PAPER 3 – General Studies
Total Marks: 250
Duration: 3 Hours
Paper 3 Detailed Syllabus:
UNIT-I : GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TAMILNADU
Location - Physical features - Major Rivers - Weather & Climate - Monsoon, Rainfall ‐ Natural resources:- Soil, Water, Forest, Minerals and Wild life - Agricultural pattern – Livestock - Fisheries - Industries; Major industries - Growth and Development - Social- Cultural geography - Population : Growth, Density and Distribution - Racial, linguistic and major tribes.
Oceanography - Bottom relief features of Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. Basics of Geospatial Technology: Geographical Information
System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
Map: Geographical landmarks - India and its neighbours.
Current Affairs
UNIT II: ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Ecology: Structure and function of Ecosystem – Ecological succession - Biodiversity conservation: Types – Biodiversity Hot Spots in India – Biodiversity : Significance and Threats – In situ and Ex situ conservation measures – Roles of Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) & Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Environmental Pollution and Management: Air, Water, Soil, Thermal and Noise pollution and control strategies – Solid and Hazardous waste management - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Steps in EIA process – Environmental Clearance – Environmental Auditing.
Climate Change: Global Environmental Issues and Management – Changes in monsoon pattern in Tamil Nadu and India – Environmental consequences of climate change and mitigation measures – Clean and
Green Energy – Environmental Sustainability. Environmental Laws, Policies & Treaties in India and Global scenario - Natural calamities and Disaster Management – Environmental Health and Sanitation. Current Affairs
UNIT III: INDIAN ECONOMY - CURRENT ECONOMIC TRENDS AND
IMPACT OF GLOBAL ECONOMY ON INDIA
Features of Indian Economy – Demographical profile of India – National Income – Capital formation - NEP (New Economic Policy) – NITI
AYOG – National Development Council. Agriculture – Role of Agriculture – Land reforms – New Agricultural Strategy – Green Revolution – Price Policy, Public Distribution System
(PDS), Subsidy, Food Security– Agricultural Marketing, Crop Insurance, Labour – Rural credit & indebtness – WTO & Agriculture. Industry - Growth ‐ Policy – Role of public sector and disinvestment – Privatisation and Liberalization – Public Private Partnership (PPP) – SEZs. – MSMEs. – Make in India.
Infrastructure in India – Transport System - Energy – Power – Communication - Social Infrastructure - Science & Technology - R&D.
Banking & Finance – Banking, Money & Finance – Central Bank – Commercial Bank – NBFIs. - Stock Market – Financial Reforms – Financial
Stability – Monetary Policy – RBI & Autonomy.
Public Finance – Sources of Revenue – Tax & Non-Tax Revenue – Canons of taxation – GST – Public expenditure – Public debt – Finance
Commission – Fiscal Policy.
Issues in Indian Economy – Poverty & inequality – Poverty alleviation programmes – MGNREGA – New Welfare programmes for rural poverty – Unemployment – Inflation – Inflation targeting – Sustainable economic growth – Gender issues.
India’s Foreign Trade – BOP, EX-IM Policy, FOREX Market, FDI;
Globalization & its impact – Global economic crisis & impact on Indian economy.
International Agencies – IMF (International Monetary Fund) World
Bank - BRICS - SAARC - ASEAN. Tamil Nadu Economy & Issues – Gross State Domestic Product –
Trends in State’s economic growth – Demographic profile of Tamil Nadu – Agriculture – Industry & entrepreneurship development in Tamil Nadu –
Infrastructure – Power, Transportation systems – Social Infrastructure – SHGs. & Rural Women empowerment – Rural poverty & unemployment –
Environmental issues – Regional economic disparities – Local
Government - Recent government welfare programmes.
Current Affairs