Indian and Odisha History, Geography, Polity and Economy
How the paper splits it
This is the widest domain: Indian history with an Odisha overlay, geography, the Constitution and Odisha's governance, plus basic economics. Expect two or three questions from each sub-area rather than deep specialisation.
History anchors
- Kalinga War, 261 BCE; Ashoka's edicts at Dhauli and Jaugada.
- Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana line, 1st century BCE; his Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri, Bhubaneswar.
- Ganga dynasty: Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva began the present Jagannath temple in the 12th century; Gajapati Kapilendra Deva ruled in the 15th.
- Paika Rebellion, 1817, led by Buxi Jagabandhu; the Na Anka famine of 1866.
- Odisha became a separate province on 1 April 1936; princely states merged in 1948-49.
Geography
Deomali (1,672 m) is the highest peak; the Hirakud dam (1957) is across the Mahanadi; Similipal and Bhitarkanika are the major protected areas; Paradip is the State's deep-water port.
Polity
Fundamental Rights run from Articles 12 to 35; Article 32 gives writ remedies; the 73rd Amendment gave constitutional status to Gram Panchayats. Odisha has 147 MLAs, 21 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha seats and 30 districts.
Economy
Know sector shares, inflation, repo rate and deficits, plus Odisha's mineral map - iron ore in Keonjhar, chromite in Sukinda, coal in Talcher - and Rourkela Steel Plant and NALCO.
Worked example
Which site near Bhubaneswar shows an early historic planned settlement with a stone pillared hall? Sisupalgarh - its fortification and sixteen-pillar hall date roughly from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE, whereas Dhauli is an edict site.
Traps
Ashoka and Kharavela are often swapped; Hathigumpha is at Udayagiri, not Dhauli. Also separate 1936 (province) from 1948-49 (merger).