1. Polity & Governance
Probable Topics:
- Constitutional Amendments: 127th Amendment (OBC list restoration), Article 370 (post-2019 changes).
- Judicial Reforms: Collegium vs. NJAC debate, recent SC judgments (e.g., same-sex marriage, electoral bonds).
- New Laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing IPC), Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
- Election Commission: EVM credibility, electoral reforms, voter turnout debates.
- Local Governance: Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment), Aspirational Districts Programme.
PYQ Example:
Q. Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha? (2023)
2. Economy
Probable Topics:
- Union Budget 2024-25: Key allocations (health, education, infrastructure), fiscal deficit trends.
- Inflation & Monetary Policy: RBI’s repo rate decisions, CPI vs. WPI divergence.
- Schemes: PM Gati Shakti, PLI (Production-Linked Incentive), National Monetisation Pipeline.
- Global Issues: Supply chain disruptions, India’s trade deals (e.g., with UK, EU), WTO reforms.
- Agriculture: MSP debates, PM-KISAN, natural farming initiatives.
PYQ Example:
Q. What is the purpose of ‘Viability Gap Funding’ in infrastructure projects? (2023)
3. Environment & Ecology
Probable Topics:
- Climate Initiatives: COP28 outcomes, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Net Zero targets.
- Biodiversity: IUCN Red List updates (e.g., Great Indian Bustard), CAMPA Fund, Wildlife Protection Act amendments.
- Pollution: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), E-Waste Management Rules, 2022.
- Disasters: Glacial lake outbursts (GLOFs), NDMA guidelines on heatwaves.
- New Terms: Carbon markets, blue economy, green credit programme.
PYQ Example:
Q. Consider the following statements about ‘Green Credit Programme’… (2023)
4. Geography
Probable Topics:
- Physical Geography: Himalayan glaciers (melting trends), El Niño/La Niña impact on monsoons.
- Human Geography: Urbanization (Smart Cities Mission), census data on migration.
- Mapping: Indo-Pacific region, lithium reserves (J&K), critical mineral zones.
- Disaster Management: NDMP (National Disaster Management Plan), Sendai Framework.
PYQ Example:
Q. Consider the following pairs: Region – Country (2023)
5. History & Culture
Probable Topics:
- Ancient/Medieval: Keeladi excavations, Bhakti-Sufi traditions, Chola temple architecture.
- Modern: Tribal revolts (Birsa Munda), Quit India Movement (1942), Gandhian economics.
- Culture: UNESCO Intangible Heritage (Durga Puja, Garba), Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.
- Art & Architecture: Hoysala temples (UNESCO), Harappan sites (Dholavira).
PYQ Example:
Q. Who among the following was associated with ‘Mitra Mela’? (2023)
6. Science & Technology
Probable Topics:
- Space: ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4, Aditya-L1 findings, private space sector (IN-SPACe).
- Health: CRISPR technology, mRNA vaccines, antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Emerging Tech: AI regulation, quantum computing, 6G rollout.
- Defence: Agni-V, INS Vikrant, DRDO innovations.
PYQ Example:
Q. What is ‘Bioprinting’? (2023)
7. International Relations
Probable Topics:
- India’s Neighborhood: Sri Lanka crisis, Myanmar civil war, Nepal-China relations.
- Global Groupings: G20 outcomes (2023), QUAD, BRICS expansion.
- Strategic Issues: Indo-Pacific strategy, India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).
- Conflicts: Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict, Red Sea security.
PYQ Example:
Q. Consider the following statements about ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’… (2023)
8. Social Issues
Probable Topics:
- Health: NFHS-6 data (malnutrition, anemia), Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
- Education: NEP 2020 implementation, ASER report findings.
- Demography: Aging population, demographic dividend challenges.
- Vulnerable Groups: Transgender Rights Act, SC/ST welfare schemes.
PYQ Example:
Q. Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of ‘Mission Indradhanush’? (2023)
9. Current Affairs (2024)
Key Themes to Track:
- National: Lok Sabha elections (2024), CAA implementation, caste census debates.
- Global: U.S. elections (2024), COP29 (Azerbaijan), G7 summit (Italy).
- Awards: Nobel Prize 2024, Booker Prize, Ramon Magsaysay Award.
- Sports: Paris Olympics 2024, Asian Games 2023 medalists.
Preparation Tips for 2025
- Focus on NCERTs: Class 6–12 for History, Geography, Polity basics.
- Current Affairs Compilation: Use monthly magazines (e.g., Yojana, EPW) and newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express).
- Answer Writing Practice: Integrate current examples in Mains answers (e.g., link “federalism” with recent Centre-state disputes).
- Mock Tests: Solve past 10 years’ UPSC Prelims papers and sectional quizzes.
- Ethics (GS-IV): Use case studies from recent events (e.g., AI ethics, corporate governance).