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General Awareness is an Integral part
of most of the competitive exams and it Comprises of current finance and
economy, Geographical, social, cultural aspects at national and
international level. The fact that makes it a challenge to prepare is
its unlimited range of questions.
General awareness is considered a big
challenge by the aspirants due to is large range of questions. It is
believed that you cannot prepare it completely as there are so many
things happening around and you can’t remember them all. I am receiving many mails from aspirants asking how to tackle this big hurdle. The solution is simple, Stay Updated!!
Although we accept it is challenging but it may be a great decider of your success if prepared properly. Last
year the deciding factor between Postal Assistant Job getters and
losers was "General knowledge". Previous year, most of the aspirants
scored more than 20 marks in every part i.e. Arithmetic, Reasoning, and
General English but failed to secure qualifying marks (10 marks) in GK.
The General Awareness questions don’t
take any time to solve. You only have to read and Mark. There is
no calculation that you have to do (And very minimal, if any!!). So you
may attempt this section in 10 minutes without much effort and it’s
highly scoring also. It saves precious time to go for other time-taking
sections. So I advise you to go for General awareness first as people
normally complain about not being able to attempt this section due to
lack of time. It's a common reason of failure for many people that
although they were able to score exceptionally good in other sections
but they were unable to even attempt general awareness. So attempt
general awareness first!!
General awareness cannot be prepared in
a single day. It has to be done daily for some time. Make it a habit to
keep you updated. If done properly, you'll surely gain a deciding edge
over competitors and will easily pass through. So the preparation should
be started well in advance.
Postal Assistant GK Syllabus (25 marks).
General
Knowledge - Questions on current events, Sports, History, Geography,
Basic economics, General politics, Indian Constitution, Science
environment etc (25 marks).
Questions in this component will be
aimed at testing the candidate’s general awareness of the environment
around him and its application to society. Questions will also be
designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of
every day observations and experience in their scientific aspect as may
be expected of any educated person. The test will also include questions
relating to India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining
Current Events and Sports:
There is always something happening in
this bloody big world so it’s not easy to stay updated with all the
latest affairs all the time. We need to strategize our plan of action to
prepare it accordingly; otherwise it will be tough nut to break for
sure. In every second some issues are happening around the world in
these sectors, and to accumulate the excerpt of some highlighted news,
and memorize it is a good plan to prepare current affairs and GK.
So, how to prepare the current affairs?
Go to Govt. library, read Daily News
Paper (The Hindu, Indian Express or The Times of India) whatever
competitive magazine you get (CST, Pratiyoigta Kiran / Darphan,
Chronicle, Wizard) and note down important names/details
But keep in mind that all such magazines provide too many details/ball by ball commentary – you
just need to maintain a brief MS word file / Dairy or containing
important events/names/awards/mascots/venues only. Otherwise it’ll
become very difficult to revise entire content from original source on
the night before the exam.
Many of us are always confused about following questions:
Which newspaper to read? , Which books or magazines to read?
Is monthly magazines are enough?, and most important How to read newspaper ?
Before going to read any book, magazine
or newspaper, it is most important to collect previous year papers of
all Circles and make your own analysis that what type of questions are
being asked. It is must before any study plan.
Because the local
newspapers give only the "hot-shot" news of politics, cricket and
Bollywood and exams are not asking much about it. So i prefer "The
Hindu". If not possible then Indian Express.
Following things are extremely important to read in newspaper
Recent developments in the field of Science and Technology like satellite launches, vaccine development, defence deals, new diseases, Computers, Hybrid Seeds, Solar Energy etc
Environmental issues are given
high importance and developments like important summits and their
outcomes, global warming, carbon dump, carbon trading,
environment-affecting projects like Dams, nuclear plants (Kudankulam
protests), pollution should be regularly looked into.
In Polity,
important judgments of social or national or economic importance should
be regularly tracked. Nirbhaya Chattam, Food Safety bill etc
Keeping track of all the important economic data like growth rate, inflation, exports and imports, as well as current economic issues like slowdown, global economic crisis, FDI in retail, RBI policy, big players and the companies owned by them, PSU's activity –its heads, Govt.'s policies, budget etc
Sports events like tennis grand
slams, cricket, Indian achievements in Olympics, world cup’s etc.
Remember to go beyond cricket and read about other sports as well.
Awards and honours from within
India as well as from outside India like Magsaysay awards, Khel Ratna,
Nobel Prizesand so on. Winners of Booker, Pulitzer, Miss World / Miss
Universe.
Persons in news those that might
have received some honor, or have invented something or achieved a
personal feat of social value etc. Foreign Prez /PM; chief guest of 26th Jan. Parade, Indian diaspora – especially in USA, chiefs of army-navy-air force, supreme court, various national bodies etc
International Affairs / Important
office Holders of World Organizations, OPEC,ASEAN,SAARC etc- if they're
meeting then note down where they met and what points did they discuss?
Indian Army Exercise with China/US etc
Administration: Administrative reforms, E-gov etc.
Government schemes (NPS, NREGA- and editorials related to it-good things, bad things)
Education related- Deemed univ etc.
How to Prepare for History
What to prepare from History: Major
preparation should be done from Medieval India to freedom of India. As
per my opinion it is better to concentrate on Modern Indian History
While studying don´t overload your mind
by memorizing dates. Questions will be asked from major events and
major persons. As every person has limited amount of memorizing
capacity, you will have to forget something for something new. So use
your memory smartly.
Try to understand and co-relate the
events in Indian History and try to make relationship with your
life. Its your duty to create memory link up with the events.
For Indian history and culture refer NCERT books from class 7 to 10, Indian history (Arihant) or lucent G.k etc.
Medieval Indian History:
1. Important Wars (who fought with whom, when and what was the result + some of them are from ‘modern history’)
Two
Tarai battles, Three Panipat battles, Three Anglo Maratha wars, three
Anglo-French wars, Two Anglo-Sikh wars, Plassey, Buxar, Bedera, Burmese,
Afghan
2. Delhi Sultanate: Qutubuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia
Sultan, Balban , Alauddin Khilji and his policies, Mohd. Tuglaq and his
speciality, Firoz Shah Tughlaq and his policy, Sikandar Lodhi, Ibrahim
Lodhi.
3. Mughal and their policy / work/ constructions, Babar,
Humayun,Sher Shah (although not a Mughal), Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan,
Aurungzeb
4. Maratha: Shivaji, his administration and the three Anglo Maratha wars
5. Culture: South India Temple and features: Gopuram, Garbhagriha, Hoysala temple etc.
6. Poets-patron kings, main books, Mosques, tombs, gates, forts etc.: where are they located and who built them?
7.Travelers
(incl. Ancient) + envoys: mainly Megasthenes, Fa-Hien, Al-Baruni, Huien
Tsang, Marco Polo, Ibn Batuta, Nicolo Conti, Wiliam Hawkins, Thoms Roe,
Tavernier, Bernier.
8. Religion: Bhakti saints, Sufi Saints particularly Khwaja Muinuddin Chisty, Sikhism, Gurus particularly Nanak, Arjan Dev and Gobind Singh
Modern Indian History
1.Entry
of Europeans: where did they setup factory and under whose rule? +
their conflicts with Native rules (e.g Siraz-ud daula, Tipu Sultan)
2.Important Gov.Gen/Viceroys and their policies ,
Hastings,
Cornwallis, Wellesley, Bentick, Metcalfe; Aukland; Hardinge (each of
them only did 1 or 2 imp things), Canning, Mayo, Lytton, Ripon,
Landsdown. Curzon, Minto, Chelmsford
The Viceroys after Chelmsford should be prepared with focus on how they handled Gandhi and Partition of India:
Irwin,
Willingdon, Linlithgow, Wavell, Mountbatten,C. Rajagopalachari (only
the fact that he was 1st and last Indian governor general of free India)
3.Revolts : 1857
Peasant revolts and their leaders+reasons: mainly Indigo, Deccan, Ramosi, Chamran, Kheda, Moplah, Tebhaga, Telengana and Eka
Tribal revolts and leaders+reasons: mainly Rampa, Munda, Naga and Tana Bhagat.
