EPFO SSA cheat sheet

Subject-verb agreement: a singular subject takes a singular verb; ignore parenthetical phrases (e.g., 'The list of items is on the desk').

Error detection: check prepositions after verbs (e.g., 'discuss about' is wrong; 'discuss' takes no preposition).

Fill-in-the-blanks: use context clues; for conjunctions, 'although' signals contrast, 'because' signals cause.

Cloze test: read the entire passage first to grasp overall meaning before filling blanks.

Vocabulary: synonym of 'abate' is 'subside'; antonym of 'candid' is 'evasive'.

Idioms: 'to let the cat out of the bag' means to reveal a secret.

Reading comprehension: main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph; avoid extreme options.

Active to passive: object becomes subject; verb becomes 'be + past participle'; retain tense.

Spotting errors: check for double comparatives (e.g., 'more better' is incorrect).

Percentage change: (new − old)/old × 100; successive percentage changes: a + b + ab/100.

Average: sum of observations / number of observations; if each value is increased by x, average increases by x.

Ratio and proportion: if a:b = c:d, then ad = bc; compound ratio of a:b and c:d is ac:bd.

Time and work: work rate = 1/time; combined rate = sum of individual rates.

Speed = distance/time; average speed for equal distances = 2xy/(x+y).

Simple interest = P × R × T / 100; compound interest = P[(1 + R/100)^T − 1].

Mensuration: area of circle = πr²; volume of cylinder = πr²h; surface area of sphere = 4πr².

Data interpretation: calculate percentages from given totals; check units (thousands, lakhs) before answering.

Number system: divisibility by 3 if sum of digits divisible by 3; by 9 if sum divisible by 9; by 11 if alternating sum divisible by 11.

Blood relations: draw a family tree; vertical lines for generations, horizontal for siblings/spouses.

Direction sense: use a compass; net displacement is the straight-line distance from start to end.

Syllogism: use Venn diagrams; 'All A are B' does not imply 'All B are A'.

Coding-decoding: look for letter shifts (e.g., +1, +2) or reversals; apply consistently.

Series: check differences between consecutive terms; for letter series, convert to numbers (A=1, B=2, ...).

Seating arrangement: fix positions based on definite clues; use elimination for ambiguous ones.

Analogy: identify relationship (e.g., cause-effect, part-whole, synonym) between first pair and apply to second.

Classification: find the odd item out based on a common property (e.g., all except one are prime numbers).

Non-verbal reasoning: count number of sides, lines of symmetry, or rotations to identify pattern.

National events: Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).

International events: UN Day (24 October), World Health Day (7 April).

Sports: Olympics held every 4 years; Cricket World Cup 2023 won by Australia.

Awards: Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian award; Param Vir Chakra is highest military decoration.

Books and authors: 'Wings of Fire' by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; 'Discovery of India' by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Art and culture: classical dance forms include Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (North India), Kathakali (Kerala).

Persons in news: RBI Governor (as of 2024) is Shaktikanta Das; Chief Election Commissioner is Rajiv Kumar.

Current affairs: keep track of recent summits (G20 2023 in India), space missions (Chandrayaan-3), and economic surveys.

Physics: Newton's laws of motion; F = ma; unit of force is newton (N).

Chemistry: atomic number = number of protons; periodic table groups have similar properties.

Biology: photosynthesis converts CO2 and H2O into glucose and O2 using sunlight and chlorophyll.

Human body: heart pumps blood; lungs exchange gases; kidneys filter waste.

Acids and bases: pH < 7 acidic, pH > 7 basic; litmus paper turns red in acid, blue in base.

Light: reflection angle equals incidence angle; refraction bends light when entering a different medium.

Electricity: Ohm's law V = IR; power P = VI; unit of resistance is ohm (Ω).

Chemistry: common salt is NaCl; baking soda is NaHCO3; washing soda is Na2CO3·10H2O.

Biology: DNA carries genetic information; human cells have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).

Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949, enforced on 26 January 1950.

Fundamental Rights (Part III) include right to equality, freedom, against exploitation, religion, cultural and educational rights, and constitutional remedies.

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) are non-justiciable guidelines for governance.

Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.

Panchayati Raj: 73rd Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayats; three-tier system.

President is head of state; Prime Minister is head of government; Council of Ministers responsible to Lok Sabha.

Parliament consists of President, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha; money bills originate only in Lok Sabha.

Judiciary: Supreme Court is guardian of Constitution; writs (habeas corpus, mandamus, etc.) under Article 32.

Election Commission conducts elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and offices of President and Vice-President.

GDP = C + I + G + (X − M); measures total economic output.

Inflation reduces purchasing power; RBI uses repo rate to control money supply.

Budget: annual financial statement of government; presented by Finance Minister on 1 February.

Banking: RBI is central bank; monetary policy tools include CRR, SLR, repo rate, reverse repo rate.

Provident Fund: EPFO administers EPF, EPS, and EDLI; employee contributes 12% of basic salary, employer matches.

Social security schemes: PM-JAY (health insurance), PMJJBY (life insurance), PMSBY (accident insurance), Atal Pension Yojana.

EPFO: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation; statutory body under Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Taxation: direct taxes (income tax, corporate tax) and indirect taxes (GST, customs).

Financial inclusion: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) for bank accounts; Mudra Yojana for small loans.

Ancient India: Indus Valley Civilization (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro) known for urban planning and drainage.

Medieval India: Mughal Empire founded by Babur in 1526; Akbar's reign marked religious tolerance (Din-i-Ilahi).

Modern India: Indian National Congress founded in 1885; Quit India Movement (1942); Independence 15 August 1947.

Geography: Himalayas in north, Indo-Gangetic plain, Deccan Plateau; major rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Narmada.

World geography: longest river Nile; largest desert Sahara; highest peak Mount Everest.

Culture: classical languages include Sanskrit and Tamil; festivals like Diwali (lights), Holi (colors), Eid, Christmas.

Monuments: Taj Mahal (Agra), Qutub Minar (Delhi), Konark Sun Temple (Odisha) reflect architectural heritage.

History: Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919); Dandi March (1930) led by Gandhi.

Geography: Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states; Indian Standard Time is UTC+5:30.