The Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2016

1242 Pages·2015·30.761 MB·English

by  Edgar Thorpe, Showick Thorpe

The Pearson
General Knowledge
Manual
2016
2015
Edgar Thorpe
Showick Thorpe
Copyright © 2015 Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd
Published by Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd, CIN: U72200TN2005PTC057128, formerly known as
TutorVista Global Pvt. Ltd, licensee of Pearson Education in South Asia.
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Contents
Preface xvi
SEcTion A: ThE World
chapter 1 Physical Geography A.3 Ocean Currents ............................ A.49
Shipping Canals ............................ A.49
The Universe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .3
Major Rivers of the World ................... A.52
Cosmos ................................... A.3
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .53
Composition of the Universe ................ A.4
Vastness of the Universe .................... A.5 Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .55
Theories of How the Universe Began ......... A.5 How it Works .............................. A.55
Galaxy and the Local Group ................ A.7 Other GPS Systems ......................... A.55
Solar System ............................... A.8
chapter 2 World Geography A.77
Constellation ............................... A.8
Hubble’s Classification of Galaxies ........... A.8 The World we Live in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .77
Cosmology and Cosmic Rays ................ A.9 A Profile of the World ....................... A.77
Stars ...................................... A.10 Continents ................................. A.80
Principal Climates of the World .............. A.101
Solar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .11
Climatic Divisions of the World .............. A.102
Origin, Age, and Characteristics
Köppen Climate Classification ............... A.105
of Solar System ........................ A.11
Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification ......... A.105
The Sun ................................... A.13
Major Natural Resources .................... A.107
The Planets ................................ A.15
Countries Rich in Natural Resources .......... A.112
Satellites ................................... A.19
Regional Grouping of Countries
The Phases of the Moon ..................... A.20
of the World ............................... A.113
Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets .............. A.21
Economic Classification of Countries
Basic Knowledge About the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .25 of the World ............................... A.115
Shape and Structure of the Earth ............. A.25 People of the World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.122
Composition ............................... A.26
A Glossary of Geographical Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .124
Geological History .......................... A.28
Some More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .150
Earth’s Movements ......................... A.30
Wonders of the World ....................... A.150
Seasons ................................... A.31
Equinoxes and Solstices ..................... A.33 chapter 3 Glimpses of World history A.172
Eclipses ................................... A.34
Spheres of the Earth ........................ A.36 Important Events of World History . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .172
Atmosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .36 Important Battles from 608 bce to 2013 . . . . . . . . . A .181
Composition ............................... A.37 Rise of Islam in Central Asia (1250 to 1500 ce) . . . . A .183
Atmospheric Layers ........................ A.38 Turks ..................................... A.183
Winds ..................................... A.39 The Ottoman State .......................... A.183
Lithosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .42 India ...................................... A.183
Mongols ................................... A.183
Rocks ..................................... A.42
China ..................................... A.183
Continents ................................. A.43
Russia ..................................... A.184
Mountains ................................. A.43
Persia ..................................... A.184
Hydrosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .48
Africa ..................................... A.184
Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .48 South-East Asia ............................ A.184
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Important Wars from 490 bce to 1856 . . . . . . . . . . . A .184 Disintegration of Yugoslavia ................. A.198
Battle of Marathon and Subsequent Battles .... A.184 Independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina ..... A.199
Punic Wars (Carthage–Roman Wars) ......... A.185 Hong Kong Handed Over to China ........... A.199
Slaves Revolt (73 bce) ...................... A.185 9/11 Attack on the USA ..................... A.199
Ambush in the Teutoburger Wald ............ A.185 The Afghan War ............................ A.199
Roman Invasion of Britain ................... A.185 European Integration ....................... A.199
Battle of Mount Badon ...................... A.186 Operation Iraqi Freedom (Liberation) ......... A.199
Battle of Maldon ........................... A.186 Israel Attacks Lebanon ...................... A.199
Battle of Stamford Bridge .................... A.186 Syria’s Civil War ........................... A.199
War of Roses ............................... A.186 Egyptian Protests 2012 to 2013 ............... A.200
The Hundred-year War ..................... A.187 Libyan Civil War ........................... A.200
The Thirty-year War ........................ A.187 Ukraine Crisis .............................. A.200
The Seven-year War ........................ A.187
