General Studies Paper 1 (GS-1) is a crucial part of the APSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) Mains. It focuses on assessing a candidate’s understanding of Indian heritage, history, geography, and society. The topics covered in this paper are vast and multidimensional, requiring both factual knowledge and analytical depth.
Below is the APSC Mains GS-1 syllabus as officially prescribed by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
APSC Mains paper 2 syllabus
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
- Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
- The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
- Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country.
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
- Effects of Globalization on Indian society.
- Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
- Salient features of World’s Physical Geography.
- Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
- Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
APSC Mains General Studies – I
The table below mentions the subjects included in APSC Mains Paper-II which is also called the Mains GS 1 along with NCERT Notes on each subject:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Indian Heritage and Culture | Art and culture |
| History | Ancient History |
| Medieval History | |
| Modern History | |
| Post-Independence India | |
| Geography of the World | World and Indian Geography |
| Society | Indian Society |
Focus Areas in Mains General Studies-I
Below are the key focus areas in Mains General Studies Paper-I that every aspirant should concentrate on during their preparation:
| Art and Culture | |
|---|---|
| Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from Ancient to Modern Times | |
| Indian Art Forms |
🔹 Paintings: 🔹 Indian Paintings 🔹 Mural & Miniature Paintings 🔹 Mughal, Rajput, Pahari Styles 🔹 Dance: 🔹 Classical Dance Forms 🔹 Folk Dance Forms 🔹 Modern Dance Forms 🔹 Music: 🔹 Classical Music 🔹 Folk Music 🔹 Puppetry: 🔹 String, Shadow, Rod, Glove Puppets 🔹 Modern & Tribal Puppetry 🔹 Pottery: 🔹 Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) 🔹 Black and Red Ware (BRW) 🔹 Painted Grey Ware (PGW) 🔹 Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) 🔹 Glazed and Unglazed Pottery 🔹 Drama/Theatre: 🔹 Classical Sanskrit Theatre 🔹 Regional Theatre 🔹 Modern Theatre 🔹 Martial Arts: 🔹 Thang Ta, Gatka, Kalaripayattu 🔹 Mallakhamb, Silambam, others 🔹 Visual Art / Sculpture: 🔹 Harappan to Gupta Period 🔹 Jain & Buddhist Sculptures 🔹 Medieval and Modern Indian Sculptures 🔹 Bhakti & Sufi Movements: 🔹 Spread & Influence 🔹 Women Poets of Bhakti |
| Literature |
🔹 Classical Sanskrit Literature 🔹 Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas 🔹 Works of Kalidasa, Vishakhadatta 🔹 Buddhist & Jain Literature 🔹 Early Dravidian Literature (e.g., Sangam Period) 🔹 Trends in Medieval Literature 🔹 Modern Indian Literature |
| Architecture |
🔹 Ancient Architecture: 🔹 Harappan, Mauryan, Post-Mauryan 🔹 Gupta Period 🔹 Temple Architecture: 🔹 Nagara Style 🔹 Dravida Style 🔹 Vesara Style 🔹 Cave Architecture: 🔹 Buddhist, Jaina, Gupta Period Caves 🔹 Medieval and Indo-Islamic Architecture: 🔹 Imperial Style – Delhi Sultanate 🔹 Provincial, Mughal, Sikh, Rajput Styles 🔹 Colonial & Modern Architecture: 🔹 European Influence 🔹 Indo-Saracenic Architecture 🔹 Post-Independence Architecture 🔹 Contribution of Religions: 🔹 Role of Buddhism & Jainism 🔹 Rock-Cut Architecture: South, West, East India |
| Ancient History | |
|---|---|
| Pre-historic |
🔹 Stone Age 🔹 Chalcolithic Age 🔹 Iron Age |
| Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) |
🔹 Town Planning 🔹 Harappan Society 🔹 Characteristics of Major Centers 🔹 Harappan Art & Architecture 🔹 Decline of Harappan Culture |
| Vedic Society |
🔹 Original Home of Aryans 🔹 Socio-Economic Features 🔹 Vedic Literature 🔹 Social Organization & Varna System 🔹 Religion and Thought |
| Pre-Mauryan Period |
🔹 Mahajanapadas 🔹 Haryanka Dynasty 🔹 Shishunaga Dynasty 🔹 Nanda Dynasty |
| Jainism and Buddhism |
🔹 Gautam Buddha 🔹 Mahavira 🔹 Growth and Spread of Jainism & Buddhism |
| Mauryan Empire |
🔹 Chandragupta & Bindusara 🔹 Arthasastra by Kautilya 🔹 Megasthenes’ Account 🔹 Ashoka & His Successors 🔹 Ashokan Inscriptions & Sites 🔹 Ashoka’s Dhamma 🔹 Administration, Economy, Society & Art 🔹 Decline of Mauryan Empire |
| Post-Mauryan India |
🔹 Arrival of Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians & Kushanas 🔹 Satavahanas & Other Indigenous Dynasties 🔹 Schools of Art – Gandhara, Mathura, Amravati 🔹 Gupta Empire: 🔹 Political History 🔹 Administration 🔹 Economy & Urban Centers 🔹 Golden Age: Art, Science, Literature 🔹 Harshavardhana: 🔹 Sources – Harshacharita & Huen Tsang 🔹 Early Life & Administration 🔹 Economy, Society, Religion 🔹 Southern Dynasties: 🔹 Satavahanas (230 BC – AD 225) 🔹 Pallavas (AD 330–796) 🔹 Chalukyas (AD 535–1190) 🔹 Pandyas of Madurai (AD 590–1323) 🔹 Cholas (AD 850–1310) 🔹 Rashtrakutas (AD 753–973) |
| Medieval History | |
| Delhi Sultanate | Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk Dynasty Khilji Dynasty Tughlaq dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodi dynasty |
| Struggle for Empire in North India (Afghans, Rajputs and Mughals) | |
| Mughals | Babur Humayun Akbar Jahangir Shah Jahan Aurangzeb Later Mughals Decline of Mughal Empire |
| Sur Dynasties | |
| Maratha Empire | |
| Deccan Sultanate | Ahmednagar Sultanate Bijapur Sultanate Berar Sultanate Golconda Sultanate Bidar Sultanate |
| Modern History | |
|---|---|
| Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country | |
| Important Modern History Events Before 1857 | Later Mughals Regional powers in 18th Century Carnatic Wars Battle of Plassey & Buxar Anglo-Mysore War Anglo Punjab War Socio-economic Condition of People European Penetration of India British Conquest of India British Policies & Their Impact – Economic, Administrative & Socio-cultural Socio-cultural Reform Movements Uprisings Against British Pre-1857 |
| Revolt of 1857 | Causes, Leaders, and Nature of revolt of 1857 Suppression of revolt of 1857 Consequences of Revolt of 1857 Act of Good Governance 1858 |
| Growth of Nationalism in India (1858-1905) | Political, Economic & Administrative Unification of the Country Role of Western Education Role of Press Rediscovery of India’s Past Early Political Movements Formation of INC Era of Moderates |
| Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905-1918) | Swadeshi & Boycott Movement Surat Split International Influence Morley – Minto Reforms Growth of Communalism |
| Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919-1939) | Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas & Leadership Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Rowlatt Act, Satyagrah and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Non-cooperation & Khilafat Movement Swarajists & No-Changers Emergence of New Forces – Socialist Ideas, Youth & Trade Unionism Revolutionary Activity Simon Commission & Nehru Report Civil Disobedience Movement Round Table Conferences Communal Award & Poona Pact Participation in Elections to Central Legislature (1934) & Provincial Assemblies (1937) Government of India Act, 1935 |
| Towards Freedom & Partition (1939-1947) | National Movement During World War II August Offer Individual Satyagraha Growth of Communalism Peasant Movements State People’s Struggle Cripps Mission Quit India Movement Wavell Plan INA & Subhash Chandra Bose Cabinet Mission Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II Independence with Partition |
| Post-Independence India | |
| Nation Building |
🔹 Partition and Its Aftermath 🔹 Integration of Princely States 🔹 Linguistic Regionalism in India 🔹 Reorganisation of States 🔹 Issue of Official Language 🔹 Tribal Consolidation 🔹 Regional Aspirations |
| Foreign Policy |
🔹 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) 🔹 Panchsheel Principles 🔹 Wars with Pakistan and China 🔹 India’s Nuclear Policy |
| Economy |
🔹 Planned Development 🔹 Green Revolution 🔹 Operation Flood & Dairy Cooperatives 🔹 Agrarian & Land Reforms 🔹 Industrial Reforms 🔹 Liberalisation, Privatisation & Globalisation (LPG) Reforms |
| Polity |
🔹 Era of One-Party Dominance 🔹 Emergence of Opposition Parties 🔹 Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order 🔹 Rise of Regional Parties 🔹 Coalition Era in Indian Politics |
| Social |
🔹 Popular Movements 🔹 Communalism 🔹 Indian Women Since Independence 🔹 Issues of Women & Evolution of Women’s Movement 🔹 Naxalism and Left-Wing Extremism |
| Policy of Science and Technology |
🔹 India’s Policy in Science & Technology 🔹 Impact of Economic Reforms on Science & Technology |
| Indian Society | |
| Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India |
🔹 Features of Indian Society 🔹 Diversity: caste, linguistic, social, religious, race, tribe, ethnicity, culture 🔹 Challenges posed by Diversity 🔹 Unity, Pluralism, Unity in Diversity 🔹 Inequality and Exclusion 🔹 Family System 🔹 Examples related to these features |
| Role of Women and Women’s Organization |
🔹 Historical women’s organizations 🔹 Types & levels of women’s groups 🔹 19th Century Reform Movements 🔹 Participation in Freedom Struggle 🔹 Issues faced by women’s organizations 🔹 Role of SHGs & Microfinance Institutions 🔹 Ways to increase women’s vocal representation |
| Population and Associated Issues |
🔹 Demographic trends in India 🔹 Overpopulation – causes & effects 🔹 Demographic dividend: boon or bane 🔹 Ageing population 🔹 India’s Population Policy & Schemes |
| Poverty and Developmental Issues |
🔹 Concepts & types of poverty 🔹 Poverty Line – measurement tools 🔹 Causes & consequences of poverty 🔹 Urban poverty & inequality 🔹 Poverty Alleviation programs 🔹 Shift from trickle-down to pro-poor development 🔹 Poverty-Inequality-Development Nexus |
| Urbanization, Problems & Remedies |
🔹 Urbanization trends & drivers 🔹 Impact on demographics & society 🔹 Urban infrastructure challenges 🔹 Social impact & rural spillover 🔹 Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) 🔹 Reforms & government initiatives 🔹 Slum-related issues |
| Effects of Globalization on Indian Society |
🔹 Dimensions of globalization 🔹 Globalization vs. Glocalization 🔹 Impact on Indian society, economy, women, culture, and agriculture 🔹 Does globalization increase poverty? |
| Social Empowerment |
🔹 Socially disadvantaged groups 🔹 Meaning & dimensions of social empowerment 🔹 Government schemes 🔹 Ground realities of empowerment in India |
| Communalism |
🔹 Features & evolution of communalism 🔹 Causes & consequences 🔹 Measures to control communalism 🔹 Role of secularism as an antidote |
| Regionalism |
🔹 Concept & forms of regionalism 🔹 Regionalism in India – causes & effects 🔹 Sons of the soil theory 🔹 Federalism & regionalism 🔹 Role of regional parties 🔹 Solutions to mitigate regionalism |
| Secularism |
🔹 Indian concept of secularism 🔹 Nature & practice in India 🔹 Uniform Civil Code 🔹 Challenges to secularism 🔹 Steps toward true secularism |
| World and Indian Geography | |
| Salient features of World’s Physical Geography |
🔹 Geomorphology: 🔹 Origin & Evolution of Earth 🔹 Interior of the Earth 🔹 Plate Tectonic Theory 🔹 Earthquakes & Volcanoes 🔹 Rocks & Rock Cycle 🔹 Geomorphic Processes 🔹 Landforms & Evolution 🔹 Geological Time Scale 🔹 Oceanography: 🔹 Hydrological Cycle 🔹 Seafloor Spreading 🔹 Ocean Floor Configuration 🔹 Temperature & Salinity of Oceans 🔹 Ocean Movements – Waves, Tides, Currents 🔹 Climatology: 🔹 Atmosphere – Composition & Structure 🔹 Solar Radiation & Heat Budget 🔹 Atmospheric Circulation 🔹 Weather Systems & World Climates 🔹 Soil Geography: 🔹 Soil Contents & Formation 🔹 Soil Forming Factors 🔹 Types of Soils 🔹 Soil Erosion & Conservation |
| Distribution of Key Natural Resources (World + South Asia + Indian Subcontinent) |
🔹 Resource Classification: 🔹 Origin, Ownership, Exhaustibility 🔹 Land Resources: 🔹 Land Use, Degradation, Conservation 🔹 Forest Resources: 🔹 Types, Distribution, Depletion & Conservation 🔹 Water Resources: 🔹 Marine & Freshwater 🔹 Water Scarcity & Management 🔹 Agriculture: 🔹 Types of Farming 🔹 Cropping Patterns 🔹 Food Security & Economic Contribution 🔹 Mineral & Energy Resources: 🔹 Mineral Types (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) 🔹 Occurrence & Conservation 🔹 Energy Resources – Conventional & Non-Conventional |
| Industrial Location Factors (Primary to Tertiary Sectors) |
🔹 Classification of Industries 🔹 Location Based on: 🔹 Raw Material 🔹 Labour, Capital, Land 🔹 Power, Transport, Water 🔹 Market, Communication, Incentives 🔹 Distribution of Major Industries: 🔹 Iron & Steel, Cotton Textile, IT 🔹 Types: Agglomeration & Footloose Industries |
| Geophysical Phenomena & Changing Geographical Features |
🔹 Earthquakes: Causes, Waves, Shadow Zone, Effects 🔹 Tsunamis: Causes, Effects, Mitigation 🔹 Volcanoes: Types, Causes, Landforms, Distribution 🔹 Cyclones: Tropical, Extra-Tropical, Anti-Cyclones 🔹 Changing Features: 🔹 Melting Ice Sheets, Desertification 🔹 Impacts on Flora, Fauna, and Landscapes 🔹 Indian Geography: 🔹 Physiography, Drainage, Soils, Climate 🔹 Natural Vegetation, Demography, Urbanization 🔹 Economic Geography: 🔹 Agriculture, Minerals, Energy, Industry 🔹 Transport and Communication |
- Official General Studies I syllabus
- Candidates can check previous year questions of APSC mains GS-1
