Decentralisation- steps taken by the government in this regard, people participation,
Important Acts related to Panchayat Raj system like 73rd Amendment Act, 74th Amendment Act, Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA , Forest Rights Act etc.
Evolution & recommendations of committees
Provisions of 73rd amendment- Compulsory and Voluntary
Provisions of 74th amendment – structure, powers, functions
Types of urban government
Metropolitan planning committee (MPC)
Problems faced by Panchayat Raj institutions and Urban Local Governments
Constitutional bodies
FOCUS ON:
Election Commission, UPSC, SPSC, Finance Commission, National Commission for SCs and ST’s, Special officer for Linguistic Minorities, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Attorney General and Solicitor General, Advocate General of the State
Focus on Composition, Powers and functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies
SOURCES TO REFER:
Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
Introduction to Indian Constitution – D.D.Basu
6th August 2015
SUBJECT &TOPIC :
POLITY–
Non-constitutional bodies
FOCUS ON:
Planning Commission, National Development Council, National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission, Central Information Commission, State Information Commission, Central Vigilance Commission ,Central Bureau of Investigation, Lokpal and Lokayuktas
Focus on Composition, Functions, Working of the Non-Constitutional bodies
Tribunals
FOCUS ON:
Establishment of the Tribunal, appointment of the Chairman
Tribunals under Article 323A and Tribunals under Article 323B
Functions and Powers of Administrative Tribunals – Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and State Administrative Tribunal (SAT)
Special Provisions for SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians
FOCUS ON:
A basic idea – on the Constitutional provisions for SC’s, ST’s, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians
SOURCES TO REFER:
Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth
Introduction to Indian Constitution – D.D.Basu
7th August 2015
SUBJECT & TOPIC :
World Geography–
A. Atmosphere (An important topic from Prelims point of view)
FOCUS ON:
Composition and Structure of Atmosphere various layers of atmosphere significance of each layer
Important gases in the atmosphere, its significance and role in protecting human life
Example: ozone in the stratosphere prevents harmful ultra-violet radiations from reaching the earth and thereby protecting the humans from skin cancer etc.
Heating and Cooling of Atmosphere; Factors controlling temperature distribution
Heat Budget (Incoming and outgoing radiation)
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming– Ozone layer, Ozone hole.
Temperature Zones on the globe- Tropical, Temperate, Frigid ; characteristics of these zones
Global Pressure Belts– Low Pressure, High Pressure, Doldrums, Horse Latitudes
Concepts like Temperature Inversion, Albedo.
B.Wind System
Factors affecting the velocity and direction of the Wind. Example: How does Coriollis force affects the direction of wind?
Planetary Winds, shifting of Planetary wind belts and their climatic influences in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Inter-tropical and Convergence Zone.
Seasonal and local Winds – Monsoons, Land and Sea breezes, Anabatic and Katabatic winds, Blizzards, Chinook
Mountain and Valley winds
Fronts – Warm and Cold front
Upper Air circulation- Jet streams, Westerlies
Phenomena’s like cyclones, anti-cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes.
Cyclones – Tropical and Temperate (More Emphasis should be given)
How are they developed or where do they originate?
Characteristic’s of these cyclones
Difference between the two
It’s impact on the region
C.Clouds and Precipitation
Classification of Clouds
Condensations and its forms- Dew, Frost, Fog, Smog, Mist and Haze; How are they different from each other?
Precipitation
Forms of Precipitation – Rainfall, Sleet, Snowfall, Hail
Mechanism of Condensation and Precipitation – adiabatic cooling
Types of Precipitation – Convectional, Orographic, Cyclonic, Frontal precipitation
SOURCES TO REFER:
NCERT – Geography – Class 11 ‘Fundamentals of Physical Geography’
Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Chengleong
8th August 2015
SUBJECT & TOPIC :
World Geography–
A.Hydrosphere
FOCUS ON:
A general idea about configuration of Ocean Floor – Continental Shelf, Slope, Rise, Abyssal Plan, Trenches.
Straits and Isthmuses– differences between them; Locate the famous Straits and Isthmuses on Atlas. Example: Strait of Gibraltar, Isthmus of Panama.
Fresh water found on the Earth’s surface. Ice caps, Glaciers and ground Water, Lakes, atmosphere
Ocean Currents (More Emphasis should be given)
Factors influencing the Movement of the Ocean Currents- Planetary Winds, Temperatures, Salinity, Earth’s Rotation, Land mass
Types– Warm and Cold Currents
What are Warm and Cold Currents, why are they called so?
Characteristics of the Currents
Identify the Warm and Cold Currents and their direction of flow in Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Example: Peru Cold current, in the Southern Hemisphere flows in the Anti-Clockwise direction
How do these currents influence the climate and vegetation across the world?
Benefits of these currents, Example: Confluence of Warm and Cold currents is region rich in fisheries. Disadvantages – Example: They make navigation difficult for the sailors
B. World Climatic Types
FOCUS ON:
Have a basic idea about major Climatic Types – Tropical, Desert, Mediterranean, Taiga, Arctic (or Polar type)
Distribution or regions found (a general awareness)
Climate – temperature, rainfall (not exact numbers, just the range is enough)
Natural Vegetation, Forests:
Tropical (Forests, Grasslands, Deserts)
Mediterranean
Temperate ( Forests, Grasslands, Deserts)
Polar Tundra
Importance of the region and other activities carried out
Example: The Arctic or Polar Climate- they are found mainly in the north of the Arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperature- ranges from 10 C to -37 C, Winters are long and very severe whereas summers are cool and brief. Precipitation is in the form of snow. Tundra Vegetation. It has gained importance due to discovery of minerals.
How do all these phenomenon influence Indian climate and vegetation
Note:
For better understanding refer these pages in the ‘The Orient BlackSwan School Atlas’
NCERT – Geography – Class 11 ‘Fundamentals of Physical Geography’
Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Chengleong
9th August 2015
SUBJECT &TOPIC :
General Science and Technology
FOCUS ON:
The questions from this section are based on your general understanding and awareness. It will be more of application oriented and latest developments on the lines of UPSC Standards.
SOURCES TO REFER:
NCERT– Class 6th to 10th and Biology- class 12th
Newspaper- The Hindu, Times of India, Down to Earth and Science Daily.
10th August 2015
SUBJECT &TOPIC:
Environment /Ecology – Environmental Legislations- National and International; Sustainable Development
FOCUS ON:
The questions from this section are based on your general understanding and awareness. It will be more of application oriented and latest developments on the lines of UPSC Standards.
SOURCES TO REFER:
ICSE books- class 9th and 10th
NCERT Class 11th– Environmental Geography and NCERT Biology-class 12th
NIOS- Environment Notes
Newspapers: Times of India, The Hindu and Down to Earth
For Comprehensive Strategy on Prelims with Previous year Paper Analysis – Click Here
