GS PAPER 1: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

Indian Culture:

Art Forms:

• Classical Dance: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Manipuri, etc.
• Classical Music: Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions.
• Visual Arts: Painting, sculpture, architecture, and cave art.
• Folk and Tribal Art: Warli, Madhubani, Pattachitra, etc.

Literature:

• Ancient Literature: Vedas, Epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata), Sanskrit literature.
• Medieval Literature: Bhakti and Sufi literature, works of Kabir, Mirabai, etc.
• Modern Literature: Indian writers in English, regional literature.

Architecture:

• Ancient Architecture: Indus Valley Civilization, Buddhist and Jain architecture.
• Medieval Architecture: Hindu, Islamic, and Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Colonial and Modern Architecture: British influence, contemporary architectural styles.

Modern Indian History:

Middle of the 18th Century:

• British Expansion: Battle of Plassey, Battle of Buxar.
• Socio-religious Reforms: Reform movements, impact of British rule.

The Freedom Struggle:

• Early Movements: Revolt of 1857, Indian National Congress formation.
• Moderate Phase: Moderates in the Indian National Congress, demands for reforms.
• Extremist Phase: Rise of extremist leaders, Swadeshi Movement.
• Gandhian Era: Noncooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement.
• Important Personalities: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, etc.
• Key Issues: Partition of India, Independence, Integration of Princely States.

Post-Independence Consolidation and Reorganization:

• Integration of Princely States: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's role, challenges, and achievements.
• Linguistic Reorganization: States reorganization based on language, creation of new states.
• Economic Development: Planning, Green Revolution, Industrialization, and Economic Reforms.

History of the World:

Industrial Revolution and Its Impact:

• Causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
• Transformation in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.

World Wars:

• Causes and consequences of World War I and World War II.
• Impact on global politics, economies, and societies.

Colonization and Decolonization:

• European colonialism in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
• Struggles for independence, nationalist movements.

Political Philosophies:

• Communism: Rise of communism, Soviet Union, China, impact on societies.
• Capitalism: Free-market economy, private ownership, globalization.
• Socialism: Socialist movements, welfare states, mixed economies.

Salient Features of Indian Society:

Diversity of India:

• Linguistic Diversity: Languages and dialects, language policies.
• Religious Diversity: Major religions in India, communal harmony, religious reforms.
• Cultural Diversity: Festivals, traditions, customs, and rituals.

Role of Women and Women's Organizations:

• Women in Indian society, women's rights movements, women empowerment.
• Contributions of women leaders, organizations promoting gender equality.

Population and Associated Issues:

• Population growth, demographic dividend, population control measures.
• Issues related to aging population, gender imbalance, migration.

Poverty and Developmental Issues:

• Poverty alleviation programs, inclusive growth, social and economic disparities.
• Development challenges in education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc.

Urbanization:

• Growth of cities, urban planning, challenges of urbanization, smart cities.

Globalization and Its Effects on Indian Society:

• Impact on economy, culture, education, and lifestyle.
• Opportunities and challenges of globalization.

Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism:

• Social Empowerment: Reservation policies, affirmative action, empowerment of marginalized sections.
• Communalism: Communal tensions, religious conflicts, secularism as a response.
• Regionalism: Regional identity, demands for autonomy, regional political parties.
• Secularism: Secular ideals, religious harmony, secularism in the Indian context.

Salient Features of World's Physical Geography:

• Continents and Oceans: Distribution, characteristics, and significance.
• Landforms: Mountains, plateaus, plains, deserts, and their formations.
• Climate Zones: Tropical, temperate, polar, and their characteristics.
• Natural Resources: Distribution of key resources like minerals, energy resources, water, etc.
• Geographical Phenomena: Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, etc.

Distribution of Key Natural Resources Across the World:

• Minerals: Distribution of major minerals and their significance.
• Energy Resources: Fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, global energy distribution.
• Water Resources: Major rivers, lakes, and water bodies.

Factors Influencing Location of Industries:

• Primary Sector Industries: Factors influencing the location of agriculture, mining, and forestry.
• Secondary Sector Industries: Factors influencing the location of manufacturing and processing industries.
• Tertiary Sector Industries: Factors influencing the location of services and trade.

Important Geophysical Phenomena:

• Earthquakes: Causes, types, and distribution of earthquakes.
• Tsunamis: Causes, impact, and regions prone to tsunamis.
• Volcanic Activity: Types of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, and their impact.
• Cyclones: Formation, types, and regions affected by cyclones.

Changes in Critical Geographical Features:

• Water Bodies: Changes in sea levels, ocean currents, and marine ecosystems.
• Ice Caps: Melting of polar ice caps, impact on climate and sea levels.
• Flora and Fauna: Loss of biodiversity, deforestation, conservation efforts.