Static GK Notes for UPSC, SSC, GPSC, RRB

1. Ancient Indian History

1. Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE):

- Major Sites: Harappa (Punjab), Mohenjo-daro (Sindh), Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat).

- Features: Urban planning, drainage systems, Great Bath, granaries, seals, undeciphered script.

- Artifacts: Dancing girl (bronze), Priest king (stone), bearded man.

- Economy: Agriculture, trade (Mesopotamia), no iron use.

2. Vedic Period (1500-600 BCE):

- Early Vedic: Pastoral life, Rigveda, tribal assemblies (sabha, samiti).

- Later Vedic: Settled agriculture, iron use, rituals, caste system.

3. Jainism:

- Founded by Mahavira (24th Tirthankara).

- Principles: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha.

- Triratnas: Right knowledge, faith, conduct.

4. Buddhism:

- Founded by Gautam Buddha (Siddhartha) in 6th century BCE.

- Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Middle Path.

- Councils: Rajgir (1st), Vaishali (2nd), Pataliputra (3rd), Kundalvana (4th).

5. Mauryan Empire:

- Chandragupta Maurya, Kautilya's Arthashastra.

- Ashoka: Kalinga war, Dhamma, Edicts (major and minor), spread of Buddhism.

6. Gupta Empire:

- Chandragupta I, Samudragupta (Allahabad inscription), Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya).

- Golden Age: Decimal system, Aryabhata's astronomy, Kalidasa's literature.

2. Medieval Indian History

1. Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526):

- Dynasties: Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi.

- Important rulers: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (Qutub Minar), Alauddin Khilji (market reforms), Muhammad bin

Tughlaq (currency experiments).

- Architecture: Mosques, tombs, forts.

2. Bhakti Movement:

- Saints: Kabir, Ravidas, Mirabai, Tulsidas.

- Emphasis on devotion, social reform, equality.

3. Sufi Movement:

- Saints: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya.

- Practices: Zikr, Sama; aimed at love, tolerance, unity.

4. Mughal Empire (1526-1857):

- Founding: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi (1st Battle of Panipat, 1526).

- Akbar: Religious tolerance, Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari system.

- Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal, Red Fort.

- Aurangzeb: Expansionist, orthodox policies.

3. Modern Indian History

1. Advent of Europeans:

- Portuguese (1498), Dutch, English (1600), French.

- Battle of Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764): British dominance.

2. Revolt of 1857:

- Causes: Political (doctrine of lapse), economic, military, religious.

- Leaders: Rani Laxmi Bai, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tantia Tope, Nana Sahib.

- Result: Crown rule started in 1858.

3. Indian National Congress (INC):

- Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume.

- Phases: Moderate (1885-1905), Extremist (1905-1919), Gandhian (1919-47).

4. Freedom Movements:

- Non-Cooperation (1920), Civil Disobedience (1930), Quit India (1942).

- Key leaders: Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose.

5. Independence:

- Mountbatten Plan, Indian Independence Act (1947).

- Partition and formation of India and Pakistan.

4. Indian Geography

1. Physical Divisions:

- Himalayas: Greater, Lesser, Shiwalik ranges.

- Northern Plains: Formed by Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra rivers.

- Peninsular Plateau: Deccan and Central Highlands.

- Coastal Plains and Islands (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep).

2. Rivers:

- Himalayan: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra.

- Peninsular: Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Kaveri.

- Important projects: Bhakra Nangal (Satluj), Sardar Sarovar (Narmada).

3. Soils:

- Alluvial (Northern Plains), Black (Deccan - cotton), Red, Laterite, Desert, Mountain.

4. Climate:

- Tropical Monsoon, 4 seasons: Summer, Rainy, Winter, Retreating Monsoon.

5. Forests and Wildlife:

- Evergreen (Western Ghats), Deciduous (Central India), Mangroves (Sundarbans).

- National Parks: Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir, Bandipur.

6. Agriculture:

- Crops: Rice, wheat, sugarcane, tea, coffee, cotton.

- Irrigation: Canals, wells, tubewells, drip irrigation.

5. Indian Polity

1. Constitution:

- Adopted: 26 Nov 1949, Enforced: 26 Jan 1950.

- Features: Written, federal, quasi-federal, borrowed from various countries.

- Preamble: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.

2. Fundamental Rights (Article 12-35):

- Right to Equality, Freedom, against Exploitation, Religious Freedom, Cultural & Educational Rights,

Constitutional Remedies.

3. Directive Principles of State Policy:

- Article 36-51, inspired by Irish Constitution.

4. Fundamental Duties:

- 11 duties under Article 51A (added by 42nd Amendment).

5. Union Government:

- President: Head of State, elected indirectly.

- Prime Minister: Head of Government.

- Parliament: Lok Sabha (people), Rajya Sabha (states).

6. Judiciary:

- Supreme Court: Highest, guardian of Constitution.

- High Courts, District Courts.

7. Amendments:

- 42nd (1976): Mini Constitution.

- 44th (1978): Removed Right to Property.

- 73rd & 74th: Panchayati Raj and Urban Bodies.

6. Indian Economy

1. Basic Concepts:

- GDP, GNP, NNP, Inflation, Deflation.

- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary sectors.

2. Planning:

- Five Year Plans: First (1951), Twelfth (2012-17), replaced by NITI Aayog.

3. RBI:

- Controls monetary policy.

- Tools: Repo Rate, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR.

4. Banking:

- Nationalized banks (1969, 1980), Private and Foreign banks.

5. Government Schemes:

- MGNREGA, PMAY, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, Skill India.

6. Budget:

- Revenue & Capital receipts/expenditures.

- Fiscal Deficit, Revenue Deficit.

7. Agriculture & Industry:

- Green Revolution, Minimum Support Price (MSP).

- MSMEs, Startups.
 Static GK Notes for UPSC, SSC, GPSC, RRB

7. General Science

1. Physics:

- Motion, Newton's Laws, Work-Energy, Light (Reflection, Refraction), Sound, Electricity (Ohm's Law),

Magnetism.

- SI Units: meter (length), kilogram (mass), second (time), ampere (current).

2. Chemistry:

- Atomic structure, Elements & Compounds, Periodic Table, Chemical reactions, Acids-Bases-Salts.

- Everyday chemistry: soap, detergents, fertilizers.

3. Biology:

- Cell structure, Photosynthesis, Human systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous).

- Diseases: Bacterial (TB), Viral (COVID-19), Deficiency (Scurvy, Rickets).

- Vitamins: A (eyes), B (energy), C (immunity), D (bones), K (clotting).

4. Genetics:

- DNA, Mendel's Laws, Heredity, Chromosomes.

8. Miscellaneous GK

1. Symbols:

- National Flag, Anthem, Animal (Tiger), Bird (Peacock), Flower (Lotus), Tree (Banyan).

2. Dances:

- Bharatanatyam (TN), Kathak (UP), Kathakali (Kerala), Odissi (Odisha), Bihu (Assam), Garba (Gujarat).

3. Books and Authors:

- 'Discovery of India' - Nehru, 'Wings of Fire' - APJ Abdul Kalam, 'Gitanjali' - Tagore.

4. Important Days:

- 26 Jan - Republic Day, 15 Aug - Independence Day, 5 Sep - Teachers' Day, 2 Oct - Gandhi Jayanti.

5. Awards:

- Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Gallantry Awards.

6. Sports:

- Cricket, Hockey, Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup.

7. UNESCO Heritage Sites:

- Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Sun Temple, Red Fort, Ajanta & Ellora Caves.