Attempt any one of the following essays-:
1. Geography may remain the same;history need not.
2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country?
3. Preparedness of our society for India's global leadership role.
4. From traditional Indian philanthropy to the Gates-Buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift?
For details about Smart Foundation E-Correspondence course and other details click here
http://www.smart-foundation.com/pcm.html
Friday, October 29, 2010
GS MAINS PAPER 2 2010
1. Answer the following in not more than 250 words each 20x2=40
(a)Critically examine the implications of the disintegration of the Soviet Union on India's security and strategic perspectives. What further responses would you suggest in India's foreign policy to accommodate these implica¬tions?
(b)Evaluate India's approach towards meeting the country's growing energy demands. Compare the success of this approach with that of another Asian giant which has perhaps the fastest growing energy demands.
2. Answer any four of the following in not more than 150 words each: 12x4=48
(a) How far have Japan's principles of Hikaku San Gensoku impacted bilateral ties with India?
(b)Assess the contributions of Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean.
(c)Do you agree with the view that Israel is a 'natural ally' of India?
(d) Bring out the FDI and employment implica¬tions of China being a manufacturing hub and India a service hub?
(e) Have the Uruguay Round negotiations and the resultant Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement helped in resolving trade conflicts arising out of variations in different nations' IPR regimes ? Also list the steps taken by India to conform to TRIPS.
(f)Examine the recent developments towards the solution of the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary dispute. What implications do these have for India?
3. Answer any eight of the following in not more than 50 words each : 5x8=40
(a) Compare and contrast the role of the IMF with that of the World Bank.
(b)What are the major capacity-building and reconstruction projects being undertaken by India in Afghanistan?
(c) Bring out the significance of GDI and GEM as components of the UN's Human Development Report (HDR). Comment on India's relative rankings with regard to HDI and GDI.
(d)What is 'Round Tripping' in the context of FDI inflow, and why has it been in the news recently in the case of India?
(e)Comment on the reason for the recent hike in visa processing fees for certain categories of US visas. What is the likely impact of this hike on India?
(f)In the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), distinguish between 'Annex I' and 'Annex II' countries.
(g)Highlight the role of the Indian peacekeeping contingent as part of MONUSCO.
(h)List the salient features of the Riyadh declaration and the bilateral agreements between
India and Saudi Arabia signed earlier this year.
(i)Comment on the reasons for the recent economic crisis in the so-called 'PIGS' countries of Europe.
4. Answer any two of the following in not more than 150 word each: 12x2=24
(a) Examine the opportunities for a lasting West Asia peace solution in the context of the 'historic' talks started in September 2010.
(b) Has the February agreement between the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) been more successful in ending the strife in Darfur than the Abuja peace agreement of 2006? Evaluate.
(c)Comment on the present status of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). What important issues, do you think, need to be taken up at the seventh review conference of the BWC scheduled for 2011?
5.Answer any four of the following in not more than 150 words each: 12x4=48
(a)Bring out the applications of computer models in studying climate changes, with special reference to the Community Earth System Model (CESM).
(b)What is phytoremediation ? Discuss its appli¬cations.
(c) Explain and differentiate among 'Plasma', 'LCD' and 'LED' television technologies.
(d) What is 'cloud computing’? Bring out its essential features and list its advantages and limitations.
(e) Discuss the applications of nanotechnology in the health care sector.
6. Comment on any three of the following in not more than 50 words each: 5x3=15
(a) Rotterdam Convention
(b) The Mavi Marmara incident
(c)Significance of the Kampala declaration of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
(d)Trial chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and its recent verdict.
7. Comment on any six of the following in not more than 50 words each: 5x6=30
(a) MRSA infection
(b) HRP-2M Choromet
(c) Maglev vehicles
(d) Super absorbent polymers (SAP)
(e) Ginkgo biloba
(f) CARTOSAT-2B
(g) Various generations of mobile phone technology
8. Who/What are the following and why have they been in the news recently? (Your answers should be in a sentence or two only): 3x8=24
(a) Craig Venter
(b) Shahran Amiri
(c) Wolfram Alpha
(d) 'Dreamliner' aircraft
(e) Blue gene project
(f) 'Predator' drones
(g) 'Deepwater Horizon' incident
(h) ACTN 3 gene
Remaining paper comprises of statistics portion which will be uploaded soon.
For information about E-Correspondence course and other details check http://www.smart-foundation.com/
GS MAINS PAPER 2010
GS MAINS PAPER 2010 -PAPER 1
1. Answer the following (in about 250 words for each answer) : 20x2=40
(a) "Disputes between the- riparian states on sharing of river waters in post- Independence India are becoming increasingly complex." Objectively analyse the major disputes in this connection, with special reference to the Southern States.
