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Pre-History & IVC • Stone Age: Paleolithic (Bhimbetka), Neolithic (Burzahom – pit dwellings).
• Indus Valley: Town Planning (Grid, Citadel), Drainage. Major Sites: Dholavira (Water harvesting), Lothal (Dockyard), Rakhigarhi (Largest). Trade relations (Mesopotamia).

Vedic & Mahajanapadas • Literature: Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads (Satyameva Jayate source).
• Polity: Sabha vs Samiti. 16 Mahajanapadas (Capitals). Rise of Magadha (Haryanka to Nanda).

Buddhism & Jainism (CRITICAL) • Buddhism: 4 Councils (Patrons/Presidents), Sects (Mahayana/Hinayana/Theravada/Vajrayana), Literature (Tripitakas), Bodhisattvas (Maitreya, Padmapani).
• Jainism: Triratna, 5 Vows, Digambara vs Shvetambara, Basadis.

Mauryan & Gupta • Maurya: Ashokan Edicts (Major Rock Edicts 1-14 locations), Dhamma policies, Megasthenes’ Indica.
• Gupta: Golden Age of Art (Dashavatara Temple), Science (Aryabhatta, Varahamihira), Literature (Kalidasa works).

1857 to 1905 • Revolt: Political, Economic, Social causes. Failure reasons. Peel Commission (Army reorg).
• Socio-Religious: Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Theosophical Society. (Know Leaders & Journals).
• Peasant/Tribal: Indigo, Santhal, Munda, Deccan Riots.

Freedom Struggle (1905-1947) • Phases: Swadeshi (1905), Surat Split (1907), Lucknow Pact (1916).
• Gandhian: Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad. NCM (1920), CDM (1930 – Dandi), Quit India (1942).
• Revolutionary: HRA, HSRA (Bhagat Singh), Chittagong Raid (Surya Sen).

Acts & Viceroys • Constitutional: 1773 Regulating to 1947 Independence.
• Focus Areas: 1909 (Separate Electorate), 1919 (Dyarchy at Provinces), 1935 (Provincial Autonomy).
• Viceroys: Curzon, Irwin (Gandhi-Irwin Pact), Linlithgow (August Offer), Mountbatten.

Geomorphology • Interior: Crust, Mantle, Core. Seismic discontinuities (Moho, Gutenberg).
• Tectonics: Continental Drift (Wegener), Plate Tectonics (Convergent/Divergent boundaries), Sea Floor Spreading.
• Processes: Earthquake waves (P/S/L), Volcanic landforms (Intrusive/Extrusive), Rock Cycle.

Climatology (Core Concepts) • Structure: Troposphere (Lapse rate), Stratosphere.
• Insolation: Heat Budget, Albedo.
• Winds: Planetary (Trade, Westerlies), Jet Streams, Rossby Waves.
• Cyclones: Tropical (Latent heat driven) vs Temperate (Frontal). Naming conventions.

Oceanography • Relief: Continental Shelf (Resources), Slope, Trenches.
• Movements: Ocean Currents (Warm/Cold – Fishing grounds), Tides, Waves.
• Properties: Salinity (Isohalines), Temperature distribution. Coral Reefs (Bleaching).

Ecology & Biodiversity • Basics: Ecotone (Edge effect), Niche, Keystone/Flagship Species.
• Cycles: Nitrogen, Carbon, Phosphorus cycles.
• Conservation: In-situ (National Parks, Sanctuaries) vs Ex-situ (Gene banks, Zoos).

Climate Change & Acts • Pollution: PM 2.5 vs PM 10, Fly Ash, E-Waste rules, BS-VI norms.
• Legislation: Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (Schedules 1-6), EPA 1986, Forest Rights Act 2006, Biodiversity Act 2002.
• Bodies: NGT, CPCB, CAMPA, NTCA.

International Conventions • UNFCCC: Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement (NDCs), COP Summits.
• Biodiversity: CBD (Nagoya – Genetic resources, Cartagena – Biosafety).
• Others: Ramsar (Wetlands), CITES (Trade), CMS (Migratory), Basel/Rotterdam/Stockholm.

Preamble & Citizenship • Preamble: Keywords (Sovereign, Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Republic). 42nd Amendment. Cases (Berubari vs Keshavananda).
• Citizenship: Part II (Art 5-11). Citizenship Act 1955. Loss of citizenship methods.

Fundamental Rights (Part III) • Right to Equality (14-18): Rule of Law, Abolition of Untouchability.
• Freedom (19-22): Speech expressions, Protection in conviction.
• Art 32: Writs (Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Quo-Warranto, Certiorari, Prohibition).
• Exceptions: Martial Law (Art 34).

DPSP & Duties • DPSP (Part IV): Socialist (Art 39, 41), Gandhian (Art 40, 43, 46), Liberal (Art 44 UCC, 50 Separation of Judiciary).
• Duties (Part IVA): Art 51A. Swaran Singh Committee. Non-justiciable.

