Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2022

UPSC Civil Services Exam is considered to be one of the most difficult exams in India, mainly due to its vast and somewhat vague syllabus. An aspirant needs to have the right approach in order to clear the exam, that right approach consists of the right strategy which is basically “what to study?” and “what not to study?”. This article lists out all the important topics / chapters subject wise that need to be studied and revised with highest priority.

Modern Indian History

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “A Brief History of Modern India” by Spectrum Publications:

• Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India
• The Revolt of 1857
• Socio-Religious Reform Movements
• A General Survey of the Reform Movements and Their Leaders
• Beginning of Modern Nationalism in India
• Indian National Congress: Foundation and the Moderate Phase
• First Phase of Revolutionary Activities(1907 – 1917)
• First World War and Nationalist Response
• Non-Cooperation Movement and Khilafat Aandolan
• Emergence of Swarajists, Socialist Ideas, Revolutionary Activities and Other New Forces
• Simon Commission and the Nehru Report
• Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
• Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II
• Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA
• Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments
• Survey of British Policies in India
• Economic Impact of British Rule in India
• Development of Indian Press
• Development of Education
• Peasant Movements 1857 – 1947
• The Movement of the Working Class

Medieval Indian History

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “History of Medieval India (800 – 1700)” by Satish Chandra:

• Northern India: Age of the Three Empires (Circa 800 – 1000)
• South India: The Chola Empire (Circa 900 – 1200)
• Economic and Social Life, Education and Religious Beliefs (Circa 800 – 1200)
• The Delhi Sultanate
• Government, and Economic and Social Life under the Delhi Sultanate
• The Age of Vijayanagara and the Bahmanids, and the Coming of the Portuguese (Circa 1350 – 1565)
• Cultural Development in India (Circa 1200 – 1500)
• Mughals and Afghans (Circa 1525 – 1555)
• Consolidation of the Mughal Empire
• The Deccan and South India (Up to Circa 1656)
• Economic and Social Life under the Mughals
• Cultural and Religious Developments

Ancient Indian History

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “India’s Ancient Past” by R. S. Sharma:

• The Linguistic Background
• Old Stone Age
• Neolithic Age
• Harappan Culture
• Age of Rig Veda
• Jainism and Buddhism
• Territorial States and the Rise of Magadh
• The Maurya Age
• The Satavahana Phase
• Crafts, Commerce and Urban Growth (200 BC to 250 AD)
• Rise and Growth of Gupta Empire
• Life in Gupta Age
• Harsha and his Times
• Cultural Interaction with Asian Countries

Geography

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “Certificate Physical and Human Geography” by G. C. Leong:

• The Earth’s crust
• Volcanism and earthquake
• Landforms made by running water
• Landform of glaciations
• Arid or Deserts land reform
• Limestone and chalk landforms
• Lakes
• Coastal landforms
• Islands and coral reefs
• The oceans
• Weather
• Climate
• The Hot, wet equatorial climate
• The Tropical monsoon and tropical marine climates
• The savanna or Sudan climate
• The hot desert and mid-latitude deserts climates
• The warm temperate and western margin (Mediterranean) climates
• The temperate continental (steppe) climate
• The Arctic and polar climate

Apart from the aforementioned chapters one also needs to study the following topics from other sources or through Geography Notes by BYJU’S:

• Physiography of India
• Biodiversity in the Himalayas
• Peninsular Plateau
• Indian Desert
• Coastal Plains
• Islands
• Drainage System
• Indian Drainage System
• Weather and Climate of India

Environment and Ecology

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “Environment (6th Edition)” by Shankar IAS Academy Book Publications:

• Functions of an Ecosystem
• Terrestrial Ecosystem
• Aquatic Ecosystem
• Environmental Pollution
• Biodiversity
• Indian Biodiversity
• Schedule Animals of WPA, 1972
• Animal Diversity of India
• Plant Diversity of India
• Marine Organism
• Protected Area Network
• Conservation Efforts
• Climate Change
• Ocean Acidification
• Impact of Climate Change – India
• Mitigation Strategies
• Climate Change Organisations
• Agriculture
• Acts and Policies
• Institution and Measures
• Environmental Organisations
• International Environmental Conventions

Indian Polity

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “Indian Polity” by McGraw Hill Publications:

• Making of the Constitution
• Salient Features of the Constitution
• Schedules of the Constitution
• Preamble
• Union and its Territory
• Citizenship
• Fundamental Rights
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Fundamental Duties
• Amendment to the Constitution
• Federal System
• Centre State Relations
• Inter State Relations
• Public Acts, Records and Zonal Councils
• Emergency Provisions
• President
• Vice President
• Parliament of India
• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
• Presiding Officers of The House
• Legislative Procedure in Parliament
• Annual Financial Statement or Budget [Article 112]
• Parliamentary Privileges
• Supreme Court
• Governor of States
• Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers
• State Legislature
• Legislative Procedure in the State
• High Court
• Subordinate Courts
• Panchayati Raj
• Urban Local Government
• Scheduled Areas And Tribal Areas
• Election Commission
• Union Public Service Commission
• State Public Service Commission
• Finance Commission
• National Commission for SC and ST
• Comptroller And Auditor General of India
• Attorney General of India
• Advocate General of States
• National Development Council
• National Human Rights Commission
• State Human Rights Commission
• Central Information Commission
• State Information Commission
• Central Vigilance Commission

Economics

The topics and chapters below are taken from the Introductory Macroeconomics by NCERT:

• National Income Accounting
• Money and Banking
• Income Determination
• The Government: Functions and Scope
• Open Economy Macroeconomics

The topics and chapters below are taken from the Introductory Microeconomics by NCERT:

• Theory of Consumer Behaviour
• Production and Costs
• The Theory of Firm under Perfect Competition
• Market Equilibrium

Science and Technology

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “Science and Technology Ready Reckoner” by LA Excellence IAS Academy:

• Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
• Health and Diseases
• Nanotechnology
• Nuclear Science
• Advancements in the Field of Fundamental Physics
• Robotics
• Space Technology
• Defence
• Energy Technologies
• ICT and Computer
• Technologies and Innovations in Day – To – Day Life

Art and Culture

The topics and chapters below are taken from the “Indian Art and Culture” of Nitin Singhania by McGraw Hill Publications:

• Indian Architecture, Sculpture, and Pottery
• Indian Paintings
• UNESCO’s List of Tangible World Heritage Sites in India
• Indian Music
• Indian Dance Forms
• UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Indian Literature
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5

Current Affairs

Kindly note that because it is a dynamic area, there are no fixed important topics or stuffs, you may however check our Daily Comprehensive News Analysis to stay updated with current affairs which are important for the exam. The explanations in the CNA are provided by experts at BYJU’S.

Note: Now that you are familiar with what to study for the UPSC Prelims exam, you might like to check out the official previous year question papers of UPSC to understand the trend and type of question that are asked and prepare accordingly.

Note: Visit the attached article to stay updated with all developments pertaining to UPSC Civil Services Exam 2022.

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