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Flagship & Advanced students,

This blog is to give guidance to students about the advanced test on History and Geography on the 1^st of December. First let’s discuss history.

History

The test on 1st Dec will cover Ancient India (future tests will be on Medieval India and Modern India). The whole of Ancient India will be covered. Students tend to ignore ancient India, but it is an important topic from prelims and mains perspective. Questions regularly come from this portion, and having a good command over this topic can give you the crucial edge.

In the basic tests you must have already covered the basic NCERTs. Some other books if you have mastered the NCERTs are – Tamil Nadu Class 11 NCERT and Nitin Singhania notes. Here is a sample question –

Q.1) Consider the following statements about the Nalanda University:

1. Nalanda university was founded during the tenure of Kanishka.

2. Only Mahayana Buddhism was taught in Nalanda University

3. Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who came during Harsha’s reign, gave detailed account of Nalanda University.

Which of the following statement/s are correct?

a) All of the above

b) Only 3

c) 1 and 3

d) 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Only statement 3 is correct. Nalanda university was founded during the rule of Kumargupta of Gupta dynasty. Thus statement 1 is incorrect. Also while primary teaching focus was on Mahayana Buddhism, yet other ‘secular’ subjects like grammar, logic, epistemology and sciences were also taught in the university.

Q.14) Consider the following statements:

1. Kailashnath temple at Ellora represents excellent example of cave architecture built by Pallavas.

2. Seven Rath temples of Mahabalipuram is an example of rock cut temple built by Rashtrakutas.

Select the correct codes:

a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d)

Explanation: Kailashnath temple at Ellora represents excellent example of cave architecture built by Rashtrakutas. Pallavas excelled in rock cut temple architecture. The classic example is the Rath temples of Mahabalipuram.

Geography

The test will cover climatology or chapters 13-25 from GC Leong. There will also be map questions. Climatology broadly covers topics such as weather, climate and vegetation.

1. Weather – Chapter 13 – this covers topics such as temperature, humidity etc. We noticed that students had difficulty in such topics in the basic tests (click here to see that analysis), so make sure to cover this chapter properly.

2. Climate – Chapter 14 – this covers topics such as cyclones and is very important for UPSC preparation.

3. Types of climate and vegetation – Chapter 15-25 – What is Sudan climate? Why are deserts located on the western coasts of continents? Questions from these chapters have a high probability of coming in prelims.

Here is a sample question –

Q.26) Which of the following is/are warm local winds?

1. Loo

2. Foehn

3. Bora

4. Mistral

5. Sirocco

Select the correct code

a) 1, 2 and 3

b) 2, 3 and 5

c) 1, 2 and 5

d) 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (c)

Explanation: Bora and mistral are cold winds while others are warm winds.

Q.36) A geographic region has the following distinct characteristics:

1. Warm and dry climate

2. Mild and wet winter

3. Evergreen Oak trees

The above features are distinct characteristics of which one of the following regions?

a) Mediterranean

b) Eastern China

c) Central Asia

d) Atlantic coast of North America

Answer: (a)

Explanation: The Mediterranean climate is characterized by the winter rains while summers are dry. There is presence of trees such as oak.

You can still join and avail all the tests of Flagship/ Advanced Prelims Course – Click here to join in

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Dear Mitron,

I welcome you all to New Delhi for this landmark conference, the first after the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

First boley to maximum important for UPSC guys giving Prelims in 2017! Also research about Sendai Network and its predecessor. Kuch bhi pooch saktey hain.

2015 was a momentous year! Apart from the Sendai Framework, the international community adopted two other major frameworks to shape the future of humanity:

• – the Sustainable Development Goals,
• – and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

For my UPSC Mitrons, make sure you have your notes made on both of them!

Disaster Risk Reduction has a pivotal role in supporting adaptation to climate change as well as sustainable development.

Use this line to flaunt your breadth of inter-connecting issues in your mains and essay papers!

Seven of the top ten countries in the world in terms of number of deaths due to disasters are in the Asia-Pacific. That’s a heck of a statistic to have!

A quarter century ago, only a handful of Asian nations had national disaster management institutions. Today, over thirty Asian countries have dedicated institutions leading disaster risk management efforts. After the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, the five worst affected countries brought in new laws for disaster risk management.

What has India done for Tsunami relief and preparedness?

Hint: We now have a fully functional Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. Along with its Australian and Indonesian counterparts, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services is mandated to issue regional tsunami bulletins.

10 point agenda for renewing our efforts towards disaster risk reduction

First, all development sectors must imbibe the principles of disaster risk management. This will ensure that all development projects – airports, roads, canals, hospitals, schools, bridges – are built to appropriate standards and contribute to the resilience of communities they seek to serve.

In India, the ‘housing for all’ programme and ‘smart cities’ initiative represent such opportunities.

Second, work towards risk coverage for all – starting from poor households to small and medium enterprises to multi-national corporations to nation states.

In India, we have taken bold steps to ensure financial inclusion and risk insurance for the poorest. The Jan Dhan Yojana has brought millions of people into the banking system. The Suraksha Bima Yojana provides risk insurance to millions who need it the most. We have launched the Fasal Bima Yojana, which will provide risk cover to millions of farmers.

Third, encourage greater involvement and leadership of women in disaster risk management. Women are disproportionately affected by disasters. They also have unique strengths and insights.

Fourth, invest in risk mapping globally. For mapping risks related to hazards such as earthquakes we have widely accepted standards and parameters. Based on these, in India, we have mapped seismic zones, with five as highest seismic risk and two as low risk.

Fifth, leverage technology to enhance the efficiency of our disaster risk management efforts

What are the technological efforts/ inventions from India’s side on Disaster Reduction Plan?

Sixth, develop a network of universities to work on disaster issues. After all, universities have social responsibilities too. Over the first five years of the Sendai Framework, we should develop a global network of universities working together on problems of disaster risk management.

Seventh, utilize the opportunities provided by social media and mobile technologies. Social media is transforming disaster response. How so?

Eighth, build on local capacity and initiative. The task of disaster risk management, particularly in rapidly growing economies, is so huge that formal institutions of the state can at best be instrumental in creating the enabling conditions.

Can you give instances of local involvement in India’s case?

Ninth, ensure that the opportunity to learn from a disaster is not wasted. After every disaster there are papers and reports on lessons learnt that are rarely applied.

And finally, bring about greater cohesion in international response to disasters.

In India, we are committed to walk the talk on the implementation of Sendai Framework. In June this year, India’s National Disaster Management Plan was released which is aligned with the priorities set out in the Sendai Framework.

To read through related news on Disaster Management – Read this Newstrail

To read more by Confused Billi – click here

Everyday we read news, but do we do more than read it? The best way to learn from news is to find the issues and facts which we don’t know and research them. Starting today we will try to list some topics to help you do that.

Let’s call this the new avatar of #Back2Basics

Following topics are based on today’s news –

1. GST in the news once again! Since it is a topic which appears so frequently in the news, you must have read many articles and made notes. Answer these questions – Why is GST better than the present system? What is CGST and IGST? What is the purpose and composition of the GST Council?

If you can’t answer these in detail that means you haven’t made notes on them properly. Make these notes. – PRELIMS + MAINS

2. What is quantum communication? Why is it considered so secure? – PRELIMS

3. Lots of news about Sendai Framework. What is it? What is the legal framework for India’s disaster management? – PRELIMS + MAINS

4. Sharia banking in the news. Make notes on it. Include it under the notes you have for financial inclusion.

GS1 (Modern India)

Within a few years of coming back to India, Gandhiji had assumed leadership of the national movement. What could be the reasons for his rapid rise?

GS2 (Polity and Governance)

Recently large no. of people are moving away from their homes due to increasing conflicts. The most prominent examples of this include African and Syrian refugees in Europe. Minorities are also prosecuted in our neighbourhood. Hence, the govt. has recently been considering granting citizenship to minorities from our neighbours. In this regard, discuss the issues around the proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Read these to get some information – Link 1 and Link 2.

GS3 (Science and Technology)

Genetic engineering has made tremendous progress recently. The newest, most powerful genome editing tool is called CRISPR. What is CRISPR? What are its applications and why are there concerns about it being misused?

Read this to get some information – Link

GS4 (Ethics)

There is a common perception that only criminals enter into politics. This means that criminals become our leaders. How would you change this perception? What steps should be taken to make politics a respectable career choice?

GS4 (Ethics)

There is a common perception that only criminals enter into politics. This means that criminals become our leaders. How would you change this perception? What steps should be taken to make politics a respectable career choice?

GS3 (Science and Technology)

Genetic engineering has made tremendous progress recently. The newest, most powerful genome editing tool is called CRISPR. What is CRISPR? What are its applications and why are there concerns about it being misused?

Read this to get some information – Link

GS2 (Polity and Governance)

Recently large no. of people are moving away from their homes due to increasing conflicts. The most prominent examples of this include African and Syrian refugees in Europe. Minorities are also prosecuted in our neighbourhood. Hence, the govt. has recently been considering granting citizenship to minorities from our neighbours. In this regard, discuss the issues around the proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Read these to get some information – Link 1 and Link 2.

GS1 (Modern India)

Within a few years of coming back to India, Gandhiji had assumed leadership of the national movement. What could be the reasons for his rapid rise?