Others mainly Sanyasi, Pagal Panthi and Kuka
4.Culture:
Books and authors (Dadabhai, RC Dutt, Gandhi, Bankim etc)
Newspaper-language-owner
various org. and their
founders: Mainly Brahmo, Sadharan Brahmo, Namdhari, Radha Swami, Arya
Samaj, Prarthana, Deccan Edu., Theosophical, Ramkrishan Mission,
Servents of India, Purna Seva Sadan, Satya Sodhak, Aravipuram, Justice
party, Bahishkrit Hitkarini, Self-Respect, Harijan Sevak, Derozio,
Tattvabodhini, Wahabi, DEoband, Aligarh,
Reformers: Roy, Vivekanand, Sahjanand, Saraswati, Kesab Chandra etc.
Education reform: Hunter, Sadler, Macaulay and Sargeant
5.Freedom Struggle :
Congress, GK related to Congress Sessions: prominent chairmen, resolution etc.
Moderate, Extremist and their leader, Surat Split
Swaraj Party, Nehru Report.
Congress Ministries vs Muslim League
Revolutionaries: org.-leaders-members and conspiracy-cases + INA and its trials + RIN munity
Home Rule Besant and Tilak and Lucknow Pact
6. Gandhi:
Champaran, A’bad, Kheda;NCM, Khilafat, CDM, QIM
Gandhi-Irwin, Gandhi-Amebedkar, Gandhi-Bose
Reforms: Morley Minto; Montague-Chelmsford
Thuggary: Rowlett, Jalliyanwala, Simon, RTC, Communal award
Acts: 1909, 1919, 1935 and 1947;
Partition related: Linlithgow offer, Wavell plan, Cabinet Mission , Cripps Mission.
Geography:
Most of the questions will be from Indian Geography. So don´t prepare for world Geography.
Use NCERT books for proper concept building and finally use LUCENT GK for quick revision of facts.
Indian Geography
1. Some Geographical Facts of India
Climatic conditions in India- Major Seasons of India
2. Major Solis of India- Forest types and their distribution
3. Mountain, Plateaus, DesertsWhich states do they cover (e.g Khasi-Garo-Jantia hills)highest peaks.
Mountain passes (Nathu-la etc.)
Which of them are young mountain/fold mountain etc.?
4. Rivers / Lakes / WaterfallsWhere do they start? , Which states do they cover?In which sea do they end?, list of their tributaries
Any water fall?, Any dams? If yes then which states get benefit from it?
Any national inland waterway on them?, Major Lakes, Reservoirs
5. States:
Administrative, CENSUS-2011 related
GK (highest-lowest in literacy, sex ratio etc.) + State with maximum ST
population in absolute numbers and in percentages. etc.
State
capitals (especially for North East); where is state high court; in
case of UT/islands which HC has jurisdiction (under polity), do they
come under 5th or 6th schedule (under polity)
border: with neighboring states and countries; state with largest area, longest coastline, max no. of district
Soil-crop-cropping seasons – Agriculture Pattern- Major producers of crops
Trade and Transport- Major Highways of India- Railway Zones
6.Mines/minerals (only the very prominent names. don’t go in all details)
7.Famous industrial / handicraft cities
8. Towns of export excellence (especially those recently added)
If it is a costal state: name of major ports?Any famous airport?
National highway: shortest and longest9.CultureAny important fairs / cultural events-dances/festivals?
Famous tourist places hill stations, temples, monuments, mosques, minar, caves etc?
Any sites included in UNESCO world heritage list? (use google)
Environment, Any biodiversity hotspot?
Any famous wildlife parks / sanctuaries?
Any rare species found? Any place famous for migratory birds?
Physical Geography:
Universe:
basics of planets-their moons, asteroid, comet, stars etc. (just do
high school level coverage, don’t put lot of time here on individual
planet)
Layers of atmosphere: their sequence, uses (Ionosphere, stratosphere etc)
Layers of earth-core, SIAL, SIMA, discontinuity.
Main terms associated with volcanos and earthquakes
Longitude, latitude, timezone, coriolls effect.
Climate: how altitude, distance from sea affect temp.; axis-tilt-seasons-day n night; albedo, ozone, aurora
Types of soils and rocks- what crops/minerals do they have
Major Grasslands of the world / Deserts/ Lakes / Waterfalls/ straits
Polity:
Advantage
of Polity Section in General Studies-Getting all correct answer in
polity is not that hard as getting the same in History/Geography /
Current Affairs because most of the data follows a logical pattern. So
revise it a lot and make polity your strong point for G.S.
Important Topics to Prepare in Polity.
History of Constitution, Constitutional developments, Preamble, Barrowed features of Constitution,
Articles- you don’t have to remember all articles numbers in Constitution – but only imp articles numbers- like appointment, powers and removal of things (like President), budget , parliament etc.
Schedules of Constitution, the Union & its territory, Citizenship
Fundamental Rights: This is considered
as the most important aspect of our constitution. Go through all the
Fundamental Rights (FR) many times over until you grasp the essence of
each FR. Also try to remember which article corresponds to which FR and
what the provisions are therein.
Directive Principles: After the FR’s
these are a very important part of the Constitution and you should try
to remember the main provisions of the important DPSP’s by heart. This
does not mean rote the exact sentences; rather know what the article is
about. For instance Article 44 talks about a Uniform Civil Code across
the territory of India.
The Union Executive, The Council of
Ministers, Prime Minister, The Comptroller and Auditor General of India,
Union Legislature (Parliament), Centre - State Relations,
Judiciary- Supreme court/High court jurisdiction and writs
Public Service Commissions, Elections,
Emergency Provisions and Amendment of the Constitution: Each of these
chapters is again very important.
Amendments and Schedules: You should
know the important amendments of the constitution, the year in which the
Act was passed along with their important provisions. The two most
important amendment acts are the 42nd and 44th passed in 1976 and 1978
respectively.
73rd and 74th amendments
implementation, welfare provisions for SC/ST/OBC, Human
rights/women/minorities SC/ST commissions and SC/ST atrocities act.
Special status of Jammu & Kashmir,
National Human Rights Commission, National Symbols, Chief Election
Commissioners of India, Reorganization of States, Prime Ministers of
India, Chief Justices of India, Speakers of Lok Sabha, Women CM's of
India, Women Governors in India, Finance Commissions of India
The importance of Nirbaya Chattam and food ordinance.
The importance of newly appointments like C&AG, Election Commission, Supreme court Chief Justice, Uppsc, Appsc Chairmen,…etc
Use "Comparative Reading" Example when you read polity — do it in following routine
Read President — then read governor
Read PM, then read CM
Parliament and then State Legislature
Supreme Court and then High court and so on.
Science and Technology:
By the Science questions, your basic
Ability to solve Science related general questions and your awareness
with the development of the day to day life based on science are judged
and to check how accurately you can apply your knowledge of science in
the practical life. For this you need not to do any special study on
Science, neither need you to have a Science background. Questions are
generally on the School level. You need to polish up your School level
Science. Studying and practicing the NCERT school books from class 6 to
class 10 is very helpful.
Best way to Prepare General science is
to refer NCERT science books from class 7 to 10.you can also buy
Lucent's General science.