Parliament • Houses: Lok Sabha vs Rajya Sabha powers.
• Officers: Speaker (Anti-Defection role), Chairman.
• Process: Question Hour, Zero Hour, Motions (No-Confidence, Adjournment, Privilege).
• Committees: PAC, Estimates, Public Undertakings (Members & Functions).

Executive & Judiciary • President: Election method (Proportional Representation), Veto powers, Pardon powers.
• Supreme Court: Original, Appellate, Advisory Jurisdiction. Collegium System vs NJAC. Judicial Review.

Federalism • Emergency: National (352), State (356), Financial (360). Approval & Revocation.
• Centre-State: 7th Schedule Lists. Sarkaria & Punchhi Commissions.

National Income • Metrics: GDP, GNP, NNP. Factor Cost vs Market Price.
• Concepts: Real vs Nominal GDP. GDP Deflator. Base Year (2011-12).
• Growth: Potential GDP, GVA method.

Inflation • Indices: CPI (Retail – by NSO) vs WPI (Wholesale – by OEA). Components & Weights.
• Types: Headline vs Core. Creeping vs Galloping. Skewflation.
• Impact: On Debtors, Bond Yields, Exports. Phillips Curve.

Banking & Monetary Policy • RBI: Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Inflation targeting (4% +/- 2%).
• Tools: Repo, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, OMO, MSF, SDF.
• Money Supply: M0, M1, M3 (Broad Money). Money Multiplier effect. MCLR vs EBLR.

Budget & Taxation • Deficits: Fiscal, Revenue, Effective Revenue, Primary Deficit. FRBM Act targets.
• Taxation: Direct vs Indirect. GST Structure & Council. Cess vs Surcharge.
• Accounts: Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, Public Account.

Balance of Payments (BoP) • Current Account: Goods (Trade Deficit), Services, Remittances.
• Capital Account: FDI, FII, ECB, NRI Deposits.
• Forex: Components (Foreign Currency, Gold, SDR, RTP). NEER vs REER.

Space Technology • Orbits: LEO (ISS), MEO (GPS), GEO (Communication). Sun-Synchronous.
• Launchers: PSLV (4 stages), GSLV (Cryogenic), SSLV.
• Missions: Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1, Gaganyaan (Human flight), LIGO (Gravitational waves).

Biotechnology • Genetics: DNA vs RNA. Gene Editing (CRISPR-Cas9).
• Applications: GM Crops (Bt Cotton, Bt Brinjal, DMH-11 Mustard), Stem Cells (iPSC), Cloning.
• Health: Vaccines types (mRNA, Vector, Inactivated). Genome Sequencing.

IT & Emerging Tech • Computer: Supercomputers (FLOPS), Quantum Computing (Qubits, Superposition).
• Web: Web 3.0, NFT, Metaverse, Blockchain (Consensus mechanism).
• Telecom: 5G vs 4G (Latency, Speed). Optical Fiber (TIR). Li-Fi.

Number System (Critical) • Divisibility Rules (3, 7, 11, 13).
• Remainder Theorem.
• Unit Digit calculation.
• HCF & LCM word problems.

Arithmetic • Percentage (Base of all math).
• Profit, Loss & Discount.
• Ratio & Proportion, Averages.
• Time, Speed & Distance (Trains/Boats).

Reasoning & RC • Logic: Syllogism (Venn diagrams), Blood Relations, Direction Sense.
• Arrangement: Linear and Circular seating.
• RC: Assumption vs Inference vs Corollary.

Indian Heritage & Culture • Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from Ancient to Modern times.
• Focus: Temple styles (Nagara/Dravida), Cave architecture, Classical Dances, Bhakti/Sufi movement impacts.

Modern Indian History • Events from mid-18th century to present.
• The Freedom Struggle: Stages, Contributors (Gandhi, Bose, Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh).
• Post-Independence Consolidation: Reorganization of states, Language issue, Wars (1962, 65, 71).

World History • Industrial Revolution.
• World Wars (Causes & Impact).
• Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization & Decolonization.
• Political Philosophies: Communism, Capitalism, Socialism (Forms & Effect).

Social Issues • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of Women & Women’s Organizations.
• Population and associated issues, Poverty and Developmental issues.
• Urbanization: Problems and remedies (Slums, Smart Cities).

Social Dynamics • Effects of Globalization on Indian society (Family structure, Culture).
• Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
• Focus: Current debates on UCC, Reservation, Caste Census.

Physical Geography • Salient features of World’s Physical Geography.
• Geophysical phenomena: Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclones.
• Changes in critical geographical features (Water-bodies, Ice-caps) and Flora/Fauna.

Resource Distribution • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia).
• Factors responsible for location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries (Iron & Steel, Cotton, IT).
• Focus: Why industries move? (e.g., Sugar industry shifting South).

Indian Constitution • Historical underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Basic Structure.
• Separation of Powers, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms.
• Comparison of Indian Constitutional scheme with other countries (UK, USA).

Functions of Union & States • Responsibilities of Union and States.
• Issues and challenges pertaining to Federal Structure (Governor’s role, GST compensation).
• Devolution of powers and finances to local levels (Panchayats).

