General Studies Mains for CSE: Sources 2017

Current Affairs sources:-

 Newspaper: The Hindu (full) + The Indian Express (Opinion page and Explained Page) + Selective editorials from Livemint, Times of India and Economic
Times
 Yojana: (Summary available at IAS Baba as well as Insights website)
 PRS Legislative (For Bills and Acts, Standing Committee Reports as well as Monthly/Annual Policy Review)
 PIB: (Gist available at IAS Baba)
 IDSA: (For security and International relations issues)
 Rajya Sabha TV Programs with special emphasis on “India’s World” & “The Big Picture”: (Summaries available at IAS Baba/Insights Website)
 All India Radio: (Summary by IASbaba)
 Vision IAS and IASbaba Monthly Magazine: (Just to check that no issues are missed)
 Forum IAS 9PM Daily Brief: (Analysis of daily issues in Newspaper)
 CivilsDaily: (Short summaries of Current Affairs on daily basis at their website and App)

Prelims Booklist:-

Ancient and Medieval Indian History NCERT 12th Class

Freedom struggle and Modern India A brief history of Modern India by Spectrum Publications
Culture GK Today Compilation, CCRT website/ its compilation, NCERT 11th class(or its
summary available) or else Nitin Singhania Notes
Indian Geography NCERT + Mrunal Videos
Physical Geography NCERT + Mrunal Videos
World Geography NCERT+ G C Leong+ Mrunal Videos and Articles
Polity(static+ current) Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
Economy( static+ current) NCERT+ Mrunal articles+ Economic Survey. Book:- either Ramesh Singh/
March of Indian Economy/ Sriram IAS coaching notes. Choose at your own
discretion.
Science ( static+ current) NCERT
Environment (static+ current) NCERT+ Shankar IAS+ NIOS
CSAT Aptitude source and Previous Year question Papers for Paper 1 & 2 Arihant Book/TMH Book for CSAT(If your base is weak search individual
topic wise books for Maths, Logical Reasoning and English and practice from
them) and Previous years Question Papers from Disha Publication. Do solve
Previous Years UPSC question Papers at least from 2009 till date for GS
Paper 1 and for GS Paper 2 from 2011 till date before you write Prelims
examination.

Mains Booklist:-

Compulsory Paper:-

If it’s a Regional Paper you have chosen, sorry, we can’t help. Try to read a Regional Paper based on the language you have chosen. Try to write in that
preferred language and try building your competence over time over that Preferred Language. Try solving previous years question Papers of UPSC for the
Language you have chosen. Spot mistakes and work on them. Similarly if it’s Hindi, try going through Unique Publisher’s Book on Hindi. Try solving Previous
Years Question Papers too for Hindi. The same publishers publish a book for English Compulsory Paper as well which goes like Unique Publisher’s book for
English Language Compulsory Paper. Try getting it and solving it. Read Hindi newspaper and try having a good vocabulary in it. Basically, what we are trying
to say is try having a look and good enough practice so that you don’t fail in these papers otherwise your Essay, Optional and GS papers will not be checked.

Essay:-

No special book is required for it. Your GS static as well as current affairs knowledge is required. Over a period of time, before Prelims and also between
Prelims-Mains, try writing Essays and review it from anyone whether it’s a fellow aspirant or a professor or a Test series Institute. Enrolling for Essay in a Test
series is also a very good idea. It can also help you rectify your mistakes and maybe enhance your score leading to a good rank.

General Studies Paper 1

Culture GK Today Compilation, CCRT website/ its compilation, NCERT 11th class(or its
summary available) or else Nitin Singhania Notes+ current affairs
Modern Indian History A brief history of Modern India by Spectrum Publications
Post-Independence History Vision IAS notes+ Bipan Chandra’s India since Independence
1
 General Studies Mains for CSE: Sources 2017

World History If you have read a book already, keep reading that book and make notes
from it. Otherwise, reading Vision IAS notes is enough. NCERTS can also be
read.
World geo physical, resource distribution NCERT+ GC Leong+ Mrunal
Indian Geography NCERTS+ Mrunal videos and articles
earthquake tsunami etc. + impact on flora-fauna NCERTS+ Mrunal videos and articles
Indian Society & allied topics like communalism, secularism, regionalism etc Insights on India has articles on these topics. Go through those and
supplement with Current Affairs.