Battle of the Nile (1798) ..................... A.187 chapter 4 international organizations A.209
Napoleonic Wars ........................... A.187
The United Nations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .209
Opium War (First China War) ............... A.188
Charter of the UN .......................... A.209
The Crimean War ........................... A.188
The UN Flag and the Emblem ............... A.210
Landmarks in European History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .188 Membership of ohe UN ..................... A.210
Magna Carta ............................... A.188 Organizations of ohe UN .................... A.212
Feudalism ................................. A.189 UN Observations ........................... A.214
Crusades .................................. A.189 Agencies Related to the United Nations ....... A.218
Renaissance ................................ A.190 United Nations MDGs ...................... A.223
Habeas Corpus Act 1679 .................... A.190
The Commonwealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .224
Glorious Revolution ........................ A.190
Membership ............................... A.224
The World Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .190 Commonwealth Secretariat .................. A.225
World War I (4 August 1914 to
The Non-Aligned Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .226
11 November 1918) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.190
Founder Members of the ‘NAM’ ............. A.226
World War II (3 September 1939 to
Basic Principles of the ‘NAM’ ................ A.227
14 August 1945) ........................... A.191
Organizational Structure and Membership .... A.227
Revolutions, Wars, Conflicts and Stand-Offs . . . . . A .193
South Asian Association for Regional
Greek War of Independence (1821) ........... A.193
Cooperation (Saarc) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .228
Belgian War of Independence (1830) .......... A.193
Regional Centres ........................... A.229
American Civil War (1861 to 1865) ............ A.193
SAARC Summits ........................... A.229
French Revolution (1789 to 1793) ............. A.194
South Asian Free Trade Area ................. A.230
Russian Revolution (1917 to 1922) ............ A.195
Meeting of SAARC Culture Ministers ......... A.230
Chinese Revolution ......................... A.196
Meeting of SAARC Energy Ministers ......... A.230
Mexican Revolution ........................ A.196
The European Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .231
Algerian War of Independence
(1947 to 1962) .............................. A.196 Five ‘EU’ Institutions ....................... A.231
Cold War (1945 to 1991) ..................... A.196 Important treaties (establishment) ............ A.231
Hungarian Revolution (1956) ................ A.196 Member States ............................. A.231
Korean War ................................ A.197 Main Institutional Changes Introduced
Islamic Revolution in Iran ................... A.197 by the Lisbon Treaty ........................ A.232
Cuban Crisis ............................... A.197 European Community (Formerly
The Six-day War ............................ A.197 Known as EEC) ............................ A.232
Creation of Bangladesh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.197 Other World Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .232
Independence of Zimbabwe ................. A.198 Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Reforms in Poland and Hungary ............. A.198 Countries .................................. A.233
Fall of Communism in East Germany and Arab League (League of Arab States) ......... A.233
German Unification ......................... A.198 Benelux Economic Union .................... A.233
Iraq and Saddam Hussein ................... A.198 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ... A.234
Division of Czechoslovakia .................. A.198 The Group of 77 ............................ A.234
Emergence of CIS and the Chechnya Issue .... A.198 The Group of Seven (G-7) ................... A.234
Contents ❖ v
Colombo Plan .............................. A.235 Antarctic Treaty ............................ A.247
Organization of American States (OAS) ....... A.235 Kyoto Protocol ............................. A.248
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Libya Accord .............................. A.248
Development .............................. A.235 International Courts—At a Glance ............ A.248
Association of South-East Asian Nations ...... A.235
Amnesty International ...................... A.236 chapter 5 General Knowledge A.265
Red Cross ................................. A.236
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .265
World Trade Organization ................... A.236
Language Families: Number of Speakers ...... A.266
Interpol ................................... A.238
Organization of the Islamic Co-operation ...... A.238 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .266
Scouts and Guides .......................... A.238 Famous Quotations ......................... A.268
Organization for Security and Noted Works by Indian Authors (English) .... A.273
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) .............. A.238 Ancient Classical Writers .................... A.275
Council of Europe .......................... A.239 Ancient Books on Science and Medicine ....... A.278
The Commonwealth of Independent Some Famous Foreign Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.278
States (CIS) ................................ A.239 Some Important Books ...................... A.279
Collective Security Treaty Organization ....... A.239 Important Shakespeare Plays ................ A.280
Eurasian Economic Union ................... A.239 Famous Books/Plays ....................... A.281
Turkic Council ............................. A.240 World’s Great Personalities
