Three Puneites have ranked among the top 100 in the country in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examination, the results of which were declared on Wednesday.

Aayush Sanjeev Oak (25), a resident of Shivajinagar, stood 42nd. Nileshkumar Mahadev Kshirsagar, who stays in Shirur, secured 78th rank, and Ashish Suresh Thakare, a resident of Sahakarnagar, stood 98th.

The other successful candidates from Pune include Suhas Ganpatrao Dabade of Tingrenagar (353rd) rank, Padmasinha Uttam Jadhav of Dhankavdi (482nd) and Adish Digvijay Pathania of Dapodi (555th).

Kranti Khobragade, a female candidate from Pune, ranked 777th. She was a resident of Wanavdi, and has recently shifted to Nagpur.

1. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times?

1. Buddha was by that time consideredas one of the incarnations of Vishnu andthus became a part of Vaishnavism
2. The invading tribes from Central Asiatill the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.

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For strife-torn Manipur, it was a day of jubilation on Thursday when 11 of its candidates cleared the UPSC civil services examination 2010 along with 23 other northeastern students. Manipur is the most troubled state in the region where insurgency is part of one`s daily existence.

The successful candidates include grand-daughter of veteran Congress leader of Manipur and the oldest member of Parliament, Rishang Keishing. Almost all these candidates studied in Manipur but for higher studies branched out to other cities, including the national capital.

Poor law and order situation was one of the key issues why they moved out.

Haulinalal Guite from Churchandpur district and now staying in New Delhi, stood tallest among them ranking 33. "I am so happy. The credit goes to my parents and the almighty," gushed Guite (23) whose parents are doctors in Delhi.

PM Talks to IFS Probationers
The Prime Minister today met the probationers of the 2009 batch of the Indian Foreign Service. In his remarks to the probationers, the Prime Minister recalled the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru about an India that was free from poverty and hunger and the role of the civil service in contributing to national goals and meeting societal aspirations.

The Prime Minister observed that in an increasingly inter-depending and uncertain world, the Indian Foreign Service had an important role to play in steering the country towards the path of socio-economic development. The Prime Minister highlighted some of the contemporary issues requiring special focus.

Chennai-based law graduate S Divyadharshini has topped the prestigious Civil Services Examination 2010 for which the results were announced today. The second position was also secured by a woman, Sweta Mohanty, a computer engineer, while R V Varun Kumar, a dentist from Chennai, got the third rank. A total of 920 candidates, including 203 women, have been selected for the Civil Services, which attracts the largest number of candidates from the entire length and breadth of the country.

Divyadharshini, who has done BA, BL (Hons) from Dr Ambedkar Law University in Chennai, cleared the exam in her second attempt. Mohanty cleared the exam in her third attempt. Kumar, the topper among men, has done his BDS from Ragas Dental College in Chennai. This is his third attempt. An elated Divyadharshini said she was surprised to find herself topping the exam as she was not expecting it. "I was expecting some result but not as a topper," she said.

The task I have set for myself is to demystify the UPSC examination, for the consumption of the candidates aspiring towards making it to those corridors of power that the civil services promise. My purpose is to provide mere guidelines for preparation. I must caution the reader, that much of the effort and hard work will have to be put in by him/her. I can only shed some light on the path towards the ultimate goal.

The UPSC preliminary test General Studies paper is distinctly different from most standardised aptitude tests on account of its focus on general knowledge based questions. These questions require application of a strong knowledge base mixed with reasoning and analytical strategies. Mere cramming of information might not yield higher scores.

Directions (Qs. 1 to 4): In each of these questions, choose the option which can be substituted for the given words.

1. A speech made by someone for the first time
(a) maiden
(b) extempore
(c) spontaneous
(d) sermon

2. A large-scale departure of people from a territory
(a) exodus
(b) immigration
(c) migration
(d) aberration

3. A disease that spreads by means of germs carried in atmosphere
(a) contagious
(b) epidemic
(c) infectious
(d) endemic

4. A hater of learning and knowledge
(a) misologist
(b) bibliophilic
(c) illiterate
(d) misogynist

Directions (Qs. 5 to 8): In each of these questions, choose the option that best captures the essence of the text.

