UPSC Optional Test Series for 2023

Our team of experts, under the guidance of Avadh Ojha Sir, is confident in making the UPSC optional more predictable for you by systematically designing the paper and prioritising the syllabus. Together with the sectional tests, the comprehensive tests provide you with the perfect package for excelling in your UPSC optional. Grab this opportunity by paying minimal fees and increase your chances in the UPSC Mains 2023.

Complete coverage of the syllabus
Model answer and discussion video of each test
Special live doubt sessions
Strictly based on the probability of the questions that may come in UPSC Mains 2023 Prepared by team of experts

History Optional (Test Series)

History is one of the most loved subjects for UPSC Aspirants. This love then translates into adopting it as Optional and making a long-term relationship with it. This option has recently performed quite well as far as result goes. We can witness many of the toppers from history optional backgrounds.

However, we always need to be vigilant and Test series is a tool for us to remain vigilant about our performance. Timely assessment improves our strategy and makes the picture clearer for our performance in real examinations.

IQRA IAS has launched History Optional Test series specifically focused on testing depth of your preparation as well as skill of answer writing in timely manner.

Our team of experts are confident of making the History optional more predictable for you by systematically designing the paper and prioritising the syllabus for you. We are also providing 3 bonus tests for Map. Together with the sectional tests, these Map tests gives you perfect package for excelling your marks in history optional.

Grab this opportunity by paying minimal fees and increase your chances in UPSC Mains 2023.

Major Highlights

Complete coverage of the syllabus
Model answer and discussion video of each test
Special live doubt sessions
Strictly based on the probability of the questions that may come in UPSC Mains 2023
Prepared by a team of experts
Total 8 Sectional Tests to create depth in your preparation
2 Comprehensive Tests to assess your overall preparation
3 Bonus Map Tests to give you an extra edge

Test Series Starts: 2nd July 2023

Course Mode: Online

Course Language: English

Course Fees: ~~5000~~ 4000/- + GST (Discounted fee offer valid till: 25 Jun 2023)

Course Validity: Till Mains 2023

Test Schedule:

Date	Test	Topics Covered
02 – July - 2023	Test 1	1. Sources Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments.
		Literary sources:Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature.
		Foreign account: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.
		2. Pre-history and Proto-history: Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic)
		3. Indus Valley Civilization: Origin, date, extent, characteristics-decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.
		4. Megalithic Cultures: Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
		5. Aryans and Vedic Period: Expansions of Aryans in India: Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, social, and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.
		6. Period of Mahajanapadas: Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
Sunday, 9 July 2023	Test 2	1. Mauryan Empire: Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya, and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration, Economy; Art, architecture, and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature. Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
		2. Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas): Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature, and science.
		3. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan, and South India: Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds, and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.
		4. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas: Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art, and architecture.
		5. Regional States during Gupta Era: The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity, and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chaluky as of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; Local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.
		6. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History: Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.
Sunday, 16 July 2023	Test 3	1. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:
		Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the peninsula, origin, and the rise of Rajputs.
		The Cholas: administration, village economy and society “Indian Feudalism”.
		Agrarian economy and urban settlements.
		Trade and commerce.
		Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order.
		Condition of women.
		Indian science and technology.
		2. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:
		Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma Mimansa.
		Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India, Sufism.
		Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan's Rajtarangini, Alberuni's India.
		Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting.
		3. The Thirteenth Century:
		Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions - factors behind Ghurian success.
		Economic, Social and cultural consequences.
		Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans.
		Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban.
		4. The Fourteenth Century:
		“The Khalji Revolution”.
		Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measure.
		Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.
		Firuz Tugluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account.
		5. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:
		Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement.
		Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture.
		Economy: Agricultural Production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade, and commerce.
		6. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century-Political Developments and Economy:
		Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat.
		Malwa, Bahmanids.
		The Vijayanagara Empire.
		Lodis. — Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur, Humayun.
		The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration.
		Portuguese colonial enterprise, Bhakti, and Sufi Movements.
		7. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- Society and culture:
		Regional cultures specificities.
		Literary traditions.
		Provincial architectural.
		Society, culture, literature, and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
Sunday, 23 July 2023	Test 4	1. Akbar:
		Conquests and consolidation of empire.
		Establishment of jagir and mansab systems.
		Rajput policy.
		Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy.
		Court patronage of art and technology.
		2. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:
		Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb.
		The Empire and the Zamindars.
		Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb.
		Nature of the Mughal State.
		Late Seventeenth-Century crisis and the revolts.
		The Ahom kingdom.
		Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
		3. Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries:
		Population Agricultural and craft production.
		Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution.
		Indian mercantile classes. Banking, insurance, and credit systems.
		Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women.
		Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth.
		4. Culture during Mughal Empire:
		Persian histories and other literature.
		Hindi and religious literatures.
		Mughal architecture.
		Mughal painting.
		Provincial architecture and painting.
		Classical music.
		Science and technology.
		5. The Eighteenth Century:
		Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
		The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh.
		Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.
		The Maratha fiscal and financial system.
		Emergence of Afghan power Battle of Panipat, 1761.
		State of, political, cultural, and economic, on eve of the British conquest.
Sunday, 30 July 2023	Test 6	1. European Penetration into India: The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal-The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey.
		2. British Expansion in India: Bengal-Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three AngloMaratha Wars; The Punjab.
		3. Early Structure of the British Raj: The Early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitt's India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The Voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India.
		4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:
		(a) Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
		(b) Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts; Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services; Famine and poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise and its limitations.
		5. Social and Cultural Developments: The state of indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, The introduction of western education in India; The rise of press, literature, and public opinion; The rise of modern vernacular literature; Progress of science; Christian missionary activities in India.
		6. Social and Religious Reform Movements in Bengal and Other Areas: Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage, etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism-the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
Sunday, 6 August 2023	Test 6	1. Indian Response to British Rule: Peasant movement and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); The Great Revolt of 1857 —Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.
		2. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The Foundation of the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress; Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the social composition of early Congress leadership; the Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India.
		3. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi's popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Noncooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement; the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working-class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947); the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission.
		4. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935.
		5. Other strands in the National Movement. The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P. the Madras Presidency, Outside India. The Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.
		6. Politics of Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.
		7. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru's Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964); The linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality; Integration of Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language.
		8. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947; Backward Castes and Tribes in post-colonial electoral politics; Dalit movements.
		9. Economic development and political change; Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post-colonial India; Progress of Science.
Sunday, 13 August 2023	Test 7	1. Enlightenment and Modern ideas:
		(i) Major Ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau.
		(ii) Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies.
		(iii) Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.
		2. Origins of Modern Politics:
		(i) European States System.
		(ii) American Revolution and the Constitution.
		(iii) French Revolution and Aftermath, 1789-1815.
		(iv) American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery.
		(v) British Democratic politics, 1815-1850: Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.
		3. Industrialization:
		(i) English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society.
		(ii) Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan.
		(iii) Industrialization and Globalization.
		4. Nation-State System:
		(i) Rise of Nationalism in 19th century.
		(ii) Nationalism: State-building in Germany and Italy.
		(iii) Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the World.
		5. Imperialism and Colonialism:
		(i) South and South-East Asia.
		(ii) Latin America and South Africa.
		(iii) Australia.
		(iv) Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.
		6. Revolution and Counter-Revolution:
		(i) 19th Century European revolutions.
		(ii) The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921.
		(iii) Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.
		(iv) The Chinese Revolution of 1949.
Sunday, 20 August 2023	Test 8	1. World Wars:
		(i) 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications.
		(ii) World War I: Causes and Consequences. (iii) World War II: Causes and Consequences.
		2. The World after World War II:
		(i) Emergence of Two power blocs.
		(ii) Emergence of Third World and non-alignment.
		(iii) UNO and the global disputes.
		3. Liberation from Colonial Rule:
		(i) Latin America-Bolivar.
		(ii) Arab World-Egypt.
		(iii) Africa-Apartheid to Democracy.
		(iv) South-East Asia-Vietnam.
		4. Decolonization and Underdevelopment:
		(i) Factors constraining development; Latin America, Africa.
		5. Unification of Europe:
		(i) Post War Foundations; NATO and European Community.
		(ii) Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
		(iii) European Union.
		6. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:
		(i) Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet Communism and Soviet Union, 1985-1991.
		(ii) Political Changes in East Europe 1989-2001.
		(iii) End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.
Tuesday, 22 August 2023		Bonus Map Test
Thursday, 24 August 2023		Comprehensive Tests
Saturday, 26 August 2023		Paper 1: 03 September, Paper 2: 03 September

