General science and technology is a subject that is equally important as other subjects for the UPSC civil services exam. Every year about 25 – 30 questions are asked from this section in the UPSC prelims of the IAS exams. So, you can assess the importance of this section. Generally, students from science or engineering backgrounds find this section easy, but others with a humanities background find this section a bit tough. It need not be if you follow some strategies. This article talks about how to go about preparing for the general science section of the UPSC civil services prelims.

1. Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift
2. Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life Cycle of A Star
3. Solar System Formation – Nebular Theory of Laplace
4. Solar System – Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets
5. Sun – Internal Structure, Atmosphere
6. Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types
7. India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme
8. Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell
9. Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides, Polysaccharides
10. Proteins – Amino Acids, Enzymes
11. Fats – Healthy Fats and Unhealthy Fats
12. Animal Tissues – Epithelium, Connective Tissues
13. Human Digestive System – Digestive Glands
14. Respiratory System – NCERT General Science
15. Human Neural System – Human Brain
16. Endocrine Glands and Hormones
17. Muscular and Skeletal System
18. Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA, Recombinant DNA
19. Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis – Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison
20. Inheritance – Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Chromosomal Theory, Human Genome Project
21. Diseases Caused by Microorganisms
22. Sex Determination – Genetic Disorders
23. Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful Microbes
24. Immunity – Human Immune System
25. Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
26. AIDS, Cancer – causes
27. Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable Diseases
28. Blood – Blood Groups – Formed Elements
29. Circulatory System, Double Circulation
30. Excretory System – Kidney, Urine Formation
31. Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
32. Biological Classification
33. Five Kingdom Classifications of Plants and Animals
34. Plant Parts and Their Functions
35. Plant Kingdom – Thallophytes (Algae), Bryophytes, Pteridophytes
36. Plants with Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
37. Plant Tissue – Meristematic – Simple, Complex Permanent Tissue
38. Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation
39. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Plants
40. Classification of Animal Kingdom (Animalia)
41. Classification of Vertebrata (Phylum Chordata)
42. Human Reproductive System
43. Biotechnology – Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications
44. Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom
45. DELP (UJALA) Scheme – Comparison: LED – CFL – Incandescent Bulb

Tips to remember while studying for general science :

1. Go through NCERT text books and revise them thoroughly.
2. Stick to the basics only. Preparing from the NCERTs is enough for the core subjects. No need to study scientific concepts in detail.
3. The idea is to cover the portions as much as possible; you don’t have to get a doctorate in science.
4. Update yourself on the latest scientific developments happening in India and abroad.
5. Know the Nobel Prize winners for the year and their area of work.
6. Follow ISRO, DRDO, Ministry of Science & Technology websites and news.
7. If any concept confuses you or you don’t understand it well enough from the NCERTs, look it up on the Internet.
8. Go through and practice previous year IAS question papers.
9. If there is any event in India related to science, always go through the basic science involved in that area.