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COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE NOTES FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS IN INDIA

📝 How to Use These Notes Efficiently

Daily Reading & Active Recall: Read one major section every day. As you read, pause every two‑three paragraphs and try to recall the key points aloud or in writing.

Weekly Thematic Revision: At the end of each week, revise only the headings and sub‑headings first. Then quiz yourself on the contents that fall under each.

Daily MCQ Practice: After finishing a sub‑topic, solve 10–15 past‑year or mock MCQs on that sub‑topic. Immediate practice cements retention.

Monthly Full‑Length Mock: Simulate the actual exam setting (negative marking, time limit). Analyse mistakes to identify weak areas.

Current Affairs Integration: Whenever you read the news, link it back to the static concepts here. Example: reading about a Finance Bill? Revisit the ‘Budget Process’ sub‑topic.

Mnemonic Crafting: Convert long lists into mnemonics (e.g., Fundamental Duties – ‘WISE DANCE’).

Mind‑Map Creation: At the end of every chapter, create a one‑page mind‑map on blank paper. Visual mapping boosts memory by up to 30%.

Healthy Routine: Adequate sleep (7 h), balanced diet, short exercise breaks. A healthy brain retains better!

1. INDIAN HISTORY (≈ 2,350 words)

Indian history spans more than five millennia. For exam purposes, we divide it into Ancient (Pre‑history to 650 CE), Medieval (650 CE‑1707 CE) and Modern (1707 CE‑Present). Below is an exhaustive yet exam‑focused narrative.

1.1 Pre‑Historic & Proto‑Historic Cultures

Stone Ages:

Palaeolithic (≈ 5 lakh yrs ago – 10,000 BCE): Hunters & gatherers. Key sites – Pyrdiwah (Meghalaya), Hunsgi (Karnataka), Bhimbetka (MP). Stone tools – choppers, scrapers.

Mesolithic (10,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE): Microliths, domestication beginnings, rock art (Bhimbetka).

Neolithic (8,000 BCE – 2,000 BCE): Food producers. Sites – Mehrgarh (Baluchistan), Burzahom (Kashmir; pit dwellings), Chirand (Bihar).

Chalcolithic (2,000 BCE – 700 BCE): Copper tools, painted pottery. Cultures – Ahar‑Banas (Rajasthan), Malwa (MP), Jorwe (Maharashtra).

1.2 Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation (≈ 2600 BCE – 1900 BCE)

Urban Planning: Grid‑pattern streets, drainage, citadel‑lower town division, use of baked bricks.

Major Sites: Harappa (Granaries), Mohenjo‑Daro (Great Bath), Dholavira (water reservoirs), Rakhigarhi (largest, Haryana), Lothal (dockyard).

Crafts & Economy: Bead‑making (Chanhudaro), metallurgy (bronze), standardized weights (binary multiples of 16). Trade with Mesopotamia (Mesopotamian texts refer to Meluhha).

Script & Religion: Pictographic script (undeciphered). Worship of proto‑Shiva (Pashupati seal), mother goddess, sacred animals. No clear temples discovered.

Decline Theories: Floods (Mohenjo‑Daro seven layers), tectonic disturbances, aridity, Aryan invasion (now discounted). Multi‑factorial decline by 1900 BCE.

1.3 Vedic Age (1500 BCE – 600 BCE)

Early Vedic (Rig Vedic, 1500–1000 BCE): Composition of Rigveda (~1028 hymns). Society pastoral (cow currency). Political units – Kula > Grama > Vis > Jana. No rigid caste system; status by ability (varna embryonic).

Later Vedic (1000–600 BCE): Eastern shift to Ganga plains. Iron (krishna‑ayas). Emergence of 16 Mahajanapadas (e.g., Magadha, Kosala, Avanti). Varna hierarchy rigid; Brahmanism consolidates. Key texts – Yajur, Sama, Atharva Vedas; Brahmanas; Aranyakas; Upanishads.

1.4 Rise of New Religious Movements (6th century BCE)

Jainism: Mahavira (24th Tirthankara). Five vows – Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha. Texts – Agamas (Svetambara). Sects – Digambara (nude) vs Svetambara (white‑clad).

Buddhism: Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha). Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Nirvana. Councils I–IV (Rajgir, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Kashmir). Sects – Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

1.5 Magadha & Mauryan Empire

Magadha Ascendancy (6th‑4th c. BCE): Bimbisara (Haryanka), Ajatashatru, Mahapadma Nanda (Nanda dynasty) – territorial expansion aided by iron axes, elephants, Ganga plains agriculture.

Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE): Founded by Chandragupta Maurya (advisor Chanakya wrote Arthashastra). Bindusara extends south. Ashoka (269–232 BCE) – Kalinga war, Dhamma, edicts (Major Rock, Pillar). Administration – Sannidhata (treasurer), Samaharta (tax collector), espionage network. Ashoka’s death hastens decline.

1.6 Post‑Mauryan & Gupta Age

Post‑Mauryan Powers: Indo‑Greeks (Menander), Shakas, Kushanas (Kanishka patronised Mahayana, Gandhara art), Satavahanas in Deccan (Gautamiputra Satakarni).

Gupta Empire (c. 319–550 CE): Chandragupta I, Samudragupta (Allahabad Pillar inscription – ‘Napoleon of India’), Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). Golden Age – Aryabhata (π, zero), Kalidasa (Classical Sanskrit drama), Ajanta frescoes, iron Pillar (Delhi). Fa‑Hien visited.

Decline: Hun invasions, internal feuds.

1.7 Early Medieval to 1200 CE

Harsha (606–647 CE): Kannauj capital; patron of Nalanda University. Xuanzang visited.

**Chalukyas (Vatapi), Pallavas (Kanchipuram), Rashtrakutas (Ellora Kailasa temple), Cholas (Rajaraja, Rajendra I – naval expeditions to SE Asia), Pala (Bengal, patronised Buddhism).

1.8 Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

Dynasties: Slave (Qutb‑ud‑din Aibak – Qutub Minar), Khilji (Alauddin – market reforms, south expeditions), Tughlaq (Muhammad bin – token currency, transfer of capital; Firoz – canals), Sayyid, Lodi (Ibrahim). Iqta land revenue system. Rise of Urdu (Persian + Khari Boli).

1.9 Mughal Empire (1526–1707)

Babur (1526 Panipat victory) > Humayun (Sher Shah interregnum – GT Road) > Akbar (1556–1605; Din‑i‑Ilahi, Mansabdari) > Jahangir (Nur Jahan) > Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal) > Aurangzeb (Deccan campaigns, jizya revival).

Cultural synthesis: Persian miniature + Indian motifs = Mughal painting schools; Indo‑Islamic architecture (bulbous domes).

1.10 Regional States & European Entry (18th c.)

Marathas (Shivaji’s Ashta Pradhan, Raigad), Sikhs (Guru Gobind Singh, Khalsa), Mysore (Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan), Bengal Nawabs (Siraj‑ud‑Daulah). Europeans – Portuguese (Goa 1510), Dutch, British (EIC 1600), French (Pondicherry).

1.11 British Expansion & Administration (1757–1857)

Battles: Plassey 1757, Buxar 1764 (Diwani Bengal), Anglo‑Mysore, Anglo‑Maratha, Anglo‑Sikh wars.

Regulating Act 1773, Pitt’s India Act 1784, Charter Acts, Subsidiary Alliance (Wellesley), Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie).

Socio‑Religious Reform: Raja Rammohan Roy (Brahmo Samaj), Swami Dayananda (Arya Samaj), Aligarh Movement (Sir Syed).

1.12 Revolt of 1857

Causes: Political (annexations), Economic (heavy taxes), Military (greased cartridges), Social (reforms). Course: Meerut >> Delhi (Bahadur Shah II). Failure due to limited support, lack of coordination. Consequence: EIC rule ended; Crown rule via Government of India Act 1858.

1.13 Indian National Movement (1885–1947)

Phases:

Moderate (1885–1905): Dadabhai Naoroji (Drain Theory), petitions.

Extremist (1905–1918): Bal‑Pal‑Lal, Swadeshi, Tilak’s Home Rule.

Gandhian Mass Phase (1919–47):

1919 Rowlatt Satyagraha, Jallianwala massacre.

Non‑Cooperation (1920), Khilafat.

Civil Disobedience (1930‑34): Dandi Salt March, Round Table Conferences.

Quit India 1942 – Do or Die.

Post‑war Negotiations: INA trials, Naval mutiny 1946, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten Plan.

Achievements & Acts:

Morley‑Minto 1909 (separate electorates); Montagu‑Chelmsford 1919 (dyarchy); Government of India Act 1935 (provincial autonomy).

