100 Q

100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Vol.
CSE-2015
100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Vol.I
Author:
India Bhai/Ashutosh Gupta
100 Most Probable Questions and Answers: India Bhai /Ashutosh Gupta
1. According to WHO, Delhi is most air polluted city in the world. Air quality in India
is measured with the index called Air Quality Index. What is Air Quality Index in
India? Who developed it? What the six categories and eight pollutants? What are
the criticism of this Air Quality Index recently developed in India? (250 Words)
Model Answer:
Air Quality Index is a scale for measuring the quality and levels of air-pollutants that have
an adverse impact on a large percentage of the population's health and environment.
The index has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with IITKanpur and a group of experts comprising medical, air-quality professionals and other
stakeholders.
AQI has been categorized into six sections, namely 'Good', 'Satisfactory', 'Moderately
Polluted', 'Poor', 'Very Poor' and 'Severe'.
It was launched in New Delhi on 17 September 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It is
outlined as One Number- One Colour-One Description for the common man to judge the
air quality within his vicinity. The index constitutes part of the Governments mission to
introduce the culture of cleanliness.
While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the current measurement
index had been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional parameters.
Under the current measurement of air quality, 8 parameters. The initiatives undertaken by the
Ministry recently aimed at balancing environment and conservation and development as air
pollution has been a matter of environmental and health concerns, particularly in urban areas.
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very
Poor, and Severe. The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2,
SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed. Based on the measured ambient
concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated
for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall AQI. Associated likely
health impacts for different AQI categories and pollutants have been also been suggested,
with primary inputs from the medical expert members of the group. The AQI values and
corresponding ambient concentrations (health breakpoints) as well as associated likely health
impacts for the identified eight pollutants.
A monitoring station should be able to give you the concentration of a particular pollutant at
that moment in time, and its average over a period of time for CO and O3, the average is
taken over eight hours, while for the other three, it is a 24-hour average. The unit of
measurement is microgram (or milligram in the case of CO) per cubic meter.
Criticism of new Air Quality Index
1. Since 90s, industrial units have to install instruments to measure air-quality and send data
to state pollution control boards. If too much pollution then unit will be shut down.
2. But Industrial units deliberately using India-made (faulty) machines to measure PM2.5. So
reported number is less than actual pollution.

3. Such Instrument manufacturers only need to declare self-certification that their machine
meets quality standards. Government not doing checks on such products, by itself. This will
lead to lacking in standards of measurements.
4. Theyve prepared one index to be used uniformly for Entire India. We need separate
indexes for residential vs industrial areas; cities vs towns vs villages.
5. For example: in village air, methane high due to open compost pits and animal husbandry.
Yet under this index, village air-quality will be good, because methane not monitored.
6. It doesnt monitor Benzene. Benzene is a carcinogen chemical from Petrol and diesel.
USA monitors its level but we do not.
7. Mere informing the citizens through a color-coded table is insufficient. Need to include
more conditional safety protocols in it.
8. For example, In China- if air quality index reaches red level, they shut down primary
schools. Delhi is in purple category i.e. one step more dangerous than Red. So Delhi will
have to permanently shut down schools and coaching business expands. More cost to
parents and guardians.
9. Doubts over data-collection methodologies adopted by CPCB and SPCBs. 10
10. Needs at least one continuous monitoring unit (CMU) in each state capital and millionplus population city.
11. Existing CMUs understaffed and known to give inaccurate data
12. Inorganic linkages b/n SPCB and CPCB, former accused of being political appointees
and prone to data fudging
To conclude, the AQI is a credible first step towards hazard mapping, providing information
to vulnerable citizens such as the elderly and asthmatics, for assessing efficacy of policy
interventions, and for scientific and academic research. However, to be efficient we need to
ensure integrity of the data collected as well as its extension to all major urban areas.
2. Classify India into major earthquake zones.
Approach: Just mention the earthquake zones based on latest version of Seismic zoning map
of India where Zone1 is excluded and only 4 zones are there. Most of the books has not
covered this correction in their latest version.
Model Answer.
India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes About 60% of India is
vulnerable to earthquakes caused by the great, northward grind of the Indian subcontinental
landmass. The Indian subcontinent is divided into four seismic zones with respect to the
severity of the earthquakes.
The latest version of seismic zoning map of India given in the earthquake resistant design
code of India [IS 1893 (Part 1) 2002] assigns four levels of seismicity for India in terms of
zone factors. In other words, the earthquake zoning map of India divides India into 4 seismic
zones (Zone 2, 3, 4 and 5) unlike its previous version which consisted of five or six zones for
the country. According to the present zoning map, Zone 5 expects the highest level of
seismicity whereas Zone 2 is associated with the lowest level of seismicity.
Each zone indicates the effects of an earthquake at a particular place based on the
observations of the affected areas and can also be described using a descriptive scale like
Modified Mercalli intensity scale or the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale
Zone 5
Zone 5 covers the areas with the highest risks zone that suffers earthquakes of intensity MSK
IX or greater. The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.36 for Zone 5. Structural designers use
this factor for earthquake resistant design of structures in Zone 5. The zone factor of 0.36 is
indicative of effective (zero period) level earthquake in this zone. It is referred to as the Very
High Damage Risk Zone. The region of Kashmir, the western and central Himalayas, North
Bihar, the North-East Indian region and the Rann of Kutch fall in this zone.
Generally, the areas having trap rock or basaltic rock are prone to earthquakes.
Zone 4
This zone is called the High Damage Risk Zone and covers areas liable to MSK VIII. The IS
code assigns zone factor of 0.24 for Zone 4. The Indo-Gangetic basin and the capital of the
country (Delhi), Jammu and Kashmir fall in Zone 4. In Maharashtra, the Faltan area
(Koyananager) is also in zone no-4. In Bihar the northern part of the state like- Raksaul, Near
the border of India and Nepal, is also in zone no-4.
