Friday, September 27, 2013

Target Spectrum's Handbook for General Studies: UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination

Overview
This is 23rd edition of Spectrum’s Handbook of General Studies. In 2011, the Union Public Service Commission came out with a new syllabus and plan of examination for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. We have designed the contents of the book to suit the needs of the candidates of this examination. The given syllabus is quite sketchy; however, we feel we have done justice to each subject within the space limitations. The sections on Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, General Issues in Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change, and General Knowledge Review have been revised and updated after a thorough analysis of the syllabus and the trend of the questions in the 2011 and 2012 examinations. More questions have been added in the various sections based on the pattern in recent examinations in General Studies. Besides, the section on Current Events is entirely new and covers important issues and events. This section is useful for the other subjects as well especially polity, economy, ecological issues and scientific developments. Two Practice Tests have been designed for students to assess their level of knowledge.

Title
Target Spectrum's Handbook for General Studies: UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2013
Author
Kalpana Rajaram
Publisher
Spectrum books
Publishing Date
2012
Pages
1704
Price
1285/-
Price @ Flipkart
989/-



Key Features

As per the new syllabus, the subjects for General Studies Paper I will cover:
1.    Current events of national and international importance
2.    History of India and Indian national movement
3.    Indian and World Geography social, economic geography of India and the world
4.    Indian Polity and governance political system, panchayati raj, public policy, rights issues, etc.
5.    Economic and social development sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.
6.    General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change
7.    General science

Table of Contents

SAMPLE Tests: solved general studies papers
General Studies Paper I (2011)
General Studies Paper I (2012)
Current Events of National and international importance
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
1.    World Political Review
2.    Africa 
3.    Asia 
4.    Europe  
5.    Oceania
6.    The Americas

International Organisations, Conferences and Reports
1.    Organisations and Conferences
2.    Reports 
3.    Relations Between Countries
4.    India and the World
5.    India and International Organisations India and Neighbours
6.    India and Other Asian Countries India and Africa
7.    India and Europe
8.    India and Americas

India: Political, Economic and Social Issues
1.    New President Elected
2.    Vice-Presidential Election
3.    Government Policies
4.    Legislature and Legislation
5.    Judiciary
6.    Federal and Inter-State Issues
7.    Public Finance
8.    Agriculture
9.    Patents
10. Infrastructure
11. Financial Market
12. Social Sector
13. Environmental Issues

Science and Technology
1.    Astronomy and  Space Sciences
2.    Earth Sciences
3.    Discovery of the Higgs Boson Particle
4.    Health and Medicine
5.    Defence Equipments
6.    Information Technology
7.    Environment
8.    Biotechnology and Miscellaneous R&D
9.    Persons in The News
10. Cultural Panorama
11. Sports Round-Up
12. Practice Questions

History of India


1.  Introduction
2.  Pre-History
3.  The Harappan Culture
4.  The Vedic Age
5.  The Age of the Buddha
6.  The Mauryan Empire
7.  Post-Mauryan Period (200 BC - AD 300)
8.  The Gupta Age
9.  North India and the Deccan after the Guptas
10. History of South India
11. Northern India—From the 8th Century to AD 1200
12. The Sultanate of Delhi
13. Provincial Kingdoms after the Sultanate
14. The Mughal Empire
15. The Marathas
16. Advent of European Commerce
17. British Expansion and Consolidation
18. Governors-General and Viceroys During the British Period
19. Administration Under British Rule
20. Economic Impact of British Rule
21. Socio-Religious Reform Movements
22. Development of Education 151
23. The Trade Union Movement 154
24. Development of the Press 157
Ready Reference Data
Practice Questions

Indian National Movement

1.  Early uprisings Against British Rule
2.  Growth of Nationalism
3.  The Struggle for Independence Begins: Early Phase (1885-1918)
4. The Gandhian Era (Till end of Second World War) 1919-1945
5.  The Final Phase and Achievement of Independence
6.  Personalities Associated with the National Movement
Ready Reference Data
Practice Questions