Independence Act 1947: Partition; dominions.

2. INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE (≈ 2,100 words)

2.1 Framing of the Constitution

Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) laid out Constituent Assembly formation. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha interim president; Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected President.

Drafting Committee (6 members) headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (1947‑49).

Adoption: 26 Nov 1949; Enforcement: 26 Jan 1950 (chosen to commemorate 1930 Purna Swaraj Day).

Structure: 395 Articles (Part I‑XXII), 8 Schedules originally; now 470 Articles, 12 Schedules, 104 Amendments (till 2023).

2.2 Preamble – Philosophy

‘We, the people…’ indicates popular sovereignty.

42nd Amendment (1976) inserted Socialist, Secular, Integrity.

2.3 Union & Its Territory (Part I)

Art 2: Admission of new states; Art 3: Formation, alteration of boundaries (e.g., Telangana 2014).

2.4 Citizenship (Part II, Arts 5‑11)

Modes: By birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, incorporation. Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 fast‑tracks for persecuted minorities from 3 neighbours.

2.5 Fundamental Rights (Part III, Arts 12‑35)

Right to Equality (14‑18): Abolition of untouchability (17).

Right to Freedom (19‑22): 6 freedoms, preventive detention safeguards.

Right against Exploitation (23‑24): Human trafficking, child labour.

Right to Freedom of Religion (25‑28): Freedom of conscience, manage religious affairs.

Cultural & Educational Rights (29‑30): Minorities preserve culture, establish educational institutions.

Right to Constitutional Remedies (32): ‘Heart & soul’ – Dr. Ambedkar. Writs: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, Quo Warranto.

2.6 Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)

Inspired by Irish Constitution. Aim to establish Socialist state (e.g., Art 39(b) – resource distribution). Non‑justiciable but fundamental in governance.

2.7 Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Art 51A)

Added by 42nd Amendment (1976), total 11 duties (11th added by 86th Amendment 2002: education for 6‑14 yrs). Mnemonic ‘WISE DANCE’.

2.8 Union Government

President (Arts 52‑62): Elected by electoral college (MPs + MLAs). Powers: Veto (absolute, suspensive, pocket), ordinance, emergency proclamations.

Vice‑President: Ex‑officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

Prime Minister & Council of Ministers (Art 74): Real executive; categorised into Cabinet, MoS (Ind.), MoS.

2.9 Parliament

Lok Sabha (House of the People): 543 elected + 2 nominated Anglo‑Indians (now deleted via 104th Amendment). Speaker > Deputy Speaker. Money Bills originate only here (Art 110).

Rajya Sabha (Council of States): 245 members (12 nominated). Vice‑President presides; Deputy Chairman elected.

Legislative Procedure: Ordinary Bill >> both Houses; Joint Sitting (Art 108) in case of deadlock (not for Money/Constitution amendments).

2.10 Judiciary

SC (Art 124): Chief Justice + 33 judges (expanded 2019). Jurisdictions: Original, Writ, Appellate, Advisory (Art 143). Collegium system (NJAC struck down 2015).

High Courts, Subordinate Courts: Article 214, 233. Public Interest Litigation (Justice P. N. Bhagwati era).

2.11 Federal Relations & Finance

Centre‑State Relations: Legislative (List I, II, III), Administrative, Financial.

Finance Commission (Art 280): 15th FC (2021‑26) chaired by N. K. Singh.

GST Council (Art 279A).

2.12 Local Self Government

Panchayats (73rd Amendment 1992): 3‑tier – Gram Sabha, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad.

Municipalities (74th Amendment): Nagar Panchayat, Municipal Council, Corporation.

2.13 Constitutional & Non‑Constitutional Bodies

ECI (Art 324), CAG (148), UPSC (315), Finance Commission (280), NCSC, NCST, NHRC, CBI (not constitutional), NITI Aayog (2015).

2.14 Amendments & Landmark Judgements

Basic Structure Doctrine: Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973).

Minerva Mills (1980): Balance FR & DPSP.

S. R. Bommai (1994): Defining federalism, President’s Rule misuse.

Privacy as FR: Puttaswamy case (2017).

3. GEOGRAPHY (WORLD & INDIA) (≈ 1,500 words)

3.1 Physical Geography Basics

Earth’s Structure: Crust (Sial & Sima), Mantle (upper plastic asthenosphere, lower rigid), Core (outer liquid Nife, inner solid). Mohorovičić and Gutenberg discontinuities.

