I.A.S. ASPIRANTS

I.A.S PREMILS-2013 STUDYPLAN

2013-04-05T20:31:00.002+05:30

Hai frndz.this post is specially for newbie’s(like me) who have no access to coaching and preparing on the own and targeted CSP-2013

Note: I am a new bee u may know more than me if anything is wrong senior players can always comment and correct me…

So guys hardly 50 days left for prelims exams(thanks for upsc to maintaining suspense on the notification and diverting our mind and wasting lots of time)..Ever one is in tensed mood. What to read and what not to read. How to tackle the exam and big question is will I qualify FOR MAINS..?after long struggle and surfacing through many websites finally I came to some conclusions which may be useful for you.

• Coming to polity its own word Laxmikanth Indian Polity (16questions last year)+I recommend to glance through last 10 year polity question and understand the concepts.dnot ask me about dd basu I never saw it..its ur choice u can go through it..

• Well about history Modern India (say Spectrum) <10 questions last year>Pay special attention to:

i) Charter Acts, Govt of India Acts, Indian Councils Acts etc.

ii) Socio-cultural movements

iii) Movements led by Gandhi

iv) Alternative streams (Communism, Tribal/peasant movements, revolutionary movements etc)

• If u dnt have time ignore ancient and medival.dnot read about the Harappa and places those are useless stuff.medival can be ignored safely but u have to read Aryans and Vedic culture and NO EXEMPTION to Jainism and Buddhism one question always comes and read ncets from 7-12 and bipin chnadra.in modern India forgot about the governors general and wat they did just start from 1857 revolt and read about eminent personalities from 1858 upsc has a habit of asking 1 question from that say dadabahi naorji last year..i found a wonderful material for history .read it and enjoy but ignore med vial world history ignore it but its compulsory for mains.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/62205950/History-in-English

• The MAIN point is 7th class social studies ncert..read geography and history from it..last time around 5 questions from single book…

• Geography ncerts 7-12 + any gs manual specially tmh more importance to Indian geography and if u have no time then just read 7.11.12th ncerts they cover lot

• Economy I just relied on murnal+Indian year book and leave about economic survey and murna l has give detailed explanation about the each and every chapter glance our it. If u r new to this part.1st get basics right and money supply, banking, IIP and most important rbi monetary policy and fiscal plicy and fiscal deficit and current account deficit(a bit may come this year)and rgess scheme etc.

http://mrunal.org/

• For environment nios material and ignou material + murnal articles and Indian year book +moef releases.be prepared well in this topic bcoz 20 bits from this section. the questions are very general and based on current affairs. in this part don’t mug up useless factual data but understand about our environment how it works and mug up all the national parks. Tiger reserves and there location upsc asking one bit from them in last 2 years be careful about the nios material u don’t need to read it fully only selected topics

• Read carefully about schemes in economy and yearbook. every year two bits from it. never neglect

• Coming to current affairs read one magazine of ur choice and Hindu newspaper .well every one says that but wat if we not purchased any magazine from June 2012 and not so through with hindu.who will give us the magazines of last one year…so guys if ur in this position I would give a idea. Follow pd online it has all the issues from last year+upscportal magazine which I found very useful for newcomers they provide important articles of hindu at last which a very great u can download them at zero cost. most imp point is ignore all the factual data like sports persons ,presidents and places were summits blah blah etc .keep eye on schemes ,environmental issues and more on S&T . Jan to April the current affairs are most imp never miss them..

• For S&T above magazines + hindu articles on s&t and mrunal have gave nice glance of hindu section. leave rest to the god

• Ncerts (7-12)+mrunal+yearbook+any gs manual (preferred tmh)+nios .read them 2 or 3 times and look at last 2 years papers and read them 5 or 6 times to understand the how questions appear in the exam..

• Read above all plus hindu is mandatory if u have time glance through Indian express which is also very usefull+use any gs manual and don’t read science part in any gs manual and if u have any coaching material can go through it.

finally don’t look for shortcuts or quick fixs.istead look for the things which makes above martial or books to understand easy and I am not saying that u only clear prelims if u read above books. but if u read them u have more chances to clear .i have one friend he doesn't know about Indian yearbook he reads manorama yearbook and never studied economic survey ,never follow any magazine regularly, never made notes never visited mrunalblog..He cleared prelims in his two attempts how I always wonder(may be bcoz he has no fb account and never waste time like many of us)so finally what I say is never leave any subject if u want can leave some topics based on ur preparation like ancient and medieval history in history section but when u read ncerts of 7-12 u will cover imp topics in ancient and med vial so what I want to say Is read ncerts very carefully …

when u read ncerts read like ur the upsc paper setter and now u want to frame nasty upsc standard questions from basic silly points from the lessons or paragraph or book which u r reading then ur mind will be think very differently and u start to look for logical points. when u find such a logical points underline and make a notes from it(I am soo lazy to make notes ,so I write side itself in that small place) but note making is very imp for final revision y bcoz image that there are 15 days left for prelims then is it possible to read above all books and master it.?its almost impossible and in tension u ended up with digging ur own grave ..it ultimately u .u have to make up ur mind…

last point is many are saying that cutoffs will be so high bcoz ifs candidates are also writing and sum came up with opinion that this time environment section will be tough bcoz of ifs candidates frndz as per my knowledge the upsc notification says they don’t required subject knowledge so they don’t increase standard of questions what upsc will do is reduce there number or make some other section like economy tough so that ifs candidates don’t have much advantage (upsc do exactly opposite to what we think to happen).

many persons especially how appeared for cat exam saying that u cant master gs ,so u make more practice for csat and score around 150+marks and some 60 marks in paper one to qualify. well this somehow it works for some persons but what I say is be balanced and aim 70-95 marks in paper one and 120-140 in paper two.so,that u can manage prelims easily and sail through it so friends that’s all it was 1st article and I not written this article to get more likes or shares I just want to throw sum light for fresher’s .if u have any good tips or suggestions plz do post to help our fellow mates.

ALL THE BEST…

2012-05-25T07:53:00.002+05:30

Answerkey for CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012 Polity questions only

In CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012, Total 18 questions were asked from Indian Polity. I’m providing the answer keys with explanation and reference source.

President

According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following?
1.The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission
2.The Report of the Public Accounts Committee
3.The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
4.The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
~~(a)1 only~~
~~(b)2 and 4 only~~
(c)1, 3 and 4 only
~~(d)1, 2, 3 and 4~~

Explanation:
Copy pasting from Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
(Chapter 37, CAG):
….CAG gives three audit reports to President…. he lays it before both houses of the parliament. After this, the Public Accounts Committee examines them and reports its findings to the parliament.
It means:

President lays down CAG report.
PAC lays down report in parliament on its own (President doesn’t come in picture).

So,
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2
Eliminate choices *not* involving Statement #3
Final- Answer: C

Deadlock

A deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of
1.Ordinary Legislation
2.Money Bill
3.Constitution Amendment Bill
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 only
~~(b)2 and 3 only~~
~~(c)1 and 3 only~~
~~(d)1, 2 and 3~~
Copy pasting from Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
’s chapter on Parliament:
….it must be noted here that provisions of joint sitting is applicable to ordinary bills or financial bills only and not to money bills or Constitutional amendment bills.
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2 and #3
Final- Answer: A

CAG role

In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?
1.CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency.
2.CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.
3.Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.
4.While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
~~(a)1, 3 and 4 only~~
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
~~(d)1, 2, 3 and 4~~
Explanation:
Statement #1 and #4 are bogus. Eliminate choices accordingly.
We are left with B and C.
I’m not really sure whether Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances
50/50 between B and C
(or perhaps may be 70/30 between B and C !)

PM appointment

The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment
(a)need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of one of the" Houses within six months
(b)need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of the Lok Sabha within six months
(c)must be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament
(d)must be a member of the Lok Sabha
Explanation:

Chapter 19: Prime Minister
In 1977, SC held that a person who is not a member of either house of parliament can be appointed as PM for 6 months, within which, he should become a member of either house of parliament; otherwise he cases to be a PM.
Final- Answer: A

Delimitation Commission

With reference to the Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements :
1.The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2.When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
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
Explanation:
Indian Polity by Wizard Publication :
The delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court of law. These orders come into force on a date to be specifified by President of India. The copies of its orders are laid before the House of People and the State legislative assembly concerned but no modifications are permissible therein by them.
Therefore both statements are correct.
Final- Answer: C

Distribution of powers

The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the
(a)Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909
(b)Montagu-Chelmsford Act, 1919
(c)Government of India Act, 1935br /> (d) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication) 1^st Chapter
Government of India Act 1935 ->Features of the Act
The Act divided the powers between Centre and unit in terms of three lists-

Federal List (for Centre, with 59 items)
Provincial List (for provinces, with 54 items) and
Concurrent List (for both, with 36 items)

Final Answer: (C)

Fundamental duties

Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution?
1.To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
2.To protect the weaker sections from social injustice
3.To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry
4.To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
~~(a)1 and 2 only~~
~~(b)2 only~~
(c)1, 3 and 4 only
~~(d)1, 2, 3 and 4~~
Fifth fundamental duty is “to promote harmony and spirit of brotherhood amongst all the people of india transcending religious….”
But it doesn’t talk specifically about protecting weaker sections from social injustice.
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2
Rich heritage = Duty#6
Scientific temper=Duty#8
Excellence=Duty#10.
Therefore (C) is the correct choice.

SC Autonom

What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India?
1.While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India.
2.The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.
3.The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.
4.All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3 only
~~(b)3 and 4 only~~
~~(c)4 only~~
~~(d)1, 2, 3 and 4~~
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
chapter on Supreme court:
Topic: Independnece of supreme court, Point #8: Freedom to appoint staff:
The CJI can appoint officers and servents of SC without any interference from Executive (the Government )
So statement #4 is incorrect.
Eliminate all choices involving Statement #4, and we are left with final answer (A)

Rajya Sabha special powers

Which of the following special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha by the Constitution of India?
(a)To change the existing territory of a State and to change the name of a State
(b)To pass a resolution empowering the Parliament to make laws in the State List and to create one or more All India Services
(c)To amend the election procedure of the President and to determine the pension of the President after his/her retirement
(d)To determine the functions of the Election Commission and to determine the number of Election Commissioners
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
Chapter : parliament , topic : Special powers of Rajya Sabha

It can authorize the parliament to make a law on a subject enumerated in state list (Art.249)
It can authorize the parliament to create a new all india service common to both the Centre and the State (art.312)

Accordingly, Final answer: Statement (b) is correct.

13^th Finance Commission

Which of the following is /are among the noticeable features of the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission?
1.A design for the Goods and Services Tax, and a compensation package linked to adherence to the proposed design
2.A design for the creation of lakhs of jobs in the next ten years in consonance with India's demographic dividend
3.Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 only
~~(b)2 and 3 only~~
(c)1 and 3 only
~~(d)1, 2 and 3~~

Appendix #3: recommendations of 13^th Finance Commission.
13^th FC talks about GST and compensation to States.
Eliminate choices not involving Statement #1
While 13^th FC does talk about disaster Management, It doesn’t talk about “lakhs of jobs or demographic dividend.”
Eliminate choices not involving Statement #2
While the 13^th FC does talks about giving 32% of the shareable central taxes to the states and about providing Grant in Aid to States for allocation to Local bodies. But the given statement “Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants” seems to be incorrect / exaggerated. (Or may be I haven’t read the 11 page recommendation properly!)
Final answer: Confused between (a) and (c). 70/30 for (a)/(c).

Public Finance

Which of the following are the methods of Parliamentary control over public finance in India?
1.Placing Annual Financial Statement before the Parliament
2.Withdrawal of moneys from Consolidated Fund of India only after passing the Appropriation Bill
3.Provisions of supplementary grants and vote-on-account
4.A periodic or at least a mid-year review of programme of the Government against macroeconomic forecasts and expenditure by a Parliamentary Budget Office.
5. Introducing Finance Bill in the Parliament
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1, 2, 3 and 5 only
~~(b)1, 2 and 4 only~~
~~(c)3, 4 and 5 only~~
~~(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5~~
Explanation:
Statement #4 doesn’t make sense. There is no parliamentary budget office to review programs of Government.
But there is an Estimate Committee of parliament to review policies and continuous examination of estimates from time to time throughout the year.
Eliminate choices involving Statement #4, and we are left with final Answer (A)
Or may be all correct! Answer choice (D)?

Education in Constitution

Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?
1.Directive Principles of State Policy
2.Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3.Fifth Schedule
4.Sixth Schedule
5.Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
~~(a)1 and 2 only~~
(b)3, 4 and 5 only
~~(c)1, 2 and 5 only~~
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Solution

Item	Provision?
DPSP	Art. 45 to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of 6 years.
Rural and Urban Local Bodies	11^th schedule, 29 functions of Panchayat : item#17: education including primary and secondary schools. 12^th Schedule,
5^th Sch.	Administration of tribal areas under States other than AMTM (Assam, Meghalay,Tripura,Mizoram) Did not find anything specific on education.
6^th Sch.	Administration of tribal areas in AMTM. District council can establish, construct or manage primary schools.
7^th Sch.	Union, State and concurrent list. Has provisions related to “education”

Statement 4 is definitely correct (6^th Schedule),
Eliminiate choices not involving Statement #4.
And since Statement #1 (DPSP) is definitely correct. We are left with the final answer Choice (D) : all statements are correct.

Adjournment Motion

In the Parliament of India, the purpose of an adjournment motion is

(a)to allow a discussion on a definite matter of urgent public importance
(b)to let opposition members collect information from the ministers
(c)to allow a reduction of specific amount in demand for grant
(d)to postpone the proceedings to check the inappropriate or violent behaviour on the part of some members

Chapter on Parliament
Topic: Devices of Parliamentary proceedings ? Motions ? Adjournment motion.
…it is introduced in the parliament to draw attention of the house to a definite matter of public importance, and needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
Final answer: Statement A is correct.

DPSP

Consider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India :
1.Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code
2.Organizing village Panchayats
3.Promoting cottage industries in rural areas
4.Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities
Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?
~~(a)1, 2 and 4 only~~
(b)2 and 3 only
~~(c)1, 3 and 4 only~~
~~(d)1, 2, 3 and 4~~

Chapter on Directive Principles of State Policy.
Topic: Classification of Directive Principles
Accordingly, given principles can be classified as following

Principle	Type	Art.No
Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code	Liberal intellectual	44
Organizing village Panchayats	Gandhian	40
Promoting cottage industries in rural areas	Gandhian	43
Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities	Socialistic	??

Uniform Civil code is definitely not under Gandhian principle, so eliminate all options involving Statement #1, and we are left with final answer (B)

UT in RajyaSabha

Consider the following statements:
1.Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
2.It is within the purview of the Chief Election Commissioner to adjudicate the election disputes.
3.According to the Constitution of India, the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
~~(b)2 and 3~~
~~(c)1 and 3~~
(d)None

Chapter on Parliament
Topic: organization of Parliament
…..Under the Constitution, the parliament of India consists of three parts

The President
The Council of States (Rajya Sabha)
The House of People (Lok Sabha)

Options involving statement #3 are false. Eliminate them
Same chapter of M.Laxmikanth,
Topic: Composition of two houses -> Composition of Rajya Sabha -> 2. Representation of Union Terrirotiries.
….Out of the seven union territories, only two (Delhi and Pondicherry) have representation in Rajya Sabha. The Population of other five union territories are too small to have any representative in Rajya Sabha.
Therefore Statement #1, is also incorrect.
Eliminate answer Choice (a)
We are left with the final answer (D) : None of the given statements are correct.
ANSWER: (D)

Speaker

Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements:
1.He/She holds the office during the pleasure of the President.
2.He/She need not be a member of the House at the time of his/her election but has to become a member of the House within six months from the date of his/her election.
3.If he/she intends to resign, the letter of his/her resignation has to be addressed to the Deputy Speaker.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
~~(a)1 and 2 only~~
(b)3 only
~~(c)1, 2 and 3~~
(d)None
Speaker is an autonomous Constitutional body by himself, he can be removed by Lok Sabha, President has no role in this. So Speaker doesn’t hold office during the pleasure of President.
Statement #1 is false.
Eliminate option s involving Statement #1
Statement #3: is correct, Speaker can resign by writing to the Deputy Speaker.
Final Answer (B)

SC jurisdiction

Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
1.A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States
2.A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State
3.A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory
4.A dispute between two or more States
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 4
(d)3 and 4
Statement #1 and 4 fall under the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court.
Therefore Final answer (C)

PESA Act

In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha?
1.Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.
2.Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.
3.Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
~~(c)2 and 3 only~~
~~(d)1, 2 and 3~~

Chapter :Local administration, subtopic: Extension Act of 1996 (PESA)
According to the book:
Statement 1 is correct verbatim. (Point 13/(iii) of the chapter)
Statement 2 is correct verbatim. (Point 13/(ii) of the chapter)
Statement 3: problem
Point 10 says
“Recommendation of Gram sabha or Panchayat at the appropriate level shall be mandatory for grant of prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in the scheduled area”
Notice the word: “Minor minerals”
The given statement says “any Mineral”
Therefore Statement #3 is false.
Eliminate choices accordingly, and we are left with the final answer (B).

