CONTENTS

SECTION-1 : HISTORY

Unit-I : ANCIENT HISTORY Of INdIA1. Sources of Ancient Indian History H-1-H-12

Introduction;Religious;Secular&SangamLiterature2. Pre-historic Period H-13-H-22

Introduction;StoneAge;Chalcolithic(Bronze)Age;IronAge

3. Indus Valley Civilization H-23-H-38Introduction;Discovery;GeographicalExtent;Nomenclature;Centres;ControversialPeriodFeatures;LinkwithotherCivilizations;Decline;SurvivalandContinuity

4. The Vedic Age H-39-52Introduction;ComingofTheAryans;Various;TheoriesregardingtheancestryofAryans;OriginalHomeoftheAryans;ImportantVedicFact;AdventandExpansionofAryansinIndia;VedicRivers;EarlyVedicAge;LaterVedicAge

5. Emergence of Mahajanapadas & Magadh H-53-H-58Introduction;OriginandDevelopment;CausesofNewCultureandReligion;DifferentMahajanapadas;EmergenceofMagadh

6. Religious Revolution H-59-H-74Introduction;Society;Jainism;Buddhism;HinduRevivalistMovement

7. The Mauryan Empire H-75-H-90Introduction;ChandraguptaMaurya;Bindusura;Ashoka;MauryanAdministration;MauryanArtandArchitect;AftermathofMaurya

8. The Sangam Age H-91-H-98Introduction;TheCholas;ThePandayas;TheCheras;SangamLiterature&Polity;Lawandjustice;Sociallife;Economy;Religion;ArtandArchitecture

9. The Gupta Empire H-99-H-118ChandraguptaI;Samudragutpa;ChandraguptaII;KumaraguptaI;Maheraditya;Skandagupta;Vikramaditya;RevenueandTrade;Administration:ArtandArchitecture;Literature;ScienceandTechnology;Post-GuptaAge

10. India After Harsha H-119-H-128Introduction;Gurjara-Pratiharas;Palas;TheRajputs;GrowthofRegionalLanguages;MuslimInvasionofSindh

UNIT-II : MEdIEVAL HISTORY Of INdIA11. Medieval Period H-129-H-138

Introduction;SourcesofMedievalPeriod;EarlyMedievalPeriod;EmergenceofnewKingdoms

12. The delhi Sultanate H-139-H-154

TheBackgroundofDelhiSultanate;SlaveDynasty;KhiljiDynasty;TughlaqDynasty;SayyidDynasty;LodiDynasty;AdministrationofSultanate;Post-SultanatePeriod;ProminentRulersofDelhiSultanate

13. The Vijayanagar Empire H-155-H-160

Introduction;VijayanagarDynasties;Amara-nayakaSystem;ArchitectureofthecityofVijaynagar

14. Sufi and Bhakti Movement H-161-H-166

Introduction;TheSufiMovement;TheBhaktiMovement

15. The Mughal Empire H-167-H-186

Introduction;MajorEventsDuringMughalPeriod;FeaturesOfMughalAdministration;TheMughalFamilyTree;EmperorsofMughalDynasty;TheSuriDynasty;EconomicAndSocialDevelopments;Arts&Culture;DeclineofMughalempire

UNIT-III : MOdERN HISTORY16. Chronology of the British India H-187-H-202

Introduction;ThePortuguese;TheDutch;TheEnglish;TheFrench;CarnaticWar;18thCenturyIndia;Socio-EconomicCondition;GovernorGenerals;ImportantActsinBritishIndia

17. The British East India Company H-203-H-218

Introduction;BengalIn18thCentury;BattleofPlassey;BattleofBuxar;TheExpansionofBritishEmpire;EconomicImpactofBritishRuleinIndia;StagesofBritishColonialism

18. Indian Freedom Struggle H-219-H-264

Intro;Revolts;The1857Revolt;NationalMovement

IndianNationalCongress;MajorMovementActs,CommissionandParties;FamousPersonalitiesofIndianFreedomStruggle

Section-2 : POLITY1. Constitutional Framework and Citizenship P-1-P-22 HistoricalBackground;MakingSalient&FeaturesOf

IndianConstitution;PartsOfConstitution2. Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and

Directive Principles of State Policy P-23 to P-40 FundamentalRights;CulturalandEducationalRights;

DirectivePrinciplesoftheStatePolicy;FundamentalDuties

3. Union Government P-41- P-92 President;VicePresident;PrimeMinister;Council

ofMinisters;AttorneyGeneralofIndia;ParliamentHouses;LegislativeProcedures;ParliamentaryCommittees

4. State Government P-93-P-118 Introduction;Governor;ChiefMinister;Councilof

Ministers(COM);AdvocateGeneral;LegislativeAssembly(VidhanSabha);Centre-stateRelations

5. Local Government P-119-P-136 Introduction;PanchayatiRaj;73rdAmmendment

Act;Municipalities;74thAmendmentAct;CommisionsandActs

6. Judiciary P-137-P-164 Introduction;UnionJudiciary;SupremeCourt;High

court;SubordinateCourts;OtherLocalCourts;CriminalLaw(Amendment)Act,2013

7. Miscellaneous Topics P-165-P-195 Intoroduction;PlanningCommission;NITIAayog;

NationalDevelopmentCouncil(NDC);FinanceCommission;ElectionCommission;PoliticalPartiesandPressureGroup;NationalCommissionforSCs&STs;UPSC;SSC;LawCommission;TheLokpalandLokayuktas

8. Amendments & Articles of the Indian Constitution P-196-P-216

Introduction;AmendmentList;ArticleList

Section-3 GEOGRAPHY1. Nature and Scope G-1-G-6 Introduction;ModernGeography;Branchesof

Geography;2. Universe and Our Planet Earth G-7-G-32 Introduction;Galaxy;Stars;Planets;Moon;

Asteroids;Earth3. Hydrosphere G-33-G-54 Introduction;Hydrologicalcycle;Componentsof

Hydrosphere4. Atmosphere G-55-G-76 Introduction;Composition;Structure;Atmospheric

Pressure;Winds;Airmass

5. World Geography (Physical Aspect) G-77-G-106 Introduction;Asia;Africa;NorthAmerica;South

America;AustraliaAndOceania;Europe;Antarctica6. World Geography (Social Aspect) G-107-G-112 Introduction;Race;Population;Migration7. World Geography (Economic Aspect) G-113-G-124 Introduction;Primary;Activties;Secondary;

Activities;TertiaryActivities;8. Physiography and Drainage Pattern of India

G-125-G-154 Introduction;Location-Area–Extent;Physical

Features;Climate;Drainage9. Soil, Natural Vegetation, Wildlife and Agriculture of

India G-155-G-188 Introduction;DescriptionandComposition;Soil

Formation;MajorSoils10. Mineral Resource, Industries Population

Multipurpose Projects of India G-189-G-208 Introduction;MineralResourceofIndia;Agro-

Based;CottonTextiles;WoolenTextile;JuteTextiles;Sugar;Silk;Metallurgical;IronAndSteel;AluminiumSmelting;Engineering;Automobile;Fertilizer;Aircraft;Cement;GlassIndustry

Section-4 ECONOMY1. Structure of Economy and Human Resource in India

E-1-E-18

Introduction;SalientFeatures;NationalIncomeOfIndia;Population

2. Planning, Unemployment and Poverty in India E-19-E-44

Introduction;PlanningCommission;NITIAayog; FiveYearPlans;Unemployment;Poverty;MillenniumDevelopmentGoals;SustainableDevelopmentGoals

3. Agriculture E-45-E-70

Introduction;FeaturesofIndianAgriculture;GrowthandProductivity;AgricultureinFiveYearPlans;NationalAgriculturalPolicy;MajorAgricultureProgrammes&Revolutions;LandReforms;