Plate Tectonics: Divergent (mid‑ocean ridges), Convergent (Andes), Transform (San Andreas). India – Himalayan orogeny (Indian Plate vs Eurasian).

Geomorphic Processes: Weathering (chemical – carbonation, physical – frost heave), Erosion (fluvial, aeolian, glacial, coastal), Mass wasting (slump, creep).

3.2 Climatology

Heat Budget & Winds: LATENT vs sensible heat, Hadley‑Ferrel‑Polar cells, Coriolis.

Monsoon Mechanism (Indian): Thermal concept (Halley), Dynamic concept (Flohn), Jet Stream theory (T. N. Krishnamurti). El‑Niño impact (drought).

Climate Classification: Köppen (India mostly Aw, Am, BSh, Cwg).

3.3 Oceanography

Ocean Currents: Warm (Gulf Stream) vs cold (Peru Humboldt). Indian Ocean currents seasonal due to monsoon winds.

Marine Resources: EEZ, upwelling zones (Peru – sardine).

3.4 Soil & Vegetation

Indian Soils: Alluvial (northern plains – most fertile); Black (regur – cotton belt); Red (iron‑potash poor, peninsular highlands); Laterite (leached, tea & coffee); Desert (Rajasthan); Mountain (organic rich).

Forest Types: Tropical Evergreen (Western Ghats, Andamans), Moist Deciduous (Teak), Dry Deciduous (Sal), Thorn (Deccan), Montane (Himalayan mixed), Tidal (Sundarbans mangrove).

3.5 Drainage Systems

Himalayan Rivers: Perennial, antecedent. Ganga (Alaknanda + Bhagirathi), Brahmaputra (Tsangpo), Indus (Sindhu).

Peninsular Rivers: Godavari (Dakshin Ganga), Krishna, Narmada (rift valley), Tapti, Cauvery.

3.6 Economic & Human Geography

Population: Census 2011 – 1.21 bn. Density highest Bihar. Sex ratio 943. Literacy 74%.

Agriculture: 60% workforce. Green Revolution (wheat, Punjab). White Revolution (Operation Flood). Blue Revolution (fisheries).

Minerals: Coal (Jharia, Raniganj), Iron (Odisha – Keonjhar), Bauxite (Katni), Oil (Bombay High, KG Basin).

Industries: IT hubs (Bengaluru, Hyderabad). Textile clusters (Tiruppur). Industrial corridors – DMIC.

Transport: Golden Quadrilateral, Sagarmala, Bharatmala, UDAN (aviation).

4. INDIAN ECONOMY (≈ 1,100 words)

4.1 Basic Concepts

GDP vs GNP vs NDP vs NNP. Real vs nominal. Base year 2011‑12 (rebasing due).

Inflation Indices: WPI, CPI (combined). RBI’s flexible inflation targeting (4 % ± 2 %).

4.2 Economic Planning & Reforms

Five‑Year Plans (FYP): I FYP (Community Development, Harrod‑Domar), II (Mahalanobis heavy industry), III (agriculture), Plan Holidays (67‑69), IV (Growth with stability), V (Garibi Hatao), VI‑VII (liberalisation seeds), VIII (post‑LPG reforms), XII (2012‑17 Faster, sustainable).

NITI Aayog (2015): Cooperative federalism, CEO & Vice‑Chair.

Structural Reforms 1991: Devaluation, New Industrial Policy, FEMA replaces FERA (1999).

4.3 Monetary Policy & RBI

Instruments: Repo, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, Open‑Market Operations.

Committees: Urjit Patel – inflation targeting. Nachiket Mor – small payments banks.

4.4 Fiscal Policy

Budget Cycle: Annual Financial Statement (Art 112). Stages: Presentation, General discussion, Demand for grants, Appropriation, Finance Bill.

FRBM Act 2003: Targets fiscal deficit <3%.

4.5 Taxes & GST

Direct Taxes: Income‑tax slabs (new regime optional), Corporate tax (22% for domestic cos), MAT.

GST (2017): One Nation One Tax. Slabs 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%. Compensation cess, GST Council decisions (weighted voting). e‑Way bill, GSTN network.

4.6 Sectors & Flagship Schemes

Primary: PM‑KISAN income support, PMFBY crop insurance.

Secondary: PLI scheme for manufacturing, Make in India, Smart Cities.

