UPSC Prelims — General Studies Paper 1
Why This Chapter Matters
UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 is the gateway to IAS, IPS, IFS. 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours. -1/3 negative marking. Topics: History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science and Technology, Current Affairs.
Core Concepts
1. Indian History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
Ancient India:
Medieval India:
Modern India:
2. Indian Polity
Constitutional provisions:
Preamble: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic (SSSDR)
"Socialist" and "Secular" added by 42nd Amendment (1976).
Fundamental Rights (Art 12-35): enforceable in courts
DPSP (Art 36-51): non-justiciable, guide policy
Fundamental Duties (Art 51A): added by 42nd Amendment, 11 duties
Important articles:
Art 14: Equality before law
Art 19: Six freedoms (speech, assemble, associate, move, reside, profession)
Art 21: Right to life and personal liberty (most widely interpreted)
Art 21A: Right to education (added by 86th Amendment, 2002)
Art 25: Freedom of conscience and religion
Art 32: Constitutional remedies (writs) — "Heart and Soul" (Ambedkar)
Art 356: President's Rule (imposed when state govt fails)
Art 360: Financial Emergency
Parliament:
Lok Sabha: 543 elected + 2 nominated (Anglo-Indian, now abolished), 5-year term
Rajya Sabha: 238 elected + 12 nominated, 6-year term (1/3 retire every 2 years), permanent house
Joint sitting: Art 108 — for ordinary bills only (not money, constitution amendment bills)
Constitutional bodies:
Election Commission: independent, elections to Parliament and state legislatures
CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General): audit all govt accounts
UPSC: recruitment to central services
Finance Commission: Art 280 — revenue distribution between centre and states
3. Indian Economy
Basic economic concepts:
GDP (Gross Domestic Product): value of all goods/services produced in India in a year
GNP = GDP + net factor income from abroad
National Income = NNP at factor cost
Budget terminology:
Revenue Account: taxes, fees, grants (current transactions)
Capital Account: borrowings, disinvestment, loans (asset creation)
Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure - Revenue Receipts - Capital Receipts (excluding borrowings)
Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure - Revenue Receipts
Monetary policy tools:
Repo rate: RBI lends to banks (key anti-inflation tool)
CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio): % deposits kept with RBI
SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio): % deposits in liquid assets
Five Year Plans: Replaced by NITI Aayog (2015), National Development Plans.
Key economic schemes:
MGNREGA: Rural employment guarantee (100 days), passed 2005
PM Jan Dhan Yojana: Financial inclusion, universal banking
PM Mudra Yojana: Micro enterprise loans (Shishu/Kishore/Tarun)
Make in India, Digital India, Startup India: major policy initiatives
4. Geography
Physical geography of India:
Himalayas: Fold mountains, young, high altitude. Himadri (Greater), Himachal (Lesser), Shivalik (outer).
Northern Plains: Bhabar (near hills), Terai, Bhangar (old alluvium), Khadar (new alluvium)
Peninsular Plateau: Deccan Plateau (oldest, stable block), Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats
Coastal Plains: Malabar coast (west), Coromandel coast (east)
Islands: Andaman & Nicobar (Bay of Bengal), Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea, coral islands)
Rivers:
Himalayan (perennial): Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra — snow-fed and rain-fed
Peninsular (seasonal): Godavari (Ganga of South), Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada, Tapi
Climate: Tropical monsoon. Southwest monsoon (June-September) — main.
Mawsynram (Meghalaya): highest average rainfall in India (and world).
World geography:
Continents by area: Asia > Africa > North America > South America > Antarctica > Europe > Australia
Oceans by size: Pacific > Atlantic > Indian > Southern > Arctic
Largest country: Russia | Most populated: India (2023 onwards) > China
5. Environment and Ecology
Key terms:
Biodiversity hotspot: high endemism + high threat (India has 4 hotspots)
Western Ghats: biodiversity hotspot, UNESCO World Heritage site
Ramsar sites: internationally important wetlands. India has 75+ Ramsar sites (2023).
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: in India — Nilgiri (1st), Sundarbans, Pachmarhi, Nokrek, etc.
Environmental legislation:
Environment Protection Act: 1986
Wildlife Protection Act: 1972 (created Schedules of protected species)
Forest Conservation Act: 1980
Biological Diversity Act: 2002
Climate change:
Paris Agreement (2015): limit warming to 1.5-2°C above pre-industrial levels
India's NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution): 45% emissions reduction per unit GDP by 2030, 50% cumulative power from non-fossil by 2030
Net Zero target: 2070
6. Science and Technology (Current Affairs focus)
Key organisations:
ISRO: Space | DRDO: Defence | BARC: Atomic energy
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): research labs
Recent developments (keep updated with current affairs):
Artificial Intelligence | 5G rollout | Semiconductor policy | Space tourism | Gene editing
UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)
2023: With reference to Fundamental Duties, which of the following is correct?
They were added by 42nd Constitutional Amendment. (Correct — 1976)
2022: What is the "Bhabar"?
A narrow belt along the base of the Himalayas where rivers deposit coarse gravel and pebbles and often disappear underground. (Correct description)
2021: The term "Stagflation" refers to:
Simultaneous occurrence of inflation and economic stagnation/recession.
2020: Consider following statements about Delhi Sultanate:
Alauddin Khilji introduced market control reforms to maintain army at low cost during Mongol threat. (Factual)