[Topicwise analysis] GS mains paper 2 (2010)

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[Topicwise analysis] GS mains paper 2 (2010)

By Mrunal Patel

I don’t have the statistics portion yet. So its not in the picture.

Courtesy again goes to Deltabravo of IOforum for providing the question paper.

Markwise- Breakup

Indian Diaspora	12
International Institutions	15
India-defense / strategic relations	32
Bilateral	32
India and its neighbors	37
World Economy	39
International current affairs	55
Science & Tech	110

% wise importance given to each topic

India and neighbors

Evaluate India's approach towards meeting the country's growing energy demands. Compare the success of this approach with that of another Asian giant which has perhaps the fastest growing energy demands.	20
Examine the recent developments towards the solution of the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary dispute. What implications do these have for India?	12
What are the major capacity-building and reconstruction projects being undertaken by India in Afghanistan?	5

India- Defense / strategic relations

Critically examine the implications of the disintegration of the Soviet Union on India's security and strategic perspectives. What further responses would you suggest in India's foreign policy to accommodate these implications?	20
Do you agree with the view that Israel is a 'natural ally' of India?	12

India and world Economy

Bring out the FDI and employment implications of China being a manufacturing hub and India a service hub?	12
Have the Uruguay Round negotiations and the resultant Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement helped in resolving trade conflicts arising out of variations in different nations' IPR regimes ? Also list the steps taken by India to conform to TRIPS. [To clear the basic concepts related to TRIPs, refer to my articles on Economy for newbie series here ]	12
What is 'Round Tripping' in the context of FDI inflow, and why has it been in the news recently in the case of India?	5
Comment on the reasons for the recent economic crisis in the so-called 'PIGS' countries of Europe.	5
Rotterdam Convention	5

India- bilateral relations

How far have Japan's principles of Hikaku San Gensoku [non-nuclear principle] impacted bilateral ties with India?	12
Comment on the reason for the recent hike in visa processing fees for certain categories of US visas. What is the likely impact of this hike on India?	5
(h)List the salient features of the Riyadh declaration and the bilateral agreements between India and Saudi Arabia signed earlier this year.	5

International Affairs (Where India isn’t directly involved)

Examine the opportunities for a lasting West Asia peace solution in the context of the 'historic' talks started in September 2010.	12
Has the February agreement between the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) been more successful in ending the strife in Darfur than the Abuja peace agreement of 2006? Evaluate.	12
Comment on the present status of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). What important issues, do you think, need to be taken up at the seventh review conference of the BWC scheduled for 2011?	12
Trial chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) and its recent verdict.	5
'Predator' drones	3
Mavi Marmara incident	5
(b) Shahran Amiri (nuke scientist of Iran)	3
(g) 'Deepwater Horizon' incident	3

Diaspora

Assess the contributions of Indian Diaspora in the Caribbean.

12

International Institutions (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संस्थान- આંતરરાષ્ટ્રીય સંગઠનો)

Compare and contrast the role of the IMF with that of the World Bank.	5
Bring out the significance of GDI and GEM as components of the UN's Human Development Report (HDR). Comment on India's relative rankings with regard to HDI and GDI.	5
In the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), distinguish between 'Annex I' and 'Annex II' countries.	5
Significance of the Kampala declaration of the International Criminal Court (ICC)	5
Highlight the role of the Indian peacekeeping contingent as part of MONUSCO.	5

Science and Tech (विज्ञानं और प्रौद्योगिकी –વિજ્ઞાન અને ટેકનોલોજી)