Zone 3
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of Kashmir, Western Himalayas fall under this
zone. This zone is classified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone which is liable to MSK VII. and
also 7.8 The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.16 for Zone 3.
Zone 2
This region is liable to MSK VI or less and is classified as the Low Damage Risk Zone. The
IS code assigns zone factor of 0.10 (maximum horizontal acceleration that can be
experienced by a structure in this zone is 10% of gravitational acceleration) for Zone 2.
Intensity Of Earthquakes In Different Zones
Seismic Zone Intensity on Modified Mercalli scale
Zone II (Low intensity zone) VI (or less)
Zone III (Moderate intensity zone) VII
Zone IV (Severe intensity zone) VIII
Zone V (Very severe intensity zone) IX (and above)
Source: Lok Sabha; Note:Modified Mercalli intensity measures the impact of earthquakes on
the surface of the earth.
3. What are flash floods and how it is caused? How it is different from Urban floods?
Model Answer:
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and
basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane,
tropical storm, or melt water from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields. Flash
floods may occur after the collapse of a natural ice or debris dam, or a human structure such
as a man-made dam. Flash floods are distinguished from a regular flood by a timescale of
less than six hours.
The Indian Himalayan belt is prone to various types of natural disaster due to its inherent
nature and climatic conditions. Earthquakes ranging in severity, floods or flash flood, and
glacial lake outbursts are common among other hazards. Monsoon is the time (almost every
year) when few water-induced disasters take place in some form or another in various places
across this mountain. Cloudbursts, that is sudden and violent rainfall, followed by flash
floods are generally reported in the monsoon period. Such events are related to extreme
hydrometeorolgical conditions leading to debris flow, landslide and eventually the blockade
of river channels, which consequently wreak havoc downstream. The Alaknanda flood of
1970, considered to be the worst disaster of its kind in northwest India of the last century,
was triggered by a cloudburst followed by flash flood in the downstream. The flash floods of
Bhagirathi in 1978, Sutlej in 1993 and 2000 , Teesata in 1968, 2010 Ladakh floods and
Kedarnath floods in 2013 are further examples of similar events along the Indian Himalayan
belt.
Causes of flash floods: Most of the rivers in Himalayan terrain flow through narrow gorges
abutting moderate to steep slopes with sharp bands and meet tributaries on steeper slopes. As
the rivers flow downstream, the valley becomes comparatively wider and less steep. The
occurrence of flash floods, particularly in narrow river valleys, is one of the most-feared
consequences of major cloudbursts, landslides or glacial lake outburst. Rolling of debris by
cloudburst or landslide along the constricted course of the rivers lead to a short-term
damming of the river flow, resulting in the creation of temporary lakes, which can last
anywhere from a few days to a few decades. When the backwater pressure of the lake
exceeds the retention capacity of the barrier, the accumulated water gushes downstream with
powerful force inundating otherwise safe settlements.
A combination of factors appears to contribute to flash flood and cloudburst. The fragile
geology and torrential rains play a significant role in destabilizing the Himalayan terrain. The
entire Himalayan belt is, both tectonically and seismically, a very sensitive domain with
strong tectonised rocks and fragile mountain slopes vulnerable to the onslaughts of rains. The
cumulative effects of past earthquakes in such a zone aggravate these phenomena.
Two key elements are rainfall intensity and duration. Intensity is the rate of rainfall, and
duration is how long the rain lasts. Topography, soil conditions, and ground cover also play
important roles. Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, thunderstorms
repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms.
Floods, on the other hand, can be slow- or fast-rising, but generally develop over a period of
hours or days.
Urban flooding is significantly different from rural and flash flooding as urbanization leads
to developed catchments, which increases the flood peaks from 1.8 to 8 times and flood
volumes by up to 6 times. Consequently, flooding occurs very quickly due to faster flow
times (in a matter of minutes). Urban areas are densely populated and people living in
vulnerable areas suffer due to flooding, sometimes resulting in loss of life. It is not only the
event of flooding but the secondary effect of exposure to infection also has its toll in terms of
human suffering, loss of livelihood and, in extreme cases, loss of life.
Urban areas are also centres of economic activities with vital infrastructure which needs to be
protected 24x7. In most of the cities, damage to vital infrastructure has a bearing not only for
the state and the country but it could even have global implications. Major cities in India
have witnessed loss of life and property, disruption in transport and power and incidence of
epidemics. Therefore, management of urban flooding has to be accorded top priority.
Increasing trend of urban flooding is a universal phenomenon and poses a great challenge to
urban planners the world over. Problems associated with urban floods range from relatively
localized incidents to major incidents, resulting in cities being inundated from hours to
several days. Therefore, the impact can also be widespread, including temporary relocation
of people, damage to civic amenities, deterioration of water quality and risk of epidemics.
4. Compare and contrast the conditions of Growth of Tea and Coffee in India. Why Tea
grows at higher elevation than Coffee in South India ?
Model Answer: Tea is a dried leaf of a bush. Tea bush is a tropical and sub-tropical plant and
thrives well in hot and humid climate.There is a very close relation between climate, the yield
and the quality of tea. The Ideal temperature for its growth is 20-30 degree C and the
temperatures above 35 degree C and below 10 degree C are harmful for the bush. It requires 150300 cms of annual rainfall which should be well distributed throughout the year. Whereas
Coffee plant requires hot and humid climate with temperature varing between 15-28
degree C and rainfall from 150 to 250 cms.