PSIR Optional (Test Series)

Test Series Starts: 2nd July 2023

Course Mode: Online

Course Language: English

Course Fees: ~~5000~~ 4000/- + GST (Discounted fee offer valid till: 25 Jun 2023)

Course Validity: Till Mains 2023

Test Schedule:

TEST NO.	DATE	TOPIC
1	02-Jul	PAPER – 1 SECTION - A
		THINKERS:
		UNIT - 9. Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
		UNIT - 10. Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.
2	15-Jul	PAPER – 1 SECTION - A
		Political Theory and Indian Politics
		UNIT -1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
		UNIT - 2. Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluiralist, post-colonial and Feminist.
		UNIT - 3. Justice : Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.
		UNIT - 4. Equality : Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
		UNIT - 5. Rights : Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights.
		UNIT - 6. Democracy : Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy—representative, participatory and deliberative.
		UNIT - 7. Concept of power : hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
		UNIT - 8. Political Ideologies : Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
3	23-Jul	PAPER – 1 SECTION - B
		Indian Government and Politics
		UNIT - 1. Indian Nationalism : (a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle : Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience; Militant and Revolutionary Movements, Peasant and Workers Movements. (b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement; Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical Humanist and Dalit.
		UNIT - 2. Making of the Indian Constitution : Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives.
		UNIT - 3 Salient Features of the Indian Constitution : The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.
		UNIT – 4 (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government : Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court. (b) Principal Organs of the State Government : Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts.
		UNIT – 5 Grassroots Democracy : Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.
		UNIT - 6. Statutory Institutions/Commissions : Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance Commission, Union Public Service Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women; National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission.
		UNIT – 7. Federalism : Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations; integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
		UNIT - 8. Planning and Economic development : Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; Role of planning and public sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalization and economic reforms.
		UNIT - 9.. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
		UNIT - 10. Party System : National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; Patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio-economic profile of Legislators.
		UNIT -11. Social Movement : Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist movements.
4	30-Jul	Paper 2 – SECTION – A
		Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics
		UNIT - 1. Comparative Politics : Nature and major approaches; Political economy and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative method.
		UNIT - 2. State in Comparative Perspective : Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.
		UNIT - 3. Politics of Representation and Participation : Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.
		UNIT - 4. Globalisation : Responses from developed and developing societies.
		UNIT - 5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations : Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.
		UNIT - 6. Key Concepts in International Relations : National interest, security and power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
		UNIT - 7. Changing International Political Order : (a) Rise of super powers; Strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and cold war; Nuclear threat; (b) Non-aligned Movement : Aims and achievements. (c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; Relevance of non-alignment in the contemporary world.
		UNIT - 8. Evolution of the International Economic System : From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); Third World demand for new international economic order; Globalisation of the world economy.
		UNIT - 9. United Nations : Envisaged role and actual record; Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning; need for UN reforms.
		UNIT - 10. Regionalisation of World Politics : EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA.
		UNIT - 11. Contemporary Global Concerns : Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice terrorism, nuclear proliferation.
5	06-Aug	Paper 2 – SECTION – B
		India and the World
		UNIT - 1. Indian Foreign Policy : Determinants of foreign policy; the institutions of policy-making; Continuity and change.
		UNIT - 2. India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement Different phases; Current role.
		UNIT - 3. India and South Asia : (a) Regional Co-operation : SAARC-past performance and future prospects. (b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area. (c) India’s “Look East” policy. (d) Impediments to regional co-operation : River water disputes; illegal cross border migration; Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies; Border disputes.
		UNIT - 4. India and the Global South : Relations with Africa and Latin America; Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
		UNIT - 5. India and the Global Centres of Power : USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
		UNIT - 6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; Demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
		UNIT - 7. India and the Nuclear Question : Changing perceptions and policy.
		UNIT - 8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy : India’s position on the recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US and Isreal; Vision of a new world order.
6	13-Aug	PAPER – 1 SECTION - A
		Political Theory and Indian Politics
		UNIT -1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
		UNIT - 2. Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluiralist, post-colonial and Feminist.
		UNIT - 3. Justice : Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.
		UNIT - 4. Equality : Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
		UNIT - 5. Rights : Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights.
		UNIT - 6. Democracy : Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy—representative, participatory and deliberative.
		UNIT - 7. Concept of power : hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
		UNIT - 8. Political Ideologies : Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
		UNIT - 9. Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
		UNIT - 10. Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.
		Paper 2 – SECTION - A
		Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics
		UNIT - 1. Comparative Politics : Nature and major approaches; Political economy and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative method.
		UNIT - 2. State in Comparative Perspective : Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.
		UNIT - 3. Politics of Representation and Participation : Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.
		UNIT - 4. Globalisation : Responses from developed and developing societies.
		UNIT - 5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations : Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.
		UNIT - 6. Key Concepts in International Relations : National interest, security and power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
7	07-Sep	PAPER – 1 FULL LENGTH TEST
8	07-Sep	PAPER – 2 FULL LENGTH TEST

