PAPER 1

General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
1.Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times:
Art forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. A. Visual Art _ Architecture - (Nagara School, Dravida School, Vessar School, Indo- Islamic Style, Victorian Style etc.) _ Sculpture (Gandhara School, Mathura School, Amaravati School etc.) _ Painting (Prehistoric, Ajanta and Bagh painting, Miniature painting, Mughal painting, Rajput Style, Pahari School, Patna Kalam, Madhubani painting, Manjusha painting etc.) B. Performing Art Music, Dance, Theater, Circus, Puppetry, etc. C. Miscellaneous topics Language, Craft, Religion, etc. Study Reference: _ The Wonder that was India Vol - I & II( A.L.Basham/S.S. Rizvi) _ Introduction to Indian Art-NCERT Class XI.

2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues:
Some significant event, personalities and issues. establishment of British rule in Bengal, Reactions like Tribal revolt, Civil rebellion, Sepoy revolt, Rise of nationalism, Development and planning process after independence, Colonial policies and so-called reforms, Bhoodan movement, Green Revolution, Origin of Naxalism, Bodoland movement, Ayodhya issue, Operation Blue star, Bhopal gas leak tragedy, Chipko movement, Emergency, Hawala Scandal, JK issue, Total Revolution etc. Study Reference: _ Bipan Chandra History of Modern India (Orient Blackswan) _ Grover & Grover History of Modern India

3. The Freedom Struggle its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country:
Basic familiarity with all the topics is required and for this, one reading of Bipan Chandras Indias struggle for Independence is must. We need to prepare all the phases of our national movement from 1885 to 1947. But a close examination of the recent trends suggest the importance of some new issues like role of Viceroys, role of working class, role of capitalists, role of regional leaders, Constitutional development, role of Women organization etc. Idea is to go beyond the mainstream freedom struggle and to appreciate contribution from different sections. Study Reference: _ Bipan Chandra Indias struggle for Independence _ Sumit Sarkar Modern India 4. Postindependence consolidation and reorganization within the country: This section of new syllabus takes a holistic view of the political economy of Indian development since independence. After independence, challenges for us were to overcome the colonial legacy of economic underdevelopment, gross poverty and stark social inequality and injustice. This challenge of nation- building was taken up by our people and leader with a certain elan and determination. Our approach should be to know some important issues like linguistic reorganization of the states, integration of the states, integration of tribals, land reforms, Cooperative movement etc.. Study Reference: _ Bipan Chandra India since independence

5. 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:
Beginning of the Modern Age, Rise of Colonialism, Industrial revolution, State building, Process and Unification Process, Development leading to the World War-I- Its impact, Russian Revolution, 1917, Socialism, Capitalism, The League of Nations, The Spanish Civil War, Communism, Totalitarianism and the road to World War-II, Causes of World War-II - the devastation and aftermath, UN, Decolonization process, Fall of communism. Study Reference: Textbooks on Class XI & XII NCERT

6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India; 7. Role of women and womens organization, 8. Population and associated issues and the remedies 9. Poverty and developmental issues and the remedies 10. Urbanization, the problems and the remedies 11. Effects of globalization on Indian society 12. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
{Various topics added in this section can be appreciated in the context of need for development of social awareness. Developing Social Awareness involves learning about the dynamics of social relationships between individuals, groups and communities. A socially aware individual values human rights and acknowledges the importance of harmonious social interaction for the developmental progress of human beings. Further, knowing more about social issues makes an individual more responsible and enables the individual to take efficient actions in favour of the society. For example, if more children are taught about the ill effects of global warming, they will be more responsible with fuel. Moreover social awareness will empower them to face certain difficult situations and solve it. It is also important to enable people, mostly women, to know their status and dignity is society. This section thereby requires a thorough understanding of various sociological concepts. Suppose you are asked a question on poverty, this may have theoretical inferences. You may also need empirical case studies examples to analyse the topics. Students need to have analytical eye with focus on continuity and change. Like, despite so many changes, why caste system is still prevalent in our country. Or, despite the break-up of the joint family system, the mentality of joint family still exists among Indians. Once you get conceptual clarity, it becomes very easy to understand the crux of sociological topics in the new syllabus.}
Study Reference: _ NCERT books on sociology for class XI & XII may be found very useful. _ S.C. Dubey - Indian Society _ Arjun Appadurai : Globalization (Public Culture Book). The article on Globalization at what cost. _ Philip Mason : India and Ceylon Unity and Diversity Chapter 1- Unity in Diversity in India

13. Salient features of worlds physical geography:

This portion deals with the basic understanding of geographical phenomena and processes over the globe. This includes study of four spheres air, water, land and bio as well as the environment as a whole. Thus, the chapters would be (a) Geomorphology Landforms, Factors controlling landform development; Endogenetic and exogenesis forces; Origin and evolution of the earths crust and Physical conditions of the earths interior. (b) Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and frontogenesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes. (c) Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources. (d) Biogeography Soil types, characteristics and distribution; Problem of Soil degradation and conservation; World distribution of plants and animals, and factors influencing it; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Major gene pool centres.

{Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and icecaps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.}
(e) Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development. (Header 3 deals with this aspect) This portion also includes the header on Important Geophysical Phenomena. Study Reference: _ NCERT XI- Principles of Geography/Fundamentals of Physical Geography _ Goh Cheng Leong Certificate in Physical & Human Geography

14. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India):
(including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India): This portion deals with the spatial distribution of economic activity over the globe. It includes the fact of distribution as well as the factors responsible for it. Study Reference: _ Geography Made Simple Economic and Human Geography (for the world) _ NCERT XII- Fundamentals of Human Geography