PAPER —I (PRELIMINARY) GENERAL STUDIES (DEGREE STANDARD)
Marks: 120 No. of Questions: 120 Time: 120 Minutes
(A) HISTORY & CULTURE
- Indus Valley Civilization: Features, Sites, Society, Cultural History, Art and Religion. Vedic Age- Mahajanapadas, Religions-Jainism and Buddhism. The Maghadas, the Mauryan, Foreign invasions on India and their impact, the Kushans. The Sathavahanas the Sangam Age, the Sungas, the Gupta Empire -their Administration- Social, Religious and Economic conditions-Art, Architecture, Literature, Science and Technology.
- The Kanauj and their Contributions, South Indian Dynasties – The Badami Chalukyas, the Eastarn Chalukyas, the Rastrakutas, the Kalyani Chalukyas, the Cholas, the Hoyasalas, the Yedavas, the Kakatiyas and the Reddis.
- The Delhi Sultanate, the Vijaynagar Empire and the Mughal Empire, the Bhakti Movement and Sufism – Administration, Economy, Society, Religion, Literature, Arts and Architecture.
- The European Trading companies in India- their struggle for supremacy-with special reference to Bengal, Bombay, Madras, Mysore, Andhra and Nizam, GovernorGenerals and Viceroys.
- Indian War of Independence of 1857 – Origin, Nature, causes, consequences and significance with special reference to Concerned State, Religious and Social Reform Movements in 19th century in India and Concerned State, India’s Freedom Movement, Revolutionaries in India and Abroad.
- Mahatma Gandhi, his thoughts, Principles and Philosophy. Important Satyagrahas, the Role of Sardar Patel, Subash Chandrabose in Freedom Movement and Post – independence consolidation.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, his life and contribution to making of Indian Constitution, India after Independence – Reorganization of the States in India
(B) CONSTITUTION, POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
- Indian Constitution: Evolution, features, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
- Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, Function, Power and Privileges. Issues and challenges pertaining to Federal Structure: Devolution of Power and Finances up to local levels and Challenges therein.
- Constitutional Authorities: Powers, Functions and Responsibilities – Panchayati Raj – Public Policy and Governance.
- Impact of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization on Governance – Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial bodies.
- Rights Issues (Human rights, Women rights, SC/ST rights, Child rights) etc.
- India’s Foreign Policy — International Relations — Important Institutions, Agencies and Fora, their structure and mandate – Important Policies and Programmes of Central and State Governments.
(C) INDIAN AND ANDHRA PRADESH ECONOMY AND PLANNING
- Basic characteristics of Indian Economy as a developing economy – Economic development since independence objectives and achievements of planning – NITI Ayog and its approach to economic development – Growth and distributive justice – Economic development Human Development Index – India’s rank in the world – Environmental degradation and challenges – Sustainable Development – Environmental Policy
- National Income and its concepts and components –India’s National Accounts – Demographic issues – Poverty and Inequalities – Occupational Structure and Unemployment – Various Schemes of employment and poverty eradication – Issues of Rural Development and Urban Development
- Indian Agriculture –Irrigation and water – Inputs of agriculture – Agricultural Strategy and Agricultural Policy – Agrarian Crisis and land reforms – Agricultural credit – Minimum Support Prices -Malnutrition and Food Security – Indian Industry – Industrial Policy – Make-in India – Start-up and Stand-up programmes – SEZs and Industrial Corridors – Energy and Power policies – Economic Reforms – Liberalisaion, Privatisation and Globalization –International Trade and Balance of Payments – India and WTO
- Financial Institutions – RBI and Monetary Policy – Banking and Financial Sector Reforms – Commercial Banks and NPAs – Financial Markets –Instabilities – Stock Exchanges and SEBI – Indian Tax System and Recent changes – GST and its impact on Commerce and Industry – Centre, States financial relations- Financial Commissions – Sharing of resources and devolution – Public Debt and Public Expenditure – Fiscal Policy and Budget
- i) The characteristics/ basic features of Andhra Pradesh economy after bifurcation in 2014 – Impact of bifurcation on the endowment of natural resources and state revenue – disputes of river water sharing and their impact on irrigation – new challenges to industry and commerce – the new initiatives to develop infrastructure –power and transport -information technology and e-governance – Approaches to development and initiatives in agriculture, industry and social sector – Urbanisation and smart cities – Skill development and employment – social welfare programmes
- ii)P. Reorganisation Act, 2014 – Economic Issues arising out of bifurcation – Central government’s assistance for building a new capital, compensation for loss of revenue, development of backward districts – Issues such as Vizag railway zone, Kadapa steel factory, Dugarajapatnam airport, Express ways and industrial corridors etc., – Special Status and Special Assistance- Controversy – Government’s stand and measure
(D) GEOGRAPHY
- General Geography: Earth in Solar system, Motion of the Earth, Concept of time, Season, Internal Structure of the Earth, Major landfornns and their features. Atmosphere-structure and composition, elements and factors of Climate, Airmasses and Fronts, atmospheric disturbances, climate change. Oceans: Physical, chemical and biological characteristics, Hydrological Distasters, Marine and Continental resources.