(a)Bring out the applications of computer models in studying climate changes, with special reference to the Community Earth System Model (CESM).	12
(b)What is phytoremediation ? Discuss its applications.	12
(c) Explain and differentiate among 'Plasma', 'LCD' and 'LED' television technologies.	12
(d) What is 'cloud computing’? Bring out its essential features and list its advantages and limitations.	12
(e) Discuss the applications of nanotechnology in the health care sector.	12
(a) MRSA infection	5
(b) HRP-2M Choromet	5
(c) Maglev vehicles	5
(d) Super absorbent polymers (SAP)	5
(e) Ginkgo biloba (some plant)	5
(f) CARTOSAT-2B	5
(g) Various generations of mobile phone technology	5
(a) Craig Venter (biologist- first to sequence the human genome)	3
(c) Wolfram Alpha (search engine)	3
(d) 'Dreamliner' aircraft (new Boeing plane, 330 seats, eats 20% less fuel than Boeing 767)	3
(e) Blue gene project (computer Architech project to design super computers)	3
(h) ACTN 3 gene	3

Previously, related to this

1.    [Question Paper] Essay Mains 2010

2.    [Topicwise-Analysis] General Studies paper-1 (Mains) 2010

[Question Paper] Essay Mains 2010

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All thanks to Swamy from IO forum
(Write anyone out of four) 200 Marks.

1. Geography may remain the same, history need not.
2. Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country?
3. Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role.
4. From traditional Indian philosophy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or paradigm shift?

[There were only four options given this year.]

Anyone wanting to publish his essay on any of above topic on my blog, is most welcome. Send your work in MS word document or in notepad file or in direct email to following address

[Topicwise-Analysis] General Studies paper-1 (Mains) 2010

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[Topicwise-Analysis] General Studies paper-1 (Mains) 2010
By Mrunal Patel

Courtesy Deltabravo of IOforum for providing this question paperI’m only doing the topic-wise breakup with fancy charts, tables and graphs.

Contents

1. * Piechart: % wise importance given to each topic.
   
2. * History.
   
3. * Development,Policy-making,Administration,Yearbook etc.
   
4. * Polity.
   
5. * Geography,environment and disaster Management
   
6. * Science and Tech.
   
7. * Art,culture and sports.
   
8. * Economy.
   
9. * People in News
   
10. * Conclusions.
    
11. * brief answers for the frequently asked questions:
    

Marks distribution (out of 362)

Topic	Total Marks
History	36
Policy & Development	73
Polity	46
Geography & Environment	114
Sci.tech	6
Art & Sports	38
Economy	33
People in news	16
Total	362 (I’ve counted optional questions)

% wise importance given to each topic

History

Question	Marks
"Disputes between the- riparian states on sharing of river waters in post- Independence India are becoming increasingly complex." Objectively analyse the major disputes in this connection, with special reference to the Southern States.	20
"Dalhousie's predecessors had acted on the general principles of avoiding annexations, if these could be avoided. Dalhousie acted on the principles of annexation, if lie could do so legitimately. His annexations were both of war and peace." Analyse.	12
Contributions of Latika Ghosh to the freedom struggle	2
Bhai Maharaj Singh as a freedom fighter	2

Development,Policy-making,Administration,Yearbook etc

Critically examine the differing estimates for (i) poverty figures, and (ii) GDP growth data for April-June 2010, that have been in the news recently. In your view, what estimates are more reflective of the ground reality, and why?	20
Small-holder farms need to be strengthened to achieve national food security." Do you agree with this assessment? Substantiate.	12
"Upliftment of the neglected sections of society will be best served with many more centers of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University." Expand on the assertion made.	12
Comment on the recommendations of the Wadhwa Commission on the Public Distribution System.	5
Comment on the salient features of the recent draft Model Real Estate (Regulation of Development) Act of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation of the Central Government.	12
Distinguish between the objectives, structure and functioning of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan' and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti	12

Polity

With respect to Cooperative Societies what are the salient features of the 106th and 111th Constitutional Amendment Bills as at present?	12
What are the grounds of disqualification of a Member of Parliament from either House? Quote relevant provisions in your answer.	12
Legislative powers assigned to the Rajya Sabha under Art. 249 and Art. 312 of the Constitution	5
Bring out the powers and responsibilities attached to the office of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.	12
How is disagreement between the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of a State in passing of an ordinary Bill, resolved?	5

Geography,environment and disaster Management

(a) Comment on the spatial components in urban solid waste management in the country.	12
(b) Assess the contributions made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in agricultural development.	12
(c) List the .significant local storms of the hot-weather season in the country and bring out their socio-economic impact.	12
Bring out the salient features of the evolution and the current status of the 'Bharat Stage' vehicle emission norms in the country.	12
Transhumance in India	5
(c) Golden Revolution	5
(d) Sea-floor spreading	5
Causes for dominant dendritic pattern of drainage in the Gangetic plains	5
'Break-of-bulk” towns	5
List any eight 'Ramsar' wetland sites located in India. What is the 'Montreux Record' and what Indian sites are included in this Record?	12
Are the 'Dedicated Freight Corridor' railway project and the 'Golden Quadrilateral' road project mutually complementary or competitive? Assess.	12
Comment on the recent HFC-23 emissions controversy that includes in its ambit some Indian companies.	5
What are the salient features of The National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan?	5
(e) You arrive first at, the scene where a bus accident has just occurred. What emergency measures should you immediately and safely adopt?	5
Babli Project	2

Science and Tech

Frontogenesis and Frontolysis	2
Chandrayaan-II	2
Agni-V	2

Art,culture and sports

While bringing out their salient features, distinguish between either 'Madhubani' Art and 'Manjusha' Art or 'Rajasthani' schools of painting and the 'Pahari' school of Painting.	12
Distinguish between the following four literary awards: (i) Jnanpith Award (ii) Sahitya Akademi Award (iii) Vyas Samman (iv) Sarastvati Summan	12
"Cost-benefit analysis should not be the sole consideration, while deciding to host events like the Commonwealth Games." Critically comment on this perspective.	12
Aerostat balloon (common wealth games)	2

Economy

After the September 1st changes, do you think that Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) and Mutual Funds (MFs) are on a level playing field ? Substantiate your answer from the perspective of an ordinary investor.	12
What do you understand by 'repo rate' and 'reverse repo rate’? What are the implications in raising these rates?	12
Bring out the sectoral and state-wise distribution patterns of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country.	5
National Investment Fund	2
'SwavaJamban' Scheme (to promote New pension scheme)	2

People in News

(a) Divya Ajithkumar	2
(b) N.C. Saxena	2
(c) Islam A. Siddiqui	2
(d) Swarnalatha Cherukutty	2
(e) Nitin Nohria	2
(f) Deepak Mondal	2
(g) Gaurav Singh Saini	2
(h) Upendra Limaye	2
Total	16

Conclusions

1. No meaning is buying / reading that book of Spectrum related to Freedom fighters (Gandhi Nehru Tagore+150 others that we used to cram down)

2. No need to be scarred of that “History-Quotes” question (2009’s paper) no need to read extra reference books suggested by ‘eminent History-coaching class sirs’ to prepare for the ‘quotes’

3. Earlier UPSC used to ask 15 marks question for 150 words, now its 12 marks question for 150 words means you’ve to write more words to get same amount of marks.

4. There are no ’30 marks’ questions so earlier you could get more marks by preparing a few topics well but now since max mark for any question is 20, and majority of questions have 12 marks means you need to prepare a more topics to get same amount of marks.
5. Polity part was mostly from the ‘static portion’ so it doesn’t require much brain application or effort to get those 49 marks.

6. GS- 2009 mains showed that ‘hot’ topics should be neglected. (e.g. Much hype for Chandrayaan in 2009, but they did not ask a single question) We could have assumed that following similar pattern UPSC won’t ask anything from Common wealth games in 2010, but they did!(14 Marks)

7. It’s a good time for the Geography coaching classes to brainwash newcomers into believing that Geography as an optional subject tremendously helps in GS that’s why they mustn’t select any other optional subject! And all 700 vacancies of UPSC are going to be filled by Geography optional subject only.

8. Repo rate and reverse repo rate was easy to answer even for a school kid, had you read my blog-article series on Economy for newbies!

9. Some people might put same question in different category (e.g. National investment fund is both economy and Policy question)

10. I might have made some mistake in calculations and typing.

On the side note, here are the brief answers for the frequently asked questions:

1. In the time of uncertainty and misinformation, the crooks try to make quick bucks by fooling newcomers. CSAT is providing that excellent-opportunity. So if someone is ‘claiming’ that he can provide you sure-shot books, material and coaching for CSAT prepared by the ‘experts’, his claims are as true as those fairness creams. Any swinging dude can repack the material & coaching from CAT, MAT,GMAT, Bank exams etc. and make tall claims to sell his ‘exclusive-CSAT study products’. Give a thorough thought before investing your time and money in such things. Because it is an unwritten rule of UPSC business – not to sell any book for less than 150/-, or postal material for less than 3,000/- or coaching for less than 20,000/- Rs. And not to give any refund later on.

2. CSAT has made NO change in the trial or age limit for any category.

3. To count the trial and age limit for your own case: please refer this ARTICLE

4. Booklists and strategy for each optional subject is given in this pdf file

5. Postal material (even if it is exclusively designed for ‘CSAT’) is always a waste of time and money.

6. Success is possible without going to expensive coaching classes of Delhi.

7. Life does not and must not end with a failure in civil service exam: here is the anti-suicide and anti-depression helpline for the civil service aspirants.

And Happy Diwali to all.

Anti-Depression & Anti-Suicide Helpline for IAS aspirants

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Just came to know about this-

Chennai IAS aspirant Dr. Anu Annadurai ,shattered by her Prelims 2010 result committed suicide.Although yearning for a goal that is beyond their potential creates frustration, She was a sincere student had twice appeared in the IAS interview exam earlier. At the same time we must accept the factors of peer pressure too.

Anti-Depression Helpline for civil service aspirants

If any IAS aspirant need someone with whom they can share their pain and misery in confidence; someone who would listen, understand and accept them unconditionally, as a faculty we came forward to help the candidates out of depression.

Aspirant need help can contact us over telephone or through email.
Confidentiality and anonymity are assured.
We don't have any political or religious affiliation.
Our services are absolutely free.

If you are in crisis please do call us.

Contact

If you need a Anti-depression support from CivilseXpert
call: 09789091915 any time (English/Tamil)
Email: founder@civilsexpert.com
If you feel you need a professional Anti-suicide support for free,
We recommend http://www.snehaindia.org
Hot line: 91.44.24640050
Email: help@snehaindia.org

Courtesy: Civilsexpert.com
(PS I'm not running this helpline, I'm only copy pasting it from another website)

I just want to say life mustn't end with a stupid exam. There are plenty of rich,powerful and famous people in India, who are not CAT/IIT/IAS/10-12th board toppers.

Last minute tips for IAS Mains exam by Nagarajan.M (IAS)

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I'm only doing the copy-paste job, this article is written by Mr.Nagarajan.M (IAS) of Gujarat Cadre.

The moment you have been waiting for has arrived. The Civil Services Mains exam is the culmination of your long effort. It is the time when the “rubber-meets-the-road”.

What you do now or you don’t do can determine your success or failure. Here are some quick tips to take care of the loose ends.

Revise, Revise and Revise

We tend to forget much of what we read very soon. The memory circuits in the brain needs to strengthened. This is possible only though revision. Don’t keep measuring what you remember. JUST REVISE

Don’t study anything new

It better not to study anything new. But you can note down some new point or example which will supplement you exixting information dataset in you memory.

Time Management

Writing all answers above average is better than writing few answers very good. UPSC wants people who can optimise resources. Not someone whoo focuses on one thing and neglect others.

There are 300 marks in each paper and the time allotted is 180 minutes. That is 6 minutes for ten marks. So for a sixty mark question you typically have 36 minutes. But to set aside some time for revision and contingency we can take it as 30 minutes.

Q.No.	Marks allotted	Time to answer	Cumulative time taken
1	60 Marks	30 mins	30 mins
2	60 Marks	30 mins	60 mins
3	60 Marks	30 mins	90 mins
4	60 Marks	30 mins	120 mins
5	60 Marks	30 mins	150 mins
	Review and cover up	30 mins	180 mins

Some Subjects may have a different pattern, but the ratio of 6 minutes for ten marks can be easily applied.

Admit Card and Exam kit

Keep you Admit card (i.e. Hall Ticket) ready. Prepare a exam kit containing pen with enough spare pens, pencil, eraser, sharpener,scale, protractor, felt pen for underlining key points, electronic watch to monitor time.

It is advisable to carry an exam pad as some the desks may be broken or inconvenient to write.

Mobile – is banned

Keep you mobile phones at home as UPSC has banned them in the exam premises. You may find it difficult to keep them in safe custody at the exam venue.

Study Materials for revision

Keep minimal study materials to revise when you have time for afternoon paper. It will only make you tense. If you had made any revision notes, take them.

What to carry inside the hall?

Admit card, your exam kit and water bottle.

You may be tense despite working very hard. Don’t worry. Psychological research has proven that some amount of tension actually enhances performance. If you have worked diligently and sincerely, SUCCESS will surely be YOURS.

Best of Luck.

Nagarajan M, IAS

The author is an IAS officer of the Gujarat Cadre. He and his friends guide aspirants through www.GsCurrentAffairs.com .

[Review] Himalai Coaching of Banglore is not good!

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Copy paste job-

From Docvinny's post

i had enrolled der (Himlai/Himalai) in d month of Nov by paying 35k at once!!!!!! Soon realised dat de wont teach anything except Yaddyurappa and Shobha Karandlage's affairs...Within a week i decided to change my optional to zoology as i was somewhat familiar wit dat. The last time i had been der to collect my Prelims halt tickect. Keshav is extremely money minded, he gives xeroxed materials for additional money, 45 Rs each!!! that too 2 decade old ones...
Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From sriskipy

i am the old student of himalay. keshav and other ppl there wiill teach at their best but as time passes they will be very careless and u find it dificult to meet teacher. himalay notes is not sufficient to crack exam keshav will say its enough but actually its wrong. i sufered that blow last year. once again i advice u try to make ur notes dont depend heavily on himalay notes..all the best...

In case you didnot get mains 2010 admission card don't worry

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 Since many friends have not yet got their admit card for mains 2010---

Union Public Service Commission has since dispatched Admission Certificates to all eligible candidates for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2010 to be held at 19 Centres from 29.10.2010 ; Letters of rejection citing the ground (s) for rejection have also been sent. If any applicant has not received either of the above communications, he/she may contact UPSC Facilitation Counter in person or on Tel.No.23381125, 23098543 and 23385271. The candidates may also get “Venue information” through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) of the Commission by dialing 011-23074458. The candidates can also send messages on FAX No.011-23387310.

Information regarding venues of Examination is also available on Union Public Service Commission's Website at http://www.upsc.gov.in The eligible candidates who have not received the Admission Certificates may download the “Venue Information” from the above mentioned website and use it for appearing in the examination. The candidates intending to appear in the examination using downloaded “Venue Information” are advised to reach the venue of their examination on the day of examination. Such candidates are also advised to carry two identical photographs, out of which one photograph should be attested by a Gazetted Officer, otherwise they may not be allowed to take the examination.

They may also carry proof of their identity such as Identity Card, Voter Identity Card, Driving Licence, Passport etc. to the venue of the examination.


Courtesy: Twinkle09 from IO forum & PIB