Now, how to deal with GS-1?

Assuming you are now familiar with the syllabus of GS-1, we will discuss a topic by topic what to read, from where to read and what not to read for these topics.

(Download Model Question Paper-cum-Answerbook For This GS Paper, Click this Link)
TOPIC-1 Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. In this topic, the sub-topics are - Art forms, Literature, Architecture from ancient to modern times. Before jumping into Big Books, first go through these beautiful books by NCERT to get a glimpse of the sub-topics they are 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. NCERT Class VI History Our Past NCERT Class VII Our Past -I NCERT Class VIII Our Past II and III NCERT Class XII Themes In Indian History I NCERT Class-XII Themes in Indian History II NCERT Class XII Themes In Indian History III

Hold on. Four books for one topic? No. You have to read only a few chapters from each book that are related to Sub-Topics. For ex, you have to read only Chapters 2 and 3 from Class-XII Themes In Indian History-II book. Apart from these you should have a reference book for getting more information: 1. 2. 3. 4. Facets of Indian Culture or Indian Art and Culture Download Free Material Complete Set Graphic Book On Indian Art and Culture Free Download

TOPIC-2 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the presentsignificant events, personalities, issues Read this book: Comprehensive History Of Modern India Spectrum (It covers topics from the Advent of British to Indias Independence so covers this part of the syllabus completely.

Why this book? Why not Bipan Chandra? Bipan Chandra is specifically for studying in depth the various dimensions and concepts of the Freedom Struggle. But for the above topic where events, personalities and issues have to be read that too between 1750s to 1950s, Spectrum book covers all the topics quite comprehensively. It is bulky and factual, so it is recommended for beginners both for Prelims and Mains along with Bipan Chandras book, but not for aspirants writing Mains this year who are running short of time. TOPIC-3 [The Freedom Struggle its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.] Because this topic demands specific knowledge of Freedom Struggle and its various facets, you must, along with the above mentioned book, read Bipan Chandras Struggle For Indias Independence. TOPIC 4 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. For this you need to study Chapter 6 to 12 of India Since Independence Bipan Chandra 0r Chapters 8 to 14 from India After Gandhi: The History Of The Worlds Largest Democracy (above mentioned chapters cover completely this part of the syllabus) TOPIC-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.] Except for Industrial revolution, Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe (Buy From Amazon India))covers all topics of this part of the syllabus it is a very good book. Stick to only this book. Refer above links for a glimpse of those sub-topics in Wikipedia, but dont dwell deeply on them. (A 30 % discount from Flipkart, or Or This IMPORTED copy provided you are rich- Rs 1700/ this classic book contains insightful chapters on the 2008 Financial Crisis, and even Arab Spring and its aftermath!) Above book is not available anywhere these days. Best alternative is a book by Arjun Dev History of the World from the Late Nineteenth to the Early Twenty First Century If both books are not available, then read this book - Old NCERT World History Class-X

TOPIC-6 [Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.] About salient features of Indian Society dont look anywhere else Just read this NCERT Indian Society Class 12 (Complete book without watermarks) Two indispensable books to cover this topic:

Indian Society Ram Ahuja Social Problems in India Ram Ahuja

(above books are critically acclaimed and are taught in many universities as a text, and is written by an acclaimed scholar) TOPIC-7 [Role of women and womens organization, population and associated issues,poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.]

For India specific women related issues download this beautiful report (PLATFORM FOR ACTION-REPORT ON INDIAN WOMEN -DOWNLOAD FROM HERE) where you can find everything you want to learn about Womens issues.

Other sub-topics are general in nature and can be found in Magazines and Newspapers. If one is thorough with current events questions on these sub-topics can be answered very well by consolidating their knowledge. TOPIC-8 [Effects of Globalization on Indian society] This is also general in nature. If you have a basic understanding of Indian Society and Globalization, their mutual relation can be elucidated with ease. Here is a good article from a Marxist politician about the topic. (UPSC people love the slightly leftist version of everything) To know more about effect of Globalization on Indian Society, you need to know better about Indian Society. This book is a must have for broad understanding of the Indian Society.

Indian Society Ram Ahuja Social Problems in India Ram Ahuja

If you want to learn the impact of Globalization on Indian Economy, here is a book. (Purely optional) TOPIC-9

[Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.] This is again generic. But you must know the basic concept of communalism, regionalism and secularism. Wikipedia comes handy here. BASICS:

Regionalism In India (You must read this) Communalism (You must read this too)

For Regionalism In India. TOPIC-10 [Salient features of worlds physical geography. To cover this part two books are necessary: 1. Certificate Physical and Human Geography 1st Edition 2. NCERT Class-XI - Fundamentals of Physical Geography TOPIC-11 [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)] 1) NCERT Class XII Human Geography 2) NCERT Class-XII India-People and Economy 3) For reference:Geography of India 4 Edition TOPIC-12 [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.] This is a repetition actually. You can read Physical Geography book by Goh Cheng Leong which is mentioned above (Certificate Physical and Human Geography 1st Edition) This topic on critical changes in geographical features is broadly related to climate change and other anthropogenic factors(such as depletion of resources, dumping of wastes etc).

Geographical features like rainforests, ice caps, rivers, corals, cyclones all get affected by climate change. Anthropogenic factors are involved in increasing desertification, vanishing forests, biodiversity, pollution of rivers and lakes, etc. Your focus should be on such changes. Question may be on how monsoon is affected by global climate change? or how a cyclone is affected by global warming? What effect has the melting ice cap on the biodiversity in the polar regions? etc