UPSC GS Paper 1 is titled “Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society”. It is one of the nine papers in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination. Consisting of 250 marks, the UPSC General Studies Paper 1 is among the seven papers that are ranking in nature. It means that the score obtained in this paper gets added to the total marks which determine the final rank of the candidate.
History, Art & Culture, and Geography are the three major subjects that are covered in this paper. Subjective questions are asked from the micro topics under these three subjects in the examination. In this article, we will look at how to prepare for UPSC GS Paper 1. Additionally, we will also be discussing the syllabus and preparation strategy of the GS paper 1 for UPSC Civil Services Mains.
Let’s start with the syllabus of UPSC GS Paper 1:
Let’s start with the syllabus of UPSC GS Paper 1:
General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society
Indian Culture - 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 the 18th century such as the 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.
Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
Salient features of the World’s Physical Geography.
Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
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.
It is clear from the syllabus of the UPSC GS Paper 1 that broadly history, art & culture, and geography are to be covered to ace this paper. Following are some of the strategies that you can adopt to prepare this paper:
History: Since the syllabus mentions only modern history, you can cover it from the books Spectrum (A brief history of Modern India) & Bipin Chandra (History of Modern India)
Art & Culture:Do not ignore the ancient and medieval history areas as questions from Art & Culture are asked from this portion. Glance through Class XI NCERT of Art & Culture to prepare this portion. Additionally, you can also refer to Indian art & culture by Nitin Singhania
Indian Society: The contemporary topics such as Indian Society, Role of women’s organization, globalization, etc can be effectively covered by reading newspapers, monthly magazines, and PIB & PRS websites.
Geography:The Geography part of the syllabus can be effectively covered from the NCERTs of Class XI and XII followed by a reading of books by Majid Hussain and GC Leong.
Previous Year Questions & Mock Tests: Cover at least ten years of PYQs of UPSC GS Paper 1 to assess the type of questions that are being asked and also browse through the answer copies of toppers. You can easily get these answer copies online. Evaluate them to understand the important elements of a good answer and incorporate it into your answer-writing. Practice it regularly and get your copies evaluated by your mentors.
History and Art n Culture |
Indian Art Forms Indian Paintings Classical Dance Forms Folk Dance Forms Classical Music Puppetry Pottery Drama/Theatre Martial Arts Literature Ancient Indian Literature Classical Sanskrit Literature Literature in Pali and Prakrit Early Dravidian Literature Medieval Literature Women Poets of Bhakti Trends in Medieval Literature Modern Indian Literature Architecture Harappan Architecture Temple Architecture Cave Architecture Indo-Islamic Architecture Medieval Architecture Modern Architecture Contribution of Buddhism & Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture Rock Cut Architecture Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period Middle of the Eighteenth Century Until The Present 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 Revolt of 1857 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 Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905-1918) Swadeshi & Boycott Movement Surat Split International Influence Morley – Minto Reforms Growth of Communalism 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 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 Nation Building Partition and Its Aftermath Integration of Princely States Reorganisation of States Issue of Official Language Tribal Consolidation Regional Aspirations Foreign Policy Non-Aligned Movement Panchsheel Wars with Pakistan & China Nuclear Policy Economy Planned Development Green Revolution, Operation Flood & Cooperatives Agrarian & Land Reforms Industrial Reforms LPG Reforms Polity Era of One-Party Dominance Emergence of Opposition Parties Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order Rise of Regional Parties Coalition Era Social Popular Movements Communalism Indian Women Since Independence Naxalism Industrial Revolution Renaissance Discovery of Sea Routes Reformation Counter Reformation European Nations Settle North America Rise of Slave Trade American War of Independence French Revolution Nationalism in Europe Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism & Imperialism World War I Causes of the War Scope & Course of the War Russian Revolution End of the War & Peace Treaties Consequences of the War League of Nations 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 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 Decolonialisation & Redrawal 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 Concept, Types & Social Impact of Political Philosophies Communism Capitalism Socialism |
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 Examples of above. Women's Organisations – Empowerment through Action 19th Century Social Reform Movements and Early Women's Organisations – (1) Agrarian Struggles and Revolt, (2) Participation in Freedom Struggle Women's Organisations Post – 1947 Resurgence of Women's Movement in the 70s: (1) Emergence of New Organisations, (2) Approaches and Issues Contemporary Women's Issues & Organisation Response Women's Organisations and SHGs Challenges faced by Women's Organisations 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 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 are worst affected by poverty? Problem of Rising Urban Poverty Poverty Alleviation Initiatives Policy shift from “Trickle Down” Economics to Inclusive or Pro-poor Development to Reduce Poverty Relation between Poverty Reduction and Development: Poverty-Inequality-Development Nexus Urbanisation Trends in India and Their Implications - Demographic and Social Dimensions Factors Driving Urbanisation State of Service Delivery and Challeges 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 Understanding Globalisation – Its Different Dimensions Globalisation & Culture - Homogenisation vs. Glocalisation Factors Driving Globalisation Globalisation & India Impact of Globalisation on India - Socio-cultural, economic, on women, agrarian sector etc. Does Globalisation cause Poverty? Which are the Socially Disadvantaged Groups? Dimensions of Social Empowerment Government Initiatives to Aide Social Empowerment Communalism – Its Characteristics Communalism in India in the Past Communalism in Contemporqary India Causes of Communalism Consequences of Communalism Measures to Control & Eradicate Communalism Secularism as an Antidote to Communalism 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 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 |
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 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 Types of Resources On the Basis of Origin, Ownership, Exhaustability 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 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 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 Cyclone Tropical Cyclones Anti-Cyclone Extra Tropical Cyclones Factors Causing Changes in Critical Geographical Features Examples of Changing Geographicl Features - Mealting of Ice Sheets, Desertification etc. Impact of Changing Geographical Features |
The Wonder That Was India- A.L. Basham. (Culture)
India’s Ancient Past - R.S. Sharma. (Culture)
Indian Art and Culture - Nitin Singhania. (Culture)
A Brief History of Modern India - Spectrum Book (History)
History Of Modern India - Bipan Chandra. (History)
India’s Struggle For Independence - Bipan Chandra. (History)
India After Gandhi - Ramchandra Guha (History - GS1)
Norman Lowe OR History of Modern World - Jain and Mathur (World History - GS1)
Social Problems In India - Ram Ahuja. (Indian Society - GS1)
Geography of India - Majid Husain. (Geography)
Oxford School Atlas - Oxford. (Geography)
Certificate Physical and Human Geography - Goh Cheng Leong. (Geography)
You do not have to read all the books from this list cover-to-cover, however, try and cover the chapters relevant to the UPSC GS Paper 1 syllabus and make your notes for repeated revision.
So, this was a brief overview of how to prepare for UPSC GS Paper 1 for Mains Examination. We hope you found this useful. Stay connected with us on our Telegram channel as well as our YouTube channel for regular updates and useful preparation strategies.
Q1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco -Bactrian elements in the Gandhara art. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate (Answer in 150 words)
Q3. Examine the linkages between 19th centuries ‘Indian renaissance’ and emergence of national identity. (Answer in 150 words)
Q4. Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Q5.Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (Answer in 150 words)
Q6. Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India? (Answer in 150 words)
Q7. Discuss the factors for localization of agro-based food processing industries of North West India. (Answer in 150 words)
Q8. What makes the Indian society unique in sustaining its culture? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Q9. “Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss (Answer in 150 words)
Q10. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism (Answer in 150 words)
Q11. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate (Answer in 250 words)
Q12. Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during 1940s. (Answer in 250 words)
Q13. Explain how the foundations of modern world were laid by the American and French revolution. (Answer in 250 words)
Q14. What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (Answer in 250 words)
Q15. How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (Answer in 250 words)
Q16. How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India? (Answer in 250 words)
Q17. How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples? (Answer in 250 words)
Q18. Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples (Answer in 250 words)
Q19. What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space? (Answer in 250 words)
Q20. Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
You do not have to read all the books from this list cover-to-cover, however, try and cover the chapters relevant to the UPSC GS Paper 1 syllabus and make your notes for repeated revision.
So, this was a brief overview of how to prepare for UPSC GS Paper 1 for Mains Examination. We hope you found this useful. Stay connected with us on our Telegram channel as well as our YouTube channel for regular updates and useful preparation strategies.
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