GPSC Class 1 & 2 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960

The law that split Bombay State into Gujarat and Maharashtra on 1 May 1960, with Ahmedabad as Gujarat's capital. It followed the Mahagujarat movement for a separate Gujarati-speaking state.

Rann of Kachchh

A vast seasonal salt marsh in northwestern Gujarat, flooded during the monsoon and dry in summer. It hosts flamingo breeding and the white desert festival near Dhordo.

Narmada and Tapi

Two westward-flowing peninsular rivers that empty into the Gulf of Khambhat. They flow through rift valleys between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges rather than across a delta.

Article 32

The constitutional right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr. Ambedkar called it the heart and soul of the Constitution.

Article 226

Gives High Courts power to issue writs for enforcement of Fundamental Rights and for any other legal right. Its scope is wider than Article 32.

42nd Amendment, 1976

Called the mini-Constitution; it added socialist and secular to the Preamble, inserted Fundamental Duties, and expanded Directive Principles. It was passed during the Emergency.

103rd Amendment, 2019

Provided 10% reservation for economically weaker sections among forward classes, using an economic criterion. It added Articles 15(6) and 16(6).

Repo rate

The rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities. Raising it tightens liquidity and is used to control inflation.

Fiscal deficit

Total expenditure minus total receipts excluding borrowings. It measures how much the government must borrow to meet its spending needs in a year.

Northeast monsoon

Winds blowing from land to sea in October-December that bring winter rain mainly to coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It is the retreating phase of the southwest monsoon.

UN Security Council

The UN organ with primary responsibility for peace and security. It has five permanent veto-holding members and ten elected members serving two-year terms.

Special Drawing Rights

An international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969. Its value is based on a basket of major currencies and it is allocated to member countries in proportion to quotas.

Gir National Park

The last wild habitat of the Asiatic lion, located in Saurashtra, Gujarat. Conservation success has led to lion dispersal and the need for a second home range.

Statue of Unity

A 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Kevadia on the Narmada in Gujarat. It is the world's tallest statue and a major tourism site.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

A major dam on the Narmada in Gujarat serving irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower. It is central to inter-state water-sharing disputes among Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Surat diamond industry

Surat processes the overwhelming majority of the world's cut and polished diamonds by volume. The industry is dominated by small and medium polishing units.

Panchayati Raj, 73rd Amendment

Constitutionalised three-tier rural local government with mandatory elections, reservation for women and SC/ST, and a State Election Commission. It added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule.

Right to Information Act, 2005

Gives citizens the right to seek information from public authorities within a time limit. It is enforced through Public Information Officers and Information Commissions.

Disaster Management Act, 2005

Established the National Disaster Management Authority and state authorities with a mandate for prevention, mitigation, and response. It followed the 2001 Bhuj earthquake experience.

Mains answer introduction

Two to three sentences that define the key term and set the context of the question. It should not repeat the question verbatim or begin with a generic statement.

Case-study answer format

A structured ethics answer identifying stakeholders, listing possible options, weighing consequences against values, and stating a reasoned decision with justification.

Values versus ethics

Values are personal beliefs about what is desirable; ethics are shared standards of right conduct. Ethics judges actions, while values motivate them.

Second ARC

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission, chaired by Veerappa Moily, produced reports on governance, ethics, local government, and e-governance. It is frequently cited in GS-II answers.

Digital India programme

A government initiative for digital infrastructure, e-governance services, and digital literacy. It supports Direct Benefit Transfer and paperless service delivery.

Gujarat's economic share

Gujarat contributes roughly 8-9% of India's GDP and ranks among the top industrial states. Petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, ports, and diamonds are its key sectors.

Kandla Port

Now called Deendayal Port, it is a major government port in the Gulf of Kachchh. It handles petroleum, fertiliser, and container cargo and is a key western trade gateway.

Mundra Port

A large private port in Kachchh operated by Adani Ports, among India's largest by cargo volume. It handles containers, coal, and crude and anchors the western logistics corridor.

Directive Principles

Part IV, Articles 36-51, sets out socio-economic goals for state policy. They are non-justiciable but fundamental in governance and are used to interpret laws.

GST Council

A constitutional body under Article 279A, created by the 101st Amendment, that recommends GST rates and rules. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister with state ministers as members.

Interlinking of rivers

A proposal to transfer water from surplus to deficit basins through canals and reservoirs. It raises ecological, displacement, and inter-state water-sharing concerns.

Ethics in public service

Standards such as integrity, impartiality, accountability, and transparency that guide officials in using public power. Civil service conduct rules codify these standards.

Kevadia

A town in Narmada district, Gujarat, site of the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam. It is a major tourism and convention destination in the state.