APSC Mains Paper VI – General Studies V Paper (History, Heritage, Culture, Geography, Governance, Polity, Social Justice, International Remedies, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management of Assam)- Syllabus, Book Lists & Study Materials
As per the new schemes of Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019, amended the Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 1989 vide Govt. of Assam Notification dated 5th August, 2019, new syllabus of GS Paper is given as under.
APSC Mains General Studies ( GS) Paper – Syllabus and it’s Sectional Breakup.
Paper VI – General Studies V [250 Marks]
(General Subject Paper on Assam)
Syllabus – Sectional Topics
History, Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Assam.
Major Landmarks In the History of Assam, Major Dynasties, their Administrative and Revenue systems, Important Works of literature, Fairs, Festivals, Folk Music and Folk Dances, Socio-cultural Issues, Salient features of Architecture and Monuments, Freedom Movement Political Awakening and Integration, Arts, Paintings and Handicrafts, Culture, Tradition and Heritage, Religious Movements, Leading Personalities.
Geography of Assam
Natural Resources of Assam, Physical features, Major physiographic divisions, Climate, Forests, Wildlife and Biodiversity, Mines and Minerals, Natural Vegetation, Population and Major Industries.
Political & Administrative System of Assam
Governor, Chief Minister, State Assembly, High Court, Assam Public Service Commission, State Information Commission, District Administration, State Human Rights Commission, State Election Commission, Public Policy, Legal Rights and Citizen Charter.
The economy of Assam
A macro overview of Economy, Industrial and Service Sector Issues, Growth, Development and Planning, Major Agricultural, Infrastructure & Resources, Programmes and Major Development Projects, Schemes Government Welfare Schemes for SC/ST/Backward Class/Minorities/Disabled Persons, Women, Children, Old Age People, Farmers & Laborers.
Environment, Biodiversity, Security and Disaster Management with relevant emphasis on the State of Assam.
Indispensable Books for APSC GS Paper
1. India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra
2. Indian Polity for Civil Services – Laxmikanth
3. Indian Economy: For Civil Services Examinations – Ramesh Singh
4. The History of Assam – Priyam Goswami
5. History of the World – Arjun Dev
6. India After Gandhi – Ramachandra Guha
7. Geography of India – Majid Hussain
8. Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong
9. India Year Book ( released by PIB)
10. Economic Survey – Latest release
Previous Years Questions Paper – for APSC Mains General Studies
The WHO Guidelines – PM10 pollution – PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels
Biological Science – Human body, disease & causes
Defence & Security –
Intelligence Agencies ISI, RAW, CIA, MI6, IB, CBI
Defence Army institutes – Army’s Counter-Insurgency Warfare School, Vairengte, Mizoram, Army War College, Mhow, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Officers Training Academy –Chennai and Gaya (new), National Defence Academy (NDA),Pune
Joint Military/Naval Exercises
All Missiles, Aircraft carries & Submarines
Akash surface-to-air missile., Nag antitank missile., Prithvi-I: surface-to-surface ballistic missile,
Agni-V, VI : Four-stage Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)- minimum range of 5,500 km
Longitudes & latitudes, Equator, Latitudes and Earth speed = 15° an hour
Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn 23½° North & Southern Hemisphere, Arctic Circle & Antarctic Circle 66½° North & South of the equator, Timezones and Dateline, Prime Meridian
Indian standard time
Assam & NE – Rivers, mountains, NP/WS
Caves in North East India – Meghalaya – KremLiatPrah, Meghalaya
APSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper – Suggest Topics for Polity Section
Members of Parliament
Members in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha from Assam, NE states
State-wise members nos distribution – Maximum & Minimum in LS & RS, Power of MPs
Total LS members across states, Lok Sabha constituency/ RS constituency – criteria, Delimitation Commission
Assam State assembly size, constituency
Legislative Council – States with LC, Legislative Assembly to Legislative Council size ratio
Parliamentary powers
Chairman of RS, Vice President, Protem Speaker, L.o.Opp, Speaker/Dy.speaker of LS – Powers, Provisions & Resignation
Speaker of Lok Sabha– conducts business in the house – decides whether a bill is a money bill or not- maintain discipline and decorum in the house – punish unruly member – answerable to the house – permit moving of motion
