Punjab General Studies Paper-I (History, Geography, and Society) – 250 Marks

Section- 1: HISTORY

1. History of the world: Events from 18th century; industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc. -their forms and effect on
2. Modern Indian history from the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities and issues.
3.  Socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Punjab.
4.  The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country with special reference to Punjab.
5. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

 Modern History:-

• Start with 18^thCentury(Read about Marathas) till 1980.
• Freedom Struggles(Modern India)
• Books:- NCERTs(Class 11^thand 12^th) and Bipin Chandra.

World History:-  (Same as Prelims)                                                                                                                                                            

• Famous Revolutions, World Wars until today(Globalisation).                                                                                                                                
• Books:- Arjun Dev(Old NCERT) or Norman Lowe(World History)

 History of Punjab:

•  Ranjit Singh’s rise to power, civil and military administration and relations with the British
• The annexation of Punjab with special reference to the causes and consequences of the Anglo-Sikh wars.

Book for Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten- by Rajmohan Gandhi  (Author)

Section-2: GEOGRAPHY

Physical Geography: Salient features of the world’s physical geography. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

 Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

 Geography of Punjab: Physiographic details of Punjab; Geomorphic features of Punjab, Punjab’s strategic location with reference to International Border;

Crops of Punjab; Modern concepts of Farming; Problems faced by agriculturists/ Issues in Agriculture: Depletion of groundwater, etc;

Books:- Geography:-

• D R Khullar or Majid Hussain or Savinder Singh.                                     
• NCERTs ( 6^thto 12^th ) must-read.
• G C Leong.
• Physical as well as Political aspect of India.

Geography of Punjab:-

• Geography of Punjab by Harpal Singh Mavi  & D S Tiwana.

Section-3: SOCIETY

1.  Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
2.  Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
3.  Effects of globalization on Indian society
4.  Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
5.  Ethics and Society: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
6. Human Values – Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values; lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders and reformers- Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Kabir, Guru Nanak; Swami Vivekananda, Jyotibha Phule, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar and Mahatma Gandhi.
7. Vulnerable sections of the population – Welfare schemes by the Centre and State of Punjab and their performance; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for their protection and betterment.
8. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector- Health, Education, Human Resources; Issues relating to Poverty and Malnutrition.

Books:-

 Government Websites.                                                                                                                       

Class 11th & 12th NCERTs (Sociology).

Ram Ahuja book for Indian Society.

Ethics, Integrity and Values in Public Service- by Ramesh K. Arora (Author).

A Foundation Course in Human Values and Professional Ethics  (Gaur R.R.).

Newspaper and Magazines.