Spotlight/News Analysis (8 Apr):

• Topic of Discussion: Water Conservation
• Expert Panel: M. E. A. Haq (Former Member - Control Waqter commission), Prashant Sood (Senior Journalist)

In a landmark step, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the much-awaited direct cash transfer scheme wherein the subsidy amount will go directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The government will implement the scheme for cash transfer to the beneficiary’s account in 51 districts from January 1, 2013. Aadhaar card enabled cash transfers, or Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) scheme, which was launched on January 1, 2013, was UPA-led government’s supposed game changer. However, the scheme is yet to take off properly. With the government’s decision that all payments to the beneficiaries, who do not have either bank accounts or their unique identity cards, will be made through the Aadhaar bridge, the administration is on an overdrive to enrol people via enrolment centers. However, even after the patients get their enrolment numbers, it will be at least a month before they get their Aadhaar cards. Earlier, at the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the payment was made through a bearers’ cheque. It seems like the DCT scheme has been rolled out in a hurry with the teams at the grassroot level having a herculean task before themselves to enrol beneficiaries, open bank accounts and integrate them with Aadhaar. “It was not possible for all the schemes to roll out within 10 to 14 days. If the payment is released only through the Aadhaar bridge mode that will be difficult. I think the government has now realised that,” said Shurvir Singh, Divisional Commissioner of North West Delhi.

Apply Online: Engineering Services Examination, 2013

Candidates are required to apply Online using the link www.upsc online.nic.in. Detailed instructions for filling up online applications are available on the above mentioned website.

Click Here to Apply Online

Apply Online: Combined Medical Services Examination, 2013

Candidates are required to apply online by using the website www.upsconline.nic.in Brief instructions for filling up the online Application Form have been given in the Appendix-II. Detailed instructions are available
on the above mentioned website.

Click Here to Apply Online

Spotlight/News Analysis (5 Apr):

• Interview with Prof. K.V. Thomas (Minister of State of Food & Consumer Affairs on decontrolled of Sugar)
• Interviewer - Gargi Parsi (The Hindu)

Combined Medical Services Examination, 2013

EXAMINATION NOTICE NO.14/3/2012-E.I(B):

A combined examination for recruitment to the services and posts mentioned in para 2 below will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on the 30th June, 2013 in accordance with the Rules published by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Dept. of Health) in the Gazette of India dated the 6th April, 2013.

Post Details:

• Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways
• Assistant Medical Officer in Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service
• Junior Scale Posts in Central  Health Services.
• General Duty Medical Officer Grad - II in East Delhi Municipal Corportaion, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corportaion.
• General Duty Medical Officer in New Delhi Municipal Council

Education Qualification:

For admission to the examination a candidate should have passed the written and practical parts of the final M.B.B.S. Examination.

Age Limit:

A candidate for this examination must not have attained the age of 32 years as on 1st January, 2013, i.e. the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd January, 1981

Fee:

Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST/ Physically Handicapped who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs.200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only) either by remitting the money in any branch of SBI by cash, or by using net banking facility of SBI, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/State Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala/State Bank of Travancore or by using Visa/Master Credit/Debit Card.

How To Apply

Engineering Services Examination, 2013

No.F. 2/6/2012-E.I(B):

A combined comtitive examination for recuritment to the services/posts mentionaed in para 2 bellow will be held by the Union Public Service Commission.

Category:

Recruitment on the Results of this examination will be made to the Services/ Posts under the following categories:-

• Category I—Civil Engineering.
• Category II—Mecahnical Engineering.
• Category III—Electrical Engineering.
• Category IV—Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.

Eligibility Conditions:

Nationality:

A candidate must be either:

(a) a citizen of India, or

(b) a subject of Nepal, or

(c) a subject of Bhutan, or

(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or

(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary, may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appintment may be given only after the necesary eligibility certificate has been issued by the Government of India.

Age Limits:

Within 48 hours of taking back control of Male airport from the Indian consortium GMR, Maldivian Defence Minister Mohammed Nazim had touched down in Beijing. The timing of the trip was probably coincidental, but the signal to India was unambiguous. As Col. Nazim and the Chinese Defence Minister, Gen Liang Guanglie, signed a military agreement, with China offering $3 million and more in free defence aid, the message that Maldives is looking far beyond India for its defence needs rang out. The year 2012 also saw the Maldives reach out to the United States, which has been keen to set up a base (to occupy the one vacated by the United Kingdom in 1976) on the southern atoll of Gan.

