APSC Mains GS 5 Syllabus 2025 – Assam Paper Topics PDF

General Studies Paper 5 (GS-5) in the APSC Mains is a unique paper that focuses on topics related to the history, polity, economy, and geography of Assam. APSC Mains GS 5 Syllabus is designed to test a candidate’s in-depth understanding of the state’s socio-economic and political landscape. This paper holds significant weight in the overall selection process and requires a region-specific approach to preparation. A clear grasp of Assam-centric issues, developments, and historical context is essential to score well in GS-5.

APSC MAINS PAPER VI ASSAM PAPER SYLLABUS

General Subject Paper on Assam

(History, Heritage, Culture, Geography, Governance, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management of Assam) 

I. History, Art, Culture, Literature, Tradition & Heritage of Assam. 

Major Landmarks in the History of Assam, Major Dynasties, their Administrative and Revenue systems, Socio-cultural Issues, Freedom Movement, Political Awakening and Integration, Salient features of Architecture and Monuments, Arts, Paintings and Handicrafts, Important Works of literature, Fairs, Festivals, Folk Music and Folk Dances, Culture, Tradition and Heritage, Religious Movements, Leading Personalities. 

II. Geography of Assam 

Broad physical features, Major physiographic divisions, Natural Resources of Assam, Climate, Natural Vegetation, Forests, Wildlife and Bio-diversity, Mines and Minerals, Population and Major Industries.

iii. Political and Administrative System of Assam iv. V. Governor, Chief Minister, State Assembly, High Court, Assam Public Service Commission, District Administration, State Human Rights Commission, State Election Commission, State Information Commission, Public Policy, Legal Rights and Citizen Charter. 

IV. Economy of Assam Macro overview of Economy, Major Agricultural, Industrial and Service Sector Issues, Growth, Development and Planning, Infrastructure & Resources, Major Development Projects, Programmes and SchemesGovernment Welfare Schemes for SC/ST/Backward Class/Minorities/Disabled Persons, Destitute, Women, Children, Old Age People, Farmers & Laborers. 

V.  Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management with relevant emphasis on the State of Assam. 

Click here for the official pdf provided by APSC: General Subject Paper on Assam

APSC Mains GS5 Syllabus Topic List

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)

Art and Cultural Development of Assam
Assamese Literature	🔹 Phases of development 🔹 Early phase – Charyapad and other literatures 🔹 Middle phase – Pre-Vaishnavite, Vaishnavite, Post-Vaishnavite 🔹 Modern phase – Arunodoi era, Junaki era 🔹 On the basis of individuals – Hemchandra, Gunabhiram 🔹 The Romantic Period 🔹 The Present Period 🔹 Development of Literature
Vaishnavite Movement	🔹 Shankardeva 🔹 Madhavdeva 🔹 Vaishnav Movement 🔹 Influence on Literature & Culture 🔹 Other Contributors
Sufi Saints of Assam	🔹 Hazrat Shah Badar 🔹 Hazrat Azan Faqir 🔹 Zikir and Zari Traditions
Assamese Festivals	🔹 Religious Festivals 🔹 Agriculture-Based Festivals 🔹 Bihu 🔹 Tribal Festivals
Music	🔹 Religious Music 🔹 Jyotiprasad Agarwala 🔹 Bhupen Hazarika 🔹 Folk Music 🔹 Other Contributions
Architecture and Sculpture	🔹 Stone Inscriptions 🔹 Development of Architecture
Paintings	🔹 Evolution of Paintings 🔹 Geet Govinda Illustrations 🔹 Sanchipat Style 🔹 Others
Assamese Heritage	🔹 Gamusa 🔹 Japi 🔹 Muga Silk 🔹 Other Cultural Symbols

Modern Assam History
Decline of Ahoms	🔹 Causes of decline 🔹 Ahom resistance against British
The Yandaboo Treaty	🔹 Coming of British 🔹 Anglo Burmese War 🔹 The Treaty
British Conquest of North East India	🔹 British interest in the region 🔹 Foundation of British rule 🔹 David Scott in Assam: Military system, Assam Light Infantry (1826), Agreements, Reforms 🔹 T C Robertson and Captain Jenkins: Revenue, judicial, administrative reforms
Company’s Expansion in Brahmaputra Valley	🔹 Lower Assam Annexation (1828) 🔹 Treaty of Guwahati (1833) 🔹 Purandar Singha administration 🔹 Annexation of Upper Assam, Matak, Cachar, Jayantia, Khasi, Garo hills 🔹 Creation of Chief Commissionerate (1874)
Anti-British Uprisings	🔹 1828 – Dhananjoy, Gomdhar Konwar 🔹 1829 – Gadadhar Singha, Dhananjoy, Peali Phukan, Jeuram Dhulia Barua
Revolt of 1857	🔹 Maniram Dewan 🔹 Causes and failure 🔹 Importance in Assam context
Peasant Revolts	🔹 Phulaguri Dhawa (1861) 🔹 Poppy and Tamul-Paan Tax 🔹 Rangia (1893), Lachima (1894) 🔹 Patharughat Revolt
Tribal Revolts	🔹 Jaintia (1835) 🔹 North Cachar (1881) 🔹 Naga Revolt (1878) 🔹 Manipur Revolt
Growth of Tea Industry	🔹 Role of Robert Bruce & C.A. Bruce 🔹 Early plantations & expansion 🔹 Reports by Jenkins & Charlton 🔹 Contribution of Maniram Dewan
National Awakening in Assam	🔹 Asomiya Bhasa Unnati Sadhini Sabha (1888) 🔹 Jonaki Era: Hemchandra Goswami, Lakshminath Bezbaroa 🔹 Ryot Sabhas, Ahom Sabha, Jorhat Sarbajanik Sabha 🔹 Assam Association (1903)
Independence Movement (1885–1905)	🔹 INC Formation (1885) 🔹 Participation by Devicharan Barua, Kalikanta Barkakati, Gopinath Bordoloi
National Movement (1905–1934)	🔹 Anti-partition & Swadeshi Movements 🔹 Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience in Assam 🔹 Leaders: Ambikagiri Roychaudhury, Tarunram Phukan, Rohini Choudhury
National Movement (1934–1947)	🔹 Govt of India Act 1935 🔹 Quit India Movement: Kushal Konwar, Kanaklata Barua 🔹 Cabinet Mission, Bordoloi Ministry, Independence Act 1947
Women in Freedom Movement	🔹 Non-Cooperation: Girija Devi, Nalinibala Devi 🔹 Civil Disobedience: Pushpalata Das, Chandraprabha Saikiani 🔹 Quit India: Mrityu Bahini, Kanaklata Barua
Important Personalities	🔹 Nabin Chandra Bordoloi 🔹 Omeo Kumar Das 🔹 Ambikagiri Roychaudhury 🔹 Tarunram Phukan, Manik Chandra Barua, Devicharan Barua
Development of Press in Assam	🔹 Orunodoi, Jonaki, Assam Bandhu, others
Development of Education	🔹 Missionaries, Cotton College, rise of vernacular education
Impact of British Rule	🔹 Economic, Political, Socio-Cultural impacts 🔹 Modernisation & exploitation
Post-Independence Assam	🔹 Gopinath Bordoloi Ministry 🔹 Language Movement (1960) 🔹 Assam Agitation, Assam Accord 🔹 Rise of insurgency and ULFA

Assam Geography
Location and Basics about Assam	🔹 Basics 🔹 Administrative divisions
Physiography of Assam	🔹 Physiographic divisions 🔹 The Brahmaputra Valley 🔹 The Barak Valley 🔹 The Karbi Plateau 🔹 Barail and Southern Hills
The River Systems of Assam	🔹 Brahmaputra River 🔹 Barak River
Climate of Assam	🔹 Basic Characteristics 🔹 Temperature 🔹 Pressure 🔹 Humidity 🔹 Winds 🔹 Others 🔹 Climatic Seasons:     🔹 Pre-Monsoon     🔹 Monsoon     🔹 Retreating Monsoon     🔹 Dry Season
Soils	🔹 Alluvial Soil 🔹 Piedmont Soil 🔹 Hill Soil 🔹 Laterite Soil
Forest and Natural Vegetation	🔹 Tropical Evergreen 🔹 Tropical Semi-Evergreen 🔹 Tropical Moist Deciduous 🔹 Riverine Forest 🔹 Tropical Dry Deciduous
Wildlife and Biodiversity	🔹 Basics 🔹 National Parks 🔹 Wildlife Sanctuaries 🔹 Biodiversity Hotspots 🔹 Threatened Species 🔹 Flora and Fauna
Population and Settlement of Assam	🔹 Characteristics 🔹 Trend in Population Growth 🔹 Distribution of Population 🔹 Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity
Transport System	🔹 Road 🔹 Railways 🔹 Waterways 🔹 Airways 🔹 Problems of Transport System
Resources	🔹 Types and Characteristics 🔹 Natural Resources 🔹 Human Resources 🔹 Others
Industries	🔹 Basics 🔹 Problems in Industrial Development 🔹 Industrial Policy 2008 🔹 Mining Industries:     🔹 Oil     🔹 Coal     🔹 Natural Gas     🔹 Limestones     🔹 Cement 🔹 Other Industries:     🔹 Handicrafts     🔹 Textile     🔹 Bamboo Craft     🔹 Bell Metal Industry 🔹 Agro-Based Industries:     🔹 Food Processing     🔹 Rubber     🔹 Tea     🔹 Fishery     🔹 Silk Industry 🔹 Other Sectors:     🔹 Power Industries     🔹 Service Sector     🔹 Tourism     🔹 IT     🔹 Banking     🔹 Others

Assam Polity
Historical Perspectives	🔹 Assam during British rule 🔹 Election during British rule 🔹 Sadullah Ministry 🔹 Bordoloi Ministry 🔹 Cabinet Mission 🔹 Sylhet Referendum 🔹 System of Government Adopted
Assam Since Independence	🔹 Migrant Crisis 🔹 State Reorganizations 🔹 Border Issues – Meghalaya, Nagaland, others 🔹 Language Movement 🔹 Assam During Emergency 🔹 ULFA Issue 🔹 Assam Movement: Beginning, Intensification, Mass Satyagraha 🔹 Nellie Massacre 🔹 Assam Accord 🔹 IMDT Act 🔹 Bodo Movement     🔹 Basics     🔹 Bhupinder Singh Committee     🔹 Bodo Accord     🔹 BTC Accord 🔹 Panchayati Raj System in Assam 🔹 Assam in the 21st Century
Chief Ministers of Assam	🔹 Syed Muhammad Sadullah (1937) 🔹 Gopinath Bordoloi (1938, 1946) 🔹 Bishnu Ram Medhi (1950) 🔹 Bimala Prasad Chaliha (1957) 🔹 Mohendra Mohan Chaudhury (1970) 🔹 Sarat Chandra Singha (1972) 🔹 Golap Borbora (1978) 🔹 Jogendra Nath Hazarika (1979) 🔹 Syeda Anowara Taimur (1980) 🔹 Kesab Chandra Gogoi (1982) 🔹 Hiteswar Saikia (1983, 1991) 🔹 Dr. Bhumidhar Barman (1996) 🔹 Prafulla Kr Mahanta (1985, 1996) 🔹 Tarun Gogoi (2001, 2006, 2011) 🔹 Sarbananda Sonowal (2016) 🔹 Himanta Biswa Sarma (2021)
Governors of Assam	🔹 Sir Akbar Hydari (1947) 🔹 Ronald Francis (1948) 🔹 Sri Prakasha (1949) 🔹 Jairam Das Daulatram (1950) 🔹 Sayid Fazal Ali (1956) 🔹 Chandrasekhar Prasad Sinha (1959) 🔹 S. M. Shrinagesh (1959, 1961) 🔹 Bishnu Sahay (1960, 1962) 🔹 B K Nehru,1968 🔹 Justice P K Swami,1970 🔹 B K Nehru,1971 🔹 Lalan Prasad Singh,1973 🔹 Prakash Mehrotra,1981 🔹 T S Mishra,1984 🔹 Bhisma Narayan Singh,1984 🔹 Harideo Joshi,1989 🔹 Justice Ansetti Raghubir,11989 🔹 Devi Das Thakur.1990 🔹 Lok Nath Mishra,1991 🔹 S K Sinha,1997 🔹 Ajoy Singh,2003 🔹 Arvind Dawe,2003 🔹 Shivcharan Mathur,2008 🔹 K S Narayan,2009 🔹 Sibete Raji,2009 🔹 J B Patnaik,2009 🔹 P B Acharya,2014 🔹 Banawarilal Purohit,2016 🔹 Prof. Jagadish Mukhi,2021

Assam Economy
Structure of Assam Economy	🔹 Basics 🔹 Primary Sector 🔹 Secondary Sector 🔹 Tertiary Sector
Growth and Development of Assam	🔹 GDP since Independence 🔹 Slow Growth 🔹 Poverty 🔹 Education 🔹 Health 🔹 Other Indicators
Agriculture Development	🔹 State of Agriculture 🔹 Major Crops & Production 🔹 Problems in Agriculture 🔹 Land Reforms 🔹 Productivity
Industrial Development	🔹 Status of Industries 🔹 Industrial Policies 🔹 Recent Developments 🔹 Government Initiatives 🔹 Exports
Service Sector	🔹 Status of the Sector 🔹 Tourism 🔹 Banking 🔹 Trade 🔹 Transport
Infrastructure	🔹 Basics 🔹 Major Infrastructure Projects 🔹 Transport Sector 🔹 Communication 🔹 Other Developments
Resources	🔹 Natural Resources 🔹 Human Resources 🔹 Renewable Energy 🔹 Other Resources
Economic Planning	🔹 Assam During Five-Year Plans 🔹 NITI Aayog & Assam 🔹 Issues with Planning
Progress & Prospects of Industrialization	🔹 Tea Industry: Basics, Issues 🔹 Coal Industry 🔹 Petroleum Industry 🔹 Handloom 🔹 Textiles 🔹 Other Industries 🔹 Future Prospects
Public Sector Enterprises & Issues	🔹 Assam Petrochemicals Ltd. 🔹 Assam State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. 🔹 Power Distribution Companies 🔹 Cachar Sugar Mills Ltd. 🔹 Industrial Papers (Assam) Ltd. 🔹 Other PSUs 🔹 Issues & Challenges
Recent Developments	🔹 Mega Food Park 🔹 Bamboo Park 🔹 Plastic Park 🔹 Software Technology Park 🔹 Organic Farming 🔹 Aerocity
Recent Policies	🔹 Industrial Policy 2014 🔹 Population Policy 🔹 Tourism Policy 2017 🔹 Start-Up Policy 🔹 Sugar Policy 🔹 IT & Electronics Policies 🔹 Bamboo Mission 🔹 Organic Farming 🔹 Welfare Schemes for:     🔹 Women     🔹 Children & Newborns     🔹 Girl Child     🔹 Farmers     🔹 SC/ST/OBC     🔹 Disabled Persons     🔹 Elderly     🔹 Labour     🔹 Minorities     🔹 Education     🔹 Health     🔹 Skill Development
Assam Environment & Biodiversity	🔹 Environment & Ecology 🔹 Biodiversity in Assam 🔹 Protected Area Network 🔹 Man-Animal Conflict 🔹 Climate Change Issues 🔹 Environmental Organizations 🔹 Pollution 🔹 Government Initiatives
Assam Security Issues	🔹 Internal Security Basics 🔹 2008 Serial Blasts 🔹 Terrorism in Assam 🔹 Insurgency – ULFA, BLT & Others 🔹 Security Organizations 🔹 Money Laundering & Black Money 🔹 Cyber Security 🔹 Naxal Issue 🔹 Recent Developments
Disaster Management	🔹 Basics 🔹 Disaster Management Acts 🔹 Common Disasters in Assam:     🔹 Landslides     🔹 Floods     🔹 Earthquakes     🔹 Boat Capsizes 🔹 Management Strategies 🔹 State Disaster Response Force 🔹 Disaster Preparedness Measures

Importance of PYQs in APSC Preparation

Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs) are one of the most valuable resources for APSC preparation. They help candidates understand the exam pattern, weightage of topics, and the nature of questions asked by the Commission. Regular analysis of PYQs enables aspirants to identify important themes, focus on high-probability areas, and improve answer-writing skills in line with APSC’s expectations. Solving PYQs also boosts confidence and time management during the actual exam.

For DETAILED ANSWER KEY & SOLUTIONS

• APSC MAINS 2022 GS5 SOLVED PAPER 
• APSC MAINS 2023 GS5 SOLVED PAPER 

Given below are the links to previous year question papers of APSC Mains GS-5 paper 6 

• APSC Mains Paper-6 2020 
• APSC Mains Paper-6 2022 
• APSC Mains Paper-6 2023

APSC Mains Paper 1 Essay Syllabus – Download PDF	APSC Mains GS-1 Syllabus 2025 – All Important Topics & Subtopics [PDF Download]
APSC Mains GS 2 Syllabus 2025 – Governance, Polity, IR & Social Justice Topics PDF	APSC Mains GS 3 Syllabus 2025 – Economy, Tech, Environment & Security Topics [PDF]
APSC Mains General Studies IV 2025 – Ethics & Integrity [Download PDF]	APSC Mains GS 5 Syllabus 2025 – Assam-Specific Paper Topics [PDF]