African Union .............................. A.240 (Who’s Who) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .294
Union for the Mediterranean ................. A.240
Abbreviated Titles of Some Well-known
Cooperation Council for the Arab
Figures .................................... A.313
States of the Gulf (GCC) ..................... A.240
Union of South American Nations ............ A.241 Well-Known Freedom Fighters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .313
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ........... A.241 Prominent Figures of the Indian
China–Japan–South Korea Freedom Movement ........................ A.315
Trilateral Summits .......................... A.241 Exploration and Discoveries ................. A.317
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation .......... A.241 Women Achievers .......................... A.318
Australia–New Zealand–United States ‘Firsts’ in the World ......................... A.321
(ANZUS) Security Treaty .................... A.241 Prominent Economists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .322
Brazil–Russia–India–China–
Schools of Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .322
South Africa (BRICS) ........................ A.241
Ancient Philosophers and Thinkers ........... A.323
Colombia–Indonesia–Vietnam–Egypt–
Turkey–South Africa ........................ A.242 International Awards and Honours . . . . . . . . . . . . A .324
Next Eleven (N-11) ......................... A.242 Pulitzer Prize .............................. A.326
Mexico–Indonesia–Nigeria–Turkey ........... A.242 Ramon Magsaysay Awards .................. A.326
India–Brazil–South Africa Dialogue Forum .... A.242 Booker Prize (Man Bookers Prize) ............ A.328
E-7 (Emerging-7) ........................... A.242 Right Livelihood Award ..................... A.329
E-9 Nations ................................ A.243 Important International Awards* ............. A.331
G-4 ....................................... A.243
Religions of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .332
Uniting for Consensus ...................... A.243
G-8 (Group of Eight) ........................ A.243 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .334
G-6 (Group of Six) .......................... A.243 Introduction of Events in the Olympics . . . . . . . . . A .339
G-(8+5) .................................... A.243
London Olympics 2012 ...................... A.341
G-15 ...................................... A.243
Important Trophies and Associated Games .... A.348
G-20 (Group of 20) ......................... A.243
Places Associated with Sports ................ A.350
G-20 Summits .............................. A.244
Sports Authority of India .................... A.352
G-24 (Group of Twenty-Four) ................ A.244
Lakshmibai National Institute of
World Bank ................................ A.244
Physical Education ......................... A.352
International Monetary Fund ................ A.245
Important Government Schemes
Asian Development Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.246
Relating to Sports .......................... A.352
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectorial
National Youth Policy 2014 .................. A.353
Technical and Economic Cooperation ......... A.247
National Scheme Relating to Talent
Important Treaties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .247 Search and Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.353
Izmir Treaty ............................... A.247 National Sports Development Fund .......... A.354
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Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .354 Important News Agencies ................... A.366
Days to Remember ......................... A.367
Important political parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .365
Important Symbols ......................... A.368
International Airlines of The World . . . . . . . . . . . . A .365
World’s Great Structures .................... A.368
Miscellaneous Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A .366 Terminology ............................... A.370
SEcTion B: EvErydAy SciEncE
chAPTEr 1 General B.3 Lenses .................................... B.49
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .49
Branches of Sciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .3
Characteristics ............................. B.50
Scientific Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .12
Phenomena Related to Sound ................ B.50
Systems of Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .17 Sound Waves and Music .................... B.50
International System (SI) .................... B.18 Ultrasonic and Supersonic Sounds ............ B.50
Non-SI Units Used Along With Speed of Sound ............................ B.50
International System ........................ B.18
Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .51
Number System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .19 Electric Current ............................ B.51
Arabic Numerals ........................... B.19 Heating Effect of Electricity .................. B.52
Invention of the Decimal System ............. B.19 Fuse Wire ................................. B.52
Roman Numerals ........................... B.19 Magnetic Effect of Electricity ................. B.52
Mathematical Symbols ...................... B.20 Types of Electricity ......................... B.52
Prefixes of SI Unit .......................... B.20 Household Wiring System ................... B.52
Inventions and Discoveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .21 Magnetism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .52
Scientific Concepts and Theories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .26 Magnets ................................... B.52
Magnetic Induction ......................... B.53
chAPTEr 2 Physics B.36 Magnetic Field of the Earth .................. B.53
Modern Physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .53
Mechanics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .36
Non-conductors ............................ B.53
Matter .................................... B.36
Semiconductors ............................ B.54
Mass ...................................... B.37
Weight .................................... B.37 Important Laws of Physics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .54
Density .................................... B.37 Archimedes’ Principle ....................... B.54
Force ...................................... B.37 Avogadro’s Law ............................ B.54
Friction .................................... B.38 Newton’s (1642–1727) Laws ................. B.54
Energy .................................... B.38 Coulomb’s (1738–1806) Law ................. B.55
Surface Tension ............................ B.38 Stefan’s (1835–1883) Law .................... B.55
Motion .................................... B.38 Pascal’s (1623–1662) Law .................... B.55
Work ...................................... B.39 Hooke’s (1635–1703) Law .................... B.55
Periodic Motion, Wave and Lenz’s (1805–1865) Law ..................... B.55
Fluid Mechanics ............................ B.42 Dalton’s (1766–1844) Law ................... B.55
Faraday’s (1791–1867) Laws ................. B.55
Heat and Thermodynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .44
Ohm’s (1787–1854) Law ..................... B.56
Latent Heat ................................ B.44
Heat and Temperature ...................... B.44 Phenomena and Important Terms of Physics . . . . . B .56
Evaporation ............................... B.45 Physics In Everyday Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .57
Transfer of Heat ............................ B.45
Radiation .................................. B.46
chapter 3 chemistry B.73
Convection ................................ B.46
Laws of Thermodynamics ................... B.46 Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .73
Types of Elements .......................... B.74
Light and Optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .46
New Elements ............................. B.75
Composition ............................... B.46
Phenomenon of Light ....................... B.47 Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .79
Mirrors .................................... B.48 Chemical Nature of Metals .................. B.79
Contents ❖ vii
Steel and Iron .............................. B.79 Respiration ................................ B.130
Non-metals ................................ B.79 Fertilization ................................ B.130
Alloys ..................................... B.80 Transpiration .............................. B.131
Minerals ................................... B.81 Biological Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .131
Chemical Compounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .82 Botanical Terms ............................ B.131
Chemical Reaction and Chemical Change ..... B.82 Zoological Terms ........................... B.135
Air ....................................... B.88
Water ..................................... B.88 chapter 5 human Body B.147
Important Gases ............................ B.88
Anatomy and Physiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .147
Industrial Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .89
Blood ..................................... B.147
Soaps ..................................... B.89
Skeletal System (Bones) ..................... B.149
Glass ...................................... B.89
Muscular System ........................... B.152
Cement ................................... B.90
Main Organs ............................... B.152
Organic Chemistry ......................... B.90
Human Cell, Genes and Heredity ............ B.163
Carbon Compounds ........................ B.90
Human Genetics ........................... B.166
Organic and Inorganic Compounds ........... B.90
Medical Biochemistry ....................... B.167
Carbon .................................... B.94
Coal and Petroleum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.94 Human Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .168
Liquefied Petroleum Gas .................... B.95 Food Nutrients ............................. B.168
Synthetic Fibre ............................. B.95 Diseases of the Human Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .170
Synthetic Rubber ........................... B.96 Types of Diseases ........................... B.170
Radioactivity .............................. B.96 Agents of Diseases .......................... B.171
X-rays ..................................... B.98 Defence Mechanism Against Infection ........ B.172
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .98 Common Diseases ......................... B.173
Important Chemical Tests ................... B.98 Common Blood Diseases .................... B.174
Important Laws of Chemistry ................ B.99 Diseases of the Eyes ........................ B.175
Important Chemical Processes ............... B.100 Common Body Disorders .................... B.175
Common Drugs ............................ B.176
Nomenclature of Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .102
Commonly Abused Drugs ................... B.178
Terms in Chemistry ......................... B.102
Medical Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .179
Chemical reactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .105
Medical Aids (Equipment) ................... B.179
chapter 4 G eneral Biology Medical Treatment .......................... B.180
Marvels of Medical Science .................. B.181
(Botany and Zoology) B.123
Glossary of Medical Terms .................. B.182
Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .123
Historical Background ...................... B.123
chapter 6 Ecosystem and Biosphere B.200
Structure .................................. B.123
Cell Division ............................... B.125 Community and Ecosystem Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . B .200
Classification of the Living Organisms . . . . . . . . . . B .125 Community Structure ....................... B.200
Classification of Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.200
Scientific Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.125
Change in Communities Over Time .......... B.200
General Classification ....................... B.126
Ecosystems and Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.201
Classification of the Plant
Food Chain ................................ B.202
Kingdom (Plantae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .126
Biosphere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .203
Modification of Plant Parts .................. B.128
Biogeochemical Cycles ...................... B.204
Classification of the Animal Kingdom
Important Phenomena in BiospherE . . . . . . . . . . . B .206
(Animalae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .128
Protozoa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.128
chapter 7 Evolution B.217
Metazoa .................................. B.128
Theories of Origin of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .217
Important Biological Phenomena . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .130
Photosynthesis ............................. B.130 Theory of Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B .217
Metabolism ................................ B.130 Evolution and Natural Selection: II ........... B.218
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SEcTion c: indiA
chapter 1 history of india and Dandi March (1930) ......................... C.60
Freedom Struggle c.3 The First Round Table Conference (1930) ...... C.61
Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931) .................... C.61
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .3
The Second Round Table Conference (1931). . . . C.61
Ancient India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .3 The Communal Award (1932) ................ C.61
Indus Valley Civilization .................... C.3 Poona Pact (1932) ........................... C.61
The Vedic Period: The Aryans ................ C.6 The Third Round Table Conference (1932) ..... C.62
Emergence of Mahajanapadas or Kingdoms ... C.9 The Government of India Act, 1935 ........... C.62
Demand for Pakistan (1940) ................. C.62
Growth of Buddhism and Jainism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .10
Quit India Movement (1942–1945) ............ C.62
Buddhism ................................. C.10
Gandhiji’s Fast ............................. C.63
Jainism .................................... C.13
Cabinet Mission Plan (16 May 1946) .......... C.63
Magadha Empire (Sixth Century–
Azad Hind Fauj ............................ C.63
Fourth Century bc) ......................... C.14
Direct Action Campaign ..................... C.63
Alexander’s Invasion (Greek Invasion) ........ C.16
Interim Government ........................ C.63
The Mauryan Empire (320–180 bc) ........... C.16
Formation of Constituent Assembly .......... C.63
The Gupta Dynasty (ce 320–550) ............. C.20
Mountbatten Plan (3rd June 1947) ............ C.63
Harshavardhana (ce 606–647) ................ C.22
The Indian Independence Act 1947 ........... C.64
Other Dynasties ............................ C.24
Partition of India ........................... C.64
Medieval India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .26
Recent Political History of India
The Sultanate of Delhi (1206–1526) ........... C.27
(Post-Independence Era) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .75
The Mughal Dynasty (1526–1540
India—Immediately After Independence ...... C.75
and 1555–1857) ............................. C.32
First Border Disputes in Sovereign India ...... C.75
The Marathas. The Sikhs and The Jats ........ C.37
Pakistan War of 1971 ........................ C.76
Modern India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .40
Janata Party Comes to Power ................ C.76
East India Company and British Rule ......... C.42
Entry of Rajiv Gandhi ....................... C.76
British Rule ................................ C.46
Presidential Rule in Assam .................. C.76
Viceroys of India ........................... C.47
The Punjab Problem ........................ C.76
Indian Freedom Struggle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .53 Assassination of Indira Gandhi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.76
First War of Independence ................... C.53 Mizoram Issue ............................. C.77
British Rule After the 1857 Revolt ............ C.55 Bofors Scandal ............................. C.77
The Indigo Revolt of 1859–60 ................ C.56 Formation of National Front ................. C.77
The Indian National Congress ............... C.56 National Front Comes to Power .............. C.77
Partition of Bengal (16 October 1905) ......... C.56 Mandal Commission ........................ C.77
Swadeshi Movement (1905) .................. C.57 Ayodhya Issue ............................. C.77
Muslim League (1906) ...................... C.57 Chandra Shekhar becomes Prime Minister ..... C.77
Swaraj .................................... C.57 Unrest in Tamil Nadu and LTTE ............. C.77
Surat Congress (26th December 1907) ......... C.57 Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi ............... C.78
Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) ................ C.58 Rise of BJP as a Force in Indian Political Scene . C.78
Home Rule Movement (1915–1916) ........... C.58 No-Confidence Test of Rao Government ....... C.78
Lucknow Pact (1916) ........................ C.58 Beginning of Downfall of Congress (I) ........ C.78
August Declaration of 1917 .................. C.58 Hawala Scandal ............................ C.78
The Gandhian Era (1918–1947) ............... C.58 Story of Prime Minister for 13 Days .......... C.79
