Notification Due

Hello everyone
I am sure most of us have been waiting for the notification which was expected in first week of december but i guess due to some internal changes this is delayed.. Many are of the opinion that the delay is due to a change in the syllabi and a shift over to aptitude but this can't be confirmed as of now.. Many even speculate the notification to come in January, which i believe will mean burden on many aspirants for the paucity of time.. Under most acceptable circumstances i believe that the notification might come out sooner than later..
With regard to change in the pattern, probably only Mr. Agarwal knows about it.. Even closely placed sources with UPSC have not much of an idea on this aspect; so i belive we must not waste time and start at least GS prep for the prelims..

Exams finally over

At last the exams have come to an end and i have to comment on a few respects with regard to the exam per se..
First, the exam was designed to make the role of coaching centres obsolete. I mean that, the questions were not those kind which are usually tackled in the coaching centres..
Secondly, the pattern of the papers changed tremendously in GS and to some extent in a few optionals.. This brought a huge surprise and to some, shock.
Thirdly, the marks allotted to questions were reduced and this resulted in a catch 22 situation wherein all had to write more than what would have been necessary in normal circumstances..
Finally, the UPSC has proved to bring a level playing field where those who had assisstance were drawn equal with others..
with regard to my exam, i felt that the GS papers were very competitive.. History aspects were challenging but the 2 markers were disastrous.. Similarly the S&T part was also filled with a few surprises.. Saving graces were in the form of international relations and statistics.. Geography had a set of questions which an optional student would be comfortable with, and the polity questions dealt with contemporary events..
Pub Ad was relatively easy with the second paper throwing some challenges.. Thirty marker questions meant that we had to think twice for 60 maarks..
Anthropology should have been a breeze for most but i screwed it up.. One reason was i had not studied the second paper well.. Even then i feel it was a decent performance by me..
Essay paper had some of the recent developments being highlighted with regard to issues like globalism and international relations.. I answered the question on "Soft state". The paper went fine and in the end managed to get an essay of around 1200-1250 words..

With all these i now plan to start the preparation for the prelims 2010, as i feel my performance was not as i had expected it to be.. But i just have to keep my fingers crossed as a miracle can also happen..

So start preparations everyone.. Awaiting the notification in the first week of dec..

Climate change

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events).
human activity is very likely the cause for the rapid increase in global average temperatures over the past several decades. Consequently, the debate has largely shifted onto ways to reduce further human impact and to find ways to adapt to change that has already occurred.
Of most concern in these anthropogenic factors is the increase in CO2 levels due to emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by aerosols (particulate matter in the atmosphere) and cement manufacture. Other factors, including land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture and deforestation, are also of concern in the roles they play - both separately and in conjunction with other factors - in affecting climate.

Indicators
Glaciers-receeding at a pace never seen in the history of earth
Changes in sea level
Melting of ice shelves
Changes in patterns of behavior amongst animals and birds
Diseases to which people are susceptible
etc

Credits:
Wikipedia

Nano technology is a modern advancement in science where the working parts of the device in question are in the order of 10⁻⁹m. Nanotech is studied in various ways of which the important ones are top down approach-These seek to create smaller devices by using larger ones to direct their assembly; bottom up approach-These seek to arrange smaller components into more complex assemblies; the nanomaterials per se-This includes subfields which develop or study materials having unique properties arising from their nanoscale dimensions; and functional approach-These seek to develop components of a desired functionality without regard to how they might be assembled.
The atomic force microscope (AFM) and the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) are two early versions of scanning probes that launched nanotechnology.Another group of nanotechnological techniques include those used for fabrication of nanowires.
Health matters are of a concern nowadays. A major study published more recently in Nature Nanotechnology suggests some forms of carbon nanotubes – a poster child for the “nanotechnology revolution” – could be as harmful as asbestos if inhaled in sufficient quantities.
Modern technological advancement in this field is seen with respect to medical sciences where nanorobots enter the body and help in selectively destroying tumorous cells. Similarly micro surgeries are easily possible which is an advancement in minimally invasive procedures.
In the field of astrophysics, newer batteries are being developed using nanotech which could save more energy and hence can power the satellites for a longer duration.
Next to be mentioned is nanotubular advancement. Columns, pipes, bearings and springs are a few common ways that engineers have made use of the geometric shape known as a 'cylinder.' The utility of this shape is apparent in architecture, plumbing and mechanical devices. Carbon nanotubes are molecular cylinders that are rapidly extending our ability to fabricate nanoscale devices by providing molecular probes, pipes, wires, bearings and springs.
There are mmany more advancements and i urge all to contribute in further increasing our knowledge with regard to this field of science.

INS ARIHANT

The symbolic launch ceremony for the Arihant was held on on July 26, 2009 marked the anniversary of Vijay Diwas. It has been reported that the nuclear reactor and other systems are not yet included in the submarine. Arihant is in Sanskrit and literally translates into destroyer of enemies. The completion of the INS Arihant will make India one of six countries in the world with the ability to design, build, and operate its own nuclear submarines. The submarine is reported to be similar to the Russian Charlie-II class submarine, which India leased from the Soviet Union between 1988 and 1991.
The INS Arihant, was introduced to the public on July 26, 2009 at a symbolic launch ceremony by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur. the then chief of the navy admiral sureesh mehta is believed to have said that the russian help was in the form of consulting only and the sub marine is entirely indegenous..