Biology:
Cell structure, living organisms
classification, life processes of plants and animals (nutrition,
digestion, respiration, circulatory system, blood, excretion), control
& coordination(nervous system, eyes, ears),endocrine system &
reproduction, digestive enzymes, hormones, vitamins, infectious
diseases, natural resources management(air, water, soil pollution,
wetlands, forestry, wildlife)applications of biology(plant breeding,
animal breeding, pesticides, bio fertilisers, biotechnology, stem
cells),Institutions of National importance.
Chemistry:
Physical and chemical changes, Atoms
and molecules, Acids, bases and salts, metals and non metals, fibers,
periodic table classification ,carbon compounds(hydrocarbons,
polymers),bio molecules(carbohydrates, proteins, fats),nuclear fission,
nuclear fusion, breeder reactors, metallurgy.
All the above topics are the areas one
need to look into but the scope of questions in exam may or may not be
limited to above topics.
Physics:
Force & pressure, Friction,
gravitation, solar system, mechanics(newton laws, centripetal,
centrifugal forces, projectiles, angle of banking, potential &
kinetic energy),liquids(capillarity, surface tension, viscosity),Sound,
Heat, light, Electricity, Magnetism, satellites, modern physics (atomic
energy, radio activity, cosmic, x rays, visible spectrum.
Major scientific Institutions in India and their specialisation, Scientific Instruments and their uses, Scientific Measures
Space programme in India and its
applications with special reference to industry, agriculture and other
rural development activities, INSAT, IRS system..etc, Space Research and
News from India, Space Programme in India AND Nuclear Research in
India , Indian Satellites, Launch Vehicles, and Other Space Programmes
since 1975:-
Nuclear research and developments in
India, Missile system in India, Indian Defence Structure & Weapons,
Overview of Indian Defence Structure.
Economy:
What to study in economy?
GDP/GNP/NNP/
Inflation, Budget Process, RBI Policies, Agricultural subsidies, PDS,
Food Security, social and poverty alleviation programs.
To
observe the importance of Budget, Sebi, Imf, World bank, Employment,
Banking, Sensex, Expenditure, Central plans, Receipts…etc
The importance of Central plans, 12th Plan..etc
And
mainly candidates to concentrate the importance details of Banking
Sector, Central / State Income Tax details, Budget concept..etc
The importance of Current affairs, Exports/Imports, value of Rupee details…etc
Sports:
Can be classified into
Static: Who started Modern-Olympics, how many rings, what colors, how many games etc.
Various terms associated with individual sport, various trophies, Grounds located
For team based sports: no. of players in each team, length and width of ground, time limits etc.
Current
Grand slams- who defeated whom
Cricket:
world cup, t-20, under-19 and women’s world cups: who defeated whom in
the final match and where was it hosted?; ICC cricketer of the year
Athletics: venues, mascots, winners for
Olympics (summer and winter)
National games, Asiad, Commonwealth
Hockey,
Boxing, shooting, wrestling, Badminton, Billiard, Golf, football and
chess: main tournament and who won + if any Indian participated.
The importance of Current affairs, Exports/Imports, value of Rupee details…etc
Awards: Rajiv Gandhi khel ratna, Dronacharya, Arjun; ICC cricketer of the year; golden boot for football etc
Summary:
In
the daytime, read for general awareness, in the night after
dinner,practice aptitude. Because after dinner, body starts feeling
sleepy and brain starts losing concentration. But if you’re moving your
hand (by writing the Maths /reasoning sums),then brain has to
concentrate.
Revision is essential for General awareness. Whatever you read – keep a target of revising it multiple times. Otherwise, you won’t be able to recall the exact details in the exam.
Don’t waste time in day-dreaming, face
book, random net surfing, chatting, TV, cricket, weddings of distant
relatives/college batch mates etc. Time-pass activities will always be
there, but once you cross the age-limit, there is no restart button.
(This rule applies to all competitive exams.).