2012-05-25T07:47:00.001+05:30

CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012

Want the PDF Version ?

Overall Breakup
History
Polity
Environment & Biodiversity (enb)
Geography
Economy
Science & Technology (S&T)
Yearbook stuff
Current Affairs vs Static
4TF type of question
Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)
Make your own answerkey
Why Cut-offs talk is useless
Start preparing for mains
Was the CSAT-paper Tough?
Conclusion

Overall Breakup

In order to see the big picture, We must compare this data with the GS-papers of last two years. See how the topicwise-breakup has evolved.

Markwise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

Topic	2012	2011	2010
History	20	12	15
Polity	18	8	7
EnB	23	21	--
Geography	11	11	30
Economy	10	17	26
S&T	9	18	30
Yearbook	9	9	4
Total	100	Note1	Note2

Note1: column will not add to 100, because I’ve not counted the international affairs etc. questions from 2011’s exam. However the total questions were 100.
Note2: in 2010, GS paper had 150 questions, including Aptitude. Therefore column will not add to 100. Secondly, in 2010 they did not have separate EnB section.

This Situation calls for % table.

%wise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

For 2011 and 2012, the data will remain same (Because total 100 Questions) but for 2010, I’m converting marks into approximate percentages using 150 as ‘total’.

Topic	2012	2011	2010
History	20	12	10
Polity	18	8	5
EnB	23	21	0
Geography	11	11	10
Economy	10	17	17
S&T	9	18	20
Yearbook	9	9	3
Total	100	100	100

Charts and graphs

Data interpretation

History has doubled in its importance from 2010 to 2012. Any sort of ‘predictability’ helps the coaching classes and senior players, and UPSC hates both of them. Most of us would have thought: history will decrease and S&T will remain steady. So, UPSC does the reverse. Besides, it is my personal opinion, this year History + Polity given heavy emphasis to reverse the "Science and Engineer graduates-friendly" trends of last two years.
Polity increased by more than double. 8% in 2011 and 18% in 2012. And curiously, as the number of questions increased, the difficulty level of each question decreased!
Geography remained “steady” 11% of the paper for last two years.
Economy declined.
Science and technology declined: almost halved: From 18% in 2011 to 9% in 2012! - To make room for the increased number of History and Polity Questions
Just like Geography, the Yearbook stuff also remained: Steady 9% of the paper, for last two years.
You can do more data interpretation on your own.

Remaining chart

Now time to take a look at individual subjects under General Studies paper.

1.History

A.Ancient and Medieval

Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries
Distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances
hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes
religion of early Vedic Aryans was
Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices
guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role
scientific progress of ancient India
common to both Buddhism and Jainism?
Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara

Questions Mostly related to religion and culture.
They had asked about Jainism in 2011’s paper as well.
Thankfully, No dates, places or name of kings though.

Modern India (Freedom Struggle)

Ryotwari settlement
Rowlatt act aimed at
Contribution made by dadabhai naoroji
Principal feature(s) of the government of india act, 1919
National social conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
Parties were established by dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932
Lahore session of the indian national congress (1929) is very important
Regarding brahmo samaj
Things introduced into india by the english
Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939

Even with the lousiest half-hearted preparation, one could solve question number 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 from reading NCERTs, GS Manual and Bipin Chandra.

Polity

1	Duty of the President of India to cause to be laid
2	Deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls
3	Importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
4	Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment
5	Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements :
6	Distribution of powers between the Centre and the States
7	Fundamental Duties of citizens
8	Autonomy of the Supreme Court of India
9	Special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha
10	Recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission
11	Parliamentary control over public finance in India
12	Provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education
13	Adjournment motion
14	Directive Principles of State Policy
15	Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
16	Office of the Lok Sabha Speaker
17	Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
18	Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

In my earlier article " 100 Days 4 CSAT?" I had given the preparation strategy and study plan for Indian Polity and If you had thoroughly it, this Polity section was a walk in the park. Atleast 15 questions could be solved without any doubt.
Most of these questions are so easy, seems like they framed them to insult the intelligence of a serious player!

Environment & Biodiversity (enb)

1	National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help
2	National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
3	Biopesticides
4	Biomass gasification
5	Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard
6	Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances
7	Protected areas in India are local people not
8	Pollinating agent/agents
9	Carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature
10	Acidification of oceans is increasing. Why
11	Category of endangered species
12	Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
13	Antelopes Oryx and Chiru
14	Threats to the biodiversity of a geographical are
15	Black-necked crane
16	Carbon sequestration/storage in the soil
17	Phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason
18	Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside
19	Government of India encourages the cultivation of sea buckthorn
20	Wetlands of India, consider the following statements
21	Resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India
22	Prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created
23	Which of the above are Tiger Reserves

Q. 7 on protected area, was directly discussed in my EnB article: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation.
Q. 18 on Vulture question had been directly discussed in my EnB article: Types of Species.
Q.14 Threats to biodiversity: the “alien species” were also discussed in above article (under title “Non-native species”.)
Seems UPSC is making a habit of asking location of some odd wildlife animal every year. (Oryx, Chiru and Crane this year.)
Almost 1/4th of the paper (25%) is EnB, because environment must be protected and candidates must be forced to prepare heavily for Environment topic as if they're going to actually 'implement' everything they read in the books, into their real lives!
One interesting thing: about the “limits of current affairs”, This Sea buckthorn initiative happened in 2010 (according to MoEF public notification) and UPSC has asked this in 2012.
Anyways most of the questions- not really tough, provided that you had been following

The NOS study-material
Science and Geography NCERTs
The Hindu S&T
Website of Ministry of Environment and Forest (www.moef.nic.in )
General Studies Manual.
My EnB series articles (vultures, Phytoplanktons)

Geography

1	Polestar
2	Duration of the monsoon
3	Characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region
4	Stages of demographic transition associated with economic
5	Chief characteristic of mixed farming
6	Crop that is used as pulse, fodder and green manure
7	Factors influence the ocean currents
8	Predominantly rainfed crop/crops
9	Travel in Himalayas, you will see the following
10	Temperature decreases with the increase in
11	Particular State in India has the following characteristics

Most of the it from

NCERT Geography books Class 7 to 12.
+General Studies manual.
Curiously I’m not seeing anything from ‘world geography’ except the Tropical Savannah climate. (Ocean Current falls under Physical geography so not really a ‘world geography’ question)
I forgot to write about Tropical Savannah climate under my Africa Article

Economy

1	RBI acts as a bankers' bank
2	Capital gains' arise
3	Increase in the money supply in the economy
4	Foreign Direct Investment in India
5	Price of any currency in international market is decided by
6	Lead bank scheme
7	Why does India import millions of tonnes of coal
8	Rare earth metals
9	Policy initiative(s) of Government of India to promote
10	Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries

Science & Technology (S&T)

1	Graphene
2	UV radiation in the water purification systems
3	Stem cells
4	Anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus)
5	Evidences for the continued expansion of universe?
6	Electrically charged particles from space
7	Capillarity
8	Advantage does thorium hold over uranium
9	Elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth

Graphene directly discussed in my Revision Note of Hindu S&T Part II.
I forgot to write about water purifiers in the Odomos article
S&T reduced by half: in 2011, they asked 18 questions, this time only 9 but if you look it from a hilltop (combined with heavy doze of Reading comprehension in Paper II) may be UPSC thought “since last two years, the Science and Engineering grads had been getting more advantage, so let us for a change, make a room for the Arts and commerce graduates – therefore increased importance to Polity +History this time and decreased importance of Science & tech.
Besides, when you want to force everyone learn EnB and (assuming) that they'll implement climate saving habits in their real life, so how do you make a room? take the space out of Science and Tech - distribute it among EnB, Polity and History.

Yearbook stuff

I’m combining the “rights issue”, “Empowerment” and “Government scheme” in one category:

1	Jobs of 'ASHA', a trained community health worker?
2	National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor
3	Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford
4	Social Security' coverage under Employees' State Insurance Scheme?
5	Inclusive Governance
6	Janani Suraksha Yojana' Programme is
7	DRDAs help in the reduction of rural poverty in India?
8	National Water Mission
9	Consumers' rights/ privileges

ASHA worker was discussed in my Yearbook article
Seems UPSC is obsessed with National Rural Livelihood mission because in 2011 Mains GS Paper, they had asked about it.
If you had been following India Yearbook and Economic Survey 2012, again most of the question could be solved with ease.

Current Affairs vs Static

Static = from routine books, theory stuff. Majority of the questions this time, are from the static portion.

Over last three years, UPSC has constantly reduced the importance of current affairs: my take, they’re doing it to give level playing field to small town & rural candidates, who’re unable to purchase lots of newspapers, current-affairs magazines, internet for following the current affairs.
Indian Juntaa doesn’t care for sportsmen (Except cricketers), Authors (except those Indian authors who can only write novels about adultery and sex), Dancers (Except those who can do ‘item-song) or social activists (except those who get extensive media coverage).
So over the years, UPSC was feeling sorry for the unknown celebrities and had been asking questions related to “persons in news” in preliminary exam to give them their due recognition.
But finally UPSC has learned the lesson: There is no point in forcing candidates to mugup names of people in news, you can’t make someone love you by holding a gun on his face.

4TF type of question

4TF= four (or two) statements are given, and you’re asked to identify the correct or incorrect statement.
UPSC has increased the number of 4TF question in last two years.
This time, There are approximately 20 normal question (i.e. pick up one from a/b/c/d, and remaining 80 questions are 4TF.
4TF have their own advantages and disadvantages
- Good: you can eliminate wrong answer choices and certain ‘combinations’.
- Bad: requires thorough grip over the topic.
- Bad: Time consuming because you have to re-read entire question multiple times to eliminate the wrong choices.
Seems they’re trying to frame difficult questions from easy topics. using the 4TF technique.

Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)

“Authentic answerkey” is an oxymoron just like “Honest Politician”.
After prelims are over, everybody starts googling for “answerkeys and cut-offs”. So, in a haste to capture the audience (and to advertise their mains classes and study packages), the coaching classes and certain websites release faulty answerkeys without doing proper research and homework.
UPSC gives you 2 hours to solve 100 questions in the exam hall, so If you manually check the reference book for each and every question, it ought to take you no less than 4-5 hours at home. Besides for certain questions there is no reliable source / book / website to confirm the answer!
Many candidates check their paper using multiple answerkeys and from whichever answerkey they get maximum score, they take it as their ‘official score’ and start worrying about the cut-offs!

Make your own answerkey

I suggest you look at each and every question individually and find its source.
For example, in this prelims, UPSC asked questions on green tribunal and 13^th Finance Commission. If you solve these from readymade answerkeys, you will only know the four statements given in the question itself. But if you manually solve every question, you’ll come across 10 more points related to the topic, which you can use as fodder material for mains exam and interview. Who knows you might find some direct questions!
Caution : donot merely type question phrases in Wikipedia, UPSC did not frame question after reading Wikipedia and Wikipedia is not the ‘authentic’ source. You should first refer the standard reference books to solve these questions and use Wikipedia only as last source.

Why Cut-offs talk is useless

As usual, I don’t involve myself in cut-off prediction or speculation.
If India won 2011’s world cup by making 250 runs, does it mean India will win 2015’s world cup by making 250 runs? Then why are you trying “extrapolate” the RTI replies of previous cut-offs to speculate 2012’s cut-offs! Each year’s exam is a separate thing with separate difficulty and separate crowd.

Second, in the online forums and facebook communities, people post their score based on the answerkey which gives them maximum marks! So you don’t get a standard data in the first place.

Third, Mostly three types of people post their scores online:

A. those who performed exceptionally well.
B. those who performed terribly bad.
C. those who feel they are on ‘border line’ based on their own cut-off speculation.

But even the combined number of above A+B+C category of people in all internet communities = no more than 2000. While there are no less than 20,000 serious contenders. (Rest 1-2 lakhs are just JBPS, we are not bothered with their future.) You need a huge sample data to statistically predict the cut-offs.
Fourth, In an RTI reply, they had said: cut-offs for 2011’s CSAT exam will be released only after the entire mains-interview process is over. Using the same logic, UPSC is not going to reveal the official cut-offs for CSAT-2012, before May 2013.
^Edit 22 May 2012 courtesy Mallikarjun: Indianexpress report :CIC tells UPSC to disclose cut-off for prelims before mains and interview
So let UPSC come out with cut-off data, there is no point in you increasing your blood pressure over cut-off speculation.
The exam finished in the Evening of Sunday, right now it is tuesday morning, so not even three days have passed, UPSC cannot even collect back all the answersheets from every exam centre across India India to Delhi in such short time, and yet some people are saying "they've confirmed it with reliable sources inside UPSC office that cut off will be *** for 2012."
^How is it possible? The OMR bundles are not even opened yet, the answersheets are not even checked yet and you've came out with the cutoff data confirmed from UPSC itself! <--- This is absolutely ridiculous. Don't panic over such bogus rumors and claims made online.

Start preparing for mains

Those of you have the mindset I'll prepare for mains based on cut-offs. If my chances look good, only then I prepare for mains.
^ wrong mentality. You’re thinking like a stockbroker but Success in UPSC requires the dedication of a world class athlete and patience of a gardener. Prelims is over means you have to start preparing for mains. You don’t wait for the results until August 2012 or waste time in cut-offs speculation. If you wait until August, it will be impossible to cover the syllabus of GS + Two optional subjects.
Your CSAT paper did not go “good” or “Bad”. You paper is only “over”.
In school or board exams, you’ve a pre-set target: 90% or First class therefore you can predict your own chances “meraa paper acchaa gaya. / Mera paper kharaab gaya”
But in UPSC CSAT or CAT or similar competitive exams, there is no pre-set target, you just have to tick as many questions as you can – accurately without doing guesswork.
So don’t say “meraa paper kharaab gaya.” Because 10 of your friends are claiming to have ticked more answers than you did, or just because x member of orkut, or y coaching sir came up with a magical cut-off figure.
And don’t waste your time or bandwidth asking people online “My score is *** so What’re my chances?” = only God or UPSC can answer that question.

Was the CSAT-paper Tough?

Paper is never ‘tough’ or ‘easy’. Paper is just a paper.
You’re not expected to know answer of each and every question.
You don’t have to tick 90 or 100 answers to crack the exam.
All you had to do was study hard, tick answers accurately and leave the rest in the hands of God.
IF you believe you had studied hard and you’ve ticked the answers accurately without doing guesswork, then there is no need to worry. Let the result come in August 2012.
And, Don’t become a Devdas or Superman after the results. In either case it’ll be a minor setback or victory, life is long and there are so many battles yet to be fought.

2011-04-15T23:32:00.000+05:30

Civils General Studies Prelims Question Papers 1997-2009

The following are the prelims General Studies Question papers of the previous years.
Download by clicking on the Respective links.

Please leave a comment if you liked this post and to appreciate our effort.

Manav

2009 Prelims General Studies Download

2008 Prelims General Studies Download

2007 Prelims General Studies Download

2006 Prelims General Studies Download

2005 Prelims General Studies Download

2004 Prelims General Studies Download

2003 Prelims General Studies Download

2002 Prelims General Studies Download

2001 Prelims General Studies Download

2000 Prelims General Studies Download

1999 Prelims General Studies Download

1998 Prelims General Studies Download

1997 Prelims General Studies Download

2011-04-14T10:32:00.002+05:30

Psychology- sample notes

I am uploading some of the notes I prepared for psychology from June 2009 to September 2009. Kindly go through the Psychology mains post for the strategy and sources I referred.
I will explain how I prepared the notes. But I repeat- this is the strategy I followed in 2009 for psychology. If what you are doing is very different, don’t worry. There are n number of ways to score. Just chalk out a plan and try your best to implement it.
MK: Morgan and King/ MP: Mukul Pathak sir’s notes/CK: Chaplin- Krawiec
Paper 1- Chapter 2: Observation
Since I prepared every topic as a 60 marker, for observation I collected 15-20 points which I could later expand in the exam. An easy way to do that is to compare the given topic with other related topics. So if observation alone comes as a 60 marker (most likely it will be in conjunction with some other topic), just link it with case studies, experimental research, interview, etc.

Paper 1- Chapter 3: IRT
Since IRT can be asked as a 60 marker, I prepared the basics in detail. There is no point in collecting 20 pages on it. Sometimes questions asked are very difficult to predict and attempt even when the topic has been prepared. In that case, I attempted some other question. But I didn’t go much beyond the basics. Every thing has to be balanced in the limited amount of time available for preparation.

Paper 1- Chapter 4: Growth and development
It is a topic which has been very well covered in the books. So I didn’t refer any other source. I just noted each and every thing I could find in one place so as to make revision easier. A lot of time can be saved this way.

