UPSC has updated its examination calendar for 2017 (click here)
Notification of UPSC Prelims (Civil Services + Forest Services) – 22 February 2017
Last Date to Submit Application – 17 March 2017
Date of Preliminary Exam – 18 June 2017
UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam – 28 October 2017 (5 Days)
For students preparing for IAS Prelims 2017, we have launched our Flagship Course for IAS Prelims 2017
In the last blog of this new series on Spiritual Tourism we left off at Kamakhya. Lets continue the tour alphabetically and traverse way down South to Kanchipuram. Keep the following map handy
Mathura School of Art:
Materials– Clay figurines (Terracotta), Red sandstone
Traditional folk arts:
Published with inputs from Amar
The solutions for this mock are now available in a downloadable pdf. We have tried to make them as detailed as possible and included references and user comments wherever possible. Download link.
Note: For readers armed with their Android phones, you shall not be able to comment on this quiz from the App ecosystem, so please return to your desktops and fill in the comments and discuss!
Directions : The following two (02) items consist of two statements, one labelled as the ‘Assertion (A)’ and the other as ‘Reason (R)’. You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true and R is NOT the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
1. Assertion (A) : The Rig Veda does not mention any officer for administering justice.
Reason (R) : The Rig Vedic society was free of any unsocial activity.
2. Assertion (A) : The debates in the Ibadat Khana built by Akbar were discontinued after a period.
Reason (R) : The debates were leading to increasing bitterness among the proponents of different religions.
3. Under the Mauryan administration, the offices of ‘Samaharta‘ and ‘Sannidhata‘ were related to
(a) mining activities
(b) relation with the neighbouring rulers
(c) tax administration
(d) activities related to wars
4. Which of the following was/were mainly produced/constructed while the Gupta dynasty ruled the northern India?
(a) Ajanta Paintings
(b) Rock cut temples of Mamallapuram
(c) Rock cut caves of Barabar
(d) Sangam Literature
5. Consider the following statements:
1. That sun is stationary and the earth rotates was known to Indians by first century B.C.
2. ‘Zero’ was known to Indians by the second century B.C.
3. The decimal system was known to Indians by fifth century B.C.
4. That the moon rotates around the earth was known to Indians by sixth century B.C.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
6. By the virtue of which of the following the governance of India was transferred directly to the British Government thus ending the rule of East India Company?
(a) The Indian Council Act of 1861
(b) The Regulating Act of 1773
(c) The Pitt’s India Act of 1784
(d) The Government of India Act of 1858
7. Consider the following statements about the land revenue policy of ‘Permanent Settlement’:
1. It was introduced in Bengal and Bihar by Lord Cornwallis.
2. The right of ownership of zamindars was made hereditary and transferable.
3. The zamindars were to give 3/4th of the rental they derived from the peasantry to the state.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
8. Consider the following statements about Raja Rammohun Roy:
1. He was the founder of ‘Brahma Sabha’ (Bhahmo Samaj).
2. He opposed idol worship and championed the cause of women emancipation.
3. He rejected the authority of oldest sacred books of Hindu religion faulting them for perpetuating social evils like sati.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
9. In the context of Indian freedom struggle, what were ‘Anushilan Samiti‘ and ‘Abhinav Bharat‘?
(a) regional committees enrolling the masses for carrying out the constructive work as propounded by the Indian National Congress
(b) rural societies that reached out to the peasantry of the country espousing the cause of freedom struggle
(c) secret societies propagating the idea of revolutionary terrorism to uproot the British from Indian soil
(d) committees carrying out the task of keeping the spirits of the masses alive during the period of inactivity in the mass movements
10. Which of the following movement followed the failure of the Cripps Mission?
(a) Quit India Movement
(b) Non Cooperation Movement
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) Swadeshi Movement
11. Vaikom Satyagraha was organised to oppose
(a) the repressive tax regime in Kerala
(b) the hereditary rights of land ownership
(c) the seclusion of lower castes from entering the temples
(d) the system of begar which burdened the peasantry
12. During the heyday of Quit India movement, Gandhiji commenced a twenty-one day fast while in jail in February 1943. Why?
