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  • Anthropology Strategy from Kirti (AIR 14) and Neha (AIR 26)

    This article, on Anthropology as an optional subject, has been written with inputs from Kirti Chekuri (AIR 14, 2015) and Neha Kumari (AIR Rank 26, 2014), who chose Anthropology as their optional subject for Mains.

    • Start with the study of syllabus and previous years question bank. Most of the previous year questions have been repeated number of times. Hence it is very important to cover the syllabus along with clarity of understanding as well as making 200-400 words of notes on each sub-topic.
    • Divide the syllabus of each section into 10 to 12 parts each. Then note down one topic and under this topic, write down all the questions asked in previous years. Then make short notes of each topic. Notes must be concise and crisp.

    Study Material:

    Physical Anthropology :

    • P Nath – Must buy
    • Das – few topics are really good – Desirable
    • Vaid Sir’s Notes
    • Muniratnam Sir Printed material
    • Braintree notes

    For every topic in this section first go through P Nath and VS thoroughly. Then make notes and mug them up.

    Fossil Evidence:

    • S Das

    Socio Cultural Anthropology:

    • Introduction to Socio-cultural Anthropology by Dr N K Vaid
    • Muniratnam Printed Material
    • Braintree

    Indian Anthropology:

    • Tribal India Nadeem Hasnain
    • Indian Anthropology Nadeem Hasnain
    • Muniratnam Printed material
    • Braintree

    Answer Writing Strategy:

    • Use side headings
    • Diagrams
    • Case studies
    • Examples
    • Definitions

    Topics in Paper-2 for which case studies could be collected:

    • Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status.
    • Panchayati raj and social change; Media and social change.
    • Problems of the tribal Communities – land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, underemployment, health and nutrition.
    • Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement and problems of rehabilitation. Development of forest policy and tribals. Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal populations.
    • Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
    • Social change and contemporary tribal societies: Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measures on tribals and weaker sections.
    • The concept of ethnicity; Ethnic conflicts and political developments; Unrest among tribal communities; Regionalism and demand for autonomy; Pseudo-tribalism; Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-Independent India.
    • Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies.
    • History of administration of tribal areas, tribal policies, plans, programmes of tribal development and their implementation. The concept of PTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups), their distribution, special programmes for their development. Role of N.G.O.s in tribal development.
    • Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development.
    • Contributions of anthropology to the understanding of regionalism, communalism, and ethnic and political movements.

  • 17 Nov 2016 | GS4 | What are the 3 most important values for a civil servant? Discuss with examples.

    GS4 (Ethics in Public Administration)

    What are the 3 most important values for a civil servant? Discuss with examples.

    Similar Previous Question – What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is this all the more important in public administration? [2014]

  • 17 Nov 2016 | GS3 | J&K has seen long-drawn out protests this year. Life is only beginning to return to normality. However, the same factors as before are still there, waiting for a trigger to come to the surface. In this regard what are some of the steps the govt. has taken over the years to improve the situation in J&K?

    GS3 (Internal Security)

    J&K has seen long-drawn out protests this year. Life is only beginning to return to normality. However, the same factors as before are still there, waiting for a trigger to come to the surface. In this regard what are some of the steps the govt. has taken over the years to improve the situation in J&K?

  • 17 Nov 2016 | GS2 | The Prime Minister’s plan for 100 smart cities could be derailed by its proposed funding formula. Can cash-strapped states and municipal bodies raise the desired amount of the project cost what the Union government wants them to?

    GS2 (Polity and Governance)

    The Prime Minister’s plan for 100 smart cities could be derailed by its proposed funding formula. Can cash-strapped states and municipal bodies raise the desired amount of the project cost what the Union government wants them to?

    For a discussion of this questions, see this blog by K Siddhartha.

  • 17 Nov 2016 | GS1 | Many Governor-Generals and Viceroys left a big impact on India through the policies they pursued. Some helped bring about social reforms, and some increased divisions in society. Examine the good and bad impacts of such men using examples.

    GS1 (Modern India)

    Many Governor-Generals and Viceroys left a big impact on India through the policies they pursued. Some helped bring about social reforms, and some increased divisions in society. Examine the good and bad impacts of such men using examples.

    Similar Previous Year Question – In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate. [2013]

  • 17 Nov 2016 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions & Tikdams

    Dear students,

    When you submit your answer, if possible, give some reasoning & more info. along with the ABACAA format. Elaborate on what you know. This is going to help you retain & remember better.

    NOTE: Prelims Daily compilation for October 2016 has been released for FREE – Click2Download

    Q.1) Recently, Asian Development Bank and India have signed a $500 million loan to build long road bridge across the Ganges River. Consider following statements in regard with this.

    1. The bridge aims to improve transport connectivity between North Bihar and South Bihar.

    2. This will be India’s longest river bridge and acts as a better link between the Patna and the surrounding areas.

    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

     

    Q.2) Recently, ‘Hand-in-Hand 2016’ joint military exercise has began between India and

    a) France

    b) Russia

    c) Japan

    d) China

     

    Q.3) With reference to Geographical Indication(GI) status, consider the following statements:

    1. GI status is an indication that product is identified as a good or an item manufactured or produced in a particular geographical region.

    2. GI tag are also covered under the WTO’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.

    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

     

    Q.4) Which of the following correctly describes about ‘Piezoelectric materials’, which was sometimes in the news.

    a) It creates electricity when subjected to a mechanical stress

    b) It generates kinetic energy when subjected to shear stress

    c) It can generate renewable electricity in wind power plants

    d) None of the above

     

    Q.5) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Medical Council of India’

    1. MCI is a statutory body with the responsibility of establishing and maintaining high standards of medical education and recognition of medical qualifications.

    2. The former Comptroller & Auditor General Vinod Rai Committee was appointed to oversee the functioning of the MCI.

    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

     

    Q.6) Which of the following is/ are the indicator/ indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?

    1.Undernourishment

    2.Child stunting

    3.Child Mortality

    Select the correct answer using the code given below  (CSP 2016)

    A. 1 only

    B. 2 and 3 only

    C. 1,2 and 3

    D. 1 and 3 only

     

    Q.7) There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which action/actions of the following can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit?

    1. Reducing Revenue Expenditure

    2. Introducing new welfare scheme

    3. Rationalizing subsidies

    4. Reducing import duties

    Select the correct answer using the code below   (CSP-2016)

    A. 1 only

    B. 2 and 3 only

    C. 1 and 3 only

    D. 1,2,3 and 4

     

    Q.8) The establishment of ‘Payment Banks’ is being allowed in India to promote financial inclusion. Which of the following statements is/are correct in this context?

    1. Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains that are owned and controlled by residents are eligible to be promoters of Payment Banks.

    2. Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit cards

    3. Payment banks cannot undertake lending activities.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below   (CSP-2016)

    A. 1 and 2 only

    B. 1 and 3 only

    C. 2 only

    D. 1,2 and 3

    IMPORTANT STUFF: 

    1. These questions are mostly derived from our daily newscards. Reading daily news from Civilsdaily’s App (click here) or website + solving these questions will help you reinforce the basics.

    2. For a comprehensive preparation of IAS Prelims 2017 – consider joining one of the three Prelims Modules by CD – prelims.civilsdaily.com

    3. Solutions will be uploaded at 8 p.m. Click here for solutions.

    4. For attempting previous Prelims Daily Questions – Click here

    5. How to apply Tikdams? Read this, this and this

  • 6 Types of Lakes and Their Charactersitics

    Lakes are classified depending on how they formed and on the quality of the water (freshwater or saltwater). Only in the saltiest lakes there is no life. Lakes contain 4 times more freshwater than the rivers, but, if they are not continuously supplied with freshwater, they can disappear through desiccation or accumulation of sediments.

    A lake helps in preventing flood by regulating the flow of river. During dry seasons, a lake helps to maintain an even flow of the river. Lakes can also be used for generating hydel power.

    #1.Tectonic lakes

    source
    • The movements of the Earth’s crust formed the largest lake, the Caspian Sea, and the deepest, Lake Baikal.
    • Caspian Sea is located in a depression between the Caucasus Mountains and Central Asia and its surface is still varying, millions of years after its emergence.
    • Before the formation of the Caucasus chain, it was connected to the Black Sea.
    • Wular lake (Jammu & Kashmir) is the largest freshwater lake in India. It was formed by tectonic activity.

    The Great Rift Valley in Africa harbors, from north to south, a chain of lakes like Albert, Edward, Tanganyika and Malawi. The rift penetrates to southwestern Asia, comprising the lake located at the lowest altitude: the Dead Sea, 399 m (1,330 ft) under the sea level.

    #2. Volcanic lakes

    The most common form is the one filling the caldera of a shut-off volcano. One of the largest lakes of this kind is the Crater Lake, from the crater of Mazama Mountain, Oregon, US. It formed 6,600 years ago, having 10 km (6.2 mi) in diameter, and a depth of 589 m (1.963 ft).

    source

    #3. Ox­bow Lake:

    source

    #4. Glacial Lake

    source

    A lake formed by melting of glacier is called a glacial lake. Most of the lakes in the Himalayan region are glacial lakes.

    #5. Lagoon

    When the lake is formed by spits and bars in coastal areas, it is called a lagoon. Chilika lake, Pulicat lake, Kolleru lake, etc. are examples of lagoon.

    #6. Artificial Lake

     

  • Understand Everything About a River Drainage & Drainage Patterns

    The river system of an area is called drainage. The area drained by a single river system is called the drainage basin.

    The word watershed is sometimes used interchangeably with drainage basin or catchment. Ridges and hills that separate two watersheds are called the drainage divide.

    source

    Terminology for the study of rivers

    • Drainage basin – the area of land drained by a river.
    • Catchment area – the area within the drainage basin.
    • Watershed – the edge of highland surrounding a drainage basin. It marks the boundary between two drainage basins.
    • Source – The beginning or start of a river.
    • Confluence – the point at which two rivers or streams join.
    • Tributary – a stream or smaller river which joins a larger stream or river.
    • Mouth – the point where the river comes to the end, usually when entering a sea.

    Drainage Patterns:

    source

    Depending on the slope of land, underlying rock structure and climate of an area, the streams in a drainage basin form certain patterns. Different types of drainage pattern are as follows:

    #1. Dendritic Drainage Pattern:

    When the river channel follows the slope of the terrain, it develops dendritic pattern. The stream and its tributaries resemble the branches of a tree. Hence, it is called dendritic pattern.

    source

    #2. Trellis Drainage Pattern:

    When a river is joined by its tributaries at almost right angles, it develops a trellis pattern. Trellis pattern develops where hard and soft rocks exist parallel to each other.

    source

    #3. Rectangular Drainage Pattern:

    When rocks are strongly joined, rectangular pattern develops.

    source

    #4. Radial Drainage Pattern:

    • When the streams flow in different directions from a central peak or dome like structure, a radial pattern is developed.
    • It is important to note that a combination of different patterns may develop in the same drainage basin.

    source

    A Quick Recap

    source

     

  • Need some guidance please

    Guys, need help from you. I have started my preparation for CSE2017 3 months back & now I realised that I have not progressed an inch also. Please suggest me a routine. I have tried many options , made several routines but all are in vain. My facts are : I wake up at 5 am, 5.30 to 8.30 ( in field, practice ) <– can not skip this because I grabbed my current job in sports quota). From 10am to 6 pm : office ( I have little work in office, so I have ample time,) 6 to 9pm free time. 10 pm: sleep.
    So I have only 2 windows for study : office time 10 to 6 & evening after office 6 to 9. The problem is despite my best effort I am still unable to utilize my office time. Please give me some guidance on that.
    I dont know whether I can make it with my those little timings for my study 🙁

  • 16 Nov 2016 | Back2Basics: Daily Static and CA Revision using News

    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. What are – piezoelectric materials, nanogenerators, wearable electronics – PRELIMS

    2. What is the India BPO Promotion Scheme? It is under the Digital India Scheme, so make notes on Digital India also. – PRELIMS + MAINS

    3. There is news on CPI and WPI today. What are CPI and WPI? Revise your notes if you have them, or make notes on them. – PRELIMS + MAINS

    4. ADB is giving a $500 million loan. Research ADB. – PRELIMS + MAINS

    Also note that it is for India’s largest bridge. What is the largest bridge at the moment in India? Where is it located? – PRELIMS

    5. News on Russia-Pak-China forum. Research the Heart of Asia Conference mentioned in the news. Who are the members, what is its purpose etc. – PRELIMS + MAINS

    6. The SC has refused to stay the demonetization move. List the Part, Chapter and Articles related to the Supreme Court in the Indian Constitution. – PRELIMS + MAINS

    7. Centre has increased MSP for Rabi crops – what crops come under Rabi? What months does it correspond to? – PRELIMS

    8. Banks will be using special ink to prevent people from changing old notes repeatedly. This ink is also used in elections. What makes the ink so special? – PRELIMS

     

    Make sure to leave some of the answers and your views on this initiative in the comments.

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