General Studies 1

What are the Mahajanapadas? The Mahajanapadas were 16 large and powerful kingdoms that emerged in ancient India during the 6th century BCE. The Mahajanapadas were found in northern and eastern India. The modern-day states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and … Continue reading →

Vardhamana Mahavira Lord Mahavira, who established Jainism, was born in what is now Bihar, India, approximately in 599 BCE. Mahavira is regarded as the 24th Tirthankara (spiritual teacher). Principles in Jainism Ahimsa (non-violence) – emphasises the non-harming of any living … Continue reading →

Buddhist Literature One of the first written and structured literary corpuses in Indian history is found in Buddhist literature. The Tripitakas are the oldest, most comprehensive, most methodical compilation of early Buddhist sacred texts. Pali, a language spoken in Magadha … Continue reading →

Origin of Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in the 6th century BCE in Northern India Gautama Buddha  The founder of Buddhism, Gautama or Siddhartha, was born in 567 B.C. in Lumbini Garden in Kapilavastu. His father was Suddodhana from … Continue reading →

Vedic Economy Initially, the Vedic Aryans worked as pastoralists. Their principal activity was cattle raising. They raised cattle, sheep, goats, and horses to provide milk, meat, and skins. Many words stem from the word “ga” which signifies cow. A wealthy … Continue reading →

Vedic Literature and Vedic Society The Vedic period in Indian history is a crucial time that is often divided into two main phases: the Early Vedic period (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic period (1000 BCE to … Continue reading →

Town Planning Grid Layout – The IVC’s cities often had straight, connecting streets and were laid out in a grid-like layout. A clearly defined street grid was made by orienting the streets North-South and East-West. Uniformity – The standardisation of … Continue reading →

Basics The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was one of the world’s oldest urban civilizations, flourishing in what is now modern-day India and Pakistan between 3300 and 1300 BCE. The Indus River, which flows through the … Continue reading →

Globalisation: Impact on Indian Women Positive Impacts Increased employment opportunities: Globalisation has opened doors for women in various sectors, particularly IT and IT-enabled services. This offers financial independence and a chance to build careers. Education and skill development:  With a … Continue reading →

Globalisation Globalisation refers to the growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations. It’s driven by increased interactions and integration across borders. Factors Aiding Globalisation in India Economic liberalisation:  India’s economic reforms in the early 1990s, often referred to … Continue reading →