💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (June Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Search results for: “”

  • IAS prelims 2016 Solutions – Economy

    IMP: Civilsdaily IAS Prelims 2017 Test Series Module Launched – Click here

    • Twenty four (24) Questions from economy – Only four really conceptual, rest on current happenings
    • Some questions whch may not be strictly economy questions but covered in economic survey are included here
    • Except for one question – IMF committee, all fairly easy
    • All 23 Questions can be solved by reading CD newscards/explainers/survey/holy bundle/ solved papers

    1. 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:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1, 2 and 3

    (d) 1 and 3 only

    • Covered in economic survey chapter
    • Four Indicators
    1. undernourished population
    2. Wasting in Under 5 children <wasting is very low weight for height i.e very thin child>
    3. Stunting in under 5 children <stunting is very low height for age i.e. very short child>
    4. Under 5 mortality rate

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/economic-survey-for-ias-volume-2-chapter-9-part-3-social-infrastructure-employment-and-human-development/

    Note that, it isn’t covered in original economic survey or in the summary of other institutions

    2. 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 schemes
    3. Rationalizing subsidies
    4. Reducing import duty

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1,2,3 and 4

    • Repeat / done in solved papers
    • Holy Bundle
    • Reduce expenditure – Rationalizing subsidies euphemism for cutting subsidies
    • More welfare schemes increases expenditure, would balloon up the deficit

    3. 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:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 1 and 3 only

    (c) 2 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • CD explains
    • Mentioned umpteen times in topics to learn
    • Anyway 2 and 3 are contradictory. can either issue credit card i.e lend or not lend. Can’t do both simultaneously
    • Can not lend, it’s payment bank i.e for remittance, transfers etc.
    • Can invest only in govt securities
    • Statement 1 is obvious, airtel getting payment bank license

    4. Which one of the following is a purpose of ‘UDAY’, a scheme of the Government?

    a) Providing technical and financial assistance to start-up entrepreneurs in the field or renewable source of energy.

    b) Providing electricity to every household in the country by 2018

    c) Replacing the coal-based power plants with natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and tidal power plants over a period of time.

    d) Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies

    • Ujjawal Discom assurance Yojana
    • Cd explainer
    • Discom word only in option d

    5. With reference to ‘IFC Masala Bonds’, sometimes given below is/are correct?

    1. The International Financed Corporation, with offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.
    2. They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 Only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    • CD explains
    • World bank I did in detail, summary sheet sufficient, IFC one of the 5 organs of WB group
    • 2nd is also true – rupee denominated hence masala
    1. In the context of which of the following do you sometimes find the terms ‘amber box, blue box and green box’ in the news?

    (a) WTO affairs

    (b)SAARC affairs

    (c)UNFCCC affairs

    (d) India-EU negotiations on FTA

    • Solved papers
    • WTO in detail article

    7. Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India?

    1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machinery, etc.
    2. Loans received from foreign governments.
    3. Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Territories.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • Solved papers/ titbits/ holy bundle
    • Assets and loans given – Capital Expenditure
    • Loan received – capital receipt
    1. Recently, which one of the following currencies has been proposed to be added to the basket of IMF’s SDR?

    (a) Rouble

    (b) Rand

    (c) Indian Rupee

    (d) Renminbi

    • Simple / CD explains/ newscards
    • Very much in news
    • Renminbi

    9.  With reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), consider the following statements:

    1. IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the direction of its work.
    2. The World Bank participates as observer in IMFC’s meetings.

    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

    • Difficult one/ not covered in our IMF article
    • Both the statements are true
    1.  Which of the following best describes the term “import cover”, sometimes seen in the news?

    (a) It is the ratio of value of imports to the Gross Domestic product of a country

    (b) It is the total value of imports of a country in a year.

    © It is the ratio between the value of exports and that of imports between two countries

    (d)It is the number of months of imports that could be paid for by a country’s international reserves

    • Import cover – very simple
    • 25 Years of BOP crisis
    • Forex reserve to buy for imports – in 1991, it was sufficient only for 3 weeks – at present some 8 months
    • 25 years of BOP crisis

    11. With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements:

    1. Under this scheme, farmers with have to pay a uniform premium of two percent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
    2. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.