Co-operativeFarming;RuralCreditandExtensionServices;AgriculturalInsurance,Marketing&PricePolicy;PublicDistributionSystem

4. Fiscal and Monetary Policy E-71-E-90

Introduction;Fiscalpolicy;Expenditure;Deficit&Taxes;IndianTaxStructure;BlackMoney;FinanceCommission;MonetaryPolicy

5. Money Supply and Indian financial System E-91-E-120

Introduction;MoneyMarket;CapitalMarket;MoneySupply;Inflation;IndianBankingSystem;InsuranceSector;MicroFinance

6. Foreign Trade and Investment in India E-121-E-140 Introduction;ForeignExchangeReserves;India’s

ForeignTrade;BalanceOfPayments;India’sBalanceofPayment

7. Industry and Infrastructure E-141-E-164 Introduction;StatusofIndianIndustries;Actsand

Regulations;Micro,SmallandMediumEnterprise;MajorIndustries;PublicSectorUnits

SECTION 5: GENERAL SCIENCE

Part I : PHYSICS1. Mechanics S-1- S-10 PhysicalQuantities;Motion;Force;Work,Energy

andPower;Gravitation;FluidMechanics;CapillaryAction

2. Heat and Thermodynamics S-11- S-20 Heat;Thermodynamics3. Sound S-21- S-28 WaveMotion;Mechanical;Electronics;Waves;

Sound;Echo;StationeryHouses4. Electricity and Magnetism S-29- S-41 ElectricCharges;ResistanceandOhm’sLaw;

Kirchhoff’sLaw;Magnetism;Foraday‘Slow;LenzLaw

5. Optics S-42- S-52 Introduction;Reflection;Refraction;Lens;

Dispersion;Diffraction;Polarisation6. Modern and Space Physics S-53- S-61 ModernPhysics;Rutherford’sAtomicModel;

NuclearReactions;RadiationHazards;Radioactivity;CrystallineandAmorphousSolid;Semiconductor;SatelliteCommunication

7. Miscellaneous Questions on Physics S-62- S-66

Part II : CHEMISTRY1. Scope of Chemistry in Everyday Life S-67- S-75

Importance&BranchesofChemistry;ChemicalControl;Fertilizers;Diseases;Drugs;Beverages&Tobacco;PortlandCement;Glass;Polymers;Dyes

2. Matter and Atomic Structure S-76- S-88

GeneralCharacteristicsofMatter;Classification:StatesofMatter;PureSubstance;Mixtures;AtomsAvogadro’sLaw;MoleConcept;Dalton’sAtomic

Theory;AtomicModels;ComparisonofPropertiesofSubatomicParticles;ArrangementofElectronsinanAtom;TheAtomicNumberorProtonNumber(Z);MassNumber(A)orAtomicMass;Isotopes

Isobars;ApplicationofNuclearFissionforMankind;UsesofRadio-ActiveMaterials

3. Chemical Reactions and Chemical Nature of Substances S-89- S-98

PhysicalChange;ChemicalChange;TypesofChemicalReactions;Acids,BasesandSalts;

4. Periodic Trends and Chemical Bonding of Elements S-99- S-106

Mendeleev’sLaw;ModernPeriodicTable;ChemicalBonding;TypesofBonds;ShapeofMolecules;TheoriesofChemicalBonding;BondOrder

5. Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Colloids S-107- S-119

Oxygen;Air;Hydrogen;Solution;CarbonCycle;Fuels;Hydrocarbons;Petroleum;RocketPropellants;Nitrogen;ColloidalSolution;SpecialPropertiesofColloids;StabilityandInstabilityofColloidsAndCoagulation;ProtectionofColloids;Emulsions;ApplicationsofColloids

