VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE Geography of India TNPSC GROUP – I, II & IIA An ISO 9001 : 2015 Institution | Providing Excellence Since 2011 Head Office Old No.52, New No.1, 9th Street, F Block, 1st Avenue Main Road, (Near Istha siddhi Vinayakar Temple), Anna Nagar East – 600102. Phone: 044-2626 5326 | 98844 72636 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666 Branches SALEM KOVAI No.189/1, Meyanoor Road, Near ARRS Multiplex, No.347, D.S.Complex (3rd floor), (Near Salem New bus Stand), Nehru Street,Near Gandhipuram Opp. Venkateshwara Complex, Salem - 636004. Central Bus Stand, Ramnagar, Kovai - 9 Ph: 0427-2330307 | 95001 22022 Ph: 75021 65390 Educareerr Location VIVEKANANDHA EDUCATIONA PATRICIAN COLLEGE OF ARTS SREE SARASWATHI INSTITUTIONS FOR WOMEN AND SCIENCE THYAGARAJA COLLEGE Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode - 3, Canal Bank Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Palani Road, Thippampatti, TK Namakkal District - 637 205. Opp. to Kotturpuram Railway Station, Pollachi - 642 107 Ph: 04288 - 234670 Adyar, Chennai - 600020. Ph: 73737 66550 | 94432 66008 91 94437 34670 Ph: 044 - 24401362 | 044 - 90951 66009 24426913 © VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE First Edition - 2015 Second Edition - 2019 Third Edition - 2020 Pages : 200 Size : (240 × 180) mms Price : ` 250/- Published by: VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE F Block New No. 1, 9th Street, 1st Avenue main Road, Chinthamani, Anna Nagar (E), Chennai – 102. Phone: 044-2626 5326 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666 www.vetriias.com Feedback: [email protected] © All rights reserved with the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, will be responsible for the loss and may be punished for compensation under copyright act. My Dear Aspirants, Greetings to all of you! “What we think we become” said Gautama Buddha. We all have dreams. To turn dreams into reality it takes a lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and hard work. We at VETRII IAS Study Circle are committed to provide the right guidance, quality coaching and help every aspirant to achieve his or her life’s cherished goal of becoming a civil servant. The class room coaching at VETRII IAS Study Circle is meticulously planned to equip the aspirants with all the relevant facts and fundamentals of the subjects. Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study material aim to support the candidate by providing the most relevant study material in a comprehensive manner. Wishing You All The Very Best !! M. SHUNMUGAM Director - Vetrii IAS Study Circle. COMBINED CIVIL SERVICES Group I & II/II A Services (Preliminary Examination) General Studies – Degree Standard TOPICS FOR OBJECTIVE TYPE UNIT–I: General Science 1. Scientific Knowledge and Scientific temper - Power of Reasoning - Rote Learning Vs Conceptual Learning - Science as a tool to understand the past, present and future. 2. Nature of Universe - General Scientific Laws – Mechanics - Properties of Matter, Force, Motion and Energy - Everyday application of the basic principles of Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Sound, Heat, Nuclear Physics, Laser, Electronics and Communications. 3. Elements and Compounds, Acids, Bases, Salts, Petroleum Products, Fertilizers, Pesticides. 4. Main concepts of Life Science, Classification of Living Organisms, Evolution, Genetics, Physiology, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, Human diseases. 5. Environment and Ecology. UNIT–II: Current Events 1. History - Latest diary of events - National symbols - Profile of States - Eminent personalities and places in news – Sports - Books and authors. 2. Polity - Political parties and political system in India - Public awareness and General administration - Welfare oriented Government schemes and their utility, Problems in Public Delivery Systems. 3. Geography - Geographical landmarks. 4. Economics - Current socio - economic issues. 5. Science - Latest inventions in Science and Technology. UNIT–III: Geography of India 1. Location - Physical features - Monsoon, rainfall, weather and climate - Water resources - Rivers in India - Soil, minerals and natural resources - Forest and wildlife - Agricultural pattern. 2. Transport - Communication. 3. Social geography - Population density and distribution - Racial, linguistic groups and major tribes. 4. Natural calamity - Disaster Management – Environmental pollution: Reasons and preventive measures - Climate change - Green energy. UNIT–IV: History and Culture Of India 1. Indus valley civilization - Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas - Age of Vijayanagaram and Bahmani Kingdoms - South Indian history. 2. Change and Continuity in the Socio - Cultural History of India. 