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India at Olympics: Civil Services Mentor Magazine: October - 2016

India at Olympics

The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. Both summer and winter olympics games are organised after the gap of four years with a gap of two years between each other. History of olympics starts with the famous games at ancient capital of Greece, Olympia. These games were very important in Greece between the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Majority of the Games during the ancient Greece were related to running, fighting etc. From 4th century AD till 1894 Games were conducted in disorganised manner in various parts of the world. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the man responsible for these modern olympic games.

There are various differences between the modern and ancient olympic games. Ancient olympics had very fewer athletes as compared to modern olympics. Modern olympics has many more games as compare to ancient olympics. Ancient olympics used to host horse riding and modern olympics has swimming, cycling etc. In Ancient Olympics winner of the games was awarded an Olive wreath while in Modern Olympics winners are given medals, namely, Gold; Silver and Bronze. Olympic torch was originated during ancient olympic games which is still continued in modern olympic games. However torch run is introduced in the modern olympic games. This run starts from the Athens till the city which is hosting the Olympics. Torch is carried by the past olympians with in any country.

(Download) Civil Services Mentor Magazine, October 2016 - FREE PDF

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Review of Questions - Public Administration, Main 2015 (Paper - II)

Review of Questions - Public Administration, Main 2015 (Paper - II)

UPSC comes with new word limits here: 10 marks = 150 words

So 15 marks = 225 words & 20 marks = 300 words.

Each Paper (I and II) with 250 marks and 3 hours’ time limit.

Eight Questions in two sections (A and B)

Question Paper Specific Instructions

  • Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
  • There are EIGHT questions divided in two SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
  • Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
  • Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE from each section.
  • The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
  • Answer must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answer written in a medium other than the authorized one.
  • Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
  • Attempts of questions shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of left blank in the answer book must be clearly struck off.

Review of Questions - Public Administration, Main 2015 (Paper - I)

Review of Questions - Public Administration, Main 2015 (Paper - I)

UPSC comes with new word limits here: 10 marks = 150 words

So 15 marks = 225 words & 20 marks = 300 words.

Each Paper (I and II) with 250 marks and 3 hours’ time limit.

Eight Questions in two sections (A and B)

Question Paper Specific Instructions

  • Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
  • There are EIGHT questions divided in two SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
  • Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
  • Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE from each section.
  • The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
  • Answer must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answer written in a medium other than the authorized one.
  • Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
  • Attempts of questions shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of left blank in the answer book must be clearly struck off.

Questions out of our study kit – 4

Total number of questions - 28

Section-A

Q1.Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10×5=50

A. Waldo’s The Administrative State’ provides a fundamental challenge to some of the orthodox premises. Explain. (Introduction)

B. Discuss how the Public Choice Theory promotes the concept of ‘Steering’ and undermines the concept of ‘Rowing’ in visualising efficient and effective administration. (Introduction- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-16 to 17)

C. “Delegated Legislation is a necessary evil.” Comment. ( Administrative Law- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-108 to 110)

D. Do you agree with the view that the charismatic approach of the mid-1970s is a “new version” of the Classical Trait Theory of Leadership? Give reasons. (Administrative Behaviour- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-46 to 51)

E. “The term policy implementation is in some respects preferable to the label public administration.” Argue. (Public Policy- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-182)

Q2. 20+15+15 marks

a. “Globalisation has transformed the nature and character of State from traditional administrative Welfare State to a Corporate State.” Analyse the changes in the nature of public administration in this context. (Introduction- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No- 17)

b. “Contemporary Organisational theory seems further afield of Chester Barnard’s Functions of the Executive than of organisational ecology.” Examine the statement in the light of ecological elements in Barnard’s thought. (Administrative thought- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-37 to 38)

c. “PPPs serve too many parties and too many interests … to be focussed.” Identify in the context of the statement, the parties involved in Public-Private Partnerships and their conflicting aims. (Organisations- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No- 73 to 76)

Q3. 20+ 15+ 15 marks

a. “Follett’s work was not directed towards the resolution of the conflict of ideas, but towards the resolution of structural conflicts between workers and capitalists.” In the light of the statement critically evaluate Follett’s idea of dynamic administration. (Administrative thought- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-20 to 21)

b. “Information constitutes the life-blood of the functioning of an organisation.” Explain the utility and significance of communication in decision-making. (Administrative Behaviour- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No- 43 to 45)

c. “Legislative action is not subject to the rules of natural justice.” Explain the exceptions to the rule of natural justice. (Administrative Law- From our Public Administration Study Kit - Page No-78 to 80)