    Which of the statements given about is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    • Cd explains/ holy bundle / red flag
    • Different rates for Kharif and Rabi
    • Post harvest losses covered – Pros over earlier schemes
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-min-premium-max-insurance/
    1. Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

    (a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms

    (b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil

    (c) Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields

    (d) It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops

    • Cd explains/ Economic survey
    • Neam coating reduces nitrogen losses from the soil
    • Also makes it difficult to divert for other activities
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/economic-survey-for-ias-chapter-08-reforming-the-fertiliser-sector/

    13. The term ‘Core Banking Solution’ is sometimes such in the news. Which of the following statements best describes/describe this term?

    1. It is a networking of a bank’s branches which enables customers to operate their accounts from any branch of the bank on its network regardless of where they open their accounts.
    2. It is an effort to increase RBI’s control over commercial banks through computerization.
    3. It is a detailed procedure by which a bank with huge non-performing assets is taken over by another bank.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • 3rd is incorrect
    • CBS has nothing to do with NPAs

    14. India’s ranking in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?

    1. a) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
    2. b) World Economic Forum
    3. c) World Bank
    4. d) World Trade Organization (WTO
    • Simple / Economic survey/ Newscards/ Cd explains
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/ease-of-doing-business/

    15. With reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements:

    1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
    2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.

    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

    • Simple/ CD explains/ Newscards/ Economic survey
    • It’s trade alliance
    • Not all countries are involved, where is colombia? Where is papua new guinea?
    • Can be done using redflag tidam
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/economic-survey-for-ias-chapter-08-preferential-trade-agreements/

    16. What is/are the purpose/purposes of the ‘Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)’ announced by RBI?

    1. These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances
    2. These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit & interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    17. With reference to ‘Financial Stability and Development Council’, consider the following statements:

    1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
    2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister.
    3. It monitors macro prudential super-vision of the economy.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. a) 1 and 2 only
    2. b) 3 Only
    3. c) 2 and 3 only
    4. d) 1, 2 and 3
    • Simple/ CD newscard
    • Niti Ayog I said was important topic
    • You would know it isn’t part of NITI
    • CP – FM
    • Eliminate , include 2 – answer
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/fsdc-an-introduction/
    1. The term ‘Base Erosion and profit shifting’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

    (a) mining operation by multinational companies in resource-rich by backward areas

    (b) curbing of the tax evasion by multinational companies

    (c )exploitation of genetic resources of a country by multinational companie

    (d ) Lack of consideration of environmental costs in the planning of development projects

    • Simple / Cd newscards/ Explains
    • Look at the newscards/ also a user question and my comment
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/black-money-the-economics-around-it/

    19. With reference to ‘Bitcoins’ sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
    2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
    3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • Simple/ CD newscrads
    • 1 is clearly wrong. Central bankers are clueless
    • 2 and 3 are obviously true.
    • Anonymity means can be used in tax evasion/ drug trafficking etc
    • Look any is red flag but just as anyone with bank account can send money to anyone else with bank account, this statement is also true
    • https://www.civilsdaily.com/what-are-bitcoins/
    • Consider the following statements:

    20.

    1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.
    2. The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.

    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

    1. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as

    (a)    G20

    (b)    ASEAN

    (c)    SCO

    (d)    SAARC

    1. ‘Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the

    (a)    European Central Bank

    (b)    International Monetary Fund

    (c)    International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

    (d)    Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

    1. PradhanMantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at

    (a)    Bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system

    (b)    Providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops

    (c)    Providing pensions to old and destitute persons

    (d)    Funding the voluntary organization involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation

    24. What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and Gold Monetization Scheme?

    1.    To bring the idle gold lying with India households into the economy
    2.    To promote FDI in the gold and jewelry sector
    3.    To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports

    Select the correct answer using the code given below

    1. a)    1 Only
    2. b)    2 and 3 Only
    3. c)    1 and 3 only
    4. d)    1, 2 and 3
    • Simple/Common sense/news card/ explains/ mains question
    • http://www.thebetterindia.com/51742/gold-monetisation-scheme/
    • How and why will FDI come? No reason

  • IAS prelims 2016 Solutions – Modern India

    IMP: Civilsdaily IAS Prelims 2017 Test Series Module Launched – Click here

    • Only six questions from modern India <trend is of 6-7 questions only>
    • 5/6 very easy <as per trend>
    • All the questions from most important topics mentioned in our analysis of past years paper series
    • Can be solved by reading titbits and solved papers
    1. The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the

    (a) agitation against the Partition of Bengal

    (b) Home Rule Movement

    (c) Non-Cooperation Movement

    (d) visit of the Simon Commission to India

    • Very simple
    • Covered in titbits/ many times in solved papers
    • Swadeshi movement against partition of Bengal
    1. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized

    (a) a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar

    (b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat

    (c ) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra

    (e) A peasant movement in Punjab

    • Very simple
    • Lower caste movement by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Mahrashtra
    1. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to

    (a) social reforms

    (b) educational reforms

    (c) reforms in police administration

    (d) constitutional reforms

    • Very simple / titbits/ solved papers
    • Constitutional reforms of govt of India act of 1909
    • Communal electorate

    4. Consider the following:

    1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee
    2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation
    3. Indian Reforms Association

    Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    • Difficult
    • But you must know everything about Ram Mohan roy
    • Calcutta Utilitarian association by him not Keshav Chandra sen
    • You could eliminate 2 options
    • You still had to know about 2, which is true
    1. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

    (a) Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto.

    (b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government

    (c) Foundation of Muslim League

    (d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian national Congress

    • Simple / titbits/ solved papers
    • Bengal agitation issues led to partition
    • Extremists didn’t have faith in moderates
    • A, c and d anyway are bogus options
    1. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War

    (a)    India should be granted complete independence

    (b)    India should be partitioned into two before granting independence

    (c)    India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth

    (d)    India should be given Dominion status

    • Done in Solved papers so many times
    • Dominion status by Cripps
    • There wasn’t even mention of complete independence

  • IAS prelims 2016 Solutions – Polity

    IMP: Civilsdaily IAS Prelims 2017 Test Series Module Launched – Click here

    • Only five questions from polity.
    • Only three directly from Lamikant
    • All five were doable
    • Can be solved after reading titbits and past paper solutions

    1. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.
    2. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    • Very simple question
    • Covered in tit-bits/ solved papers
    • No bill lapses on prorogation, otherwise GST bill would have lapsed so many times
    • Bill pending in RS, not passed by LS i.e originated in RS, pending in RS won’t lapse as new LS can still take decision on that bill after passage by RS

    2. Consider the following statements:

    1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
    2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure

    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

    • Very simple
    • Chief secretary govt officer £ would be appointed by the govt not governor £ remember Kejriwal/ Jung Controversy
    • No fixed tenure at state level <demand for fixing the tenure>
    • At the central level, assured tenure of 2 years for Cabinet, Home, defence, foreign secretary as well as RAW and IB chief

    3. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases
    2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    • Very simple
    • Statement 1, only £ wrong, can also try criminal cases
    • 2nd is such an innocuous statement. Even high courts allow mediation. At village level, obviously social workers would be mediators
    1. The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passes by the

    (a)    LokSabha by a simple majority of its total membership

    (b)    LokSabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership

    (c)    RajyaSabha by a simple majority of its total membership

    (d)    RajyaSabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting

    • Covered in titbits
    • Special powers of RS
    • Rs primacy over LS (Art 249 and 312)
    • Special majority of ⅔ present and voting

    5. Consider the following statements:

    1.    The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
    2.    A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1.    1 only
    2.    2 only
    3.    Both 1 and 2
    4.    Neither 1 nor 2
    • Simple
    • Panchayat – age 21 years
    • Panchayat term of 5 years. Regular election so prematurely constituted last only till next scheduled elections

  • Analysing the IAS Prelims 2016 | Current affairs heavy | Q31-40

    Previous part – Analysis IAS Prelims 2016 Q21-30

    #31. International Solar Alliance and its structure

    This should be easy. Also – read upon the Dr.V’s tikdams that you could have easily excluded the second statement (which boasts of including all UN countries)

    IAS pre 2016 by Tikdams

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/modi-launches-international-solar-alliance/

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/b2b-lets-know-more-about-international-solar-alliance/

    #32. What do you know about the European Stability Mechanism?

    This should be easy – remember greek bailout! We got it covered under the greece crisis.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/greece-proposes-a-3rd-bailout/

    #33. Practicing Drip Irrigation. Advantages?

    Pretty standard static question

    #34. Statements regarding Digilocker. How much did you know?

    An aadhar based initiative launched as a part of Digital India

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/digilocker-another-giant-leap/

    #35. Recently which of the following river were interlinked?

    Krishna – Godavari it is. Here’s the newscard eulogising the move.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/river-linking-to-address-drought-water-scarcity/

    #36. Which of these gases are considered while calculating the Air Quality Index?

    A straight-forward question –

    1. Mentioned by Dr. V many times in his Prelims titbits
    2. Here’s a newscard dedicated to it, anyway –

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/what-is-aqi/

    #37. How much do you know about AstroStat?

    We covered this word by word here but many of you could have got it wrong. How many remember the weight? OR the other countries who have achieved thsi feat?

    Both statements put forward by UPSC were wrong!

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/astrosat-launch-india-reaches-stars/

    #38. “Araghatta” – what does this word mean?

    Static question but looks quite difficult to guess!

    #39. Wrt. cultural history of india, who memorised chronicles?

    Static question but looks quite difficult to guess!

    #40. For the first time in Indian history, which state has declared a state butterfly?

    Nope. We did not get this one for you. The news dates back to June 2015. Here’s The Hindu clip.

     

  • Analysing the IAS Prelims 2016 | Current affairs heavy | Q21-30

    Previous part – Analysis IAS Prelims 2016 Q11-20

    #21. Purpose of Gold Bond Scheme/ Gold Monetisation Scheme?

    This should be doable for someone who has studied the scheme. Look up the infograph on CD Explains

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/gold-monetisation-scheme-all-you-need-to-know-about-it/

    #22. Belt and road initiative is sometimes mentioned in news in context of which country

    There shouldn’t be a single soul who would have got this one wrong. It has china written all over it.

    #23. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojna. What about it?

    Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Funding the unfunded

    #24. Shale gas reserves found in which region?

    It’s a static question – relates to resources and distribution but do you remember one related question being asked a few years back – gaur gum exports to US (for shale gas).

    Wait for the answer keys by Dr. V

    #25. Global Financial Stability Report is prepared by?

    Hope you got this one. IMF does it. We had pushed a timely blog on this because UPSC is invariably putting one such question every year.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/international-organizations-reports/

    #26. Regarding Atal Pension Yojna – which of the following statements are correct?

    We covered the scheme categorically here but to be fair, some of you might have found this one difficult (to affirm the statements, line by line). We will wait for Dr. V to comment more.

    From Jan Dhan to Jan Suraksha: A Journey towards Financial Inclusion and Security

    #27. RCEP appears in context of which group of countries?

    ASEAN, what else?

    What is the significance of RCEP for India?

    #28. Where can you find BEE Star ratings?

    This is a common sense question – You would find these ratings in everything that uses electricity (Small or big labels). But still – should you be curious as to why UPSC veered towards it – here’s a hint from a newly established EESL

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/learn-about-energy-efficiency-services-limited-eesl/

    #29. India and the significance of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor

    We did not cover this – but this news has its root dating back to 2014

    Ref: NDTV

    #30. A match the following question on Indian Heritage

    Static stuff.

  • IAS pre 2016 by Tikdams

    Over the last one month, I solved previous years papers with you in a way not done by most coaching. Solutions were not to provide you with additional information but to analyse the pattern, finding most important topics and solving papers with limited knowledge.

