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UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B) Syllabus

The General Studies (GAT - Part B) syllabus for UPSC NDA & NA in full: 4 chapters, 17 topics and 31 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 50 General Studies (GAT - Part B) flashcards with answers.

4Chapters
17Topics
31Sub-topics
50Flashcards

General Studies (GAT - Part B) syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. History of India

     5 topics
    • Ancient and Medieval India
      • Indus Valley Civilisation and Vedic age
      • Major dynasties and empires
      • Bhakti and Sufi movements
    • Modern India and British Rule
      • Advent of Europeans and expansion of British power
      • Social and religious reform movements
    • Indian Freedom Movement
      • Revolt of 1857 and early nationalism
      • Gandhian era and mass movements
      • Partition and independence
    • Cultural and Civilisational Heritage of India
      • Renaissance, exploration and discovery
      • Elementary study of Indian culture
    • India Since Independence

  2. Indian Polity and Governance

     4 topics
    • The Constitution of India
      • Making of the Constitution and Preamble
      • Fundamental Rights and Duties
      • Directive Principles of State Policy
    • Union and State Government
      • President, Parliament and Council of Ministers
      • Governor, State Legislature and judiciary
    • Five Year Plans and Development
      • Objectives of Five Year Plans
      • Community development and Panchayati Raj
    • India and the World
      • India's foreign policy and role in the world
      • Major international organisations

  3. Indian Economy and Society

     4 topics
    • Basic Economic Concepts
      • Nature of the Indian economy
      • National income and per capita income
    • Co-operatives and Rural Development
      • Co-operative movement
      • Community development programmes
    • Mixed Economy and Mechanisation
      • Concept of mixed economy
      • Mechanisation of agriculture and industry
    • Forces Shaping the Modern World

  4. Current Events and Affairs

     4 topics
    • National Current Affairs
      • Important events in India
      • Government schemes and policies
    • International Current Affairs
      • Important world events
      • India and its neighbours
    • Awards, Honours and Prominent Personalities
    • Sports, Defence and Science Updates
      • Major sporting events and achievements
      • Defence exercises and new inductions

UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B) flashcards — 50 questions with answers

  1. Which dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya around 322 BCE, and who was his chief political advisor?

    The Mauryan Empire; his advisor was Chanakya (Kautilya), author of the Arthashastra.

  2. After which battle did the Mauryan emperor Ashoka embrace Buddhism and a policy of Dhamma?

    The Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE).

  3. Which empire is regarded as the 'Golden Age' of ancient India, notable for advances in science, mathematics and art?

    The Gupta Empire (c. 320-550 CE).

  4. Who established the Delhi Sultanate's first dynasty (the Slave/Mamluk dynasty) in 1206 CE?

    Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

  5. Which Mughal emperor introduced the religious policy of Din-i-Ilahi and the mansabdari administrative system?

    Akbar.

  6. Name the four levels of the historical periodisation of India in standard study order from earliest.

    Ancient India, Early Medieval, Medieval (Delhi Sultanate/Mughal), and Modern India.

  7. In which year and at which battle did the British East India Company establish dominance in Bengal, marking the start of British political power in India?

    1757, at the Battle of Plassey (Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah).

  8. Which 1764 battle gave the East India Company the Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha?

    The Battle of Buxar (1764), confirmed by the Treaty of Allahabad (1765).

  9. What was the Permanent Settlement of 1793 and who introduced it?

    A land-revenue system fixing tax permanently and creating zamindars as landowners; introduced by Lord Cornwallis.

  10. The 1857 revolt is known by what two common names, and where did it begin?

    The Revolt of 1857 / First War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny); it began at Meerut.

  11. What major constitutional change followed the Revolt of 1857 regarding the governance of India?

    The Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown (start of the British Raj).

  12. In which year and city was the Indian National Congress founded, and who was its first president?

    1885 in Bombay; its first president was W.C. Bonnerjee (founder: A.O. Hume).

  13. Which 1905 British decision sparked the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal?

    The Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon.

  14. What event on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar became a turning point in the freedom struggle?

    The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, ordered by General Dyer.

  15. Name the three major mass movements led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule.

    Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930, incl. Dandi Salt March), and Quit India Movement (1942).

  16. What was the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) of 1930?

    Gandhi's 240-mile march to Dandi to make salt in defiance of the British salt tax, launching Civil Disobedience.

  17. Who founded the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) and gave the slogan 'Give me blood and I will give you freedom'?

    Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji).

  18. On what date did India gain independence, and who was its first Prime Minister?

    15 August 1947; the first Prime Minister was Jawaharlal Nehru.

  19. Which two major architectural styles dominate India's cultural heritage in temple building?

    The Nagara (North Indian) and Dravida (South Indian) styles, with the Vesara as a hybrid.

  20. Name the four classical dance forms most cited in India's cultural heritage and one state each.

    Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (North India/UP), Kathakali (Kerala), and Odissi (Odisha).

Show the other 30 General Studies (GAT - Part B) flashcards

  1. Which three ancient Indian universities were major centres of learning?

    Nalanda, Takshashila (Taxila), and Vikramshila.

  2. Which two Sanskrit epics form a core part of India's civilisational heritage?

    The Ramayana and the Mahabharata (which contains the Bhagavad Gita).

  3. What was the principal cause and outcome of the 1948 integration of princely states into India?

    Over 560 princely states were integrated through the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon, unifying India.

  4. In what year were the Indian states reorganised on a linguistic basis by the States Reorganisation Act?

    1956.

  5. Name the three wars India fought with Pakistan after independence by year.

    1947-48, 1965, and 1971 (the 1971 war led to the creation of Bangladesh).

  6. On what date did the Constitution of India come into force, celebrated as Republic Day?

    26 January 1950 (it was adopted on 26 November 1949).

  7. Who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?

    Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

  8. How many Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, and name them.

    Six: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

  9. What are the Directive Principles of State Policy, and in which part of the Constitution are they found?

    Non-justiciable guidelines for the State to establish a just society; found in Part IV (Articles 36-51).

  10. Which article of the Constitution describes the Right to Constitutional Remedies, called by Ambedkar 'the heart and soul' of the Constitution?

    Article 32.

  11. What is the Preamble's description of India in terms of its political nature?

    A Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic (Socialist and Secular added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976).

  12. Name the three organs of the Indian government and their core functions.

    Legislature (makes laws), Executive (implements laws), and Judiciary (interprets laws).

  13. What are the two Houses of the Indian Parliament called?

    Lok Sabha (House of the People / lower house) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States / upper house).

  14. Who is the constitutional head of the Indian Union, and who is the real executive head?

    The President is the constitutional (nominal) head; the Prime Minister is the real executive head.

  15. What is the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha and the normal term of its members?

    Maximum 552 members; a normal term of 5 years.

  16. Who is the constitutional head of a State, appointed by the President?

    The Governor.

  17. What is the apex court of India, and who heads it?

    The Supreme Court of India, headed by the Chief Justice of India.

  18. What is the Five Year Plan system, and which body originally formulated India's plans?

    A centralised economic programme setting development goals over five years; originally formulated by the Planning Commission (set up 1950).

  19. On which economic model was the First Five Year Plan (1951-56) based, and what was its primary focus?

    The Harrod-Domar model; its primary focus was agriculture and irrigation (e.g., dams).

  20. The Second Five Year Plan (1956-61) was based on which model and emphasised what?

    The Mahalanobis model, emphasising rapid industrialisation and heavy/basic industries.

  21. Which body replaced the Planning Commission in 2015?

    NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).

  22. What is India's official foreign policy stance during the Cold War, championed by Nehru?

    Non-Alignment (the Non-Aligned Movement, NAM), avoiding alliance with either the US or USSR bloc.

  23. What were the Panchsheel principles in India's foreign policy?

    The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, including mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

  24. Define the basic economic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics.

    Microeconomics studies individual units (households, firms, prices); macroeconomics studies the economy as a whole (GDP, inflation, unemployment).

  25. What is the difference between GDP and GNP?

    GDP is the total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders; GNP is GDP plus net income earned by residents from abroad.

  26. Define inflation and name its two main demand-side and cost-side types.

    Inflation is a sustained rise in the general price level; types include demand-pull inflation and cost-push inflation.

  27. What is a cooperative, and what is its guiding principle?

    A voluntary association of people who jointly own and democratically control an enterprise, guided by self-help and mutual benefit ('one member, one vote').

  28. What was Operation Flood, and who led India's cooperative dairy movement?

    A programme that made India the world's largest milk producer (the 'White Revolution'); led by Verghese Kurien (Amul/AMUL cooperative model).

  29. What is a 'mixed economy', the model adopted by India?

    An economic system combining both public (government) and private sector enterprise, blending capitalism and socialism.

  30. What is mechanisation in agriculture, and which programme used it to boost food-grain output in the 1960s-70s?

    Replacing manual/animal labour with machines (tractors, harvesters) and modern inputs; used in the Green Revolution, led by M.S. Swaminathan.

UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B) FAQ

What is in the UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B) syllabus?

UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B) is split into 4 chapters: History of India, Indian Polity and Governance, Indian Economy and Society and Current Events and Affairs. Together they contain 17 topics and 31 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B)?

4 chapters, containing 17 topics and 31 sub-topics. The largest chapter is History of India, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for UPSC NDA & NA General Studies (GAT - Part B)?

Yes — a 50-card General Studies (GAT - Part B) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.