Paper 1- Chapter 5: Attention
It is well covered in Mukul Pathak sir’s notes and the models are explained very nicely in Morgan and King and other books. So I wrote everything in one place point-wise.

Paper 1- Chapter 12: Stereotypes and prejudices
It is an important topic not only for the psychology paper but even for other optionals such as Sociology, Essay and for GS. Since examples can be included very easily, I concentrated on collecting the keywords and theories that explain the two. This topic should be linked to other topics in both paper 1 and paper 2.

Paper 2- Chapter 7: Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims
I am posting this topic because it is a classic example of those topics where a lot of material is available on the net, yet the time which might be invested in collecting data which is relevant might be much more than what you would invest if you think about the points on your own. I just collected some facts from the net.

Paper 2- Chapter 11: Government policies for promotion of entrepreneurship among youth including women entrepreneurs
Again a topic where we need to use our GS knowledge. I noted some of the schemes and institutes which I could find on the net. I added all the schemes and various bodies which are working in this field that I had come across in the India Yearbook.
I have uploaded only the 1^st page. Details can easily be found on the net.

Paper 2- Chapter 13: Psychology of terrorism
I concentrated on collecting as many theories, key words and points as I could. Enough is available on the net.

2011-04-14T08:56:00.000+05:30

Public Admin- sample notes

I am going to try to explain how I prepared the notes. Examples, etc can either be prepared beforehand or you may come up with something then and there while writing the answer. Also, linking various topics is extremely important as it leads to a complete answer. I don’t mean topics only in Pub Ad paper 1 and Pub Ad paper 2, but also relating topics in Pub Ad paper 1 and Psychology Paper 1 OR Psychology paper 2 and GS.
PA paper 1:
I have posted the notes I prepared for Kautilya from Prasad & Prasad. Through this I attempt to achieve the following:
1. How to reduce what you have to read for the exam, in order to make it manageable to revise.
2. The content remains the same, it’s only the presentation and wording which changes depending on the question asked.
3. How you can look forward to relating the topics once your notes are ready.

So this is everything I did for topic 1 from chapter 1 of paper 2. Similarly, I prepared for Mughal Administration from Fadia and Fadia & tried to revise the 2-3 pages I had again and again so that I would be able to remember the content in the exam.
Next is a topic from paper 1, Chapter 12: Public borrowings and public debt
I covered this topic from Fadia & Fadia and searched on the net for some facts. After I was finished with enough content to write a 60 marker, I did not refer anything else. I emphasised on revising as many times as I could the content I had.
Also, I would like to point out that most of the data I collected even for paper 1 topics was that of India. I never differentiated whether the topic was mentioned in paper 1 or paper 2. Answer had to be based on India. This is what the right orientation and approach is all about, and was taught very well by Pavan sir.

2011-04-14T08:55:00.000+05:30

Public Admin paper 1- sample answers

I have uploaded two of my answers for pub ad paper 1. I have deliberately chosen theoretical questions as I feel in 2009, paper 1 was devoid of questions (except SHG and few others) where much creativity could be exhibited. Hope it helps.

2011-04-14T08:53:00.002+05:30

Newspaper reading

I tried to do it for The Hindu. But couldn’t do it properly at www.thehindu.com. I need either the newspaper or epaper, which isn’t available.
Anyways, it doesn’t matter much as 2 examples (ToI and ET) are enough to get an idea. Just apply the same concept to Hindu as well. I will try to get hold of an issue of the paper in the next few days and let you know.
The Economic Times, Tuesday, 29 June 2010, Delhi edition
(available on www.epaper.timesofindia.com)

Page1: Look up terms such as base rate if you don’t know. Also, the G20 article is worth reading. I wouldn’t have cut it. But it gives an idea about how negotiations involve give & take and what is the talk of the town as far as world economy is concerned.
Page 2: I would have cut the article on India- Canada civil nuclear deal. Facts such as it’s the ninth one for India, other 8 are also given, etc are important.
The article on good Taliban is worth a read as it gives a decent idea about the present situation.
Page 3: The article on Centre defending CRPF is worth a read. It gives a very balanced viewpoint on the whole issue. I wouldn’t have cut it. But certainly would have remembered government’s reply as CRPF action is totally justified and is based on logic and reasoning and not emotions.
Page 4 to 10: irrelevant
Page 11: note terms like TDS and look up on the net if you don’t know.
Smart cards for NREGA workers is worth cutting. It can be used as one of the points in answers involving use of smart cards, ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of government schemes, etc.
The article on FATF is important…know what FATF is…what is money laundering and PMLA…i would have cut the article…
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development is worth cutting. Government is funding it.
Page 12: A very good article on malnutrition that I would have definitely cut. This is why ET is very good. As most of the edits are written by serving/retired govt servants, it results in a very balanced and fact-based article. NFHS data, correlation between land productivity, women’s education and other factors such as sanitation, safe drinking water, good governance with malnutrition is definitely worth noting. Data on anaemic children and women, protein deficiency among Indians, etc is important.
Other articles which are good but I wouldn’t have cut them: the one on mobile tech, look up terms such as 3G, CDMA, LTE, BWA, Wi-Max, etc on the net.
As I have said many times, my S&T prep was from the newspapers only.
Article on structural reform is worth a read. Look up what structural reforms mean, what is Keynesian economics, stimulus, etc.
Page 13: I would have cut the article ‘Environmental governance & a new authority’ as it gives good info on the proposed NEPA, but noting that nothing concrete has happened as of now.
The article ‘Right climate for energy peg’ is worth a read. It conveys the problem of balancing development and protecting the environment at the same time.
But I wouldn’t have cut it as it is short on facts.
From the article on aggro business, look up FCI, NCDEX, MCX, if you don’t know.
Pages 14 and 15: irrelevant. But look up BIS if you don’t know what it is.
Page 16: Terms like ULIPs, teaser rates, etc should be known.
Even though today’s ET in the classroom on CTS is not that relevant, but it is one of the few columns I always looked forward to reading. Gives very good info most often.
Pages 17 to 23: irrelevant.
Page 24: ‘Abolish death sentence’: it is a typical Hindu-like article. Strongly opinionated. Yet, I would have noted how many countries have abolished death sentence, how many have retained it, number of executions that have taken place in 2008 and 09, etc. No need to remember what Amnesty International says. But yes, cost factor when not abolished and on the other hand using captured terrorists for better understanding of their psyche, etc are good points to write in an answer on capital punishment.
I hope it was helpful in getting an idea of how to read the newspapers. I will look into Hindu in a couple of days.
earlier:
The Times of India- Thursday, 24^th June, Delhi edition
(available on www.epaper.timesofindia.com)
I will point out the relevant articles and reasons why I would/wouldn’t cut some of the articles.
Page 1:
Cabinet decision on rupee…it’s relevant but it hasn’t been decided yet. I would still cut it as it talks about the whole procedure of selecting the symbol which may not be described again later.
For those with pub ad, the matter of absentee cabinet ministers is worth cutting. In the exam, do not take names in this matter. Just write, some ministers have been absent…it’s alarming as political factors are playing more important role than governance…
In the news digest, the only one relevant and to look forward to is the Canadian PM’s apology on Kanishka…you should know what the matter was and who is the Canadian PM.
Honour killing issue not worth cutting as you are not going to write specific names/incidents in the GS paper. It is a wider issue which needs to be known in its entirety.
Page 3: irrelevant
Page 4: irrelevant
Page 5: irrelevant
Page 6: irrelevant
Page 7: irrelevant
Even though city section rarely has news relevant for the exam, yet I glance through it as sometimes it might have some important news.
Page 8: irrelevant.
Page 9: irrelevant
Page 10: irrelevant
So, 10 pages take around 15 minutes. With practice you would be able to decide whether an article is relevant or not by just reading the heading or 2-3 lines at most.
Page 11: irrelevant
Page 12: You should know what super 30 is…also coz this year the PM invited the teacher for a meeting. No need to read the whole article. Also, the only line I found relevant was “the Internet has grown the fastest in this world. It took 38 years for radio to reach the people, 13 years for television and just 4 years for the Internet.”
Finished the page in less than 5 minutes.
Page 13: irrelevant
Page 14:
Loharinag Pala is important. May be asked for 2 marks.
Kanishka is important. If you don’t know what it was, definitely cut the article.
Page 15: irrelevant
Page 16: The article on China’s support to Pakistan on nuclear plants is important if you haven’t cut an article on this before. This can be used in China-Pak r/s. I would have definitely used it in China’s peaceful rise doctrine had it happened last year.
China’s pudina patent also important. Also, remember terms like bio-piracy and TKDL.
Page 17: For those with pub ad, Karnataka’s Lokayukta resigning is important. Do not take names. Just write recently Lokayukta of Karnataka resigned…giving reasons.
Also, CVC request for tackling corruption important. It’s a government body. So CVC recommendation can be written in the exam straightaway.
Page 18: only the article on Tamil conference is important. But it’s not worth cutting. You should cut some article which presents the facts and not what TN CM has to say. Where the conference is being held, what is a classical language? Which all languages in India have been declared as classical languages, etc should be known.
Page 20:
The only relevant article and a very good one is that by Prakash Singh on Maoists. He has presented some new points such as security forces themselves being one of the biggest arms- providers to the Maoists (as they attack and decamp with weapons). The solutions he provides, local police: CPF ratio, etc and also terms such as ‘irregular war’ are important.
Rest of the articles aren’t good. Indo-Pak is the usual blah blah, nothing new. Honour killings one is just opinion based. No tangible info.
Page 21: only relevant one is the article on LHC. I wouldn’t cut it. Only look up LHC, ‘god particle’(Higgs boson), etc on wikipedia. This was my standard preparation for science and tech.
Page 22: Only know 2 lines about who Nikki Haley is. If she wins, it might be asked (even though probability is low). But if she loses, forget about her. But there is definitely no need of cutting the article.
Page 23: irrelevant.
Page 25: just note down terms like HNI, MF, ULIP, etc if you don’t know them. The article on HNI is useless. In fact, the article today (Sunday, 27^th June) on the increasing concentration of wealth in India is very good, which actually uses the same data.
Page 26: irrelevant
Pages 27 to 30: irrelevant
Page 31: Just know why John Isner and Nicolas Mahut were in the news. But I think probability of being asked in the Mains is very low.
Page 32: Just know Clean Sports India movement. But again, very low probability of being asked.
So, with some practice, it would take 30-35 minutes to finish this issue.
Do ask me questions. If you feel some article I left out was relevant or an article I chose was irrelevant, kindly let me know.

Posted in Uncategorized | 109 Comments

Tips on covering the books

Posted on June 22, 2010 by anaydwivedi

I would like to point out a few things before I start. Firstly, as I have always said, it’s better to read one book 5 times rather than reading 5 books once. Whichever book you have selected on a particular subject, keep reading it again and again till you are so thorough that you can point out what is given where.
The tips which I am suggesting here are entirely based on the way I read a particular book. Your style of reading/studying might be very different. So if you have already adopted a strategy, and it is different from mine, kindly ignore what I have to say. The only goal is to complete the book and revise it, whichever method it might be.
The books I am covering here are the ones I have suggested in my earlier posts. They are:

Bipin Chandra’s India’s Struggle for Independence
DD Basu’s Constitutional Law of India
Statistics by Spectrum
India Yearbook, Min of I&B, GoI
Civil Services Chronicle (magazine)
Economic Survey

Bipin Chandra’s India’s Struggle for Independence
The first time I attempted to read this book, I could reach only the 70^th page before I surrendered. In my opinion, those who do not have the HABIT of reading books (and I am one of them), will find it very difficult to cover it in one go. So the method was to concentrate on one chapter at a time and adopt a strategy to not only understand but gain an insight as to why the events described happened.
After reading 1 or 2 pages at a time, I thought of the questions which might be asked if the examiner happened to focus on those 2 pages. I made a notebook in which I covered this book chapter-wise. I wrote all the questions from a particular chapter I could think of. This way on an average I made 7-8 questions from each chapter.
For example, when I was reading the chapter on Non-cooperation movement, few incidents were described which forced the launch of NCM. Then the incidents during the movement were described and why it was finally called off. The reaction of various leaders and parties was also covered in the book. So I made 3-4 questions from it such as:
Q. Describe the events which led to the launch of NCM.
Q. How was the NCM different from earlier movements?
Q. Why was NCM called off and what was the reaction to Mahatma Gandhi’s decision?
Q. What was the impact of NCM on Indian National Movement?
This way I could link all the different aspects of NCM and every other movement/ incident. This helps in not only gaining an insight but also remembering the points to write in the exam so as to present a complete answer.
After I finished all the chapters (left one or two in the middle which I found were too specific and hence not useful), I had with me around 230 questions. I went through the previous 10 years’ question papers and was happy to find that not even a single question was asked on INM which was not there in my notebook.
The other thing which I did was to note the name of the persons I came across while reading the book, on the last page of my notebook. So if Indulal Yagnik was mentioned on, say page x and again 300 pages later on page y, I noted it down as Indulal Yagnik (x,y…). This way I could remember everything about the person mentioned in the book as well as relate the events in which the said person was involved.
Whether you finish the book in one go or read it in between other things entirely depends on you. The aim should be to cover it well before the exams and be able to revise the questions you made.
But keep in mind that you should not concentrate only on making the questions. Question-making is only to help you remember the content and relate the events. Concentrate on the content and when you have finished reading all the things which were related directly to each other, then only think of the questions. As I said, I made only 230 or so questions, which makes it 1 question/ 3 pages approximately.
DD Basu’s Constitutional Law of India
I must have read this book at least 10 times during my 3 attempts. It is one of the best books I have come across and certainly THE base book for the Civil Services exam, especially when you have public administration as an optional.
There is no need to remember each and everything given in the book and neither do we have to remember the Articles verbatim.
Instead, focus on the outline of an Article and only in the case of important Articles do we need to remember the details. Important Articles would be FRs, DPSPs, election of the President, CoM, office of profit, budget, CAG, EC, UPSC, FC, emergencies, etc
There are 2 versions of DD Basu available. I had the detailed one. There is another one which is concise. Either will do. But I covered the Articles Part-wise, i.e. Article 1, 2, 3…and so on.
Firstly, I mugged up the Parts of the Constitution. The Constitution is divided into 22 Parts. Remembering the Parts helps in recalling the Articles quickly. So I remembered that Part III is FRs (Articles 12 to 35), Part V is The Union (Articles 52 to 151), Part XVIII is Emergency Provisions (Articles 352 to 360), etc
Then I started with the Articles. I covered 20 Articles at a time and continued revising them till I was able to recall all 20 without looking in the book. Then went ahead and after I had finished first 50 Articles, tried to recall all 50 in one go. Then first 100 and so on.
As I said, no need to remember the Articles verbatim. You need to know that Article 72 is regarding the power of the President to grant pardons and roughly in what kind of cases, i.e. court-martials, death sentences and cases to which the executive power of the Union extends.
This way I remembered around 400 of the 440 or so Articles in the Constitution and left the ones I considered not important, especially the ones in the end.
Shortcut: One of them is that many Articles of the Union correspond to Articles of the States. So from Article 72 onwards add 89 to get the corresponding Article at the State level. Keep doing it till Article 111. Article 201 is extra which relates to the President’s powers when a Bill has been reserved for his consideration by the Governor under Article 200. So after this, from Article 112 onwards add 90 to get the corresponding Article at the State level.
I concentrated on the Constitution as many of the questions can be answered through the Articles in the Constitution by directly quoting the Articles in the introduction part of the answer.
No need to go too deeply into the explanations provided in the book. Just read them for understanding what the Article is about. Thereafter, you can leave it out when you revise. Also, there’s no need to remember all the cases relating to various Articles. Only very important ones such as Golak Nath, Keshvananda Bharti, Minerva Mills, etc and the recent IR Coelho, TMA Pai, PA Inamdar, etc need to be remembered.
Also, only the important Amendments such as 42^nd, 44^th, 86^th, etc and the recent ones 91^st, 92^nd, 93^rd and 94^th need to be remembered.
For more on the Constitution, refer http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/welcome.html
Statistics by Spectrum
One of the biggest mistakes which many commit is merely “reading” the questions in the book and not practising the statistics questions by attempting them in an exam-like situation.
I remember in XI standard when we had vectors. I just read the questions in R D Sharma and they appeared to be very easy. However, in the test when I attempted the questions, I couldn’t even go beyond the 1^st step. Same is the case with statistics. If you think questions are very easy, most often than not, when you attempt the questions in an exam-like situation, serious doubts are going to emerge.
Keeping the above point in mind, covering the book on statistics by spectrum is more than enough. Statistics was my strength in the 2^nd paper and therefore, first analyze your ability, and then try to execute your plan.
The basic thing to remember is that 80% of the questions asked in a particular year are repeated ones. They might change the numbers, etc but the graph/diagram more or less remains the same.
Statistics in 2009 was the easiest compared to 2007 and 2008 (2008 was the toughest according to me), and the only thing to guard against was the time factor as the graphs and questions were very simple, but at the same time, very lengthy. In such situations, always take a scale such that the bars will be small and shading, etc should be done freehand.
The method which I adopted to cover spectrum was based on the decision that I would practice/ go through statistics thrice-

In July, I would read as well as practice some of the questions
In October, I would mostly read yet, solve few of the questions
On October 23^rd, during the time between the 2 papers, I would revise statistics as I always started GS II with statistics.

