The Civil Services (Main) Examination 2011 is just a few weeks away. Over the years, there has been a rise in preparation awareness among civil service aspirants, but this coveted exam continues to throw a surprise element calling for newer strategies.

The question papers in recent years have clearly shown that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) seems to be determined to select those aspirants who are able to cover most of the topics in the syllabus with focus on current affairs.

The number of questions in the General Studies question papers has been doubled from 30 to 60, says P.S. Ravindran, director, Vajiram and Ravi Institute for IAS Examination, New Delhi. “As UPSC covers a large number of areas, General Studies preparation should be comprehensive,” he says. He stressed the need to score more than 320 marks in both the optional subjects as scoring in the General Studies has become more challenging.

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A sharp increase in food prices over the past couple of years, intensifying in early 2008, has raised serious concerns about food and nutrition formany poor people in developing countries. The key affected areas are Asia, sub-SaharanAfrica andCentralAmerica. There are also related concerns about inflation, and – in some countries – about civil unrest. The current situation is distinctive because it is not just a select few but nearly allmajor food and feed commodities that are seeing a ‘concurrence of the hike in world prices’. Real prices are higher than they have been since the 1974 price spike.When adjusted for inflation and the recent decline of the dollar, the foodprice increases are smaller but still dramatic, carrying serious consequences for the purchasing power of the poor.

Dramatic increases in international agricultural commodity prices began in 2006 and peaked in July 2008. An equally remarkable and rapid decline of those prices then ensued, accompanied by extreme volatility in those prices. The trend in food prices lagged the rapid increases in other commodity prices,with rice among themost expensive at the peak and rising as much as crude oil.High commodity prices quickly raised farmgate prices in developed countries. In developing countries, poormarket integration and border barriersmay have limited pass-through of these prices to the farmgate, but therewasmore rapid food price and general inflation than occurred in many developed countries. Countrieswere impacted to differing extents, and food riots occurred in the most affected cases. In response to the crisis, countries from India and Egypt to Vietnam and Indonesia banned exports of rice, a staple for half theworld.World food prices rose to a record in December on higher sugar, grain and oilseed costs, the United Nations said.An index of 55 food commodities tracked by the Food andAgricultureOrganization gained for a sixthmonth to 214.7 points, above the previous all-time high of 213.5 in June 2008, the Rome-based UN agency said in amonthly report.

Moreover, debate persists on the exogenous mechanisms driving these changes,which are often interrelated (e.g.,worldwide economic boomand then global recession, speculation in commodities). The goal will be to identify factors likely to drive commodity prices in the future and to provide some understanding of the dynamics and persistence of the observed global price changes. There is an emerging and reasonable consensus among experts and academics about the range of causes.However, debate is ongoing about the relative contribution of these causes. There is certainly no one, single cause; rather, many factors are interacting in different, locally specificways. Causes vary between different places and over time, as has happened in previous commodity booms. Some are cyclical, some are structural and some are unique The cost of food climbed 25 percent froma year earlier in December, based on the FAO figures.The agency’s food-price indicator rose from206 points inNovember. Record fuel prices, weather- related crop problems, increasing demand fromthe growing Indian and Chinese middle classes, and the push to grow corn for ethanol fuel all contributed to the crisis that year. Global food production will have to rise 70 percent by 2050 as the world population expands to 9.1 billion people from about 6.8 billion people in 2010, the FAO has said.

Main factors responsible for the recent rises in food prices:-

• Weather disruptions, including serious droughts, have affected output in several key producing countries (Australia, Turkey, Ukraine and parts of North America) in the mid-2000s. This has led to two successive years of negative growth inworld cereal production.

• Under-investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural innovation.

• Increased demand due to use of food crops in biofuel production has resulted in reduced soybeanandwheat cultivation.

• World production of cereals has slowed, causing a decline in stocks over the last decade. This hasweakened the ability of theworld food systemto copewith shocks and created conditions in which short-term shocks cause large price increases (Wiggins, 2008).High cost of oil and energy is affecting transportation of agricultural inputs and outputs,mechanical cultivation, fertilisers and pesticides.

• Increasing and changing demand in China and India, due to economic growth, has led to increased consumer purchasing power and consequent shifts away fromtraditional staples and toward higher-value foods like meat and milk. However, some analysts believe that the effect of this onworld prices has been
  exaggerated.

• Topsoil erosion: modern ploughing, overgrazing, fertiliser and pesticide use result in the steady depletion of worldwide topsoil. Water and winds carry away the soil,when it is not fixed by plant cover. An estimated 25 billion tons of topsoil are lost to erosion each year. The UN estimates that erosion has now seriously degraded about 40 per cent of the world’s agricultural land.

• Increasing urbanisation often means that more people are becoming purchasers rather than producers of food.

Food in Figures:

• 93,000,000 Acres of corn planted by US farmers last year, up 19 per cent on 2006.
• 76% Amount of US corn used for animal feed.
• 8kg Amount of grain it takes to produce 1kg of beef.
• 20% Portion of US corn used to produce five billion gallons of ethanol in 2006-07.
• 50kg Quantity of meat consumed annually by the average Chinese person, up from20kg in 1985.
• 10% Anticipated share of biofuels used for transport in the EU by 2020.
• $500m The UNWorld Food Programme's shortfall this year, in attempting to feed 89million needy people.
• 9.2bn The world's predicted population by 2050. It's 6.6bn now.
• 130% The rise in the cost of wheat in 12months.
• 16 times The overall food consumption of the world's richest 20 per cent comparedwith that of the poorest 20 per cent.
• 58%Jump in the price of pork in China in the past year.

• $900 The cost of one tonne of Thai premier rice, up 30 per cent in amonth. It has been argued that by 2030 therewill be 600millionmore chronically under- ourished people in the.

world due to continued pressure on prices, in part due to the conversion of maize away from food uses to ethanol production. Demand for agricultural commodities – food, feed, and fuel – is likely to continue to escalate.Climate change and rising energy demand could re-accelerate food prices in the future. Ad-hoc market and trade policies such as export bans and import subsidies add further volatility in the international foodmarket.

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Controversy continues to surround the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan in north London on Thursday evening. His shooting at the hands of police while he was traveling in a taxi cab sparked rioting and looting in Tottenham on Saturday. The unrest subsequently spread across London and other parts of the UK in what police have described as copycat attacks. Officers from Operation Trident the Metropolitan Police unit that deals with gun crime in London's black communities stopped the cab Duggan was travelling in during a pre-planned operation. Duggan died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, an inquest at north London Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday. The fact that a bullet had lodged in a police radio worn by an officer at the scene, raising speculation he might have been fired at from the vehicle. A non-police issue handgun was also recovered at the scene where Duggan was shot dead, the IPCC said. However, a report said that initial tests by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service on the bullet found lodged in the police radio suggested that the bullet fragments were from police-issue ammunition, meaning they could not have been from a weapon fired by Duggan, casting doubt on claims that he was killed in an exchange of gunfire. 120 people, including members of Duggan's family and community workers, marched to Tottenham police station in north London, only a short distance from the scene of the shooting.The march was peaceful according to reports, with protesters calling for "justice" and an investigation. Local roads were closed and traffic diverted.

What sparked the rioting is still unclear but police said that certain elements, who were not involved with the vigil, took the opportunity to commit disorder and physically attack police officers, verbally abuse fire brigade personnel and destroy vehicles and buildings. "Police say the subsequent riots in other parts of London and the UK are copycat events that have little or nothing to do with the death of Duggan. Rioting had taken place in several London locations, including Battersea in south London, Ealing in the west and Hackney in east London. Disturbances were also reported in Birmingham in central England, Bristol in the southwest and Liverpool in northwest. England.Rioting and looting was reported from several other parts of London, including Brixton in south London, Enfield in north London and Oxford Street in central London, the capital's main shopping district. Yet the riots we are seeing now are fundamentally different from those that have gone before. They might, ostensibly, have been triggered by the police shooting of Mark Duggan, a notorious gangster, in north London; but they are fuelled by pure greed, by a belief that something can be had for nothing. The usual brakes on such behaviour – either an appreciation that it is wrong, or by the prospect that the culprit will be caught and punished – are largely absent.

