Maharashtra PSC Syllabus For Mains

The Maharashtra Public Service Commission is a body created by the Constitution of India under article 315 to select officers for civil service jobs in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Here is a Detailed Syllabus for Maharashtra PSC Syllabus for Mains.

MPSC Syllabus for Mains

No. of Papers: 06

Medium: English & Marathi

MPSC Mains Paper – III Detailed Syllabus:

Paper III: GENERAL STUDIES –I (History and Geography)

Total Marks: 150

Duration: 2 Hours

Question Type: Objective or MCQs

HISTORY:

Establishment of the British Rule in India: Arrival of the British East India Company, Wars against major Indian powers, Policy of subsidiary alliance, Doctrine of Lapse, Structure of British Raj upto 1857.

History of Modern India: Introduction of modern education - Press, Railway, Post and Telegraph, Industries, Land reforms and Socio-religious reforms and their impact on society.

Renaissance Era:

Social and Cultural Changes - Contacts with Christian Missionaries, Role of English education and the press, Official- social reform measures (1828 to 1857). Socio-religious reform movements: Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Satyashodhak Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramkrishna mission and Theosophical Society.

Reform movements among the Sikhs and the Muslims, Depressed Classes Mission, Non-Brahmin movement and Justice Party.

Indian Economy under Colonial Rule: The Mercantile phase, The Drain of the Wealth- The Drain Theory of Dadabhai Naoroji, de-industrialization- Decline of Indian Handicrafts, Commercialization of Indian Agriculture. Rise of Modern Industry – Role of Indian mercantile communities, Entry of British Finance Capital in India, Tilak’s Swaraj Fund and contribution of G. K. Gokhale.

Emergence and growth of Indian Nationalism: Social background, formation of National Associations, Role of Press and Education in social awakening in preindependent India, Revolt of 1857, foundation of Indian National Congress, the moderate phase, growth of extremism, Partition of Bengal, Home Rule Movement, Role of important personalities- Surendranath Banerjee, Firozshah Mehta, Dadabhai Naoroji, A. O. Hume, Bipinchandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Annie Besant, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru & Others.

Famous movements against British Government: -

Peasant uprisings, Tribal uprising - Mutinies of – Raghoji Bhangre, Umaji Naik, etc. and Adivasi Movements.
Revolutionary Movements: Revolts in Maharashtra-Vasudeo Phadke, Abhinav Bharat, Revolutionary Movements in Bengal & Punjab, Revolutionary movements of Indians in America, England, Azad Hind Sena.
Communist (Leftist) Movement: The Communists and the Indian freedom struggle, Congress Socialist Party, Trade Union Movement.

National movement in Gandhian Era and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s approch to the problem of untouchability:

Gandhiji’s leadership and ideology of resistance, Gandhian mass movements, Non- cooperation movement, Civil Disobedience movement, Faizpur Congress session of 1936, Individual Satyagraha, Quit India Movement, Gandhiji and removal of untouchability.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s approach to problem of untouchability, Movements for Annihilation of Caste - Dr. Ambedkar’s approach, Gandhiji’s approach, Other Efforts; Unionist Party and Krishak Praja Party, Women’s participation in the National movement.

States’ Peoples’ movements.

Constitutional Development under British Government: The Indian Council Act-1861, The Indian Council Act-1892, The Indian Council Act-1909 (Morley-Minto reforms), The Government of India Act 1919 (Mont-Ford reforms), The Government of India Act 1935.

Growth of Communalism and the Partition of India: Muslim politics and Freedom movement (Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh movement, Muslim League and Ali Brothers, Iqbal, Jinnah), Politics of Hindu Mahasabha.

Toward the Transfer of Power: The August Offer 1940, The Cripps Mission 1942, The Wavell Plan 1945, The Cabinet Mission Plan 1946, The Mountbatten Plan 1947, The Indian Independence Act 1947 1.11 India after Independence: Consequences of Partition, Integration of Princely states, Linguistic reorganization of states, Sanyukta Maharashtra movement – Involvement of major political parties and personalities involved therein, Relations with neighbouring countries, India’s role in International Politics : Non- alignment policy- Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi; Progress in Agriculture, Industry, Education, Science and Technology, Emergence of Indira Gandhi’s Leadership, Liberation of Bangladesh, Coalition Governments in States, Students’ unrest, Jayaprakash Narayan and Emergency. Terrorism in Kashmir, Panjab and Assam, Naxalism and Maoism, Environmental Movement, Women’s Movement and Ethnic Movement.

Selected Social Reformers of Maharashtra- Their ideology and work: Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Mahatma Phule, Justice M. G. Ranade, Prabodhankar Thakare, Maharshi Karve, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Maharshi Vitthal Shinde, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lokmanya Tilak, Sarvajanik Kaka Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi, Pandita Ramabai, Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh, Lokhitwadi Gopal Hari Deshmukh, Justice K. T. Telang, Dr. Bhau Daji Lad, Acharya Balshastri Jambhekar, Jagannath Shankarsheth, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Kalkarte Shivram Mahadeo Paranjape, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, D. K. Karve, R. D. Karve, Vinoba Bhave, Vinayak D. Sawarkar, Annabhau Sathe, Krantiveer Nana Patil, Lahuji Salve, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, Vishnubuva Brahmachari, Senapati Bapat, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj, Baba Amte, Sant Gadge Baba.

Cultural Heritage of Maharashtra (Ancient to Modern): Kanheri, Elephanta, Ajanta, Ellora caves, Lonar lake, Forts, etc. Performing Arts - Dance, Drama, Films, Music, Folk Arts - Lavani, Tamasha, Povada, Bharud, and other folk dances,Visual Arts -Architecture, Painting and Sculpture. Festivals. Impact of Literature and Saint literature on socio-psychological development of Maharashtra: Bhakti, Dalit, Urban and Rural Literature.

GEOGRAPHY – (With Special Reference to Maharashtra):

Geomorphology:

Interior of the Earth. Composition and physical conditions. Indogenic and Exogenic Forces, Rocks and Minerals. Controlling factors on Evolution of the Landforms. Concept of the Geomorphic cycles. Landforms associated with Fluvial, Desert, Glacial and Coastal Regions. Evolution and Geomorphology of the Indian Sub-Continent. Major Physiographic Divisions of the India. Physiography and the geomorphic features of the Maharashtra State. Natural Landscapes in Maharashtra- Hills, Ridges, Table lands, Spot holes. Water falls. Hotsprings and Beaches.

Climatology:

Atmosphere- Composition and structure, Extent, Elements of weather and climate. Solar Radiation and Heat Balance on the Earth surface. Temperature- Vertical and Horizontal distribution of temperature on the Earth surface. Air pressure- Winds, Planetary and Local winds. Monsoons in Maharashtra. Distribution of Rainfall, Droughts, Floods and it’s problems.

Human Geography: School of thoughts in Human Geography. Determinism and Possibilism, Stop and Go Determinism, Different approaches to achieve Development.

Human settlements- Rural Urban settlements- site, situation, Types, size, spacing and Morphology. Major Problems of Rural and Urban Settlements. Rural-Urban Fringe, Urbanisation : Process of Urbanisation, sphere of urban influence, Regional imbalances.

Economic Geography (Special Reference to Maharashtra) :

Economic Activities- Farming –Crops and cropping patterns in Maharashtra.  High Yield Varieties (HYV). Modern Techniques in Agriculture. Organic farming sustainable agriculture. Govt. policies about agriculture.

Fishing – Fishing in Inland water and Arabian sea. Problems of the fisherman, modernization in fishing. Minerals and Fuels – Major minerals and fuels in Maharashtra. Reservoirs and Exploitations of minerals. Problem of mining in Maharashtra.

Transportation -Types of transportation and its development in Maharashtra. Economic Development. Measures of economic development. Sustainable Development. Globalization.

Tourism – Types of Tourism, Cultural Heritage (Caves, Forts and Historical Monuments)

Knowledge Based Economic Activities – Electronic Industry. I.T. Parks in Maharashtra State specially in Pune city- Silicon valley of India. CTBT. Role of R and D. Institutes in Maharashtra State.