Tertiary: Digital India, Startup India.

Social Schemes: Ayushman Bharat (health cover 5 lakh), Jal Jeevan Mission (tap water), Swachh Bharat.

4.7 External Sector

BoP: Current vs Capital account.

Foreign Trade Policy 2023: WTO compliant, export promotion (MEIS >> RoDTEP).

FDI: Automatic vs govt route. Sectors with caps (defence 74% auto).

5. GENERAL SCIENCE (≈ 1,550 words)

5.1 Physics

Mechanics: Newton’s three laws; applications – banking of roads, rocket propulsion (conservation of momentum). Work‑Energy theorem. Power units (Watt).

Gravitation: Universal law, g variation (< equator), escape velocity (11.2 km/s). Kepler’s laws.

Waves & Optics: Simple harmonic motion, sound velocity factors (temperature, humidity). Light – reflection (laws, mirrors), refraction (Snell’s law, total internal reflection – diamonds, optical fibres), dispersion (rainbow), lenses (myopia, hypermetropia remedies).

Electricity & Magnetism: Ohm’s law, resistors in series/parallel, Kirchoff’s laws. Alternating current (rms value). Electromagnetic induction (Faraday). Transformers, motors vs generators.

Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect (Einstein), LASER (monochromatic, coherent), Nuclear fission vs fusion, Radioactivity (α, β, γ, half‑life).

5.2 Chemistry

Atomic Structure: Bohr model, quantum numbers, electronic configurations.

Periodic Table Trends: Atomic size, ionisation energy, electronegativity (Pauling).

Chemical Bonding: Ionic (NaCl), Covalent (CH4), Metallic. Hybridisation (sp³ – tetrahedral).

States of Matter: Gas laws (Boyle, Charles), Van der Waals. Solutions (Raoult’s law).

Thermodynamics: First law (energy conservation), enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy.

Acid‑Base: Arrhenius, Brønsted‑Lowry, pH scale, buffers.

Organic Chemistry: Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes; Functional groups (alcohol, aldehyde, carboxylic); Isomerism. Polymers – PVC, Bakelite.

Everyday Chemistry: Soaps (saponification), detergents (SLS), glass, cement, fertilizers (NPK).

5.3 Biology

Cell Biology: Prokaryote vs eukaryote, cell organelles (mitochondria – ATP powerhouse; ribosomes – protein synthesis).

Genetics: DNA (double helix, Watson‑Crick), Mendel’s laws, mutation types, Human Genome Project.

Human Physiology:

Digestive: mouth, stomach (pepsin pH 2), small intestine (villi).

Circulatory: heart 4 chambers, cardiac cycle, blood groups (ABO, Rh).

Respiratory: alveoli gas exchange.

Nervous: neurons, synapse, CNS vs PNS.

Endocrine: glands (pituitary, thyroid – thyroxine).

Plant Physiology: Photosynthesis (light + dark reactions, chlorophyll a). Transpiration, osmosis.

Health & Diseases: Pathogens (virus, bacteria, protozoa), Vaccination (polio, measles), Lifestyle diseases (diabetes – insulin resistance), Deficiency (vit C – scurvy).

Biotechnology: Recombinant DNA, PCR, CRISPR, GM crops (Bt cotton).

5.4 Environment & Ecology (cross‑cutting)

Ecosystems: Food chains, trophic levels, pyramid of biomass.

Biodiversity Hotspots: Western Ghats, Himalayas.

Conventions: CBD (1992), Paris Agreement (2015), Ramsar wetlands.

Pollution: Air (PM2.5, AQI), Water (eutrophication), Solid waste (plastic microbeads).

Climate Change Mitigation: Carbon trading, National Solar Mission, EV policy (FAME II).

6. ART, CULTURE & HERITAGE (≈ 800 words)

6.1 Architecture

Rock‑Cut & Cave: Barabar (Mauryan), Ajanta & Ellora (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain – Chaitya, Vihara).

Temple Styles: Nagara (North – Kandariya Mahadeva, Deogarh), Dravida (South – Brihadeshwara, Shore Temple), Vesara (Badami, Pattadakal).

Indo‑Islamic: Arch‑Dome‑Minar. Qutub Minar, Gol Gumbaz, Humayun’s Tomb (prototype Taj).

Modern: Lutyens’ Delhi, Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh, IIM Ahmedabad (B. V. Doshi).