The police introduced special powers in four areas of London -- Lambeth, Haringey, Enfield and Waltham Forest -- allowing stop and search without reasonable suspicion in a bid to keep rioters off the streets.In theory, parliament could invoke powers to implement curfews, use water canons or even call in the armed forces.However, senior politicians and police officers have said that these options are unlikely to be used unless the situation got significantly worse.The government has yet to respond, most of them are sunning themselves on beaches across the globe but the Prime Minister doubtless to promise terrible retribution be visited upon those caught rioting. He will also say that there is no excuse for rioting or stealing and he will set up an ‘enquiry’ which will doubtless be headed by somebody who has never been unemployed, lived on a squalid council estate. They will cite poverty and unemployment but will not accept that immigration has played any part or that ill-discipline in schools and indeed in many homes has any baring. They will not accept that reducing the role of motherhood to something to be fitted around work has caused havoc in society for these people by and large have their own agenda which has the unfortunate pitfall of being utterly un-costed. Printing money and handing it out for free would not solve the problems faced.

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Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011

Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011

Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011 

Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011 

Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011 

Indian Forest Service Exam, 2011 

CDS General Knowledge Solved Paper (II) : 2007

1.Where is the national institute of nutrition located?
(a) Bengaluru (b) Hyderabad
(c) Mysuru (d) Pune

2.Which of the following parts of blood carry out the function of body defence ?
(a) Red blood cells (b) White blood cells
(c) Platelets (d) Haemoglobins

3.Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List-I                             List-I I
(Disease)                 (Part of Human Body Affected)
A. Conjunctivitis             1. Eyes
B. Dermatitis                  2. Joints
C. Gout                         3. Skin
D. Meniningitis               4. Cord

Codes:
        A B C D
(a)     2 4 1 3
(b)     1 3 2 4
(c)     2 3 1 4
(d)     1 4 2 3

4.Which one of the following is not an insect borne disease ?
(a) Beriberi (b) Kala azar
(c) Malaria (d) Plague

5. At which one of the following places, East- West Corridor connecting Silchar and Porhandar and North-South Corridor connecting Srinagar and Kanyakumari, intersect each other?
(a) Jhansi (b) Agra
(c) Jabalpur (d) Nagpur

6.What does the 93r d Constitutional Amendment deal with ?
(a) Inclusion of Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhal i languages in the Eighth Schedule
(b) Inclusion of service tax levied by Union and collected and appropriated by the Union and the states in the Seventh Schedule
(c) Free and compulsory education for all children between the age of 6 and 14 years
(d) No reservation in Panchayats need to be made in favour of Scheduled Castes in Arunachal Pradesh

7. Consider the following statements
 1. The Union Executive consists of the President and the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as the head.
2. The President may, by writing under his hand-addressed to the Vice-President, resign his office.
3. Executive power of the Union is vested in the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct/
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 only

8. Consider the following statements
1. Ministry of Par liamentary Affaris constitutes Consultative Committees of Member s of both the Houses of Parliament.
2. The main purpose of these Committees are to provide a forum for formal discussions between the Government and Members of Parliament on polices  and programmes of the Government.
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

9. In which Part of the Constitution, details of citizenship are mentioned ?
(a) I (b) II
(c) III (d) IV

10. As which one of the following, does carbon occur in its purest form in nature ?
(a) Carbon black (b) Graphite
(c) Diamond (d) Coal

11.Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes give below the Lists
List-I                                         List-II
(Schedule In the                     (Subject)
Consti tution of India)
A. Tenth Schedule                 1. Languages
B. Eighth’ Schedule                2. Provisions as to disqualification on the grounds of defection
C. First Schedule                    3. Validation of certain Acts and Regulations
D. Ninth Schedule                   4. The States

Codes:
        A B C D
(a)     4 3 2 1
(b)     2 1 4 3
(c)     4 1 2 3
(d)     2 3 4 1

12. Financial distribution between the Union and the State takes place on the basis of the recommendat ions of which one of the following ?
(a) The National Development Council
(b) The Inter-State Council
(c) The Planning Commission
(d) The Finance Commission

 13.Who among the following was the first Law Minister of India ?
(a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) Maulana Abu] Kalam Azad
(c) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(d) T. Krishnamachari

14.Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists
List-I (Name)                     List-II (Game)
A. Dola Banerjee                 1. Badminton
B. Aparna Popat                  2. Snooker
C. Anuja Thakur                  3. Chess
D. Parimarjan Negi              4. Archery