various motions – motion of no confidence, motion of adjournment, motion of censure and calling attention notice- decides on the agenda for discussion – presides over the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
Parliamentary Terms
Adjournment, Adjournment sine die, Calling Attention, Casting Vote,
Crossing the floor, Demand for Grants, Expunction, Motion,
Motion of Thanks, Prorogation, Question Hour, Question of Privilege, Whips, Qourum
Parliamentary Terms, Adjournment, Adjournment sine die, Calling Attention, Casting Vote,
Crossing the floor, Demand for Grants, Expunction, Motion, Motion of Thanks, Prorogation, Question Hour, Question of Privilege, Whips
Terms & Procedures of state legislative assembly
Indian Polity – Federal structure
NITI Aayog, Interstate Council, North East Council, Finance Commission
Jurisdictions – types of SC/HC, Original Jurisdictions of SC, Powers of SC/HC
Constitution
Constitution of India – Important Articles – FR,DPSP, FD
Constitutional remedy – Writ Petitions – HC, SC
Judiciary – Executive- Legislative –independence
Panchyat Raj in India & Assam
Fifth Schedule – administration and control of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in other states.,
Sixth Schedule – Tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
PESA act, Tribal Councils
AFSPA, Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir 1951, 1974 Indira-Sheikh accord
Special cases for various states – Article 371 A Nagaland, 371 B Assam, 371 C Manipur, 371– D Andhra Pradesh, 371 – E Sikkim, 371 G Mizoram, 371 H Arunachal Pradesh, 371 – I Goa
In Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions
APSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper – Suggest Topics for History, Art & Culture Section
Ancient India History
Indus Valley Civilization – Dates, location & sites, metals, excavation, famous motifs, Aryan invasion
Maurya & Gupta dynasty
Art, Culture & Architecture – India
Famous Architecture –of Ancient India – Asoka Pillars, Lion Capital, Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Konark, Pattadakal, Hoysala Temple, Rani Ki Vav, Sun Temple
Caves – Elephanta Caves, Ajanta Caves, Ellora, other Cave paintings in India, Bhimbetka rock shelters, Gudahandi Rock Art and Yogimath Rock Art of Odisha, Aurangabad Caves, Shivleni Caves, Badami Cave, Dharashiv Caves, Barabar Caves
Buddhist Architecture – Stupas – structure-layout and @Sanchi, Amaravati, Chaitya halls & Viharas
UNESCO’s world heritage sites
Schools – Gandhara School (Greco-Buddhist art), Mathura School Amaravati School
Zero, Modern number system, Brahmagupta, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Shridhara, Yativṛṣabha
Bhāskara II – Bijaganita, Jayadeva – Chakravala method
Baudhayana, Katyayana, Pingala, Panini
Middle Way or Middle Path – Gautama Buddha – character of the Noble Eightfold Path
Nalanda, Takshila, Culture learning institutions
Medieval India History
Mughals, Delhi sultanate dynasties
Regional powers – Maratha, Rajputana, Tipu Sultan
Wars & Battles – between whom and year
Various mughal architecture – Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, BulandDarwaza, FatehpurSikri, Agra Fort, Tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah, Agra. Where and Who constructed
Invasion of India – When and Who
Alexander invasion of india
Ghaznavid raids under Mahmud of Ghazni
Ghurid invasion led by Mu’izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori
Invasions of Arab in the Eleventh Century
Mongol Invasion
Invasion of Timur
Mughal invasion led by Babur
Europeans Imperialism
British arrival – East India Company of Britain, Dutch, Portuguese, French
golden farmaan to East india company
First French factory in India @ Surat
History of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Pondicherry, Goa, Masulipatnam, Cuddalore
Indian History – Freedom struggle (Most IMPORTANT)
Battle of Plessey, Buxar
Vellore mutiny 1806
Revolt of 1857 – Causes – Political, Socio-Religious, Economics – Popular Leaders, Revolt centers, Results – Participation from all classes & parts of India – Changes in British Administration
Violence incidents of Indian freedom struggle
JallianwalaBagh incident,
Massacre/ violent excess by British
ChauriChauraincident on February 5, 1922,
Other violence incidents
Moplah Rebellion, Noakhali riots, Calcutta Riots, Kuka (Namdhari) massacre at Malerkotla, Meerut Conspiracy Case, – kakorikand, chitagang incident, bombing central legislative assembly,
Revolutionary activities in various parts of India
Lady revolutionaries – PritilataWaddedar, KanaklataBarua. Usha Mehta, MatanginiHazra, ParbatiGiri.
