General Studies
GDP Components Mnemonic — Remember India's GDP sectors as "MASI": Manufacturing, Agriculture, Services, Industry. Services (~55%) dominate, Agriculture (~15%) declining, helps recall economic structure quickly.
Current Account vs Capital Account — "GIST" for Current: Goods, Income, Services, Transfers (trade-related). Capital account has "FAI": Foreign investment, Assets, International borrowing (investment-related).
Types of Inflation Mnemonic — "CDS Player": Cost-push (supply shock), Demand-pull (excess demand), Stagflation (stagnation + inflation). Most exam questions test demand-pull vs cost-push distinction.
Five-Year Plan Fathers — "Nehru Made Plans, Became PM": 1st Plan (1951) started under Nehru, Mahalanobis Model in 2nd Plan (1956). NITI Aayog replaced Planning Commission in 2015.
Tamil Nadu Districts Trick — 38 districts (as of 2023): Remember newest additions chronologically—Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Tenkasi, Tirupathur (2019-20 additions) for current affairs questions.
History, Culture, Heritage & Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu
Sangam Age Periods — "மூன்று சங்கம்" (Three Sangams): 1st Madurai (9990 years—mythical), 2nd Kapadapuram (3700 years), 3rd Madurai (1850 years). Only 3rd Sangam literature survives.
Major Dravidian Parties Timeline — "Justice DK AD ADMK": Justice Party (1916), DK (1944 Periyar split), DMK (1949 Anna split), ADMK (1972 MGR split). Remember founding leaders for chronology.
Pallava Temple Evolution — "Rock Cut → Monolith → Structural": Mahendravarman (rock-cut), Narasimhavarman (monolith—Rathas), Rajasimha (structural—Kailasanatha). Evolution shows architectural progression.
Chola Bronze Trinity — "Nataraja Poses 3-Way": Nataraja (cosmic dance), Ardhanarisvara (Shiva-Parvati union), Somaskanda (family form). 10th-11th century peak under Rajaraja-Rajendra Cholas.
Tamil Freedom Fighters Mnemonic — "SUVC": Subramania Bharati (poet-revolutionary), VOC Chidambaram (Swadeshi Steam), Vanchinathan (assassinated Ashe 1911), Rajaji C (1st Indian Governor-General). Core figures for prelims.
Bhakti Movement Saints — "Nayanars-Shiva, Alvars-Vishnu": 63 Nayanars (including Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar), 12 Alvars (including Andal—only woman). 6th-9th century CE, devotional poetry revolution.
Madurai Sultanate Years — "1335-1378" (43 years only). Remember Malik Kafur invaded 1311, but sultanate existed briefly after Vijayanagara rise. Short-lived Islamic rule in Tamil region.
Aptitude and Mental Ability
Divisibility Rules Quick Check — Divide by 3/9: sum digits. By 4: last 2 digits. By 6: divisible by both 2&3. By 8: last 3 digits. By 11: alternating digit sum difference divisible by 11.