope analysis
- Paper I — Climatology · atmosphere, weather, world climates
- Paper I — Oceanography · ocean bottom, currents, marine resources
- Paper I — Biogeography · ecosystems, biomes, soils
- Paper I — Environmental geography · climate change, sustainability
- Paper I — Population geography · growth, distribution, migration
- Paper I — Economic geography · agriculture, industry, services
- Paper I — Settlement geography · rural, urban
- Paper I — Political geography · boundaries, geopolitics
- Paper I — Geographical thought · evolution, recent trends
- Paper II — Physical setting of India
- Paper II — Resources of India
- Paper II — Agriculture · cropping, types, problems
- Paper II — Industry · location, regions, problems
- Paper II — Transport, communication, trade
- Paper II — Population · distribution, problems
- Paper II — Settlements
- Paper II — Regional development planning
- Paper II — Political aspects · boundaries, federalism
- Paper II — Contemporary issues · environment, regional disparities
Personality Test
- Detailed Application Form (DAF) — common questions
- Hometown · district · state coverage — geography, economy, famous personalities, problems
- Education background · stream-based probes — why UPSC after engineering/medicine/etc.
- Work experience probes · career transition rationale
- Hobbies & interests · structured response · demonstration-ready
- Optional subject probable questions · linking to current affairs
- Service preference rationale · why IAS/IPS/IFS/IRS · alternative careers
- Current affairs of interview period · last 6-12 months focus
- Indian polity & governance current debates — recent bills, judgments, controversies
- Indian economy current debates — Budget, RBI, growth, inflation, unemployment
- India's foreign policy current debates — neighbourhood, multilateral, summits
- Environmental & climate current debates — COP, biodiversity, EIA
- Science & tech in news — ISRO, AI, biotech, defence
- Internal security debates — Manipur, J&K, LWE, cyber
- Social issues — caste census, women's reservation, communalism
- Ethics-based situational questions — dilemmas in district administration
- Conflict-of-interest scenarios · whistleblower dilemmas · friend-family-favouritism cases
- Subordinate management — disciplining seniors-in-age · motivating demoralised teams
- Project deadline vs ethical compromise · ends-vs-means trade-offs
- Public-vs-private gain dilemmas · personal honesty vs institutional pressure
- Leadership & decision-making scenarios
- Critical thinking & analytical reasoning questions
- Mock interviews · feedback themes · video review
- Communication — clarity, conciseness, balance · listening skills
- Body language · eye contact · posture · dress code
- Stress questions · handling disagreement · graceful "I don't know"
- Service-specific awareness — IAS · IPS · IFS · IRS (IT/Customs) · IRTS · IDAS · IIS
- A Day in the Life of an IAS/IPS officer — district administration realities
- Cadre preferences · women in services · service rivalries · interconnections
- Women candidates · marriage, career trade-off questions · gender-sensitive handling
- Differently-abled candidates · accommodations · disclosure
- Group discussion-style probes · multi-board dynamics
- Last-minute prep · revision strategy · self-care · sleep · diet
Optional: Economics
- Paper I — Advanced Microeconomics · consumer theory · production · welfare
- Paper I — Advanced Macroeconomics · classical · Keynesian · monetarist
- Paper I — Money, Banking & Finance · monetary policy · financial markets
- Paper I — International Economics · trade theory · BoP · exchange rates
- Paper I — Growth & Development · models (Harrod-Domar, Solow) · welfare
- Paper I — Public Finance · taxation theory · public expenditure · debt
- Paper I — Environmental Economics · externalities · valuation · Pigou tax
- Paper I — Game theory basics · auctions · mechanism design
- Paper II — Indian economy in pre-Independence era
- Paper II — Indian Economy after Independence — planning, mixed economy
- Paper II — Indian agriculture · land reforms · Green Revolution
- Paper II — Indian industry · industrial policy · LPG reforms
- Paper II — Trade · BoP · FDI · external sector
- Paper II — Money & Banking in India · RBI · banking reforms
- Paper II — Inflation · price stability · monetary policy
- Paper II — Public Finance in India · taxation · GST · fiscal federalism
- Paper II — Inclusive growth · poverty · employment · inequality
- Paper II — Recent reforms · Atmanirbhar Bharat · PLI · UPI
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