Rowlatt Act (1919) .......................... C.58 Birth of the United Front .................... C.79
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April, 1919) .... C.58 I. K. Gujral as New Prime Minister ........... C.79
Khilafat Movement (1920) ................... C.59 Entry of Sonia Gandhi in Politics ............. C.79
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) ........... C.59 K. R. Narayanan—First ‘Dalit’
Chauri Chaura Incident (1922) ............... C.59 President of India .......................... C.79
Swaraj Party (1923) ......................... C.59 Fall of Gujral’s Government ................. C.79
Simon Commission (1927) ................... C.60 Sonia Gandhi, Congress (I)’s Trump Card ..... C.79
Lahore Session (1929) ....................... C.60 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Becomes ‘PM’ Again ..... C.79
Contents ❖ ix
Congress Back to Power in 2004 Cultural and Literary Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .202
General Elections ........................... C.80 Academies Lalit Kala Akademi ............... C.202
Congress Back in Power in 2009 Sahitya Akademi ........................... C.203
General Election ............................ C.80 Sangeet Natak Akademi ..................... C.203
BJP-Led NDA Gained Power in 2014 Museums .................................. C.204
General Election ............................ C.80 Literature National Book Trust ............... C.205
Dances of India ............................ C.205
chapter 2 constitution of india c.124 Important Regional Dances .................. C.206
Other Important Dances/Dance Dramas ...... C.207
Drafting of the Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .124
Musical Instruments and Musicians .......... C.208
Salient Features ............................ C.125
The Preamble .............................. C.125
Nature of Citizenship in the Indian Republic .. C.127 chapter 5 indian Geography c.216
Fundamental Rights (FRs) ................... C.127
Location, Dimensions and Frontiers . . . . . . . . . . . . C .216
Directive Principles ......................... C.129
Location ................................... C.216
Duties of a Citizen of India .................. C.130
Dimensions ................................ C.216
Machinery of the Union Government ......... C.131
Frontiers .................................. C.216
The Judiciary .............................. C.144
The State Executive ......................... C.148 Physical Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .217
Himalayan Range .......................... C.217
State Council of Ministers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .149
Northern Plains ............................ C.217
The State Legislature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .150
Deccan Plateau ............................. C.218
Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) ......... C.151
Coastal Plains .............................. C.219
The State Judiciary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .151 Islands .................................... C.219
Advocate-General .......................... C.153
Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .219
Miscellaneous Constitutional Provisions . . . . . . . . C .155 Alluvial Soil ............................... C.219
Political Parties ............................. C.156 Black Soil .................................. C.219
Special Position of Jammu and Red Soil ................................... C.219
Kashmir in the Indian Union ................ C.156 Laterite Soil ................................ C.219
Centre–State Relationships ................... C.157
River Systems of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .219
Official Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.157
Himalayan System .......................... C.220
Constitutional Safeguards for SC/STs ......... C.157
Deccan System ............................. C.220
Welfare of Minorities ........................ C.158
Third River System ......................... C.221
Panchayats—as Rural Self-Governing
Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .222
Institutions ................................ C.158
Coldest Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.222
Conduct of Business in the Parliament ........ C.160
Hottest Parts ............................... C.222
Motions and Resolutions .................... C.162
Wettest Parts ............................... C.222
Amendment of the Constitution .............. C.163
Driest Part ................................. C.222
List of Schedules ........................... C.166
Monsoons ................................. C.222
States and Union Territories of India .......... C.167
Forests in India. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.223
The Budget ................................ C.167
Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .224
chapter 3 Population of india c.186 Land Utilization ............................ C.224
Agricultural Scenario in India ................ C.224
Census . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .186
Agricultural Marketing ..................... C.225
Rural and Urban Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .188
Advances in Indian Agriculture
Literacy Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .189 Scene Policy Framework for
Agricultural Extension (PFAE) ............... C.226
chapter 4 national Awards, culture Green Revolution ........................... C.229
and literature c.200 Fertilizers .................................. C.230
Irrigation .................................. C.230
National Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .200
Multipurpose Projects ....................... C.231
Republic Day Awards (Civilian Awards) ...... C.200
Mineral Resources of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C .236
Gallantry Awards ........................... C.200
Other Awards .............................. C.201 Other Minerals ............................. C.239