General Studies (GS) section of the NDA (National Defence Academy) and CDS (Combined Defence Services) exams plays a vital role in determining your selection. A strong grasp of core subjects like History, Polity, Geography, Economics, and Current Affairs is essential for clearing the written paper and boosting overall score.
🧭 Syllabus Overview
| Subject | Weightage in NDA | Weightage in CDS |
|---|---|---|
| History | High | High |
| Polity | High | Medium-High |
| Geography | High | Medium |
| Economics | Moderate | Medium |
| Current Affairs | High | High |
🏛️ HISTORY – Important Topics (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
🔸 Ancient Indian History
- Indus Valley Civilization (Features, Cities, Seals)
- Vedic Period (Rig Vedic vs Later Vedic, Society, Religion)
- Buddhism & Jainism (Founders, Doctrines, Councils)
- Mauryan Empire (Administration, Ashoka, Dhamma)
- Gupta Empire (Golden Age, Science, Literature, Art)
🔸 Medieval Indian History
- Delhi Sultanate (Rulers, Administrative Systems)
- Bhakti and Sufi Movements (Saints, Teachings, Impact)
- Mughal Empire (Akbar’s Administration, Religious Policies)
- Marathas and Shivaji (Administration, Military)
🔸 Modern Indian History
- British Expansion in India (Battle of Plassey, Buxar, Subsidiary Alliance)
- Socio-Religious Movements (Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Arya Samaj)
- Revolt of 1857 (Causes, Leaders, Failure)
- Indian National Movement:
- INC Sessions (1885–1947)
- Non-Cooperation Movement
- Civil Disobedience Movement
- Quit India Movement
- Indian Independence Act 1947
🏛️ POLITY – Important Topics (Constitution, Governance)
🔸 Basics of Indian Constitution
- Historical Background
- Preamble of India
- Features of the Constitution
🔸 Fundamental Concepts
- Fundamental Rights & Duties
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Citizenship (Articles & Provisions)
🔸 Government Structure
- President, Vice President, Prime Minister
- Parliament: Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha
- Governor & Chief Minister
- Union and State Legislatures
🔸 Constitutional Bodies
- Election Commission
- UPSC
- Finance Commission
- CAG (Comptroller & Auditor General)
🔸 Judiciary
- Supreme Court & High Courts
- Judicial Review & Judicial Activism
- Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
🔸 Miscellaneous Topics
- Emergency Provisions
- Constitutional Amendments (esp. 42nd, 44th, 73rd, 74th)
- Panchayati Raj (3-Tier System)
- Recent Bills & Acts (Uniform Civil Code, Women’s Reservation Bill)
🌍 GEOGRAPHY – Important Topics (India & World)
🔸 Physical Geography
- Structure of Earth (Crust, Mantle, Core)
- Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
- Types of Rocks (Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)
- Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Rivers
🔸 Indian Geography
- Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau
- Major Rivers & Tributaries (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari)
- Lakes & Dams in India (Tehri, Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud)
- Soils of India (Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite)
- Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
- Indian Climate – Seasons, Monsoons
🔸 World Geography
- Continents & Oceans
- Major Deserts, Mountains, Rivers
- Important Parallels (Equator, Tropics, Arctic Circle)
- Time Zones & International Date Line
💰 ECONOMICS – Important Topics (Basic + Current)
🔸 Basic Concepts
- Demand & Supply
- Inflation, Deflation, Recession
- GDP, GNP, National Income
🔸 Indian Economy
- Sectors of Economy (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary)
- Planning in India (Five Year Plans, NITI Aayog)
- Government Budgeting (Fiscal Deficit, Revenue, Expenditure)
- Banking System (RBI, Monetary Policy, Repo Rate)
- Taxation System (Direct, Indirect, GST)
- Economic Reforms (LPG – Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation)
🔸 Schemes & Reports
- Major Government Schemes (PM-KISAN, PMAY, Ujjwala, Skill India)
- Economic Survey and Union Budget highlights
- Reports: Human Development Index, Ease of Doing Business
📰 CURRENT AFFAIRS – Key Areas to Focus
🔸 National Affairs
- New Government Policies & Schemes
- Appointments (Chief Justice, Governors, Service Chiefs)
- Important Bills & Acts (Citizenship Amendment Act, Data Protection Bill)
🔸 International Affairs
- India’s Relations with Neighbours (China, Pakistan, Nepal)
- India & International Organizations (UN, WTO, IMF, QUAD)
- Global Summits (G20, COP Climate Summits, BRICS)
🔸 Defence News
- Missile Tests (Agni, BrahMos, Prithvi)
- Defence Exercises (Indra, Yudh Abhyas, Malabar)
- New Defence Acquisitions (Rafale, Tejas, Drones)
🔸 Science & Technology
- ISRO Missions (Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan)
- Nuclear Power in India
- Latest Innovations in AI, 5G, Digital India
🔸 Sports & Awards
- Major Sports Events (Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cup)
- National Awards (Padma Awards, Gallantry Awards, Arjuna Award)