(b)Critically examine the differing estimates for (i) poverty figures, and (ii) GDP growth data for April-June 2010, that have been in the news recently. In your view, what estimates are more reflective of the ground reality, and why?
2.Answer any two of the following in about 150 words each: 12x2=24
(a), "Dalhousie's predecessors had acted on the general principles of avoiding annexations, if these could be avoided. Dalhousie acted on the principles of annexation, if lie could do so legitimately. His annexations were both of war and peace." Analyse.
(b) With respect to Cooperative Societies what are the salient features of the 106th and 111th Constitutional Amendment Bills as at present?
(c) "Small-holder farms need to be strengthened to achieve national food security." Do you agree with this assessment? Substantiate.
3. Answer any two of the following in about 150 words
(a) Comment on the spatial components in urban solid waste management in the country.
(b) Assess the contributions made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in agricultural development.
(c) List the .significant local storms of the hot-weather season in the country and bring out their socio-economic impact.
4. Answer any two of the following in about 150 words 12x2=24
(a)What are the grounds of disqualification of a Member of Parliament from either House? Quote relevant provisions in your answer.
(b) Distinguish between the objectives, structure and functioning of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan' and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
(c) Bring out the salient features of the evolution and the current status of the 'Bharat Stage' vehicle emission norms in the country.
5. Write brief but precise notes ON any six of the following. Your answer should not exceed 50 words in each case. 5x6=30
(a) Transhumance in India
(b) Frontogenesis and Frontolysi.s
(c) Golden Revolution
(d) Sea-floor spreading
(e)Legislative powers assigned to the Rajya Sabha under Art. 249 and Art. 312 of the Constitution
(f) Causes for dominant dendritic pattern of drainage in the Gangetic plains
(g) 'Break-of-bulk” towns
6. Answer any three of the following in about 150 words each: 12x3=36
(a) While bringing out their salient features, distinguish between either 'Madhubani' Art and 'Manjusha' Art or 'Rajasthani' schools of painting and the 'Pahari' school of Painting.
(b) Bring out the powers and responsibilities attached to the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
(c) Distinguish between the following four literary awards:
(i) Jnanpith Award
(ii) Sahitya Akademi Award
(iii) Vyas Samman
(iv) Sarastvati Summan
(d) After the September 1st changes, do you think that Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) and Mutual Funds (MFs) are on a level playing field ? Substantiate your answer from the perspective of an ordinary investor.
7. Answer any five of the following in about 150 words each: 12*5=60
(a) What do you understand by 'repo rate' and 'reverse repo rate’? What are the implications in raising these rates?
(b) "Cost-benefit analysis should not be the sole consideration, while deciding to host events like the Commonwealth Games." Critically comment on this perspective.
(c) List any eight 'Ramsar' wetland sites located in India. What is the 'Montreux Record' and what Indian sites are included in this Record?
(d) Are the 'Dedicated Freight Corridor' railway project and the 'Golden Quadrilateral' road project mutually complementary or competitive? Assess.
(e) "Upliftment of the neglected sections of society will be best served with many more centers of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University." Expand on the assertion made.
(f) Comment on the salient features of the recent draft Model Real Estate (Regulation of Development) Act of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation of the Central Government.
8. Answer each of the following, briefly but precisely. Each answer should be less than 50 words. 5x6=30
(a) How is disagreement between the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of a State in passing of an ordinary Bill, resolved?
(b) Comment on the recent HFC-23 emissions controversy that includes in its ambit some Indian companies.
(c) Comment on the recommendations of the Wadhwa Commission on the Public Distribution System.
(d) What are the salient features of The National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan?
(e) You arrive first at, the scene where a bus accident has just occurred. What emergency measures should you immediately and safely adopt?
(f)Bring out the sectoral and state-wise distribution patterns of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country.
9. Write brief notes on each of the following, in about 20 words each: 2x8=16
(a) Contributions of Latika Ghosh to the freedom struggle
(b) Bhai Maharaj Singh as a freedom fighter
(c) Chandrayaan-II
(d) Agni-V
(e) Babli Project
(f) 'SwavaJamban' Scheme
(g) National Investment Fund
(h) 'Aerostat' balloon
10. Who are the following and why have been in the news recently? (Each answer should not exceed 20 words) 2x8=16
(a) Divya Ajithkumar
(b) N.C. Saxena
(c) Islam A. Siddiqui
(d) Swarnalatha Cherukutty
(e) Nitin Nohria
(f) Deepak Mondal
(g) Gaurav Singh Saini
(h) Upendra Limaye
For E-Correspondence targetting 2011-2012 course and details log into http://www.smart-foundation.com/
1. Answer the following (in about 250 words for each answer) : 20x2=40
(a) "Disputes between the- riparian states on sharing of river waters in post- Independence India are becoming increasingly complex." Objectively analyse the major disputes in this connection, with special reference to the Southern States.
