SSC - CHSL Combined Higher Secondary Level STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION VOLUME – II General Awareness Index Polity 1. Introduction 1 2. Historical Background 1 3. Making of the constitution 3 4. Sources, Parts and schedules of constitution 4 5. Feature and the preamble 10 6. The union and its territory 11 7. Citizenship &Fundamental rights 12 8. DPSP & Fundamental duties 13 9. President & vice president 14 10. The prime minister & the council of minister 17 11. The Parliament 19 12. Constitutional & Non constitutional commissions 22 13. The supreme court & High court 24 14. The state 28 Governor, CM, Legislature 15. Panchayati Raj Institutions 30 Indian History Ancient India 1. Introduction 32 2. Indus valley civilization 32 3. Vedic – culture 34 4. Buddhism, Jainism, Magadh 37 5. Mauryan Period 40 6. Different Dynasty’s of ancient India 42 7. Foreign Invasions 43 8. Gupta Empire 45 9. Harshvardhana Reign 47 10. The Deccan & South India 48 Medieval India 1. The Palas & Arab Invasion 51 2. Sultanate Period 52 Slave dynasty Khilji Dynasty Tughlaq Dynasty Sayyad Dynasty The Lodi Dynasty 3. Vijay nagar Empire 57 4. Mughal Period 57 Babar Humayun Akbar Jahangir Sahanjahan Aurangzeb 5. Maratha Empire 60 Modern India 1. The advent of the Europeans 61 2. East India company rule in India 62 3. The Revolt of 1857 62 4. Indian National congress & its phases 63 5. Socio - Religious Movement 65 6. The Gandhian Era 67 7. From Cripps mission to freedom 69 Geography 1. Physiography of India 75 2. Drainage system of India 76 3. Indian climate & soils 78 4. Natural vegetation & wildlife 79 5. Agriculture of India 80 6. Natural resources 81 7. World Geography 82 Economics 1. Basics of Economics 89 2. Demand & Supply concept 89 3. Sectors of Indian Economics 92 4. National Income 94 5. Market, cost, Revenue 94 6. Economic planning of India 95 7. Banking & Insurance 98 8. Inflation 102 9. Indian Tax system 102 10. Socio – Economic indicators 104 11. International organization 105 12. Different Schemes 105 13. Population & Poverty 109 Miscellaneous Miscellaneous & Static GK of India 112 Indian History First millennium AD – 1 AD – 1000 AD Second millennium AD – 1001 – 2000 - The study of the past is called “History”. AD - The English word history is derived from the Greek word history meaning research Lithic Age or the stone Age (30,00,000 inquiry or investigation. BC – 1000 B.C.) Ancient Indian can be studied under other System of Dating: heads like Paleolithic Mesolithic, Neolithic B.C.: B.C. is the acronym of before charts. and chalcolithic Period. This is an English phrase meaning. ‘Before the birth of (Jesus) Christ. Name of Time Life Implemen the period style ts (Tools Example: Gautam Budha was born in 563 period & B.C. and died in 483 B.C. Weapons) A.D.: AD is the acronym of Anno Domini. This Paleolith 30,00,0 Hunter Chopper, is a Latin phrase meaning in the era of the ic 00 BC to s and Chopping, lord. 10,000 food Hand Axe, B.C gather cleaver, Example: Jesus Christ was crucified in 30 A.D. Flake, - Hazard Mohammad was born in 570 A.D. tolls, and died in 632 A.D. Blade First decade of 20th century AD means – tools. the period from 1901 AD to 1910 AD. Mesolith 9000 Hunter Microsite th Fifth decade of 20 century AD means ic B.C. – s and implemen – the period from 1941. 4000 Herder ts th Eighth decade of 20 century AD means B.C s – the period from 1971 AD to 1980 AD. Last of 20th century AD means – the Neolithic 1000 Food – Polished period from 1991 AD to 2000 AD. B.C – produc implemen First half of 20th century AD means – 1000 er ts from 1901 AD to 1950 AD. B.C Second half of 20th century AD means – from 1951 AD to 2000 AD. Harappan Age / Indus civilization 6th Century BC means – 600 BC to 501 BC 2, 500 B.C – 1,750 BC 4th Century BC means – 400 BC to 301 - Three names are proposed for the BC civilization of Harappa age – Harappa, 16th century AD means – 1051 AD to civilization, Indus civilization & Indus 1600 AD Saraswati civilization. 20th Century AD means – 1901 - Harappa civilization was the Second millennium BC – 2000 BC – 1001 civilization of age. B C - Harappa sites was discovered by First millennium BC – 1000 BC – 1 BC Dayaram Sahni in 1921. Regional Extension of Harappan Past Harappan Age – 2000 B.C. – 1000 Civilization B.C. Region / State Archaeological sites - After 2000 B.C in the different origin of Indian subcontinent the various regional Afghanistan (1) Shor tlughai cultures come into existence. (2) Mundigate. - These cultures were not urban culture Pakistan Mehargarh, Kili ghul like Indus civilization but rural culture. Muhanacl, Rama - Mohenjodaro was excavated in 1992 by Ghumcli, R.D. Banerzee. Dabarkoot, Balokot, Sutkangendor. Important cities: City River Archeologic Punjab (Pakistan) Harappa, Jalipur, al Sanghanwala, importance Derawar, Crhameriwal, (i) Harappa Ravi Mother Saraikhola. goddess, figurines, a