The rights and wrongs of the GMR deal will be argued in courts and at the negotiating table for some time to come. Yet, the fact that the Indian government tried to intercede, even threaten the Maldivian government, and failed, is an indicator of the loss in India’s influence in this island nation. The image of India, a $3 trillion economy, attempting unsuccessfully to flex its muscles with an island nation which has a GDP of just $2 billion should cause even more discomfort. In fact, India’s waning influence was visible in February 2012, when former President Nasheed was ousted by President Waheed. India was informed only after the fact, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was disastrously advised to immediately endorse the new government. When India finally raised concerns over the coup and the crackdown on protesters, and sent a special envoy to Male, the envoy landed more than 24 hours after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, who had flown half way around the world to show Washington’s interest in events. Those days of indecision have cost the Indian government dearly. Since then, the U.S. has kept up its voice for democracy and free elections as a way of staying engaged, while managing to discuss the possibility of taking over the base in Gan Island. China, which stayed out of the political situation, has engaged with the new government strategically and economically to the tune of millions of dollars in deals.

Content

• National Events MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• International Events MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• Economy & Energy MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• India & The World MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• Science & Technology, Defence, Environment, etc. MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• Award & Prizes MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• Person in News MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)
• Sports MCQs (Full MCQs Only For Premium Members)

1. Consider The Following Statements about Coal India Ltd.

1. It is the world’s single largest coal miner
2. It Provides over 80 percent of the country’s coal
3. Coal India has Navratna Status.

Which of the above statement is/are true

1. Only 2
2. Only 1
3. 1 & 2
4. 1 & 3

2. Indian Museum is located at

1. Hyderabad
2. Lucknow
3. Mumbai
4. Kolkata

(Admit Card) Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2013

Spotlight/News Analysis (4 Apr):

• Topic of Discussion: Efficient Management of Plastic waste
• Expert Panel: Dr. Dinabandhu Sahu (Delhi University), D.S. Arun (Deccan Herald)

CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES (ASSISTANT COMMANDANTS) EXAMINATION, 2012 – DECLARATION OF RESULT OF WRITTEN PART THEREOF

• On the basis of the results of the written part of the CAPF (ACs) Examination, 2012 held by UPSC  on 11th November, 2012, the candidates with the under-mentioned Roll Numbers have qualified for  Physical Standards Test / Physical Efficiency Test and Medical Standards Test. The candidature of all the  candidates whose Roll Numbers are shown in the list is Provisional, subject to their being found eligible in  all respects. The candidates will be required to produce the original certificates in support of their claims  pertaining to age, educational qualifications, community etc. at the time of the Personality Test. They are,  therefore, advised to keep the said prescribed certificates ready. 

Contents

• New Bird Species in India
• New Lease ofLife for Northern River Terrapins
• Wild Ass National Parke

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION:

India’s wildlife is passing through an extremely critical period, Almost all the protected areas and species are under human-related pressures in some way or the other. Common species such as House Sparrow, Black Drongo, and Indian Roller are becoming uncommon, The countryside that used to harbor Indian Fox, Jackal, and Blackbuck in large numbers is becoming harsh to them. The destruction deplorably continues, at times, at an alarming rate, The depletion of the wildlife can be attributed largely to deforestation and inroads of human civilization into the forest areas, Despite a growing appreciation of wildlife, the explosive growth of the human population has led to soaring demand for food, timber and housing, which has led to the destruction of India’s natural habitats and of the beautiful wildlife heritage, Laws exist to protect the wildlife from slaughter and to regulate poaching, but unfortunately, the legal measures do not fully serve the desired purpose. The Indian landscape, once a broad mosaic of natural habitats ideal for wildlife, is now left with only scattered tracts of suitable ‘wildland’, This deteriorating condition calls for efficient wildlife management plans,

Spotlight/News Analysis (3 Apr):

• Topic of Discussion: Package for Special Infrastructure in Naxal Affected States
• Expert Panel: Ved Marwah (Former Delhi Police Commissioner), Vineet Kumar (The Hindu Correspondent)

Content

• National Sample Survey Office
• Survey undertaken/ launched
• MPLAD Scheme
• Coordination and Publication (CAP)
• Twenty Point Programme (TPP)
• PM’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians Meets at Kochi
• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan Launched Today
• Aligning ‘National Investment Fund’ Operation to Enhance ‘Disinvestment Policy’
• Executive Committee on Climate Change constituted
• Wildlife Management-Huge Challenge

As mandated by the Article 280 of the Constitution, the Government has constituted the Fourteenth Finance Commission consisting of Dr. Y.V.Reddy, former Governor Reserve Bank of India, as the Chairman and the following four other members, namely: -

Shri Ajay Narayan Jha shall be the Secretary to the Commission. The Commission shall make its report available by the 31st October, 2014, covering a period of five years commencing on the 1st April, 2015.