Geography Optional (Test Series)

Test Series Starts: 2nd July 2023

Course Mode: Online

Course Language: English

Course Fees: ~~5000~~ 4000/- + GST (Discounted fee offer valid till: 25 Jun 2023)

Course Validity: Till Mains 2023

Test Schedule:

TEST NO	DATE (TENTATIVE)	TEST TOPICS
1	02/07/23	Oceanography
		Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources; Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sea-level changes; law of the sea and marine pollution.
		Climatology
		Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes, Applied climatology and Urban climate.
2	09/07/23	Geomorphology
		Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development; Applied Geomorphology: Geohydrology, economic geology and environment.
3	16/07/23	Perspectives in Human Geography
		Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development index.
		Biogeography
		Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry; agro-forestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.
		Economic Geography
		World economic development: measurement and problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth; World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies; World industries: locational patterns and problems; patterns of world trade.
		Environmental Geography
		Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.
4	23/07/23	Regional Planning
		Concept of a region; types of regions and methods of regionalisation; growth centres and growth poles; regional imbalances; environmental issues in regional planning; planning for sustainable development.
		Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography
		System analysis in Human Geography; Malthusian, Marxian and Demographic Transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location; Weber’s model of industrial location; Rostov’s model of stages of growth. Heart-land and Rimland theories; laws of international boundaries and frontiers.
		Population Settlement & Models in Geography
		Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; concepts of over - under-and optimum population; Population theories, world population problems and policies, Social well-being and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology: Concepts of primate city and rank_size rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural - urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable development of cities.
5	30/07/23	Physical Setting of India
		Space relationship of India with neighboring countries; Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns, Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts; Climatic regions; Natural vegetation; Soil types and their distributions.
		Resources
		Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources; Forest and wild life resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.
6	06/07/23	Agriculture
		Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability; Agro and social forestry; Green revolution and its socioeconomic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry; agricultural regionalisation; agro-climatic zones; agro_ecological regions. _ Cultural Setting
		Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities; religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions; Growth, distribution and density of population; Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration (inter-regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators. _ Settlement
		Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; Urban developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and metropolitan regions; urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; town planning; Problems of urbanization and remedies.
7	13/08/23	Industry
		Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial regionalisation; New industrial policies; Multinationals and liberalization; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including eco -tourism.
		Trade transport & Communication
		Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development; Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Trade balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones; Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society; Indian space programme.
		Regional Development Planning
		Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning; Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert, drought prone, hill, tribal area development; multi-level planning; Regional planning and development of island territories.

8	20/08/23	Political Aspect
		Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganisation; Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and interstate issues; international boundary of India and related issues; Cross border terrorism; India’s role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.
		Contemporary Issues
		Ecological issues: Environmental hazards: landslides earth quakes , Tsunamis , floods and droughts, epidemics; Issues relating to environmental pollution; Changes in patterns of land use; Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management; Population explosion and food security; Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion; Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities in economic development ; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.
9	27/08/23	FULL LENGTH TEST – 01
10	03/09/23	FULL LENGTH TEST – 02
11	10/09/23	FULL LENGTH TEST – 03
12	10/09/23	FULL LENGTH TEST – 04

Sociology Optional (Test Series)

Test Series Starts: 2nd July 2023

Course Mode: Online

Course Language: English

Course Fees: ~~5000~~ 4000/- + GST (Discounted fee offer valid till: 25 Jun 2023)

Course Validity: Till Mains 2023

Test Schedule:

S/No.	Date	Topic
Test -1	2nd July	(a) Karl Marx - Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
		(b) Emile Durkhteim - Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
		(c) Max Weber - Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
Test-2	9th July	(d) Talcolt Parsons - Social system, pattern variables.
		(e) Robert K. Merton - Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
		(f) Mead - Self and identity.
Test-3	16th July	1. Sociology – The Discipline:
		(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of Sociology.
		(b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
		(c) Sociology and common sense.
		2. Sociology as Science:
		(a) Science, scientific method, and critique.
		(b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
		(c) Positivism and its critique.
		(d) Fact value and objectivity.
		(e) Non-positivist methodologies.
		3. Research Methods and Analysis:
		(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods.
		(b) Techniques of data collection.
		(c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability, and validity.
		4. Stratification and Mobility:
		(a) Concepts - equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty, and deprivation.
		(b) Theories of social stratification - Structural functionalist theory, Marxist theory, Weberian theory.
		(c) Dimensions - Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity and race.
		(d) Social mobility - open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and causes of mobility.


Test 4	23rd July	1. Works and Economic Life:
		(a) Social organization of work in different types of society - slave society, feudal society, industrial capitalist society.
		(b) Formal and informal organization of work.
		(c) Labour and society.
		2. Politics and Society:
		(a) Sociological theories of power.
		(b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups and political parties.
		(c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
		(d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.
		3. Religion and Society:
		(a) Sociological theories of religion.
		(b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
		(c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious revivalism, fundamentalism.
		4. Systems of Kinship:
		(a) Family, household, marriage.
		(b) Types and forms of family.
		(c) Lineage and descent.
		(d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
		(e) Contemporary trends.
		5. Social Change in Modern Society:
		(a) Sociological theories of social change.
		(b) Development and dependency.
		(c) Agents of social change.
		(d) Education and social change.
		(e) Science, technology, and social change.

Test 5	30th July	Introducing Indian Society:
		1. Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society:
		(a) Indology (G.S. Ghure).
		2. (b) Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
		(c) Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).
		3. Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:
		(a) Social background of Indian nationalism.
		(b) Modernization of Indian tradition.
		(c) Protests and movements during the colonial period.
		(d) Social reforms.
		B. Social Structure:
		1. Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:
		(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies
		(b) Agrarian social structure— evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.
		2. Caste System:
		(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: G. S. Ghurye, M. N. Srinivas, Louis Dumont, Andre Beteille.
		(b) Features of caste system.
		(c) Untouchability-forms and perspectives
		3. Tribal Communities in India:
		(a) Definitional problems.
		(b) Geographical spread.
		(c) Colonial policies and tribes.
		(d) Issues of integration and autonomy.
		4. Social Classes in India:
		(a) Agrarian class structure.
		(b) Industrial class structure.
		(c) Middle classes in India.
		5. Systems of Kinship in India:
		(a) Lineage and descent in India.
		(b) Types of kinship systems.
		(c) Family and marriage in India.
		(d) Household dimensions of the family.
		(e) Patriarchy, entitlements, and sexual division of labour.
		6. Religion and Society:
		(a) Religious communities in India.
		(b) Problems of religious minorities.

Test -6	6th August	Social Changes in India:
		1. Visions of Social Change in India:
		(a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
		(b) Constitution, law, and social change.
		(c) Education and social change.
		2. Rural and Agrarian Transformation in India:
		(a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme, cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.
		(b) Green revolution and social change.
		(c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture.
		(d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.
		3. Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:
		4. (a) Evolution of modern industry in India.
		(b) Growth of urban settlements in India.
		(c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
		(d) Informal sector, child labour.
		(e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.
		5. Politics and Society:
		(a) Nation, democracy and citizenship.
		(b) Political parties, pressure groups, social and political elite.
		(c) Regionalism and decentralization of power.
		(d) Secularization.
		6. Social Movements in Modern India:
		(a) Peasants and farmers' movements.
		(b) Women’s movement.
		(c) Backward classes & Dalit movements.
		(d) Environmental movements.
		(e) Ethnicity and Identity movements.
		7. Population Dynamics:
		Population size, growth, composition and distribution.
		Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
		Population Policy and family planning.
		Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.
		8. Challenges of Social Transformation:
		(a) Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability.
		(b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.
		(c) Violence against women.
		(d) Caste conflicts.
		(e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
		(f) Illiteracy and disparities in education.

Test-7	13th August	Sociology Paper-1 All Portion ( Full Length)
Test-8	20th August	Sociology Paper-2 All Portion ( Full Length)

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