[Part-1] Complete CGGS | Rapid Revision Series (Marathon) || CGPSC Prelims | 2025

Brief Summary

This YouTube video by Nexus IAS Academy provides a revision class for Chhattisgarh General Studies (CGGS) for the CGPSC (Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission) prelims exam. It emphasises consolidating notes, focusing on important topics, and practicing question-solving techniques. The course will cover current affairs (Chhattisgarh and national), the Chhattisgarh budget, and the economic survey. The video also covers key aspects of Chhattisgarh, including its state symbols, districts, divisions, and bordering states, with a focus on geographical and historical facts relevant to the exam.

• Revision classes for CGPSC prelims, focusing on key topics and question-solving.
• Covers Chhattisgarh and national current affairs, budget, and economic survey.
• Detailed overview of Chhattisgarh's geography, districts, divisions, and bordering states.
• Highlights important facts and potential exam questions.

Introduction to CGGS Revision Classes

The Nexus IAS Academy is starting revision classes for Chhattisgarh GS, aimed at helping students consolidate their knowledge for the upcoming CGPSC prelims exam. With approximately 40 days remaining, the focus is on revising notes and understanding what is important for the prelims. These classes will complement the existing series of 47-48 in-depth CGPSC GS classes and classes on Panchayati Raj Institutions. The upcoming 20 days will involve classes covering current affairs, CGGS, and history, followed by sessions on how to solve questions effectively. The aim is to help students secure at least 40 out of the 50 questions from the Chhattisgarh GS section.

Chhattisgarh State Symbols and General Information

The class begins by examining the Chhattisgarh government logo, which features 36 forts, paddy (rice) stalks, and the Ashoka emblem. Chhattisgarh is known as the "Rice Bowl of India" due to its fertile plains. The logo also includes the slogan "Satyamev Jayate," meaning "truth alone triumphs," taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, along with symbols representing flowing rivers and electricity production. The logo was adopted on 4th September 2001, under the government of then-Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. The state animal is the wild buffalo, the state bird is the hill myna, and the state tree is the sal tree.

Districts and Divisions of Chhattisgarh

The lecture moves on to the districts and divisions of Chhattisgarh, including their locations, bordering states, longitudes, and latitudes. The northernmost division is Surguja, while the southernmost is Bastar. Bastar is the largest division by area, and Durg is the smallest. The Bilaspur division has the maximum number of districts. Durg is the newest division, created in 2013 under Dr. Raman Singh's government. The class identifies the districts within each of the five divisions: Surguja, Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur, and Bastar.

Detailed Breakdown of the Five Divisions

The video provides a detailed look at each of the five divisions, listing the districts that fall under them. The Surguja division includes Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, Balrampur, Surguja, and Jashpur. The Bilaspur division includes Mungeli, Gourela-Pendra-Marwahi, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa, Shakti, Korba, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, and Raigarh, totalling eight districts. The Durg division includes Rajnandgaon, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Ganda, Mohla-Manpur-Chowki, Kabirdham, Durg, Balod, and Bemetara, with seven districts. The Raipur division consists of Baloda Bazar, Raipur, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, and Gariaband, with five districts. Finally, the Bastar division includes Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Sukma, and Bastar itself, also with seven districts.

Area-wise Division Ranking and Key Geographical Facts

The divisions are ranked by area: Bastar, Surguja, Bilaspur, Raipur, and Durg. The video highlights that the Indian Standard Time (IST) line (82.5°E) and the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) intersect in Chhattisgarh, specifically in the Sonhat tehsil of Koriya district. The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight states in India: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Mizoram. In Chhattisgarh, it passes through Koriya, Surajpur, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, and Balrampur. The Indian Standard Time Line passes through seven districts in Chhattisgarh: Koriya, Surguja, Korba, Janjgir-Champa, Baloda Bazar, Mahasamund, and Gariaband.

Bordering States of Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state, bordering several Indian states. To the north, it borders Uttar Pradesh (Balrampur). To the south, it borders Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. To the east, it borders Odisha, and to the west, it does not directly border any state. North-west of Chhattisgarh is Madhya Pradesh, and to the south-west is Maharashtra. The video details which districts of Chhattisgarh border each of these states. Balrampur is the only district that borders three states: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Sukma borders three states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.

In-depth Look at Bastar Division: Kanker District

The lecture begins an in-depth look at the districts within the Bastar division, starting with Kanker. Kanker was formed in 1998. The Doodh River, originating from Malaj Kundam mountains, flows through Kanker, featuring the Malaj Kundam waterfall and Doodh Dam. National Highway 30, the lifeline of Chhattisgarh, passes through Kanker. The district is also home to the Charre Marre waterfall. Kanker is rich in iron ore, with extraction sites at Char Gaon, Matt Badli, Aari Dongri, Hahaladdi, and Rao Ghat, which supplies iron ore to the Bhilai Steel Plant. Other notable places include Durg Kondal (an ancient site) and Pakhanjur (a refugee settlement). The Gadia mountain hosts the Gadia Mahotsav in September-October. The video also mentions important locations like Charama, Narharpur, and Bhanupratappur.

Kanker District: Historical Significance and Key Locations

The discussion on Kanker continues, highlighting the Paral River and its association with the Paral Rebellion. The first martyr of Bastar, Gend Singh, was a zamindar from the Paral Kot region who led the rebellion against the British in 1825. Kulagaon, also known as Gandhi Gram, is the site of the first rural industrial park in Chhattisgarh. Gota Tola, a village in Kanker, gained attention due to reported alien sightings, prompting visits from ISRO and NASA scientists. Singhar Bhat hosts a Kodo Kutki processing centre and the Anti-Terrorism Jungle Warfare College, while Ichhapur has a Harra processing centre.

Kanker District: Visuals and Key Features

The video shows visuals of Rao Ghat, highlighting the iron ore extraction site. It also presents images of the Charre Marre waterfall, the Gadia Mahotsav, and the Malaj Kundam waterfall. Singhar Bhat is noted for both its Kodo Kutki processing centre and the Anti-Terrorism Jungle Warfare College, where soldiers are trained in guerrilla warfare tactics to combat Naxalites.

Kondagaon District: Entry to Bastar and Key Sites

The lecture transitions to Kondagaon, highlighting the 12-turn Keskal Ghati, known as the entry gate to Bastar. Tata Mari is a beautiful tourist spot near Keskal Ghati. Other key sites include Farasgaon, Garh Dhanora (an archaeological site with paleolithic remains), Bhonga Pal (a Buddhist site), Kondagaon (the district headquarters), Bade Doongar (another archaeological site), and Bade Rajpur. The Narangi River flows through Kondagaon. The district features a maize processing centre in Kodi village, a Jatayu Shila near Borgaon, and a mahua processing centre in Kondagaon. Kondagaon has the highest sex ratio in Chhattisgarh.

Kondagaon District: Historical Finds and Keskal Ghati Details

The video mentions that 32 gold coins were discovered in Ada village, including 29 coins from the Varaha Raj dynasty and two from Arthapati Paramabhattaraka. Vasudev Mirashi is credited with discovering these coins. Keskal Ghati is described as the entry gate to Bastar and Dandakaranya, the valley of flowers, and a water divide between the Narmada, Godavari, and Mahanadi drainage basins. It also acts as a divide between Dandakaranya and Mahakantara. Keskal has bauxite reserves.

Kondagaon District: Visuals and Art

Visuals of Keskal Ghati, with its 12 turns, are shown, along with images of Tata Mari and Bhonga Pal, a significant Buddhist site. The video also highlights the traditional Ghड़वा and Dhokra art forms prevalent in Kondagaon.

Bastar District: Rivers, Waterfalls, and Key Locations

The lecture moves to Bastar district, noting that National Highway 30 enters the district. The Narangi River, which flows from Kondagaon, also enters Bastar. The river joins the Indravati River, where the Chitrakoot Falls, the widest waterfall in Chhattisgarh and often called the "Niagara of India," is located. Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar, is mentioned, along with the Kanger Valley. The Munga and Bahar rivers meet in Kanger Valley, forming the Tirathgarh Waterfall, a stepped waterfall known as the "Magician of Kanger Valley."

Bastar District: Mines, Valleys, and Temples

The video mentions Tokapal, where a diamond mine was found. The Darbha Valley and Jhiram Valley are also highlighted, with Darbha Valley known for its mica deposits. Narayan Pal is the site of an ancient Vishnu temple built by Someshwar Dev of the Chhindaka Naga dynasty in 1111 AD. Chitrakoot Falls is described as U-shaped and known to change colour based on the weather. Lani is a proposed bird sanctuary, and Bhaisa Darha is a crocodile conservation reserve. The Sabari River, originating from Koraput, Odisha, also flows through Bastar.

Bastar District: National Park, Caves, and City Features

The Kanger Valley National Park, established in 1982, is the smallest national park in Chhattisgarh and the first biosphere reserve in India. The Kutumsar Cave, located in the Kanger Valley National Park, is the longest cave in Chhattisgarh, featuring stalagmites and stalactites. It was discovered by Pandit Shankari Prasad and is home to a blind fish called Shankari Fish. Jagdalpur features the Dalpat Sagar Lake and was established by Raja Rudra Pratap Dev, who planned the city with a square layout. Jagdalpur is a municipal corporation and has a government engineering college (now named Jhadha Sirha) and the Baliram Kashyap Medical College.

Bastar District: Museums, Parks, and Tamarind Market

Jagdalpur is home to the Zonal Anthropological Museum. A second-largest dry food park is proposed for the area. Jagdalpur also hosts the largest tamarind market in India. The lecture concludes by announcing that the next class will cover the remaining nine districts.