The Commission shall make recommendations regarding the sharing of Union taxes, principles governing Grants-in-aid to States and transfer of resources to local bodies.

Terms of Reference and the matters that shall be taken into consideration by the Fourteenth Finance Commission in making the recommendations are as under:—

Contents

• Vision 2022
• New Law of Manual Scavangers
• Draft Water Policy 2012
• eToilet India’s First Electronic Public Toilet
• MGNREGA and Social Audit

Sanitation is an integral component of public hygiene and health care. In India, 736 million [71.7%] people out of total population of 1027 million, lack basic sanitation facilities resulting in high mortality and morbidity. Sanitation in broad term refers to disposal and management of solid wastes, wastewater, human and cattle excreta etc. in such a way that it does not affect adversely domestic personal hygiene. Sanitation is a for human health. It contributes to clean and improved environment, social development and generates significant economic benefits.

Human excreta, among all forms of wastes, are the principal sources of many enteric diseases and almost cause 80% of the diseases in developing countries. Studies reveal that over 50 types of infections can be transmitted from diseased persons to healthy ones by various direct and indirect routes from human excreta. Human excreta are the most hated object and anything connected with the latrine is considered so defiling that in India in the past, one was expected to take a bath immediately after coming out of the toilet and before entering into the kitchen due to religious taboos. Sanitation has, however, been seen as a matter of individual understanding and initiative rather than a collective responsibility of the community. Investment to promote environmental sanitation in this fast changing socio-cultural background is accorded the low priority. A UN study in 2010 observed more people in India having access to a mobile phone than to a toilet. India’s mobile subscribers totaled around 894 million at the last count, enough to serve more than half of the country’s 1.2 billion people. But just 366 million people [30.5%] had access to proper sanitation.

Recruitment For the Post of 750 Assistant Administrative Officer, LIC India

Life Insurance Corporation of India invites Online Applications from eligible Indian Citizens for appointment to the post of Assistant Administrative Officer. Candidates are requested to apply On-Line only. No other means/mode of application will be accepted. The schedule of events shall be as under:

Assistant Administrative Officer

Total Number of Posts : 750

Age :

Minimum Age shall be 21 years (completed) as on 1st March, 2013. Maximum age shall not be more than 30 years( born between 02/03/1983 and 01/03/1992
only are eligible ) .Relaxation as per Govt. Rules.

Educational Qualification:

Bachelor/Master’s Degree from a recognized Indian University/ Institution with a minimum of 55% marks in the aggregate in either of the Degrees. If any
University awards grades instead of marks, applicants should clearly mention the numerical equivalent of the grades in terms of aggregate marks

Spotlight/News Analysis (1 Apr):

• Interview with Prof. Shanta Sinha (Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) on 3 Years of Right to Education
• Interviewer: Urmi Goswami (Senior Journalist)

Content

• No deal on Parchin; Iran-P5+1 talks to Continue

• The New Approach

• Polio free does not Mean Paralysis Free

• Formula to Identify “Inviolate” Forest Areas where Mining will be Banned

• Fast growth, Limited Results

• Work to begin in Ladakh on World’s Largest Solar Telescope

• A Setback

• For an India-led Security Architecture in South Asia

• Intemperate Comments

• About China

• How Good Economics can Fuel Populist Politics

• Prudent Economic Decision

• Pushing Africa Aside in Mali

• India, Bangladesh sign Extradition Treaty

 NO DEAL ON PARCHIN; IRAN-P5+1 TALKS TO CONTINUE

U.N. experts returned from Tehran on Friday without sealing a long-sought deal on Parchin.This could restart suspicion that Iran worked on atomic armsand add to doubts about success of the upcoming Iran-P5+1 talks. Herman Nackaerts, who headed the team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts, said the two sides would meet again in the Iranian capital on February 12. But even if those talks make progress, they will come too late for an Iran-P5+1 meeting, tentatively scheduled for the end of this month.

Issue : April 2013
Size: 3.09 MB
File Type: Zipped PDF
Publisher : UPSCPORTAL.COM 

Table of Contents:

Articles:

• Direct Cash Transfer: Panacea or Another Scam in The Making
• In The Neighbourhood, It’s ‘india Fading’
• India’s Benign Constitutional Revolution
• Are We a ‘soft’ State?
• Responsibility of Media in a Democracy
• Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals