UPSC Syllabus 2024: Current Events of National and International Importance

We can divide the current affairs topics for the IAS exam in the following manner so that its preparation can become more convenient. The candidates should divide the current affairs topics based on their impact in the following manner.

National

• National Issues
• Indian Economy
• Indian Polity
• Judiciary
• Environment
• Science and Technology
• States
• Social Schemes
• Sports News
• Reports
• Committee and Commission
• Awards and Honours
• Accident and calamities
• First in India

International

• Important Summits & Events
• International Awards
• First in the world
• International leadership
• International Reports
• International committees and recommendations
• Geographical event around the world

Now we can see that the current affairs syllabus for IAS can be divided into the following:

National Issues

Under this category of IAS current affairs, the candidates should include the decisions taken by the Government of India. These include national policies, important cabinet decisions, government directives and the likes. To relate these decisions with the topic, the candidates are requested to study the related topic independently and analyse and relate the current decision with the issue.

For example:

Government issues directive regarding the Corona Virus. The candidate needs to read and study the directives and besides that; The candidates need to study everything about the Corona Virus. Then only this issue can be covered.

See here: IAS Syllabus

Indian Economy

This is one of the most important sections of the IAS syllabus. This section is very dynamic because of the ever-changing environment of Geo-economics and its impact on Geo-politics. The candidates need to understand the basic principle of the Indian Economy first so they can relate the current economic interaction between various economic sectors and the impact of RBI policies on them. After the globalisation of various sectors, India is not immune to the various economic events happening across the world. The candidates need to keep an eye on such economic events that can affect the Indian economy.

For example:

India’s trade ties with China and the USA. There is a need to study the recent trade deals and the overall trade deficit and trade imbalances with these countries so that the relevancy and impact of the current trade imbalance can be understood.

Also Read: IAS Exam Pattern

Indian Polity

The IAS syllabus for Indian Polity is the topic dealing with the Indian Constitution, newly passed legislation, Constitutions functionaries and their responsibilities, by-laws planned by the government for the execution of policies and the likes. The candidates need to visit the PRS India website regularly to get the latest updates on the legislation and legislative steps taken by the government.

For Example CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) is very important for UPSC IAS Exam 2024. Other important topics may include the pardoning powers of the Governor and President, important cases and the likes.

See here: Indian Polity syllabus topic

Indian Judiciary

Indian Judiciary topic of IAS Syllabus will include the important Supreme Court decisions related to the various important provisions of the Indian Constitution. There are various law points and also landmark court cases that have decided the tenets of the “Doctrine of Basic Structure” in the Indian judicial system.

Environment

The environment section of the IAS Syllabus has become a new important section because of the increasing environmental awareness and initiative taken by the government and private organisations. There are various issues of Yojana magazine dedicated to the environment. This section overlaps with the International events of COP summits.

Science and Technology

The Science and Technology topics include the recent studies related to the diseases, new vaccines, new species discovered by the scientist, new reports related to the humans and the likes. Mostly international journals like Nature and others publish important issues related to the discoveries in medicine, diseases, etc.

States

States is another section where the candidates can expect one or two questions. India is the union of states and each state has its legislative assembly. So all the news related to the Acts, schemes, initiative and other important happenings should be covered under this section. The candidates can also cover important schemes of the states so they can answer some fact-based questions.

See here: India and World Geography Topics

Social Schemes

Indian government strives for the socio-economic development of all citizens. To pursue and fulfil this purpose, the government of India design and devise various social schemes for the downtrodden and socially and economically weaker section such as children, women, backward classes, senior citizens and the likes. The candidates need to write all the schemes, their nodal ministries, starting year, objectives and any new data released with that schemes. It will help them understand the social objective of the government.

Committee and Commission and Reports

This is a very important section of the IAS syllabus because in the past various questions have been asked from this section and it is very important to know the finding of all the important committees and commission formed by the government. The candidates should also take note of the terms of reference of the Committee/Commission. In India, most of the government decisions are taken based on one or other committee/commission reports or recommendations. This makes a very important section of the IAS syllabus.

Awards and Honours

This is fact-based data that the candidates need to remember. We cannot overlook it even when the number of questions is very less from this section. UPSC can surprise any year with new questions and hence the candidates should be ready for the surprises.

Sports

This is not so important section but cannot be overlooked because UPSC used to ask about the venue, time and chronology of various tournaments. The candidates need to remember the player's names and their games so they can answer fact-based questions in various PCS exams. UPSC can also ask about the new records in the IAS prelims paper.

Accident and natural calamities

The candidates should keep reading the newspapers and website to get the latest updates about the large accidents/calamities occurring around. The candidates should read and understand the real event/phenomenon behind the accident/calamity. The latest example in the Coronavirus. The candidates should read and understand the real cause of Coronavirus, why it is named as COVID-19, how it infects the human body and the likes.

First in India

As the name shows, this will cover any innovation, discovery or anything which can be counted as first in India, first by an Indian or any geographical phenomenon occurred the first time in India. These type of events can be covered under this topic.

International

International events are huge in numbers and need to be filtered to make it more manageable for the IAS preparation. The candidates need to filter out international events which don’t have any impact or importance for our country. The candidate should cover only those events that have a direct or indirect bearing in India. They can further divide the international events which fall under the following categories.

Important Summits & Events

This category is one of the most important in the International events as one or two questions always appear in the IAS question paper. UPSC has asked the chronology of international events in recent times. The candidate should relate the event name and objective, their place, geographical feature near that place and any other information.

International Awards

This is a very large category and the candidates should limit their preparation to the important awards only. Not all the awards are important. The candidates should not go beyond the awards given by world bodies. The other important part is to make a list of awards where Indians had been awarded and why they were awarded.

International leadership

The candidates need to remember the change in the leadership of countries. The candidates need to note down the names of the foreign functionaries who visited India in the past one year and the countries where our dignitaries have paid the visit. There are many countries where the top leadership has the Indian Lineage are important. The guest came in the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas are also important.

International Reports

International reports are very important for the IAS exam. For the main exam, it can justify the argument in the discussion questions and in the IAS prelims exam, these facts are very important. Most reports are related to the Science and Environments and overlap with those sections. The candidates should also remember the committees that issue the reports.

First in the world

These are the records, inventions or discoveries made and are first in the world. These facts are interesting to read and easy to understand.

One of the most important approaches for preparing the current affairs topics for the IAS exam is to relate the current affairs with the static General Studies topics such as history, geography, economy, polity and the likes. It will help to memorise large data through cross-references.

Also Read

Questions for IAS 2024