Free Coaching for UPSC Prelims Examination by Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) - 2017

Free Coaching for UPSC Prelims Examination by Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) - 2017

About University:

Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) is a Central University established in 1998 by an Act of Parliament with All India Jurisdiction. The objective of the University is to promote and develop Urdu language, provide Higher, Technical and Vocational Education in Urdu medium through regular and distance modes. The University Act mandates to focus on women education. The Headquarters of the University is at Hyderabad, spread over 200 acres. The students and the staff of the University are drawn from throughout the country. It has been accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC continuously for the 2nd time.

The Gist of Science Reporter: September 2016

The Gist of Science Reporter: September 2016

Animals in Mitigating Climate Change

Large animals playa key role in mitigating climate change in tropical forests across the world by spreading the seeds of large trees that have a high capacity to store carbon, new research co-led by the University of Leeds has said.

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds important new light on the role seed dispersal by animals plays in mitigating climate change, and how this role can vary in tropical forests across the world.

(Current Affairs) Sports | September - 2016

Sports

22nd Olympic gol d for Phelps

  • Michael Phelps swept to a jaw-dropping 22nd Olympic gold, and fourth of these Games to become one of only three athletes to have won titles in the same individual event at four straight Games.
  • The record-breaking American swimmer, whose place among the pantheon of sporting greats has long been cemented, stormed to victory in the 200 individual medley to match his London tally four years ago.
  • Competing in his fifth Olympics, Phelps joined Al Oerter (discus, 1956-68) and Carl Lewis (long-jump, 1984-96) as the only members of the four-in-a-row club.
  • American Ryan Murphy completed a Rio double after bullying Mitchell Larkin in the men’s 200m backstroke, winning in 1:53.62.
  • The Americans finished day six with 11 swimming golds, eight clear of Australia and Hungary.

(Current Affairs) Science & Technology, Defence, Environment | September: 2016

    Science & Technology, Defense, Environment

  • Cassini spacecraft has discovered steep-sided canyons on Titan (Free Available)
  • The Wildlife Institute of India will now house the country’s first repository on tigers (Free Available)
  • Climate change could bring back age old diseases (Only for Online Coaching Members)
  • Bone marrow transplant to become lot easier (Only for Online Coaching Members)

Cassini spacecraft has discovered steep-sided canyons on Titan

  • NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has discovered steep-sided canyons, hundreds of meters deep, on Saturn’s moon Titan that are flooded with liquid hydrocarbons.
  • The finding represents the first direct evidence of the presence of liquid-filled channels on Titan, as well as the first observation of the deep canyons, NASA said.
  • The observations show that the channels — in particular, a network of them named Vid Flumina — are narrow canyons, generally less than a kilometre wide, with slopes steeper than 40 degrees.
  • This suggested that the channels might also be filled with liquid, but a direct detection had not been made until now.
  • Cassini’s radar was used as an altimeter, sending pings of radio waves to the moon’s surface to measure the height of features there.
  • Earthly examples of both of these types of canyon-carving processes are found along the Colorado River in Arizona.
  • An example of uplift powering erosion is the Grand Canyon, where the terrain’s rising altitude caused the river to cut deeply downward into the landscape over the course of several million years.

The Gist of Press Information Bureau (PIB): September 2016

The Gist of Press Information Bureau: September 2016

Central Ministries & Departments to be linked to the online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System ‘Bhavishya’

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS (IC) for Youth Affairs and Sports, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has said all Central Ministries and Departments will be linked to the online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System ‘Bhavishya’ very soon. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Government has started ‘Anubhav’ scheme for the retiring employees to write an account of their experiences which can be helpful in improving the system. He also said that a focused approach and emphatic attitude needs to be developed towards the pensioners.