Indian and world geography
Part One: General and World Geography

1. Nature and Scope of Geography
2. A Geographer’s Tools
3. Earth in Space
4. Atmosphere
5. Atmospheric Moisture
6. Climate
7. Hydrosphere
8. The Lithosphere
9. Landforms of the First Order: Continents and Oceans
10. Landforms of the Second Order: Mountains,  Plateaus and Plains
11. Internal Forces of Earth and Landforms
12. External Processes and Landforms on Earth
13. Soils
14. Natural Vegetation and Wild Life
15. Social Geography
16. Economic Resources
17. Agriculture
18. Animal Husbandry and Fishery
19. Industry
20. Transport and Communication

Part Two: Indian Geography

1.  Introduction
2.  Geological History
3.  Landforms
4.  Drainage
5.  Climate
6.  Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
7.  Soils
8.  Agriculture
9.  Animal Husbandry and Fishery
10. Mineral Resources
11. Energy
12. Industry
13. Transport and Communication
14. The People
15. Settlements and Migration
Ready Reference Data
Practice Questions

Indian Polity and governance
1.  Historical Perspective
2.  Features and Philosophy of the Constitution
3.  Territory of the Union and Reorganisation  of the States
4.  Citizenship
5.  Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles  and Fundamental Duties
6.  The Union Executive
7.  The Union Legislature
8.  Comptroller and Auditor-General
9.  The State Executive
10. The State Legislature
11. The State of Jammu and Kashmir
12. Local Government : Panchayati Raj and  Nagarpalika
13. Union Territories and Special Areas
14. The Judiciary
15. Indian Federalism and Centre-State Relations
16. Emergency Provisions
17. Civil Services and Public Service Commission’s
18. Elections
19. Official Language
20. Provisions Relating to Special Classes
21. Schedules of the Constitution
22. Amendment of the Constitution
23. Issue of Good Governance
24. Issue of Rights
25. Public Policy
26. India’s Foreign Policy
Ready Reference Data
Practice Questions
Economic and Social Development
1.  Economics, Economies and Development
2.  Nature of Indian Economy
3.  Planning
4.  National Income and Structural Change
5.  Capital Formation
6.  Agriculture
7.  Food Security
8.  The Cooperative Movement in India
9.  Industry
10. Service Sector
11. Infrastructure
12. Foreign Trade
13. Balance of Payments
14. Foreign Capital in Economic Development
15. Prices
16. Indian Currency, Exchange Rate and Convertibility
17. Financial Market
18. Public Finance
19. Demographics
20. Social Development Initiatives
Terminology
Practice Questions
Issues in Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change

1.  Introduction
2.  Environmental Degradation
3.  Biodiversity
4.  Climate Concerns
5.  Indian Response to Environmental Ecology: Policies, Programmes and Legislation
6.  Selected National Parks and Sanctuaries  of India: A Survey
Practice Questions

General Science
1.  The Basics
2.  Physics and Chemistry
3.  Life Science
4.  Ready Reference Data
5.  Practice Questions

General Knowledge review
6.  India: General Information
7.  India: States and Union Territories
8.  India: Population Totals 2011
9.  India : Security Set Up
10.       India : Science and Technology
11.       World Organizations
12.       World: Survey of Countries
13.       Cultural Panorama
14.       Sports and Games
15.       Firsts in The World and India

Practice Questions
16.       Selected Questions from Previous Years Question Papers
17.       Each set is accompanied with Answers and Explanatory Notes where required)
18.       History of India
19.       Indian National Movement
20.       Indian and World Geography
21.       Indian Polity and Governance
22.       Economic and Social Development
23.       Environmental Ecology
24.       General Science
25.       General Knowledge/Miscellaneous

Practice Test Papers
26.       Practice Test Paper One
27.       Practice Test Paper Two

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