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(Article) High Value Topics for IAS Preliminary (GS Paper - I)

IAS EXAM

High Value Topics for IAS Preliminary (GS Paper - I)

There is quite a big syllabus for the UPSC exam both for prelims and as well as mains. In this article we would like to provide topics which are more important than others. This is done solely on the basis of previous year questions asked in UPSC. Nothing can be said with certainty that this will necessarily be the pattern this year as UPSC is quite flexible. However we believe these topics should be given special attention, because based on previous year experience they cover more portion of the paper than other parts.

We would try to mention section wise topics which provides higher value for UPSC prelims than other topics.

Analysis of syllabus and how to start preparation from start has been covered in the portal earlier. Please go through those articles to get a better understanding about this article. Syllabus of UPSC prelims has been broadly divided into 7 sections.

Polity
Economy
History
Geography
Environment
Science
Current affairs

Below mentioned are the topics which we believe should be given more importance than other topics.

POLITY

Fundamental Rights and cases related to amendment of fundamental rights. Special attention to Article 14,15,16,19,20,25,26,29 and 30.
DPSP- just remember what is written in every article.
Fundamental Duties
Appointment, removal and powers of High court and Supreme Court judges.
Power, Privileges, appointment/election/selection, removal of the following:
President and Vice President
Speaker and Chairman
Members of Parliament and State legislature
CAG/CVC/CIC/NHRC/UPSC
Powers of union executive
Important Parliamentary committees strength, selection, work
Citizenship and remember the schedules

HISTORY

It is most difficult to find important topics in history. There has been lot of variability in previous years. However we believe most imp topics are:
In general Modern history covers most of the portion for history.
Important topics in Modern history are:
Movements by Mahatma Gandhi
Various plans after quit India movement till Indian independence
Imp. Congress sessions like Surat, Allahabad, Lahore etc.
1857 revolt
Social reformers of modern India
Pre congress parties and activity
British land revenue policies

Important topics in Medieval History are:

Mughal Architecture and art
Sufi saints during medieval period
Akbar religious works
Important work by Aliauddin Khilji and Mohammad bin Tughlaq
Slave Dynasty rulers and their very imp works.
Important wars like battle of panipat, battle of terrain etc.
South Indian empires

Important topics in Ancient India include:

Indus Valley civilization art, town planning, site location and imp aspects of six imp sites.
Aryans invasion
Vedas and gods related to them
Ashokan pillars and their importance
Gupta rule social status
Harshavardhan’s rule and important aspects
Important travellers

Now we will move to important topics in geography. Geography takes a big portion of the paper so prepare properly.

GEOGRAPHY

Pressure winds, Air masses
Atmospheric layers and their functions
Water currents
El Nino and La-Nino generation and how it effects various world climates
Monsoon generation spread across India
Crops and Agriculture,
Mountain Ranges, Rivers, Canals, Lakes, Waterfalls, Dams, National highways relative position. Prepare for questions like arrange rivers from North to south etc.
Prepare world map especial attention to Europe, Mediterranean, Middle East, South Asia, Australia.
Soils and agriculture associated with them
Volcanoes, earthquakes
Forests type and state wise distribution and world wide position.

SCIENCE

Important topics of Science and Tech would cover new inventions, biology and other science topics. Please don't make a mistake of leaving them untouched, if science is prepared nicely they will give good result.
Satellites, Missiles
Outer space missions
General use items functioning like TV, LED, CPU, Computer etc.
Nobel Prizes for physics, biology and chemistry and their uses.
Vitamins and disease associated with them
Respiration and digestion process
Important diseases and their division as bacterial, fungal etc.
Blood group determination
New inventions in Technology
Energy sources and there uses
Pollution

ECONOMY

Taxation
Monetary policy tools
International Trade, Balance of payment, Current Account, Current Account deficit, Trade deficit
Fiscal policy tools, Government revenue and expenditure, Various deficits like fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, primary deficit etc.
Banking norms, Basel norms, Restructuring of loans, Priority sector lending
Bretton Woods institutions and their reports
Important reports published by international organisations
Information about International organisations (like OECD, EU, WTO, WHO etc.), when they were formed, founding members, Purpose, India is part of it or not etc.
Various important regional or other grouping to which India is member.
Big government schemes like Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Ujjwala, UDAY etc.

ENVIRONMENT and ECOLOGY

Environment and Ecology's weightage has increased in recent years due to mixing of IFoS exam with Civil services exam. Please prepare it with special attention.

Sustainable Development, Sustainable development Goals
Climate Change effects, Conferences, Kyoto, Paris, INDC etc.
Conventions Montreal, Minamata etc
Nagoya, Cartegena protocol, Convention on Biological diversity etc.
Environmental protection, IUCN, Flora and Fauna in India especially endangered and critically endangered.
Important National parks and wildlife sanctuaries
Project Tiger, Elephant, Lion etc.
Eco sensitive zones in India
Conference of Parties, Rio, Rio+20