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

India & The World

US supports good relationship between India and Pak

  • Revival of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan will not only benefit the two countries but also help establish security and stability in Afghanistan and across the region, says the United States of America.
  • India has very important role to play in security and stability in Afghanistan and across the region. Good relations between India and Pakistan will not only benefit the two countries but also the entire region.
  • Indians have suffered greatly at hands of terrorists. Many lives have been lost in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. We have seen increasing realisation and action by the Pakistan government to act against terrorist groups.
  • US continue to urge Pakistan to act against all terrorist networks that target Pakistani establishments or U.S. government or Indian government and its interests.

Nuclear partnership between India and Japan will move forward

  • The civilian nuclear deal between India and Japan which has been under negotiation since 2010 finally might move beyond the “nullification clause” which had been the major condition that Japan refused to compromise on in the previous rounds of negotiations.
  • However, complex legislative negotiation in Tokyo will determine how fast both sides can finalise the draft of the civilian nuclear energy treaty
  • In view of the several steps that India has already taken in the field of nuclear safety and nuclear fuel reprocessing, Japan has not insisted onany “nullification clause” during the latest round of negotiations.
  • It is this relaxation of some of the past rigidity which paved the way for the MoU on the principles of negotiation exchanged during the latest visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India.
  • The specificity of the Japan-India civil nuclear negotiation is its commercial aspect. Because of the commercial aspect, Mr. Abe is under pressure from Japanese nuclear energy giants like Toshiba and Hitachi, who own American nuclear energy firms like Westinghouse and GE.
  • In brief, Mr Abe will have to free Japanese nuclear companies so that the American companies can benefit from energy deals with India, as without that, the India-U.S. nuclear deal remains unfulfilled too.
  • Finalisation of the deal will signal an irreversible change in the international civilian nuclear market of which India is poised to be a major consumer.
  • But for now, it is for Mr Abe to con-vince the Japanese parliament that the time for civil nuclear deal between India and Japan has finally arrive

(Current Affairs) Economy & Energy | February: 2016

Economy

India want a permanent solution on public stoc kholding

  • India wanted an agreement on a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) and on a permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes.
  • SSM is a trade remedy which is important for developing countries as it will allow them to temporarily hike duties to counter sudden import surges and price falls of farm products due to the heavily subsidised agricultural imports from developed countries, it said.
  • India asked the G33 countries to stand united, and collectively send out a message that the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration should be balanced and cover all the elements of the Doha Development Agenda.

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Sindhi (Arabic) (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Sindhi (Arabic) (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

Subject: Sindhi (Arabic) (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects

Exam Date: 23rd December 2015

File Type: PDF

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Santhali (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Santhali (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

Subject: Santhali (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects

Exam Date: 23rd December 2015

File Type: PDF

Analysis of IAS Mains 2015: General Studies Question Paper - III

Analysis of IAS Mains 2015: General Studies Question Paper - III

Each question carries 12.5 Marks (12.5×20 = 250 Marks )

GS Paper-3 deals with Economy, Environment, Disaster management, science & technology and security.

GS Mains Paper-3 2015
Growth and mobilization of resources 37.5
Government Budgeting 12.5
Investment models and Infrastructure 12.5
E-tech. to aid farmers 12.5
Food processing and related industry 37.5
Disaster and Disaster Management 37.5
Science and Technology Awareness & Development 25
Achievements of India in Science and Technology 12.5
Linkages between Development & spread of Extremism 25
Cyber security and social networking 25
Armed Forces 12.5

Economy: Growth and mobilization of resources

1. The nature of economic growth in India in described as jobless growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

7. Craze for gold in Indians have led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.

8. “Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.

Economy: Government Budgeting

5. In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.

Economy: Investment models and Infrastructure

10. There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.

Economy: E-tech. to aid farmers

4. How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?

Economy : Food processing and related industry

2. Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India.

(Notification) UPSC: Engineering Services Examination - 2016

(Notification) UPSC: Engineering Services Examination - 2016

The candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfil all eligibility conditions for admission to the Examination. Their admission at all the stages of the examination will be purely provisional subject to satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions.

Posts Detail:

Posts under the following categories:‐ 

Category    I‐Civil Engineering.  
Category    II‐Mecahnical 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), Gr ‘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’.
(x) Indian Defence Service of Engineers
(xi) AEE(QS&C) in Military Engineer Service (MES)Surveyor Cadre.

CATEGORY II—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Group‐A/B Services/Posts

(i) Indian  Railway  Service  of  Mechanical Engineers.
(ii) Indian Railway Stores Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts).  
(iii) Indian Ordnance Factories Service AWM/JTS (Mechanical Engineering Posts).  
(iv) Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts).  
(v) Geological Survey of India Engineering Service Gr ‘A’
(vi) Central Engineering Service (Roads), Gr ‘A’ (Mechanical Engineering Posts).  
(vii) Central Water Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Mechanical Engineering Posts).
(viii) AEE(Mech Engg Posts) in Border Roads Engineering Service Gr ‘A’.
(ix) Indian Naval Armament Service
(x) Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
(xi) Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘B’ (Mechanical Engineering Posts).  

CATEGORY III—ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Group‐A/B Services/Posts

(i) Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers.  
(ii) Indian Railway Stores Service (Electrical Engineering Posts).  
(iii) Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service (Electrical Engineering Posts).  
(iv) Indian Ordnance Factories Service AWM/JTS (Electrical Engineering Posts).  
(v) Indian Inspection Service (Asstt. Dir. Grade I).
(vi) Indian Supply Service Gr ‘A’.
(vii) AEE(Electrical) of P&T Building Works Gr ‘A’.
(viii) Indian Naval Armament Service.
(ix) Indian Defence Service of Engineers
(x) Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘B’ (Electrical Engineering Posts).  

CATEGORY IV—ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

Group‐A and B Services/Posts

(i) Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers.  
(ii) Indian Railway Stores Service (Telecommunication/Electronics Engineering Posts).  
(iii) Indian Inspection Service (Asst. Dir. Grade‐I)
(iv) Indian Telecommunication Service, Group ‘A’.  
(v) Indian Radio Regulatory Service Gr ‘A’
(vi) Indian Ordnance Factories Service AWM/JTS (Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Posts).  
(vii) Indian Naval Armament Service
(viii)Junior Telecom Officer (General Central Service Group ‘B’, Gazetted, Non‐Ministerial).  
(ix) Central Power Engineering Service Group ‘B’ (Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Posts).  

Educational Qualification:

For admission to the examination, a candidate must have –

(a) obtained a degree in Engineering from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other Educational Institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as Universities under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act,  1956; or
(b) passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution  of  Engineers  (India); or
(c) obtained a degree/diploma    in Engineering from such foreign University/College/Institution and under such conditions as may be recognised by the Government for the purpose from time to time, or
(d) passed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India); or
(e) passed Associate Membership Examination  Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society ofIndia; or
(f) passed Graduate   Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London held after November, 1959

Age Limits:

(a) A candidate for this examination must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st January, 2016 i.e., he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd January, 1986 and not later than 1st January, 1995.

Analysis of IAS Mains 2015: General Studies Question Paper - II

Analysis of IAS Mains 2015: General Studies Question Paper - II

Each question carries 12.5 Marks (12.5×20 = 250 Marks)

GS Paper-2 deals with Polity & Governance, Social Justice & Welfare and International-Relations (IR)+

GS Mains Paper-2 2015
Evolution of Constitution 37.5
Separation of Powers 12.5
Federal Structure & Local Administration 25
Constitutional, Regulatory, Statutory and Quasi- Judicial Bodies 25
Urban and Rural Welfare Schemes 12.5
Social Sectors & Services 25
Accountability, E-Governance and Citizen Charter 25
NGO, SHG, Pressure Groups and Civil Services 37.5
Foreign Policy of India 25
Neighbors of India 25

Polity: Evolution of Constitution

  • Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting for its citizens a uniform civil code as provided for in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
  • Khap Panchayats have been in the news for functioning as extra-constitutional authorities, often delivering pronouncements amounting to human rights violations. Discuss critically the actions taken by the legislative, executive and the judiciary to set the things right in this regard.
  • Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulations on burning crackers during Diwali? Discuss in the light of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and Judgement(s) of the Apex Court in this regard.

Polity: Separation of Powers

  • Resorting to ordinances has always raised concern on violation of the spirit of separation of powers doctrine. While noting the rationales justifying the power to promulgate ordinances, analyze whether the decisions of the Supreme Court on the issue have further facilitated resorting to this power. Should the power to promulgate ordinances be repealed?

(Current Affairs) International Events | February: 2016

International Events

Silk Road Economic Belt will be the focus of SCO

  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting is set to showcase growing alignment between China and Russia, through closer integration of the Beijingmarshalled Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) with Moscow driven Eurasian Economic Union (EEAU), steered by a 10- year developmental plan.
  • Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang hosted a banquet for the heads of government from the SCO countries on Monday, setting the stage for a daylong session.
  • The meeting, in which Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah are to participate, is expected to focus on top developmental goals for the grouping.
  • The SCO has so far been known for its sharp focus on security concerns. Kazakhstan, is also expected to attract considerable attention during the deliberations. India is being represented by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh.
  • Analysts point out that SCO is part of the emerging Eurasiacentred Silk Road geopolitical architecture pillared by China and Russia, along with the Central Asian Republics.
  • But the grouping is expanding rapidly towards South Asia, with the inclusion of India and Pakistan as full members remaining only a procedural formality.
  • Nepal has become an observer state, and Iran’s elevation to full membership is also under active consideration.

(Current Affairs) National Events | February: 2016

National Events

Very less chance that GST will go through in this session

  • Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said the winter session of Parliament, which had started with much promise of a détente between the Government and the Opposition, was “threatened with a washout.”
  • He also said “The last session of Parliament did not function. The current session is also threatened with a washout. The reasons for the washout of the current session keep changing by the hour,”.
  • The Congress, which had appeared to be thawing on the GST issue at the beginning of the session, continued its aggressive stance against the government, from the day a Delhi court refused to exempt Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi from personal appearance in the National Herald case.

General B.K. Loshali sacked

  • Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General B.K. Loshali, who was facing an inquiry for publicly contradicting the government over the sinking of a Pakistani ship off the Gujarat coast on New Year’s Eve, has been dismissed.
  • He was dismissed after the Board of Inquiry found him guilty of all charges on Saturday. The inquiry was conducted by a panel of senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officers for over three months.

India and pakistan will have comprehensive talks soon

  • Expressing the hope that the renewed dialogue with Pakistan would open a new chapter of peace and development in the region, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday told both Houses of Parliament that a “comprehensive bilateral dialogue” would start and the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries would work out its modalities.
  • India had emphasised the need to speed up the judicial process in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack by militants from the neighbouring country killing scores of people.
  • Shushma Swaraj said that government accords the highest priority to the country’s security. In order to meet the threats, the government will take all steps, including through diplomatic channels.

Uttar Pradesh still tense after comments from leaders

  • A fresh wave of tension has swept over western Uttar Pradesh following a series of mass protests by Muslims against alleged comments by Hindu Mahasabha leader Kamlesh Tiwari.
  • The spectacle of over a lakh of protesters demanding the hanging of the Hindutva activist for his objectionable statement against the Prophet, has provoked widespread anger and heightened tensions in the communally sensitive region.
  • Prominent farmers and political leaders of western U.P. who are seen as close to the BJP, have taken exception to the large protests.
  • Tiwari was arrested by the State police over a week back after his statement. He had made an “objectionable” statement in response to the SP leader Azam Khan calling RSS workers “homosexual”.

Future of earth is secured after paris deal feels world leaders

  • U.S. President Barack Obama said it is a big step forward in securing the planet for future generations and said the agreement showed what was possible when nations stood together.
  • Paris pact agreement represents the best chance we've had to save the one planet we've got. I believe this moment can be a turning point for the world,” he said.
  • As a result of the climate agreement, we can be more confident the earth will be in better shape.
  • The agreement represents “a huge step forward in securing the future of the planet,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said, adding that it showed what “unity, ambition and perseverance can do.”

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Maithili (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

(Download) UPSC IAS Mains 2015: Maithili (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects Paper

Subject: Maithili (Paper -1 & 2) Literature Subjects

Exam Date: 23rd December 2015

File Type: PDF

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