Course Content
UPSC Notes Samples
Full Syllabus Covered | 100% as per Official UPSC Syllabus
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1. Art & Culture Sample
Covered under topic 1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
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1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. (copy)
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2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues. (copy)
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5. History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as Industrial revolution, World wars, Redrawal of national boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, Political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
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7. Role of women and women’s organizations, Population and associated issues, Poverty and developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
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10.2. Introduction to Maps
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GS2
All topics that need updates are given below.
2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
All topics that need updates are given below.
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5. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
All topics that need updates are given below.
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6. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
All topics that need updates are given below.
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12. Welfare schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the Population by the Centre and States and the Performance of these schemes; Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections.
All topics that need updates are given below.
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GS3
All topics that need updates are given below.
11. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
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GS3: BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
All topics that need updates are given below.
1. Environment
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GS4
All topics that need updates are given below.
GS3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
All topics given below
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1. Motion & Measurements
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9. Metals & Non-Metals
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10. Energy
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12. Plant Organisms
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14. Life Processes
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18. Biotechnology
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19. Information Technology
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20. Space Technology
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National & International Current Affairs (CA) 2025
Current affairs of all months are given below
delete UPSC Sample Notes [English]

xv.1. Nature of Biofuels

Biofuel: A Net-negative Pathway

  • Biofuels are way to take out CO2 from the landmass above the surface of the earth and putting it back in atmosphere.
  • This is unlike fossils where you are taking carbon stock from below the surface and putting it in atmosphere increasing its concentration.
  • Besides the amount of CO2 you are putting by burning 1 kg of biomass is much lesser than the amount of CO2 the plants used to make 1 kg of plant biomass. (plants convert only 0.5% of photosynthesis to biomass)
  • Thus, biofuels are net-negative in terms of carbon emissions.

As Hydrocarbon: Biofuel v/s Fossil

  • Biofuel is small ring hydrocarbons with lots of oxygen and benzene rings. (not suitable remember)
  • Fossil as we have seen is just biomass buried for millions of years under low oxygen conditions.
  • Besides biomass is long polymers of sugar molecules.
  • So, if we somehow remove oxygen and break the polymer, we can get biofuels.

Biomass as Energy Store

  • Further biomass is basically solar energy trapped in the form of chemicals that make up the living beings.

Biomass Composition

  • C 50%
  • O 40%
  • H 5 %
  • N 1%(From protein)
  • P 0.5% (From protein)

Biomass Constituents

  • Primarily made of sugar polymers with lots O2 and closed ring hydrocarbons. (half the plant biomass is fundamentally sugar)
  • Plant cells are made up of cell walls that gives a protective layer to help plants stand tall.
  • The cell wall is made of microfibrils of cellulose which is basically sugar polymer. (1/2 of cell wall)
  • At later stages there is an additional protective layer in the form of hard cover in trees which is called lignin.
  • Lignin is plastic-like. It is not degradable, has lots of aromatics.