(b)Critically examine the differing estimates for (i) poverty figures, and (ii) GDP growth data for April-June 2010, that have been in the news recently. In your view, what estimates are more reflective of the ground reality, and why?
2.Answer any two of the following in about 150 words each: 12x2=24
(a), "Dalhousie's predecessors had acted on the general principles of avoiding annexations, if these could be avoided. Dalhousie acted on the principles of annexation, if lie could do so legitimately. His annexations were both of war and peace." Analyse.
(b) With respect to Cooperative Societies what are the salient features of the 106th and 111th Constitutional Amendment Bills as at present?
(c) "Small-holder farms need to be strengthened to achieve national food security." Do you agree with this assessment? Substantiate.
3. Answer any two of the following in about 150 words
(a) Comment on the spatial components in urban solid waste management in the country.
(b) Assess the contributions made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in agricultural development.
(c) List the .significant local storms of the hot-weather season in the country and bring out their socio-economic impact.
4. Answer any two of the following in about 150 words 12x2=24
(a)What are the grounds of disqualification of a Member of Parliament from either House? Quote relevant provisions in your answer.
(b) Distinguish between the objectives, structure and functioning of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan' and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
(c) Bring out the salient features of the evolution and the current status of the 'Bharat Stage' vehicle emission norms in the country.
5. Write brief but precise notes ON any six of the following. Your answer should not exceed 50 words in each case. 5x6=30
(a) Transhumance in India
(b) Frontogenesis and Frontolysi.s
(c) Golden Revolution
(d) Sea-floor spreading
(e)Legislative powers assigned to the Rajya Sabha under Art. 249 and Art. 312 of the Constitution
(f) Causes for dominant dendritic pattern of drainage in the Gangetic plains
(g) 'Break-of-bulk” towns
6. Answer any three of the following in about 150 words each: 12x3=36
(a) While bringing out their salient features, distinguish between either 'Madhubani' Art and 'Manjusha' Art or 'Rajasthani' schools of painting and the 'Pahari' school of Painting.
(b) Bring out the powers and responsibilities attached to the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
(c) Distinguish between the following four literary awards:
(i) Jnanpith Award
(ii) Sahitya Akademi Award
(iii) Vyas Samman
(iv) Sarastvati Summan
(d) After the September 1st changes, do you think that Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) and Mutual Funds (MFs) are on a level playing field ? Substantiate your answer from the perspective of an ordinary investor.
7. Answer any five of the following in about 150 words each: 12*5=60
(a) What do you understand by 'repo rate' and 'reverse repo rate’? What are the implications in raising these rates?
(b) "Cost-benefit analysis should not be the sole consideration, while deciding to host events like the Commonwealth Games." Critically comment on this perspective.
(c) List any eight 'Ramsar' wetland sites located in India. What is the 'Montreux Record' and what Indian sites are included in this Record?
(d) Are the 'Dedicated Freight Corridor' railway project and the 'Golden Quadrilateral' road project mutually complementary or competitive? Assess.
(e) "Upliftment of the neglected sections of society will be best served with many more centers of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University." Expand on the assertion made.
(f) Comment on the salient features of the recent draft Model Real Estate (Regulation of Development) Act of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation of the Central Government.
8. Answer each of the following, briefly but precisely. Each answer should be less than 50 words. 5x6=30
(a) How is disagreement between the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of a State in passing of an ordinary Bill, resolved?
(b) Comment on the recent HFC-23 emissions controversy that includes in its ambit some Indian companies.
(c) Comment on the recommendations of the Wadhwa Commission on the Public Distribution System.
(d) What are the salient features of The National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan?
(e) You arrive first at, the scene where a bus accident has just occurred. What emergency measures should you immediately and safely adopt?
(f)Bring out the sectoral and state-wise distribution patterns of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country.
9. Write brief notes on each of the following, in about 20 words each: 2x8=16
(a) Contributions of Latika Ghosh to the freedom struggle
(b) Bhai Maharaj Singh as a freedom fighter
(c) Chandrayaan-II
(d) Agni-V
(e) Babli Project
(f) 'SwavaJamban' Scheme
(g) National Investment Fund
(h) 'Aerostat' balloon
10. Who are the following and why have been in the news recently? (Each answer should not exceed 20 words) 2x8=16
(a) Divya Ajithkumar
(b) N.C. Saxena
(c) Islam A. Siddiqui
(d) Swarnalatha Cherukutty
(e) Nitin Nohria
(f) Deepak Mondal
(g) Gaurav Singh Saini
(h) Upendra Limaye
For E-Correspondence targetting 2011-2012 course and details log into http://www.smart-foundation.com/
Thursday, October 21, 2010
UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
PRESS NOTE
PRESS NOTE
Subject: Changes in syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination from 2011 in the scheme of Civil Services Examination
• As per the decision of Government of India, there shall be change in the syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination from 2011 in the scheme of the Civil Services Examination.
• The Preliminary Examination shall now comprise of two compulsory Papers of 200 marks each and of two hours duration each. Detailed below is the new syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination, which is brought to the notice of the prospective candidates intending to appear at the Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2011 onwards:
Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography
of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System,
Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development,
Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate
Change - that do not require subject specialization
• General Science.
Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude
etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data
sufficiency etc. -Class X level)
• English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
• Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.
• The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
• A set of sample questions for both Papers would be put on the UPSC website http://www.upsc.gov.in in due course for reference of the prospective candidates.
• The prospective candidates are advised to note that no changes are being introduced at this stage in the Civil Services (Main) Examination and Personality Test in the scheme of Civil Services Examination (CSE).
Monday, October 18, 2010
E-correspondence-PRELIMS CUM MAINS 2011
Keeping in view the commitment of helping the students crack the civil servants Smart Foundation announces the enrollment for Prelims-cum-Mains course "TARGET 2011"The course material will be in accordance with the requirements of the changing syllabus of the Civil Service Examinations.
FEATURES:
1. Compilation of relevant topics in question and answer format covering The Hindu, The Economic Times, government websites, Yozna, Kurukshetra, World Focus, Down to Earth etc.
2. Material for the traditional section would be based on the compilation of standard texts.
3. Special emphasis on improving drafting and answer writing qualities of the aspirant.
4. Emphasis on developing qualitative objective and subjective approach for prelims and mains.
5. Regular test series .
6. Compiled notes on demand as per the requirement of the aspirant.
7. Course material will be provided to the students in "soft copy" format.
1. Compilation of relevant topics in question and answer format covering The Hindu, The Economic Times, government websites, Yozna, Kurukshetra, World Focus, Down to Earth etc.
2. Material for the traditional section would be based on the compilation of standard texts.
3. Special emphasis on improving drafting and answer writing qualities of the aspirant.
4. Emphasis on developing qualitative objective and subjective approach for prelims and mains.
5. Regular test series .
6. Compiled notes on demand as per the requirement of the aspirant.
7. Course material will be provided to the students in "soft copy" format.
HOW IT CAN HELP THE ASPIRANTS:
1. It will save the time of the students and organize their efforts.
2. Material is regularly updated and compiled which will help the students to understand decision making and problem solving approaches of Government on a day to day basis.
3. The most unique feature of this course is its unique participatory nature. Students can mail their desired topics of interest that would be duly drafted and compiled in accordance with the requirements of the GS paper. The compiled format would be mailed back to the students as soon as possible.
4. The traditional part for both prelims and mains would be compiled in a easy to grasp "concepts and probable questions" format.
1. It will save the time of the students and organize their efforts.
2. Material is regularly updated and compiled which will help the students to understand decision making and problem solving approaches of Government on a day to day basis.
3. The most unique feature of this course is its unique participatory nature. Students can mail their desired topics of interest that would be duly drafted and compiled in accordance with the requirements of the GS paper. The compiled format would be mailed back to the students as soon as possible.
4. The traditional part for both prelims and mains would be compiled in a easy to grasp "concepts and probable questions" format.
DURATION OF THE COURSE:
1. The duration of the course will be 10 months.
2. Regular updates will be given to the students every 20 days.
For more details log on to
Civil Services (Prelim) Exam.-2011--CSAT SYLLABUS
| Civil Services (Prelim) Exam.-2011 |
From Civil Service Examination 2011, Preliminary Examination would consist of two papers- Paper I and Paper II. The syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination would be as under : (Paper 1) (200 marks) - Duration : Two hrs. · Current events of national and international importance · History of India and Indian national movement · Indian and World Geography- physical, social, economic geography of India and the world · Indian Polity and governance – constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc. · Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc. · General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change-that donot require subject specialization · General science. (Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs · Comprehension · Interpersonal skills including communication skills · Logical reasoning and analytical ability · Decision making and problem solving · General mental ability · Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level) · English language comprehension skills (Class X level) |
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