General Studies for KAS

 The General Studies syllabus is broadly outlined as General Science, Current events of national and international importance, History of India and Indian National Movement, India and World Geography, Indian Polity and Economy and General Mental Ability. Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well educated person who has not made a special study of any particular scientific discipline. NCERT science books of class IX and X along with Science Reporter and Down to Earth is sufficient for general science. Special attention should be paid to natural resources (especially energy and water) conservation and environment, India’s achievements in Space Science and Technology. The last year being International Polar Year and the current being International Astronomy Year, hence a stress on Polar science, earth sciences and astronomy is going to be beneficial. Knowledge of Chandrayan mission and Large Hadron collider experiments at CERN Geneva are also important.  In current events, knowledge of significant national and international events will be tested. Any serious national daily and a yearbook like ‘India at a glance 2009’ of New Vishal Publication will do the job. In History of India, emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic and political aspects. Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence. For history NCERT books of class 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 are useful. Indian Freedom Struggle of Spectrum Publications also recommended. In Geography, emphasis will be on Geography of India. Questions on the Geography of India will relate to physical, social and economic Geography of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources. Ground water recharge and rainwater harvesting are important. Again NCERT books from class 6 to 12 are useful.  Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the country’s political system and Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj, Social Systems and economic developments in India. To begin with NCERT Civics books of class 9 and 10 are suggested. They should be supplemented with ‘Our Constitution’ by Subhash Kashyap and ‘Our Parliament’ by Subhash  Kashyap. For Economics NCERT books should be supplemented with ‘Indian economy’ by Pariyogita Darpan Publication. Yojana, Kurukshetra, and Economic Survey of India are also useful. On general mental ability, the candidates will be tested on reasoning and analytical abilities. Statistics by S. C.  Gupta is helpful besides a whole lot of question banks are available in mental ability and reasoning for various competitive examinations specially in banking sector.

A habit of reading thoroughly either Hindu or Indian Express should be cultivated.  Magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, Down to Earth, Science Reporter, Mainstream, Civil Services Chronicle should be read regularly. These dailies and periodicals not only help in having a grasp in general studies but also imbibe self confidence for facing any interview. Practicing from a good question bank on  general studies in final stages is beneficial. For brushing up on general studies Partiyogita Darpan, M n M Series and Spectrum books are helpful.  It should however be remembered that one should  get only those books which one can read in given time. Merely acquiring all recommended books by so  called experts and counselors like me will not help.  Eventually the books have to be read and understood in a given interval. Acquiring fewer learning resources and reading them thoroughly and regularly is more useful.