[Mock Questions] For GS Mains and Essay

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From my side:

1. Protectionism / WTO : Which way to fix Economic recession?
2. Evaluate India's activity as a non-permanent UNSC member.
3. Critically Examine India's Land swap deal with Bangladesh. Can we replicate that solution for China and Pakistan?
4. Evaluate the pro-cons of India acquiring mining and farming assets abroad.
5. What should be India's role in upcoming years for middle east: A silent spectator, catalyst or active participant, mediator or something else? and why?
6. The recent electricity problems in Maharashtra and other states: is there a flow in Government's energy policy? Suggest solutions.
7. Evaluate the pro cons of Direct cash transfers vs indirect subsidy.
8. Air India: Do we really need a 'public sector National airline'?
9. In the light of recent mining scams, Suggest the course of action for Union and State Governments to fix the problem entirely. Is nationalization an option.
10. Do we really need NAC? (National advisory council)

from sjan2011, a member of IO forum

1. Cabinet relations (due to war of words between the FM and HM over 2G)

2. Governor - CoM relations. in light of appointment of the Gujarat Lokayukta by the Governor, by bypassing the CoM.

3. civil society and its influence on democracy. Is it possible to 'hijack' a democracy at all - a term frequently used by media?

4. concept of parliamentary sovereignty. can a non-political leader with people's support be supreme?

5. role of CAG. For the first time CAG has been addressing media, publicly calling the govt at an all time low in ethics.
Is it overstepping its mandate? (does the constitution allow room for the CAG to directly comment on policy or governance, beyond its scope of audits?)

6. What are the factors that have made the current CAG come into limelight? (what has changed from before - is it the offbeat leadership of Vinod Rai or is it any other new, emerging factor )

7. Judiciary has set up SITs, special machinery to investigate (and bring back) black money, so much so that even the govt has complained of overreach or stepping into executive domain. Is the judiciary exceeding its constitutional norms?

8. Analyze why the 12 rate hikes have not been effective in reining in inflation. Suggest measures to control the current inflation.

[Never-ending GS Syllabus] and your chances of success in civil service exam

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Written for those who feel stressed about General studies and their chances of success in civil service exam,

We've 5 category of players for each topic- Let us take a topic for example: Geography: earthquake, tsunami and volcano.

JBPS no0b guy /Lord Curzon:

He doesn't know the difference between earthquake, tsunami and volcano. He filled the application form just because his papa (or friend or relative) said and because it costs around 100 rupees only.

His Destiny:

We are not concerned.

Level 0 player:

• He buys required books and magazines. He reads them only once, and thinks he's done with the topic. 
• He spends majority of his time day-dreaming about how he'll kick the bad guys and impress his friends and family after becoming IAS/IPS/IFS. 
• In his heart, he knows he has to study more, but for some reason he cannot gather enough motivation or desire to read the books. 
• He believes some divine force will intervene and help him get through the exam. 
• Last month before exam, he is in deep stress, visits local bookstore to buy some quick-fix current affairs magazines or notes because he cannot go through the whole syllabus from the original book-collection.

Destiny of Level 0 guy:

He may get lucky in a few very easy GK questions in prelims e.g. What is the use of Seismograph? But he's doomed to fail in prelims anyways because we know every question in prelims, will not be that easy. So For most of the questions in exam hall, his facial expression is

"oh yes I think I've read this somewhere but I can't recall it right now!"

Level 1 Player

• His book and magazine collection is same as the Level 0 guy. 
• Only difference is that he revises whatever he reads, so If you ask something from what he has read, he can answer correctly 6 out of 10 times. 
• He knows what is Seismograph, what is Richter scale, can name a few recent EQ and Volcanos. Knows the difference between dormant and active volcano. Has layman's understanding about how EQ, Tsunami and Volcano happen. Knows what is meant by Pacific Ring of fire and so on.
• He has rudimentary idea about the current-affairs related to the topic. 
• He is not an expert but at the same time, he'll not appear totally dumb during a conversation about Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano.

His limitation

1. He sometimes fumbles in 4TF question (4 statements given and he's asked to identify the correct ones), depending on his revision frequency. Because while doing revision he concentrates only on the fact and data part, and doesn't pay close attention to the theory / principles part.
2. He can only answer Multiple Choice Questions only, if you ask him to write 100 words on the same topic, his pen will stop after 50 words.

Destiny of Level 1:

• Chances to succeed in prelims = 50-50
• With every revision and practice of demo questions: His Prelim success chance increases exponentially.
• Chances to clear mains or final selection=0%

Level 2 Player

He knows everything that Level 1 guy knows plus some extra knowledge : e.g. S and P waves. Has deeper understanding about plate-techtonics and Seismic-zones. Can talk about Cinder-cones, crater-lakes etc with examples. Can answer descriptive questions such as why some parts of India are more prone to Earthquakes than the other parts (in 150 words.)
He revises more often than Level 1 guy, so If you ask something from what he has read, he can answer correctly 9 out of 10 times. He is less likely to be confused in the 4TF questions because he reads more thoroughly and pay attention to description and not just facts. For certain important topics, he may be maintaining his own hand-written notes.

Destiny of Level 2 Player

Chances to succeed in prelims = very good, almost 80% and upwards.
Post-prelims result, There are two types of L2 players:

Type#1: L2 Player without answer-writing practice for mains.

He ends up with

• a. low score in mains, hence no interview-call 
• b. Even If he gets interview-call, he doesn't find his name in final selection list. 

It is his reluctance to do writing practice for mains exam- So he may be knowing a lot but he is always unable to express it properly in the given time and word limit. That's why his mains score is low and it ruins his chances of selection.

Type#2: L2 player with answer-writing practice for mains

He gets Final selection in some group A or B service,
But his chances of selection in the top three jobs: IAS/IPS/IFS, are low because he lacks the finesse of Level 3 players while expressing himself so his rank is around 200 or below.

Level 3 Player

Ranjikanth himself. He doesn't mind writing descriptive answers for practice every now and then. For this particular topic "Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanos (ETV)" he knows everything upto Level 2 plus He can cross connect topics and deal with descriptive questions and essays related to it, e.g.

• 1. ETV's impact on global economy, 
• 2. Human activities as a cause for ETV, 
• 3. Disaster Management in ETV, 
• 4. Feasibility of setting up nuke-powerplants in ETV prone area, and so on. 

Level 2 guy can also deal with above topics but sometimes he staggers while putting his ideas because he is a little low either in quality content part or practice part.
Level 3 guy isn't a master of trivial details (dates and numbers) but still well versed in facts, and global-current affairs for the given topic. He can put his ideas eloquently both orally and in writing because

• 1. He reads from diverse sources and doesn't confine his reading to only one book or a class-note. 
• 2. Since he consults more than one book/source so he comes across more words and sentences, hence he has better command over the language compared to L2 guy. That's the reason why he can express himself better.

Knowledge wise he is just a little above L2 but presentation wise his answer-content is far superior both in terms of quantity and quality compared to L2.

Destiny of L3 Player

• Most likely to get an interview call.
• Even with bad-luck during interview, he can walk away with a decent group-A service. 
• With just a little good-luck on his side during interview= smooth selection to IAS/IPS/IFS.  

Now to those feeling helpless  

• For each topic, you draw a line somewhere: e.g. For prelims, I'm going to be prepared for History upto Level 1, and for Polity Level 2. 
• To clear the prelims, You can afford to remain Level 1 in a many topics, provided that you're Level 2 in a few big topics. Being total ignorant about any topic = digging your own grave. 
• Being Level 0 guy in any topic= wasting your time. Either you give serious preparation for civil service or do something else. Nobody is going to give you marks for "oh yes I think I've read this somewhere but can't recall it right now" 
• You don't need to become level 3 in any topic for prelims. Being Level 1 in majority of topics and Level 2 in some topics, is more than sufficient to clear prelims. 
• You don't need to become Level 3 in each and every topic for GS- mains. But If you want to become IAS/IPS/IFS (Top in the merit list), then You must become Level 3 in a few selected 'hot topics', and level 2 (with answer writing practice) in majority of the remaining topics before mains and interview, else you'll be washed out from the merit list.