Population Geography (Special Reference to Maharashtra): Sources of population data. Growth, Density and Distribution of the population in Maharashtra. Population Structure and characteristics. Components of population change- Fertility, Mortality and Migration. Levels and Trends of-fertility, mortality and migration in Maharashtra. Population Growth and Economic Development, Population policies.

Environmental Geography (Special Reference to Maharashtra)

Ecosystem – Components: Biotic and Abiotic. The flow of Energy, Energy Pyramid. Nutrient cycling. Food chain and Food web. Environmental degradation and conservation. Global Ecological Imbalances. Reduction in Biodiversity. Threats of biodiversity, Man-Wild Life conflicts. Depletion of forests. Global warming- Green House Effects- The Role of CO, CO2, CH4, CFC’s , Nitrogen- oxides (NO). Acid Rains. Heat Islands in Maharashtra. Environmental Laws and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Kyoto Protocol and Carbon Credits.

Geography and Aero- Space Technology: The Term of Aero (sky) and space. GIS, GPS and Remote Sensing. The Era of Space Technology in relation to – Defence, Banking, Internet, Telecommunication. Planning in Transportation. (Railways, Roads, Navy and Air transportation.) Health and Education. Mission Shakti in India. Anti Sattelite Mission. Sattelites Space Assets. The Role of ISRO and DRDO in the Research and Development of space Technology. The Management of Space Garbage, Prevention of Arm Race in Space. Geo-Strategic position of India.

A. Fundamental of Remote sensing:

Basic concept of remote sensing
Data and information
Remote sensing data collection
Remote sensing advantages and limitation
Remote sensing process
Electro-magnetic Spectrum.
Energy interactions with atmosphere and with earth surface features (soil, water, vegetation)
Indian Satellites and Sensors characteristics
Map Resolution
Image and False color composite
Elements of visual interpretation and digital data.
Passive and active microwave remote sensing
Multispectral remote sensing and its applications

B. Aerial Photographs :

Types and uses of aerial photographs

Types of cameras and their applications

Error determination and spatial resolution

Aerial photography interpretation and map scales

Overlapping stereo photography

C. GIS and its applications :

Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Components of GIS
Geospatial data – spatial and attribute data
Coordinate systems
Map Projections and types
Raster data and models
Vector data and models
GIS task – input manipulations, management, query analysis and visualization 
Land use land cover change analysis
Digital elevation model (DEM)
Triangulated irregular network data models (TIN)
Applications of GIS to solve the societal needs in natural resource management and disaster management

AGRICULTURE

Agroecology:

Concept of an ecosystem, structure and function
Energy flow in ecosystem
Types and characteristics of ecosystem
Biodiversity, its sustainable management and conservation, conservation agriculture  Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources
Social issues and environment related to crop production
Carbon credit : concept, exchange of carbon credits, carbon sequestration, importance, meaning and ways
Environmental ethics : Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents , holocaust and their impact on agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries, contingent crop planning.

Soils:

Soil as a natural body, pedalogical and edaphological concept of soil 
Soil genesis: soil forming rocks and minerals 
Process and factors of soil formation 
Physical, chemical and biological properties of soil 
Soil profile and components of soil 
Soil as a source of plant nutrients, essential and beneficial plant nutrients and their role, forms of plant nutrients in soil
Soil organic matter - sources, composition, properties, factors affecting SOM, its importance and influence of SOM on soil properties
Soil organisms - macro and micro-organisms, their beneficial and harmful effects on soil and plant
Soil pollution: sources of soil pollution, behaviour of pesticides and inorganic contaminants, prevention and mitigation of soil pollution
Problem soils and their reclamation
Remote sensing and GIS in diagnosis and management of problem soils
Soil erosion, types and soil erosion control measures
Organic farming
Nano technology, precision farming

Water Management : Hydrological cycle –

Rainfed and dryland Agriculture
Water conservation techniques
Drought and crop mitigation
Runoff and water harvesting
Concept, objectives, principles, components of watershed management and factors affecting watershed management
Irrigation water quality, water pollution and effect of industrial effluents Drainage of water logged soils, Criteria for scheduling irrigation, water use efficiency and irrigation efficiencies
Inter-linking of rivers
Irrigation and water requirement of crops,
Irrigation systems and fertigation