(a)While prolonged dry spell is harmful for tea, high humidity, heavy dew and morning fog
favour rapid development of young leaves. Alternate waves of warm and cool winds are very
helpful for tea leaves. Tea is a shade loving plants and develops more vigorously when planted
along with shady trees. Coffee doesnt tolerate frost, snowfall, high temperature above 30
degree C and strong sunshine and is generally grown under shady trees.
(b) Tea bush grows well in well-drained, deep, friable loams. However, virgin forests soils rich
in humus and iron content are considered to be the best soils for tea plantation. Relatively large
proportion of phosphorous and potash in the soil gives special flavor to tea as is the case in
Darjeeling. In order to increase the yield proper dose of nitrogenous fertilizer such as ammonium
sulphate should be given to the soil. Prolonged drought is also injurious to Coffee. Dry
weather is necessary at the time of ripening of berries. Stagnant water is harmful and this
crop is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1600m above sea level.
(c)Although tea requires heavy rainfall for its growth, stagnant water is injurious to its roots. It is
thus grown on hill slopes where water drains easily and water logging does not take place. Most
of tea plantation are found at an elevation ranging from 600-1800m above mean sea level. For
Coffee Northern and eastern aspects of slopes are preferred as they are less exposed to
strong afternoon sun and the south-west monsoon winds. Well drained, rich friable loams
containing good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium are ideal for coffee
cultivation. The soil must be properly matured to retain and replenish fertility and to
increase productivity.
(d) Tea production is done in India in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
Karnataka. Whereas Coffee production is done in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
and Andhra Pradesh.
Tea grows at higher elevation than Coffee in South India because the soils are different. But
there is a complex geological story behind it..
If you look at a profile of the mountains of the Western Ghats you will see that they have a step
like form. Plateaus or steps alternate with escarpments or steep slopes. Coffee and tea grow on
these plateaus. There is a distinct altitudinal control over the distribution of tea and coffee
plantations. At altitudes above 2000 m MSL coffee is absent and tea is a monoculture. On
plateaus in the altitude range 800 m MSl to 1200 m MSL coffee dominates although tea
plantations are also present.
This is because the chemistry of the soils mantling the plateaus is different at different altitude.
On the high elevation plateaus (> 2000 m MSL), the soils which go under the broad
name bauxite are acidic and contain very high concentration of the mineral Gibbsite. This is a
hydrous aluminum oxide. The coffee plants Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta cannot tolerate
high levels of aluminum in soils. The tea plant Camelia sinensis however can deal with this
enriched Al content of the soil. So tea form a monoculture on these plateaus.
On the lower tiers of the landscape the soils are more alkaline and contain less amounts of Al and
more calcium. These are ideal soil conditions for coffee and so the coffee crop dominates these
lower elevation plateaus.
5.
Cloudbursts have happened in past also, but the amount of death and damage in
Uttarakhand is unprecedented. Why? Is this Himalayan Tsunami is a man-made
disater? Why or why not?
Model Answer:
#1: Roads causing landslides
Himalayan Mountains will remain steady if not tampered with much. But
1. the huge expansion of roads and transport.
2. heavy machines plying the earth everyday.
3. Even dynamites are used to cut the mountains and make roads.
All these activities had already rendered the mountains unstable. Then rainfall causes landslides
and then roads blocked, so rescue force cant go in, victims cant go out.
#2: Too much construction
1. In 2012, Ministry of Environment and Forests gives a notification under Environment
Protection Act. This notification declares the region Gaumukh and Uttarakashi, along the
Bhagirathi river, as an eco-sensitive zone. Meaning following activities had to be banned:
a. Hydro project in Bhagirathi has too many hydropower projects, changing river
courses, poor structural safety. Unplanned development is destroying the ecology
of the mountains. None of the environmental laws are implemented in
ecologically fragile areas in India and the development is going unabated.
b. A total of 427 dams are planned to be built on rivers. Among these, there are
roughly 70 projects built or proposed on the Ganga, all to generate some 10,000
MW of power. This construction has affected 80% of the Bhagirathi and 65% of
the Alaknanda.
c. Mining has use of dynamites, thus weakened the mountains. Dynamite blasts are
required to cut mountains and pave way for the construction of dams. On a
Richter scale, such blasts are equivalent to an earthquake of the magnitude of 4.0,
which is responsible to aggravate landslides
d. Construction activities, especially hotels and resorts, guest houses and travel
lodges on the river bed. Everyone trying to make mint money from
pilgrims/tourists yet none of them were build with sound engineering or structural
safety.
e. Exponential increase in the number of vehicles. In 2005-06, 4,000 such vehicles
were registered, which jumped to 40,000 in 2012-13.It is an established fact that
there is a straight co-relation between tourism increase and higher incidence of
landslides.
#3: Fragile Polity of the State
Uttarakhand has seen 6 different Chief Ministers within last 13 years. Meaning average
tenure of a CM is ~2 years.
This has resulted in lack of continuity and failure in getting a firm grip on the issues
plaguing the state- including disaster management.
Successive CAG reports have made scathing remarks on the lack of disaster management
preparations in the Uttarakhand state. Yet no action was taken.
political fragility has resulted in ad-hoc and unplanned development.
Successive governments have failed in creating any sort of medium term or long-term
plan or vision for the state.
To put this in other words, when governments change too quick- the main goal of MLAs
and Ministers is how to extract maximum cash from builders, mining mafias and corrupt
bureaucrats who want transfer-posting in plump position. Hence, Disaster management

doesnt even come in their top-100 priority list of such politicians.
Insufficient resources- Only 4,000 army personnel have been deployed on duty. And
only 100 police men are trained on emergency medical procedures while there is no one
who is trained to manage a natural calamity. The disaster management committee in the
state had not met for six years and they were not at all prepared to handle such a huge
catastrophe.