Sindh (Pakistan) Mohanjodara, row of 6 Amari, Kathdizi, granaries. Chamhdaro, Alimaracl, Jhangar. (ii) Mohanjodar Indus Great o Granary, Jammu Kashmir Mooda great bath, Haryana Vanawali, image of Rakhigarhi. pashupati, Rajasthan Kalibanga, Mahadeva image of Ganeshwar, Bearded Hanumangarh, Mithal, Chhupar. man and bronze Uttar Pradesh Alamghirpur, image of a Manpur, Bargaon, woman Sanawli. dancer. Gujarat Wholavira, Lothal, (iii) Lothal Bhargav Port city, Surkotda, a Double Bhagatrua, Rangpur burial, Maharashtra Daimabad. Terracotta, those figurines. (iv) Chanhudaro Indus City without a capital. (v) Dhoolavira Indus City divided - Steatite was mainly used in the into 3 parts manicure of seals. (vi) Kalibangan Ghaghar Vedic – Culture (1500 B.C – 600 B.C) a - The Aryans are supposed to have migrated from central Asia into the Common Features of Major Cities: Indian subcontinent in several stages or wages during 2000 B.C – 1500 B.C. Systematic town planning on the lines - Boghazkai inscription, which mentions 4 of grid system. Vedic goods Indra, Varuma, Mitra and Use of burnt bricks in constructions. Nasatya. Underground drainage systems. - The Group that came to India first Forfeited citadel (exception – settled in the present frontier province chanpudaro) and the Punjab – then called Sapt a Surkotada (Gujarat): The only Indus site Sindu i.e. region of seven rivers. where the remains of a horse have actually been found. Vedic Literature: Main crops: Wheat & Barely; evidence of cultivation of rice in Lothal and Vedic Literature comprises of four Rangpur (Gujarat) only. litracy productions: - Indus people were the first to produce (i) The samhitas or Vedas. cotton in the world. (ii) The Brahmas. - Lion was not known to Indus people. (iii) The Aram akas - There was extensive inland & foreign (iv) The Upanishads. trade. - Foreign trade with Mesopotamia or The most important of Vedic literature are sumeria. Vedas. - A very interesting features of this - Vedas are called apaurasheya i.e. not civilization was that iron was not known created by man but god – gifted and to the people. Nitya i.e. existing in all eternity. - Lothal was an ancient part of Indus civilization. There are four Vedas: - The Indus civilization was primarily Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Samaveda, Atthar urban. Veda, - The most commonly found figure is not (1) Rigveda: that of mother Goddes. It the oldest tent in the world. - The chief male deity was the ‘pasupati - The Rig Veda contains loz hymus and Monadeva’ i.e. the lord of animals. 10560 Verses, divided inot 10 mandals. - Humpless bull is represented in most of - The hymns of Rig Veda were recited by the Indus seals. Hatri. - The orgin of the ‘Swastika’ symbol can - Also contains the famous Gayatri be traced to the Indus civilization. Mantra. - Contemporary civilization of Indus civilization Mesopotamia, Egypt and (2) The Yajur Veda – Is a Ritual Veda china. - It is vided inot two parts Krishna Yajurveda and Shukla Yajur Veda. - Rituals of Yajnas. Shad – darshan: There are 6 schools of Indian Philosphy (3) The Sama Veda – had 1549 Verses. known as the shad – darshans. - This Veda is important for India Darshana Founder Basic Text music. - Book for chants. (1) Snakhya Kapila Sankhya Darshan Sutra (4) The Athar Veda: Contains Charms and (2) Yoga Patanjali Yoga Sutra Spells to word off evils and discuses. Darshan - Mantras for magic spells. (3) Nyaya Akshapada – Mayaya Darshan The Upanishadas: Gautama sutra - The upanishadas are philosophical texts. (4) Vaish Vluka Vaisheika - They are generally called Vedanta. esika Kanada Sutra - There are 108 upanishads. warshna - Vrihadaranyaka is the oldest (5) Mimansa Vaimini Purva upnishadas. Minasa Sutra Vedangas: There are six Vedangas (6) Vedant Badarayana Bharma (1) Shiksha Sutra (2) Kalpa Sutras (3) Vyakarana (4) Nirukta Rig Vedic (1500 BC – 1000 B.C): (5) Chanda - Rig Veda is the only source of knowledge (6) Jyotisha for period. - Rig Veda people, who called themselves Mahakavyas: There are mainly two Aryans were confined in the are which Mahakavyas. came to be known as Sapta Sinddhu i.e (1) The Ramayana land of the seven rivers. (2) The Mahabharata. - According to Rig Veda the famous The Purana: The Purana means “The old”: Dassajan was the interaine war of the - There are 18 famous ‘Puranas’ Aryans. - The matsya purana is the oldest The Rig Veda speaks of assemblies such puranic text. as the Sabha Samiti, Vidath, and Grana. - The important puranas are the - Rig Vedic society comprised four Bhagavata, the Vishnu. The vegu and Vramas, namely: Brahmana, Kshatriya, the Brahmnda. Vaishya and Shudra. - Teacher and priests were called Brahmas, Rules and administrators were called Kshatriyas and artisans and laburses were reckoned or shudras. - Child marriage was not in vogue. - Milk and its product curd, butter and ghee formed on important part of the diet.