6. Metallurgy and Biochemistry S-120- S-129 MetalsTheirProperties;UsesofMetals;

Carbohydrates;AminoAcidsandProteins;Proteins;ClassificationofProteins;NucleicAcidsPeptides;OilandFats;Biotechnology;Bioterrorism;ImportantBioactiveCompounds;CleansingAgents

7. Thermochemistry, Electrochemistry, Gas Laws and Colligative Properties of Solutions S-130- S-138

Thermochemistry;ThermodynamicProcesses;LowsofTherodynouics;Electrochemistry,ElectrochemicalCells,UsesofElectrolytes;Laws

8. Miscellaneous Questions on Chemistry S-139- S-142

Part III: BIOLOGy1. Cell and Tissues S-143- S-157

Cell;PlantTissues;AnimalTissues

2. Diversity in Living Organisms S-158- S-168

SomeImportantEarlyEfforts;HistoriaPlantarum;KingdomMonera;KingdomProtista;KingdomFungi;Lichens;Viruses;KingdomPlantae;KingdomAnimalia

3. Life Processes in Plants and Animals S-169- S-190

Nutrition;Respiration;Transportation;CirculationSystem;Exerction;Genetics;NervousSystem,ReproductionSystem;ControlandCo-OrdinationInPlantsAndAnimals;

4. Genetics and Evolution S-191- S-200

Mendel’sFindings;SexDetermination;Mutation;Evolution;Speciation;EvidencesforEvolution;OriginandEvolutionofMan

5. diseases and their defence Mechanism S-201- S-214

SexuallyTransmittedDiseases(stds);Cancer;Antigens;Antibodies;Antibiotics

6. Improvement in food Resources S-215- S-222

Crop;ManuresandFertilizers;AnimalHusbandry

AnimalBreeding;PoultryFarming;FishProduction

7. Bacteria S-223- S-227

8. Miscellaneous Questions on Biology S-228- S-232

General Science Question Bank S-233-S-256

SECTION-6 : ECOLOGY ANd ENVIRONMENT

1. Ecology and Environment EE-1-EE-22

Ecosystem;AbioticComponents;BioticComponents

Environment;Population

2. Biodiversity EE-23-EE-40

LevelsofBiodiversity;BiodiversityofIndia;Loss&Conversation

3. Environmental Issues EE-41-EE-72

GlobalWarming; GreenHouse Effect;OzoneDepletion;Deforestation;Air;Water;SoundPollutions;Agro-chemicaleffects;AcidRain;

SolidWasteManagement;RadioactiveWasteManagement;PlasticWasteManagement;MercuryPollution;ECOSensitiveZones;COP;EnvironmentalActs

SECTION-7 : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGy1. Space Science S&T-1-S&T-8

SpaceTechnology;SpaceShuttle;ArtificialSatellites;SpaceCentresandUnits;IndianSpaceProgramme

INSATSystem

2. Defence S&T-9-S&T-18

DefenceandSecurity;InternalSecurity;ParamilitaryForces;SpecialSecurityForces

3. Atomic & Nuclear Science S&T-19-S&T-26

Atomic&NuclearResearch;AtomicandNuclearPlantsPowerPlantsinIndia;NuclearTests

4. Computer Science and Information Technology S&T-27-S&T-48

Types;Components;LanguagesofComputer;OperatingSystem;Network;WorldWideWeb;InformationTechnology

SECTION-8 : GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

1. World Organisation GK-1- GK-36 UnitedNations;Economic;Regional;Political;

ScientificandTechnical;Environment;SocialandHumanRight;EnvironmentalConservations;DefenceOrganisations;Commonwealth;SAARC

2. World-Panorama GK-37- GK-58 WorldCountries,Capital,Language&theirCurrency;

WorldTallestBuildings&Towers;Largest&SmallestCountries;MajorNewsAgencies;IntelligenceAgencies;ParliamentsofDifferentCountries;Sobriquets;FirstinWorld;Superlatives

3. Indian-Panorama GK-59- GK-88 IndianStatesandUnionTerritories;FirstinIndia;

Superlatives;Sobriquets4. Art & Culture GK-89- GK-108 Paintings;Music;Dance;Festivals;Tourism;Arts&

Crafts5. Sports & Games GK-109- GK-124 Trophies;PlacesAssociated;NationalSportsof

VariousCountries;TermsusedinGamesandSports;MajorSportDisciplines;AsianGames;HockeyWorldCup;Commonwealth;SAF;Olympic;Paralympic;WorldAnti-DopingAgency(WADA);NationalAntiDopingAgency

6. Awards and Honours GK-125- GK-140 BharatRatna;Padma;WartimeGallantry;Peacetime

Gallantry;Film;Literary;Jnanpith;Sports&Awards7. Miscellaneous GK-141- GK-160 Abbreviations;ImportantDays;FoundersofFamous

Newspapers/Journals;Census2011:AtaGlance

Practice Sets with Solutions1. Practice Set-1 PS-1-PS-102. Practice Set-2 PS-11-PS-283. Practice Set-3 PS-29-PS-384. Practice Set-4 PS-39-PS-585. Practice Set-5 PS-59-PS-80

Current Affairs Question BankCurrent Affairs CA-1-CA-48

IntroductionGenerally, Ancient History of India is divided into three periods - Palaeolithic period (pre-historic period); Mesolithic period (Prime historic period) and Neolithic period. The three stone ages (old, middle and new) are known as pre-historic period and there is no written evidence found for the study of that period. Though with the help of different sources we are able to study it in a chronological order. These sources include coins, monuments, old weapons, toys and ornaments, etc.

For the study of ancient history in a good chronological order we need to divide the different sources into three broad divisions

- (1) Literary sources (2) Archaeological sources (3) Accounts of foreign travellers and writers.

LiterarySources

Sources of Ancient History

ArchaeologicalSources

Accounts of foreigntravellers and writers

Religiousliterature

Secularliterature

Sangamliterature

Brahmanand Vedic Lit.

BuddhistLiterature

Non-HistoricalLiterature

HistoricalLiterature

Jai nLiterature

Painting & IdolsArticles from excavations

Coins

Monument sInscriptions

Indigenous Foreign

GreekAuthorsChinesetravellersandwriters

Mohammadanwriters

•Vedas •Brahmans•Arnyaks•Vedangs•Upanishads •Sutras•Smritis •Puranas•Mahakavya(Epic)

•Tripitak•Jatak•Pal i•Sanskritlit.and others

••Upangas•Prakirna•Chhed Sutraand others

Angas

•Arthashastra•Astadhyayee•Mahabhashya

and others

• rangini•Ramcharit

Rajta

Chapter

1SOURCES OF ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY

UNIT-I : ANCIENT HISTORY OF INDIA

SECTION-1 : HISTORY

H-2 Sources of Ancient Indian History

RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

Brahmans and Vedic literary Source

The Vedas The word ‘veda’ originated from the root ‘vidi’, i.e. to know, signifying knowledge. It is also known as Shruti (to hear). There are four vedas - the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.

Rigveda The Rigveda is the oldest one, and therefore, is also known as ‘the first testament of mankind’. It must have been composed around 1700 B.C. The first three vedas are known as ‘Trayi’. It has 1017 hymns (Sukta) and is divided into ten mandalas. After the addition of the eleven Bal Khilya Sutra the total no. of hymns becomes 1028. The tenth mandala, said to have added later as its language differs from the other nine mandalas, contains the famous Purushasukta explaining the four varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra) born from the mouth, arms, thighs and feet of the creator. Thus, the Rigveda has 10 Mandalas, 1028 Suktas and 10,580 Richas. The 7th and 2nd Mandalas were the very first composition, later on the other mandalas were composed. The 7th and 2nd Mandalas are called ‘Vansha Mandal’; the handwritten script of 8th mandal is called ‘Khila’ and the 1st and 10th are known as ‘Kshepak’.

Yajurveda It has 40 chapters and 2000 hymns. It is a ritual veda and has two main texts: Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajurveda. It is also called the book of sacrificial prayers. Krishna Yajurveda contains mantras (hymns) and the Shukla has commentary in prose. Kasthak, Kapishthal, Maitrayani, Taittiriya and Vajasneyi are the five branches of Yajurveda in which the first four are related to the Krishna Yajurveda and the last one is to Shukla Yajurveda. Yajurveda is a good collection of hymns composed in both prose and poetry. Ishopanishad, the last chapter of Yajurveda, is philosophical and metaphysical whereas the rest of all parts of Yajurveda’s subject matter is the law and legislation of various yajanas.

Samaveda The Samaveda is a collection of melodies. It has 1549 Shlokas (richas) but except 78 all the rest of the hymns have been borrowed from the Rigveda. These were meant to be sung at the time of soma sacrifice. Samaveda has two parts: Purvarchika (having six subdivisions called ‘Apathaka) and Uttrarchika (having nine subdivisions called ‘Prapathaka). To the historical point of view the Samaveda has less importance.

Atharvaveda It is the latest of the four. It describes the popular beliefs and superstitions of the humble folk. It is divided into 20 books volumes. It contains 731 hymns and 5,987 mantras.

About 1200 Mantras have been taken from the Rigveda. The hymns of Atharvaveda tell how to over come the evil spirit. Shaunk and Pippalad are the two available branches of this veda. The Atharvaveda is also known as Brahmaveda or Atharvagirasveda. For a very long time it was not considered in the category of the Vedas. It is a book of magical formulae.

Points to Remember • In Rigveda we have 40 rivers and the Saraswati river is

called the mother of rivers. • The name of four oceans found in the Rigveda are Apar,

Purva, Saraswat and Sharyajavat. • 6 mandals from 2nd to 7th of Rigved are called Gotra

Vamsha Mandalas (Kula Grantha).

Vedas Upvedas dealing withRig Dhanurveda Archery

Sam Gandharva the art of musicAtharva Ayurveda the medical scienceYaju Sthapatyaved Architecture

The Brahmanas The Brahmanas were composed after the vedas to explain the hymns of the vedas. Every veda has several Brahmanas attached to it. Kausitiki and Aitareya are the Brahmans books of the Rigveda composed by Hotri priests. Aitareya has 40 chapters. Kausitiki is also called Sankhyayan Brahman. ‘Taittiriya is the Brahman of Krishna Yajurveda and Shatpath is attached to shukla Yajurveda composed by Adhvaryu priest Yagyavalka. It narrates the progress of culture from Kuru-Panchal to Videha. The one hundred chapters of Shatpath are divided into 14 sections which are very exhaustive and important of all the Brahmanas. The Samaveda has three Brahmanas i.e. Tandayamaha Brahman, Khadvisha Brahmana and Jaiminiya Brahman were composed by Udgatri priests. The Gopath Brahman is attached to the Atharvaveda.In his Mahabhashya, Patanjali has described thousands of branches of Samveda but only three branches, i.e. Kauthum, Ranayaniya and Jaimaniya are available.The name of Rishabha and Arishtanemi (Jaintirthankar) are found in the Rigveda environment of jungles were called Aaranyak (the word aranyak means ‘the forest’). They deal with philosophical doctrines and mysticism to answer the various complex questions, related to human life. In fact, these are the concluding portion of the Brahmanas. There are seven Aranyakas, i.e. Aitareya, Sankhyayana, Taittiriya, Maitrayani, Madhyanandin, Talvakar and Jaiminiya. These books are opposed to sacrifices and rituals and lay emphasis on meditation and moral virtues to form a bridge between the Karma Marga (way of work) and the Gyan Marga (way of knowledge).

LITERARY SOURCES

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