Hereby, we are listing the important chapters and what to read in that…

Chapter 1: Land and the People: This chapter covers the physiography of India alongwith Demographic terminologies and Census 2011 data. Read this chapter thoroughly as it will help in grasping facts related to Indian physiography. Questions on demography and Census are common in UPSC so read the terminologies thoroughly.

Chapter 2: National symbols: This chapter covers the National symbols of India as National flag, National anthem, national fruit, flower, calendar, etc. It is a very important chapter as questions are directly asked on national symbols. Last year also there were two questions on National symbols.

Chapter 3: The Polity: This chapter covers the executive part of the government alongwith rights and basic features of the Constitution. This chapter is helpful for revision of Polity for Prelims. The topics and covered in short and to the point.

Chapter 4: Agriculture: This chapter covers the programmes and policies related to agriculture in India, different agricultural sectors and recent initiatives. Read only the introduction part and then move to new programmes and policies launched by GOI. Rest will be covered in Economics so no need to read the whole chapter.

Chapter 5: Art and Culture: This chapter covers the Intangible and Tangible Cultural heritage of India, along with Tourism. Read about Cultural Institutions mentioned in India Year Book but stick to those institutions which are covered in newspaper in past six months. Read the Medical tourism topic also.

Chapter 6: Basic Economic Data: This chapter covers the statistical institutions in India. Make notes about organizations and reports published by them. This question can come in the form of match the following.

Chapter 7: Commerce: It can be ignored as it is helpful for Mains.

Chapter 8: Communication: This chapter covers the three communication forms i.e. Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. Read the telecommunication part to know about the technological terms related to telecom industry, no need to read about the tariff policies and other detailed policies related to telecom sector. Also read the cyber security topic in detail.

Chapter 9: Defence: This chapter covers the security scenario of India, defence undertakings, training for defence services, etc. This chapter is very

important as UPSC asks direct questions related to it. Focus more on new missiles/testing of missiles.

Chapter 10: Education: This chapter covers the policies related to elementary, secondary and higher education. In this chapter focus on salient features of the schemes related to education. Don’t read detailed explanations of each scheme. Also read the topics related to copyright.

Chapter 11: Energy: This chapter covers the conventional and non conventional energy sector in India. Read the energy sources present in India mainly related to geographic position alongwith initiatives in renewable energy sector. Rest of the chapter is important for Mains.

Chapter 12: Environment: This chapter is very important as UPSC has started asking more detailed questions in environment. Make a list of institutions related to environment and their status whether statutory, quasi judicial, etc in nature. Read the following topics: biodiversity, hazardous waste, wetland, E-waste in detail.

Chapter 13: Finance: In this Chapter the economic terms associated with Banking, Budget, Insurance, taxes. This will be helpful in tackling the economy questions in Prelims. Along with that the new steps initiated by Government in different sectors will be helpful in Mains also.

Chapter 14: Corporate Affairs: In this chapter read about Companies Act, definition of Limited Liability Partnership Act, SFIO, CCI, CAT, etc as the questions can be asked on the functions the different bodies.

Chapter 15: Food and Civil Supplies: It is a very important chapter as in covers food security issues and welfare schemes related to it. The questions on schemes are quiet common in UPSC. Whereas, due to the recent controversy of food safety, the Quality assurance topic is very important.

Chapter 16: Health and Family welfare: This chapter is also very important as it covers schemes related to Health. Further the government is emphasizing more on AYUSH so read that topic thoroughly.

Chapter 17: Housing: The programmes and policies related to Housing and the rating criteria of houses must be read.

Chapter 18: India and the World: It can be ignored as it is helpful for Mains. Current issues related to it should be covered from newspapers.

Chapter 19: Industry: Read the recent steps initiated by the GOI for simplifying the business environment and FDI policy. Further read about

CPSEs and terminologies related to it.

Chapter 20: Law and Justice: The basics of judiciary have already been read in Polity part so read the new initiaitives and alternative form of justice mechanism as questions on Lok Adalat, Gram Nyalayas are very common. Along with this read the enforcement agencies mandate for maintaining law and order. Further in the election section voting rights to the citizens of India living abroad is must.

Chapter 21: Labour and Employment: This chapter is very important as government has initiated labour reforms. Read the mandates of each Acts related to labour laws social security schemes provided to them. Skill development initiatives proposed by GOI in budget should be thoroughly read.

Chapter 22: Mass communication: It can be ignored just read the chronology of the different institutions as questions can be asked on that.

Chapter 23: Planning: Read the important features of the XII Five Year Plan. Further read the Niti Aayog, composition, functions, etc from newspapers.

Chapter 24: Rural and Urban Development: This Chapter covers the Major programmes for rural and urban development as MGNREGA, NRLM, Land Reforms, Local government programmes, and planned urbanization elements.  Read the vision and mission of programmes and policies in detail.

Chapter 25: Science and Technological Development: Read the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of the government; Nuclear; Space programme of India. Concentrate more on the latest technologies related to it. 

Chapter 26: Transport: Read this chapter in sync with geography. 

Chapter 27: Water resources: This chapter covers the information about National Water Policy, Groundwater resource, flood management and institutions related to it. Read the Nanami Gange Programme, inter-state river issues (tribunal for issue between different states).

Chapter 28: Welfare: This chapter covers the welfare schemes for the SC/ST/OBC/Minorities/Women/Children. Read the schemes related to each in brief with special focus on Minorities, Women and Children. 

Chapter 29: Youth Affairs and Sports: Read the National Youth Policy along with new initiatives of the government for promotion of sports.

Chapter 30: State and Union Territories: The whole chapter can be ignored except North East states and Telengana.

Chapter 31: Diary of national events: It can be ignored.

Chapter 32: A Leap Forward – Initiatives of the Government: This chapter covers the new programmes and policies launched by the new government. This chapter is very important as it covers the current schemes as Swachch bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, etc