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For the aspirants of IAS 2017, who have registered for our Flagship Prelims Course, here’s a sneak-peek of what to expect.

• The exam starts on 11th September at the portal – Click here to register
• It is an online only exam – you can attempt it all day and beyond. Don’t worry of any fixed time
• Syllabus is fixed – Indian Polity (NCERTs of 9th, 10th and 11th) – If you don’t have the books – you might find some NCERTs here – Click to download
• If you want to have a look at our previous year’s sectional tests – we have made 6 Mocks available for FREE – Click to attempt before you join Flagship
• If you want to know whether it is worth it to spend ~6K in an online environment, read this blog to see how we differ and what our users have to say

And now, for the sneak-peak into the actual test. We are releasing a few questions and explanations in this blog to let you know what a beginner should expect to excel in the TS – 

1. Bear in mind that since UPSC has changed its gears towards more current affairs centric paper, we want you to focus on only a few select books to master the Static portion. But for those select few books, we are very, very serious about mastering them.
2. All of the questions will be inferred from the prescribed books only – Test will have a balanced ensemble of easy, medium, difficult question and you should be scoring high on the first 6 basic tests to join the leagues of advanced players after that.

Sample Questions + Explanations

 

Q#1. Consider the following

1. There shall be no religious instruction in the government educational institutions.
2. In educational institutions managed by private bodies no person shall be compelled to take part in any religious instruction or to attend any religious worship

 

Which of the following is/are incorrect?

• a) Only 1
• b) Only 2
• c) Both 1 & 2
• d) Neither 1 & 2

Ans (d)

Explanation-

-There shall be no religious instruction in the government educational institutions. In educational institutions managed by private bodies no person shall be compelled to take part in any religious instruction or to attend any religious worship.

[Source: Chapter 6, Page 106 –Democratic Politics Part 1 Class IX]

Titbits – Religious instruction in the govt or private institute is prohibited

 

Q#2. Consider the following on as per the Constitution of India

1. Fundamental rights are absolute rights for citizens of India
2. Reservation will not be seen as a violation of right to equality.

Which of the following is/are correct?

• a) 1 only
• b) 2 only
• c) Both 1 and 2
• d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans (b)

Explanation-

• – Fundamental rights are not absolute or unlimited rights
• – In fact Article 16(4) of the constitution explicitly clarifies that a policy like reservation will not be seen as a violation of right to equality

[Source: Chapter 2, Page 33 – Indian Constitution At Work Class XI]

Tikdam- No rights are unlimited so eliminate that first. Reservation and rights are different so second is true.

Q#3. Consider the following

1. In a SC reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled tribe can stand for election.
2. One-fourth of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.

Which of the following is/are correct?

• a) Only 1
• b) Only 2
• c) Both 1 & 2
• d) Neither 1 & 2

Ans (d)

Explanation-

• – One-third of the seats are reserved in rural and urban local bodies for women candidates.
• – In a SC reserved constituency only someone who belongs to the Scheduled caste can stand for election

[Source: Chapter 4, Page 63 –Democratic Politics Part 1 Class IX]
Tikdam- 33% is standard reservation for women. Always remember that. In SC constituency SC cam contest

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So, there you go. You will face such questions and more. The Explanations will in turn act as a revision for you and we assure you that once you are through these tests, you would have mastered the Art of Prelims.

If you have joined in, prepare well and we look forward to see you on the 11th September. If you haven’t already – register and join us for CD Flagship Prelims Course.

We do make mistakes( like me ticking the wrong option ( (；一_一) and it’s normal( Yes  if i ticked it I have to accept it. I can’t make it a hype saying OMG what I just did for a while yes I will run around cry to my dear ones but for how long will I do that so I have  to start over again so yes I have to take it as normal)  . Have you not heard that “to err is human”. ( So just relax for a while and read what I want to say it to you its really important ).

Consider this situation for example.

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Do you really think that this incident will give her tag of being ‘stupid’?

But then let us not forget “the audience”. They are judging her on every mistake and their “haww” expression seeing her like this.

So “for a moment” yes it’s a stupidest thing. She will feel sorry about it. But should she not go back to the water cooler? Or just get away with this embarrassment  by throwing it.

What would she do? What would you expect her to do at this moment?

I think She just need to take few steps to go to a water cooler so why to leave it empty. It’s her bottle she needs it more than the people around her who are laughing.

And if I could simply put imagine your plans, dreams or aspirations as this bottle. I know it’s not okay if you failed to accomplish things what you wished for. But tell me one thing will you just toss it away just because some are asking you to rethink on decision?