    Now I put my method to test of IAS pre 2016 –

    Many of these are easy questions and you may anyway have solved them but the point is what we had been doing for last 1 month was helpful in exam.

    So let the tidam begin

    1. TPP question
    • All pacific rim countries except USA and Russia
    • For maritime security only

    Only £ redflag £ pause and think £ false

    +2

    1. Gram Nyayalay

    Civil only not criminal

    Not even petty criminal cases?? Obviously false

    +2

    1. Astradharini
    • Astra dharan karne wali
    • Ship holding weapons
    • Torpedoes

    +2

    1. GCC
    • Iran is not in Arabian peninsula
    • Iran ki banti bhi nhi kisi se
    • Iran is not sunni monarchy

    +2

    1. Atal Pension Yojana
    • Only 1 member can join
    • Why not other members?
    • Everyone needs pension in old age
    1. Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
    • Thermonuclear bomb is hydrogen bomb – N. Korea claims
    • Hydrogen bomb – fusion

    +2

    1. INternational solar alliance
    • All members of UN
    • Obviously false

    +2

    1. Air Quality Index
    • Mentioned umpteen times by me in titbits and other places that CO2 not part of it. Just remember this much
    • Excluded c02

    +2

    1. Astrosat
    • Apart from USA and Russia, India only country
    • What about EU??
    • False
    • 2000 kg
    • PSLV can’t launch very heavy satellites

    +2

    1. Mars mission
    • India only country successful in 1st mission
    • Pause think
    • It’s true £ we took so much pride in that
    • Mark blindly

    -0.67

    1. Artificial sea port
    • Obviously only landlocked states would want this
    • Andhra and Karnataka eliminated
    1. Man who knew infinity
    • Infinity means mathematics
    • Only mathematician in option – Ramanujam

    +2

    1. Paris deal
    • Signed by all UN members
    • NOt even one did not sign?
    • False, eliminate 2 options
    1. Love story of son of Shunga dynasty
    • Swapanavasvadatta – swapan means dream, it’s about the dream
    • Ratnavali everyone knows is from the times f Harsha
    • Meghdootam – Megha – cloud
    • Love story male and female
    • Malvikaagnimitra – Malvika and Agnimitra

    +2

    1. OPCW
    • International body – why would it be under EU
    • Eliminate 1

    +2

    1. Fasal bima Yojana
    • 2% premium for any crop in any season
    • Any £ red flag £ rabi more premium

    17. GIHAS -Globally important heritage system

    • Provide GI status to all varieties
    • Seriously, GI to all!
    • Eliminate it,

    +2

    • Did it help you? How many marks are you in positive? Please let us know.
    • If it harmed you? How many marks? Please also let us know, why do you think it harmed you?

    Wish you all the success

  • Here is the scanned IAS Prelims 2016 – Now we need some help

    Hey guys,

    This is the link to the scanned paper – Click to download from Google Drive

    Now, for Dr.V to give you solutions and detailed explanations for the same – we would need some help in scribbling these scanned papers into a word doc!

    If we can have 20 of you guys to type out 5 questions each and send in a word doc to the email address – drvcivilsdaily@gmail.com – It would help us take this task soon!

    1. The scanned paper is of IAS Pre 2016 – Paper 1 – Set A
    2. Please comment out here of the questions you plan to take – Pick 5 questions each
    3. The next guy/ girl can pick up the next and put in the comments to avoid any confusion
    4. Please name the document correctly and mail it to drvcivilsdaily@gmail.com

    Can we bank on 20 of you guys to help us do this!

    Let us know 🙂

    PS: Till we have detailed solutions – we are trying to analyse the current affairs specific questions here –

    1. Part 1
    2. Part 2

     

  • Analysing the IAS Prelims 2016 | Current affairs heavy | Q11-20

    Previous part – Analysis IAS Prelims 2016 Q1-10

    #11. India’s first National Investment and Manufacturing Zone set up in?

    Ah! This is too much – we had nothing for you here. And we wonder if anyone did remember the states in order?

    We did briefly touched upon NIMZ while we were discussing TADF here – But no mention of states in any order.

    Technology Acquisition and Development Fund (TADF)

    #12. What’s the purpose of District mineral Foundations in India?

    This news came way back in May, 2015

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/know-district-mineral-foundation/

    The context was this –

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/op-ed-snap-a-glass-half-empty-for-adivasis/

    #13. SWAYAM – an initiative of GOI aims at what?

    This should have been very easy

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/what-is-swayam/

    #14. Montague – Chelmsford proposals?

    History – Static syllabus

    #15. What’s common among Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

    History – Static syllabus

    #16. What do you know about Bitcoins?

    This should be easy to attempt. Central Banks are clueless. Not all of them have acknowledged it as a currency and so they can’t track it officially.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/what-are-bitcoins/

    #17. New Development Bank – All about its establishment

    Again an easy question – was covered under the BRICS story

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/learn-about-new-development-bankndb/

    #18. Gadgil committee report and KAsturirangan committee report. What’s the common link?

    This is super easy – western ghats. We have been hearing about this all these years.

    #19. Keshab Chandra Sen’s association with 3 organisations. Match the correct ones?

    History – Static syllabus

    #20. Which of the following is not a member of GCC?

    GCC has been in news but it also forms an important part of International Organisations to lookout for. Hope you had read this one –

    International Org. | Part 8 | Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

  • Analysing the IAS Prelims 2016 | Current affairs heavy | Q1-10

    Hello,

    This is a very quick analysis of the Paper 1 – IAS Prelims 2016 which just went by. A Civilsdaily user tipped us about the heavily current affairs inclined IAS Prelims this year and we couldn’t stop digging into the Civilsdaily archives.

    We haven’t heard from most of you guys but we hope that if you kept up with daily newscards – you should have remembered context regarding most of these factual questions asked out from daily news.

    NOTE: This is not a blog post on answer keys. We will wait for Dr. V or UW to come up with detailed solutions and analysis. This is only an analysis of current affairs questions.

    #1. What’s Doctors without borders or Médecins Sans Frontières?

    • Context: Issue of pharma IPRs in ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations
    • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned India that it will no more remain ‘the pharmacy of the developing world’ if the proposals in the pact are adopted
    • An international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization (NGO) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate

    Scroll down this story link:

    Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

    #2. The initiative called TEEB. What’s that?

    No idea. It was briefly mentioned in a pib release but such singular events are very hard to focus on and remember – http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=123641

    #3. Red sanders in the news

    We had extensively covered this theme under our #back2basic category.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-red-sanders-12/

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-red-sanders-22/

    To give you context into why red sanders were in news? This was the main card

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/operation-sesha-dri-ropes-in-17-nations/

    #4. Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ program can do what?

    The difference between REDD and REDD+ should have helped you answer this question. It is a pretty static one but still, explained here by Dr. V

    UNFCC to Paris Via Kyoto

    #5. Greenhouse Gas Protocol. What’s that?

    I think we missed this one. But this is what it is –

    The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) provides accounting and reporting standards, sector guidance, calculation tools, and trainings for business and government. It establishes a comprehensive, global, standardized framework for measuring and managing emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains, products, cities, and policies.

    http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/greenhouse-gas-protocol

    #6. Financial Stability and Development Council. What’s that?

    We discussed about this very briefly when we were writing on Annual Budget articles (with infographics)

    The context for discussion was the creation of a Financial Data management centre which was est. under FSDC

    Remember this?

    Discussing Budget 2016-17 | Financial Sector Reforms

    #7. Agenda 21. Sometimes seen in news?

    This form a part of static syllabus. A quick reference primer was written here by Dr. V

    Primer To Environmental Issues

    The summit also resulted in 3 non-binding documents

    1. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
    2. Agenda 21 <21 is agenda for 21st century, UNCCD was the result of direct recommendation of Agenda 21>
    3. Forest Principles

    #8. Satya Shodhak Samaj

    History – Static syllabus

    #9. Virus can infect what?

    S&T – Static syllabus

    #10. Base erosion and profit shifting is heard in news. What’s the context?

    BEPS was in news for two things – Black money and Themes and Index published by organisations around the world. We had it covered in two different stories.

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/automatic-info-exchange-only-way-to-tackle-black-money/

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/the-hidden-wealth-of-nations/

     

  • Agam Jain: Securing AIR 133 in UPSC 2015 despite all odds. Arise, Awake!

    source

    Background: An engineer who graduated from Mangalayatan University, Agam Jain managed 133rd rank in UPSC-2015. He lived in a village near Aligarh and that’s where it all started. In his first year of college, he used to go 4 km every day to teach poor children in another village and lived in adverse of the conditions.

    There was lack of electricity, water, cooler and other basic amenities. Even the main road was nearly 2 km away from his room. With that he experienced something which most youth in present day doesn’t face. He saw people living together without formalities, festivals (though with many superstitions) celebrated in enjoyment, beauty of flora and fauna at their best, changing seasons to evening walks on the trails near agriculture fields.

    He even saw some fights and deaths, ‘dangals’ as the best form of sports, people indulging in illegal activities and gender inequality.

    By the third year, he found that his study tactics and his desire to work for nation could only be met with entering the civil services. After that he used to go to the library to understand an article of Hindu – in complete one hour!

    Played volleyball a lot, analysed things more vividly and studied anything which came in his way. An average student, with a strong will power, he managed to climb the ladder of success, with perseverance.

    His journey: After graduation, he went to Delhi, made the timetable for complete one and half year and prepared exactly according to that.

    Short term strategy: One should make online as well as written notes. When you like any answer/topic from just copy (but selectively) them into your account under particular heading. These notes come handy everywhere like while travelling, sitting with some boring relatives etc.

    Newspaper cuttings: When you read newspaper/yojana/kurukshetra, cut the selective portion and put in file. Write when you listen to particular topic from air news, RSTV programs, read any book etc.

    Schedule: Make a schedule for 6 days a week. Reserve 7th day for revision of the on/offline notes. Don’t just revise them but minimise them, say from 2 pages to one and then to half by the time exams come.

    Prelims Strategy: Don’t leave anything undone when it comes to prelims.

    Besides preparing basics from the textbooks, one day he made a list of such vague things like name of national parks, rivers, GI tags, republic day tableau, international conventions and reports, recent Padma winners, UNESCO sites, programs under ministries etc.

    However, he suggests not to make the list in a day, for it will be hectic and can’t be remembered. Rather, one should have an eye on newspaper when something comes related to it.

    Polity gives edge in prelims, so one should not lose any mark in that portion. Read Laxmikanth as many times. Geography can be done easily too. One can check science monitor program of RSTV for current scientific developments.

    Mains Strategy: Writing practice is must. It gives an extra margin of few seconds per question which is very important.

    Tips regarding writing: Write answer in morning and evaluate yourself in evening. Don’t evaluate immediately. In evening, check the answer with the mind-set of teacher and do strict marking. This way, you will realise what teacher wants.

    Make list of some international conventions/charters etc., they help in beautifying the answer. Example, if one student writes, ‘India is trying best to stop child trafficking’, and another writes according to so and so convention, India is signatory to stop child trafficking on global level, it will make a significant remark on the examiner.

    Follow balanced approach.

    Tips to aspirants: Always keep a small paper with you. At times, while reading, we don’t know something and we think that we will search it later. But later, we used to forget that. That small paper could be used to note all those doubts which are to be resolved later.

    Don’t fool yourself. At times, we watch documentaries or other war related movies and tell ourselves that we are doing something related to studies. They might be related but vaguely and consuming precious time.

    Choose your material carefully and stick to that. If it is Laxmikanth, then don’t give damn to D D Basu. If it is Guha, then don’t care of Bipin Chandra and so on.

    If time permits, read some non-fictions (not directly related to upsc) in leisure time. He read Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor; Makers of modern India by Guha; Brief History of time by Hawking etc. These will give you an extra edge somewhere unknowingly.

    Don’t spread the word of your preparation a lot. It might bring extra pressure on you.

More posts