Odisha PSC – General Awareness & Current Affairs
Topic: Basics
These notes are intended to give you a solid foundation before you dive deeper into the current‑affairs section of the Odisha PSC exam.
1. Simple Explanation
- General Awareness (GA) is a section that tests your knowledge of national and international affairs, Indian polity, economics, science & technology, sports, awards, environment, and state‑specific developments.
- Current Affairs (CA) focuses on events that have occurred in the past 12–18 months.
- The GA/CA paper is open‑book in many Odisha PSC exams, meaning you can bring the exam booklet or approved notes, but you must still answer quickly and accurately.
2. Key Points
| Area | What to Cover | Sample Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Polity & Governance | Constitution, Parliament, state government, important amendments | 42nd, 44th, 45th Constitutional Amendments; GST Act; State‑Level Planning |
| Economy & Development | Budget, RBI decisions, economic surveys | 2025 Union Budget; RBI inflation reports; "Make in India" initiatives |
| Science & Technology | Space missions, IT developments, health breakthroughs | ISRO’s Chandrayaan‑3, 5G rollout, COVID‑19 vaccine updates |
| Environment & Ecology | Climate change, green initiatives | Odisha’s “Green Odisha” plan; National Action Plan on Climate Change |
| Sports | National & international titles, Olympic participation | 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian national cricket team rankings |
| Awards & Honors | Padma Awards, Bharat Ratna, Nobel Prizes | 2024 Padma Awards list, Nobel Prize winners 2024 |
| Legal & Judicial | Supreme Court judgements, important laws | Supreme Court on GST, new data protection law |
| State‑Specific (Odisha) | State policies, projects, cultural heritage | Odisha’s “Smart City” projects, Kalinga Academy, Odisha Tourism development |
| International Affairs | Global events, UN resolutions | 2024 G20 Summit outcomes, UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) |
Why GA/CA matters in Odisha PSC
- Score weightage: 25–35% of the total marks.
- Exam pattern: 40–50 questions, 3 points each, 1 negative point for wrong answers (check the latest pattern).
- Time management: 1–1.5 hours; answer quickly but accurately.
3. Worked Example
Sample Question
Question (Odisha PSC 2025 Preliminary)
Which Indian state launched the “Smart City” project that achieved a 100% digital literacy rate in 2024?
How to Answer
- Identify keywords: “Smart City”, “100% digital literacy”, “2024”, “Indian state”.
- Recall: Odisha’s “Smart City” initiative (Kalinga Smart City) received a 100% digital literacy milestone in 2024.
- Answer:
Answer: Odisha
Explanation: Odisha’s Smart City project, initiated in 2021, reached 100% digital literacy among its residents by December 2024, earning national recognition for digital inclusion.
Quick Tips
- Use a cheat‑sheet: Keep a one‑page list of state projects, major awards, and international events.
- Flashcards: For dates and names (e.g., 2024 Padma Awards winners).
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Section | Quick Facts |
|---|---|
| Indian Polity | 42nd (GST) & 45th (Census) Amendments |
| Economy | 2025 Budget: ₹10.6 trn; RBI inflation target 4–6% |
| Science | Chandrayaan‑3 launch 2024; 5G trials in Odisha |
| Environment | Odisha’s “Green Odisha” project, 2024 forest cover 23% |
| Sports | 2024 Paris Olympics: India finished 18th; Cricket team ICC ranking 8th |
| Awards | Padma Awards 2024: 50 recipients; 3 Nobel laureates in Physics |
| Legal | Supreme Court upheld GST in “ABC vs. Govt” (2024) |
| State‑Specific | Smart City: 100% digital literacy; Kalinga Academy inaugurated 2024 |
| International | G20 2024 in Brazil; COP29 in 2025 (Climate Action) |
Revision Tips
- Daily news skim: 10–15 minutes of reading The Hindu, The Indian Express, or Odisha Times (English & Odia).
- Weekly recap: Create a one‑page summary of the week’s top 5 news items.
- Monthly mock test: Use past papers and simulate exam conditions.
Final Thought
Mastering the basics of General Awareness & Current Affairs is about consistency and structured revision. Use these notes as a roadmap, keep a habit of daily news reading, and revisit key points weekly. Good luck with your Odisha PSC preparation!