Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chaitra Sukladi and Cheti Chand- Traditional New Year



In india, the cultural diversity is mind blowing. We are following 30 different date system in different regions of the country.
In 1957, to put an end to the confusion of so many date system, India adopted Indian National Calender by Calender reform committee. It is a lunisolar calendar in which leap years coincide with Gregarion Calender (Also called western Calender: Jan, Feb…..Dec) and months are named after traditional Indian months.
Indian National Calender begin with Saka Era Chaitra 1, 1879 which correspond to March 22, 1957.
Epochs and Eras: Saka Era and Vikram Era

Yugs: Eras divide time in four Yugs: Satya Yug, Treta Yug, Dwapar Yug and Kali Yug. We are living in Kali Yug that is believed to have begun with the death of Krishana

Month
New Year
Kashmir
Navreh
Karnataka and AP
Ugadi
Marathas
Gudi Padwa
Sindhis
Cheti Chand


The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari has greeted the citizens on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Chaitra Sukladi and Cheti Chand, which mark the beginning of the traditional New Year in different parts of the country.

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

NATIONAL WATER POLICY




National Water Policy is formulated by the Ministry of Water Resources of the Government of India to govern the planning and development of water resources and their optimum utilization.
The first National Water Policy was adopted in September, 1987. It has been reviewed and updated in 2002.

Salient features:

  1. Est. of standardized national information system with a network of data banks and data bases
  2.  Planning and recycling for providing max availability
  3.  Importance to the impact of projects on human settlements and environments
  4.  Guidelines for the safety of storage dams and other water related structures
  5.  Regulate exploitation of ground water
  6. Setting water priorities: Drinking water, Irrigation, Hydropower, Navigation, Industrial and other uses.

Draft National Water Policy 2013

In this draft, Water has been considered a economic good. Hence privatization of water delivery services is being criticized.

  1.  Aim of this policy is ensure access to a min quantity of potable water for essential health and hygiene to all citizens.
  2.  To curtail subsidy to agricultural electricity users
  3.  Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority
  4.  To keep aside a portion of the river flow to meet the ecological needs
  5.  To give statutory powers to water users associations to maintain the distribution system
  6.  To remove the large disparity between stipulation for water supply in urban and rural areas.




Monday, 25 March 2013

Earth Hour- 2013


The Earth Hour

It is a global event (Symbolic Act) organized by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
WWF: an interenational non-governemental organization working on conservation, research and restoration of the environment.

 2013- From 8:30 PM to 9:30PM on March 23.

Why on march 23? As march 22 is equinox= day is equal to night. So next day celebrated as Earth Day.

Earth hour held annually. On this day, all house, private institutions, government institutions switch off their lights for one hour so that people think about the need to take action on climate change.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

UPSC Notification for Civil Services Preliminary Exam- 2013




UPSC has published Notification for it Civil Services Examination- 2013. The preliminary examination will be same as it was. However there are few changes in Mains Examination and interview. The New pattern of mains exam is as follows:
Paper-I
Essay
200 Marks
Paper-I
English
100 Marks
Paper-II
General Studies-I
250 Marks
Paper-III
General Studies-II
250 Marks
Paper-IV
General Studies-III
250 Marks
Paper-V
General Studies-IV
250 Marks
Paper-VI
Optional Subject: Paper-I
250 Marks
Paper-VII
Optional Subject: Paper-II
250 Marks

    Mains Marks
1800 Marks
Interview
275 Marks

Total Marks for Final Merit List
2075 Marks

Syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows:-

Essay:

 Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

English:

English Comprehension & English Precis will be to test the English language Comprehension and English précis writing skills (at 10th standard level).

General Studies- I:Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

Ø Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Ø Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
Ø The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
Ø Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
Ø History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
Ø Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Ø Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Ø Effects of globalization on Indian society
Ø Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Ø Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Ø Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
Ø Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

Ø Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Ø Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Ø Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Ø Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
Ø Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Ø Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments  of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Ø Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Ø Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Ø Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
Ø Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of  their design and implementation.
Ø Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
Ø Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Ø Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Ø issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Ø Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Ø Role of civil services in a democracy.
Ø India and its neighborhood- relations.
Ø Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Ø Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Ø Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

Ø Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Ø Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Ø Government Budgeting.
Ø Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
Ø Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Ø Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Ø Land reforms in India.
Ø Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Ø Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Ø Investment models.
Ø Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Ø Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Ø Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Ø Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Ø Disaster and disaster management.
Ø Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Ø Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Ø Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
Ø Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
Ø Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude:

This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.
Ø Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Ø Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Ø Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
Ø Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Ø Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Ø Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Ø Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Ø Case Studies on above issues.

Optional Subject: Two papers


Optional Subject: Two papers

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Scheme for Women Empowerment-India



Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for empowerment of Adolescent Girl (SABLA)-

Ø Launched by: 2010 Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Ø Target: Girls 11-18 years of age
Ø Funding: 100% Central except Nutritional need (50:50)
Ø Objective: It aims for empowering girls of age 11-18 years through ICDS platform.
Ø Other:  It will replace Nutrition Program for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojna.


Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY)

Ø Launched by: 2010 Ministry of Women and Child Development
Ø Target: Pregnant and Lactating Mothers- Conditional Cash Transfer
Ø Funding: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Ø Objective: Improve health and Nutrition status of PL Women

Swyamsidha

Ø Launched by: In year 2001 by Min of Women and Child Development
Ø TARGET: Women by way of SHG
Ø Objective: Holistic empowerment of Women, control over material, social and political resources, awareness and improved skills
Ø Other: Improved version of Indira Mahila Yojna which was launched 1995-96 which failed due to no structured training program and no monitoring of administrative expenses.


Scheme for Working Women Hostel:

Ø Launched by: In 1974-75 by Min of Women and Child Development
Ø Target: For working women who are leaving out side their home towns


Swadhar:

Ø Launched by: Min of women and child development
Ø Target: Women in difficult circumstances i.e. Widows, destitute, deserted
Ø Objective: to provide primary needs for shelter, food, clothing and care, emotional support, education, vocational training


STEP: Support to training and employment program for women

Ø Launched by: Min of women and Child Development
Ø Target: Poor Women- Daily wage worker, destitute
Ø Objective: Viable Group+ Credit+ Training+ Skill Up gradation= Employment= Income generation