Note: In addition to all the sources here, keep checking the Notes section for some excellent articles on various topics.
A very great part of the preparation for this paper relies upon your mastery over the Economic Survey and being thorough with current affairs related to the topic listed.
Generic Reading:
Economic survey — The most important source of study once you have understood all the concepts.
Indian Economy — Ramesh Singh — Highly recommended in all circles. But do not rely on this single book.
Indian Economy — Dutt and Sundaram — Voluminous book. Small print. Too detailed. Very useful for Economics optional. If you really like economics, go for it.
Macroeconomic concepts – Check out our Notes section.
Economics in One lesson — Henry Hazlitt — Best book for beginners. You will understand the very fabric of the concepts that make up the subject of Economics.
12th FYP
NCERTs:
Economics — 11th std
Macroeconomics — 12th std — Very important. Read this book very carefully.
References:
The price of Inequality — Joseph Stiglitz — A great read
Fault lines — Raghuram Rajan — One of the best books on Global economics you will ever find.
India’s tryst with destiny — Jagadish Bhagwati and Araving Panagariya
An uncertain glory — Amartya Sen
1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
Economic survey is simply the best source. Read the state of Indian economy chapter thoroughly. The Introduction to the Economic survey helps paint a fantastic picture.
Newspaper articles. Compile your own points. Keep checking the Notes section.
2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
Read Amartya Sen and Jagdish Bhagwati. Compile your own points. Refer newspaper articles from NITI Aayog members and A. Panagariya.
Economic Survey and mid-year economic review are very good sources to read from.
3. Government Budgeting
Economic survey
Also check our Notes section to understand the static part of the Budget, like the Budgetary process, parts of the budget and so on.
4. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
India and Physical Environment NCERT — 11th standard
5. Storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
6. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
Economic Survey usually talks about PDS and how the system is now being overhauled with direct cash transfers.
Marketing and produce — Info from Newspapers. Lots has been written about this. Make sure you concentrate on FCI and its reform and APMC act. Also refer:
An uncertain glory — Amartya Sen
India’s new tryst with destiny — Jagadish Bhagwati
India after Gandhi — Ram Guha — Procurement cycle and inefficiencies very well explained.
PDS documents from IGNOU
7. Technology missions;economics of animal-rearing.
11th and 12th standard Geography books covers this topic. Try to also look at it with a perspective of mixed farming.
8. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Economic Survey – Details the current problems every year and updates the reader on the upstream, downstream and supply chain management aspects.
Keep checking our notes section for static content vis-à-vis the topic.
9. Land reforms in India
Best source for history of Land reforms — India after Gandhi by Ram Guha ad India’s New tryst with Destiny by Jagdish Bhagwati.
Concentrate on the new Land Reforms Ordinance / Bills / Acts.
To understand the history of land reforms, IGNOU has two beautiful chapters. You can find that in our Notes section.
10. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Make points from Ramesh Singh.
For a history of these reforms and the political story surrounding them, refer India after Gandhi.
11. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
One stop shop for previous year’s achievement and the following year’s forecast: Economic survey
Long time plan: 12th FYP
12. Investment models
13. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Read NCERT 8th, 9th, 10th std religiously
14. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Refer our News and Current Affairs section for latest developments in each of these fields.
To understand achievements in Science in Ancient India – Read the book on Culture by IGNOU. Its available for download on the Downloads page. Chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17 in the book are dedicated to achievements of Science and Scientists of Ancient and Medieval India.
Refer Hindu Science section for latest developments.
15. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Follow Hindu editorials, opinion and Comment section. Most of these are covered.
Intellectual property rights is an important topic. Read w.r.t Information Technology, Smart Energy, Pharma and Biotechnology industries.
16. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
You can read from downtoearth website for this topic. Please also follow national debates on environment and pollution as this Government is making it a major theme of its governance.
Concentrate on Swach Bharat Abhyaan, important environmental movements, dams and their impact on society. Club this with Land reforms act and try to understand in perspective.
Try to understand the levels at which US, Europe and China are polluting in comparison with India. Read about all protocols. The preparation you have put in for Prelims has to be used here. Refer the notes section.
17. Disaster and disaster management.
IGNOU has a detailed chapter on it.
12th FYP
Link the data in IGNOU with your understanding of Indian Physical Geography.
Link the above with policy decisions that can be taken at the State level and the National level by understanding about NDMA and SDMA. Be very thorough with the roles played by institutions and individuals with power.
Stay updated about all recent disasters with respect to Cyclones, Storms, Earthquakes, Floods, Droughts etc,. Analyze what measures were taken to fight the disasters and further suggest what more could have been done and how it could have been tackled. This is also important for the Personal Interview.
18. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
19. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
20. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
21. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
IDSA monograph by Namrata Goswamy — Highly comprehensive
Newspaper articles and latest news, insurgencies, cross firing, LOC breaches etc,.
References:
Highway 39 — Sudeep Chakravarty
22. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
IDSA website
Wikipedia
Also check our Notes section.