Organs of Government • Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges.
• Executive and Judiciary: Ministries, Pressure Groups.
• Representation of People’s Act (RPA).

Constitutional Bodies • Appointment, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies (ECI, UPSC, CAG, NCSC).
• Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies (NHRC, NGT, CVC).

Governance • Government policies and interventions for development.
• Role of NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities, and institutional stakeholders.
• E-Governance: Applications, models, successes, limitations.
• Citizen’s Charters, Transparency & Accountability (RTI).

Social Justice • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (Women, Children, SC/ST, Elderly).
• Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger.

India & Neighborhood • Relations with neighbors (China border, Pakistan terror, Nepal hydro, Sri Lanka debt, Bangladesh).
• “Neighborhood First” policy.

Global Groupings • Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India (Quad, BRICS, SCO, G20, ASEAN).
• Effect of policies of developed countries on India (H1B Visa, Oil prices).
• Indian Diaspora. International Institutions (UN, WTO, IMF).

Indian Economy • Planning, Mobilization of resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting (Gender budgeting, Zero-based).

Agriculture • Major crops, Cropping patterns, Irrigation systems.
• Transport and marketing of agricultural produce.
• E-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Farm Subsidies, MSP, PDS (Public Distribution System), Buffer stocks, Food Security.
• Food processing industries (Supply chain management).

Industry & Reforms • Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy.
• Changes in industrial policy.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways.
• Investment models (PPP, BOT, EPC, HAM).

Science & Technology • Developments and their applications in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in S&T.
• Indigenization of technology.
• Awareness in: IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-tech, Bio-tech, IPR issues.

Environment & Disaster • Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• Disaster and Disaster Management (NDMA, Sendai Framework).

Extremism & Terrorism • Linkages between development and spread of extremism (Naxalism).
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

Cyber & Border Security • Challenges to internal security through communication networks.
• Role of media and social networking sites.
• Basics of Cyber Security, Money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas.

Ethics & Human Interface • Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions.
• Dimensions of ethics; Ethics in private and public relationships.
• Human Values: Lessons from the lives of great leaders, reformers and administrators.
• Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

Attitude & Aptitude • Content, structure, function; influence and relation with thought and behaviour.
• Moral and political attitudes; Social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service (Integrity, Impartiality, Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication, Empathy, Tolerance).

Emotional Intelligence • Concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

Moral Thinkers • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India (Gandhi, Buddha, Kautilya) and World (Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill).

Public Service Values • Status and problems; Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government.
• Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance.
• Accountability and ethical governance.
• Ethical issues in international relations and funding; Corporate governance.

Probity in Governance • Concept of public service.
• Information sharing and transparency (RTI).
• Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters.
• Work culture, Quality of service delivery.
• Utilization of public funds, Challenges of corruption.

Case Studies • Application of the above concepts to practical scenarios faced by a Civil Servant.

Educational Background • Graduation Subject: Why did you choose it? Why civil services after Engineering/Medicine?
• College/University: History, Motto, Famous Alumni.
• Achievements: Medals, Positions of Responsibility.

Hobbies & Interests • Depth of Knowledge: Technical details, current trends, recent news related to hobby.
• “Why” this hobby?: How does it help in administration? (e.g., Chess -> Strategic thinking).
• Avoid generic hobbies like “Listening to Music” unless you know ragas/genres.

Employment Details • Job Role: What did you do? Why did you quit?
• Organization: Revenue model, Challenges, Sector analysis (e.g., IT sector issues).
• Ethical Dilemmas faced in previous job.

Service Preference • Why IAS over IPS? Why IFS (Foreign Service)?
• Justification for lower preferences (e.g., Why IRS IT over IRS Customs?).
• Knowledge about the roles and hierarchy of each service.

Cadre Preference • Why Home State? Or Why “Any” state?
• Challenges of the preferred state (e.g., Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, Borders in North East).
• Willingness to serve in “Hard Areas”.

Mental Alertness • Presence of mind.
• Ability to handle stress and unexpected questions.
• Example Q: “If you were the DM of this district, what are the first 3 things you would do?”

Balance of Judgment • Ability to see multiple perspectives (Pros/Cons).
• Rationality over emotions.
• Example Q: “Should capital punishment be abolished in India? Give arguments.”

Intellectual & Moral Integrity • Honesty in admitting mistakes/ignorance.
• Consistency in views (Don’t change stance just because the board disagrees).
• Ethical grounding in answers.

Social Cohesion & Leadership • Ability to work with diverse groups.
• Empathy towards weaker sections (SC/ST/Women).
• Vision for the country.
• Example Q: “How will you handle a communal riot as an SP?”

Opinion Based • “What is your view on the privatization of banks?”
• “Is Indian democracy in danger?”
• “Should India reclaim PoK militarily?”

Situational (SRT) • “Your political boss orders you to do something illegal. What will you do?”
• “A mob is attacking your office. You have 5 policemen. How do you manage?”
• “You see a senior officer taking a bribe. Action?”

Hypothetical • “If you were the Prime Minister for one day, what would you change?”
• “If you don’t get selected this year, what is your backup plan?”