Revised

Edition

Encycl pedia of
General
Sc ence
FOR GENERAL COMPETITIONS

Siddharth Mukherji
Supported By
JK Jha (Physics)
Purnima Sharma & Preeti Gupta (Chemistry)
Hema Batra & Shikha Sharma (Biology)
Neetu Gaikwad (Computer & IT)

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Preface
Analyzing the recent pattern of competitive exams like SSC, UPSC & State Level PSCs,
etc, it is evident that general science has taken an important dimension. General
Science has always been a problematic section for aspirants they find it difficult to
prepare for this section because it has no prescribed syllabus and coverage area.
Also there is a good number of students preparing for general competitions who are
not from science background and they find it even more difficult.
So, the need arises for a book that can give the whole contents of General Science in
an organized and in-complex manner which can be studied by all the students even
by non-science background students too and can make them ready to face the
questions on General Science.
The book Encyclopedia of General Science has been prepared keeping the
importance of the subject in mind. It covers all the sections of General Science like
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Space Science, Agriculture & Animal Husbandry,
Environment, Health , Computer & IT, etc.
In this book, we have tried to simplify the complexities of some of the topics so that
the non-science students feel no difficulty while studying general science. As NCERT
books are considered to be most important & foundation books for general
competitions, so NCERT books have been kept as the base books for this book.

Some of the Special Features

Ÿ Only book based on NCERT Textbooks of Science
Ÿ In-line with Analysis of Competitive Exams' Papers
Ÿ Explanation to Everyday Science Phenomena
Ÿ Coverage of Previous years' Questions in Chapterwise manner (upto 2020)
Ÿ With Appendices covering; Glossary, Branches and other important information
of each section

However, we have put our best efforts in preparing this book, but if any error or
whatsoever has been skipped out, we will by heart welcome your suggestions.
The role of Arihant DTP Unit and Proof reading team is praiseworthy in the making
of this book.

Best of Luck
Contents
PHYSICS 1-272
1. Units, Measurements and Errors 1-11
Physical Quantities (1) Units (2) System of Units (2-4) Conversions of Units (5)
Dimensional Formula and Dimensional Equation (6) Important Scientific Instrument
and their Use (7-8) Error in Measurement (8-9) Significant Figures (9)

2. Motion 12-26
Rest and Motion (12) Types of Motion of a Body (12) One, Two and Three
Dimensional Motion (13) Some Basic Terms Related with Motion (13-16)
Uniform and Non-Uniform Motion (16-17) Graphical Representation of Motion (17-19)
Equations of Motion (19-20) Freely Falling Objects (20) Motion in a Plane : Projectile
Motion and Circulatory Motion (21-23)

3. Force and Laws of Motion 27-39

Force (27) Fundamental or Basic Forces in Nature (27-28) Inertia (28) Newton's
Laws of Motion (29) Momentum (29-31) Impulse (31) Friction (32-33) Centripetal
and Centrifugal Force (34)

4. Work, Power and Energy 40-57

Work (40-41) Power (41) Energy (42) Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy
(42-43) Work-Energy Theorem (43) Law of Conservation of Energy (43) Einstein's
Mass-Energy Equivalence (44) Sources of Energy : Renewable and Non-Renewable (45)
Conventional Sources of Energy : Fossil Fuels, Thermal Power Plants, Hydro Power Plants
(46-47) Improvements in the Technology for Using Conventional Sources : Bio-mass,
Bio-gas, Wind Energy (47-49) Non-Conventional Sources of Energy : Solar Energy, Solar
Heating Devices, Solar Cooker, Solar Cell (49-52) Energy from the Sea : Tidal Energy,
Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal Energy (52) Geothermal Energy and Nuclear Energy (53)

5. Gravitation 58-67
Universal Law of Gravitation (58) Acceleration Due to Gravity (59) Variations
of g (59-60) Mass and Weight (60) Planet and Satellite (61-62) Kepler's Laws of
Planetary Motion (62) Orbital Velocity (62-63) Escape Velocity or Escape Speed (63)

6. Centre of Mass and Rotational Motion 68-74

Centre of Mass (68) Torque (69) Couple and Equilibrium (69) Centre of Gravity (70)
Rotational Motion (70) Moment of Inertia (70-71) Angular Momentum (71-72) Simple
Machine (72) Lever (72-73)

7. Mechanical Properties of Solids 75-79

Matter (75) Elasticity (75-77) Hooke's Law (77-78) Classification of Materials
based on the Property of Elasticity (78)

8. Mechanical Properties of Fluids 80-94

Thrust and Pressure (80) Density (81) Pressure of Liquid (81-82) Pascal's Law (82)
Atmospheric Pressure (82-83) Buoyancy (83) Archimedes' Principle (83) Floatation (84)
Surface Tension (85) Surface Energy (86) Angle of Contact (86) Capillarity (86-87)
Flow of Liquids (87) Bernoulli's Theorem (88-89) Torricelli's Theorem (89) Viscosity
(89-90) Stoke's Law (90) Terminal Velocity (90)
 9. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) 95-100
Periodic Motion (95) Oscillatory Motion (95) Simple Pendulum (96-97) Free
and Forced Oscillations (97-98) Damped Harmonic Motion (98) Resonance (98)