For your optional subject,

Given the unpredictable scaling system, it is desirable that you become L3 in each and every topic of the optional subject. That way your interview-call becomes immune to the fluctuations in scaling-system for the given year.

For General Studies (prelims)

Keep in mind that GS is not all about current-affairs.
There are lot of questions from the core (static) part too- like history, polity, science. Same way GS is not all about a single topic (History/Geography)...there are questions from diverse topics.

So, If a particular GS question is tough, then it is tough- not just for you but for a lot of other L1 and L2 players as well. So inability to solve some questions, doesn't mean you'll never clear prelims. But you'll have to get at-least in that "Level 1" category first.

[Polity] The crux of Kesavanand Bharati & Golaknath case

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Sanjay asked,

can u plz tall me the imp cases which we ve to study like kesavananda bharati case etc regarding polity plz also tell the brief sources frm which i can easily understand the cases.i downloaded the above mentioned case bt that was abt 800 pgs verdict in most law language which i found hard to understand.....plz help me in this
thanks

This Golaknath and Kesvanand Bharti has bored me (and many of us) enough- whenever you're reading something in polity, they pop out of nowhere (especially those magz articles and ready made class-notes), so here is the crux of the whole matter. There is no need to mug up the judgement lines verbatim.

here goes the brief list (case name, year and what did the Supreme court ruled in that case and how parliament reacted to it?)

Shankari Prasad /1951
SC said:
yes Government  can aquire private property for public cause
yes parliament can amend fundamental rights


Golaknath v Punjab 1967
Supreme court reverts from previous judgment- now Supreme court says

• NO parliament cannot amend anything related to fundamental rights.
• We (SC) can revoke any laws in conflict with Fund.rights according to art #13

To counter this SC judgement, Parliament passes 24th amendment in '71 saying
yes parliament can amend or take away any Fund.right

Keshvanand Bharti vs Keral /73
Now again SC changes its position.
SC says : yes, parliament can amended fundamental rights but it cannot change the BASIC structure of the Constitution.


*for explanation of basic structure, refer to Laxmikanth's Polity book*
parliament again makes 42nd amendment to counter this- with following two provisions.

1. Constitutional amendment cannot be challenged in courts
2. Parliament can amend anything and everything of the Constitution , even if it is against the fundamental rights.

Minerawa Mills /80
SC rejects above 42nd amendment, because it violated the basic structure of Constitution.

There are some other important cases too: (list is not exhaustive)

Bommai
SC sets guidelines about how and when to impose # 356 (President's rule)
Union Government cannot impose President's rule on any state, according to its whims and fancies.

Indira Sawhney
Creamy layer in OBC

Vishakha
SC set the anti-sexual harassment guidelines

[Q] Possible change in 2012 mains exam? Will there be optional subjects?

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The panic mails, I'm recieving after the article in The Hindu about 'possible change in mains exam from 2012"


My answer:

Since 2007, I've been hearing following rumors. (BUT NONE OF THE FOLLOWING RUMORS ARE IMPLEMENTED BY UPSC)

1. UPSC is going to scrap down optional subjects
2. UPSC is going to reduce the upper age limit from 30 to 25
3. UPSC is going to reduce the attempt limit from 4 to 3.
4. 18 years old teenagers will be allowed to give UPSC exam right after std.12, without requiring college graduation. Selected candidates will be given 3-5 years training like the NDA exam (you get both graduation degree and job)
5. In the mains exam there will be no optional subjects, only : GS (+Public Administration), Essay.

^These are some of recommendations of various Committees and Commissions appointed by Government and UPSC. But they've not been implemented by UPSC.

For some reason, folks in Delhi keep planting these stories at regular interval. Earlier the rumor-market was hot about age and attempt limit, until some of them finally figured out that since it is a politically sensitive issue, UPSC is unlikely to play with age and attempt limit. So you don't hear that rumor much. But now the market is switched to 'whether there will be optional subjects in 2012 or not?"

You'll find lot of people saying "my insider sources in UPSC tell me this and that" but if there is any real-change in mains exam, it can be confirmed by following two sources only

1. For 2012's exam, the official notification of UPSC will be released somewhere in December 2011 or January 2012. That notification will set the rules of the exam: syllabus and everything, whether there will be optional subjects or not.

2. If UPSC chairman thinks that it important to notify people in advance, he may release a press statement, few months before. (like they did in 2010, to tell people about the upcoming CSAT change in 2011.)

My personal take on this matter is, IF at all there is any change in mains exam, the UPSC will release a press-statement only after this 2011's mains exam is concluded. (Somewhere in November 2011.) Otherwise directly wait for the official notification for 2012's exam (In December 2011 or January 2012).

Unfortunately, UPSC doesn't show haste in confirming or denying the rumors, result-date speculations, or cut-off marks. Don't know reason: whether it is incompetence or pure sadistic pleasure.

Now the questions

Should I goto Delhi for coaching of xyz optional subject or not, given these rumor-mongering?

Well, Delhi coaching is a big investment (above Rs.50,000/-). So before you put your time and money in it, you might want to wait till the official confirmation or rejection comes out about optional subjects.

I bought the books for optional subjects, what now, should I read them or not?

If your optional subject is Public Administration, political science, socio, geography, history etc.- it wouldn't hurt doing a cursory reading of those books. Because in any case whatever you read, will help you somewhere in Essay, GS and interview.

Should I wait for another year, till the optional are out?

Very difficult question. Answer depends on many things such as your age-attempt limit, financial position and backup plans etc.

I'm in high-school or college right now and going to appear in 2015/16....

• Then of course you don't need to invest your time and energy in deciding / preparing optional subjects at this moment.
• Try to atleast get a first class in the graduation degree.* And simultaneously do light preparation of GS and aptitude.
• *In Civil service exam, they don't care about your score in 10/12th standard or college, but in case things go wrong and you want to pursue Post-Graduation or some other job, the first class helps - in the backup plan. 

This is my advice to everyone, ALWAYS have a backup plan, before entering in the UPSC arena.

[Economy Q] Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB)

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Another question via email 

What is Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB)

You're an exporters, you get this passbook from Government.When you export something : gems, chemicals... anything; they will write it down in your passbook.

Mr. XYZ has exported 1 kilo paperclips and U-pins worth 4000 rupees. So he is entitle to Rs.4 credit. (They've specific rates for each export product, I'm only giving a fictional example)

You can use this Rs. 4 credit in two ways.

1. When you import something, you've to pay customs Duty. Now you can just show your passbook, and ask them to deduct the credit from it.
2. Or if you're not planning to import anything, you can ask them to pay that Rs.4 in cash. 

This DEPB is a tool under India's EXIM/ Foreign trade policy. EXIMExport Import,

[Economy Q] Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme

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Question via email

What is Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme?

First, what are capital goods?

Examples: Textile machines, big agro-harvesting vehicles, expensive lab instruments for medicines, printing press for magz/newspaper, sophisticated computer-server for your call centre etc.
Means Capital goods are the things you need to manufacture your products or give your services.

What is Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme? (EPCG)

Under EPCG scheme, you can import these instruments (capital goods) at only 5% customs duty. But condition is that, within 8 years, you've export manufactured products worth 8 times the duty you saved.

This EPCG is part of India's EXIM policy (Export-import)

Boost to agri-business

If you import some Agriculture related machinery like Big harvesting machines they show on discovery channel, this EPCG period is 12 years instead of 8 years.

Again minute details like 12 years and 13 years are not important, what is important : Government is giving extra benefit to agro-machines under EPCG to make Agro-GDP grow by 4% a year for their 11th Five year plan target.

Can you see how it's all linked?
11 FYP--> Exim Policy --> EPCG tool.