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Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2024

by Vajiram & Ravi

11-11-2024

10:15 AM

Important Topics for UPSC: Crucial subjects and themes for the UPSC examination pertain to the subjects and areas of significance within the Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC. The curriculum encompasses an extensive array of subjects, and being aware of those that are pivotal can substantially influence a candidate's prospects of success. Here, the important topics for Prelims 2024 are categorised paperwise and subjectwise, which would provide ease to the aspirants while going through them. Along with the Static topics, a list of the most important current affairs topics is also provided to interrelate them.

Important Topics for UPSC Prelims

Though there are several important topics for UPSC Prelims and Mains that overlap, but here is the list of topics which are more significant from the UPSC Prelims perspective. The important topics for UPSC Prelims are given below:

1

Tungnath Temple

16

Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO)

2

Konark Wheel

17

30 Years of Project Elephant

3

Edakkal Caves

18

MeerKAT Telescope

4

Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas

19

International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)

5

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

20

Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR)

6

India’s New Parliament Building

21

Article 371F

7

Washington Declaration

22

Dabba Trading

8

NITI Aayog’s State Health Index

23

Logistic Performance Index 2023

9

Enemy Property

24

Geographical Indication Tag

10

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

25

SHREYAS Scheme

11

Uttaramerur Inscription

26

AAINA Dashboard

12

Thirunelly Temple

27

Digital Public Infrastructure and India Stack

13

Pushkaralu Festival

28

Aspirational Block Programme

14

3200 Phaethon

29

Sarna Code

15

TeLEOS-2 & Lumelite-4

30

Freedom on The Net 2023 Report

31

Vikshit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

41

Washington Declaration

32

Railway Officers To Be Trained In Disaster Management

42

India To Train ASEAN Women in United Nations

33

Road Crash Death In India

43

Peacekeeping Operation

34

Gram Manchitra

44

India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade Pact

35

Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative

45

Israel-Palestine Conflict

36

NCRB 2022 Report On Crime In India

46

NATO PLUS

37

Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and The Pacific (IF-CAP)

47

World Bank President

38

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

48

‘Silkworm Eating’ Strategy

39

Visit of PM Modi to Egypt

49

Wagner Group

40

Sanctions Committee of UNSC

50

India Gifts Missile Corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam

Places on Map in News

1

Cuba 

11

Orkney Islands

21

Gabon

2

Gaza Strip 

12

Vilnius

22

Morocco

3

Uzbekistan

13

Kakhovka Dam

23

Kostyantynivka

4

Sittwe Port

14

Batagaika Crater

24

Armenia

5

Coco Islands

15

Cam Ranh Bay

25

9-Dash line

6

Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant

16

Strait of Hormuz

26

Timor Leste

7

Gulf of Oman

17

Crimean Bridge

27

Nagorno- Karabakh

8

Yanomami

18

Democratic Republic of Congo

28

AlexandriaPort

9

Chetumal Bay

19

Ubinas Volcano 

29

Libya

10

Fuego Volcano

20

Peru

30

Hemis Monestry

Top Current Affairs Topics for UPSC Prelims 2024

The Current affairs occupy a very significant place in both UPSC Prelims as well as Mains. Following is the list of most important current affairs topics relevant to the UPSC Prelims 2024 examination:

History and Culture:

Social Issues:

International Relations:

Economics and Trade:

Science and Technology:

  • Chandrayaan - 3
  • Blue Hole
  • CoWIN Data Breach
  • Electronic Interlocking System in Railways
  • Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves
  • LIGO-India Project
  • Human Genome Project
  • Seed Bank At Asola Bhatti Sanctuary
  • Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START)
  • Foucault Pendulum
  • Dark Patterns

Governance and Policy:

  • Mission Vatsalya Scheme
  • Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023
  • National Medical Commission
  • Model Prisons Act
  • National Medical Devices Policy 2023
  • Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
  • Changes In GST
  • Foreign Exchange Management Act
  • Universal Basic Income (UBI)
  • India Rethinking Its Anaemia Policy
  • The PoSH Act
  • Violence in Manipur
  • Article 370

Finance and Trade:

  • India’s Remittance Inflows Growth Could Slow to Just 0.2% in 2023
  • Changes In GST
  • Volatility In Edible Oil Prices
  • Falling Bond Yields
  • Foreign Exchange Management Act
  • India’s Gold Reserves

Important Topics for UPSC Mains 2024

The IAS syllabus is extensive and might overwhelm many candidates. Developing a lucid comprehension of the important topics for UPSC aids them in refining their preparation approach and prevents wastage of effort on less pivotal areas.

General Studies I

Indian Heritage and Culture; and History and Geography of the World and Society:

1

Literature - Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, Sangam, Mughal, etc.

14

Vijayanagar Empire

2

Art and Architecture - IVC, Mauryan, Gupta, Dravidian, Mughal, etc.

15

Socio-religious Reforms

3

Geography - physical features, natural resources, phenomena like volcanism, etc.

16

Mountbatten Plan

4

Indian Society - features, issues, etc.

17

Indian Independence Act, 1947

5

Rowlatt Act

18

Land Revenue System

6

Civil Disobedience Movement

19

Home Rule Movement

7

Modern India - Personalities, Events, etc.

20

Revolt of 1857

8

Indian Freedom Struggle - several stages, leaders, etc.

21

Partition of Bengal

9

Gandhi-Irwin Pact

22

Charter Acts - 1813, 1833, etc

10

Second Round Conference

23

Government of India Act, 1919

11

World History - revolutions, World Wars, Cold War, etc.

24

First Round Conference, 1930

12

Government of India Act, 1935

25

Khilafat Movement

13

Quit India Movement

26

Non-Cooperation Movement

General Studies II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations:

1

Constitution of India — historical underpinnings, evolution, etc

11

Government Policies

2

Constitution of other countries like USA, UK, Japan, etc.

12

NGOs, SHGs, etc

3

Separation of Powers - Organs of Government

13

Welfare schemes for vulnerable groups

4

Union and States - federalism, etc

14

Health, Education, and Human Resources

5

Parliament and State legislatures - functions, powers, etc

15

Poverty and Hunger issues

6

Judiciary - their structure, roles, etc

16

Governance, transparency, e-governance

7

Pressure Groups - RSS, AIKS, etc

17

Civil services

8

Voting laws, RPA 1950,‘51 etc

18

Bilateral, regional, and global partnerships

9

Constitutional Bodies - UPSC, ECI, etc

19

Indian Diaspora

10

Statutory and Quasi-judicial bodies - NHRC, etc

20

Global Institutions - UN, WTO, etc

General Studies III

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:

1

Indian Economy - planning, resource mobilization, employment, etc

16

IT, Computers and Space Technology

2

Growth and Development

17

Robotics, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology

3

Inclusive Growth

18

Intellectual Property Rights

4

Government budgeting

19

Environment - conservation, pollution, degradation, etc

5

Major crops and cropping patterns

20

Environmental Impact Assessment

6

Irrigation types - Drip, Sprinkler, etc

21

Disaster Management

7

Farm subsidies - PMKISAN, etc

22

Internal Security

8

Food Security and MSP

23

Extremism and Role of External Actors

9

Animal Rearing

24

Communication Networks

10

Food Processing Industry

25

Cyber Security

11

Land Reforms

26

Money-Laundering

12

Liberalization and Industrial Policy

27

Border Area Security

13

Infrastructure - Road, Energy, etc

28

Organized Crime

14

Investment Models - BOT, HAM, etc

29

Terrorism

15

Science and Technology - developments

30

Security forces, agencies, etc. - BSF, NIA, CBI, etc

General Studies IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude:

1

Ethics and Human Interface

16

Conscience

2

Essence, Determinants, and Consequences of Ethics in Human Actions

17

Accountability

3

Dimensions of Ethics in Private and Public Relationships

18

Ethical Governance

4

Human Values from Leaders' Lives, Role of Family, Society, and Education

19

Ethical Issues in International Relations

5

Attitude

20

Corporate Governance

6

Influence of Attitude on thought, behaviour, moral, political, and social aspects

21

Probity in Governance

7

Aptitude and Foundational Values

22

Transparency

8

Values for Civil Service

23

Right to Information

9

Integrity, Impartiality, Objectivity, Dedication, Empathy

24

Codes of Ethics

10

Emotional Intelligence

25

Codes of Conduct

11

Moral Thinkers from India and worldwide

26

Work Culture

12

Ethics in Public Administration

27

Quality Service

13

Public/Civil Service Values

28

Public Funds' Utilization

14

Ethical Concerns and Dilemmas

29

Corruption Challenges

15

Ethical Guidance from Laws, Rules, etc

30

Case Studies on the above issues

FAQs on Important Topics for UPSC

Which topics are important for UPSC Prelims 2024?

The vital topics for UPSC Prelims include Indian National Movement, Indian Polity, Indian Economy, Geography, General Science, Environment, Current Affairs, Art and Culture, History of India, World History, Technology, Indian Society, and Logical Reasoning. A thorough understanding and coverage of these subjects are essential for success in the examination.

What should I study for UPSC Mains 2024?

Study the syllabus comprehensively, focusing on important topics for UPSC from subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. Solve previous year's papers to get an idea about the pattern in which questions are framed.

Which Current Affairs Topics Are Important for UPSC Mains 2024?

The significant current affairs topics for UPSC Mains 2024 encompass Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves, LIGO-India Project, Human Genome Project, Model Prisons Act, National Medical Devices Policy, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and other evolving international relations.