10. Heat, Temperature and Thermodynamics 101-116

Heat (101) Temperature and Temperature Scales (101-102) Humidity (103)
Thermal Expansion of Solids, Liquids and Gases (103-105) Specific Heat (105)
Water Equivalent (105) Transmission of Heat : Conduction, Convection and Radiation
(106-107) Thermal Conductivity (107-108) Newton's Law of Cooling (108) Thermal
Radiations (108) Kirchhoff's Law, Stefan's Law and Wien's Displacement Law (109)
Thermodynamics : Laws and Processes (109-110) Heat Engine (110-111)

11. Wave Motion and Sound 117-135

Waves and its Types (117) Type of Mechanical Waves : Longitudinal &
Transverse (117-118) Sound Waves (119-120) Speed of Sound in Different Media
(120-122) Reflection of Sound (122-123) Refraction of Sound (123) Range of
Hearing (123) Infrasonic and Ultrasonic Sound (124-125) Superposition of Waves
(125-129) Electromagnetic Waves (129) Electromagnetic Spectrum (129-130)
Earthquake Waves (130)

12. Optics 136-165

Properties of Light (136-137) Reflection of Light (137) Mirror : Types of
Mirror (137-139) Image (139) Image Formation by Spherical Mirror (139-141)
Mirror Formula and Linear Magnification (141-142) Refraction of Light (142-143)
Atmospheric Refraction (143-144) Scattering of Light (145) Total Internal Reflection
(TIR) (145-146) Lens : Types, (146-147) Image Formation by Lenses (148-149) Lens
Formula and Linear Magnification (149) Prism (150) Human Eye (151) Optical
Instruments : Camera, Microscope, Telescope (152-154) Interference of Light (155)
Diffraction of Light (155) Doppler's Effect (155) Polarisation (156)

13. Electrostatics 166-174

Electric Charge (166) Coulomb's Law (167) Electric Field and Electric Field
Intensity (167) Electric Field due to a Hollow Conductor (167) Electric Field Lines (168)
Electric Dipole (168) Electric Flux (169) Gauss's Theorem (169) Electric Potential and
Potential Difference (169-170) Potential Inside a Hollow Conductor (170) Equipotential
Surface (170) Electrostatic Potential Energy of a System of Charges (170) Conductors and
Insulators or Dielectrics (171) Capacitance (172)

14. Current Electricity and its Effects 175-188

Electric Current (175-176) Ohm's Law (177) Resistance and Combination of
Resistances (177-180) Conductance and Conductivity (180) Electric Cell (181) Heating
Effect of Electric Current (181-182) Electric Power (182-183) Alternating Current (183)

15. Magnetic Effect of Current and Magnetism 189-206

Magnetic Field and Magnetic Field Lines (189-190) Direction of Magnetic
Field (190) Magnetic Effects of Electric Currents (191) Force on a Moving Charge in a
Magnetic Field (191) Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor in a Uniform Magnetic Field
(192) Magnetism and Earth Magnetism (193-194) Magnetic Intensity (195) Magnetic
Substances : Diamagnetic, Ferromagnetic and Paramagnetic (195-196) Electromagnets
and Permanent Magnets (196-197) Magnetic Flux (197) Electromagnetic Induction : Laws
and Types (197) Eddy Currents (198) Electric Motor (198) AC and DC Generators (199)
Domestic Electric Circuits (200-201) Transformer (201)
16. Modern Physics (Atomic and Nuclear Physics) 207-227
Photoelectric Effect (207-208). Planck’s Photon Hypothesis (208) Einstein’s
Photoelectric Equation (208) Matter waves (209) X-rays (209-210) Atomic Model (210)
Nuclear Force (211-212) Nucleus Stability (212) Mass Defect and Binding Energy (212-
213) Radioactivity (213) Radioactive or Becquerel Rays (213-214) Radioactive
Disintegration or Decay (214-215) Units of Radioactive, Half-Life and Average Life or Mean
Life (215-216) Effects of Emission on the Nucleus : a-decay, b-decay and g-decay (216-
217) Soddy-Fajan's Group Displacement Law (217) Radioactive Series (217) Artificial
Radioactivity (218) Applications of Radioactivity (218-220) Nuclear Fission and Nuclear
Fusion (220-223)

17. Semiconductors 228-234

Types of Semiconductor (228) Extrinsic Semiconductor : n-type and p-type
(228-229) p-n Junction (229) Some Types of Junction Diode (229-230) Transistor or
Bipolar Transistor (230) Integrated Circuit, Digital Circuit and Logic Gate
(230-231) LASER, MASER and RADAR (231-232)

18. Communication 235-244

Communication System (235-236) Transmission Medium or Communication
Channel (236-237) Antenna : Hertz and Marconi (237) Modulation and Demodulation
(237-238) Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves (238-239) Behaviour of Atmosphere
towards Electromagnetic Waves (239) Satellite Communication (240) Indian Space
Programmes (2005 to 2014) (240-242)

19. Nanotechnology 245-246

Concepts of Nanotechnology (245) Applications of Nanotechnology : Solar
Cells, Fuel Cells, Accessible Medical Testing, Removal of Toxic Elements, A Better Cancer
Treatment, Nanotechnology and Aerospace, Nano Robots (245-246) Nanotechnology in
India (246) Future Prospects of Nano Mission (246)

20. Our Universe 247-257

Structure of Universe (247) Origin and Evolution of Universe : The Big-Bang
Theory, Red Shift Theory, Steady State Theory, Pulsating Theory (247-248) Age of
Universe (248) Celestial Bodies (249) Galaxy (250) Stars (250-251) The Solar System :
The Sun, The Planets—Mercury, Venus, The Earth, The Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus
and Neptune (251-255) Boundary of the Solar System : Asteroids and Comets (255-256)
Meteors, Meteorites and Meteor Showers (256)

Appendix 258-272

CHEMISTRY 1-210
1. Matter and its States 1-13
Matter (1) Particles of Matter : Atoms and Molecules (2) States of Matter : Solid,
Liquid and Gas (2-3) Two More States of Matter : Plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate
(BEC) (3) Diffusion (3-4) Interconversion of States of Matter (4) Effect of Change of
Temperature and Pressure (5) Chemical Classification of Matter : Element, Compound and
Mixture (5-8) Mass Terms Related to Matter : Atomic Mass, Average Atomic Mass,
Molecular Mass, Formula Unit Mass, Equivalent Mass or Equivalent Weight (8-9) Physical
and Chemical Changes (9) Laws of Chemical Combinations : Law of Conversion of Mass,
Law of Definite Proportions, Law of Multiple Proportions, Gay-Lussac's Law of Combining
Volumes (9-10) Mole Concept (10)
2. Atomic Structure 14-25
Dalton's Atomic Theory (14) Sub-atomic Particles and their Properties (14)
Fundamental Particles : Electrons, Protons and Neutrons (15) Non-Fundamental
Particles : Positron, Antiproton, Neutrino and Antineutrino, Pi-mesons, Quarks and
Bosons (15-16) Earlier Atomic Models : Thomson Model, Rutherford Model and Bohr
Model (16-18) Characteristics of an Atom : Atomic Number and Mass Number (18)
Different Atomic Species : Isotopes, Isobars, Isotones and Isodiaphers (18-19) Structural
Features of an Atom : Shell and Subshell, Orbitals (19-20) Electronic Configuration : Bohr
Burry Scheme and nl x Type Scheme (20-21) Rules for Filling Electrons in the Orbitals :
Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule (21) Quantum Numbers : n, l, m and s (22) Pauli
Exclusion Principle (22)

3. Bonding and Chemical Reactions 26-39

Chemical Bond (26) Valency (26) Electronic Theory of Chemical Bonding
(Octet Rule) (26-27) Types of Bonding : Ionic or Electrovalent, Covalent, Coordinate or
Dative, Hydrogen Bond and van der Waals' Forces (27-30) Chemical Formula : Empirical,
Molecular and Structural (31) Chemical Reaction and Chemical Equation (32) Types of
Chemical Reactions : Combination, Decomposition, Displacement, Double Displacement,
Neutralisation, Isomerisation or Rearrangement, Reversible and Irreversible, Hydrolysis,
Photochemical, Exothermic and Endothermic, Oxidation and Reduction (33-35) Oxidising
Agent and Reducing Agent (35) Oxidation State or Oxidation Number (36) Corrosion,
Fermentation and Rancidity (36-37)

4. Acids, Bases and Salts 40-51

Acids: Types , Properties and Uses (40-42) Bases: Types, Properties and Uses
(42-43) Modern Concepts of Acids and Bases : Arrhenius Concept, Bronsted-Lowry
Concept and Lewis Concept (43-44) Dissolution of an Acid or a Base in Water (44) Salts:
Types and Uses (44-45) pH Scale (45-46) Importance of pH in Everyday Life (46-47)
Indicators (47) Buffer Solution and its Types (47-48) Hydrolysis of Salts (48) Types of Salts
on the basis of Hydrolysis (48)

5. Solutions and Colloids 52-59

Solution or True Solution (52) Components, Properties and Types of Solutions
(52-53) Concentration of a Solution (53-54) Solubility (54) Colloidal Solution (54-55)
Classification of Colloids (55-56) Properties of Colloidal Solutions (56) Emulsions (56-57)
Suspension (57)

6. Gaseous State 60-64

Gas Laws : Boyle, Charles, Gay Lussac, Avogadro, Combined Gas Law, Dalton's Law of
Partial Pressures and Graham's Law of Diffusion (60-61) Perfect Gas or Ideal Gas (61)
Ideal Gas Equation (62) Real Gases (62) Kinetic Theory of Gases (62-63) Pressure of an
Ideal Gas (63) Different Speeds of Gaseous Molecules (63) Degree of Freedom (63-64)

7. Chemical Kinetics and Equilibrium 65-71

Chemical Kinetics (65) Slow and Fast Reactions (65) Bond Energy, Heat of Reaction,
Heat of Formation and Heat of Combustion (65-66) Rate of a Reaction (66-67) Activation
Energy (67) Catalysis and its Types (67-68) Types and Uses of Catalyst (68) Order and
Molecularity of a Reaction (68-69) Chemical Equilibrium (69) Law of Chemical
Equilibrium & Equilibrium Constant (69) Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Equilibria (70)
Le-Chatelier's Principle (70)
 8. Electrochemistry 72-79
Electrolysis (72) Components Required for Electrolysis : Electrolyte, Electric
Current and Electrode (72) Arrhenius Theory of Electrolytic Dissociation or
Decomposition (73) Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis (73-74) Products of Electrolysis (74)
Applications of Electrolysis (74-75) Electrolytic Cell (75) Galvanic Cell or a Voltaic Cell (75)
Electrochemical Series (75) Batteries (76) Primary Batteries : Dry Cell and Mercury Cell
(76) Secondary Batteries : Lead Storage Battery, Nickel-Cadmium Cell, Lithium-Ion Battery
(LIB) and Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell (77) Cell Efficiency (77)

9. Classification of Elements 80-87

Periodic Classification (80) Mendeleev's Periodic Table : Characteristics, Advantages
and Limitations (80-81) Modern Periodic Table (81-82) Characteristics of Periods and
Groups (83) Types of Elements : s-Block, p-Block, d-Block and f-Block (83-84) Trends in
Modern Periodic Table (Periodic Properties) (85)

10. Hydrogen and Its Compounds 88-94

Hydrogen : Occurrence, Isotopes and Preparation (88) Special Forms of Hydrogen
(88-89) Properties and Uses of Dihydrogen (89-90) Water (90) Structure of Water
Molecule (91) Hard and Soft Water (91) Temporary and Permanent Hardness (91)
Heavy Water (92) Hydrogen Peroxide and its Uses (92)

11. Metals and Their Compounds 95-116

Physical and Chemical Properties of Metals (95-96) Sodium and its Compounds
(97-98) Magnesium and its Compounds (98-99) Calcium and its Compounds (100-101)
Aluminium and its Compounds (101-102) Manganese and its Compounds (102-103) Iron
and its Compounds (103-104) Heat Treatment and Surface Treatment of Steel (104)
Copper and its Compounds (105-106) Silver and its Compounds (106-107) Gold and its
Compounds (107-108) Zinc and its Compounds (108) Mercury and its Compounds
(109-110) Lead and its Compounds (110-111) Uranium, Thorium, Platinum and
Plutonium (111-112)

12. Extraction of Metals 117-122

Metallurgy (117) Minerals, Ores and Gangue (117-118) Steps Involved in
Metallurgy (118) Concentration of Ores (119) Extraction of Crude Metals from
Concentrated Ores (119-120) Refining (120)

13. Non-Metals and Their Compounds 123-142

Physical and Chemical Properties of Non-metals (123) Carbon : Occurrence
and Properties (124) Allotropes of Carbon : Diamond, Graphite, Graphene, Fullerene,
Lamp Black, Charcoal, Coke and Coal (124-126) Oxides of Carbon (127-128) Silicon :
Properties, Uses and Compounds (128) Nitrogen : Occurrence, Preparation, Properties
and Uses (128-129) Nitrogen Fixation and Denitrification (129) Ammonia (129) Oxides
and Oxoacids of Nitrogen (130) Phosphorus : Occurrence and Uses (130-131) Allotropic
Forms of Phosphorus : White/Yellow, Red, Black, Scarlet and Violet (131-132) Oxides of
Phosphorus (132-133) Oxygen : Occurrence, Properties and Uses (133) Ozone (133)
Sulphur : Occurrence and Extraction (134) Allotropic Forms of Sulphur : Crystalline and
Non-crystalline (134) Oxides and Oxoacids of Sulphur (135-136) Halogens : Fluorine,
Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine (136-137) Inert Gases and Noble Gases : Helium, Neon,
Argon, Krypton, Xenon and Redon (137-138) Metalloids (139)
14. Fuels, Combustion and Flames 143-153
Fuels and its Types (143) Calorific or Fuel Value (143-144) Fossil Fuels : Coal
and Petroleum (144-145) Composition and Uses of Some Fuels : Coke, Coal Gas, Water
Gas, Producer Gas, Oil Gas, Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Bio Gas or Gobar
Gas, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Petrol, Diesel, Biodiesel, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
and Brent Crude Oil (145-147) Cracking (147) Advancement in the Direction of Fuels (148)
Combustion and its Types (148-149) Propellants (Rocket Fuels) (149) Types of Propellants
: Solid, Liquid and Hybrid (149-150) Flame (150) Solar Jet (150)

15. Organic Compounds 154-169

Petroleum as a Source of Organic Compounds (154-155) Classification of Organic
Compounds : Acyclic or Open Chain, Alicyclic or Closed Chain and Aromatic
(155-156) Functional Group (156-157) Homologous Series (157) Isomerism : Structural
Isomerism and Stereoisomerism (158) Hydrocarbon : Saturated, Unsaturated and
Aromatic (158-160) Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids and
Esters (160-164) Some Other Important Organic Compounds (164-166)

16. Food Chemistry 170-179

Carbohydrates (170) Classification of Carbohydrates : Monosaccharides,
Oligosaccharides, Polysaccharides, Sugars, Non-sugars, Reducing and Non-reducing
(170-171) Some Common Carbohydrates : Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Maltose, Lactose,
Starch, Cellulose, Glycogen (171) Importance of Carbohydrates (171) Proteins (172)
Classification of Proteins : Fibrous, Globular, Simple, Conjugated and Derived (172)
Functions of Proteins (172) Denaturation of Proteins (172) Fats and Oils (173) Types and
Functions of Fats (173) Waxes (173) Vitamins (174) Types of Vitamins : Fat Soluble and
Water Soluble (174-175) Enzymes (176) Food Preservatives (176) Artificial Sweetening
Agents : Saccharin, Aspartame, Alitame and Sucrolose (177) Antioxidants (177)

17. Chemistry in Everyday Life 180-194

Soaps (180) Manufacture (Saponification Reaction) and Types of Soaps (180-181)
Detergents (181) Classification of Synthetic Detergents : Anionic, Cationic and Non-ionic
(181-182) Dyes and its Classification (182) Polymers (182) Polymerisation : Addition and
Condensation (182-183) Plastics : Natural and Synthetic (183-184) Rubber : Natural and
Synthetic (184) Vulcanisation of Rubber (185) Fibres : Natural, Semisynthetic and
Synthetic (185) Ceramics (186) Drugs : Antipyretics, Analgesics, Antibiotics, Antiseptic,
Disinfectants, Sulpha Drugs, Anaesthesia and Antacids (186-187) Cosmetics (188) Glass:
Types, Properties and Uses (188) Annealing of Glass (189) Coloured Glass (189) Glass
Wool (189) Cement (189) Fertilizers (190-191) Explosives (191)

Appendix 195-210

BIOLOGY 1-320
1. Diversity in Living World 1-34
Classification : Basis, Objectives, History and Hierarchy (1-2) Binomial System of
Nomenclature and Categories of Classification (3-4) Kingdom Monera : Bacteria,
Economic Importance of Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Cyanobacteria, Rickettsia and
Archaebacteria (4-7) Kingdom Protista : Groups of Protista – Photosynthetic Protists,
Protozoan Protists and Consumer-decomposes Protists, Economic Importance of Protists
(7-9) Kingdom Fungi : Types of Fungi – Saprophytic, Parasitic and Symbiotic, Economic
Importance of Fungi (9-11) Kingdom Plantae : Thallophyta – Cellular Structure of Algae,
Types of Algae (Green, Brown and Red), Reproduction in Algae, Economic Importance of
 Algae; Bryophyta – Characteristics and Economic Importance of Bryophyta; Tracheophyta
– Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (12-18) Kingdom Animalia : Sub-
Kingdom Protozoa; Sub-Kingdom Metazoa – Phylum Porifera (Sponges), Phylum
Coelenterata (Cnidaria), Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms), Phylum Aschelminthes/
Nematoda (Round/Ringworms), Phylum Annelida, Phylum Arthropoda, Phylum Mollusca,
Phylum Echinodermata, Phylum Hemichordata, Phylum Chordata (18-23) Protochordates
(23) Vertebrates : Class Pisces, Class Amphibia, Class Reptilia, Class Aves and Class
Mammalia (23-27)

2. Cell : Structure and Functions 35-47

Discovery, Shape and Size of Cells (35) Number of Cells in Living Organisms (35)
Cell Theory (36) Types of Cell (36-37) Cell Structure : Cell Wall, Cell Membrane or Plasma
Membrane, Nucleus (Nuclear Membrane, Nucleoplasm, Nucleolus and Chromosomes),
Cytoplasm – Cytosol; Cell Organelles – endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth), golgi
apparatus, lysosomes, mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes, centrosomes, vacuoles;
Inclusions (38-43)

3. Cell Cycle and Cell Division 48-52

Cell Cycle (48) Phases of Cell Cycle : Interphase (Undividing Phase), M Phase or
Mitosis Phase (Dividing Phase) (48-49) Cell Division (49) Modes of Cell Division : Amitosis;
Mitosis – Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase and Cytokinesis; Meiosis – Meiosis I
and Meiosis II (49-51)

4. Tissue 53-64
Plant Tissue : Meristematic Tissue – Apical Meristems, Intercalary Meristems and
Lateral Meristems; Permanent Tissue or Mature Tissue – Simple Permanent Tissue
(Parenchyma, Collenchyma, Sclerenchyma), Complex Permanent Tissue (Xylem, Phloem)
(53-55) Animal Tissue : Epithelial Tissue or Epithelia – Simple Epithelial Tissue (Squamous
Epithelium, Cuboidal Epithelium, Columnar Epithelium, Glandular Epithelium, Ciliated
Epithelium and Pseudo-Stratified Epithelium); Compound Epithelia (Multilayered
Epithelia) – Stratified Epithelium and Transitional Epithelium (56-59) Connective Tissue :
Vascular Connective Tissue, Connective Tissue Proper and Skeletal Connective Tissue
(58-60) Muscular Tissue: Striated (Striped) Muscle, Non-Striated (Smooth) Muscle, Cardiac
Muscle (61-62) Neural Tissue (62)

5. Nutrition 65-75
Nutrients : Macro, Micro, Essential and Non-essential (65) Nutrition in Plants (65)
Types of Nutrition in Plants : Autotrophic and Heterotrophic (66-67) Mineral Nutrition in
Plants (67-68) Nitrogen Fixation (68-69) Nutrition in Animals (69) Types of Nutrition in
Animals : Holozoic, Parasitic and Saprozoic (69-70) Nutrients in Animals : Water, Roughage
and Minerals (Inorganic Salts) (70-72)
Balanced Diet (72)

6. Plant Morphology and Physiology 76-97

Plant Morphology (76) Different Parts of the Plant : Root, Stem, Leaf (76-82)
Plant-Water Relations (82) Processes Concerned with Plant-Water Relation : Imbibition,
Osmosis and Plasmolysis (83) Transport System in Plants : Transport of Water, Transport of
Minerals, Translocation of Organic Solutes (84-85) Photosynthesis (85) Process of
Photosynthesis : Photochemical Phase (Light or Hill Reaction), Biosynthetic Phase (Dark or
Blackman's Reaction) (85) Factors Affecting Photosynthesis : Carbon Dioxide, Light, Water,
Temperature and Oxygen (85-86) Plant Growth and Development (86) Plant Growth
Hormones : Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene and Abscisic Acid (87-88) Plant
Diseases : Abiotic or Non-Parasitic, Viral, Fungal and Bacterial (88-92)
 7. Reproduction 98-115
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction (98) Events in Sexual Reproduction :
Pre-Fertilisation, Fertilisation and Post-Fertilisation (99) Reproduction in Lower Plants :
Asexual Reproduction – Fragmentation, Spore Formation; Sexual Reproduction (99-100)
Reproduction in Higher Plants : Asexual Reproduction – Apomixis, Vegetative
Propagation, Tissue Culture; Sexual Reproduction (100-102) Pollination and Fertilisation
(102-103) Fruit and Seeds (104) Reproduction in Animals : Asexual and Sexual (104-105)
Reproduction in Humans : Male and Female Reproductive System (105-108) Mechanism
Involved with Human Reproductive System : Gametogenesis, Fertilisation, Embryonic
Development, Parturition and Lactation (108-109) Reproductive Heath (109-110) Birth
Control (Contraceptive) Methods : Barrier Methods, Hormonal Methods, Intra Uterine
Devices (IUDs), Natural Methods of Family Planning, Surgical Methods and Termination
(110-111) Disorders in Human Reproductive System : In Male and Female (111-112)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (112) Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS) (112)

8. Systems of Human Body 116-170

Human Digestive System : Alimentary Canal – Mouth, Vestibule, Buccal Cavity,
Tongue, Pharynx, Oesophagus, Stomach, Intestine; Digestive Glands – Salivary or Mouth
Watering, Gastric, Liver, Pancreas, Intestinal; Mechanism of Digestion of Food; Disorders of
Digestive System (117-124) Human Respiratory System : Types and Phases of Respiration
– Aerobic and Anaerobic; Various Organs of Human Respiratory System; Movement of Air
through Respiratory System; Mechanism of Respiration; Cellular Respiration; Disorders of
Respiratory System (125-129) Human Circulatory System : Blood Vascular System – Blood,
Plasma, Blood Cells, Blood Clotting, Blood Groups, Lymph; Heart – Parts and Functions of
Human Heart, Working and Pumping Action of Heart, Heart Beat and its Regulation;
Electrocardiograph – Blood Vessels, Blood Pressure, Lymphatic System; Disorders of
Circulatory System (130-139) Human Excretory System : Modes of Excretion; Functions of
Different Excretory Organs – Kidneys, Ureters, Urinary Bladder, Urethra, Artificial Kidney;
Disorders of Excretory System (140-144) Human Skeletal System : Types and Functions of
Skeletal System; Bones; Cartilages; Joints – Fibrous, Fixed or Immovable, Cartilagenous or
Slightly Movable, Synovial or Freely Movable; Disorders of Skeletal System (145-150)
Human Nervous System : Neurons; Parts of Human Nervous System; Central Nervous
System – Brain, Spinal Cord; Peripheral Neural System; Autonomic Neural System –
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic; Sensory Reception and Processing – Eye, Ear, Nose,
Skin (151-158) Human Endocrine System : Glands – Pituitary and Adrenal, Hormones;
Disorders of Endocrine System (159-161)

9. Genetics 171-178
Mendel's Experiment (171-172) Mendel's Law of Inheritance : Law of Dominance,
Law of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment (172-173) Exceptions of Mendelism ;
Incomplete Dominance, Codominance, Multiple Allelism (173-174) Chromosomal Theory
of Inheritance (174) Linkage and Recombination (174-175) Sex Determination in Human
Beings (175) Mutation : Gene Mutation and Chromosomal Mutation (175-176) Genetic
Disorders (176)

10. Heredity and Evolution 179-186

Packaging of Hereditary Material in Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes : DNA and RNA
(179-180) Central Dogma (180) Evolution (180) Origin of Life (180-181) Biological
Evolution (181) Theories of Organic Evolution (181-182) Agents of Evolution (182)
Evidences of Organic Evolution : From Morphology and Comparative Anatomy, From
Connecting Links, From Genetics, From Embryology (183) Fossils (183) Origin and
Evolution of Man (183-184)
11. Health and Diseases 187-211
Health (187) Diseases (187) Congenital Diseases (187-188) Acquired Diseases :
Communicable or Infectious Diseases – Viral, Fungal, Protozoan, Bacterial and Helminths;
Preventive Measures of Infectious Diseases; Non Communicable Diseases – Degenerative,
Deficiency, Genetic and Mental (188-201) Immunity : Innate and Acquired (202)
Antibodies (202) Monoclonal Antibodies (203) Immune Response (203) Immunisation
(203) Allergies (203) Autoimmunity (204) Biomedical Techniques : Invasive – Angioplasty
and Organ Transplantation; Non-Invasive – X-Ray Radiography, Angiography, Computed
Tomographic Scanning (CT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),Ultrasound Imaging
(Sonography); Electroencephalography (EEG); Immunotherapy; Hormone Therapy;
Positron Emission Tomography (PET); Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery; Enzyme Linked
Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); Pregnancy Test Kits (204-205)

12. Introduction to Biotechnology 212-222

Definitions of Biotechnology (212) Old Biotechnology and Modern
Biotechnology (212-213) Principles of Biotechnology : Genetic Engineering and Chemical
Engineering (213) Tools of Genetic Engineering : Vector, Enzymes and Host Cell (213-214)
Techniques of Genetic Engineering : Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR), Random
Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism
(RELP), DNA Fingerprinting, Gene Therapy and Cloning (214-217) Human Genome Project
(HGP) (217) Applications of Biotechnology : Medicine, Vaccines and Drugs, Antibiotics,
Transgenic Animals, Agriculture, Reproduction and Embryology (217-220) Environmental
Biotechnology (220-221)

13. Environment and its Effects 223-242

Environment and its Types (223) Atmosphere of Earth (223-224) Pollution
and Pollutants (224-225) Air Pollution : Sources and Effects on Plants and Human Health,
Smog, Acts to Control Air Pollution (226-228) Water Pollution : Sources and Effects on
Plants and Human Health, Acts to Control Water Pollution, Bioremediation, Oil Zapper
(228-232) Soil and Land Pollution : Sources and Effects, Control of Soil Pollution, E-Waste
or Electronic Waste (232-233) Sound or Noise Pollution : Sources, Causes and Effects,
Control of Noise Pollution (234) Radioactive Wastes (234-235) Climate (235) Greenhouse
Effect and Greenhouse Gases (235) Global Warming (235-236) Acid Rain (236)
Stratospheric Pollution (236-237) Impacts of Ozone Layer Depletion (237-238)
Environment and the Health (238) Green Chemistry (238)

14. Ecology and Ecosystem 243-261

Ecology : Autoecology and Synecology (243) Ecosystem : Types, Components
and Functions (244-246) Energy Flow in Ecosystem : Food Chain, Ten Per Cent Law, Food
Web (246) Trophic Level (247) Ecological Pyramids (247) Ecological Succession (247)
Ecological Adaptations in Plants (247-249) Ecological Relationship (249) Nutrient Flow in
Ecosystem : Nitrogen Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Oxygen Cycle, Phosphorus Cycle, Sulphur Cycle,
Water Cycle (249-251) Biosphere (251) Biomes (251-252) Biodiversity :Mapping Species
Biodiversity, Importance of Biodiversity, Factors Affecting Biodiversity, Effects of Loss of
Biodiversity, Conservation of Biological Diversity, Biodiversity Hotspots – Western Ghats
and Eastern Himalayas (252-254) Forest Conservation in India : REDD, REDD+, Wetlands,
Ramsar Convention, Mangroves (254-255) National and International Conventions on
Wildlife : CITES, The Tiger Summit, The Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), World
Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature, Trade Records Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce,
UNESCO-WHO, CMS, CBD, BGIR, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, IUCN (255-257)
15. Agriculture Science 262-272
Crop (262) Classification of Crops : Kharif, Rabi and Zaid (262-263) Improvements
in Crop Yields : Crop Variety Improvement – Cereal Crops, Pulse Crops, Oil Seed Crops,
Fibre Crops, Forage Crops, Sugar Crops, Root and Tuber Crops; Crop Production
Management – Nutrient Management, Biofertilisers, Irrigation, Cropping Patterns,
Intensive Cropping, Intercropping, Terrace Farming; Crop Protection Management
(263-269) Seed Science, Agroforestry and Blanching (269-270) Indian Council of
Agriculture Research (ICAR) (270)

16. Economic Zoology 273-286

Animal Husbandry (273) Breeding (273) Artificial Insemination and Embryo
Transfer (274) Cattle Farming : Cow, Buffaloes (274-276) Poultry Farming : Birds, Sheeps
and Goats, Pig (Swine) or Hog, Camels (276-279) Animal Diseases : Caused by Fungi,
Caused by Bacteria, Caused by Virus and Caused by Parasites (279-281) Apiculture : Social
Organisation of Honey Bees, Honey Making and Products of Apiculture (282-283)
Sericulture : Types of Silk and Silk Production (283-284) Aquaculture (284) Pisciculture :
Food Fishes and By-products of Fishes (285)

17. Economic Botany 287-298

Major Cereals : Wheat, Rice, Maize, Oats (287-289) Vegetables : Earth Vegetables,
Herbage Vegetables and Fruit Vegetables (290) Some Important Plants for Drugs
(290-291) Sugar Yielding Plants (291) Some Economically Important Flowering Plants :
Aloe Vera, Neem, Tulsi, Turmeric, Lemongrass, Banyan Tree (292-293) Non-Alcoholic
Beverages Plants : Coffee, Tea, Cocoa and Chocolate (294) Spices and Condiments
(294-295) Oil Obtained from Plants (295) Fibre Plants (296)

Appendix 299-320

COMPUTER & IT 1-30

1. Introduction to Computer 1-5
History and Generations of Computer (1-2) Classification of Computer : Based
on Size – Microcomputer, Mainframe Computer, Minicomputer and Supercomputer;
BSNL Penta Tablet; Aakash/Sakshat Tablet; Aakash 2 (Ubirlate 7Cl); Based on Working of
System – Analog, Digital and Hybrid (2-4)

2. Computer Architecture and I/O Devices 6-11

Components of a Computer : Input/Output, Central Processisng Unit (CPU)
and Memory Unit (6-7) Instruction Cycle (8) Input and Output Devices (8-10)
Input/Output Ports (10)

3. Data Representation 12-13

Number System (12) Types of Number System : Binary, Decimal, Octal and
Hexadecimal (12) Computer Codes : Binary Coded Decimal (BCD), American
Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), Extended Binary Coded
Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) (12-13)

4. Computer Software 14-17

System Software : Operating System – Microsoft Windows, BOSS (Bharat Operating
System Solutions), Apple Macintosh, Android, Symbian, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows
Phone 8-Apollo; WhatsApp Messenger; Device Drivers; System Utilities; Language
Translator (14-16) Application Software (16)
5. Data Communication and Networking 18-22
Communication Channel (18) Communication Media : Guided or Wired Technologies –
Ethernet Cable or Twisted Pair, Coaxial Cable, Fibre Optic Cable; Unguided or Wireless
Technologies – Radiowave Transmission, Microwave Transmission, Satellite
Communication, Infrared Wave Transmission and Bluetooth (18-19) Computer Network
(19) Types of Computer Network : LAN, WAN and MAN (19) Network Devices (20)
Network Topology : Bus, Ring or Circular, Star, Mesh and Tree (20) Generations of Mobile
Phone : 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G (21) Video Scape (21)

6. Internet and Computer Security 23-30

Internet Connection: Dial-Up, Broadband and Wireless (23) Hyperlink and Hyper Text,
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Internet Telephony of VOIP and Internet Protocol
Version 6 (IPV6) (23-24) Internet Related Terms : World Wide Web (WWW), Web Page,
Website, Web Browser, Web Server, Web Address and URL, Domain Name, Web Search
Engine – Google, Google+, Google Earth, Gmail, Youtube, Yahoo, Laicos, Altavista, Hot Bot,
Bing (25) Services of Internet: Chat, E-mail, Video Conferencing, Social Networking –
Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, Twitter and Tumbler (25-26) Information Technology (26)
Artificial Intelligence (27) Computer Security (28) Antivirus Software (29)