July:
I went through the basics given in spectrum, such as the definitions, different types of bar diagrams, area diagrams, ogives, tables, etc. Thereafter, I went through the sample questions and made it a point that I would READ 2 questions and SOLVE the 3^rd question. Always solve the question in an exam-like situation, with pencil, scale, graph paper, etc.
I applied the same rule to all the previous years’ question papers given in the book. Every year, 1 or 2 questions are asked which are different from previous years. I noted such questions on the front page of the book, as page 97- q 6…and so on…
At the end of this exercise, I had a list of around 100 questions which I would again read/solve in October along with revising the basics.
October:
I went through the basics again and went through the 100 questions which I had identified as “different” from previous years’ papers. I again applied the rule of READING 2 questions and SOLVING the 3^rd one. At this point of time, I was comfortable with most of the questions and formulae and ticked the questions which I felt I should revise again just before the exam. So I shortened the revision list to about 30 questions.
October 23^rd:
During the time between the 2 papers, I revised the basics in 10 minutes (I had written all the different types of graphs/diagrams and formulae on a paper) and READ the 30 questions from my list. This way I went into the exam-hall in the statistics “frame of mind” and attempted the questions straightaway.
This is one of the reasons why I said earlier in the importance of mains post that howsoever the earlier papers go: good or bad, always concentrate on the next paper and prepare yourself for it.
India Yearbook, Min of I&B, GoI
Before I begin, I would like to point out that this book should be read thoroughly only for the prelims. For the mains, only government programmes and few chapters need to be covered.
So if you are taking the prelims in 2011, go through the whole book. But if you are going to take the Mains in 2010, no need to cover the whole book at present.
For prelims
GS prelims in 2008 and 2009 had many questions directly asked from the India Yearbook. The only issue was that any line from any page was turned into a question. So a true or false statement such as salt water crocodiles are found in Andaman and Nicobar islands was from the 1^st chapter Land and the People (under Fauna).
Therefore, I covered all the chapters in the book except the one on States and UTs (Chapter 30 in 2010 Yearbook).
I put a lot of emphasis on making notes as it is very difficult to cover a 1000 page book in 3-4 days in the last month or week before the exam. Moreover, 99% (or even more than that) of the India Yearbook remains the same year after year.
So I went through the India Yearbook 2009 and reduced it to 1/10^th of its size by making notes. Special attention needs to be given to the following things:

Government programmes: write on a paper at the end of the book all the government programmes you come across. Mid-day meal scheme may be described on page x and again 400 pages later on page y. So I noted it as Mid-day meal scheme (x, y…)
Agricultural data is presented very nicely. I wrote on a paper all the values. So rice: 97 million tonnes, wheat: 74 million tonnes, eggs: 46 billion, banana:1^st, grapes/area: 1^st, etc can be easily mugged up.
Various government institutes/ bodies are specified such as NSD, ASI, ZSI, National Library, National Museum, NBT, KCCs, etc. I noted the names and page number on a page and their HQ (if any).
Factual data such as India’s land area, EEZ, land frontier, coastline, energy production, major and minor ports, international airports, teledensity, etc need to be noted.

For mains
If you already read the IYB for prelims, just go through what you underlined and revise your notes. But if you did not, then apart from the GOVERNMENT SCHEMES and agricultural data, read the following chapters from IYB 2010:
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11 (NCES only), 13 (terms like FIPB, FCCB, ECB, ADR/GDR, FDI, etc), 18, 24, 25 and 28.
Note: I have not specified chapters 16, 17, etc as I have assumed that you must have covered all the government schemes such as NRHM, JNNURM, etc irrespective of where they are given in the book.
In Mains 2009 many questions could be answered on the basis of information provided in the IYB, e.g. significance of coastal regions, UMPPs, BSUP, fruit production in India and NNRMS.
But if you don’t have time, newspapers should be preferred over standard books such as the IYB.
Civil Services Chronicle (magazine)
Since I read the Civil Services Chronicle, I am going to give some tips on how to go about it. If you read some other magazine, not a problem. You may apply the same strategy if you want to.
Regarding CSC, it’s important because newspapers are not Civil Services exam oriented. So they are bound to miss a few things which may be important for the exam. Also, it is sometimes possible that you might miss out on an important development, such as an appointment, etc. So reading CSC (or any 1 exam oriented magazine) is beneficial.
I always aimed at finishing the chronicle in a day or two (apart from newspaper reading on that day). If you find it time-consuming, always keep in mind that 3 days is the maximum time you should be spending to go through an issue.
My strategy to go through CSC was as follows:

While reading it, tick mark the articles which are good as many times articles too specific to a given place or even issues with very little probability of being asked in the exam are covered. While reading, underline the important lines then and there. Concentrate only on the facts and not what should be done, what is good, what might happen, if, but, etc.
I used to write on a paper all the important issues (just the heading and page number) and on another paper the names of all the important persons mentioned in the issue which could be asked in the exam. For example, winners of Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan are important, but there’s no need to remember about each and every person who has won the Padma Bhushan or Padma Shri. Similarly, winners of Nobel Prize, Magsaysay Award (only if given to an Indian), Jawaharlal Nehru prize for international understanding, etc are important, but not some obscure science award or social service award or Magsaysay award to someone from Malaysia, Thailand or Philippines.

REVISION of the issues just before the exam is very important. Just one reading wouldn’t do any good. So revise only what you have marked and only the articles which you have written on the page. 3 issues of the magazine should be covered in 1 day while revising (apart from newspaper reading/revision) or it’s going to be unmanageable.
Economic Survey
You should aim at finishing the Economic Survey in 4 days (apart from newspaper reading on those days). Only 10-15% of it is useful for the exam.

If you feel you need to improve your knowledge of economics, take note of the terms you come across. For example, in ES 2009-10, page 2 has terms such as GDP at factor cost, broad money, capital formation, RD, FD, PD, current account balance, etc. If you do not know what they mean, look up on the net. No need to remember their values and advanced estimates etc. for all the years. Just remembering the last year’s actual values would suffice.
Concentrate on the boxes. But do not pay attention to tables such as the one on page 3. No need for such in-depth knowledge.
Pay special attention to the steps recommended by various bodies to the government. Example, 13^th FC on page 18, UID on page 26, boxes on pages 30 and 34, measures to control inflation on page 75, etc.
Terms used in between such as CoP 15 on page 19, Project Arrow on page 57, NHB Residex on page 72, BPLR and FCNR(B) on page 94, etc should not be missed.
Do not even look into the statistical appendix.
Most important chapters: 1, 2, 6, 8 and 11.

Do not forget to REVISE what all you have marked at least twice before the exam. Therefore, whichever book you select for any given subject, keep in mind that it should be read at least 3 times.

2011-04-14T08:46:00.003+05:30

Life @ Mussoorie

A few videos on the life of officer Trainees at LBSNAA, Mussoorie....here is a video made by one of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1mQeIChBg

A video made and screened in Doordarshan on the life of IAS officers trainees at LBSNAA, Mussoorie...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3_EPVjJyxo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFm2LaNF68Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPveyLXqxck&feature=related

2011-04-14T08:46:00.000+05:30

Download links for Chemistry Books

Hi friends,

Here is the download links for a few books of Chemistry paper-1 and paper-2....

Chemistry Paper-1:

Physical Chemistry (8^th Ed) by Atkins:

http://ifile.it/v7yfh64/104079.rar

passwd : www.free-ebooks.cc

Solution manual to 8^th Edition: Atkins

http://freakshare.net/files/w4rreujq/Physical-Chemistry-Student-Solutions-Manual-for-8th-Edition.rar.html

Physical Chemistry (3^rd Ed): Castellan

http://rapidshare.com/files/214660714/Physical_Chemistry_3th_Castellan.pdf

Physical Chemistry: Robert G. Mortimer

http://www.4shared.com/get/rXP4ubZr/Robert_G_Mortimer-Physical_Che.html

Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (6^th Ed): Arthur W. Adamson

http://www.4shared.com/file/A6W0E_E1/Physical_Chemistry_of_Surfaces.htm

Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications (2^nd Ed): Bard and Faulkner

http://www.4shared.com/document/9_3lNGjj/Bard_AJ_Faulkner_LR_Electroche.htm

Vogel’s Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis (5^th Ed)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6065981/Vogels-Textbook-of-Quantitative-Chemical-Analysis-5th-Edition-Longmann

Inorganic Chemistry: Meissler and Tarr

http://www.4shared.com/document/ARiyal4V/Inorganic_Chemistry__Miessler_.htm

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3^rd Edition): Cotton and Wilkinson

http://www.4shared.com/document/ifG31Gul/Advanced_Inorganic_Chemistry.htm

Inorganic Chemistry,Principles of Structure & Reactivity(4^th Ed): Huheey

http://www.4shared.com/document/oa6OHhN1/Inorganic_Chemistry_-_Principl.htm

Huheey Part1

http://www.4shared.com/file/UNFlP6uP/Inorganic_Chemistry-Principles.htm

Huheey Part2

http://www.4shared.com/file/G2W59IqU/Inorganic_Chemistry-Principles.htm

Huheey Part3

http://www.4shared.com/file/PU13taWd/Inorganic_Chemistry-Principles.htm

Chemistry Paper-2

1. Advanced Organic Chemistry Part A - Structure and Mechanisms, 5th Ed (2007): Carey & Sundberg

http://www.4shared.com/document/Ggo6NcvP/Advanced_Organic_Chemistry_Par.htm

http://rapidshare.com/files/294503076/Carey_Sandberg--Advanced_Organic_Chemistry_A.pdf

2. Advanced Organic Chemistry, Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, 5th Ed (2007): Carey & Sundberg

http://www.4shared.com/document/xT6AgeDb/Carey_Sandberg--Advanced_Organ.htm

3. Advanced Organic Chemistry (Reaction Mechanisms): Buckner

http://www.4shared.com/document/0X-12Bl9/Advanced_Organic_Chemistry-rea.htm

4. Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure (6^th Ed): Jerry March

http://www.4shared.com/file/V-uFUx06/Marchs_Advanced_Organic_Chemis.htm

5. Solution manual to Organic Chemistry :Clayden

http://www.4shared.com/document/4srxq9ms/Organic_ChemistrySolutions_Man.htm

6. Mechanism and Theory in Organic Chemistry (3rd Edition): Lowry and Richardson

http://www.4shared.com/document/v7DVkwuH/Mechanism_And_Theory_In_Organi.htm

7. Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems in Organic Chemistry

http://www.4shared.com/document/it1Tf2SD/Schaums_Outline_of_Theory_and_.htm

8. Organic Chemistry: Hornback

http://www.4shared.com/file/Pbe9NPqw/Organic_Chemistry_2nd_Edition_.htm

9. Student Solutions Manual & Study Guide for Organic Chemistry (2^nd Ed): Hornback

http://www.4shared.com/document/rDeB7jyB/Organic_Chemistry_2nd_Edition_.htm

10. Organic Chemistry: An Intermediate Text, Hoffman

http://www.4shared.com/document/-_rklSA-/RV_Hoffman-_Organic_Chemistry_.htm

11. Organic Chemistry by: Francis A. Carey

http://ifile.it/sy7tab2/carey_f.a._organic_chemistry__5ed.__mgh__2004__t%20__c__1335s_.rar

12. Solutions Manual to Accompany Organic Chemistry by: Robert C. Atkins, Francis A Carey, Robert Atkins, Francis Carey

http://ifile.it/t9eukv7/organic.rar

13. Organic Chemistry: McMurry

http://hotfile.com/dl/48711015/c00f46b/Chemistry_McMurry.rar.html

14. Study Guide with Solutions Manual for Organic Chemistry (7^th Ed): McMurry

for this solution manual the Pdf file is not available in the web but its torrent is available in the web and the torrent file link is as given below:

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4140501/Organic_Chemistry_(7th_Edition)

15. Organic Chemistry (4^th Ed): P.Y. Bruice

http://www.4shared.com/document/08jPuBpZ/_chem_paula_yurkanis_bruice_or.htm

http://hotfile.com/dl/48711254/e50cb7a/Bruice__Organic_Chemistry_Fourth_Edition.rar.html

16. Study Guide with Solutions Manual for Organic Chemistry (4^th Ed): P.Y.Bruice

http://www.4shared.com/document/Z53K-RF-/Sol_Organic_Chemistry_-_4th_Ed.htm

17. A Guidebook to Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry: Peter Sykes

http://www.4shared.com/document/a9ssUgqR/_2__A_GUIDEBOOK_TO_MECHANISM_I.htm

18. Organic Chemistry: Morrison and Boyed

http://www.4shared.com/document/esDgPZ35/Organic_Chemistry_by_Morrison_.htm

19. Polymer Chemistry: Odian

http://www.4shared.com/document/FyVEf-zG/Principles_of_Polymerization_-.htm

20. Introduction to Spectroscopy: Pavia

http://www.4shared.com/file/vwWSK0xe/Pavia_-_Introduction_to_Spectr.htm

2011-04-14T08:45:00.000+05:30

interview

interview preparation:

the mains result came on 4 th march 2010....n being general candidate from delhi,i expected my interview date to b on first or second day ,when the interview commences...interviews started on 22 march n mine was on 23 rd....(i got to knw exact date around 14 th march)...
so clearly ,i had around 15 days to go....
basically,we cant call it an interview...in right perspective,it should be called PERSONALITY TEST....actually seeing it this way answers lot of queries about intw ,-
WHEN TO START PREPARATION?
-by the time we write this exam,our basic personality would hav been formed...
-so from prepration we can expect only touch-ups...or fine tuning....
-.also,i feel,while reading gs for pre n mains,we form many self opinions simultaneously....these r also part of preparation,informally...
-formally,one can start after mains exam...(actually,jus after mains ,u can take a break of a month or so...coz by this time u will be mentally exhausted...n this time is safe too as prelims is far n u must hav cracked it atleast once by now....n interview preparation can also wait)....basically,focus should be on mains form's details....every entry by you,should be researched well n expected questions prepared(like d meaning of ur name?ur hobbies? ur extracurriculars?ur home state/education etc....)
- last year,vajiram conducted an orientation class for their students ,free of cost around 20 th jan....the problem here is not everyone gets the information when is the class...so b in touch with their administrative staff ,if u r keen to attend it...
-after mains result,within 3-4 days many coaching starts classes...this is time of confusion,esp. if u r delhi based (caution:-just b careful as what u fill as ur address) because it means u hav least time...
-vajiram is gud n so is samkalp....i got to know from my friends that many from vajiram ,also joins samkalp....(there r some classes n mock interviews in both of them)...the time management again becomes crucial here,so hav ur mains form details,hobbies etc worked out on ur own.before mains result is announced ...n approach mock interviews as if it is the real upsc one...infact do get fully dressed up for atleast one of them...as a practice.
(after mains exams is over,focus should be to prepare for both interview n prelims...coz after intw is over ,very less time is left for prelims preparation...thus initial few months like dec,jan ,n feb..should have both being prepared simultaneously)
WHAT TO PREPARE?
again,since its ur personality test....its about ur opinions,ur thinking,ur biodata etc....(yes,factual questions r asked but ur analysis n opinions matters the most.)
basically it is subject matter n interview skills...
subject matter is ur bio-data,background-educational n residential,national issues n international ones,some practical aspects of ur optionals...
interview skills are about speaking with confidence,being brief n crisp in answers,be polite but still taking a stand,having ability to convince,maintaining eye contact...etc...
HOW TO PREPARE?
take few photocopies of mains form..and mark out areas where questions r likely...after collecting material about it...try predicting expected questions...
some people form groups n discuss issues.....after giving mains exam..(though this in no ways is an absolute necessity).
read newspaper n try forming self opinions....
one should know of problems of one's own district.....n also census data of one's district....
personally,i focussed on INTROSPECTION....meaning after any newspaper article reading-i used to ask myself what is my opinion on this?.....like in mains form,if my hobby was poetry writing or playing chess...used to ask why i write poetry? or why i like chess?-this gives true n innovative answers....the most important question in this can be why u want to join this service?

points to be taken care of-

see,i believe being honest to the board is the best policy...coz they r so experienced that it is almost impossible to out smart them...
-also,interview is about saying what u feel about the question,ur opinions r most important than saying the cooked answers that everyone says...
-intw is about ur personality...
-also,be confident,speak in clear n short sentences...
-listen to question properly,for then only u can answer what has been demanded by interviewer.....
ALL THE BEST...!!

interview preparation:

Add your main content here - text, photos, videos, addons, whatever you want!

2011-04-11T17:55:00.000+05:30

Anna Hazare and his fight for the Lokpal Bill..."IMPORTANT"

Posted by nishi on 7:21 PM

1. Who is Anna Hazare?
An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War

2. What's so special about him?
He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

3. So what?
This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest villages in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.

4. Ok,
Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.

5. Really, what is he fighting for?
He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.

6. How that can be possible?
He is advocating for a Bil, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill) that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), bureaucrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.

8. It's an entirely new thing right..?
In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).

7. Oh... He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?
The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.
Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.

8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?
A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case that has been going for last 25 years without any result.

9. Is he alone? Who else is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?
Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more. A prominent personality like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.

10. Ok, got it. What can I do?
At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.
At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.
At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.
At least we can pray for his good health.

**** What is the Lok Pal Bill….in history?? ****

After 42 years the Lokpal bill is still pending in India. The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in Rajya Sabha, subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed and its pending.

The Lokpal Bill provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister, other ministers, and MPs with the ombudsman. The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) while recommending the constitution of Lokpal was convinced that such an institution was justified not only for removing the sense of injustice from the minds of adversely affected citizens but also necessary to instill public confidence in the efficiency of administrative machinery. Following this, the Lokpal Bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969.

However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, resulting the first death of the bill. The bill was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2005 and most recently in 2008. Each time, after the bill was introduced to the house, it was referred to some committee for improvements - a joint committee of parliament, or a departmental standing committee of the Home Ministry - and before the government could take a final stand on the issue the house was dissolved.

Several flaws have been cited in the recent draft of the Lokpal Bill. Meanwhile the activists of India Against Corruption (IAC) have prepared a draft for the bill called Jan Lokpal Bill.

2011-04-10T09:25:00.004+05:30

Reform Movements (Part X)

The Manav Dharma Sabha was a major Socio-cultural reform established by Mehtaji Durgaram Manchharam on 22nd June, 1844. It proved to be a road-map for all other reforms in Surat and especially in the state of Gujarat. Since the Second decade of the seventeenth century, Surat was under British Governance and witnessed a row of tensions especially after the start of western education and missionaries in the state.

The Organization named Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha proved to be an extremely effective step towards propelling the Parsi socio-religious movements in India, to a large extent. The reform especially came at a time when the Parsi Community was going through a bad phase in society.
Even at that time the internal unity of the community was shaken, the reform thus, stood to make a difference and uplift the Parsi Community solving all there social economic problems. Naoroji Furdunji was the founder of the Rahnumai Mazdayasnan Sabha. He first edited a journal named Fam-i-Famsbid, during the 1840s and also wrote many articles and books during the 1850s to prove the superiority of Zoroastrianism over Christianity.

Paramahansa Mandali was founded by Dadoba Panderung in 1849 and was one of the most effective socio-cultural organizations that had its influence across the state of Maharashtra. During the phase of conceptualization most of the leaders of Paramahansa Mandali and Manav Dharma Sabha were common and shares similar ideologies.

Faraizi movement was a religious reform movement founded by Haji Shariatullah during the nineteenth century. After seeing degradation of Muslims Haji Shariatullah called up muslims to give up anti-muslim practices and perform their duties as like a true muslim.The movement was also concerned with the British influence upon Muslims and a call for social justice was raised. The movement continued from 1830 to 1857.

Singh Sabha Movement was started in seventies of the 19th century after the Nirankari and Namdhari movements and proved to be the turning point in the history of the Sikhs. The Singh Sabha intended to reinstate Sikhism to its past purity by promoting Punjabi language to propagate knowledge in the form of historical religious books, magazines and journals. The movement was also aided by the missionaries’ activities of Mohammedans and Christians.Sardar Harbans Singh also believed that Singh Sabha had a deeper influence on the Sikh community as the movement touched the roots of Sikhism and shaped the Sikhs attitude for nearly about a century.

Shuddhi Movement was started by Arya Samaj in earlier part of 20th century to bring back the people who transformed their religion to Islam and Christianity from Hinduism.The literal meaning of shuddhi is purification but Arya Samajis didn’t aim at literal meaning rather they meant reconversion by the term.
There was vast difference in the scriptural authorities of these religions as Islam and Christianity claimed divine authority for their Koran and Bible respectively while Vedas of Hinduism didn’t put up such claims. Founder of Arya Samaj, Dayananda then strived to give the Vedas the similar degree of supernatural authority.This process of reconverting Hindus from Islam and Christianity was accompanied by a Sanghathan movement.

The Namdhari movement was founded by Baba Ram Singh in 1857 as one of the most influential and transitional socio-religious movements in Punjab. At the initial stage of the movement a set of rituals were modeled after Guru Gobind Singh’s founding of Khalsa. He used a recitation of Gurbani (hymns from the Granth Sahib), Ardas (the Sikh prayer), a flag and baptism for entry into the new community.

2011-04-10T09:25:00.002+05:30

The Mughal Chronolgy

Mughal Dynasty

1526 – 1530	Bābur (Tīmūrid ruler of Transoxiana 1497 – 8 and 1500 – 1 ; captured Delhi 1526 )
1530 – 1540	Humāyūn (son; deposed)

Sūrī Dynasty

1540 – 1545	Shīr Shāh Sūr
1545 – 1553	Islām Shāh (son)
1553	Fīrūz IV (son)
1553 – 1555	Muḥammad ‛Ādil (nephew of Shīr Shāh ; deposed, died 1557 )
1555	Ibrāhīm III (first cousin of Shīr Shāh ; deposed, died 1568 )
1555	Sikandar III (first cousin; deposed, died 1559 )

Mughal Dynasty

1555 – 1556	Humāyūn (restored)
1556 – 1605	Akbar I, the Great (son)
1605 – 1627	Jahāngīr (son)
1628 – 1658	Shāh Jahān I (son; deposed, died 1666 )
1658 – 1707	Aurangzīb ‛Ālamgīr I (son)
1707 – 1712	Bahādur Shāh I ( Shāh ‛Ālam I ) (son)
1712 – 1713	Jahāndār Shāh (son)
1713 – 1719	Farrukhsiyar (nephew; deposed, died 1719 )
1719	Rafī‛al-Darajāt (grandson of Bahādur Shāh I )
1719	Shāh Jahān II ( Rafī‛al-Daula ) (brother)
1719 – 1748	Muḥammad Shāh (grandson of Bahādur Shāh I )
1748 – 1754	Aḥmad Shāh (son; deposed, died 1774 )
1754 – 1759	‛Ālamgīr II (son of Jahāndār Shāh )
1759 – 1806	Shāh ‛Ālam II (son)
1806 – 1837	Akbar II (son)
1837 – 1858	Bahādur Shāh II (son; deposed, died 1862 ; direct British rule of India)

2011-04-10T09:24:00.002+05:30

The Story of Chittorgarh

The history of Chittor is one of the most stirring chapters in Indian history for it was there that the flower of Rajput chivalry sprang to life and the immense stretch of its sacred walls and ruined palaces relate the saga of innumerable sieges and heroism which has almost become a myth now.

Chittorgarh was one of the most fiercely contested seats of power in India. With its formidable fortifications, Bappa Rawal, the legendary founder of the Sisodia dynasty, received Chittor in the middle of the eighth century, as part of the last Solanki princess's dowry. It crowns a seven-mile- long hill, covering 700 acres (280 hectares), with its fortifications, temples, towers and palaces.

From the eighth to the 16th century, Bappa Rawal's descendants ruled over an important kingdom called Mewar stretching from Gujarat to Ajmer. But during these eight centuries the seemingly impregnable Chittor was surrounded, overrun, and sacked three times.

In 1303 Allauddin khilji, Sultan of Delhi, intrigued by tales of the matchless beauty of Padmini, Rani of Chittor, of her wit and charm, decided to verify this himself. His armies surrounded Chittor, and the sultan sent a message to Rana Rattan Singh, Padmini's husband, to say that he would spare the city if he could meet its famous queen. The compromise finally reached was that the sultan could look upon Padmini's reflection if he came unarmed into the fort. Accordingly, the sultan went up the hill and glimpsed a reflection of the beautiful Padmini standing by a lotus pool. He thanked his host who courteously escorted Allauddin down to the outer gate-where the sultan's men waited in ambush to take the rana hostage.

There was consternation in Chittor until Padmini devised a plan. A messenger informed the sultan that the rani would come to him. Dozens of curtained palanquins set off down the hill, each carried by six humble bearers. Once inside the Sultan's camp, four well-armed Rajput warriors leaped out of each palanquin and each lowly palanquin bearer drew a sword.In the ensuing battle, Rana Rattan Singh was rescued-but 7,000 Rajput warriors died. The sultan now attacked Chittor with renewed vigor. Having lost 7,000 of its best warriors, Chittor could not hold out. Surrender was unthinkable. The rani and her entire entourage of women, the wives of generals and soldiers, sent their children into hiding with loyal retainers. They then dressed their wedding fine , slid their farewells, and singing ancient hymns, boldly entered the mahal and performed jauhar.

The men, watching with expressionless faces, then donned saffron robes, smeared the holy ashes of their women on their foreheads, flung open the gates of the fort and thundered down the hill into the enemy ranks, to fight to the death.The second sack or shake (sacrifice) of Chittor, by which Rajputs still swear when pledging their word, occurred in 1535, when Sultan Bahadur Shan Of Gujarat attacked the fort.

Rana Kumbha

Rana Kumbha (1433-68) was a versatile man a brilliant, poet and musician. He built mewar upto a position of assailable military strength building a chain of thirty forts that girdled the kingdom But, perhaps more important was a patron of the arts to rival Lorenzo de Medici, and he made Chittorgarh a dazzling cultural center whose fame spread right across Hindustan.

Rana Sanga

Rana Sanga (reigned 1509-27) was a warrior and a man of great chivalry and honor reign was marked by a series of continual battles, in course of which he is said to have lost one arm and had been crippled in one leg and received eighty-four wounds on his body. The last of his battles was again Mughal invader, Babur, in 1527. Deserted by one ofgenerals, Rana Sanga was wounded in the battle and shortly after.

Maharana Pratap

Over the next half-century, most other Rajput rulers allowed themselves to be wooed the Mughals; Mewar alone held out. In 1567 Emperor Akbar decided to teach it a lesson: he attacked Chittorgarh razed it to the ground. Five years later Maharana Pratap (reigned 1572-97) came to rule Mewar - a king without a capital. He continued to defy Akbar, and in 1576, confronted the imperial armies at Haldighati.

The battle ended in a stalemate and Maharana Pratap and his followers withdrew to the craggy hills of Mewar, from where they continued to harrass the Mughals through guerilla warfare for the next twenty years. Maharana Pratap made his descendants vow that they would not sleep on beds, nor live in palaces, nor eat off metal utensils, until Chittorgarh had been regained.In fact, right into the 20th century the maharanas of Mewar continued to place a leaf platter under their regular utensils and a reed mat under their beds in symbolic continuance of this vow.

		Rani Padmini In 1303 Allauddin khilji, Sultan of Delhi, intrigued by tales of the matchless beauty of Padmini, Rani of Chittor, of her wit and charm, decided to verify this himself. His armies surrounded Chittor, and the sultan sent a message to Rana Rattan Singh, Padmini's husband, to say that he would spare the city if he could meet its famous queen. The compromise finally reached was that the sultan could look upon Padmini's reflection if he came unarmed into the fort. Accordingly, the sultan went up the hill and glimpsed a reflection of the beautiful Padmini standing by a lotus pool. He thanked his host who courteously escorted Allauddin down to the outer gate- where the sultan's men waited in ambush to take the rana hostage.
	There was consternation in Chittor until Padmini devised a plan. A messenger informed the sultan that the rani would come to him. Sultan's camp, four well-armed Rajput warriors leaped out of each palanquin and each lowly palanquin bearer drew a sword.In the ensuing battle, Rana Rattan Singh was rescued-but 7,000 Rajput warriors died. The sultan now attacked Chittor with renewed vigor. Having lost 7,000 of its best warriors, Chittor could not hold out. Surrender was unthinkable. The rani and her entire entourage of women, the wives of generals and soldiers, sent their children into hiding with loyal retainers. They then dressed their wedding fine , slid their farewells, and singing ancient hymns, boldly entered the mahal and performed jauhar.

Chittorgarh And Jainism

Chittorgarh is ancient center of Jain tradition. Here are few facts about Chittor:

Chittor is adjacent to the ancient city of Madhyamika. The Jain inscriptions at Mathura from the Kushana period (1-3rd cent) mention a "Majjhimilla" branch of the "Kottiya" gana, indicating that it was a major Jain center.
The famous Acharya Haribhadra Suri (6th cent) was born in Chittor and wrote "Dhurtopakhyana" there.
There was a scholar Elacharya at Chittor from whom Vira-senacharya (9th cent) learned the ancient Shat-khandagama and Kashayapahuda. Vira-senacharya later the famous "Dhavala" and "Jayadhavala" on the basis of these books.
Chittor was the residence of Jinavallabha who propagated the Vidhimarga in the 12th cent. In the 15-17th century, it was the seat of a Bhattaraka.

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2011-04-10T09:18:00.001+05:30

Vijaynagar Kingdom- points to remember

Yusuf Adil Shah was killed by KrishnaDeva Raya(KDR) in the Battle of Kovilkonda
KDR was known as Andhra Bhoja whereas Allasani Peddana was known as Andhra Kavita Pitamaha
Tenali Rama who wrote Panduranga Mahamattya, adorned the court of KDR
Tirumalamma was a famous poetess in the court of Achyuta Deva
During Virupaksha II Orissa became a part of Vijaynagar empire for the first time
Amuktamalyada written by KDR in Telegu was a book on polity
Siddhya was the tax collected in cash
Bukka sent an embassy to China(Ming dynasty).He adopted the title Vedamarga Pratisthapaka
Besabaga was the sale of human.Nicolo Conti talks in detail about it
Shalabhoga educational grant
Devaraya II wrote Mahanataka Sudhanidhi in sanskrit.His court was visited by Abdur Razzak
Battle of Talikota or the Battle Rakshasha Taggadi was fought on the bank of river Krishna
Devaraya I included Turkish soldiers in his army.His court was visited by Nicolo Conti.
The Military Dept was known as Khandachara and the revenue Dept as Athvane
Nuniz came during KDR's rule
Nikitin talks about the financial dualism prevailing in the country
Pattanaswamy was the head of Traders' Associations
Bhandarabadha was the crown land
Lola Lakshmidhara wrote "Saraswati Vilasa"
Rayasam was Royal decree
Anegundi was the initial capital of Vijayngar empire
KDR abolished marriage tax and patronised "Ashtadiggaja"
Kalyanamandapa was the ornated pillar pavillions in the temples
Barbers were exempted from professional taxes
Harihara II captured Belgaum and Goa and attacked SriLanka after which he took the title"Maharajadhiraja"
KDR gave permission to Albequerque to built a fort at Bhatkal
Harihara and Bukka initially served under PrataprudraDeva II of Kakatiya dynasty
Marava were the fishermen
Srirangam inscription belongs to KDR

2011-04-10T09:17:00.004+05:30

Mughal India and Delhi Sultanat

MUGHAL INDIA

Mubarak Khan whose father was killed in the battle of Macchiwara killed Bairam Khan
When Hemu captured Delhi Tardi Khan was the governor there
The first mention of Tauhid i Ilahi was in Dabistan i Mazahib by Mohsin Fani
Diwan i Tan was the official who was in charge of cash salary
Increase in the sawar of the mansabdars during emergency was known as mashruta
The reserved Armed force was known as Tabinan
Total land revenue figures of a village was known as taqsimat
Akbar reimposed Jeziyah in 1575 and revoked it in 1580
Although the Kangra mission of Jahangir in 1620 was led by Vikramjit Baghela, a Hindu,Jahangir called it a Jihaad
Khasrau was captured by Jahangir's forces at Bhairowal
Jahangir punished Sufi saint Nizaam Thaneswari
In 1543 Sher Shah organized a campaign against Multan to set it free from Biloch tribe
Malik Jiwan a Baluchi leader betrayed Dara and helped Aurangzeb to capture him
In 1668 Aurangzeb prohibited court dancing,1669 he ordered destruction of temples and in 1679, he imposed Jeziyah
Shaikh Sarmad a Sufi saint and associate of Dara was punished by aurangzeb
Peter Mundy gives a vivid account of the famine of 1630-32
After returning from Deccan Aurangzeb was made the governor of Gujarat in 1644
Shah Jahan's army met with Guru Hargovind's army at Kartarpur in 1631. There the guru's force was supported by Painda Khan
Shah Jahan started giving land on contractual basis or the Ijara system
Some books written by Guru Govind Singh- Nam Mela Puran,Shastar nam puran, Mangal Prakash,Akal ustat,Ukat Vilas,Krishna Avatar,Ram AvatarChandi charittar,Chandi di var,Pakhayama charittar.His autobiography was vaichittar nataka.His letters to Aurangzeb-Zafarnamah
Mir Jumla was originally a minister of Abdullah Kutub Shah of Golkunda
The Amins collected Jeziyah under Aurangzeb
In 1654 Dara was conferred the title sultan buland iqbal
Punishing Jujhair Singh Bundella was the first official assignment of Aurangzeb
Jahan Ara wrote under the pen name Makhfi
Tribute of the autonomous kings was known as peshkash
Ashrafi was a gold coin
Potugese brought tobacco in India in 16th century
Shah rukhi was a silver coin
Mir Fathulla Sirazi was a famous scientist
Shah Jahan introduced the post of Amin
Nahr i Bahist was the canal dug by Shah Jahan
Amalguzars gave taqqavi loans
Muqaddam and Patwari were the village headmen
Capt Avery was a notorious pirate and his prized catch was Ganj i Swai, a ship of Aurangzeb
Abdullah Sultan Puri was conferred the title Makhdum ul Mulk by Akbar
Ibrahim Adil Shah wrote Kitaab i Nauras.He was popular as Abla baba and also Jagat Guru
Maasir i Alamgiri written by Mustaid Khan
Faizi translated Lilavati,Sarhandi translated Atharvaveda,Todarmal translated Bhagvata Puarana,Shahbandi translated Rajtarangini and Badaoni translated Ramayana
Akbar gave Hari Vijay Suri the title Jagat Guru and Shah Jahan gave Jagannath the title Kavipriya
Shalima Begum invented Rose itr
Bishandas was sent to Persia by Jahangir to get a portrait of the ruler
Man Kautahal was a collection of Man Singh of Gwalior's famous musical works
Rajaram looted Akbar's tomb in 1688
When Babur was ill some nobles wanted to install Mehdi Khwaja on the throne
Guru Amar Das took vigorous steps to abolish sati
Guru Hargovind built Akal Takht

DELHI SULTANAT

Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe
Nizam ul Mulk Junaidi came into prominence during Iltutmish
Fakhruddin was the chief kotwal of Delhi under Balban
Apart from Mohd Bin Tughlak Nasir udduin Mahmood too was a great caligraphist
Imaduddiin conspired against Balban in 1353-54
Balban separated army from civil administration and created arz i mamalik
Hauz shamshi was built by Iltutmish
Abdullah the grandson of Hlaku Khan invaded India during Jalaluddin Khalji
Malik Qabul was the shuhna i mandi under Alauddin
Ulugh Khan a mongol accepted Islam under Jalaluddin

"Soveregntyis not conferred upon everyone but it is placed on the elect"-Mohd Bin Tughladk
Amirana i sadbah revolted in Malwa, Gujaraat and lDaulatabad
Mailik Ghazi Shahna wdas the chief aArchitect under Feroz
Diwan i amirat was in charge of public works
Amir Sirzi wrote Faulad ul faud
In Nuh Sipihr Amir Khsrau showers praise on India
Zia Naakshbandi translated Sukha Saptati to Tutinamah
Dhrupad was Indian in origin
Ghuiyat ul Muniya by Malik Shamshuddin Abu Raja was the earliest Persian work on Indian music
Niamatnamah was a book on cooking
Adilabad and Jahapanah were built by Mohd Bin Tughlak
Lodhis borrowed enamelled tiles from Persia
Spindle was Indian in origin
Dhenkili was a water lifting device
Alauddin took the title Yamini Khilafat
Bahlol Lodhi invaded Jaunpur in 1484
Timur invaded India during Nasiruddin Mahmud Tughlak
Jalaluddin's original name was Mlik Firuz
Alauddin Shah of Bengal started Satya Pir movement.He patronized Maladhar Basu who translated Bhagvat Purana into Bengali and wrote Srikrishnavijya
Jainal Abedin borrowed paper making technology from Samarkand and he was the first sultan to abolish Jeziyah
Sikander Shah was known as Aurangzeb of Kashmir
In 1320 Mongol leader Dulucha invaded Kashmir
Jainal Abedin patronized Jonaraja and Sivaraja
Before Islam arrived Kashmir was a seat of Shaivism
Malik Mohd Jaisi lived in Jaunpur
Jainal Abedin built Jaina lake.He was known as Bud Shah
Mahmud Beghara sacked Dwarka as it harbored pirates and he also captured Girnar and Champaner
Ahmad Shah built Ahmedabad in 1414
Zafar Khan founded Gujarat
Ghiyasuddin Iyaz Khalji of Bengal transferred his capital to Lakhnauti from Devkot
Kampilendra founded Gajapati dynasty
Shungmung was a popular ruler of Assam

2011-04-10T09:17:00.001+05:30

What is PL 480 Programme?

What is PL 480 Programme?- the full name is Public Law 480 also known as "Food for Peace" is a funding avenue by which US food can be used for Overseas Aid.

- the full name = Public Law 480 is " Agricultural Trade Development Assistence Act", signed on Law on july 10, 1954 by President Dwight D Eisenhower.

- in 1961, president John F.Kennedy renamed it as "Food For Peace".

- it has 4 parts:
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 5

- PURPOSE OF PL 480 PROGRAMME :

combat world hunger & malnutrition
promote sustainable development including agricultural development.
expand international trade
develop & expand market for US Agriculture commodities & products.
foster private enterprise & democratic participation.

EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE TITLES:
TITLE 1 IS TRADE & DEVELOPMENT ASSISTENCE (managed by USDA):
- it allows concessional sales of agriculture products to friendly developing nations, either by government to government or government to private activities.

- concessional terms are very favourable it can be long term credit upto 30 years, with no minimum repayment for 10 years, grace period for payment of principle upto 5 years at low interest of 2-4%.

- programme is flexible & allow facilitate collaboration with international bodies such as world bank in support of development programme.

PRIORITIES GIVEN ARE:

countries with little foreign exchange
countries with food security problems
program with alleviate poverty as the core.
countries with agriculture developmental needs.
receipent's countries must also demostrate potential to become commercial markets for US Agri Products.

TITLE 2 IS EMERGENCY & DEVELOPMENT ASSISTENCE PROGRAM (managed by USAID) :

- main use is -- allow donation of US agri products meet humanitarian food needs, emergency & non-emergency food aid activities support broader USAID.

RECIPANTS CAN BE ANY OF FOLLOWING :

PVO = Private Voluntary Organisation
NGO = Non Government Organisation
IO = International Organisation & World Food Programme.

for non-emergency aid title 2 can be often to be in support :
- development food aid (non-emergency)
- health & nutrition program
- agriculture (food-for-work, food-for-agriculture)
- educational programe
- humanitarian relief
- vulenrable population
- micro enterprise development

TITLE 3 IS FOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT (manage by USAID) :
- it is a government to government grants to least developed countries.
- aim at addressing food & nutrition problem, countries most in need of food to enhance long term food security.

PROGRAMMAS ARE:

privatisation of food market
attract poor children to school
address chromic food short fall.
infrastructure development - Roads.

TITLE 5 IS FARMER TO FARMER (managed by USAID) :
- established in 1986, re-authorised by 1996 Farm Bill Act.
- it is not a food program, but a short term technical assistance by linking american volunter farmer with developing countries farmers.

- program was established aimed mainly at the NIS of ex Soviet Union.

2011-04-10T08:53:00.002+05:30

What is Currency swap?

What is Currency swap ?
A swap that involves the exchange of principal and interest in one currency for the same in another currency. It is considered to be a foreign exchange transaction and is not required by law to be shown on the balance sheet.
A Currency swap (or cross Currency swap) is a foreign exchange agreement between two parties to exchange a given amount of one currency for another and, after a specified period of time, to give back the original amounts swapped.

In a Currency swap, the holder of an unwanted currency exchanges that currency for an equivalent amount of another currency to improve the market liquidity of a currency owned or to obtain bank financing at a lower rate.

2011-04-10T08:53:00.000+05:30

National Savings Certificate (NSC)

National Savings Certificate, popularly known as NSC, is a time-tested tax saving instrument that combines adequate returns with high safety.

National Savings Certificate can be purchased by the following:

An adult in his own name or on behalf of a minor,
A minor,
A trust
Two adults jointly,
Hindu Undivided Family

National Savings Certificates are available in the denominations of Rs. 100, Rs 500, Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000, & Rs. 10,000. There is no maximum limit on the purchase of the certificates.

Period of maturity of a certificate is six years. Presently, maturity value of a certificate of Rs. 100 denomination is Rs. 160.10. Maturity value of a certificate of any other denomination is at proportionate rate. Premature encashment of the certificate is not permissible except at a discount in the case of death of the holder(s), forfeiture by a pledgee and when ordered by a court of law.

Interest accrued on the certificates every year is liable to income tax but deemed to have been reinvested. Income Tax rebate is available on the amount invested and interest accruing under Section 88 of Income Tax Act, as amended from time to time. Income tax relief is also available on the interest earned as per limits fixed vide section 80L of Income Tax, as amended from time to time.

2011-04-10T08:46:00.002+05:30

Economic Terms

Absolute advantage: A country has an absolute advantage if its output per unit of input of all goods and services produced is higher than that of another country.

Ad valorem taxin Latin: to the value added) - a tax based on the value (or assessed value) of property.

Aggregate demand is the sum of all demand in an economy. This can be computed by adding the expenditure on consumer goods and services, investment, and not exports (total exports minus total imports).

Aggregate supply is the total value of the goods and services produced in a country, plus the value of imported goods less the value of exports.

Alternative minimum tax: An IRS mechanism created to ensure that high-income individuals, corporations, trusts, and estates pay at least some minimum amount of tax, regardless of deductions, credits or exemptions. It operates by adding certain tax-preference items back into adjusted gross income. While it was once only important for a small number of high-income individuals who made extensive use of tax shelters and deductions, more and more people are being affected by it. The AMT is triggered when there are large numbers of personal exemptions on state and local taxes paid, large numbers of miscellaneous itemized deductions or medical expenses, or by Incentive Stock Option (ISO) plans.

Asset: Anything of monetary value that is owned by a person. Assets include real property, personal property, and enforceable claims against others (including bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, and so on).

Average propensity to consume is the proportion of income the average family spends on goods and services.

Average propensity to save is the proportion of income the average family saves (does not spend on consumption).

Average total cost is the sum of all the production costs divided by the number of units produced.

Balance of trade: The difference in value over a period of time between a country's imports and exports.

Barter system: System where there is an exchange goods without involving money.

Base year: In the construction of an index, the year from which the weights assigned to the different components of the index is drawn. It is conventional to set the value of an index in its base year equal to 100.

Bear: An investor with a pessimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to fall and so sells now in order to buy later at a lower price

Bid price: The highest price an investor is willing to pay for a stock.

Bill of exchange: A written, dated, and signed three-party instrument containing an unconditional order by a drawer that directs a drawee to pay a definite sum of money to a payee on demand or at a specified future date. Also known as a draft. It is the most commonly used financial instrument in international trade.

Birth rate: The number of births in a year per 1,000 population.

Bond: A certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal.

Boom: A state of economic prosperity

Break even: This is a term used to describe a point at which revenues equal costs (fixed and variable).

Bretton Woods: An international monetary system operating from 1946-1973. The value of the dollar was fixed in terms of gold, and every other country held its currency at a fixed exchange rate against the dollar; when trade deficits occurred, the central bank of the deficit country financed the deficit with its reserves of international currencies. The Bretton Woods system collapsed in 1971 when the US abandoned the gold standard.

Budget: A summary of intended expenditures along with proposals for how to meet them. A budget can provide guidelines for managing future investments and expenses.

Budget deficit is the amount by which government spending exceeds government revenues during a specified period of time usually a year.

Bull: An investor with an optimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to rise and so buys now for resale later

c.i.f., abbrev: Cost, Insurance and Freight: Export term in which the price quoted by the exporter includes the costs of ocean transportation to the port of destination and insurance coverage.

Call money: Price paid by an investor for a call option. There is no fixed rate for call money. It depends on the type of stock, its performance prior to the purchase of the call option, and the period of the contract. It is an interest bearing band deposits that can be withdrawn on 24 hours notice.

Capital: Wealth in the form of money or property owned by a person or business and human resources of economic value. Capital is the contribution to productive activity made by investment is physical capital (machinery, factories, tools and equipments) and human capital (eg general education, health). Capital is one of the three main factors of production other two are labour and natural resources.

Capital account; Part of a nation's balance of payments that includes purchases and sales of assets, such as stocks, bonds, and land. A nation has a capital account surplus when receipts from asset sales exceed payments for the country's purchases of foreign assets. The sum of the capital and current accounts is the overall balance of payments.

Capital budget: A plan of proposed capital outlays and the means of financing them for the current fiscal period. It is usually a part of the current budget. If a Capital Program is in operation, it will be the first year thereof. A Capital Program is sometimes referred to as a Capital Budget.

Capital gain tax: Tax paid on the gain realized upon the sale of an asset. It is a tax on profits from the sale of capital assets, such as shares. A capital loss can be used to offset a capital gain, reducing any tax you would otherwise have to pay.

Cartel: An organization of producers seeking to limit or eliminate competition among its members, most often by agreeing to restrict output to keep prices higher than would occur under competitive conditions. Cartels are inherently unstable because of the potential for producers to defect from the agreement and capture larger markets by selling at lower prices.

Census: Official gathering of information about the population in a particular area. Government departments use the data collected in planning for the future in such areas as health, education, transport, and housing..

Central bank: Major financial institution responsible for issuing currency, managing foreign reserves, implementing monetary policy, and providing banking services to the government and commercial banks.

Centrally planned economy: An economic system in which the production, pricing, and distribution of goods and services are determined by the government rather than market forces. Also referred to as a "non market economy." Former Soviet Union, China, and most other communist nations are examples of centrally planed economy

Classical economics: The economics of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, and later followers such as John Stuart Mill. The theory concentrated on the functioning of a market economy, spelling out a rudimentary explanation of consumer and producer behaviour in particular markets and postulating that in the long term the economy would tend to operate at full employment because increases in supply would create corresponding increases in demand.

Closed economy: An economy in which there are no foreign trade transactions or any other form of economic contacts with the rest of the world.

Collateral security: Additional security a borrower supplies to obtain a loan.

Commercial Policy: encompassing instruments of trade protection employed by countries to foster industrial promotion, export diversification, employment creation, and other desired development-oriented strategies. They include tariffs, quotas, and subsidies.

Comparative advantage: The ability to produce a good at a lower cost, relative to other goods, compared to another country. With perfect competition and undistorted markets, countries tend to export goods in which they have a Comparative Advantage and hence make gains from trading

Compound interest: Interest paid on the original principal and on interest accrued from time it became due.

Conditionality: The requirement imposed by the International Monetary Fund that a borrowing country undertake fiscal, monetary, and international commercial reforms as a condition to receiving a loan for balance of payments difficulties.

Copyright: A legal right (usually of the author or composer or publisher of a work) to exclusive publication production, sale, distribution of some work. What is protected by the copyright is the "expression," not the idea. Notice that taking another's idea is plagiarism, so copyrights are not the equivalent of legal prohibition of plagiarism.

Correlation coefficient: Denoted as "r", a measure of the linear relationship between two variables. The absolute value of "r" provides an indication of the strength of the relationship. The value of "r" varies between positive 1 and negative 1, with -1 or 1 indicating a perfect linear relationship, and r = 0 indicating no relationship. The sign of the correlation coefficient indicates whether the slope of the line is positive or negative when the two variables are plotted in a scatter plot.

Cost benefit analysis: A technique that assesses projects through a comparison between their costs and benefits, including social costs and benefits for an entire region or country. Depending on the project objectives and its the expected outputs, three types of CBA are generally recognised: financial; economic; and social. Generally cost-benefit analyses are comparative, i.e. they are used to compare alternative proposals. Cost-benefit analysis compares the costs and benefits of the situation with and without the project; the costs and benefits are considered over the life of the project.

Countervailing duties: duties (tariffs) that are imposed by a country to counteract subsidies provided to a foreign producer Current account: Part of a nation's balance of payments which includes the value of all goods and services imported and exported, as well as the payment and receipt of dividends and interest. A nation has a current account surplus if exports exceed imports plus net transfers to foreigners. The sum of the current and capital accounts is the overall balance of payments.

Cross elasticity of demand: The change in the quantity demanded of one product or service impacting the change in demand for another product or service. E.g. percentage change in the quantity demanded of a good divided by the percentage change in the price of another good (a substitute or complement)

Cross elasticity of demand: The change in the quantity demanded of one product or service impacting the change in demand for another product or service. E.g. percentage change in the quantity demanded of a good divided by the percentage change in the price of another good (a substitute or complement)

Crowding out: The possible tendency for government spending on goods and services to put upward pressure on interest rates, thereby discouraging private investment spending.

Currency appreciation: An increase in the value of one currency relative to another currency. Appreciation occurs when, because of a change in exchange rates; a unit of one currency buys more units of another currency. Opposite is the case with currency depreciation.

Currency board: Form of central bank that issues domestic currency for foreign exchange at fixed rates.

Currency substitution: The use of foreign currency (e.g., U.S. dollars) as a medium of exchange in place of or along with the local currency (e.g., Rupees).

Customs duty: Duty levied on the imports of certain goods. Includes excise equivalents Unlike tariffs customs duties are used mainly as a means to raise revenue for the government rather than protecting domestic producers from foreign competition.

Death rate: numbers of people dying per thousand population.

Deflation: a reduction in the level of national income and output, usually accompanied by a fall in the general price level.

Developed country is an economically advanced country whose economy is characterized by a large industrial and service sector and high levels of income per head.

Developing country, less developed country, underdeveloped country or third world country: a country characterized by low levels of GDP and per capita income; typically dominated by agriculture and mineral products and majority of the population lives near subsistence levels.

Dumping occurs when goods are exported at a price less than their normal value, generally meaning they are exported for less than they are sold in the domestic market or third country markets, or at less than production cost.

Direct investment: Foreign capital inflow in the form of investment by foreign-based companies into domestic based companies. Portfolio investment is foreign capital inflow by foreign investors into shares and financial securities. It is the ownership and management of production and/or marketing facilities in a foreign country.

Direct tax: A tax that you pay directly, as opposed to indirect taxes, such as tariffs and business taxes. The income tax is a direct tax, as are property taxes. See also Indirect Tax.

Double taxation: Corporate earnings taxed at both the corporate level and again as a stockholder dividend Economic growth: Quantitative measure of the change in size/volume of economic activity, usually calculated in terms of gross national product (GNP) or gross domestic product(GDP).

Duopoly: A market structure in which two producers of a commodity compete with each other.

Econometrics: The application of statistical and mathematical methods in the field of economics to test and quantify economic theories and the solutions to economic problems.

Economic development: The process of improving the quality of human life through increasing per capita income, reducing poverty, and enhancing individual economic opportunities. It is also sometimes defined to include better education, improved health and nutrition, conservation of natural resources, a cleaner environment, and a richer cultural life.

Economic growth: An increase in the nation's capacity to produce goods and services.

Economic infrastructure: The underlying amount of physical and financial capital embodied in roads, railways, waterways, airways, and other forms of transportation and communication plus water supplies, financial institutions, electricity, and public services such as health and education. The level of infrastructural development in a country is a crucial factor determining the pace and diversity of economic development.

Economic integration: The merging to various degrees of the economies and economic policies of two or more countries in a given region. See also common market, customs union, free-trade area, trade creation, and trade diversion.

Economic policy: A statement of objectives and the methods of achieving these objectives (policy instruments) by government, political party, business concern, etc. Some examples of government economic objectives are maintaining full employment, achieving a high rate of economic growth, reducing income inequalities and regional development inequalities, and maintaining price stability. Policy instruments include fiscal policy, monetary and financial policy, and legislative controls (e.g., price and wage control, rent control).

Elasticity of demand: The degree to which consumer demand for a product or service responds to a change in price, wage or other independent variable. When there is no perceptible response, demand is said to be inelastic.

Excess capacity: Volume or capacity over and above that which is needed to meet peak planned or expected demand.

Excess demand: the situation in which the quantity demanded at a given price exceeds the quantity supplied. Opposite: excess supply

Exchange control: A governmental policy designed to restrict the outflow of domestic currency and prevent a worsened balance of payments position by controlling the amount of foreign exchange that can be obtained or held by domestic citizens. Often results from overvalued exchange rates

Exchange rate: The price of one currency stated in terms of another currency.

Export incentives: Public subsidies, tax rebates, and other kinds of financial and nonfinancial measures designed to promote a greater level of economic activity in export industries.

Exports: The value of all goods and nonfactor services sold to the rest of the world; they include merchandise, freight, insurance, travel, and other nonfactor services. The value of factor services (such as investment receipts and workers' remittances from abroad) is excluded from this measure. See also merchandise exports and imports.

Exchange control A governmental policy designed to restrict the outflow of domestic currency and prevent a worsened balance of payments position by controlling the amount of foreign exchange that can be obtained or held by domestic citizens. Often results from overvalued exchange rates.

Externalities: A cost or benefit not accounted for in the price of goods or services. Often "externality" refers to the cost of pollution and other environmental impacts.

Fiscal deficit is the gap between the government's total spending and the sum of its revenue receipts and non-debt capital receipts. It represents the total amount of borrowed funds required by the government to completely meet its expenditure

Fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and taxation to try to influence the level of economic activity. An expansionary (or reflationary) fiscal policy could mean: cutting levels of direct or indirect tax increasing government expenditure The effect of these policies would be to encourage more spending and boost the economy. A contractionary (or deflationary) fiscal policy could be: increasing taxation - either direct or indirect cutting government expenditure These policies would reduce the level of demand in the economy and help to reduce inflation

Fixed costs: A cost incurred in the general operations of the business that is not directly attributable to the costs of producing goods and services. These "Fixed" or "Indirect" costs of doing business will be incurred whether or not any sales are made during the period, thus the designation "Fixed", as opposed to "Variable".

Fixed exchange rate: The exchange value of a national currency fixed in relation to another (usually the U.S. dollar), not free to fluctuate on the international money market.

Foreign aid The international transfer of public funds in the form of loans or grants either directly from one government to another (bilateral assistance) or indirectly through the vehicle of a multilateral assistance agency like the World Bank. See also tied aid, private foreign investment, and nongovernmental organizations.

Foreign direct investment (FDI): Overseas investments by private multinational corporations.

Foreign exchange reserves: The stock of liquid assets denominated in foreign currencies held by a government's monetary authorities (typically, the finance ministry or central bank). Reserves enable the monetary authorities to intervene in foreign exchange markets to affect the exchange value of their domestic currency in the market. Reserves are invested in low-risk and liquid assets, often in foreign government securities.

Free trade: Trade in which goods can be imported and exported without any barriers in the forms of tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions. Free trade has often been described as an engine of growth because it encourages countries to specialize in activities in which they have comparative advantages, thereby increasing their respective production efficiencies and hence their total output of goods and services.

Free-trade area A form of economic integration in which there exists free internal trade among member countries but each member is free to levy different external tariffs against non-member nations.

Free-market exchange rate Rate determined solely by international supply and demand for domestic currency expressed in terms of, say, U.S. dollars.

Fringe benefit: A benefit in addition to salary offered to employees such as use of company's car, house, lunch coupons, health care subscriptions etc.

Gains from trade The addition to output and consumption resulting from specialization in production and free trade with other economic units including persons, regions, or countries.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) An international body set up in 1947 to probe into the ways and means of reducing tariffs on internationally traded goods and services. Between 1947 and 1962, GATT held seven conferences but met with only moderate success. Its major success was achieved in 1967 during the so-called Kennedy Round of talks when tariffs on primary commodities were drastically slashed and then in 1994 with the signing of the Uruguay Round agreement. Replaced in 1995 by World Trade Organization (WTO).

Global warming Theory that world climate is slowly warming as a result of both MDC and LDC industrial and agricultural activities.

Gross domestic product: (GDP) Gross Domestic Product: The total of goods and services produced by a nation over a given period, usually 1 year. Gross Domestic Product measures the total output from all the resources located in a country, wherever the owners of the resources live.

Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Fact book, following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However, the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from citizens working abroad may be important to national well being. GNP equals GDP plus net property income from abroad. Globalisation: The process whereby trade is now being conducted on ever widening geographical boundaries. Countries now trade across continents and companies also trade all over the world.

Human capital Productive investments embodied in human persons. These include skills, abilities, ideals, and health resulting from expenditures on education, on-the-job training programs, and medical care.

Imperfect competition A market situation or structure in which producers have some degree of control over the price of their product. Examples include monopoly and oligopoly. See also perfect competition.

Imperfect market A market where the theoretical assumptions of perfect competition are violated by the existence of, for example, a small number of buyers and sellers, barriers to entry, nonhomogeneity of products, and incomplete information. The three imperfect markets commonly analyzed in economic theory are monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition.

Import substitution A deliberate effort to replace major consumer imports by promoting the emergence and expansion of domestic industries such as textiles, shoes, and household appliances. Import substitution requires the imposition of protective tariffs and quotas to get the new industry started.

Income inequality The existence of disproportionate distribution of total national income among households whereby the share going to rich persons in a country is far greater than that going to poorer persons (a situation common to most LDCs). This is largely due to differences in the amount of income derived from ownership of property and to a lesser extent the result of differences in earned income. Inequality of personal incomes can be reduced by progressive income taxes and wealth taxes.

Index of industrial production: A quantity index that is designed to measure changes in the physical volume or production levels of industrial goods over time.

Inflation is the percentage increase in the prices of goods and services.

Indirect tax: A tax you do not pay directly, but which is passed on to you by an increase in your expenses. For instance, a company might have to pay a fuel tax. The company pays the tax but can increase the cost of its products so consumers are actually paying the tax indirectly by paying more for the merchandise.

Interdependence Interrelationship between economic and noneconomic variables. Also, in international affairs, the situation in which one nation's welfare depends to varying degrees on the decisions and policies of another nation, and vice versa. See also dependence.

International commodity agreement Formal agreement by sellers of a common internationally traded commodity (coffee, sugar) to coordinate supply to maintain price stability.

International Labor Organization (ILO) One of the functional organizations of the United Nations, based in Geneva, Switzerland, whose central task is to look into problems of world labor supply, its training, utilization, domestic and international distribution, etc. Its aim in this endeavor is to increase world output through maximum utilization of available human resources and thus improve levels of living.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) An autonomous international financial institution that originated in the Bretton Woods Conference of 1944. Its main purpose is to regulate the international monetary exchange system, which also stems from that conference but has since been modified. In particular, one of the central tasks of the IMF is to control fluctuations in exchange rates of world currencies in a bid to alleviate severe balance of payments problems.

International poverty line An arbitrary international real income measure, usually expressed in constant dollars (e.g., $270), used as a basis for estimating the proportion of the world's population that exists at bare levels of subsistence.

Land reform A deliberate attempt to reorganize and transform existing agrarian systems with the intention of improving the distribution of agricultural incomes and thus fostering rural development. Among its many forms, land reform may entail provision of secured tenure rights to the individual farmer, transfer of land ownership away from small classes of powerful landowners to tenants who actually till the land, appropriation of land estates for establishing small new settlement farms, or instituting land improvements and irrigation schemes.

Macroeconomic stabilization Policies designed to eliminate macroeconomic instability.

Macroeconomics The branch of economics that considers the relationships among broad economic aggregates such as national income, total volumes of saving, investment, consumption expenditure, employment, and money supply. It is also concerned with determinants of the magnitudes of these aggregates and their rates of change over time.

Market economy A free private-enterprise economy governed by consumer sovereignty, a price system, and the forces of supply and demand.

Market failure A phenomenon that results from the existence of market imperfections (e.g., monopoly power, lack of factor mobility, significant externalities, lack of knowledge) that weaken the functioning of a free-market economy--it fails to realize its theoretical beneficial results. Market failure often provides the justification for government interference with the working of the free market.

Market-friendly approach: World Bank notion that successful development policy requires governments to create an environment in which markets can operate efficiently and to intervene selectively in the economy in areas where the market is inefficient (e.g., social and economic infrastructure, investment coordination, economic "safety net").

Market mechanism: The system whereby prices of commodities or services freely rise or fall when the buyer's demand for them rises or falls or the seller's supply of them decreases or increases.

Market prices: Prices established by demand and supply in a free-market economy.

Merchandise exports and imports: All international changes in ownership of merchandise passing across the customs borders of the trading countries. Exports are valued f.o.b. (free on board). Imports are valued c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight).

Merchandise trade balance: Balance on commodity exports and imports.

Microeconomics: The branch of economics concerned with individual decision units--firms and households--and the way in which their decisions interact to determine relative prices of goods and factors of production and how much of these will be bought and sold. The market is the central concept in microeconomics.

Middle-income countries (MICs): LDCs with per capita income above $785 and below $9,655 in 1997 according to World Bank measures.

Mixed economic systems: Economic systems that are a mixture of both capitalist and socialist economies. Most developing countries have mixed systems. Their essential feature is the coexistence of substantial private and public activity within a single economy.

Monetary policy: The regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank in order to control inflation and stabilize currency. If the economy is heating up, the central bank (such as RBI in India) can withdraw money from the banking system, raise the reserve requirement or raise the discount rate to make it cool down. If growth is slowing, it can reverse the process - increase the money supply, lower the reserve requirement and decrease the discount rate. The monetary policy influences interest rates and money supply.

Money supply: the total stock of money in the economy; currency held by the public plus money in accounts in banks. It consists primarily currency in circulation and deposits in savings and checking accounts. Too much money in relation to the output of goods tends to push interest rates down and push inflation up; too little money tends to push rates up and prices down, causing unemployment and idle plant capacity. The central bank manages the money supply by raising and lowering the reserves banks are required to hold and the discount rate at which they can borrow money from the central bank. The central bank also trades government securities (called repurchase agreements) to take money out of the system or put it in. There are various measures of money supply, including M1, M2, M3 and L; these are referred to as monetary aggregates.

Monopoly A market situation in which a product that does not have close substitutes is being produced and sold by a single seller.

Multi-Fiber Arrangement (MFA) A set of nontariff bilateral quotas established by developed countries on imports of cotton, wool, and synthetic textiles and clothing from individual LDCs

Multinational corporation (MNC) An international or transnational corporation with headquarters in one country but branch offices in a wide range of both developed and developing countries. Examples include General Motors, Coca-Cola, Firestone, Philips, Volkswagen, British Petroleum, Exxon, and ITT. Firms become multinational corporations when they perceive advantages to establishing production and other activities in foreign locations. Firms globalize their activities both to supply their home-country market more cheaply and to serve foreign markets more directly. Keeping foreign activities within the corporate structure lets firms avoid the costs inherent in arm's-length dealings with separate entities while utilizing their own firm-specific knowledge such as advanced production techniques.

National debt: Treasury bills, notes, bonds, and other debt obligations that constitute the debt owed by the federal government. It represents the accumulation of each year's budget deficit Public debt: Borrowing by the Government of India internally as well as externally. The total of the nation's debts: debts of local and state and national governments is an indicator of how much public spending is financed by borrowing instead of taxation

Newly industrializing countries (NICs) A small group of countries at a relatively advanced level of economic development with a substantial and dynamic industrial sector and with close links to the international trade, finance, and investment system (Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan).

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) Privately owned and operated organizations involved in providing financial and technical assistance to LDCs. See foreign aid.

Nontariff trade barrier: A barrier to free trade that takes a form other than a tariff, such as quotas or sanitary requirements for imported meats and dairy products.

Official development assistance (ODA) Net disbursements of loans or grants made on concessional terms by official agencies of member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Official exchange rate: Rate at which the central bank will buy and sell the domestic currency in terms of a foreign currency such as the U.S. dollar.

Open economy An economy that encourages foreign trade and has extensive financial and nonfinancial contacts with the rest of the world in areas such as education, culture, and technology. See also closed economy.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):An organization of 20 countries from the Western world including all of those in Europe and North America. Its major objective is to assist the economic growth of its member nations by promoting cooperation and technical analysis of national and international economic trends.

Overvalued exchange rate An official exchange rate set at a level higher than its real or shadow value--for example, 7 Kenyan shillings per dollar instead of, say, 10 shillings per dollar. Overvalued rates cheapen the real cost of imports while raising the real cost of exports. They often lead to a need for exchange control.

Perfect competition A market situation characterized by the existence of very many buyers and sellers of homogeneous goods or services with perfect knowledge and free entry so that no single buyer or seller can influence the price of the good or service.

Performance budget is a budget format that relates the input of resources and the output of services for each organizational unit individually. Sometimes used synonymously with program budget. It is a budget wherein expenditures are based primarily upon measurable performance of activities.

Political economy The attempt to merge economic analysis with practical politics--to view economic activity in its political context. Much of classical economics was political economy, and today political economy is increasingly being recognized as necessary for any realistic examination of development problems.

Portfolio investment Financial investments by private individuals, corporations, pension funds, and mutual funds in stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and notes issued by private companies and the public agencies of LDCs. See also private foreign investment.

Poverty gap: The sum of the difference between the poverty line and actual income levels of all people living below that line.

Poverty line: A level of income below, which people are deemed poor. A global poverty line of $1 per person per day was suggested in 1990 (World Bank 1990). This line facilitates comparison of how many poor people there are in different countries. But, it is only a crude estimate because the line does not recognize differences in the buying power of money in different countries, and, more significantly, because it does not recognize other aspects of poverty than the material, or income poverty.

Price: The monetary or real value of a resource, commodity, or service. The role of prices in a market economy is to ration or allocate resources in accordance with supply and demand; relative prices should reflect the relative scarcity of different resources, goods, or services.

Price elasticity of demand: The responsiveness of the quantity of a commodity demanded to a change in its price, expressed as the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price.

Price elasticity of supply: The responsiveness of the quantity of a commodity supplied to a change in its price, expressed as the percentage change in quantity supplied divided by the percentage change in price.

Quota: A physical limitation on the quantity of any item that can be imported into a country, such as so many automobiles per year. Also a method for allocating limited school places by noncompetitive means--for example, by income or ethnicity.

Repo rate: This is one of the credit management tools used by the Reserve Bank to regulate liquidity in South Africa (customer spending). The bank borrows money from the Reserve Bank to cover its shortfall. The Reserve Bank only makes a certain amount of money available and this determines the repo rate. If the bank requires more money than what is available, this will increase the repo rate - and vice versa.

Revenue expenditure: This is expenditure on recurring items, including the running of services and financing capital spending that is paid for by borrowing. This is meant for normal running of governments' maintenance expenditures, interest payments, subsidies and transfers etc. It is current expenditure which does not result in the creation of assets. Grants given to State governments or other parties are also treated as revenue expenditure even if some of the grants may be meant for creating assets. Subsidy : Financial assistance (often from the government) to a specific group of producers or consumers.

Revenue receipts: Additions to assets that do not incur an obligation that must be met at some future date and do not represent exchanges of property for money. Assets must be available for expenditures. These include proceeds of taxes and duties levied by the government, interest and dividend on investments made by the government, fees and other receipts for services rendered by the government.

Stabilization policies: A coordinated set of mostly restrictive fiscal and monetary policies aimed at reducing inflation, cutting budget deficits, and improving the balance of payments. See conditionality and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Subsidy: A payment by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry (e.g., as a result of continuous unprofitable operations) or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor (as in the case of a wage subsidy). Examples are export subsidies to encourage the sale of exports; subsidies on some foodstuffs to keep down the cost of living, especially in urban areas; and farm subsidies to encourage expansion of farm production and achieve self-reliance in food production.

Tax avoidance: A legal action designed to reduce or eliminate the taxes that one owes.

Tax base: the total property and resources subject to taxation.

Tax evasion: An illegal strategy to decrease tax burden by underreporting income, overstating deductions, or using illegal tax shelters.

Terms of trade The ratio of a country's average export price to its average import price; also known as the commodity terms of trade. A country's terms of trade are said to improve when this ratio increases and to worsen when it decreases, that is, when import prices rise at a relatively faster rate than export prices (the experience of most LDCs in recent decades).

Treasury bill: A short-term debt issued by a national government with a maximum maturity of one year. Treasury bills are sold at discount, such that the difference between purchase price and the value at maturity is the amount of interest.

VAT: A form of indirect sales tax paid on products and services at each stage of production or distribution, based on the value added at that stage and included in the cost to the ultimate customer.

World Bank: An international financial institution owned by its 181 member countries and based in Washington, D.C. Its main objective is to provide development funds to the Third World nations in the form of interest-bearing loans and technical assistance. The World Bank operates with borrowed funds.

WTO: The World Trade Organization is a global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. It was set up in 1995 at the conclusion of GATT negotiations for administering multilateral trade negotiations.

2011-04-10T08:45:00.004+05:30

Shorts Notes

1>Yakshagana- it is a popular form of dance in Karnataka, started by the Vijayanagar artists back in 14th century, also known as Aataa and Tulu.
2>The Statue of Liberty-Situated in New York,USA,symbol of liberty of mankind, presented to the people of France to USA in 1886.Its a statue of a lady with a torch in her raised hand.
3>Know India Program:It is a program to introduce Indian cultural,socio religious,architectural,geographical and historical heritage to the foreigners to attract more tourists to India
4>Footloose Industry-is a general term for an industry that can be placed and located at any location without effect from factors such as resources or transport.These industries often have spatially fixed costs, which means that the costs of the products do not change despite where the product is assembled. Diamonds and computer chips are some examples of footloose industries.
5>MERCOSUR- It is a regional trade agreement among 5 South American nations, Brazil,Argentina,Paraguay,Uruguay.Started in 1991 with Asunción agreement.Venezuela will soon be the 5th full member.Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru currently have associate member status.
6>Eiffel Tower-Named after its designer Gustave Eiffel, situated in Paris beside the Seine river it has become a symbol of French culture and a favourite tourist destination.Completed in 1889.
7>Euro Control-It is the international norm for vehicular pollution control.Presently Euro III is in operation but will soon be replaced by Euro V.In India it exists in the name of BHARAT III.
8>Mekong Ganga Cooperation-It is an economic cooperation existing between India, Myanmar,Vietnam,Thailand,Laos and Cambodia, established in 2000.It is an evidence of India's increasing participation in South East Asian economy.
9>Central Vigilance Commission-Established in 1964, it is vested with the power and authority to eradicate corruption in central departments and units, now a constitutional body.
10>Reverse Migration- Reverse migration is a phenomenon in bird migration. Although some large birds such as swans learn migration routes from their parents, in most small species, such as passerines, the route is genetically programmed, and young birds can innately navigate to their wintering area.Sometimes it denotes the return of the people who have settled in other countries to their own country.
11>Chilka Lake:It is a brackish water lagoon in Orissa,at the mouth of Daya river, the largest in India and the second largest lagoon in the world, in 1981 it got the status of the first Indian wetland of international importance under Ramsar convention.
12>Mau Mau rebellion- Lasted from 1952 to 1960, rebellion against British colonial group by the Kikuyu ethnic group in Kenya, brutally repressed by the British
13>Sanand-It is a small municipal city in Ahmedabad district Gujarat, came in news when Tata group shifted the manufacturing units of Nano car from Singur in West Bengal to there.
14>Idi Amin-The notorious Ugandan dictator, died in 2003,responsible for many massacres in Uganda and also for compelling the people of Indian origin and other Asians in Uganda to flee leaving behind their properties without any compensation in 70s.
15>G 77- Originally founded by 77 developing nations in 1963 under the UN banner for better political, economic and social cooperation.Presently it has 130 members.G-24 is a part of it.

2011-04-10T08:45:00.001+05:30

Domestic Voilence Act

The Act covers

abuse or thread to abuse, whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic.
Harassment by way of dowry
Right to secure housing of women with right to reside in the matrimonial or shared household.

The Act is called Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006
It came into effect from 26th October 2006.
It primarily meant to provide protection of the wife or a female live-in partner from voilence at the hands of the husband or his relative. The Law has also extended its protection to mothers, sisters and widows.

2011-04-10T08:44:00.002+05:30

Role of Gandhi in Independence Struggle

Bring out the role of Gandhi in the struggle for India’s independence.

The struggle for India’s independence is replete with outstanding contributions from various luminary nationalist leaders. The contributions of leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Gopal Krishan Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, etc have been laudable. But if one were asked to name a leader who undisputedly contributed the most, the name of Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi would undoubtedly be at the apex. Before he came to the Indian scene in 1915-16, the nationalist movement was progressing very slowly. There was no leader with the mass appeal and the nationalists were sharply divided in two groups i.e. the moderates and the extremists. The methods adopted by the pre-Gandhi nationalists were too democratic to have any material effect on the colonial power ruling the country.

The advent of Gandhi changed the very complexion of the nationalist movement. His methods included the involvement of people in a big way and adoption of non-violent methods of agitation.

Gandhi’s role was primarily that of a leader who identified himself with the Indian masses. He gradually emerged as a natural leader of the masses and took complete control of the movement against the imperialist force. It was mainly after the British became aware of the strong character of Gandhi and complete involvement of the masses in the Movement that they finally decided to quit India in the year 1947.

The methods used by Gandhi can be broadly classified into the following categories:

(a) Involvement of Masses: Prior to Gandhi, the nationalist movement was being run by a handful of intellectuals and the masses were neither involved nor adequately informed of the developments of the nationalist movement. This trend was reversed after Gandhi came on the national scene.

(b) Non-Violence: One of the important Gandhian methods was the adoption of complete non-violence during all his satyagrahas and movements. He knew that the poor Indians could not match the might of the British government and adoption of any violent means would only result in more casualties on the Indian side.

(c) Truthfulness: Just like non-violence, truthfulness was the hallmark of Gandhi’s personality and methods. He not only preached it but also practiced absolute truthfulness and sincerity. Truthfulness not only gave him the inner strength to fight the mighty British but also convinced the masses of his honest and sincere intentions.

(d) Non-cooperation and Satyagraha: One of the most common methods used by Gandhi was non-cooperation with the civil authorities and Satyagraha. Satyagraha, as explained by Gandhi himself, was different from the passive resistance and was fearless agitation based on the principles of non-cooperation, fearlessness and truthfulness. These three methods were employed by Gandhi to bend the civil authorities more than once and to accept the genuine demands of the Indian people.

First Buddhist Council The First Council, as it is known to Buddhist history, took place at Rajgir, the capital of the Magadha kingdom. The Buddha's most important disciples were asked to recite his teachings from memory. The first to recite was Ananda, the Buddha's cousin, attendant and constant companion for more than 30 years. Demonstrating impressive powers of memorization, he recited not only everything he had heard, but the place in which each discourse was given. Other monks were then asked to confirm Ananda's recollection. It was also at this council that the Buddha's teachings were divided into three categories or "baskets" (pitaka): discourses, discipline and higher knowledge. The Tripitaka that was formed at this meeting is the same canon used by Buddhists today.	Held soon after the death of the Buddha around 400 BCE Presided by monk Mahakasyapa Held by Magadha king Ajatasatru in Rajagriha Objective was to preserve the Buddha’s sayings (suttas) and monastic rules (Vinaya) According to some sources, the Abhidhamma Pitaka, or its matika, was also included. Also the Sangha made the unanimous decision to keep all the rules of the Vinaya, even the lesser and minor rules. Tradition holds that the Council was held in a hall erected by Ajatasattu outside the Sattaparnaguha Cave Detailed accounts of the council can be found in the Khandhaka sections of the canonical Vinayas. According to this record the incident which prompted the Elder Mahakassapa to call this meeting was his hearing a disparaging remark about the strict rule of life for monks. The monk Subhadda, who had ordained late in life, upon hearing that the Buddha had expired, voiced his resentment at having to abide by all the rules for monks laid down by the Buddha. Many monks lamented the passing of the Buddha and were deeply grieved but Subhadda spoke up to show happiness and relief that Buddha was gone.

Second Buddhist Council The group who stayed called themselves the Elders (Thera in Pali). They felt they were in keeping with the original spirit of the Buddha's teachings. The other group, the Great Community (Mahasanghika in Sanskrit), interpreted Buddha's teachings more liberally, but in a way that they felt was more true to his intentions. These two groups would eventually evolve into Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.	(4^th century BCE) Held about 100 years after the Buddha’s demise Held at Vaisali under the presidentship of Sabakami, convened by King Kalasoka Objective was to settle a debate on certain practices of Buddhist monks, esp. in western India Although it is unclear exactly what happened at this council, we do know that it resulted in a split in the Buddhist community. A large group of monks were either expelled or left by choice because they did not agree with the other group's interpretations of the Buddha's teachings. Within 200 years of the Buddha's death, there were 18 schools of Buddhism in India. This is perhaps not surprising, given that the Buddha taught in a slightly different way for each situation, was averse to setting down doctrine and never wrote anything himself. Moreover, Buddhism had now spread to places with different languages and customs, and therefore different perspectives on the dharma.

Third Buddhist Council The reason for convening the Third Buddhist Council is reported to have been to rid the Sangha of corruption and bogus monks who held heretical views. Disputes on points of doctrine lead to further schisms, spawning the Sarvastivadin and Vibhajjavadin sects. The Abhidhamma Pitaka is recited at the Council, along with additional sections of the Khuddaka Nikaya. The modern Pali Tipitaka is now essentially complete, although some scholars have suggested that at least two parts of the extant Canon — the Parivara in the Vinaya, and the Apadana in the Sutta — may date from a later period.	(250 BCE) Held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka Chief monk was Mogaliputta Tissa Sent Buddhist missionaries to other countries Objective was to purify the Buddhist movement from opportunistic factions Origin of Theravada school

Fourth Buddhist Council Fourth Buddhist Council is the name of two separate Buddhist council meetings. The first one was held in the 1st century BC, in Sri Lanka. In this fourth Buddhist council the Theravadin Pali Canon was for the first time committed to writing, on palm leaves. The second one was held by the Sarvastivada school, in Kashmir around the 1st century AD.	(1^st century BCE or CE) Possibly held under Theravada school in Tambapanni (Sri Lanka) in the 1^st century BCE Committed the Pali Canon to writing Another possibly held under Saravastivada tradition, convened by Kanishka around 100 CE in Kashmir under the leadership of monk Vasumitra Kanishka’s council translated Abhidharna texts from Prakrit to Sanskrit

Fifth Buddhist Council	· The Fifth Buddhist council took place in Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) in 1871 AD in the reign of King Mindon. · The chief objective of this meeting was to recite all the teachings of the Buddha according to the Theravada Pali Canon and examine them in minute detail to see if any of them had been altered, distorted or dropped. . · It was presided over by three Elders, the Venerable Mahathera Jagarabhivamsa, the Venerable Narindabhidhaja, and the Venerable Mahathera Sumangalasami in the company of 2,400 monks. · Their joint Dhamma recitation lasted five months.

Sixth Buddhist Council	· The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravada Buddhism, held in a specially built cave and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. · The council was attended by 2,500 monastics from eight Theravada Buddhist countries. · The Council lasted from Vesak 1954 to Vesak 1956, its completion coinciding with the traditional 2,500th anniversary the Buddha's Parinibbāna. In the tradition of past Buddhist councils, a major purpose of the Sixth Council was to preserve the Buddha's teachings and practices as understood in the Theravada tradition. · Over the two-year period, monks (sangīti-kāraka) from different countries recited from their existing redaction of the Pali Canon and the associated post-canonical literature. · As a result, the Council synthesized a new redaction of the Pali texts ultimately transcribed into several native scripts.

I.A.S. ASPIRANTS

I.A.S PREMILS-2013 STUDYPLAN

Hai frndz.this post is specially for newbie’s(like me) who have no access to coaching and preparing on the own and targeted CSP-2013

Note: I am a new bee u may know more than me if anything is wrong senior players can always comment and correct me…

• Coming to polity its own word Laxmikanth Indian Polity (16questions last year)+I recommend to glance through last 10 year polity question and understand the concepts.dnot ask me about dd basu I never saw it..its ur choice u can go through it..

• Well about history Modern India (say Spectrum) <10 questions last year>Pay special attention to:

i) Charter Acts, Govt of India Acts, Indian Councils Acts etc.

ii) Socio-cultural movements

iii) Movements led by Gandhi

iv) Alternative streams (Communism, Tribal/peasant movements, revolutionary movements etc)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/62205950/History-in-English

• The MAIN point is 7th class social studies ncert..read geography and history from it..last time around 5 questions from single book…

• Geography ncerts 7-12 + any gs manual specially tmh more importance to Indian geography and if u have no time then just read 7.11.12th ncerts they cover lot

http://mrunal.org/

• Read carefully about schemes in economy and yearbook. every year two bits from it. never neglect

• For S&T above magazines + hindu articles on s&t and mrunal have gave nice glance of hindu section. leave rest to the god

• Ncerts (7-12)+mrunal+yearbook+any gs manual (preferred tmh)+nios .read them 2 or 3 times and look at last 2 years papers and read them 5 or 6 times to understand the how questions appear in the exam..

• Read above all plus hindu is mandatory if u have time glance through Indian express which is also very usefull+use any gs manual and don’t read science part in any gs manual and if u have any coaching material can go through it.

ALL THE BEST…

Answerkey for CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012 Polity questions only

President

Deadlock

CAG role

PM appointment

Delimitation Commission

Distribution of powers

Fundamental duties

SC Autonom

Rajya Sabha special powers

13th Finance Commission

Public Finance

Education in Constitution

Adjournment Motion

DPSP

UT in RajyaSabha

Speaker

SC jurisdiction

PESA Act

CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012

Overall Breakup

Markwise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

%wise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

Charts and graphs

Data interpretation

Remaining chart

1.History

A.Ancient and Medieval

Modern India (Freedom Struggle)

Polity

Environment & Biodiversity (enb)

Geography

Economy

Science & Technology (S&T)

Yearbook stuff

Current Affairs vs Static

4TF type of question

Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)

Make your own answerkey

Why Cut-offs talk is useless

Start preparing for mains

Was the CSAT-paper Tough?

Psychology- sample notes

Public Admin- sample notes

Public Admin paper 1- sample answers

Newspaper reading

Tips on covering the books

interview preparation:

points to be taken care of-

interview preparation:

Anna Hazare and his fight for the Lokpal Bill..."IMPORTANT"

Reform Movements (Part X)

Rana Kumbha

Rana Sanga

Maharana Pratap

Rani Padmini

Chittorgarh And Jainism

13^th Finance Commission