Codes:
        A B C D
(a)     2 3 1 4
(b)     4 1 2 3
(c)     2 1 3 4
(d)     4 1 .3 2

15. Consider the following statements
1. The Gandhara art of the Peshawar Valley is known for some of the finest sculptures made in dark grey schist.
2. The Kushanas were the first Indian kings to have portraits of themselves made in their shrines.
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

16.Which of the following gases is released from rice fields in the most prominent quantities ?
(a) Carbon dioxide (b) Methane
(c) Carbon monoxide(d) Sulphur dioxide

17. Consider the following statements
1. Cigarette smoking exposes a person to  benzene.
 2. Benzene is a known carcinogen.
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

18.Which one of the following is included in the world list of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO ?
(a) Kinnaur Region (b) Spiti Valley
(c) Nallamalai Hills (d) Sunderbans

19.Which one of the fol lowing groups of animals are primates ?
(a) Giraffes and Zebras
(b) Kangaroos and Koalas
(c) Lemurs and Lorises
(d) Rabbits and Hares

 20.Which one of the following glands produces the Growth Hormone (Somatotropin) ?
(a) Adrenal (b) Pancreas
(c) Pituitary (d) Thyroid

 21. In the human body, Cowper ’s glands form a  part of which one of the following ?
(a) Digestive system
(b) Endocrine system
(c) Reproductive system
(d) Nervous system

22. Cloves, used as a spice, are derived from which of the following plant parts ?
(a) Seeds (b) Fruits
(c) Flower buds (d) Young leaves

23.Which one among the following kinds of organisms resides in the roots of pulse plants to do nitrogen fixation ?
(a) Bacteria (b) Fungi
(c) Protozoa (d) Virus

24.With reference to Delhi Sultanate, who was the founder fo Sayyid Dynasty ?
(a) Khizr Khan
(b) Mubarak Shah
(c) Muhammad Shah
(d) Alauddin Alam Shah

25.What were the ahdis of Akbar ’s time ?
(a) Village level money-lenders
(b) Village guards
(c) Cashiers working in diwani
(d) Foot-soldiers in the army

26. In early medieval India, what did the term Jital refer to ?
(a) Weight (b) Diet
(c) Coin (d) Game

27.Which Philosophical system was founded by Vallabhacharya ?
(a) Maharastra Dharma
(b) Shuddhadvaita
(c) Anekantavada
(d) Visistadvaita

28. Amongst the following, who cooperated with  Raja Ram Mohan Roy in the implementationof his educational programmes ?
(a) Dwarkanath Tagore
(b) David Hare
(c) Henri Derozio
(d) William Jones

29.Which of the following vested the secretary  of state for India with supreme control over the Government of India
(a) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(b) Government of India Act, 1858
(c) Indian Councils Act, 1861
(d) Minto-Morley Reforms, 1909

 30.Who among the following Indian freedom  fighters made an attempt to estimate the per capita income of India ?
(a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(b) Feroze Shah Mehta
(c) Surendranath Banerjee
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji

CDS General Knowledge Solved Paper (II) : 2007

31.What is Jeweller ’s rouge ?
(a) Ferric oxide(h) Ferrous oxide
(c) Ferrous carbonate
(d) Ferric carbonate

 32. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be hosted by New Delhi. Two new disciplines will be added to the games. What are they ?
(a) Billiards and Kabaddi
(b) Tennis and Archery
(c) Basketball and Volleyball
(d) Tennis and Billiards

33. ‘Misch metal’ is widely used in the manufacture of which of the following ?
(a) Material of car brake
(b) Smoke detectors
(c) Cigarette lighters
(d) Emergency lights

 34.Who among the following was the first European to encounter the Cacao plant,from which chocolate is made ?
(a) Christopher Columbus (b) John Cabot
(c) Hernando Cortez (d) De Leon

35.What is mixed farming ?
(a) Growing of several crops in a planned way
(b) Growing Rabi as well as Kharif crops
(c) Growing several crops and also rearing animals
(d) Growing of fruits as well as vegetables

36. The persons working in textile factories such as carpet weavers are exposed to which of the following occupational diseases ?