(Current Affairs) India and The World | September: 2016

India & The World

Modernisation of Su-30 fighters made significant progress

  • India and Russia made significant progress in the discussions for modernisation of all Su-30 fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the visit of a Russian team last month.
  • The upgrade will give the fight jets new avionics and radar, improved stealth characteristics to reduce the radar cross-section, better electronic warfare capability and new weapons.
  • Though the quantum of the deal is not finalised, some officials said it could be in the range of $7-8 billion.
  • Su-30 are the most modern fighters and the main stay of the IAF. Given the delay in procurement of new fighters, they are crucial for maintaining the combat edge of the IAF.
  • Discussions had been under way for some time for upgrading the aircraft to what was called ‘Super Sukhoi’, but the talks gained momentum recently.
  • India had signed the initial agreement with Russia in the late 1990s for procuring 50 Su-30 multi-role fighter jets in a fly-away condition.
  • Then, it ordered 272 Su-30MKI fighter jets to be made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nasik.
  • Most of the aircraft to be made by HAL have been delivered, and the entire lot of 222 aircraft is expected to be completed in the next couple of years. The HAL has a production rate of 10-12 aircraft a year.
  • This comes in the backdrop of the delay in concluding the final deal for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) to be developed by India and Russia, besides the delay in concluding an agreement for the purchase of the Rafale fighter jets and in the induction of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.
  • A preliminary design agreement was signed in 2010 between HAL and Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau to make the FGFA for use by both countries. So far, both sides have invested $295 million in the preliminary design.
  • But, the final agreement got stuck because of the disagreements over the work share and investment.

(Current Affairs) Economy & Energy | September: 2016

Economy

Cabinet approved foreign investment changes in NBFCs

  • The Cabinet approved a proposal to amend rules for foreign investment in non-banking finance companies (NBFCs).
  • Foreign investment in ‘other financial services’ that are not regulated by any regulators or by a government agency can be made via the approval route,
  • Further, minimum capitalisation norms as mandated under FDI policy have been eliminated as most of the regulators have already fixed minimum capitalisation norms
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a one-time grant of Rs.900 crores spread over three years for an R&D project for the development of Advanced Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology for thermal power plants.
  • The estimated cost of the project is Rs.1,554 crore, according to the government.
  • The Rs.900 crore, commencing from 2017-18, is to be provided as plan gross budgetary support to Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) for the implementation of the R&D project.
  • The Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval for the amendment of Section 64 and section 65 and the consequential amendment in Section 115 of the Factories Act, 1948 by the introduction of the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament.
  • The Cabinet also approved the introduction of pension and post-retirement medical services benefits to the employees of the Food Corporation of India.
  • “The annual financial implication for both schemes combined would be around Rs.134.4 crore at present level of salaries of the employees,” the government said.

(Notification) UPSC Engineering Services Examination, 2017

(Notification) UPSC Engineering Services Examination, 2017

No.F. 2/2/2016-E.I(B): Preliminary/Stage-I Examination of the Engineering Services Examination for recruitment to the services/ posts mentioned in para 2 below will be held by the Union Public Service Commission on 8th January, 2017 in accordance with the Rules published by Ministry of Railways in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 28th September,2016.

2. (A) Recruitment on the results of this examination will be made to the Services/ Posts under the following categories:

  • Category I-Civil Engineering.
  • Category II-Mechanical Engineering.
  • Category III-Electrical Engineering.
  • Category IV-Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

CATEGORY I—CIVIL ENGINEERING

Group-A Services/Posts

(i) Indian Railway Service of Engineers.
(ii) Indian Railway Stores Service (Civil Engineering Posts).
(iii) Central Engineering Service.
(iv) Indian Ordnance Factories Service AWM/JTS (Civil Engineering Post)
(v) Central Engineering Service (Roads), Group-A (Civil Engineering Posts).
(vi) Central Water Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Civil Engineering Posts)
(vii) Survey of India Group ‘A’ Service.
(viii) AEE(Civil Engg Posts) in Border Roads Engineering Service Gr ‘A’.
(ix) AEE(Civil) of P&T Building Works Gr ‘A’ Service.
(x) Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
(xi) AEE(QS&C) in Military Engineer Service(MES) Surveyor Cadre

CATEGORY II—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Group-Services/Posts

The Gist of Kurukshetra: September - 2016

The Gist of Kurukshetra: September 2016

Combining Traditional Wisdom with Modern Research

Can hunger be eliminated from our homes, villages, states, countries or the world in our lifetime? How can we increase the production to satisfy the ever increasing starvation of the expanding population in a contracting and fragmenting fields and environment?

The most central idea to the approaches of increasing productivity for a secured and healthy society today is the strong feeling with conviction that know-how or knowledge must be brought to the people and places that need it the most. And it is in this context that combining conventional and contemporary science with the local wisdom and traditional ecological knowledge comes into picture to face the challenges posed by the increasing demand of food, both in terms of quantity and quality.

(Current Affairs) International Events | September: 2016

International Events

US supports India’s aid in Afghanistan

  • The U.S. is in favour of India providing greater security assistance to Afghanistan.
  • The gift of four MI-25 attack helicopters by India to Afghanistan was specially cited by the U.S. military commander while flagging the crucial role India is playing in the war-torn country.
  • The tremendous cooperation India has made in the human capital of Afghan security forces is the one contribution that is going to be enduring.
  • He said efforts were under way to create a facility in Afghanistan for servicing Russian made military equipment such as the MI-25 helicopters they got from India.
  • The fight against Taliban, he said, is making progress. “Last year, Afghan forces suffered over 5,000 deaths. But by the end of the year, they were able to take control of all major population centres.
  • After President Obama gave authority to attack the IS in January this year, U.S. forces have been aggressively targeting them.

(Current Affairs) National Events | September: 2016

National Events

All party meet to discuss Kashmir issue

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with all political parties on the Kashmir unrest, Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha.
  • The House also passed a unanimous resolution appealing to the people of the Kashmir Valley to restore peace and harmony, adding that there “cannot be any compromise on national security.”
  • Asserting that security forces were asked to show “maximum restraint” in using pellet guns against protesters, Mr. Singh was non-committal on their immediate withdrawal.
  • He said Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were issuing threats to family members of security forces and civil administration officials in the Valley.
  • Mr. Singh said there was no question of handing over Kashmir to the Army and rumours were being spread “deliberately.”

The Gist of Yojana: September 2016

The Gist of Yojana: September 2016

Role of Water Resources Management in Economic Development

India is experiencing a high average annual economic growth of 7.28 percent since 2002-03. The growth by consumption of fixed capital (man-made capital), but also by natural resources. Apart from goods and services, production and consumption processes also generate pollution and wastes which are deposited into the environment (air, water and land). In addition to direct use as inputs, environment acts as sink of wastes and assimilates the pollution load. If pollution load exceeds the assimilation capacity of the environment (air, water and local), it causes environmental degradation (air and water pollution, soil (land) degradation). The unpaid ecosystem services of the environment (e.g., pollution assimilation) as a factor of production and the depletion and degradation of some natural resources (like air, water and soil pollution) are not accounted into the present System of National Accounts (SNA); as a result it is difficult to understand the actual environmental debt of Indian economy.

Selected Articles from Various News Paper: Civil Services Mentor Magazine - September 2016

Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals

On this highway, proceed with caution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event-filled visit to the United States, from June 6-8, has just ended, though his oratorical flourishes during his address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress still reverberate across the globe. The 3,800-word Joint Statement is available with the public. Ignoring the euphoria is not easy but due diligence about outcomes may be in order. We need to make a distinction between good copy and finite results.
The Prime Minister came through as more restrained this time when compared to previous occasions. An exception was his address to the U.S. Congress. Even here, the Prime Minister was more statesman than politician. For instance, Mr. Modi displayed a high degree of strategic wisdom in not launching an attack on China by name. Nor was there any criticism of the U.S. for implicitly acquiescing in Pakistan’s employment of terror as a strategic instrumentality vis-à-vis India. The Prime Minister was also careful not to highlight the difference in approach between Capitol Hill and the U.S. administration with regard to Pakistan’s record on terrorism, and the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to that country.

Gist of The Hindu: September 2016

Gist of The Hindu: September 2016

Content:

On this highway, proceed with caution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event-filled visit to the United States, from June 6-8, has just ended, though his oratorical flourishes during his address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress still reverberate across the globe. The 3,800-word Joint Statement is available with the public. Ignoring the euphoria is not easy but due diligence about outcomes may be in order. We need to make a distinction between good copy and finite results.
The Prime Minister came through as more restrained this time when compared to previous occasions. An exception was his address to the U.S. Congress. Even here, the Prime Minister was more statesman than politician. For instance, Mr. Modi displayed a high degree of strategic wisdom in not launching an attack on China by name. Nor was there any criticism of the U.S. for implicitly acquiescing in Pakistan’s employment of terror as a strategic instrumentality vis-à-vis India. The Prime Minister was also careful not to highlight the difference in approach between Capitol Hill and the U.S. administration with regard to Pakistan’s record on terrorism, and the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to that country.

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