#4: Absence of tourism management

The Govt. of Uttarakhand spends Rs. 70 crores every year (as per books) in order to manage
tourism in Uttarakhand. In 2012, an additional relief fund of Rs. 23.4 crores has also been set
aside. Despite this, you will not find even a single clean toilet here.
Every year an approx. 3 crores people visit Uttarakhand, but there are only 2 lakh beds as part of
the lodging arrangement (out of which 75% are in dharmshalas and 25% are in hotels)
#5: Non-existent governing authority
No governing authority has been set up to manage pilgrim tourists visiting char dham. There is
not even a Nodal Officer who can monitor the yatra arrangements.
#6: No crowd management
There is a permit system in Amarnath and Mansarovar yatras. Even for Vaishno Devi trip, there
is a crowd management in place. But, there is no such system here.
The RESULT:
Death Toll
2008
2009
2010
In road accidents
543
278
354
Due to Natural Calamity
220
83
176
#7: Reduction in forest cover

The forest cover in Uttarakhand in 1970 was 84.9%. This got reduced to 75.4% in 2000.
#8: Careless organizations
a) IMD
IMD was unable to alert State-authorities in time. It didnt have Doppler radars in the
Himalayan region to predict onset of cloudbursts.
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Only after this disaster happened, Dept. of sci.tech now talks about setting up Doppler
radars in the region.
Inaccurate and incomplete prediction by the Met department: Monitoring,

forecasting, and early-warning systems in the Met department are very poor in the whole
of India and Uttarakhand specifically. This department is in dire need of more
investment.
b) NDRF
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was formed after Tsunami in 2003.
but has grossly failed both in planning and implementation.
It didnt even have sufficient life-jackets in Rudraprayag.
Overall, there was no accountability and no coordination. So the disaster was termed as manmade due to mismanagement at various levels
6. What are some of the findings and recommendations contained in the Rakesh Mohan
Committee Report of the National Transport Development Policy Committee for
North-East ?
Model Answer:
The National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC), constituted under the
chairmanship of Rakesh Mohan, has submitted its report suggesting reforms for development of
various modes of transport. These reforms are categorised as immediate reforms and long-run
goals. Immediate reforms have been suggested at the national, state and metropolitan levels.
However, long-term goals are for national and metropolitan levels.
At the national level, the Committee has suggested the formation of a high-level and
independent Office of Transport Strategy (OTS) and to move towards investment and strategy
for transport as an integrated system. It has also suggested National Transport Infrastructure
Finance to be neutral with respect to means of delivering mobility, sustainability and inclusion
goals.
At the state level, the Committee has suggested to establish urban transport as a subject to state
level and to develop formal mechanisms for state participation in decisions about initiation,
siting, size and other aspects of airports and rail-based transport. It has also suggested formation
of state-level counterparts OTS, with particular focus on urban transport.
At metropolitan level, the Committee has suggested for creation of Unified Metropolitan
Transport Authority (UMTAs) as statutory authority. It further suggested independent budgets
expert personnel in all urban agglomerations with population greater than three million and
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formation of metropolitan planning committees as per Constitutional mandate. The Committees

recommendations include creation of public-private centres of excellence in urban transport in all
cities larger than one million and investment in unified metropolitan databases.
Transport Development in the North East
Four-lane access to all state capitals in the North East needs to be ensured
Road maintenance is a huge challenge for the NER. It is recommended that a policy decision
be taken to cover maintenance expenditure under the Plan.
NER Road Development Authority (NERRDA) to be established under the aegis of
Department of North East Region
Creation of airport hubs with hangars is strongly recommended
for Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal andDibrugarh.
Promotion of helicopter services
Creation of locally trained manpower to run civil aviation infrastructure
Development of Guwahati airport as a full-fledged international airport, as a gateway to
ASEAN.
As regards rail link, planning and execution should be carried out in two phases I
(upto 2020) and II (2020-2032) with Phase I providing inter- and intra-regional connectivity and
Phase II providing multi-modal hubs and trans-border connectivity.
New railway lines, one connecting Sittwe in Myanmar to Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh across
Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland and another line connecting Dhubri to Silchar via Meghalaya is
considered essential to improve transportation in the region.
Inland water transport in the NER, especially traffic across the boundary on international
waters in Bangladesh, has exciting prospects for both countries.
Inland water transport should be utilised for movement of over dimensional consignments to
avoid congestion on roads especially in the Chickens Neck area of the corridor between North
Bengal area and Assam.
It is an opportune time for India to develop strategic long term view on intensifying
international transport linkages from the north east region to its neighbours like Bhutan and
Bangladesh as also the ASEAN countries, Myanmar in particular. For such international linkages
to be productive there has to be even better transport integration of the region internally, and
with the rest of India.
In conclusion, as an approach, this Report recommends
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the need for modernisation and expansion of all segments of the transport system and the
building of capacity in all its aspects to accomplish this;
Institutions at national, state and local levels, each embedded with adequate technocratic
capacity in both quality and quantity;
setting up of new or operation of existing regulatory authorities with adequate technical
competence to mediate between the needs of producers and consumers, to promote competition
and to regulate any consequences of monopoly power;
setting up or strengthening research and development institutions on transport across the
country; providing for education and nurturing of scientific talent for transport;
rationalisation of fiscal regimes to remove distortions while raising revenue; and
most importantly, embedding safety concernsin all transport planning and its execution.
For more info and gist of the report go the following links:
http://employmentnews.gov.in/Rakesh-Mohan-Committee-Report.pdf
http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/NTDPC_Vol_01.pdf
http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/backgrounders.aspx?relid=104416
7. What is Montreux Record ?.Who maintains Montreux Record ?Name Indian sites
which are in Montreux Record. Name Indian site which is removed from Montreux
Record ?
Model Answer: The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of
International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or
are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human
interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
Indian sites in the Montreaux Record are Keolade National Park-Rajasthan, Loktak Lake
Manipur.India, Chilika Lake, is removed from the Montreux Record.
8. Was the New Economic Policy, passed by Lenin and his government in 1921, a
strategic retreat ?
Approach: The answer aimed at why NEP was needed and why it was a strategic retreat from
earlier policies by the government.
Model Answer: Yes, the New Economic Policy was a strategic retreat w.r.t. Lenins previous
policies.
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After the success in the Civil War, the next major task before the Bolsheviks was the
reconstruction of Russia. The First World War and the Civil War has devastated the economy to
a great extent. Thus economic reconstruction of Russia was a herculean task. The War
communism imposed by Lenin had resulted into great dissatisfaction among the peasants.
Initially the peasants were in the favor of the Revolution as the Bolsheviks abolished the private
property and peasants got rid of the oppressive feudal landlords. However, when their surplus
production was forcefully taken away from them with compensation under the system of War
Communism, the great wave of dissatisfaction cropped up among them. There was no incentive
for the peasants to work hard and produce surplus grains beyond their subsistence. This caused
acute food shortage that was aggravated by drought in 1920-21. In this 5 million peasants lost
their lives.
The conduction of production in the factories was no better. The factory owners had to forcefully
surrender their factories to the state which were nationalized. The management of these factories
passed into the hands of the union of the workers. The union lacked professionalism and capacity
to successfully run the factories and the workshops. Hence the production in the factories went of
diminishing which resulted into inflation.
At this critical juncture Lenin realized that the fact that it would be impossible to implement the
exact theory of Marxism in the context of Russia. Thus he made various amendments in the
original theory of Marxs so that it gets adapted to the ground realities prevailing in Russia. He
came up with New Economic Policy (NEP) which compromised with various original theory of
Marxism but practically solved various issues in Russia.
The following were the steps taken by Lenin under New Economic Policy(NEP) for the
reconstruction of Russia and to curtail agrarian distress:
(i)
Peasants were allowed to keep surplus after payment of tax. This tax was initially
taken in the form of kind and later in cash. This a compromise with the original
theory of Marxism which envisaged nationalization of all means of production and
production as per the need and not for profit.
(ii)
A similar compromise was made in the case of small scale industries and trade where
the private ownership was recognized. Though heavy and strategic industries
remained state controlled.
NEP was the departure from the Marxian ideal. It was a middle path between socialism and
capitalism. Lenin was of the view that the temporary mechanism was essential in Russia to save
the gains of revolution.NEP was moderately successful; the economy began to recover gradually.
NEP simulated the production and brought it to pre-war levels.
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The most significant aspect of NEP was the fact that it successfully solved the issue of
discontented peasants and brought production levels at par with the pre-war levels. This gave
ample time to Bolsheviks to consolidate the ideals of revolution and do away with their enemies.
Thus NEP passed by Lenin and his government was strategic retreat from its earlier policy.
9. What is the difference between Bioprospecting and Biopiracy? Give examples.

Model Answer:
Bioprospecting is the process of discovery and commercialization of new products based on
biological resources. Despite indigenous knowledge being intuitively helpful, bioprospecting has
only recently begun to incorporate such knowledge in focusing screening efforts for bioactive
compounds.Bioprospecting may involve biopiracy, the exploitative appropriation of indigenous
forms of knowledge by commercial actors, and also includes the search for previously unknown
compounds in organisms that have never been used in traditional medicine before
Biopiracy is a situation where indigenous knowledge of nature, originating with indigenous
peoples. is used by others for profit, without permission from and with little or no compensation
or recognition to the indigenous people themselves. For example, when bioprospectors draw on
indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants which is later patented by medical companies without
recognizing the fact that the knowledge is not new, or invented by the patenter, and depriving the
indigenous community to the rights to commercial exploitation of the technology that they
themselves had developed. Critics of this practice, such as Greenpeace, claim these practices
contribute to inequality between developing countries rich in biodiversity, and developed
countries hosting companies that engage in 'biopiracy'.
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and WR Grace received a European patent on
methods of controlling fungal infections in plants using a composition that included extracts
from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which grows throughout India and Nepal. In 2000 the
patent was successfully opposed by several groups from EU and India including the EU Green
Party, Vandana Shiva, and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM) on the basis that the fungicidal activity of neem extract had long been
known in Indian traditional medicine .WR Grace appealed, and lost that appeal in 2005.
Basmati rice
In 2000, the US corporation RiceTec (a subsidiary of RiceTec AG of Liechtenstein) attempted to
patent certain hybrids of basmati rice and semidwarf long-grain rice. The Indian government
intervened and several claims of the patent were invalidated. Meanwhile, the European
Commission has agreed to protect basmati rice under its regulations pertaining to geographical
indications.
15
10. It is probably the end product of decomposition found in regions of heavy rainfall,
more than 200 cm. Identify the soil type, composition, explain its geographical stretch
and economic significance in India.
Model Answer: The soil type is Laterite. Laterite soil is rich in aluminium and iron, formed in
wet and hot tropical areas. According to majority opinion, the laterite soil is formed under
conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Laterite
soils may be the end products of weathering given sufficiently long time. Such climatic
conditions promote leaching of soil whereby lime and silica are leached away and the soil rich
in iron and aluminium compounds are left behind.
Composition: Almost all laterite soils are very poor in lime and magnesia and deficient in
nitrogen. They are rich with aluminium, iron oxides and phosphate but potash is deficient.
Almost all laterite soils are red due to the presence of iron oxides. This soil is poor in lime
content and hence it is acidic. Humus is almost absent in this type of soil. However, in the
laterite soil developed in the forested areas in the western part of Karnataka state, humus is
present.