5. Although almost all climate scientists agree that the Earth is gradually warming, they have long been of two minds about the process of rapid climate shifts within larger periods of change. Some have speculated that the process works like a giant oven or freezer, warming or cooling the whole planet at the same time. Others think that shifts occur on opposing schedules in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, like exaggerated seasons. Recent research in Germany examining climate patterns in the Southern Hemisphere at the end of the last Ice Age strengthens the idea that warming and cooling occurs at alternate times in the two hemispheres. A more definitive answer to this debate will allow scientists to better predict when and how quickly the next climate shift will happen.

(a) Research in Germany will help scientists find a definitive answer about warming and cooling of the Earth and predict climate shifts in the future in a better manner.
(b) Scientists have been unsure whether rapid shifts in the Earth’s climate happen all at once or on opposing schedules in different hemispheres; finding a definitive answer will help them better predict climate shifts in future.
(c) Scientists have been unsure whether rapid shifts in the Earth’s climate happen all at once or on opposing schedules in different hemispheres; research will help find a definitive answer and better predict climate shifts in future.
(d) More research rather than debates on warming or cooling of the Earth and exaggerated seasons in its hemispheres, will help scientists in Germany predict climate changes better in future.

B. Sindhu, a girl from the city, has bagged the 17th rank in the examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently.
Sindhu, an Electronics and Communication engineering graduate, is the daughter of Prof. K.L. Bhargava Ram and Prof. C.K. Nalinakshi, residents of T.K. Layout here.

Sindhu is learnt to have studied at Rotary West School, Sadvidya School and National Institute of Engineering (NIE). She was said to have been selected in a campus interview at NIE and worked for two years at a software firm in Bangalore. After relinquishing the job, she prepared for an year for the UPSC examination and came out with flying colours in her first attempt itself.

International Events April 2011

With an all-India topper and three other candidates from Tamil Nadu making it to the top 10 list, it was sure the State’s proudest moment on Wednesday after the results of the UPSC exams 2010 were declared.

Touted to be the most prestigious, the UPSC exam results saw S Divyadharshini, a law graduate from Chennai, topping the list this year in her second attempt. About 86 candidates from Tamil Nadu made it to the list among the 920, selected all over India for the Central services. The number of successful candidates from TN has, however, come down from 127 last year. “TN grabbing four ranks in the top 10 is a big deal even though the number of students who cleared the examination has come down,” said a training centre head.

Ten months were enough for 26-years-old Shruti Sharma to bag the 16th position in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, that too, in her first attempt.

A resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Shruti is the daughter of Dr K N Sharma, a retired PAU professor, and Santosh Sharma, a school teacher. Her aim now is to be a “real” administrative officer — one who can work without pressure from politicians.

01. Consider the following statements:
1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.
2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e.,
Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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

02. With reference to soil conservation, consider the following practices:
1. Crop rotation 2. Sand fences
3. Terracing 4. Wind breaks
Which of the above are considered appropriate methods for soil conservation in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

03. Following are the characteristics of an area in India:
1. Hot and humid climate
2. Annual rainfall 200 cm
3. Hill slopes up to an altitude of 1100 metres
4. Annual range of temperature 15°C to 30°C
Which one among the following crops are you most likely to find in the area described above?
(a) Mustard
(b) Cotton
(c) Pepper
(d) Virginia tobacco

04. With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs:
Mineral 90%Natural sources in
1. Copper Jharkhand
2. Nickel Orissa
3. Tungsten Kerala
2010 Topic Wise Paper General Studies 2010
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

05. India is a party to the Ramsar Convention and has declared many areas as Ramsar Sites. Which of the following statements best describes as to how we should maintain these sites in the context of this Convention?
(a) Keep al l the sites completely inaccessible to man so that they will not be exploited.
(b) Conserve al l the sites through ecosystem approach and permit tourism and recreation only.
(c) Conserve al l the sites through ecosystem approach for a period without any exploitation, with specific criteria and specific period for each site, and then allow sustainable use of them by future generations.
(d) Conserve al l the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.

06. Consider the following pairs:
Protected Well-known area for
1. Bhiterkanika, Salt Water Orissa Crocodile
2. Desert National Great Indian Park, Rajasthan Bustard
3. Eravikulam, Kerala Hoolak Gibbon
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

07. In India, which type of forest among the following occupies the largest area?
(a) Montane Wet Temperate Forest
(b) Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen Forest
(c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
(d) Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest

08. Tamil Nadu is a leading producer of mill-made cotton yarn in the country.
What could be the reason?
1. Black cotton soil is the predominant type of soil in the State.
2. Rich pool of skilled labour is available.
Which of the above is / are the correct reasons?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

09. Rivers that pass through Himachal Pradesh are
(a) Beas and Chenab only
(b) Beas and Ravi only
(c) Chenab, Ravi and Satluj only
(d) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and Yamuna

10. When you travel in certain parts of India, you will notice red soil. What is the main reason for this colour?
(a) Abundance of magnesium
(b) Accumulated humus
(c) Presence of ferric oxides
(d) Abundance of phosphates

Union Public Service Commission

Examination Notice No. 09/2011-CDS-II

No. 8/1/2011-E.I(B)- A Combined Defence Services Examination will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on 18th September, 2011 for admission to the undermentioned courses.

SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION PART-B
MAIN EXAMINATION

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND VETERINARY SCIENCE

PAPER – I

1. Animal Nutrition:
1.1 Partitioning of food energy within the animal. Direct and indirect calorimetry. Carbon – nitrogen balance and comparative slaughter methods. Systems for expressing energy value of foods in ruminants, pigs and poultry. Energy requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, lactation, egg, wool, and meat production.

1.2 Latest advances in protein nutrition. Energy protein interrelationships. Evaluation of protein quality. Use of NPN compounds in ruminant diets. Protein requirements for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, lactation, egg, wool and meat production.

1.3 Major and trace minerals - Their sources, physiological functions and deficiency symptoms. Toxic minerals. Mineral interactions. Role of fat-soluble and water – soluble vitamins in the body, their sources and deficiency symptoms.

1.4 Feed additives – methane inhibitors, probiotics, enzymes, antibiotics, hormones, oligosaccharides, antioxidants, emulsifiers, mould inhibitors, buffers etc. Use and abuse of growth promoters like hormones and antibiotics – latest concepts.

1.5 Conservation of fodders. Storage of feeds and feed ingredients. Recent advances in feed technology and feed processing. Anti – nutritional and toxic factors present in livestock feeds. Feed analysis and quality control. Digestibility trials – direct, indirect and indicator methods. Predicting feed intake in grazing animals.

1.6 Advances in ruminant nutrition. Nutrient requirements. Balanced rations. Feeding of calves, pregnant, work animals andbreeding bulls. Strategies for feeding milch animals during different stages of lactation cycle. Effect of feeding on milk composition. Feeding of goats for meat and milk production. Feeding of sheep for meat and wool production.

1.7 Swine Nutrition. Nutrient requirements. Creep, starter, grower and finisher rations. Feeding of pigs for lean meat production. Low cost rations for swine.

1.8 Poultry nutrition. Special features of poultry nutrition. Nutrient requirements for meat and egg production. Formulation of rations for different classes of layers and broilers.

SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION PART-B
MAIN EXAMINATION

AGRICULTURE

PAPER - I

Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production. Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments. Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans. Climate change – International conventions and global initiatives. Green house effect and global warming. Advance tools for ecosystem analysis – Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns. Concepts of various cropping and farming systems. Organic and Precision farming. Package of practices for production of important cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and fodder crops.

Important features and scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social forestry, agro-forestry, and natural forests. Propagation of forest plants. Forest products. Agro forestry and value addition. Conservation of forest flora and fauna. Weeds, their characteristics, dissemination and association with various crops; their multiplications; cultural, biological, and chemical control of weeds. Soil- physical, chemical and biological properties. Processes and factors of soil formation. Soils of India. Mineral and organic constituents of soils and their role in maintaining soil productivity. Essential plant nutrients and other beneficial elements in soils and plants. Principles of soil fertility, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations, integrated nutrient management. Biofertilizers. Losses of nitrogen in soil, nitrogen- use efficiency in submerged rice soils, nitrogen fixation in soils. Efficient phosphorus and potassium use. Problem soils and their reclamation. Soil factors affecting greenhouse gas emission.

SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION PART-B
MAIN EXAMINATION

GENERAL STUDIES

General Guidelines: The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION PART-B
MAIN EXAMINATION

The scope of the syllabus for the optional subject papers for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level i.e. a level higher than the bachelors degree and lower than the masters degree. In the case of Engineering and law, the level corresponds to the bachelor's degree.

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned.