POLITY - powers of HC vs SC

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/can-high-courts-entertain-review-plea-after-supreme-court-verdicts/article4027784.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

NHRC - radioactive material disposal.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nhrc-takes-up-disposal-of-radioactive-waste-in-hospitals/article4028457.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

PIN - ALSO SEARCH FOR OTHER CARDINALS OF INDIA

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-among-6-new-cardinals-named-by-pope/article4027832.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Pin rajat gupta

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/rajat-gupta-handed-twoyear-jail-term/article4028641.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

GAT, MPPSC prelims paper II

A lot many of old students are worried of the newly introduced second paper replacing subjects from prelims.

Now, this makes you at par with the new students, or those appearing for the first time. Yes! and it gives more tension, WELL YES!

Just realise how much time did you gave to subject when appearing in mppsc pre earlier? It took time, now this paper will not take much of your time if and only if you give it a systematic approach.

How?

1. Comprehension - Make this a regular habit, per day you have to do atleast four (4) passages, this will improve your reading speed, understanding, in between points, theme, tone etc. Also, as we have observed in the 2011 and 2012 UPSC Pre, other questions are also based on comprehension, which includes, Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, etc.
2. Numerical ability - Mathematical topics, 90% of students are afraid of this, You should get 1 book of R. S. Aggarwal, and start practicing, taking ONLY 1 topic per day.
3. Then you should go for verbal and non verbal reasoning. Practice more for verbal first, then you should go for non verbal reasoning. Remember non verbal reasoning is that part which contain too many boxes with typical images, and you have to reason the next image. It REQUIRES PRACTICE. So, the more you practice, the more expert you will get.
4. For decision making, refer any manual, follow its basic code line, in context theme, and answer accordingly.
5. Hindi comprehension for those english medium candidates, dont worry, go to any school library, get a hindi grammar and composition book set , right from class 1st to 12th. And get the comprehension part photocopied, practice them. you would need to focus on the central theme as well as on your vocabulary. You should start practicing, as its a compulsory paper in mains, and without that you can only be a pre candidate.

So in all do no worry, plan, and execute. 

All the best.

Culture update upsc

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/art/from-caves-to-canvas/article4015927.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Cricket diplomacy, hot and cold Australia upsc diplomacy

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/hayden-upset-with-tendulkar-getting-award/article4013734.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Syria update. Upsc diplomacy and pin

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/brahimi-begins-delicate-mission-in-syria/article4013698.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Us prez election, upsc , mppsc update

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-president-will-be-sworn-in-on-january-21/article4015761.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Dignity of women update, upsc socio.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-fiat-to-states-to-check-sexual-exploitation-of-women-at-workplace/article4013878.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

50 years of indo China war

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nation-pays-homage-to-1962-martyrs-for-first-time/article4015960.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Tiger reserve

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/buffer-zones-planned-in-ranthambore-sariska/article4006597.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Elephant reserve update

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/compensation-for-people-shifting-from-elephant-corridors-may-go-up/article4006582.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Indo Japan talks

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-japan-to-hold-second-2-2-dialogue-on-monday/article4006751.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Land acquisition update

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/land-acquisition-bill-states-to-decide-on-rehab-package/article4009554.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Paid news article, upsc, mppsc.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ec-asks-gujarat-to-set-up-committee-to-check-the-paid-news-menace/article4006842.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-to-find-alternative-site-for-missile-firing-range-antony/article4009018.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Brahmos update.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/brahmos-gains-substrategic-super-weapon-capability/article3994856.ece -via "The Hindu Newsfeed", available in Android Market

Micro Focus Study Circle: to be or not to be a civil servant part 2

Micro Focus Study Circle: to be or not to be a civil servant part 2: My earlier post on this blog mentioned the broadest outline of the first paper. now i would like you to imagine yourself on the preferred ...

to be or not to be a civil servant part 2

My earlier post on this blog mentioned the broadest outline of the first paper. now i would like you to imagine yourself on the preferred post and tell your self how does it feel?

 

For that feeling to mature and nurture your desires, to what extent would you like to go? This is a question which all the dreamers (or aspirants) should answer.

 

Remember, this is not a degree course, one mistake and you are gone. back for next attempt. Please make that very  very clear.

 

As you are browsing the net, and that too visiting a profile of a nobody, and reading his so called 'chullu bhar gyan', you are searching for something, that is probably missing in your preparation. Or else you must just be jogging through.

 

In any case, i dont know you, but i can feel the impatience and uncertainty that linger, like the horrifying shadows in our childhood.

 

 

So, cutting short this bak bak,

 

 

Does History irritates you? it does to me, being an engineer, What is this? Why should i learn this?

 

Now imagine yourself being posted as a generalist to handle the tourism department, and now you are incharge?

 

History is important -

 

Now history is covered in both papers but its partial in mains. And now as trend is shifting from static to more analytical format, we will discuss that sometime.

 

How you should prepare History for PRELIMS.

 

•  First of all you should make yourself comfortable that it is not at all a boring subject, but a gradual evolving series of events. (Like those never ending Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi).
• And for any event there has to be a reason. and that event will eventually become a reason for another event.
• So, it is in short like a chain reaction.

First of all you should break the entire syllabus into smaller parts, and further into subparts.

for that follow these steps

 

•  Pre + Proto
• Vedic + Mahajanpads + Mauryans to Guptans
• Medieval -- Rajput era
• Medieval -- Muslim rule
• Modern -- upto 1947
• Modern -- upto , he he he today.

Now let us find each one by one ( unfortunately, i can't get all here at once)

Ancient - Pre + Proto

• Pre means where we dont have written evidence,
• that should include different periods ranging from different evindential findings from NARMADA MAN, to Mehargarh, and the likings.
• then it includes IVC or Harappan culture and civilization.

The main elements of questioning ---

• Who found what, when, under whose patronage. for example sahni in so and so year under Marshall found so and so place.
• Second thing what is found where , dancing statue of a girl ------- where?
• How many seals where?
• After findings the main area goes to the geographical location. On the banks of which river? MY guidance to all my students is PLEASE buy MAPS in BUNDLES, otherwise the publisher will go bankrupt and you will have to work thrice hard to understand the concept.
• If you could plot them ( i mean all the locations) correctly and write in brief about them, we are done for now.
• Next typical love of paper setter? is typical about Architecture, ( i admit, i am influenced by that), town planning and all.
• Another is use of metals , its evident.
• Food materials, grains , cotton, etc.

This is the primary level, moving onto next level you should

• Know, who was Dayaram Sahni, What was his post, who was his boss, did he dreamt of that place, or some BETAL came and sat on his shoulders to dig the forgotten city. etc.
• What is the quality of the dancing girl? Metal used? Good or bad specimen of art? What do you deduce of the culture by looking at that photo of statue? ( Please buy NCERT books )
• What are those seals made of ? What was their purpose? What are our deduction? Is there a find of any unusual seal of the likes of MESOPOTAMIA or EGYPT or else.
• Why these places wiped off, ( simple , they lie on the flood plains of rivers) , How many levels of habitation? span of their time, etc.
• About Architecture - get a picture of the site , it HELPS a lot. Then learn about streets, brick size, lamp post, sewer, layout of room , grainary, bath etc.
• Metals , source, how do they do it? watch NGC or Discovery. no way, its all deductions.
• now that society was Agararian, so how do they irrigate, how do they sow, what they sow, what are the evidences and from where they are found.

Thats about secondary level, now come to this then we will discuss the more indepth levels.

by the way i forgot to mention the questions on the origin and the end of civilisation.

So, thats IVC.

simillarly you should prepare Ancient, medieval, modern.

Hint or tip for this - Prepare charts, they do wonders.

all the best for now
i will try and post one more similar topic on history, God willing.

 

to be or not to be a civil servant

It is a dilemma ‘to be or not to be’ in every first time candidate's mind, then he/she approaches the so called 'Gurus' of civil service coachings, the so called 'sirs', who makes every student believe that yes they are the only IAS in becoming.

Its true to the core that yes anybody, with what so ever background can become a civil servant.  

But in true sense, as famous ad goes - "DO YOU HAVE IT  IN YOU"

There are  few points that should be noted before appearing in the ring, 

From now , 

Calculate how many days are remaining for the PRELIMS ( i will take an example of MPPSC, scheduled to be held on 24th FEB. 2013).

It come to around 130 days plus. WOW ! “yes I can do it”

Well, lets see, if you are willing to perform the following rituals

First – how much time do you waste. (I am a nobody, whom you should tell)

Second – Are you a working? If yes, then how much are you going to put into – “TIME”.

Third – Ask your self the biggest question, which may appear in front of you in Interview – “WHY” this?

Fourth – Ask your self – How much do you read a newspaper apart from your interests. i.e. apart from the usual front page , the gossips, the sports page, the etc.

Fifth – What are your academic weaknesses. Underline them, in what areas are you weak. Reading, comprehending, retaining, reproducing. Then Mark the topics like history –best sleeping time, geography – ok, Polity- goes beyond me, Economics- I can’t understand  debit and credit so next topic.

If you are reading this then its sure you are looking for the answer , the big answer.

After the disheartening point number 1, now the time to move on to next point, where we will analyze  (ha ha ha, lol), the syllabus.

There will be two papers of 100 questions each of 200 marks.

And as a brilliant student (ask yourself) you are you can score 100% in this given time.

     Let’s see, first paper, topic wise

                                                           i.    General Science and Environment – O.K , easy, I’ve studied science. Ooops I am a commerce / arts students. Nothing matters, you should focus on the basics of all the topics, Phy, Chem, and bio. (botony + Zoology). Then, what are current breakthroughs. Some static questions are always there (if you are serious, you must be having old question papers). Those should be your guidelines. Environment will ask all the relevant questions, usually from current affairs. So next time you see some thing affecting environment – MARK IT.
 

                                                       ii.      Current events of National, International and State wise importance. This you can get from many yearbooks available, or the annuals of many publishers. It depends upon a student, what choice he/she has. You should mark those events which are internationally worthy, a bomb blast killing xy number of people in Baghdad is NOT a news you should be concerned with PRE. You should look into the awards, prize, honour, deaths , works of persons. Then any news which has had a global effect. Nationally, a little depth, for example, your focus should be topic wise concentration, again for example – you should focus on all the acts that have been made recently, what source do they originate from? What are there working conditions etc. Also you should go into pending bills. One thing you should remember that the number of time questions of a topic has appeared in the examination will RAISE its level of difficulty. SO PLEASE PREPARE INDEPTH for say ‘panchayati raj and 73^rd amendment’. State wise similar approach, but in very trivial matters like Mahi canal was expected to be finished by Monsoon this year – is it? What is the area of irrigation, etc. Where is Mahi dam situated. Is it a joint project or not? REMEMBER – ENERGY = DEVELOPMENT, so questions on this field are always expected.

                                                         iii.       HISTORY – (well I had given a breakup on the facebook page, and it is lengthy. So, I’ll make it short. History is made up of parts, SO BREAK THEM and STUDY. Like

1. PRE + PROTO – IVC and earlier.

2. ANCIENT – from VEDIC era to GUPTAN

3. MEDIEVAL – part 1 – Rajput era

4. MEDIEVAL - part 2 – Muslim era, till BSZ II- 1857

5. Modern part 1 – 1757 – 1947

6.Modern part 2 – 1947 – continuing

The most important part is MODERN, first finish that in depth.

iv. Geography (inclusive of M.P) – USE MAPS, of World, different continents, INDIA and Madhya Pradesh. You should start learning by mountains, their heights, series, how they are made?, how old they are? What water divide do they form? Etc. etc. Then what rivers originates from them? Where do they flow? How many rivers it takes to make a large river? Where does that river goes? Plot on Map all the rivulets and the rivers, their origins, ends, the cities on them, the dams and irrigation projects taken. Etc. Then your FOCUS should be on the CENSUS 2011 – most important for this year.

                                            v.     Polity(inclusive of M.P) – it contains complete constitution – SO you should,

1.   First learn all the parts, after writing its brief history of origin.

2.   Then learn all the sub parts.

3.    Then learn BY HEART part 3 and 4, 4-A. ( not omitting 1 and 2)

4. Learn part V – Union with States. i.e. President with Guv. And so on, it will save your time, and make it easy for you to answer the questions asked on comparison.

5. Then you should go thorough entire constitution, all the important articles.

6. Amendments, and cases. Elections, Symbols etc.

7. Current affairs about Women reservation bill, lokpal bill etc.

                                             vi.  Sports – Well easy way out will be in any GK book, You can not prepare sports at a very high level. PLEASE GO IN DEPTH, when learning about Olympics medals, questions go deep, refer old papers.

                                              vii.     Lastly , a new topic has been added into syllabus of first paper has been added- S.C/S.T act (1989) and act of 1955 – Protection of civil rights act

1.Don’t just go out , buy a book on these act and learn them all.

2. Why those were needed, their history, their social implications, reports if any published on the topics is very important. Apart from just the acts.

PAPER II , I will post very soon .

All the best , divide your time ( I know its less). Study smart, Be focused, avoid social interactions ( they deviate). Study and Revise constantly. Plan to end your topics before 15-20 days for revision.