General Studies Paper 2

Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, Laxmikanth Indian Polity

amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and
Laxmikanth Indian Polity+ Vision IAS notes
challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and
finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms
Laxmikanth Indian Polity+ Vision IAS notes
and institutions
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries Vision IAS notes
Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of Laxmikanth Indian Polity
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Laxmikanth Indian Polity.
Ministries and Departments of the Government
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. ROP Act, Vision IAS notes
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Laxmikanth Indian Polity
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors Current affairs and issues.
and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, Vision IAS notes, 2nd ARC reports.
SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other stakeholders
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre Vision IAS notes, Current Affairs
and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,
institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of
these vulnerable sections
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services Vision IAS notes+ Current Affairs
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Issues relating to poverty and hunger Vision IAS notes+ Current Affairs
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e- 2nd ARC Report on e-Governance, Ethics, Vision IAS notes
governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
measures.
Role of civil services in a democracy Vision IAS notes
India and its neighborhood- relations Current Affairs sources, Vision IAS notes and MEA Annual Report
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India Current Affairs sources, Vision IAS notes and MEA annual report
and/or affecting India’s interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Vision IAS notes, MEA Annual Report and Current Affairs sources.
India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, Vision IAS notes, MEA Annual report and Current Affairs sources.
mandate.

General Studies Paper 3

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, NCERTS, Preferred Economics Book or SRIRAM notes, Mrunal articles and
growth, development and employment videos and current affairs. Economic Survey and Union Budget.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Vision IAS notes
Government Budgeting Vision IAS notes, Mrunal articles and videos, Economic Survey and Union
Budget
Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different State of Indian Agriculture report, Vision IAS notes, Current Affairs sources
types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of and Mrunal Articles and videos.
agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the
aid of farmers
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support Current Affairs sources, Vision IAS notes, Mrunal Articles and Videos.
prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations,
revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions;
economics of animal-rearing.
Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, Mrunal Videos and Articles, Vision IAS notes, current Affairs sources.
location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain

2
 General Studies Mains for CSE: Sources 2017

management.
Land reforms in India Mrunal Videos and Articles, Vision IAS notes
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and Vision IAS notes, NCERTS+Economy Book/SRIRAM notes and current affairs.
their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Vision IAS notes, Mrunal articles and videos, current affairs sources.
Investment models Vision IAS notes, current affairs sources
Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in NCERTS, Vision IAS notes, current affairs sources
everyday life.
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of Current Affairs sources
technology and developing new technology
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, Vision IAS notes and current affairs sources.
bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental Shankar IAS notes and current affairs sources.
impact assessment
Disaster and disaster management. 2nd ARC report on Disaster Management, Vision IAS notes, Current Affairs
sources
Linkages between development and spread of extremism Development Challenges in Extremism Affected Areas-report by erstwhile
Planning Commission, InsightsonIndia articles, current affairs sources
Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal Vision IAS notes, current affairs sources, InsightsonIndia articles
security.
Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of Vision IAS notes, InsightsonIndia articles, current affairs sources
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of
cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of Vision IAS notes+ InsightsonIndia articles+ current affairs sources
organized crime with terrorism
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate Vision IAS notes and current affairs sources

General Studies Paper 4

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public Vision IAS notes and Lexicon Book.
relationships
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
institutions in inculcating values.
Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
persuasion
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
administration and governance. Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical
guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical
and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and
funding; corporate governance.
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration,
governance and probity; Information, sharing and transparency in Vision IAS notes, Lexicon Book.
government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct,
Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on above issues Lexicon Book, Vision IAS notes, test series Questions, Previous year question
Papers, InsightsonIndia case studies, Lukman IAS Case Studies

- @banned and @PoliticalBurrito