India Israel defense relations

Islamic terrorism in both countries have generated a solid strategic alliance.[20]. India recently launched a military satellite for Israel through its Indian Space Research Organization
Weizman negotiated the first weapons deal between the two nations, involving the purchase of Barak-1 vertically-launched surface-to-air (SAM) missiles from Israel. The Barak-1 has the ability to intercept anti-ship cruise missiles such as the Harpoon.In what would be end of an era, Israel became India's biggest military supplier in 2009, supplying equipment worth more than 1 Billion Dollars each year.

India Russia defence deals

Russia has been an important supplier of defence goods for several decades. Today, the cooperation is not limited to a buyer-seller relationship but includes joint research and development, training, service to service contacts, including joint exercises.
India and Russia have several major joint military programs such as those mentioned below:

BrahMos cruise missile program
INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier program
5th generation fighter jet program
Sukhoi Su-30MKI program (230+ to be built by Hindustan Aeronautics)
Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft
T-90S Bhishma program. (1000+ to be built in India)
Akula-II nuclear submarine (2 to be leased)
Tu-22M3 bombers (4 ordered)
US$900 million upgrade of MiG-29
Mil Mi-17 (80 ordered)
Ilyushin Il-76 Candid (6 ordered to fit Israeli Phalcon radar)
However recently Admiral gorshkov was said to be incorporated into indian navy under the tag of INS Vikramaditya at a total cost of over 3 billion $..

Civil society, RTI, Social Audit

Civil Society often constitutes organisations such as:

* Developmental Non Governmental Organisations
* Citizens Groups
* Self Help Groups
* Professional Associations
* Registered Charities
* Business Associations
* Trade Unions
* Faith Based Associations
* Coalition and advocacy Groups etc.


“Civil society or civil institutions can be in totality referred to as voluntary, civic and social organisations or institutions which form the basis of a functioning society as opposed to the force backed structures of a state (regardless of that state's political system)”.

Good governance provides a platform that enables the Government to operate efficiently, effectively and transparently and to be accountable to the public. Primary Principles of Good Governance include:

* Public participation in Government
* Respect for the rule of law
* Freedom of expression and association
* Transparency and accountability
* Legitimacy of Government

Civil Society’s involvement occupies a critical place in the governance process and promotes good governance by facilitating people’s collective action for attaining sustainable socio-economic outcomes for the common good of the society.

RTI is a weapon in the hands of Civil Society. RTI empowers the civil society with the Right to seek information and helps in:
* Enabling Good Governance
* Ensuring accountability and transparency
* Ensuring participation of public in governance
* Eliminating corruption &
* Empowering people

Right to Information and Social Audit

“Social Audit is an independent and participatory evaluation of the performance of a public agency or a programme or scheme. Social Audit enables the Civil Society to assess whether a public authority lives up to the shared values and objectives it is committed to”.


The RTI Act can be coupled with Social Audit to ensure the following:

* Access and audit availability of information in the public domain.
* Generate demystified and understandable formats for better public comprehension.
* Provide for the community to verify recorded information
* Facilitate a regime of transparency and accountability

Posts upped

Friends there is good news for those who have cleared the exam this time..
The number of posts this time is somewhere close to 920.. So around 1840 candidates will make it to the final stage of personality test..

Topics of social relevance

Friends let us come out with topics of social relevance as these are important not just with regard to GS but also important in Essay and public administration..

1. Women reservation bill
2. Terrorism in wake of 26/11
3. disaster management
4. criminalisation of politics
5. child rights & child labour
   
6. sec 377 IPC
7. Issues of minorities
8. Domestic violence
9. Ethnic issues
   

India - US defence ties

These interests include maintaining security and stability, defeating terrorism and violent religious extremism, preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and associated materials, data, and technologies and protecting the free flow of commerce via land, air and sea lanes.
In January 2004, the U.S. and India launched the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP).In December 2006, Congress passed the historic Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Cooperation Act.
Recently a deal worth us$2.1 billion was signed with respect to P-8i poseidon choppers.

Results announced

Congratulations to those who cleared the prelims.. To those who didn't well, better luck next time..
Friends, it is a hard fact that it is a very tough task of achieving succes in this exam given the sheer degree of competition..
Still, many get thro' and few get away..

Out of over 3 lakh who wrote the exam this year only 12000 have cleared it & this is the reason we need to accept that it is going to take more than just the regular hard work..
Fortunately, i have cleared it in this attempt & i hope to do well in the main exam too. Many are in a dilemma regarding the material, books and guidances but i feel mutually we can all help each other..
This blog shall aim at exactly that from now on.

Upsc civil service prelims

so ppl.. The exam is over and i am of the opinion that many are confident of clearing in this attempt.. There are few more surprises.. The no of posts have been upped from 580 to somewhere close to 880. I do not have a proof for this info but it does seem reliable. Further the paper, though it seemed tough, it was full of tricky bits. Lastly, a person working with the upsc has mentioned that there is no such thing as gs cutoff. So all those who can expect score of around 250 can rest assured that they will be thro' to the mains.. So start preparing ppl..

Kyoto protocol and INDIA

The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at combating global warming.
The Protocol was initially adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The most notable non-member of the Protocol is the United States.
Under the Protocol, 37 industrialized countries (called "Annex I countries") commit themselves to a reduction of four greenhouse gases (GHG). Annex I countries agreed to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from the 1990 level.

India signed and ratified the Protocol in August, 2002. Since India is exempted from the framework of the treaty, it is expected to gain from the protocol in terms of transfer of technology and related foreign investments. At the G8 meeting in June 2005, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pointed out that the per-capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world. Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, India maintains that the major responsibility of curbing emission rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time. However, the U.S. and other Western nations assert that India, along with China, will account for most of the emissions in the coming decades, owing to their rapid industrialization and economic growth.