SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) General Awareness Syllabus

General Awareness syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Awareness in SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   History and Culture of India

   4 topics

   • Ancient India
     • Indus Valley Civilization
     • Vedic period
     • Mauryan and Gupta empires
     • Buddhism and Jainism
   • Medieval India
     • Delhi Sultanate
     • Mughal Empire
     • Bhakti and Sufi movements
     • Vijayanagara and Maratha
   • Modern India and Freedom Struggle
     • British expansion and revolts
     • 1857 revolt
     • Indian National Congress and Gandhian movements
     • Partition and independence
   • Art, Culture and Heritage
     • Classical dances and music
     • Architecture and UNESCO sites
     • Festivals and traditions
2. 2

   Geography

   4 topics

   • Physical Geography of India
     • Mountains, rivers and plateaus
     • Climate and monsoon
     • Soils and natural vegetation
   • World Geography
     • Continents and oceans
     • Major mountain ranges and deserts
     • Latitudes, longitudes and time zones
   • Economic and Resource Geography
     • Agriculture and crops
     • Minerals and industries
     • Transport and ports
   • Solar System and Universe
     • Planets and the Sun
     • Eclipses and motions of Earth
3. 3

   Indian Polity and Constitution

   5 topics

   • Constitutional Framework
     • Making of the Constitution
     • Preamble, sources and features
     • Schedules and important articles
   • Fundamental Rights, Duties and DPSP
   • Union and State Government
     • President, PM and Council of Ministers
     • Parliament and legislature
     • Governor and Chief Minister
   • Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies
     • Supreme Court and High Courts
     • Election Commission, CAG, UPSC
   • Local Self-Government
     • Panchayati Raj
     • Municipalities and 73rd/74th amendments
4. 4

   Economy

   4 topics

   • Basics of Indian Economy
     • National income and GDP
     • Sectors of economy
     • Economic planning and NITI Aayog
   • Banking and Finance
     • RBI and monetary policy
     • Money, inflation and types of banks
     • Budget and fiscal policy
   • Government Schemes and Programmes
     • Poverty alleviation and welfare schemes
     • Financial inclusion initiatives
   • International Economic Organisations
     • IMF, World Bank, WTO
5. 5

   General Science

   4 topics

   • Physics
     • Motion, force and energy
     • Light, sound and electricity
     • Units and measurements
   • Chemistry
     • Matter, atoms and molecules
     • Acids, bases and salts
     • Metals, non-metals and everyday chemistry
   • Biology
     • Human body systems
     • Nutrition, diseases and vitamins
     • Plant and cell biology
   • Science and Technology in News
     • Space and defence technology
     • Computers and IT basics
6. 6

   Current Affairs and Static GK

   5 topics

   • National and International Current Events
     • Government policies and summits
     • Important agreements and visits
   • Awards, Honours and Appointments
   • Sports
     • Olympics, Asian Games and cups
     • National sports and trophies
   • Books, Authors and Days/Themes
   • Static General Knowledge
     • Important dates, capitals and currencies
     • First, largest and longest in India/world

General Awareness flashcards for SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level)

19 of 50 cards from the General Awareness deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What metal was first used by humans during the Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone) Age in India, marking the transition from the Stone Age?

   Copper. The Chalcolithic period saw the first use of copper alongside stone tools, preceding the full Bronze and Iron ages.

2. During which broad period of Ancient India did the earliest organized urban civilization in the subcontinent emerge?

   The Bronze Age, with the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization, roughly 2500–1900 BCE.

3. On the banks of which river was the Indus Valley city of Mohenjo-daro located, and in which present-day country does it lie?

   On the banks of the Indus River, in the Sindh province of present-day Pakistan.

4. Which Harappan site is famous for its dockyard, considered the world's earliest known dockyard?

   Lothal, located in Gujarat, India.

5. What was the script of the Indus Valley Civilization, and what is its notable status today?

   The Indus script, written mostly right to left (boustrophedon in places); it remains undeciphered.

6. Name the 'Great Bath', a large public water tank, and the Harappan city where it was found.

   The Great Bath was found at Mohenjo-daro; it is the earliest known public water tank, likely used for ritual bathing.

7. What are the four Vedas of the Vedic period, in their generally accepted chronological order?

   Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. The Rigveda is the oldest.

8. In the Vedic social structure, what were the four varnas?

   Brahmanas (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors/rulers), Vaishyas (traders/farmers), and Shudras (laborers/service).

9. What is the difference between the Early (Rigvedic) and Later Vedic periods in terms of economy?

   The Early Vedic economy was largely pastoral (cattle-centered), while the Later Vedic period became agriculture-based with iron tools and settled kingdoms.

10. Who founded the Mauryan Empire and in which year (approximately) did he do so?

    Chandragupta Maurya, around 322 BCE, after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty.

11. Which Mauryan emperor adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga War, and what was the name of his inscribed messages?

    Ashoka the Great; his messages were inscribed as the Edicts of Ashoka on rocks and pillars.

12. Who wrote the Arthashastra, the famous treatise on statecraft and economics, and which ruler did he advise?

    Kautilya (Chanakya/Vishnugupta), who advised Chandragupta Maurya.

13. The Gupta Empire is often called the 'Golden Age' of India. Who is regarded as its founder?

    Sri Gupta is the founder of the dynasty; Chandragupta I is considered the first great Gupta emperor.

14. Which Gupta-era mathematician proposed the heliocentric idea and worked on the concept of zero and the decimal system?

    Aryabhata, author of the Aryabhatiya.

15. Who founded Buddhism, and by what title is he commonly known?

    Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha ('the Enlightened One').

16. What are the Four Noble Truths, the core teaching of Buddhism, in summary?

    1) Life involves suffering (dukkha); 2) Suffering has a cause (desire/craving); 3) Suffering can be ended; 4) The path to end it is the Eightfold Path.

17. Who founded Jainism as the 24th Tirthankara, and who was the first Tirthankara?

    Mahavira (Vardhamana) was the 24th and last Tirthankara; Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) was the first.

18. What are the three jewels (Triratna) of Jainism?

    Right Faith (Samyak Darshana), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra).

19. Which dynasty established the Delhi Sultanate in 1206, and who was its founder?

    The Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty, founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

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