UPSC  
                      PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS 
                 DECODED SYLLABUS 
                                             
                                             
                                                     
                             th
                  AP -2241, 11  Main Road, Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar West 
                     Chennai – 600 040, Tamil Nadu, Contact : 9962002006 
                               www.shankariasacademy.com 
                                           
                              
                        I N D E X 
         Sl.No           Subjects          Page No 
          1.   History                       3 
          2.   Geography                     10 
          3.   Polity                        18 
          4.   Economics                     23 
          5.   Environment                   26 
          6.   International Organisation    30 
          7.   Science and  Technology       31 
      
      
                                                    2 
                                                                                                                    
                                                                   1. HISTORY 
                                                                 ANCIENT INDIA 
                 DECODED                                         TOPICS                                                SOURCES 
                 SYLLABUS 
                                   Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic - Occupation, Tools, Pottery,       Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11  
                                   Settlements, Lifestyle, Prehistoric Art (Cave paintings).              Chapter  5,6 
             Stone Age             Chalcolithic - Early towns and settlements, Farming Cultures            Themes in Indian History Part I 
                                   (Ahar, Malwa, Jorwe etc) , Pottery (Ochre colored), Dwelling           Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                   and Burial practices                                                   book Class 11 
                                   Origin, Geographical Extent, Cities and towns, Urban planning,         Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
            Indus Valley           Important structures, Agriculture, Trade and economy, Political        Chapter  7 
            Civilization- Bronze   organisation, Religious practices- Nature and animal worship ,          Themes in Indian History Part I 
            Age                    Crafts and Pottery, Seals , Bronze and terracotta figurines,           Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                   Decline and its causes.                                                book Class 11 
                                                                                                          Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                   Advent of Aryans, Family and kinship - Tribal , Rig Veda, Social       Chapter  8 
             Early Vedic Age       Practices, Tribal Polity and administration. Occupation and            Themes in Indian History Part I 
            (1500- 900 BCE)        economy, Religion and Vedic Gods.    
                                                                                                          Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                                                                          book Class 11 
                                   Transition to Later Vedic Age , Developments in Political              Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                   Organisation and Economy, Social Order ( Rise of Gotra system,         Chapter  9, 25 
            Later Vedic Age        Ashramas, Caste ), Differences between Rig Vedic and Later             Themes in Indian History Part I 
            (900 - 600 BCE)        Vedic society, Use of Iron- PGW Iron Phase, Vedas and                  Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                   Upanishads, Religion and rituals.                                      book Class 11 
                                   Heterodox Philosophical systems.                                       Nitin Singhania book Chapter  14 
                                  (a)  Rise of State polity, 2nd Urbanisation- Rise of new cities, 
                                       Magadhan Empire - Administration & Economy , Republican            Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                       States , Society and Religion , Iranian & Macedonian               Chapter  10, 11,12,13 
            Mahajanapadas /            invasion.                                                          Themes in Indian History Part I 
            Age of Buddha         (b)  Jainism and Buddhism- Birth of Mahavira / Buddha, Orgin            -  Nitin Singhania Book 
            (600-300 BCE)              and Spread, Doctrines and Principles,  Monastic 
                                                                                                          Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                       establishments (Basadis/ Viharas), Jain & Buddhist Councils,       book Class 11 
                                       Art and Architecture , Literature.  
                                   Rise of the Mauryan dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya,                      Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                   Administation,  bureaucracy, taxation and  polity, Chanakya's          Chapter  14,15 
             Mauryan Empire        Arthashastra.                                                          Themes in Indian History Part I 
                                   Ashoka -  Inscriptions (minor and major rock edicts ) , Art and        Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                   Architechure, Ashoka's Dhamma and patronage of Buddhism.               book Class 11 
                                  (a)  Sungas and Kanwas.                                                 Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                  (b)  Central Asian Invasions - Indo Greeks, Shakas, Parthians,          Chapter  16, 17,19 
             Post Mauryan Age          Kushans.                                                           Themes in Indian History Part I 
                                       Their Impact- Money Economy, expansion in trade, silk 
                                       route. Influx of foreign elements in polity, army, crafts.         Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                                                                                                               3 
                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                            Religious Devilments- Mahayana Buddhism, Gandhara and                                                                   book Class 11 
                                                            Mathura school of art, Science & Technology, Literature. 
                                                           (c)  Satavahanas- Polity and administration, Economy, Social 
                                                                   Organisation , Religious Patronage, Art and Architecture.  
                                                            Megalithic culture- burials, pottery, tools, settlements.                                                               Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                    Megaliths and                                                                                                                                                   Chapter  18 
                    Sangam Age                              Sangam Age- Tamil Sangam literature , Chera, Chola and                                                                  Themes in Indian History Part I 
                                                            Pandyas, Evolution of early Tamil polity and society from                                                               Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                            Sangam Literature.                                                                                                      book Class 11 
                                                            Rise of the Guptas, Expansion and Administration, Trade and                                                             Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                                            economy, Societal practices and status of women, Religion, Art                                                          Chapter  20,21 
                    Guptan Age                              and Architecture, Developments in Science and technology.                                                               Themes in Indian History Part I 
                                                            Religious Literature- Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas. Secular                                                           Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                            Works- Works of Court poets like Kalidasa, Bhasa etc  Scientific                                                        book Class 11 
                                                            works of Aryabhata, Varahamihra etc. Decline of Guptas. 
                                                            Harshavardhana- Polity, Land Grants and its impact, Social                                                              Primary - Old NCERT Class 11 
                    Post Guptas                             conditions, Harsha and Buddhism, Hiuen Tsang visit and                                                                  Chapter  23 
                                                            account of India.                                                                                                       Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                            Literature- Works of Bhana & Harsha.                                                                                    book Class 11 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Chapter  24 
                    Pallavas &                              Pallavas and Chalukyas in South. Administration and economy.                                                            Themes in Indian History Part I 
                    Chalukyas in South                      Chalukya art, Pallava art and Literary works. 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                                                                                                                                                    book Class 11 
                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                            MEDIEVAL INDIA 
                     
                             DECODED                                                                           TOPICS                                                                                        SOURCES 
                            SYLLABUS 
                                                            The rise of Cholas, Administration and taxation, Territorial                                                            Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                                                  th        Expansion, Society and Culture. Chola Art & Architecture.                                                               Chapter  3 
                     Chola Empire (9 -                                                                                                                                              - Themes in Indian History Part II 
                              th
                         12  century ) 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                                                                                                                                                    book Class 11 
                        Ghaznavid and                       Coming of Ghaznavids, Status of  Rajput States and reasons for                                                          Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                      Turkish Invasions                     defeat, Ghurid invasion . Alberuni’s Kitab-ul-Hind.                                                                     Chapter  5 
                        (1000-1200 CE)                                                                                                                                              Themes in Indian History Part II 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                                                                                                                                                    book Class 11 
                       Delhi Sultanate                      Nature of the State, Administration of Delhi Sultanate, State                                                           Primary -  Old NCERT Class 11 
                        (1200-1400 CE)                      Departments and various posts, Military reforms. Land revenue                                                           Chapter  6,7,8 
                                                            and taxation, local and village administration, Cities and towns.    Themes in Indian History Part II 
                                                            Trade and crafts, Agriculture, export & imports, Economic and                                                           Secondary - Tamil Nadu History 
                                                            social life. Religion and customs under the Sultanate, Scientific                                                       book Class 11 
                                                            advancements. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4