MPSC Mains GENERAL STUDIES – I -HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
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Geography of Maharastra plays a crucial role in Maharastra PSC Mains i.e. MPSC Mains Exam. GENERAL STUDIES – I -HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY are designed by MPSC Toppers and other civil servants. Detail Notes can be browsed at the following links.
HISTORY
- 1.1 History of Modern India (1818-1857) particularly Maharashtra: Introduction of modern education – Press, Railway, Post and Telegraph, Industries, Land reforms and Socio-religious reforms – Its impact on society.
- 1.2 Establishment of British Rule in India: Wars against major Indian powers, Policy of subsidiary alliance, Doctrine of Lapse, Structure of British Raj upto 1857.
- 1.3 Socio-Cultural Changes: Contacts with Christian Missions, coming 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. Reform movements among the Sikhs and the Muslims, Depressed Classes Mission, Non-Brahmin movement and Justice Party.
- 1.4 Social and economic awakening: Indian Nationalism – 1857 revolt and after, Indian National Congress (1885- 1947), Azad Hind Sena, Role of important personalities, Role of Press and Education in social awakening in pre- independent India.
- 1.5 Emergence and growth of Indian nationalism: Social background, formation of National Associations, Peasant uprisings, foundation of Indian National Congress, the moderate phase, growth of extremism, Morley-Minto reforms, Home Rule movement, Lucknow pact, Mont-Ford reforms.
- 1.6 National movement in Gandhi Era: Gandhiji’s leadership and ideology of resistance, Gandhian mass movements, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience, individual Satyagraha, Quit India movement. Satyashodhak Samaj, Gandhiji and removal of untouchability, Dr. B.R.Ambedakar’s approach to problem of untouchability, Muslim politics and Freedom movement (Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh movement, Muslim League and Ali Brothers, Iqbal, Jinnah), Unionist Party and Krishak Praja Party, Politics of Hindu Mahasabha, Communists and the Indian freedom struggle, Congress Socialist Party, Women in the National movement, States’ Peoples’ movements, Leftist Movement – Peseant Movement – Tribal uprising, Trade Union Movement and Adivasi Movement.
- 1.7 India after Independence: Consequences of Partition, Integration of Princely states, Linguistic reorganisation of states, Nehru’s Policy of Non-alignment. Samyukta Maharashtra movement: major political parties and personalities involved therein, Relations with neighbouring countries, India’s role in International Politics. Progress in Agriculture, Industry, Education, Science and Technology. Emergence of Indira Gandhi’s Leadership, Liberation of Bangladesh, Non-Alignment under Indira Gandhi, Coalition Governments in States; Students’ unrest, Jayaprakash Narayan and Emergency. Terrorism in Punjab and Assam. Naxalism and Maosim, Environmental Movement, Women’s Movement and Ethnic Movement.
Selected Social Reformers of Maharashtra- their ideology and work: Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, - 1.8 Mahatma Phule, M.G. Ranade, Prabodhankar Thakare, Maharshi Karve, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Maharshi Vitthal Shinde, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave, Vinayak D. Sawarkar,Annabhau Sathe, Krantiveer Nana Patil, Lahuji Salve, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil.
- 1.9 Cultural Heritage of Maharashtra (Ancient to Modern) : Performing Arts (Dance, Drama, Films, Music and Folk Arts, Lavani, Tamasha, Povada, Bharud, and other folk dances), Visual Arts (Architecture, Painting and Sculpture) and Festivals. Impact of Literature on socio – psychological development of Maharashtra: Bhakti,Dalit, Urban and Rural Literature.
GEOGRAPHY– WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MAHARASHTRA
- 2.1 Physical Geography: Interior of the earth- composition and physical conditions. Factors controlling landform development. Concept of geomorphic cycles- landforms associated with fluvial, arid, glacial, and coastal cycle. Evolution and Geomorphology of the Indian Subcontinent- Major physiographic regions Problems of floods – Physiographic details of Maharashtra. Geomorphic features of Maharashtra. India’s strategic location with reference to her neighbours, Indian Ocean Rim, Asia and the World.
- 2.2 Economic Geography of Maharashtra: Minerals and Energy Resources: Their distribution, importance and development in Maharashtra. Tourism in Maharashtra – Religious Tourism, Medicinal Tourism, EcoTourism and Cultural Heritage. Reserved forests, Animal sanctuaries, National Parks and Forts in Maharashtra, Tiger Project.
- 2.3 Human and Social Geography of Maharashtra: Migration of population, causes and effects, sugarcane cutting labourers – effects of migration on source and destination areas. Rural settlements in Maharashtra.Problems of Urban and Rural Settlements – Environmental, Housing, Slum, Water Supply and Sanitation,Urban Traffic and Pollution.
- 2.4 Environmental Geography: Ecology and Ecosystem- energy flow, material cycle, food chain and webs.Environmental degradation and conservation, global ecological imbalances- pollution and Greenhouse effect, role of CO2 and methane in greenhouse effect, global warming, reduction in bio-diversity and depletion of forests. Environmental laws and environmental impact assessment. Kyoto protocol and Carbon credits. Urban waste management. CRZ I and CRZ II.
- 2.5 Population Geography (with reference to Maharashtra): Causes and consequences of migration. Rural and Urban settlements- site, situation, types, size, spacing and morphology. Urbanisation- process and problems. Rural – Urban Fringe, and sphere of urban influence. Regional imbalances.
- 2.6 Remote Sensing: Concept of remote sensing. Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites. Imageries- IRS products, MSS bands- blue, green, red and near infra red, False Colour Composite (FCC). Application of remote sensing in natural resources. Introduction to Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS).
GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE
- 3.1 Agroecology: Agroecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production. Climatic elements as factors of crop growth. Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans.
- 3.2 Climate: Atmosphere- composition and structure. Solar radiation and heat balance. Weather elements temperature, pressure, planetary and local winds, monsoon, air masses and fronts and cyclones. Mechanism of Indian monsoon, monsoon forecast, distribution of rainfall, cyclones, droughts and floods, and climatic regions. Distribution of Rainfall in Maharashtra – spatial and temporal variability – Agroclimatic zones of Maharashtra – Problem of Drought and scarcity, DPAP (Draught Prone Area Programme) –Water requirement in Agricultural, Industrial and Domestic Sectors. Problem of Drinking Water. Cropping pattern in different agro-climatic zones of Maharashtra. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping pattern. Concepts of multiple cropping, and inter-cropping and their importance. Modern concepts of organic farming, sustainable agriculture.
- 3.3 Soils: Soil-physical, chemical and biological properties. Processes and factors of soil formation. Mineral and organic constituents of soil and their role in maintaining soil productivity. Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and plants Problem soils and their reclamation methods. Problems of soil erosion and degradation in Maharashtra. Soil conservation planning on watershed basis. Erosion and runoff management in hilly, foot hills and valley lands; processes and factors affecting them.
- 3.4 Water management: Present scenario, Methods and importance of water conservation. Water quality standards. Interlinking of rivers in India. Conventional and non-conventional methods of rainwater harvesting. Groundwater management- technical and social aspects, Methods of artificial groundwater recharge. Concept of watershed and watershed management. Dryland agriculture and its problems. Water use efficiency in relation to crop production, ways and means of reducing run-off losses of irrigation water. Drip and sprinkler irrigation. Drainage of water-logged soils, effect of industrial effluents on soil and water.