Geographical Stretch: Laterite soil is primarily found in the tropical regions which receive
heavy seasonal rainfall.They are mainly found on the summits of Western Ghats at 1000-1500 m
above mean sea level, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Vindhayas, Satpuras and Malwa plateau.
They are well developed in South Maharashtra, part of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West
Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Assam and Meghalaya.
Economic Significance:
(i)
Laterite so soils have a unique distinction of providing valuable building material and
construction of Roads. Hardened varieties of laterite are sometimes cut into blocks
and used as brickstones for building houses
(ii)
The Laterite soils in India are not fertile at all and are not suitable to agriculture
Plants like cashew grow well along with Tapioca.. But agriculture can be practiced
with the help of fertilizer.
(iii)
Ores are concentrated in metalliferous laterites; aluminium is found in bauxites, iron

and manganese are found in iron-rich hard crusts, nickel and copper are found in
disintegrated rocks, and gold is found in mottled clays.
16
11. Give an account for the petroleum refineries with factors responsible for their
particular location. How they help in the localization of fertilizer industry in India?
Model Answer: Oil is extracted from the oil fields is in its crude form and contains many
impurities. It is refined in oil refineries before use. After refining various products such as
kerosene, diesel, petrol, lubricants, bitumen etc. are obtained. Although Indias first oil refinery
started working way back in 1901 at Digboi in Assam. Later on in 1954 only that another
refinery at Tarapur (Mumbai) came up. Since then oil refining in India has progressed at a rapid
pace. Today approximately 22 oil refineries are working in India. Some of these places where
they are located are Guwahati, Barauni, Koyali, Haldia, Mathura, Digboi, Panipat, Chennai,
Mumbai,Kochi, Bina etc.
Following factors are responsible for Petroleum Refineries in India:
For Petroleum refineries, the raw material sources were less decisive factors for industrial
location. Because industries were already setup in coalfields and did not move away due
to industrial inertia.
Petroleum refining does not lead significant weight-loss, unlike the

aluminum/copper/sugarcane/timber processing.
Virtually all the by-products can be used. Therefore, refineries can be set up
1. near the raw material or
17
2. near the market or

3. at an intermediate break of the bulk location (ports/coastal locations)
Market Location Advantages: After refining, the finished petroleum products can be
supplied to interior areas pipeline connection and trucks/tankers. Eg. Barauni (Bihar)
Mathura (UP) ,Panipat (Haryana).
Port Location Advantage: Many petrochemical complexes are located on the coast to
facilitate Imports. Eg. Reliance has setup a pipeline to directly transport crude oil from
Sikka port to its Jamnagar refinery.
The development of large tankers and pipelines bulk-transportation of petroleum

possible. This provides favorable condition for locating refineries and petrochemical
industries near the market and near the ports.
The localization of fertilizer industry is closely related to petrochemicals. About 70% of the
plants producing nitrogenous fertilizer use Naptha as the basic raw material. That is why, most of
the fertilizer plants are located near the oil refineries. Eg. oil and gas from Bombay High, the
Gujarat-Maharahstra region got fertilizer plants at Hazira, Mumbai, Trombay, Vadodara etc.
(Nowadays they also source gas from Reliance KG basin).
However, some fertilizer plants draw their feed stock from steel slug as well as coke and
lignite. Prophetic fertilizer plants are primarily dependent on mineral phosphate which is
available in UP, MP, and Rajasthan. Sulphur is another important mineral used for
manufacturing fertilizers available in Tamil Nadu.
During the recent year transportation of Naptha or Gas through rail or pipelines has
facilitated the widespread distribution of fertilizer plants with priority to sea board
location. The H-B-J gas pipeline has given birth to 6 gas based fertilizer plants at
Vijaypur, Jagdispur, Aonla, Gadipan, Babrala and Shahjahanpur.
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19
12. What is sand mining? Illegal mining of river sand in various parts of India is affecting
the ecology of rivers and lives of people in the vicinity of these rivers. Critically
Examine the validity of this statement by listing the states where these are rampant in
recent times.
Model Answer:
Sand mining is a practice that is used to extract sand, mainly through an open pit. However,
sand is also mined from beaches, inland dunes and dredged from ocean beds and river beds. It is
often used in manufacturing as an abrasive, for example, and it is used to make concrete. It is
also used in cold regions to put on the roads by municipal plow trucks to
help icy and snowy driving conditions, usually mixed with salt or another mixture to raise
20
the freezing temperature of the road surface. Sand dredged from the mouths of rivers can also be
used to replace eroded coastline.
Due to boom in real estate/ construction activities especially in post liberalization era, there has
been a major spike in the sand (beach and river basin) requirement. It has resulted in unscientific
and indiscriminate sand mining against the prescribed rules, also known as illegal sand mining.
Many states of India like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
etc have witnessed increased incidences in recent past. It has affected the river ecology and lives
of people nearby as
1. It pollutes the rivers (low PH, mix of various metal oxides, reduces oxygen and thus,
increased BOD). This badly affects river biota.
2. In-stream sand mining results in the destruction of aquatic and riparian habitat through
large changes in the channel morphology. Impacts include bed degradation, bed coarsening,
lowered water tables near the streambed, and channel instability.
3. Polluted water and also reduced ground water levels due to sand mining lead to drinking
water shortage and also agrarian distress in the vicinity, which in turn has triggered an exodus of
people to urban clusters, upsetting the economic and cultural balance of a society. Also, creates
social -tension
4. Illegal sand mining also results in damage to physical infrastructure ( like railways, bridges,
highways etc) nearby, resulting in further economic distress of the community.
5. The indiscriminate mining has also destroyed hills, eroded biodiversity spheres, denuded
forests and degraded fertile soil. It has changed the physical characteristics of river basins,
impacting heavily the socio-economic condition of local people.
