CDS QUICK REVISION NOTES
General Knowledge Set I
- Article 312 provides that an All India Service can be created only if the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) declares, by resolution supported by not less than a two-thirds majority, that it is necessary in the national interest to create one or more such All India Services ( the Lok Sabha cannot initiate the process ).
- If the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor of a State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may declare financial emergency in the State. ( Read Emergency Provisions Of India here )
- Important Dates & Days :
World Environment Day - 5th June
Earth Day - 22nd April
Handloom Day - 7th August
- The characterization of India was changed to “sovereign, socialist, secular democratic republic” from “sovereign democratic republic” and the words unity of the nation‘ was changed to “unity and integrity of the nation” in the 42nd amendment of the Indian Constitution.
- The main profession of the people of Indus valley civilization or the Harappan civilisation were trading and farming.
They were the first to produce cotton.
- After Gupta’s decline, Harshavardhana, a ruler of Thanesar, Haryana extended his authority.
Harshavardhana made Kannauj his capital & seat of power and became last great Hindu ruler of North India.
Dal lake,
Manasbal lake,
Pangong lake,
Wular lake,
Gangabal lake.
- Kibithu is the easternmost point of India, located at an altitude of 11,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh whereas west of Ghuar Mota in Gujarat is the westernmost point of India.
- Climate and vegetation vary with latitude and altitude of an area. Latitude measures distance from the equator; altitude measures elevation above sea level. ( Read Latitude, Longitude and Standard Time here ).
Tectonic lake - Bhimtal
Lagoon lake - Ashtamudi
Landslide lake - Gohna
Crater lake - Lonar
- Peninsula rivers are not perennial. In other words, they dry up during some parts of the year. These Rivers have small basins and follow drainage pattern. They also have reached their maturity.
- The Seven Sisters of India refers to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Assam is most famous for DigBoi, the world’s oldest operating refinery – operating since 1901.
- Fundamental Rights cannot be amended without amending ( by special majority ) the constitution itself. In violation of Fundamental Rights, one can directly approach the Supreme Court of India.
- Directive Principle of State Policy provides guidelines to Central and State government in India, to be kept in mind while framing laws and policies. Hence, it is not enforceable by any Court.
- Raja Rammohan Roy, the father of modern India, who is widely known for the abolition of the practice of Sati, formed the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 at Calcutta. He also wrote the Gift of Monotheists in 1809, and translated the Vedas and Five Upanishads in Bengali. He was awarded the title ‘Raja’ by Akbar II.
- Cotton was 1st produced by Indus people hence Greeks called it Sindon. Indus civilisation marked the beginning of Bronze age civilization. It is older than chalcolithic culture but was far more developed. Modern name of some Indus Civilisation sites :
Dholavira - Kadir Island
Rakhigarhi - Hisar
Bhirrana - Haryana
Bhogavo - Saurashtra
- Gupta age is called golden age of India in field of art, science and literature. Nagara and Dravidian styles of art evolved during this period. Sanskrit became primary language in Gupta period. ( Gupta Empire Map )
- Five important tribes ( and their areas ) of India :
Palaeo Mongoloids - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur
Tibeto Mongoloids - Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh
Gonds and Kondhs - Central Vindhyachal and Deccan Plateau
Jaunsari, Bhotia, Raji, Buxa, Tharu - Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
Mala and Savara tribes - West Bengal
- An island is a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water. Five largest islands area-wise :
Greenland,
New Guinea,
Borneo,
Madagascar, and
Baffin Island.
- Ten major Biosphere Reserve, National Parks, Wetland and Wildlife Sanctuaries in India : ( Major National Park in India map )
Salim Ali National Park and Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary - Jammu and Kashmir
Mouling and Namdapha National Park - Arunachal Pradesh
Nal Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar and Wild Ass Sanctuary - Gujarat
Indravati National Park and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary - Chhattisgarh
Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary - Tripura
The Important General Knowledge points ( posted above ) can not only be helpful for CDS written exam aspirants but also for AFCAT, NDA and other competitive written exams.
These point-wise important general knowledge notes are very useful for revision of your AFCAT, CDS or NDA written examination.
