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]

vii.2. Challenges Related To Burning Of Coal

Thermal pollution

  • The efficiency of coal-fired power plants is around 35%, meaning only 35% heat that is generated out of coal-burning is usable. Rest will go out to the atmosphere. In other words, for every 1000 MW of power produced 1500 MW of heat is wasted.

Carbon Emissions

  • 1 gm of carbon burnt produces 3.5 g of CO2. A coal plant that produces 1GW of electricity emits 1 ton of carbon dioxide every 2 seconds.
  • Solution: Carbon Capture and Storage

Air pollutants

  • Three potential pollutants are formed when coal is burnt; sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and fly ash.

Nitrogen

  • Normally nitrogen is very stable and burns only at high temperatures. At high temperatures when nitrogen reacts with oxygen it forms oxides of nitrogen. This is very harmful as it acts as nuclei for fine dust causing PM pollution. 
  • Solution: Remove nitrogen, reduce temperature of combustion

Sulphur

  • Sulphur is of special interest again because it is a potential air pollutant. In addition, oxides of sulphur act as condensation nuclei during cloud formation leading to acid rain.
  • Solution: desulphurization

Ash, mainly fly ash

  • Left-over solid inorganic matter after burning of coal. (highest is bituminous)
  • It can be collected at the bottom from where it can be removed.
  • However, the problem is when the turbulent stream of gases in the boiler sweeps some of the ash out of the boiler along with flue gas. This is called fly ash.
  • A 2016 report by IIT Kanpur says about 37% of PM 10 and 26% of PM 2.5 is caused by fly ash from coal plants.

Coke (Carbon + Ash)

  • Solid carbonaceous residue derived from low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal from which the volatile constituents are driven off by baking in an oven without oxygen at temperatures as high as 1,000 °C so that the fixed carbon & residual ash are fused together.
  • Coke is used as a fuel & as a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a blast furnace.
  • Coke from coal is grey, hard, & porous & has a heating value of 29.6 MJ/kg
  • Byproducts of this conversion of coal to coke include coal tar, ammonia, light oils, and “coal-gas“.