6. Sand mining generates extra vehicle traffic, which negatively impairs the environment.
Therefore we certainly need sand for to meet the increasing demand. Sand mining also employs
nearly 1.1 millions in the country. Hence, the need to is better implement legislative mechanisms
and various judicial pronouncements for sustainable sand mining. Effective and periodic
monitoring is also a must. Additionally, we should also look for quality yet affordable
alternatives to sand to meet ever increasing demand for sand without compromising riverine
ecology and badly affecting people nearby due to illegal sand mining.
13. What are biofuels? What are the various generation of bio-fuels? Why are the previous
generation bio-fuels seen as threat to food security? How do 3rd generation bio-fuels
manage to address those problems? What will be the benefits of 4th generation biofuels?
21
Model Answer:
A biofuel is any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from organic matter in a short period of time.
This is in contrasts with fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form and with other types of
fuel which are not based on hydrocarbons like nuclear fuels.
The structure of the biofuel itself does not change between generations, but rather the source
from which the fuel is derived changes. The various generations of bio fuels are listed below:
a) First Generation Biofuels were directly using the food crops like wheat and sugar for making
ethanol and oil seeds for bio diesel by conventional method of fermentation. These fuels emitted
more greenhouse gases.
b) Second Generation Biofuels used non-food crops and feedstock instead of food crops as used
in first generation. Wood, grass, seed crops, organic waste are used in fuel preparation.
c) Third Generation Biofuels use specially engineered Algae whose biomass is used to convert
into biofuels. The greenhouse gas emission here will be low in comparison to others.
Since first generation completely depends on food directly; high volume of food grains were
directed away from food market and used in the energy market. As every country is energy
starved and good remuneration for farmers awaited everyone was attracted to production of raw
materials for biofuels causing damages to the food security aims.
The third generation biofuels have advantages like:
a) Cost: The Algae are cultured to act as a low-cost alternative. It gives high-energy and entirely
renewable feedstock.
b) Energy: The Algae will have the potential to produce more energy per acre than conventional
crops
c) Eco-Friendly: Algae can also be grown using land and water which are unsuitable for food
production, therefore reducing the strain on already depleted water sources
d) Range: In Algae based biofuels is that the fuel manufactured can be used for a wide range of
fuels such as diesel, petrol and jet fuel.
However Algae, even when grown in waste water, requires large amounts of water, nitrogen and
phosphorus to grow. Also it requires large amount of fertilizers increasing GHG emissions and
hence will be much costlier.
The fourth generation biofuel may in future reduce the greenhouse emission. It is a ray
of hope for mankind which could be nurtured further by sustainable development thus to
secure a better future for upcoming generations. Fourth generation biofuels are made
22
from specially engineered plants or biomass that may have higher energy yields or lower
barriers to cellulosic breakdown or are able to be grown on non-agricultural land or
bodies of water.
14. What are the reasons behind the slogan No taxation without representation given by
American colonist? Why the Britishers supported the concept of virtual
representation?
Approach: Both of these questions are related to the American Revolution where colonist were
against the taxes without representation.
Model Answer: The British Parliament controlled colonial trade and implemented the taxing of
imports and exports since 1660. The colonist objected the right of British Parliament to impose
taxes on the American colonies. The logic behind this objection had its basis in the English
Revolution of 17th century. In the 17th century in Britain, the Parliament (House of Commons)
became very powerful institution and objected the legitimacy of those Acts passed by Kings
related to the taxation in which the consent of Parliament was not taken. The champions of
Parliamentary politics in England were of the view that since Parliament was elected body and
the representative of the people so it should have the exclusive rights related to taxation. The
colonists were of the view that since British Parliament did not have representation of American
colonies, principally it should not make the taxation laws for them. By making the taxation laws
for the American colonies, the British Parliament is actually defying the principles and legacy on
which it itself rests.
American colonist came up with the slogan of No taxation without representation.
According to the revolutionaries the lack of representation in the British Parliament was a clearly
a violation of the rights of the colonists. Thus taxation and all other laws that affected the
colonists directly and indirectly were not constitutional at all. During the American Revolution,
there were only a few British citizens that were represented and they were not a part of the
colonies. The phrase summarizes the sentiments that caused the English Civil War, as told by
John Hampden.
The British, on the other hand, supported the concept of virtual representation which was
based on the belief that a Member of Parliament virtually represented every person in the empire
and there was no need for a specific representative from Virginia or Massachusetts etc.
Thus it was the principles of taxation which was involve in the import duties and not the actual
amount which would come to the treasury. This was very much objected by the people of
America. The resistance of tax gradually changed into open defiance and lawlessness like that of
Boston Tea Party.
15. Evaluate the view that the Battle of Sedan was provoked by Bismarck to fulfill his
political objectives.
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Approach: The explanation required is how the France-Prussian war provoked by Bismarck has
helped him to attain the unification of Italy.
Model Answer: Bismarcks main political objective was to unify Italy and he used critical
situations like Battle of Sedan or France- Prussian War as an opportunity to unify Italy. The
following were two biggest impediments in the unification of the Southern states of Germany:
(i)
Many of the southern states were jealous with the growing domination of Prussia.
(ii)
France was alarmed by the growing power of Prussia and gradual shift of balance
of power in Europe. Moreover the people of France had a feeling that the defeat
of Austria in Austro-Prussian war was that of France and not that of Austria.
Bismarck in such critical circumstances wanted a national war with France i.e. a war in which
the people of Northern and Southern states of Germany get aligned together against France. He
got this opportunity when Spanish throne got vacant and Prussia supported the candidature of
Leopold, a distant relative of Prussian King.