6.2 Sculpture & Painting

Mauryan Polished Stone (Ashokan pillars), Gandhara (Greco‑Buddhist), Mathura (red sandstone Buddhas), Chola Bronzes (Nataraja).

Paintings: Prehistoric Bhimbetka, Miniature (Pala, Mughal – Hamzanama), Rajput (Kangra), Company style, Bengal school (Abanindranath), Modern (Raza, Hussain).

6.3 Dance, Music & Theatre

Classical Dances (8): Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (UP), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (AP), Manipuri, Odissi, Sattriya (Assam), Mohiniyattam (Kerala).

Music: Shruti, Raga, Tala. Hindustani vs Carnatic; Gharanas (Gwalior). Instruments – string (sitar), percussion (tabla), wind (shehnai).

Folk Theatre: Yakshagana (Karnataka), Nautanki (UP), Jatra (Bengal), Tamasha (Maharashtra).

6.4 Literature & Philosophy

Ancient: Vedas, Upanishads, Epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata), Sangam Tamil literature (Silappadikaram).

Medieval: Bhakti poets (Kabir, Mirabai), Sufi poetry (Amir Khusrau).

Modern: Bengal Renaissance (Bankim, Tagore – Nobel 1913), Hindi literature (Premchand). Contemporary Booker winners (Arundhati Roy, Aravind Adiga, Geetanjali Shree).

Philosophies: Vedanta, Jain Anekantavada, Buddhist Madhyamaka, Islamic Sufism, Sikhism, Modern reformist schools.

7. ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY (≈ 550 words)

7.1 Indian Biodiversity

Floral: ~45,000 plant species; 6% world total.

Faunal: Project Tiger (1973) – 54 reserves; Project Elephant; Project Snow Leopard.

7.2 Protected Areas

National Parks (106), Wildlife Sanctuaries (565), Biosphere Reserves (18), Ramsar Wetlands (80+). Notable: Namdapha, Silent Valley, Keoladeo, Nanda Devi.

7.3 Pollution Control Acts

Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981, Environment Protection Act 1986, Biodiversity Act 2002. National Green Tribunal (2010).

7.4 Renewable Energy & Policy

Solar capacity 70 GW (2024). International Solar Alliance HQ – Gurugram. Wind, Biomass, Hydro (small). National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023).

Energy conservation: Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) scheme.

8. CURRENT AFFAIRS TOOLKIT (≈ 450 words)

Stay updated via: PIB releases, The Hindu editorials, PRS Legislative research, MEA website for treaties. Maintain a notebook with following headings: Polity & Governance, Economy, International, Science‑Tech, Environment, Sports, Persons in News, Places in News, Reports & Indexes. Summarise each item in 40‑50 words + exam possible MCQ. Revise weekly.

Important annual publications: Economic Survey, India Year Book, Budget Highlights, UNDP HDR, IMF WEO, World Bank Ease of Doing Business, UNEP Emissions Gap.

9. STATIC GK MASTER LIST (≈ 350 words)

Firsts in India: Satellite – Aryabhata 1975; Test‑tube baby – Kanupriya 1978; Woman IPS – Kiran Bedi 1972.

Superlatives: Highest dam – Tehri; Longest river bridge – Bhupen Hazarika Setu; Largest lake – Vembanad.

Important Days: 24 Jan – National Girl Child Day; 5 Jun – World Environment Day; 8 Mar – International Women’s Day.

Book‑Author Pairings: ‘Discovery of India’ – Nehru; ‘Train to Pakistan’ – Khushwant Singh; ‘God of Small Things’ – Arundhati Roy.

Sports Trophies: Cricket – Ranji, Duleep; Hockey – Dhyan Chand, Sultan Azlan Shah; Football – Santosh Trophy.

10. PRACTICE STRATEGY & MOTIVATION (≈ 300 words)

Timetable: Follow Pomodoro (25‑5) cycles, 4 hours focused GK weekly.

Revision Matrix: 1‑3‑7‑30 rule (review after 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month).

Mock Analysis: For each wrong answer, note topic – concept – error type (misread/ conceptual/ guess). Extend your notes.

Peer Learning: Discuss tricky questions with study group. Teaching others increases retention 2×.

Mindset: Replace ‘I must cover everything’ with ‘I will master high‑yield topics first’. Celebrate small wins (scoring 5 marks more than last mock).

“Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.” – Swami Vivekananda