A thematic guide to this expanded edition, organised around the official syllabus. Each mapped chapter includes analytical notes and a worked answer; the map does not imply every syllabus subtopic is exhausted.
Reading the past: sources and chronology; Harappan civilisation and urban life; Vedic society, mahajanapadas and new religions; Mauryas, Guptas and early historic networks
Company rule and colonial economic change; Reform, resistance and the revolt of 1857; Nationalism: early Congress, Swadeshi and Home Rule; Gandhian mass movements and diverse participation; Constitutional developments and transfer of power
Architecture: stupas, caves, temples and Indo-Islamic forms; Sculpture, painting and craft traditions; Literature, languages and knowledge traditions; Performing arts and heritage conservation
Integration, reorganisation and nation-building in India; Industrial Revolution, capitalism and socialism; World wars, revolutions and changing boundaries; Decolonisation, Cold War and globalisation
Diversity, caste, class and social empowerment; Women, family and changing social institutions; Population, migration and urbanisation; Communalism, regionalism, secularism and globalisation
Earth structure, plate tectonics and landforms; Atmosphere, winds and the Indian monsoon; Oceans, currents and marine geography; India: physiography, drainage, soils and vegetation; Resources, industries and economic geography; Mapping, geophysical hazards and geographical change
Constitution-making, Preamble and basic structure; Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles; Union executive, President and Council of Ministers; Parliament, legislation, budget and committees; Judiciary, judicial review and separation of powers; Federalism, emergencies and local government; Elections, parties and constitutional bodies; Comparative constitutions and constitutional practice
Public policy and implementation; Transparency, RTI and social accountability; Civil services, e-governance and citizen charters; NGOs, pressure groups, SHGs and participatory development
Poverty, inequality and inclusive development; Education, skills and human development; Health, nutrition and public-health systems; Vulnerable groups, welfare and rights-based delivery
Foreign-policy principles and strategic autonomy; India and its neighbourhood; Global institutions, groupings and international order; Diaspora, development partnerships and economic diplomacy
National income, growth and structural transformation; Inflation, monetary policy and transmission; Budgeting, taxation and fiscal policy; Banking, finance and financial inclusion; External sector, exchange rates and liberalisation; Employment, infrastructure and investment models
Cropping patterns, soil health and irrigation; Farm markets, MSP, subsidies and income; Food security, PDS and buffer stocks; Food processing, land reforms and allied sectors
Ecosystems, food webs and biogeochemical cycles; Biodiversity and conservation approaches; Pollution, waste and environmental assessment; Climate change, mitigation and adaptation
Biology, biotechnology and public health; Space technology and its applications; Digital technologies, AI and semiconductors; Energy, nuclear technology, materials and intellectual property
Security, development and extremist violence; Border management, organised crime and security agencies; Cybersecurity, information disorder and money laundering
Disaster risk, institutions and the management cycle; Floods, cyclones, earthquakes and urban hazards; Preparedness, response, recovery and community resilience
Ethics, morality, values and human action; Attitude, aptitude and emotional intelligence; Public-service values and ethical administration; Moral thinkers and approaches to ethical reasoning; Probity, conflicts of interest and organisational ethics; Case studies: stakeholders, options and justified action
