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
UPSC Sample Notes [English]

xxxii.4. Other Important Remote Sensing Satellites

HysIS: Hyspectral Imaging Satellite

  • 1st hyperspectral imaging satellite.
  • It observes earth’s surface in 3 different ranges including visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared regions in 55 spectral or colour bands.
  • Enables us to do a ‘CATSCAN’ equivalent of Earth surface.
  • Application
  • Agriculture, forestry, coastal zones, inland waters, soil, oil and minerals mapping and military surveillance

Hyperspectral Imaging v/s Multi-Spectral Imaging: Concept

  • We have seen the basics of spectroscopy in previous section.
  • Multi-spectral scanners include sensors capable of detecting absorption, emission and scattering (reflection and refraction) of different lights (visible and invisible). Doing this gives more details about the object and thereby help in differentiating between chemical composition.
  • Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced version of multi-spectral imaging. Only difference is it includes sensors capable of sensing a contiguous band of light thereby giving sharp details.
  • While multispectral scanners are useful to differentiate minerals, hyperspectral sensors help in even quantifying individual materials.

NISAR

Planned launch: late-2023 early-2024

  • Joint active remote sensing satellite of NASA-ISRO, thus all-weather, day-and-night, cloud penetrating.
  • Short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite
  • 2 radar frequencies (S band and L band)
  • Uses advanced technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR)
  • InSAR: superimposes multiple reflected light beams to cause interference helping in construction of 3-d topographic maps. Time-series images of such topographic maps help in observing surface motion and change.

Capabilities

  • 3-10 m spatial resolution
  • Global coverage of land and ice cover every 12 days. (cryosphere)
  • Can study of slow motion of earth’s crust with the help InSAR
  • Study of biomass

Applications

  • Earthquakes and vulcanology
  • Distribution of carbon stocks in terrestrial biomass: Global warming applications
  • Vulnerability of wetlands by studying the extent of inundation
  • Geomorphology, movement of sea ice and hydrology
  • Movement of glaciers and icesheets thereby climate change