Opting for this examination will be currently in your mind or may be something else: P .Regardless of how many times you failed stop doubting yourself. Every time I failed I was told not to live in a fool’s paradise. But then I never stopped giving myself a chance. Things hurt us but if you have lost all hopes only thing you have to trust is yourself. So give yourself a chance (＾▽＾)

And it’s your bottle of wishes Na and you need it you dreamed about it. See your dreams may be silly or be whatever for others but you need to protect it it’s “your” dream (Do watch The Pursuit of Happyness I learnt this from it :)) . Remember never leave anything undone that you have thought of  doing ( In life never ever bring yourself to a point that you regret that kaash yeh kar liya hota.I know you have responsibilities but you have to take care of yourself  and your smile too .)

So the way I want her to go back its confidence that I want her to have. Same I want you too to have that confidence. I want you to stand up for what you want to do and be the one you wanted to be. No matter how hard it is for you and how many frowning eyes watching you. You just have to recharge yourself with determination and dedication that’s all your bottle of wishes need.

So it’s September start reading ….φ(・∀・＊)

Hence  Rule#1  of Zoya : Protect your dream.

source

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It’s August end. For some of us, the prelims blitzkrieg just ended, for some, the mains gamble started, and the fuchhas, the newbies, June 2017 has already started giving them jitters. But all this, when we are still in the cocoon stage of our struggle, the stage where all we have to do is scratch the grey matter. Some of us get through the struggle part easily, many of us do not. Such is the story, a walk through struggles, of 2006 AIR 48, Govind Jaiswal. Not everyone makes headlines, he did. Lets get to know this man, this inspiration and pray altogether that, not some but many of us make it to the holy list.

Born and brought up in Varanasi. Son of a Rickshaw vendor, three sisters, the bringing up was not smooth. Quoting him in verbatim,” I used to plug in cotton buds inside my ears, for the street outside our home was so noisy, the room we lived in so small, that this wasn’t something I could choose not to.”

The Great Indian system, which expected him to continue with rickshaws and not dream beyond that, became his muse, his inspiration. For now he knew, the only thing which could lift him off the ground was education, and he grasped the fact so hard that there was no turning back. In one of his interactions, he got to know the one thing, by becoming which one could gain respect, of peers, of society, for himself and his parents.

And the golden words were, An IAS officer. This stuck to his mind like, metal to magnet, detractors tried pulling him back, society said, “Oh! you aren’t destined for this, why the pains?” He soon answered the benign concern nevertheless. For his home is now, “IAS ka ghar”.

He got through his college education from BHU, economic constraints here too, but the fire never died, he never stopped dreaming. Then on a leap of faith, he came to Delhi, the Mecca of aspirants.

The going wasn’t easy. His father had to sell all his land to sum up a meagre Rs.30,000/- for him. Govind too kept on with sustenance by giving tuitions while in Delhi. The struggle was real. Two times a meal became luxury, having had enjoyed dinner with the leftovers of lunch. And with all these the constant thought of his father, the hopes, the heavy feeling.

He chose Philosophy and History as his optionals, yes the time when there used to be two, lucky you. His hindi background was an area of concern for him, like it is for many amongst us, as if English is the sole parameter of achievement. But all he could do was work on it, and he excelled at working.

“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. Govind exemplified the phrase and made it through the mains. Dholpur house, the holy list, were so near, yet so far. The interview went well, like it went for hundreds like him. Quoting his sister, “ Had he not made it to the list, someone of us could have died. Things were this tensed.” And he did make it to the list.

But we all know, Govind isn’t the only one. Many of us have had seen things, much more miserable, through this hallowed journey. You feel down by the constant feeling, the thought of, “what if I don’t get through”, well, don’t let that thought die. Wear it on your arm, like a badge, let no one, not even you, your thoughts take over your aspirations. Nothing can be stronger than your will, if you must. You are, what your struggles have moulded you into. The product of your hardships.

Do not get too much into strategies, do not plan to plan everything. Do not feel down if you fail to cover the target you set for the day. Believe in yourself. You will get through, you have to get through. The nation needs officers like Govind, like you.

And when you’ll wave us from the other side, the party wouldn’t have ended, rather lifelong celebrations would have just begun. A new life in the making. A life of giving, of fulfilling the needs, of materializing the vision a young boy saw in the bylanes of Varanasi.

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Contributed by Shreesh Kala.