History Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Inscription | Writing on stone, metal, or other hard material; a primary source of ancient/medieval history |
| Tuzuk | Persian word for royal autobiography/memoirs (e.g., Tuzuk-i-Baburi, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri) |
| Chronicle | A detailed historical account of events in chronological order |
| Numismatics | Study of coins as historical evidence |
| Feudalism | System where land is held by lords in exchange for military service |
| Din-i-Ilahi | Akbar's attempt to create a universal religion blending elements of Islam, Hinduism, and other faiths |
| Mansabdari System | Akbar's administrative ranking system for nobles and military commanders |
| Doctrine of Lapse | Dalhousie's policy where a state without a natural heir was annexed by the British |
| East India Company | British trading company that came to India in 1600 and gradually gained political power |
| Battle of Plassey | 1757 battle where British defeated Siraj-ud-Daula; key moment in British conquest of India |
| Sepoy | Indian soldier in the British East India Company army |
| Indian National Congress | Founded 1885 by A.O. Hume; became the main party of the independence movement |
| Swadeshi Movement | Movement (1905) to boycott British goods and promote Indian-made products |
| Satyagraha | Gandhi's concept of truth-force or non-violent resistance |
| Non-Cooperation Movement | 1920 movement led by Gandhi — boycott of British institutions |
| Civil Disobedience | 1930 movement — breaking unjust laws; began with Dandi Salt March |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 — Gandhi's demand for immediate British withdrawal from India |
| Partition | Division of British India into India and Pakistan on 14-15 August 1947 |
| Cold War | Post-WWII ideological and political rivalry between USA-led West and Soviet-led East (without direct military conflict) |
| Decolonisation | Process by which colonial powers gave independence to their colonies after WWII |
Geography Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lithosphere | Solid outer layer of the Earth — crust and upper mantle |
| Mantle | Thick middle layer of the Earth between crust and core |
| Core | Innermost layer of the Earth — divided into inner (solid) and outer (liquid) core |
| Plate Tectonics | Theory that Earth's crust is divided into large plates that move, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity |
| Earthquake | Shaking of the Earth's surface caused by movement of tectonic plates |
| Hydrosphere | All water on, above, and below the Earth's surface |
| Ocean Current | Large-scale flow of ocean water in a fixed direction |
| Water Cycle | Continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation |
| Atmosphere | Layer of gases surrounding the Earth — protects life from harmful radiation |
| Troposphere | Lowest layer of atmosphere — where weather occurs (0-12 km) |
| Stratosphere | Second layer — contains ozone layer (12-50 km) |
| Biosphere | All living organisms and their environment on Earth |
| Ecosystem | Community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment |
| Biodiversity | Variety of life forms in a given area or ecosystem |
| Monsoon | Seasonal wind system that brings heavy rainfall — essential for South Asian agriculture |
| Western Ghats | Mountain range along India's western coast (Sahyadri); high biodiversity |
| Eastern Ghats | Discontinuous mountain range along India's eastern coast |
| Deccan Plateau | Vast triangular plateau in peninsular India between Western and Eastern Ghats |
| Alluvial Plains | Fertile plains formed by deposition of sediment by rivers (e.g., Indo-Gangetic Plains) |
Civics Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Democracy | System of government where people exercise power through elected representatives |
| Constitution | Fundamental document that defines the structure of government and rights of citizens |
| Preamble | Introductory statement of the Indian Constitution — states the aims and objectives |
| Fundamental Rights | Basic rights guaranteed to all citizens by Part III of the Indian Constitution |
| Directive Principles | Guidelines to the government for making laws — Part IV of the Constitution |
| Adult Franchise | Right of all citizens above 18 years to vote |
| Election Commission | Independent constitutional body that oversees free and fair elections in India |
| Electoral Roll | List of all registered voters in a constituency |
| Federalism | System where power is divided between central and state governments |
| Secularism | Principle that government is not affiliated with any religion |
Economics Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Poverty | State of being unable to afford basic necessities (food, shelter, clothing) |
| Poverty Line | Minimum income level below which a person is considered poor (BPL) |
| BPL | Below Poverty Line — those who cannot meet basic daily needs |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product — total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year |
| Per Capita Income | Average income per person = GDP / total population |
| HDI | Human Development Index — measures health, education, and income to rank countries |
| MNREGA | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act — guarantees 100 days of employment |
| Food Security | Availability of and access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all people |
| PDS | Public Distribution System — government scheme to provide food grains at subsidised prices |
| Unemployment | Condition where people who are willing and able to work cannot find jobs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aim for 80-100 key definitions across all four subjects. 1-mark definition questions are guaranteed — knowing these terms can secure 10-15 easy marks.