(a) to condemn the violence of the people who digressed from the path of non-violence
(b) to pressurise the state into accepting the demands of the Congress
(c) to garner international support for the cause of Indian independence
(d) to register his protests against the unprecedented violence of the state
13. Who of the following Bhakti saints was/were contemporary(ies) of Sufi saint Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti ?
1. Namadeva
2. Ramananda
3. Kabir
4. Ravidas
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 only
(d) None
14. Which one of the following temple was built in a different architectural design compared to the other three?
(a) Kandarya Mahadeo Temple, Khajuraho
(b) Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram
(c) Sun Temple, Konark
(d) Jagannatha Temple, Puri
15. Consider the following statements:
1. Arches and domes, which were Turkish inventions, were used by them on a wide scale in their buildings in India.
2. The arches were decorated with human or animal figures and scrolls of flowers.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
16. Who of the following was the first one to offer Individual Satyagraha?
(a) Jyotiba Phule
(b) Jawahal Lal Nehru
(c) Vinoba Bhave
(d) Rajendra Prasad
17. Consider the following statements:
1. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to address a session of the Indian National Congress.
2. W C Bonnerji was the first President of the Indian National Congress.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
18. With respect to the Indian National Freedom movement, what was ‘Cunningham Circular‘?
(a) A circular in Assam which forced students to furnish assurances of good behaviour
(b) A circular in Bardoli allowing the confiscation of the assets of anyone refusing to pay taxes
(c) A circular in Nagpur restraining participation by the mill workers in Nagpur Flag Satyagraha
(d) A circular in North West Frontier Province allowing firing even on the peaceful demonstrators
19. With reference to the medieval history of India, Rashtra, Visaya and Bhukti were units of administration of
(a) Palas
(b) Chalukyas
(c) Rashtrakutas
(d) Pratiharas
20. Anekantavada is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Sikhism
(c) Jainism
(d) Vaishnavism
21. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?
Theatre Form : Region
1. Ankia Naat : Western India
2. Dashavatar : Konkan Region
3. Bhand Pather : Central India
Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
22. Consider the following statements:
1. ‘Thangka Paintings‘ are hand made paintings popular in the tribal areas of Jharkhand.
2. They depict images of local deities and episodes from popular texts like Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
23. What was Komagata Maru?
(a) A political party based in Thailand
(b) A prominent communist leader of China
(c) A naval ship on voyage to Canada
(d) A revolutionary leader of Japan
24. Which of the following statements about the Charter Act of 1833 is/are correct?
1. The trading activities of East India Company were to be abolished.
2. A law member was to be appointed to the Governor-General’s Council.
3. All law-making power was vested in the law member appointed to the Council.
Which of the above statements is/are correct
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
25. ‘Indian Liberation Front’ was formed by the moderates who left Indian National Congress following the
(a) Indian Statutory Commission report
(b) Montague-Chelmsford report
(c) Cripps Mission Report
(d) Wavell Plan
In the last blog of this new series on Spiritual Tourism we left off at Amaravati. Lets continue the tour alphabetically and head straight to Amritsar. Keep the following map handy
Gaya is situated on the Banks of Phalgu river <Phalgu river is a tributary of which famous river?>
Published with inputs from Amar
We have been doing Prelims Titbits for >15 days now. This is a mini test to evaluate whether you are doing it correctly or not. Many of the Questions have been taken from past 5 years prelims papers.
1. With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”?(2011)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
2. The salaries of which of the following are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India?
3. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2007 Prelims)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
4. Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora? (2011)
5. Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: (2011)
Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?
6. A presides over the joint sitting of both the Houses. If however A is absent, B presides. If B is also absent, C presides. A,B and C respectively are?
7. Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of (Pre 2013)
8. Nai Manzil is a government of India scheme related to development of which of the following
9. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for: (2013)
10. With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report?(2011)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
11. Consider the following definitions:
Which of the above definitions is/are INCORRECT?
12. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because(2012)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
13. In which of the following movements did Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death for the first time to get his demands fulfilled?
14. What is the difference between “vote-on-account” and “interim budget”?(2011)
Which of the statements; given above is/are correct?
15. A deadlock between the LokSabha and the RajyaSabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of(2012)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
1. b
Home charges means money spent by Britain in Britain on behalf of India. They included
I am not so sure about statement 3. Funds used for waging war outside India as when British fought in wars nor do I find direct mention of it in home charges. EIC donated money to them. IMO statemnt 3 is wrong
2. No option is correct. Answer is 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 9. If any option has to be marked, it would be option a
6- salary of high court judge charged on consolidated fund of states not centre, pension is charged on CFI
7- EC expenditure and salary not charged
3. a
Can practice in supreme court or other high courts
4. b
Botanical garden – ex situ
5. c , 1,3 and 5
Threat perception has to be one of the criteria, only in one option
6, d, speaker, deputy speaker, deputy chairperson
7. b, algae and fundgi
8. a, skill development of minorities
9. a
10. b, 2 and 3
It demanded dominion status, that’s why J.L.Nehru and Subhash Bose opposed and criticized the report
11. a, 1 and 2 incorrect
Definition of bioaccumulation and biomagnification has been interchanged.Bioaccumulation occurs within same trophic level.
12. a, 1 only
13. c, ahmedabad mill strike
14. b
15. a, 1only
RS can only hold back money bill for 14 days. CAB has to be passed separately by both the houses
P.S.- Almost every question can be solved by reading tit-bit. 10 questions were from previous years UPSC papers. If you got <24/ 30 after negative, you are not doing titbits and your study properly.
Established in April 1987, it is a voluntary association of 35 countries and 4 “unilateral adherents” that follow its rules: Israel, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia.
The group aims to slow the spread of missiles and other unmanned delivery technology that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.
The regime urges members, which include most of the world’s major missile manufacturers, to restrict exports of missiles and related technologies capable of carrying a 500 kg payload at least 300 km, or delivering any type of weapon of mass destruction.
It is possible China may now seek some kind of bargain, whereby it is given entry to the MTCR in return for letting India get into the NSG, where it wields a veto.
Following India’s 1974 nuclear tests, the US pushed for setting up a club of nuclear equipment and fissile material suppliers.
The 48-nation group frames and implements agreed rules for exporting nuclear equipment, with a view to controlling the spread of nuclear weapons; members are admitted only by consensus.
India has been trying, since 2008, to join the group, which would give it a place at the high table where the rules of nuclear commerce are decided — and, eventually, the ability to sell equipment.
Many countries that initially opposed its entry, like Australia, have changed stance; Mexico and Switzerland are the latest to voice support. India’s effort has been to chip away at the resistance, leaving only one holdout — China. But until China accepts India’s entry, there is no hope of membership.
The answer lies in the US effort to strengthen the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, whose centrepiece is the 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, or NPT.
The NPT defines “nuclear weapons states” as those that tested devices before January 1, 1967 — which means India cannot ever be one.
India — like Israel and Pakistan — thus refused to sign the treaty. From 2005, though, President George W Bush’s administration sought ways to deepen strategic cooperation with India.
Nuclear energy was a key means to strengthen cooperation, but since India wasn’t a member of the NPT, technology couldn’t be shared. Then, a way forward was found — the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement.
India agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes, and put the civilian part under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
India also changed its export laws to line up with the NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group — the 4 key nuclear control regimes.
The US agreed to shepherd India’s entry into these regimes, which meant India would for all practical purposes be treated like an NPT member, even though it wasn’t one.
The Pakistani argument is that giving India easy access to fissile material and technology for its civilian nuclear programme means it would have that much more material for its military nuclear programme.
Thus, Pakistan says, the move to give India NSG membership is fuelling a nuclear arms race.
But this argument falls apart because Pakistan is resolutely opposed to a key international agreement called the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT), which would cap the military nuclear stockpiles of all countries. The FMCT ought to put an end to Pakistan’s fears, but Islamabad has refused to sign.
Chinese diplomats say Beijing wants NSG entry to be norm-based , in other words, whatever rules govern Indian entry should apply to others too.
Norm-based entry would, presumably, help Pakistan gain entry, something many in the NSG are certain to resist because of the country’s record as a proliferator of nuclear-weapons technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Geopolitics!
The 2008 one-time waiver allowed nuclear commerce between NSG members and India — the agreement that now allows Westinghouse, and its competitors in France or South Korea, to bid to set up civilian reactors in India.
The waiver came only after President Bush rang President Hu Jintao and called in a favour. Back then, US-China relations were riding high — on the back of surging trade, and a common vision of how the international order should be structured.
Today, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping are at odds over Chinese muscle-flexing in the South China Sea. The odds of a phone call changing the state of play are next to zero.
References:
If covert operations are anything to go by, UPSC is trumping them all! Here are your dates for the 2017 Civil Service Calendar:
Download the notification from here. Click to download the UPSC pdf.
Zorr ka jhatka?
Discuss – Other imp. conventions I missed
Discuss-Other important environmental organizations, Birdlife International, wetland International
Simple – Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation happen within an organism, but biomagnification occurs across levels of the food chain.
Discuss- Why does BioMagnification occur? Characteristics of substances which tend to bioaccumulate.
Country A has per capita GDP of 20k$ but only 10% of it’s population is graduate, 50% of it’s women are anemic, children are malnourished. Country B has per capita GDP of only 8k$ but 100% of it’s population is literate, 50% gradate, prevalence of anemia and malnutrition is closed to zero. Which country would you considered more developed?
As per capita GDP was always considered as very narrow measure of human development as it did not include important aspects of development such as health, education etc., there was a search for a broad measure of human development.
In this context Indian Economist Amartya Sen and Paki Economist Mahbub ul Haq came up with the concept of human development index. Since 1990 it’s published annually by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) <where is it’s Headquarters? hint HQ of most UN bodies is in one particular location except one.>
Theme – Work for human development <what was the theme of 2014 report?>
Three dimension, four indicators (in bracket India’s data)
UNDP uses geometric mean to arrive at HDI. Formula is not important <wiki for curious souls, it’s very simple>
Three dimensions, 5 indicators
Three dimensions 10 indicators
Calculation is not important but each dimension has equal 1/ 3 weight and each parameter within dimension has equal weight
MPI – H *A
H: Percentage of people who are MPI poor (incidence of poverty)
A: Average intensity of MPI poverty across the poor (%)
For India survey data is of 2005-06, according to which >50% of population suffering from multidimensional poverty and >25% from severe i.e deprivation in >50% of indicators
Note – Mention this index in any question of poverty where India poverty line is discussed
While we are at it, let’s also look at some other similar indexes
Four Indicators
It’s a 100 point scale with zero meaning zero hunger, 100 meaning worst form of absolute hunger
by – Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United Nations
Six Parameters
As we saw India loses more than a quarter of it’s HDI due to inequality and income inequality plays a part in that. One of the most common method to measure income inequality is Gini Coeffiient
It takes value from 0 to 1 with zero denoting perfect equality (everyone having equal income) and 1 denoting perfect inequality (1 person cornering all the income)
It’s based on income distribution of a population (Lorenz Curve) which plots the proportion of the total income of the population (y axis) that is cumulatively earned by the bottom x% of the population
India’s Gini Coefficient-
We have already discussed a lot about gender inequality in various indexes as well as low female labour force participation rate in last chapter.
A few more points before concluding the chapter-
Let’s look at the conviction rate for crimes against women
Deterent effect of conviction under a law is nullified by the slow disposal of cases and low conviction rates in crimes against women
What is the govt doing?