- Physical: World, India and concerned State : Major physical divisions, Earthquakes, landslides, Natural drainage, climatic changes and regions, Monsoon, Natural Vegetation, Parks and Sanctuaries, Major Soil types, Rocks and Minerals.
- Social: World, India and concerned State : distribution, density, growth, Sex-ratio, Literacy, Occupational Structure, SC and ST Population, Rural-Urban components, Racial, tribal, religious and linguistic groups, urbanization, migration and metropolitan regions.
- Economic: World, India and concerned State: Major sectors of economy, Agriculture, Industry and Services, their salient features. Basic Industries-Agro, mineral, forest, fuel and manpower based Industries, Transport and Trade, Pattern and Issues.
PAPER – II — GENERAL APTITUDE (DEGREE STANDARD)
Marks: 120 No. of Questions: 120 Time: 120 Minutes
(A). GENERAL MENTAL ABILITY , ADMINISTRATIVE AND PSYCOLOGICAL ABILITIES
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.
- Number Series, Coding —Decoding.
- Problems Related to Relations.
- Shapes and their Sub-sections, Venn Diagram.
- Problems based on Clocks, Calendar and Age.
- Number system and order of Magnitude.
- Ratio, proportion and variation.
- Central Tendencies – mean, median, mode — including weighted mean.
- Power and exponent, Square, Square Root, Cube Root, H.C.F. and L.C.M.
- Percentage, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and loss.
- Time and Work, Time and Distance, Speed and Distance.
- Area and Perimeter of Simple Geometrical Shapes, Volume and Surface Area of Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, cubes and Cuboids.
- Lines, angels and common geometrical figures — properties of transverse and parallel lines, properties of triangles, quadrilateral, rectangle, parallelogram and rhombus.
- Introduction to algebra — BODMAS, simplification of weird symbols.
- Data interpretation, Data Analysis, Data sufficiency, and concepts of Probability.
- Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and analyzing emotions, Dimensions of emotional intelligence, coping with emotions, empathy and coping with stress.
- Social Intelligence, interpersonal skills, Decision making, Critical thinking, problem solving and Assessment of personality.
(B)(i) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Science and Technology: Nature and Scope of Science & Technology; Relevance of Science & Technology to the day to day life; National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation; Institutes and Organization in India promoting integration of Science, Technology and Innovation, their activities and contribution; Contribution of Prominent Indian Scientists.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Nature and Scope of ICT; ICT in day to day life; ICT and Industry; ICT and Governance – Various government schemes promoting use of ICT, E-Governance programmes and services; Netiquettes; Cyber Security Concerns – National Cyber Crime Policy.
- Technology in Space & Defence: Evolution of Indian Space Programme; Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) — it’s activities and achievements; Various Satellite Programmes — Satellites for Telecommunication, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) Satellites; Satellites for defence, Eduset or Satellites for academic purposes; Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)- vision, mission and activities.
- Energy Requirement and Efficiency: India’s existing energy needs and deficit; India’s Energy Resources and Dependence, Energy policy of India Government Policies and Programmes. Solar, Wind and Nuclear energy
- Environmental Science: Issues and concerns related to environment; Its legal aspects, policies and treaties for the protection of environment at the national and the international level; Biodiversity- its importance and concerns; Climate Change, International Initiatives (Policies, Protocols) and India’s commitment; Forest and Wildlife – Legal framework for Forest and Wildlife Conservation in India; Environmental Hazards, pollution, carbon emission, Global warming. National Action plans on Climate Change and Disaster management. Biotechnology and Nanotechnology; Nature, Scope and application, Ethical, Social, and Legal issues, Government Policies. Genetic Engineering; Issues related to it and its impact on human life. Health & Environment.
(ii) CURRENT EVENTS OF REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE