BE AN IAS/IPS

Outstanding Features of our constitution

2014-07-29T01:28:00.001-07:00

1: drawn from various sources

2:lengthiest constitution of he world

3:several amendments have been made to it

4:more flexible than rigid

5:written constitution with parliamentarysovereignty

Public Administration Booklist

2013-04-17T00:14:00.003-07:00

Booklist

Mohanty Sir’s Class Notes – Core part of preparation
Sharma-Sadana for few topics (Administrative Law, Comparative and Devlopment Admin, O&M etc)
Mohit Bhattacharya : Some chapters (e-Governance, Civil Society, PERT/CPM, Personnel Administration, Public Policy)
Polinaidu : Criticisms of thinkers etc
Arora-Goyal : Theoretical part of most topics in Paper 2 (Data in this book is outdated.) – Core part of preparation
Laxmikanth’s Public Administration : Cover to cover (Revised 5-6 times)
Summary of Recommendations of ARC2, National Police Commission, Pay Commission, Finance Commission etc

chapter-wise Booklist PubAd

2013-04-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

please note that all these books are in addition to Mohanty Sir Class notes (Primary Source for all topics covered by Sir) and Synergy Printed notes (used as a reference)sourcePaper 1

Chapter	Booklist (Author)	Remarks
1	Mohit	For Good Governance, Challenges of LPG
2	S Polinaidu	Primarily for critique of thinkers, Additional information
3	Sharma-Sadana(SS), Laxmikanth (L)	SS: MoraleL: Communication
4	Sharma-Sadana, Stephen Robbins
5	Mohit	For Civil Society, RTI, Citizen Charter
6	Sharma-Sadana, Polinaidu (P)
7	Sharma-Sadana, Polinaidu	P: Basics of DA, rest from Mohanty notes
8	Sharma-Sadana
9	Mohit, Laxmikanth, Arora-Goyal (AG)	L: Employer-employee, grievance redressalAG: ethics Also use ARC 2 report
10	Mohit, Nicholas Henry (NH)	NH: Models of policy
11	Mohit	O&M from Awasthi and Maheshwari
12	Sriram’s Economy Notes for GS	Also use ARC 2 report

Watch Episodes - Justice with Michael Sandel

2013-04-17T00:05:00.002-07:00

http://www.justiceharvard.org/watch/

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD

2013-04-16T23:58:00.001-07:00

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD BY H. G. WELLS

documentary Mahatma Gandhi : Film : MAHATMA - Life of Gandhi, 1869-1948 (5hrs 10min) - YouTube

2013-04-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

Aajeevika

2013-04-01T03:14:00.000-07:00

Aajeevika - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in June 2011. Aided in part through investment support by the World Bank, the Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore BPL households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federated institutions and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years. In addition, the poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements and public services, diversified risk and better social indicators of empowerment. NRLM believes in harnessing the innate capabilities of the poor and complements them with capacities (information, knowledge, skills, tools, finance and collectivization) to participate in the growing economy of the country.

csat syllabus in hindi

2012-06-09T07:52:00.001-07:00

प्रशासनिक सेवाएं (प्रारंभिक) परीक्षा- 2011
प्रशासनिक सेवा परीक्षा-2011 से प्रारंभिक परीक्षा में दो प्रश्न पत्र होंगे– प्रश्न पत्र एक और प्रश्न पत्र दो। प्राथमिक परीक्षा का पाठयक्रम और पध्दति निम्न प्रकार से होगी–
प्रश्न पत्र एक (200 अंक) अवधि – दो घंटे

राष्ट्रीय और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महत्व की साम्यिक घटनाएं
भारत का इतिहास और भारतीय राष्ट्रीय आन्दोलन
भारत और विश्व का भूगोल- भारत और विश्व का भौतिक सामाजिक और आर्थिक भूगोल
भारतीय राजनीति और अभिशासन- संविधान, राजनीतिक प्रणाली, पंचायती राज, लोक नीति, अधिकार संबंधी मामले आदि।
आर्थिक और सामाजिक विकास-टिकाऊ विकास, गरीबी, समावेश, जनसांख्यिकी, सामाजिक क्षेत्र की पहल आदि।
वरणीय परिस्थितिकी, जैव- विविधता और जलवायु परिवर्तन संबंधी सामान्य मामले-इनमें विषयगत विशिष्टता की आवश्यकता नहीं।

प्रश्न पत्र दो (अंक 200) अवधि – दो घंटे

परिज्ञान या समझ
संचार कौशल सहित अंतर्वैयक्तिक कौशल
तर्कसंगत विवेचन और विश्लेषणात्मक योग्यता
निर्णय लेने और समस्या समाधान
सामान्य मौलिक क्षमता
बुनियादी संख्याक (संख्याएं और उनके संबंध, परिमाण या आकार का क्रमांक आदि ) (दसवीं श्रेणी स्तर के) आंकड़ों का विश्लेषण (चार्ट, ग्राफ, तालिका, आंकड़े भरना आदि ) (दसवीं श्रेणी)•अंग्रेजी भाषा को समझने की दक्षता (दसवीं कक्षा स्तर की)

csat syllabus

2012-06-09T07:50:00.002-07:00

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours - Current events of national and international importance - History of India and Indian National Movement - Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World. - Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. - Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. - General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization - General Science. Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours - Comprehension - Interpersonal skills including communication skills - Logical reasoning and analytical ability - Decision making and problem solving - General mental ability - Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. -Class X level) - English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).

IAS topper, Manish Ranjan's tips on how to top the Civil Services Interview

2011-12-15T03:03:00.001-08:00

IAS topper, Manish Ranjan's tips on how to top the Civil Services Interview

He prefers to work at the grassroots level. Perhaps thats why he chose to study Sociology from Hindu College, Delhi University. He almost made it to his dream career when he got selected for the coveted PG Diploma course in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA). And soon he got a call from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Pune. That was all he could ask for. But destiny had something else in store for him.

In March 2000, after much deliberation, this youth from Bihar decided to tread the highly uneven track to the Civil Services. And in two years time, he created a wave by securing fourth rank in the 2002 Civil Services Exam.

Meet Manish Ranjan, IAS topper, who decided to quit a meaningful and satisfying career as a motivator at NDDB in order to opt for the Civils, as it offers challenges like diverse service opportunities, policy implementation, bigger responsibilities, social esteem and of course, involvement with the masses.

Currently posted in the Jharkhand District in Jamshedpur, Ranjan today owes his success to his retired government servant parents, teachers, friends, the Almighty and not to forget, the whopping 225 marks that he scored in the Civil Services Interview Test. I was confident of clearing the Mains. Hence, almost immediately after the exam was over, I started collecting relevant information on my resume, read newspapers and watched news channels on TV, and took at least 10 mock interviews conducted by the Chanakya IAS Academy in Delhi. These interviews helped me form a balanced opinion about current issues, improved my body language and enhanced my listening skills.

So how was his experience with the Board Says Ranjan, I appeared before the Board on May 10, 2002 in the afternoon session. P. Abraham was the Boards Chairman. I was quizzed for nearly 50 minutes with queries ranging from my job profile, marketing strategies of Mother Dairy and Kwality Walls, street plays (my hobby) and their social relevance, geographical indicators, the consumer grievance redressal forum, a blueprint for the development of my State, Bihar, ways of improving existing rural development plans, policies and their execution in India and the implication of the French Presidential elections on Indo-French relationship etc.

According to Ranjan, All aspirants must be thorough in areas like their bio-data, hobbies, their home state and district, their optionals, national and international current affairs. They must be clear as to why they want to join the Civil Services. Adds Ranjan, It's a highly uneven track to traverse. Hence, think twice before treading on it, as youll need to remain determined afterwards. Mock interviews and numerous discussions with friends definitely help in developing clarity of thought.

So does he think that the interview should be given more weight in the final selection No, not really, he says. The problem lies with inter-Board variation in the final assessment. Hence, I think it would be wise to take three short interviews of each candidate on different dates with different Boards and the average of all these could make the final score. In fact, if General Studies is given more weight, then that will remove the disparity in the marks obtained in different Optionals and the selection will thereby become relatively fairer. However, the entire selection should also be compressed within a six-month period.

And what does he think is the potential of future IAS officers With globalisation, ethical work cultures and an increasing interface between civil servants and highly professional corporates, the efficiency of both the IAS and the IPS in terms of problem solving, high responsiveness and alertness has increased. My endeavour will be to encourage the masses at the grassroots level to come forward to contribute towards innovative development.

IAS topper, Manish Ranjan's tips on how to top the Civil Services Interview

Interaction of Students with Shah Faesal and Tanvi Sundriyal ias toppers 2009art 1

2011-12-15T03:02:00.000-08:00

Manoj Tibrewal Aakash Interviewed Dr. Shah Faesal (ias topper 2009) for DD News's Ek Mulaq...

2011-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

S Divyadharshini – IAS Topper 2011 interview

2011-12-15T02:58:00.000-08:00

S Divyadharshini : IAS Topper

Q. It is very difficult to figure out where to start and how to start? What was your strategy when you first decided to appear for the civil services exam?A. When I started preparing for the prelims I focused on the vast General Studies paper. Also I concentrated on strengthening my grasp over traditional subjects like polity, modern India, geography, science in the initial few months. Then I concentrated extensively on the current affairs and general knowledge. Making a start is a challenge, but once you start, the preparation itself will take you in the right direction.
Q. What was your preparation strategy for the Preliminary examination?A. As stated earlier, an extensive approach is needed for prelims preparation.
Q. General Studies is a very vast section. How did you prepare for it? Any books that you relied upon?A. Yes, it is too vast. I used some GK books, civil service magazines to update current affairs. I also relied upon the internet as it was very helpful in my preparation.
Q. Finally, what is your opinion on the changes made in the Prelims? Do you think the exam is shifting towards application of knowledge? If yes, how?A. I think the CSAT is a welcome step as it is aimed at ascertaining the aptitude of the person for civil service rather than testing the subject knowledge.

ias upsc gs 2011 mains question paper download

2011-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/download/upsc-mains-2011-general-studies-question-paper-ii

http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/download/upsc-mains-2011-general-studies-question-paper-i

IAS Mains Pattern is Changing

2011-10-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the Mains pattern is changing sooner than anticipated. While we knew the change in the Mains pattern was a foregone conclusion after the changes in the Prelims pattern what is surprising is the short time within which the IAS Mains pattern will change. According to this report from The Hindu, the mains syllabus could change as early as 2012 Mains itself!
The IAS mains pattern change is based on Yoginder Alagh committee’s recommendations made in 2002 that as civil services aspirants have already been tested in their graduation subjects in University examination it’s not useful to re-test them again in the same subjects in the IAS Mains.

So What Do the Changes in Mains Pattern Mean for You

Optionals subjects will be done away with just like in the Prelims
Except for Indian language paper all other papers will be common to all candidates
All papers will be GS based i.e. focus on General Studies exclusively
Papers will test your ability to take decisions quickly and correctly, deal with pressing issues like environment, political pressures, international trade and treaties etc.
Focus will shift away from rote-based approach to sound reasoning and analysis
Reliance and role of coaching classes will reduce drastically

Possible Syllabus of IAS Mains from 2012

Remember UPSC has still not made any official announcement regarding changes in the Mains pattern or published the new pattern. So the syllabus mentioned below is strictly an assumption based on the YK Alagh committee’s recommendations.

Papers of 200 marks each common to all candidates

For instance instead of combining History, Geography, Science etc in one paper, from 2012 IAS mains exam there could be separate paper for Indian History of 200 marks common to all candidates.
Indian History -200 marks
General Science and Statistics- 200 marks
Geography – 200 marks
International Relations – 200 marks
Indian Economy – 200 marks
Current Events and National Issues – 200 marks
Indian Polity – 200 marks
International Trade and Finance – 200 marks
It is difficult to guess the exact papers or marks so I will not go so far as to estimate the total number of marks in the Mains from 2012 onwards. But the above pattern should give you some idea about the impending changes and the possible pattern so you can prepare accordingly.

So How Should You Prepare for IAS Mains From Now On?

Before we dwelve on this further let me state that if the Mains exam pattern were certain to change from 2012 Mains UPSC will announce the new syllabus by December 2011 at most so that candidates get enough time to plan ahead. If the announcement is not made by December you can safely go ahead with your preparation of Mains optionals like you are doing presently.

Expand Your Horizons

This is the sanest advice I can give you. Stop mugging GS coaching notes 45 days prior to the Mains. This approach is no longer relevant and will pay ever diminishing returns given the fact that GS paper is becoming more and more dynamic and coaching institutes are unable to anticipate the latest trends any longer.
Develop a habit of reading the newspaper, especially the editorial. Read good magazines like Frontline and Pratiyogita Darpan along with development magazines like Yojana.
Make an effort to understand important national and international issues in detail like the Economic crisis, persistent high inflation, Middle East unrest etc. Doing so you can develop your own perspective and frame unique answers accordingly. Remember, this is just what UPSC wants from you before it showers marks upon you. Copied lines from coaching notes, no matter how well reproduced, get a penalty from the examiners.
One of the main recommendations of the YK Alagh committee was that the civil services exam should test the individual thinking and ability of candidates with respect to the challenges and new job responsibilities of the 21st Century. Accordingly, you need to develop you own perspective and not a borrowed one from photocopied notes.

Practice Answer Writing

Once you have prepared a topic ensure you test your writing skills. The answers should be relevant to the question asked, concise, written in a logical sequence, cover all the important points and finally have a conclusion if the question so requires. Where the questions asks you to provide your own perspective or take on the matter don’t hesitate to do so but neither should your answers sound emotional or taking sides without presenting both sides of the issue at hand.
Practicing answer writing is what will fetch you the high scores to qualify for the interview. So don’t neglect this important aspect of the new Mains pattern.
I will update this post once the news about changes in the IAS mains pattern from 2012 is confirmed by UPSC. Also you can expect more suggestions and tips to tackle the changes on this blog in the coming days.

IAS Topper 2011 S.Divya Darshini Interview

2011-06-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

IAS Topper S.Divya Darshini Interview & Photo

UPSC IAS Topper 2011 S.Divya Darshini from Chennai.

UPSC IAS Topper 2010-2011 S.Divya Darshini Photo:

IAS Topper 2011 S Divya Darshini Photo

S.Divya Darshini Profile:

She is a Law Graduated Completed B.A,B.L from Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Law University Chennai, She expected a good Rank but didn’t expected the top. Firs attempt she not cleared the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary but in Second Attempt she tops the UPSC Civil Services Main exam 2010-2011.

UPSC IAS Topper S.Divya Darshini Interview’s:

Interview of Divya Darshini with India Times

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/152006/newsmaker-of-the-day-upsc-topper-s-divyadarshini.html

cut off marks for upsc prelims 2011

2011-06-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

cut off marks for upsc prelims 2011

is expected to be close to 200

(Paper) UPSC: Civil Service Prelims 2011 CSAT (Paper -2)

2011-06-17T09:50:00.001-07:00

Directions for the following 4 (four) items :

Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Passage:

A country under foreign domination seeks escape from the present in dreams of a vanished age, and finds consolation in visions of past greatness. That is a foolish and dangerous pastime in which many of us indulge. An equally questionable practice for us in India is to imagine that we are still spiritually great though we have come down in the world in other respects. Spiritual or any other greatness cannot be founded on lack of freedom and opportunity, or on starvation and misery. Many western writers have encouraged that notion that Indians are other-worldly. I suppose the poor and unfortunate in every country become to some extent other-worldly, unless they become revolutionaries, for this world is evidently not meant for them. So also subject peoples.

As a man grows to maturity he is not entirely engrossed in, or satisfied with, the external objective world. He seeks also some inner meaning, some psychological and physical satisfactions. So also with peoples and civilizations as they mature and grow adult. Every civilization and every people exhibit these parallel streams of an external life and an internal life. Where they meet or keep close to each other, there is an equilibrium and stability. When they diverge conflict arises and the crises that torture the mind and spirit.

1. The passage mentions that "this world is evidently not meant for them". It refers to people who
1. seek freedom from foreign domination.
2. live in starvation and misery.
3. become revolutionaries.

1. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only
Ans. (a)Sol: People who turn revolutionary are not ‘other wordly’ unless word shows the contradiction, hence 1
& 2.

2. Consider the following assumptions :1. A country under foreign domination cannot indulge in spiritual pursuit.
2. Poverty is an impediment in the spiritual pursuit.
3. Subject peoples may become other-worldly.
With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only
Ans. (c)Sol: For achieving anything great one has to be free of worries of basic needs. Secondly he/she should
be mentally as well as physically free. Hence 2 & 3.

3. The passage thematically centres on(a) the state of mind of oppressed people
(b) starvation and misery
(c) the growth of civilization
(d) body, mind and spirit of people in general
Ans. (a)Sol: The passage revolves around the condition as they cannot dream of freedom or aspire for any kind
of opportunity. Starvation & misery come under that only. C & D are irrelevant.

4. According to the passage, the torture of the mind and spirit is caused(a) by the impact of foreign domination.
(b) by the desire to escape from foreign domination and find consolation in visions of past greatness.
(c) due to lack of equilibrium between an external life and an internal life.
(d) due to one's inability to be either revolutionary or other
Ans. (c)

Sol.: The conflict between two arises when there is no balanceDirections for the following 3 (three) items:
Read the passage given below, study the graph that follows and answer the three items given below the figure. During a party, a person was exposed to contaminated water. A few days later, he developed fever and loose motions. He suffered for some days before going to a doctor for treatment. On starting the treatment, he soon became better and recovered completely a few days later. The following graph shows different phases of the person's disease condition as regions A, B, C, D and E of the curve.

5. Which region/regions of the curve correspond/corresponds to(a) A only
(b) B only
(c) B and C
(d) No part of the curve indicates the incubation phase
Ans. (a)

Sol: As incubation period is defined as the time from the infection enters the body to the time symptoms are manifested. So the answer has to be A.

6. Which region of the curve indicates that the person began showing the symptoms of infection ?(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
Ans. (b)

Sol: Since the region B is clearly indicating the time when the symptoms are developing in the body, the answer has to be B. other-worldly. – the concluding lines.

7. Which region of the curve indicates that the treatment yielded effective relief ?(a) C
(b) D
(c) E
(d) The curve does not indicate the treatment
Ans. (c)

Sol: As the question talks about effective relief only the region E can denote it. So the answer is C.

8. There are four routes to travel from city A to city B and six routes from city B to city C. How many routes are possible to travel from the city A to city C ?(a) 24
(b) 12
(c) 10
(d) 8
Ans. (a)

Sol: Since, there are 4 routes from A to B and 6 routes from B to C, number of ways need to be multiplied for finding number of routes from A to C. Thus, total number of routes is 4×6 = 24 .

9. A contract on construction job specifies a penalty for delay in completion of the work beyond a certain date is as follows : Rs. 200 for the first day, Rs. 250 for the second day, Rs. 300 for the third day etc., the penalty for each succeeding day being Rs. 50 more than that of the preceding day. How much penalty should the contractor pay if he delays the work by 10 days ?
(a) Rs. 4950 (b) Rs. 4250
(c) Rs. 3600 (d) Rs. 650
Ans. (b)

Sol: This is an AP wherein First Term = 200 Common difference = 50 Number of terms = 10 So, sum of these terms will be =10 n/2(2a+(n-l)d)=10/2x(2x200+9x50)=Rs4250

10. Consider the following figure and answer the item that Follows:

In the figure shown above, OP₁ and OP₂ are two plane mirrors kept perpendicular to each other, S is the direction of a beam of light falling on the mirror OP₁ The direction of the reflected beam of light from the mirror OP₂ will be:
(a) Perpendicular to the direction S.
(b) At 45° to the direction S.
(c) Opposite and parallel to the direction S.
(d) At 60° to the direction S.
Ans. (c)

Sol: According to laws of reflection, we will get the following figure.

11. Consider the figure given below and answer the item that follows :

What is the minimum number of different colours required to paint the figure given above such that no two adjacent regions have the same colour ?(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 5 (d) 6
Ans. (a)

Sol: Refer the figure given, there will be only three colours required to fill the figure with the given conditions.

12. Consider the following figure and answer the item that follows:

A square is divided into four rectangles as shown above. The lengths of the sides of rectangles are natural numbers. The areas of two rectangles are indicated in the figure. What is the length of each side of the square ?
(a) 10
(b) 11
(c) 15
(d) Cannot be determined as the given data are insufficient
Ans. (b)

Sol: We have to look for factors of 15 and 48 which have same difference. By hit and trial, we realize that 6×8 = 48 and 3×5 =15. Thus two sides have to be 3+8 =11 or 6 + 5 =11.

Directions for the following 8 (eight) items :
Read each of the following two passages and answer the items thai follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage:1

For achieving inclusive growth there is a critical need to rethink the role of the State. The early debate among economists about the size of the Government can be misleading. The need of the hour is to have an enabling Government. India is too large and complex a nation for the State to be able to deliver all that is needed. Asking the Government to produce all the essential goods, create all the necessary jobs, and keep a curb on the prices of all goods is to lead to a large cumbersome bureaucracy and widespread corruption.The aim must be to stay with the objective of inclusive growth that was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation and also to take a more modern view of what the State can realistically deliver. This is what leads to the idea of an enabling State, that is, a Government that does not try to directly deliver to the citizens everything that they need. Instead, it (1) creates an enabling ethos for the market so that individual enterprise can flourish and citizens can, for the most part, provide for the needs of one another, and (2) steps in to help those who do not manage to do well for themselves, for there will always be individuals, no matter what the system, 'who need support and help. Hence we need a Government that, when it comes to the market, sets effective, incentive-compatible rules and remains on the sidelines with minimal interference, and, at the same time, plays an important role in directly helping the poor by ensuring that they get basic education and health services and receive adequate nutrition and food.

13. According to the passage :1. The objective of inclusive growth was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation.
2. Need of the hour is to have an enabling Government.
3. The Government should engage in maximum interference in market processes.
4. There is a need to change the size of the Government.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Sol: a, b and c cannot be the message. The only sentence that talks of a message is ‘d’ which is the main idea of the passage.

Passage:2

The concept of 'creative society' refers to a phase of development of a society in which a large number of potential contradictions become articulate and active. This is most evident when oppressed social groups get politically mobilised and demand their rights. The upsurge of the peasants and tribals, the movements for regional autonomy and self-determination, the environmental movements, and the women's movements in the developing -eountries are signs of emergence of creative society in contemporary times. The forms of social movements and their intensity may vary from country to country and place to place within a country. But the very presence of movements for social transformation in various spheres of a society indicates the emergence of a creative society in a country.

18. What does the author imply by "creative society" ?1. A society where diverse art forms and literary writings seek incentive.
2. A society where social inequalities are accepted as the norm.
3. A society where a large number of contradictions are recognised.
4. A society where the exploited and the oppressed groups grow conscious of their human rights and upliftment.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 2 and 4
Ans. (c)

Sol: Art forms (1) is not mentioned. Social inequalities (2) are not accepted. Only 3 & 4 are mentioned. Hence the answer ‘c’ is correct.

19. What according to the passage are the manifestations of social movements ?1. Aggressiveness and being incendiary.
2. Instigation by external forces.
3. Quest for social equality and individual freedom.
4. Urge for granting privileges and self-respect to disparaged sections of the society.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans. (b)

Sol: External forces — politically mobilized, ‘self-respect to sections of society’ is what creative society stands for, Aggression & ‘individual freedom’ do not fall under their norms. Hence (b).

20. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :1. To be a creative society, it is essential to have a variety of social movements.
2. To be a creative society, it is imperative to have potential contradictions and conflicts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (c)

Sol: Both variety of social monuments and potential contradictions are the pre requisites, hence ‘c’.

21. Consider the following three statements :1. Only students can participate in the race.
2. Some participants in the race are girls.
3. All girl participants in the race are invited for coaching.
Which one of the following conclusions can be drawn from the above statements ?
(a) All participants in the race are invited for coaching.
(b) All students are invited for coaching.
(c) All participants in the race are students.
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct.
Ans. (c)
Sol: From 1 it is clear that all the participants in the race are students.

Directions for the following 2 (two) items : Each of the following two items consists of four statements. Of these four statements, two cannot both be true, but both can be false. Study the statements carefully and identify the two that satisfy the above condition. Select the correct answer using the codes given below each set of statements :

22. Examine the following statements :1. All animals are carnivorous.
2. Some animals are not carnivorous.
3. Animals are not carnivorous.
4. Some animals are carnivorous.
Codes :
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 and 4
Ans. (a)Sol: Working with the options, we will realize that Statements “All animals are carnivorous” and “Animals are not carnivorous” cannot be true together; as if one of the statements is true then the other is obviously false. But there is a situation where in both the statements are false that is if some of the animals are carnivorous and some are not.

23. Examine the following statements :1. All trains are run by diesel engine.
2. Some trains are run by diesel engine.
3. No train is run by diesel engine.
4. Some trains are not run by diesel engine.
Codes :
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 and 4
Ans. (c)Sol: Working with the options, we will realize that Statements “All trains are run by diesel engine” and “No trains is run by diesel engine” cannot be true together; as if one of the statements is true then the other is obviously false. But there is a situation where in both the statements are false that is if some of the trains run on diesel engine and some are not.

24. Consider the four age pyramids given below namely A, B, C and D representing four different countries.{IMAGE}Which one of them indicates the declining population ?

(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
Ans. (c)

Sol: Declining population is denoted by greater no. of old aged people i.e. broader upper part of the pyramid and low population o youth and children i.e. narrow base. Both these conditions are being satisfied by the figure C 25. The following figure has four curves namely A, B, C and D. Study the figure and answer the item that follows.

25. Which curve indicates the exponential growth ?

(a) A (b) B
(c) C (d) D
Ans. (d)Sol: Exponential growth is one whose initial growth is slow and then it picks up very fast and then growth increases very much. Thus graph D shows the exponential growth.

Directions for the following 2 (two) items: {IMAGE} The following pie charts show the break the patients from two towns, Town A and Town B. Pie charts plot the disease categories as percentage of the total number of patients. Based on these answer the two items that follow the charts

26. Which of the two towns has a higher number of persons with Diabetes ?(a) Town A
(b) Town B
(c) Same in Town A and Town B
(d) No inference can be drawn
Ans. (d)Sol: The population of the two towns is not known. Hence, no inference can be drawn.

27. What can we say about persons with more than one disease from these graphs ?(a) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town A.
(b) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town B.
(c) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in both Towns A and B.
(d) No inference can be drawn.
Ans. (b)

Sol: The sum of the distribution of diseases in Town – A comes out to be 100 but that in Town – B comes out to be 121%. So, there are likely to be be persons with more than one disease in Town – B.

28. Consider the following Velocity — Time graph. It shows two trains starting simultaneously on parallel tracks. With reference to the above graph, which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(a) Train B has an initial acceleration greater than that of Train A.
(b) Train B is faster than Train A at all times.
(c) Both trains have the same velocity at time t0.
(d) Both trains travel the same distance in time t0 units.
Ans. (d)Sol: Statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct. The distance is the area of the graph below the Time-Velocity curve. In the two curves, the area of Train B curve is more than the area of the Train A curve. Hence, Train B covered more distance than train A.

Directions for the following 5 (five) items: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Passage:

Now India's children have a right-to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether it will remain on paper or become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary – a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or he fight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated. In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. If a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life. This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper urmoil" in society which is compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

29. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :1. When children are denied education, adult society does not act on behalf of them.
2. Right to Education as a law cannot be enforced in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (a)Sol: Adult society does not act because its of ‘no use’, hence correct. But RTE can be enforced, hence wrong.

30. According to the passage, what could be the traditional obstacles to the education of girls ?1. Inability of parents to fight a legal battle when the Right to Education is denied to their children.
2. The traditional way of thinking about girls' role in society.
3. The prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.
4. Improper system of education.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans. (b)Sol: ‘b’ is correct, As 2 and 3 are absolutely at par with the conditions prevailing and 4 is the faulty education system. So, all 2, 3 & 4 are correct.

31. On the basis of the passage, consider the following statements :1. Right to Education is a legal right and not a fundamental right.
2. For realising the goal of universal education, the education system in the country must be made identical to that of developed countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (a)Sol: We all know Right to Education is fundamental right but according to the passage ‘it is different from others”. Ans. 2 is irrelevant as developed countries have not been mentioned.

32. Which one of the following statements conveys the key message of the passage ?(a) India has declared that education is compulsory for its children.
(b) Adult society is not keen on implementing the Right to Education.
(c) The Right to Education, particularly of a girl child, needs to be safeguarded.
(d) The system of education should address the issue of Right to Education.
Ans. (c)Sol: ‘This must be painfully true for girls’. This is the only choice among the answers that conveys the whole message.

33. Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage ?(a) The society has a tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.
(b) Adults cannot be relied upon to fight on behalf of children for their Right to Education.
(c) The legal fight to get education for children is often protracted and prohibitive.
(d) There is no sufficient substitute for education received in childhood.
Ans. (a)Sol: Since girl education is the key massage it has to be ‘a’ as ‘prejudice against potential of girls’ is the concern of the author.

Read the following passage and answer the 3 (three) items that follow :
A, B, C, D and E are members of the same family. There are two fathers, two sons, two wives, three males and two females. The teacher was the wife of a lawyer who was the son of a doctor. E is not a male, neither also a wife of a professional. C is the youngest person in the family and D is the eldest. B is a male.

34. How is D related to E ? (a) Husband (b) Son
(c) Father (d) Wife
Ans. (a)

35. Who are the females in the group ?(a) C and E (b) C and D
(c) E and A (d) D and E
Ans. (c)

36. Whose wife is the teacher ?(a) C (b) D
(c) A (d) B
Ans. (b)

Read the following passage and answer the 3 (three) items that follow : In a survey regarding a proposed measure to be introduced, 2878 persons took part of which 1652 were males. 1226 persons voted against the proposal of which 796 were males. 1425 persons voted for the proposal. 196 females were undecided.

Solution for 37 to 39:

Total=2878
Male=1652			Female=1226
For=829	Against=796	Undecided=31	For=600	Against=430	Undecided=196

37. How many females voted for the proposal ?(a) 430 (b) 600
(c) 624 (d) 640
Ans. (b)

38. How many males were undecided ?(a) 31 (b) 227
(c) 426 (d) 581
Ans. (a)

39. How many females were not in favour of the proposal ?(a) 430 (b) 496
(c) 586 (d) 1226
Ans. (a)

40. In a queue, Mr. X is fourteenth from the front and Mr. Y is seventeenth from the end, while Mr. Z is exactly in between Mr. X and Mr. Y. If Mr. X is ahead of Mr. Y and there are 48 persons in the queue, how many persons are there between Mr. X and Mr. Z ?
(a) 6 (b) 7
(c) 8 (d) 9
Ans. (c)Sol: Since, there are 48 students. Rank of X from front is 14 and rank of y is 32 from front. Thus rank of Z will be 32+14/2=23 Thus, number of students inbetween X and Z is 23−14 −1 = 8 .

Directions for the following 6 (six) items : Read each of the following two passages and answer- the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage-1

Ecosystems provide people with a variety of goods and services; food, clean water, clean air, flood control, soil stabilization, pollination, climate regulation, spiritual fulfilment and aesthetic enjoyment, to name just a few. Most of these benefits either are irreplaceable or the technology necessary to replace them is prohibitively expensive. For example, potable fresh water can be provided by desalinating sea-water, but only at great cost. The rapidly expanding human population has greatly modified the Earth's ecosystems to meet their increased requirements of some of the goods and services, particularly food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel. These modifications have contributed substantially to human well being and economic development. The benefits have not been equally distributed. Some people have actually been harmed by these changes. Moreover, short-term increases in some ecosystem goods and services have come at the cost of the long-term degradation of others. For example, efforts to increase the production of food and fibre have decreased the ability of some ecosystems to provide clean water, regulate flooding and support biodiversity.

Books for CSAT Paper 2

2011-02-07T05:17:00.000-08:00

Books for Paper 2

Quantitative Aptitude - R S Aggarwal
Quantitave Aptitude for Competitive Examinations - Abhijit Guha
The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude - Nishit K Sinha
High School English Grammar and Composition - Wren and Martin
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary - Oxford University Press
Books for CSAT 2011
suggested books for csat 2011 preparation

Books for CSAT Paper 1

2011-02-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Books/journals/magazines/newspapers useful for Paper 1 of CSAT

Books

Our Constitution - Subhash Kashyap
An Introduction to the Constitution Of India - D.D.Basu
Constitution of India - P.M.Bakshi
India's struggle for independence- Bipan Chandra
Geography of India - D.R.Khullar
Certificate Physical and Human Geography - Goh Cheng Leong
Indian Economy- Dutt and Sundaram
Indian Economy - Mishra and Puri
Human Geography - Majid Hussain
NCERT Textbooks
Books for CSAT 2011

Journals

Yojana
Kurukshetra
World Focus

Newspapers

The Hindu
The Times of India
The Economic Times

Magazines

Frontline

Other Books

India Year Book
Economic Survey of India
Manorama Year Book
Oxford India Atlas

IAS CSAT Pattern, Subjects and Marks with FAQ

2011-02-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

IAS CSAT Pattern, Subjects and Marks with FAQ

Many civil service candidates are anxious to know about the Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT, and rightly so. So here’s the most current information on CSAT available. Rest assured this blog will be the first to update you on the latest UPSC CSAT news as when they come. For that make sure you bookmark the page by pressing Ctrl-D and better still,

suggested books for csat 2011 preparation

Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Pattern (tentative)

PAPER 1	PAPER 2
Aptitude Test for testing the candidates from moral and ethical dimension.	Similar to present General Studies to test the conventional, un-conventional and current affairs knowledge of candidate.

NOTE: Both papers will carry equal marks

Likely Marks:

Paper 1: 150 Marks

Paper 2: 150 Marks

Total CSAT Marks: 300

CSAT FAQ:

Books for CSAT 2011

1. So will the optional subject be done away with?

As of now the Civil Services Prelims exams will not have optional subjects but two common papers for all candidates.

2. Will the IAS mains pattern also change?

No decision in this regard has been taken so far by UPSC. But the mains pattern will also be changed drastically sooner than later.

3. Will the number of attempts remain the same?

Although the UPSC favors reducing the maximum number of attempts for the IAS exams, the final decision will be taken by the central government. So this is a political question and will depend on the will of reformers within the government to push for lowering the attempt limit against stiff resistance from certain quarters.

4. Will the upper age limit be reduced?

This was also recommended by the second ARC and PC Hota committee and the UPSC favors reduction in the age limit but again a political decision and any reduction will see large scale student protests as witnessed in Andhra Pradesh recently.

5. Any tips?

Have a back up, be ready for any eventuality and prepare for the current attempt like it’s your last one and look to clear the civils this year itself.

upsc application forms

2011-02-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

upsc application forms
Candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examination, which can be purchased from the Designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country against cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees Twenty only). Each such form can be used only once and only for one examination.

In case of any difficulty in obtaining Application Forms from the designated HPOs/POs, the candidates should immediately contact the concerned post Master or UPSC's "FORMS SUPPLY MONITORING CELL" over Telephone No. 011-23389366/FAX No. 011-23387310

Instructions to candidates for filling up the Application Form is attached with the application brochure. List of Post Offices will be specified in the UPSC advertisement the copy of which is made available online on the Commissions website upsc.gov.in.

upsc online application forms
UPSC has also started online application for select exams including Engineering Services and IFS. Visit the following website for details:

http://www.upsconline.nic.in/

upsc interview questions

2011-02-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

UPSC Interview: What questions could be asked if your hobby is travelling?
With the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination result expected soon, students a
nd aspirants are preparing themselves for the interview (called personality test
) by preparing themselves on their hobbies, home state, Bio etc. (such as travel
ling, Yoga, Music, Movies, reading novels).
Somebody asked in a forum a list of questions to expect when the hobby is ‘trave
lling’

Here is the list of questions to expect that some creative body wrote:
1.

Why do you travel and why do you like it so much?

How much have you travelled?

Do you travel alone or with family/friend/spouse?

Where have you travelled?

Is travelling in your genes or you are the only one in your family who l
oves travelling?
6.

What is hitch-hiking?

What is mountaineering and trekking and the difference between them?

What places you have travelled in India?

Which placed you liked the most?

10.

Which places you disliked the most?

11.

How do you choose your destinations?

12.

What is your budget usually?

13.

Popular travel books, travelogues?

14.

Popular Travellers from India, abroad?

15.

Famous Travellers from medieval and ancient India?

16.

What places you have travelled abroad?

17.

What is the difference between the two words: ‘Traveller’ and ‘traveller
’?
18.

Which place you like the most?

19.

Why not join adventure sports? Why are you here instead?

20.

Where will you travel to after selection?

21.

Have you heard of Bharat Darshan during the training for civil servants?

22.

Gypsies?

23.

Heard of Bachhendri Pal and some others?

24.

Who is Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu?

25.

Ever went to Himalayas or Kargil?

26.

Travelling experiences, horrors, anecdotes?

27.

Precautions in travelling?

28.

Parents object?

29.

Why not join the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) then?

30.

Honest IAS officers have to travel a lot. Please explain this statement.

31.

Travel accidents, if any?

32.

About popular travelling sites, places, mountains

33.

Famous tourist places

34.

Have you travelled all areas of your home state?

35.

World’s wonders, wonders from India?

36.

How will you choose your husband? What if he is not a traveller?

37.

Civil Services will not give you any time for travel!!

38.

Where have you travelled to most recently?

39.

If you have all the money on earth, where will you go?

40.

Planning of a trip to moon?!

41.

Popular travel theme films from Hollywood and Bollywood

42.

Travel related sports and about them

43.

Will you want to die by falling from the cliff?

44.

Did you like Geography books?

45.

Indian as a tourist place and contribution to economy

46.

Atithi Devo Bhava, India’s image, Tourism ads, related ministry details

IAS Planner :Effective Time Management: for Civil Services Main Exam

2011-01-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

Effective Time Management: Crucial for Civil Services Main Exam
Effective time management is the sine qua non for success in any endeavour and the Civil Services Examination is no exception. And the time between Prelims and Mains represents the most crucial phase of preparation. Unfortunately, many candidates waste time before Prelims result which can lead to a disaster. One needs to complete and revise the whole syllabi of General Studies and Optionals in almost five months time which is a Herculean task. Therefore, judicious time management becomes all the more important at this stage.

Here are some tips which, when applied, will help you manage your time and ensure success:

DOs

Plan ahead. This is because if you are failing to plan, you are planning to fail. Keep your monthly, weekly and daily plans ready. Revise your plan periodically, considering your progress.
Adopt a balanced strategy that takes equal care of your Optionals, General Studies and Essay.
After the Prelims, take a short break (5-10 days), refresh yourself and then start your studies immediately.
Make a to-do list on a daily basis and stick to it.
A healthy life-style is a must which includes proper 7-8 hour sleep and 3 regular and on time meals in a day.
Goal setting theory suggests that performance increases if a person has a clear and well set goal in his mind. Therefore short and long term goals with definite timeline must be set accordingly.
Short notes for revision must be prepared according to the time available between the exams (GS and Optional). Last time preparation is the most important phase and must be planned from the starting.
Always keep some time for any emergency situation. Flexibility must be there in your plan.

DON’Ts

Never waste even a single moment unnecessarily.
Wasting time after Prelims by waiting for the results is a grave mistake which many aspirants commit. This may be fatal.
Don’t associate yourself with negative people or forces.
Don’t let internal and external distractions bog you down. If it happens, then remember your ultimate goal. You will feel charged.
Avoid studying late into the night as studies have shown that things learned in the morning are more resistant to forgetting. Also waking up early maintains body’s biological rhythm and keeps you healthy. It also leads to better time management as it gives you extra hours.

How To Select An Optional For IAS Exam

2011-01-19T23:26:00.001-08:00

"Which optional/subject should I take ?" is the most often asked query in the comments section of this blog. This question like any other important question does not have a simple answer. The choice of optional may prove to be one's undoing in this exam as optionals carry huge weightage in terms of marks in all three stages. But if anyone thinks that just by choosing a safe optional one will clear all stages then one is just fooling oneself.

At the same time choosing an optional in which you have more than a passing interest and one which you feel you have the aptitude for ,may prove to be an invaluable asset in this exam.Go through the syllabus and prelims/mains question papers of 2-3 subjects that you would have shortlisted from the unending list of UPSC optionals.Just see for yourself what kind of questions are being asked and whether you feel you will be able to answer them once you are thorough with the syllabus.Selecting optional remains more of an art and if you have to go by something then go by your interest in the subject alone,everything else should take a backseat.
Some of the basic factors that one must consider before zeroing down on an optional are:-
1.Never choose a subject solely because everyone else is going for it.Consider your own interest and inclination for the subject especially if it is going to be your first optional as you will have to read it in much detail and get clarity of concepts.
2.The availability of resources in terms of books,guidance,coaching etc.For popular subjects ,resources are more easily available but it should be considered after you satisfy the first criterion.
3.Your subject in graduation or post-graduation should be considered if you are really comfortable with the subject.But do not go for it just because you have read it in college.
4.Once you decide on an optional ,fully back yourself to clear the exam with it no matter what others may say.In this exam individual performances only matter ,general trends count for little.
Finally, no optional is safe or unsafe despite what the coaching institutes or other experienced people might say.It is your preparation level which will determine whether the optional that you have selected will have one more successful/unsuccessful candidate.Listen to others,but do your own thing.All the very best !!!