3. Characteristics of Indian culture, Unity in diversity – Race, language, custom. 4. India as a Secular State, Social Harmony. UNIT–V: Indian Polity 1. Constitution of India - Preamble to the Constitution - Salient features of the Constitution - Union, State and Union Territory. 2. Citizenship, Fundamental rights, Fundamental duties, Directive Principles of State Policy. 3. Union Executive, Union legislature – State Executive, State Legislature – Local governments, Panchayat Raj. 4. Spirit of Federalism: Centre - State Relationships. 5. Election - Judiciary in India – Rule of law. 6. Corruption in public life – Anti-corruption measures – Lokpal and LokAyukta - Right to Information - Empowerment of women - Consumer protection forums, Human rights charter. UNIT–VI: Indian Economy 1. Nature of Indian economy – Five year plan models - an assessment – Planning Commission and Niti Ayog. 2. Sources of revenue – Reserve Bank of India – Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy- Finance Commission – Resource sharing between Union and State Governments- Goods and Services Tax. 3. Structure of Indian Economy and Employment Generation, Land reforms and Agriculture - Application of Science and Technology in agriculture - Industrial growth - Rural welfare oriented programmes – Social problems – Population, education, health, employment, poverty. UNIT–VII: Indian National Movement 1. National renaissance – Early uprising against British rule - Indian National Congress - Emergence of leaders – B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O.Chidambaranar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose and others. 2. Different modes of Agitation: Growth of Satyagraha and Militant movements. 3. Communalism and partition. UNIT–VIII: History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu 1. History of Tamil Society, related Archaeological discoveries, Tamil Literature from Sangam age till contemporary times. 2. Thirukkural: (a) Significance as a Secular literature. (b) Relevance to Everyday Life. (c) Impact of Thirukkural on Humanity. (d) Thirukkural and Universal Values - Equality, Humanism, etc. (e) Relevance to Socio-Politico - Economic affairs. (f) Philosophical content in Thirukkural. 3. Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle - Early agitations against British Rule - Role of women in freedom struggle. 4. Evolution of 19th and 20th Century Socio-Political movements in Tamil Nadu - Justice Party, Growth of Rationalism - Self Respect Movement, Dravidian movement and Principles underlying both these movements, Contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna. UNIT–IX: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu 1. Human Development Indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the Country – Impact of Social Reform Movements in the Socio-Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. 2. Political parties and Welfare schemes for various sections of people – Rationale behind Reservation Policy and access to Social Resources - Economic trends in Tamil Nadu – Role and impact of social welfare schemes in the Socio-Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. 3. Social Justice and Social Harmony as the Cornerstones of Socio-Economic Development. 4. Education and Health Systems in Tamil Nadu. 5. Geography of Tamil Nadu and its Impact on Economic Growth. 6. Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various Fields. 7. e-Governance in Tamil Nadu. UNIT-X: Aptitude and Mental Ability 1. Simplification – Percentage - Highest Common Factor (HCF) - Lowest Common Multiple (LCM). 2. Ratio and Proportion. 3. Simple interest - Compound interest - Area - Volume - Time and Work. 4. Logical Reasoning - Puzzles - Dice - Visual Reasoning - Alpha numeric Reasoning – Number Series. Contents 1. Location and Physical Features of India 1 2. Water Resources & Rivers 19 3. Monsoon, Rainfall, Weather & Climate 35 4. Soil 43 5. Agriculture 49 6. Forest and Wildlife 73 7. Minerals & Natural Resources 95 8. Transport and Communication 113 9. Social Geography 129 10. Natural Calamity & Disaster Management 149 Chapter Location and Physical 1 Features of India INTRODUCTION India is the seventh largest country in the world and second largest country in Asia. It forms a part of south Asia and is separated by the Himalayas from the rest of the continent. India accounts for about 2.4 % of the total area of the world with an area of 32,87,263 sq.km. Many of the India states are larger than several countries of the world. 1.1 INDIA’S LAND AND WATER FRONTIERS ■ India shares its 15,200 km long land frontier with Pakistan in the west, Afghanistan in the north-west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east. ■ India’s longest border is with Bangladesh (4156 km) while the shortest border is with Afghanistan (106 km). ■ About 6,100 km