Publications – magazine, books – Bandi Jeevan
Movements of Indian Freedom Struggle
Dandi March, Satyagraha in various regions
Civil Disobedience Movement
Non-cooperation movement, other movements by Gandhi
Party/Organization and their founder
Political Parties & Pol. Organisations in India before Independence – Indian National Congress, Hindu Mahasabha Party, United Patriotic Association, All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh 1925, Shiromani Akali Dal 1920, Dravidar Kazhagam 1938 , Ahrar Party 1929
left-wing nationalist political party – Revolutionary Communist Party of India 1934, Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party
Indian History – Press during British rule
Lord Lytton – regulate vernacular press – Vernacular Press Act of 1878
S. Buckingham – Calcutta Journal 1818
The Bengalee and The Amrita Bazar Patrika in ‘Bengalee language’, SamvadKaumudi, Mirat-ul-Akbar (Parsian), RastGoftar (Guj), Indian Mirror, Bombay Samachar, and Hindu Patriot, Hindu, Kesari (Marathi), Hitavadi, Bande Mataram
Hicky’s Bengal Gazette/Original Calcutta General Advertiser
Indian History – rise of British Administration
Starting from the Regulating Act of 1773, Piit’s India Act, Other important Acts and associated Gov Gen
British Administration /Policy– Social Welfare, Education promotion, Local Governance
Economics development, Census,
universities of Presidency @ Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, Cotton College
Personality – Vasco da Gama, Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Dupleix
Governors (1758–1774), Governor Generals of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor Generals of India (1833–1858) – Viceroy
Warren Hastings – first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal) – first de facto Governor-General of India from 1773 to 1785.
Governors-General of the Dominion of India, 1947–1950
Women Freedom Fighters of India – Rani lakshmibai, Begum HazratMahal, Annie Besant , Madam BhikaijiCama, Sarojini Naidu, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, SuchetaKripalani, SavitribaiPhule, Usha Mehta
British Monuments &Artitecture – RashtrapatiBhavan, Victoria Memorial,The Gateway of India,
Lutyens’ Delhi, Victoria Terminus,
Philosophy of India’s freedom struggle – Moderates and Extremist– Moderates leaders and Extremist leaders
Communist, Muslim League, Hindu Nationalists
Popular Sayings/Quotes/Slogan
“Jai Hind“ ,“give me blood and i shall give you freedom slogan” – Netaji
VandeMataram”: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
“Swaraj is my birthright and I will have it” – Tilak
“Do or Die” – Gandhi
Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan” : Lal Bahadur Shastri
.’SatyamevJayathe’: Popularized by PanditMalaviya
“SareJahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara” – Muhammad Iqbal
“The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India”/“Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it”. BalGangadharTilak
“Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. Subhash Chandra Bose
Rise of Trade unions
First association of Indian workers – Bombay Mill-Hands Association – N.M. Lokhande in 1890.
Madras Labour Union by B.P. Wadia in 1918
Trade Union Act (1926) – 1920, the First National Trade union – All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
Assam History
Ancient History
Ahom dynasty- capitals, other dynasty like Koch, Chutya, Barman, Kachari
Ahom Administration
Invasion by Mughal – Wars, Treaty, when and between whom
Battles & Treatries
Freedom Movement in Assam
The Phulaguri uprising/ PhulaguriDhawa- 1861,
PatharughatorRann– 1894
Assam Provincial Congress Committee (APCC), Assam Branch of Indian National Congress in 1921
Congress session in 1926, at Pandu, Guwahati – presided over by S. SrinivasaIyengar