This was not acceptable to French king Napoleon III who sent his ambassador to the King of
Prussia demanding an assurance that the candidature of family member of the King should not be
supported by Prussia. Bismarck manipulated one of the telegrams of the King, in such a way that
France felt that her ambassador had been insulted whereas Prussian felt that their king had been
disgraced. Resentment in France was so great that Napoleon was forced to declare a war on
Prussia. The war was declared.
Bismarck diplomatically isolated France in the following ways:
(i)
Austria was generously treated after the battle of Sedowa (1866). The purpose
was to gain her support in near future for the unification.
(ii)
Italy was given Venetia for remaining neutral after the Austro-Prussian war. Also
Papal States in Italy were yet to be unified and France was the main obstacle in
the unification. Thus the neutrality of Italy was ensured.
(iii)
Russia was defeated by France in Ceriman War in 1855. Russia wanted to avenge
that defeat; therefore an alliance between Russia and France was next to
impossible.
French armies were defeated in the Battle of Sedan. The war came to an end with the Treaty of
Frankfurt (1871). The main provisions of the treaty were:
(i)
King of Prussia was accepted as the ruler of Germany and Southern states of
Germany was to be part of German Confederation.
(ii)
France agreed to give Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.
24
(iii)
France agreed to pay to Prussia heavy was indemnity.
In this way, the task of unification of Germany was completed with the efforts of Bismarck.
The Battle of Sedan also proved significant for the unification of Italy and France. During the
war French army withdrew from Rome, which is occupied by Italian forces. This unified the
Papal States with Italy and completed the final stage of Italian Unification as well. Also after the
defeat of Napoleon III, republic was created in France.
Battle of Sedan reinforced the fact that balance of power had shifted in Europe in the favour of
Germany. France no longer remained to be most powerful country. The glory of France of
Napoleonic era passed into oblivion after this battle. Its not an exaggeration to say that after the
battle, Europe has lost of mistress (France ) and has gained a master (Germany).
16. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has played critical role in addressing the problem of
environment pollution and degradation in India. Explain critically giving few previous
judgments.
Model Answer:
National Green Tribunal was set up under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 with an aim to
provide protection to environment, conservation of forests and other natural resources along with
enforcement of legal rights for environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to
persons and property.
Some of the main judgments of NGTs are:
1. Banning any diesel vehicle of more than 10 years old in Delhi and NCR region.
2. Penalizing the Construction companies in Bellandur wetland in Banglore.
3. Proposed plan for rejuvenating the Yamuna river for 52km stretch in Delhi and UP region.
4. Cancelling clearance of CG coal mine, Vedanta and POSCO in Odisha.
5. Sand mining order put a ban on all forms of Illegal River and Ocean bed sand mining which
were rampant across the country are very important in sustainable development and
environmental protection.
However despite various proactive support being taken by the tribunal the pollution levels has
been continuously rising over the years. This is due to lack of effective support from government
both at the centre as well in states and State pollution control boards is another reason for it. This
often results in delays in implementing the tribunal's decision. Without adequate support from
the government side NGT is unable to have vigilance throughout the country due to its limited
25
capacity and staff. Further despite solving a long number of cases still there is a long list of
pending cases in the tribunal which adds to the problem. Lastly the tribunal is not having suomoto powers which also restricts its ambit in the area of environment.
In the act there is a provision for appeal to tribunal within a period of 6 month of origin of cause
of environmental problem. This is small time for reflection of negative impacts of environmental
changes. This shall be increased to considerable time. There are also certain issues related to
appointment of members and chairperson. It has come under attack with pro-corporate bodies for
hindering the development project with its activism and government is considering to dilute its
provisions but it will be against the spirit of constitution and sustainable development.
Citing the increasing pollution levels in the country having a adverse impact on health the role of
NGT gains more importance. The Central and State government should work in collaboration
with NGT to secure the environment with better, faster enforcement of NGT orders.
17. What are modern theories of Monsoon Variability affecting India ?
Approach: The question deals primarily with the modern theories of monsoon affecting India
Model Answer. Monsoon Variability is connected with the following theories :
(i) The Jet Stream effect
The Jet Stream theory also explains the variability in timing and strength of the Monsoon.
Timing: A timely northward shift of the subtropical westerly jet in the beginning of the summer
season is critical to the onset of the SW Monsoon over India. If the northward shift of this jet is
delayed, so is the SW Monsoon. An early shift heralds in an early Monsoon.
Strength: Additionally, the strength of the SW Monsoon is determined by the strength of
the easterly tropical jet over central India. A strong easterly tropical jet results in a strong SW
Monsoon over central India and vice versa.
(ii) El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect
El Nino a warm ocean current appears along the Peru coast in December. It replaces the Peru or
Humboldt Cold Ocean current flowing over this region during normal years. Under normal times
the layer over the eastern Pacific is cool and shallow, while over the western Pacific it is warm
and deep. Such conditions are helpful for strong southwest monsoons. The appearance of El
Nino reverses the conditions (warm condition over eastern Pacific and cold in western Pacific).
Since El Nino represents large atmospheric perturbations to which the ocean responds with warm
of colder surface temperature, it lands to extreme events, such as drought, flood and poor
monsoons. The Southern Oscillation is the name ascribed to a seesaw pattern of meteorological
changes that are often observed between the Pacific, the pressures over the Indian Ocean tend to
be low, and vice versa. The oscillation was discovered by Sir Gilber Walker and is therefore also
26
known as Walker circulation The oscillation has a period varying from 27 years. The intensity
of the Southern Oscillation is measured by the difference in sea level pressures of Tahiti and Port
Darwin El Nino Southern Oscillations
Ultimately, it was realized that the Southern Oscillation is just the corresponding
atmospheric component of the El Nio/La Nia effect (which happens in the Ocean). Therefore
in the context of the Monsoon, the two cumulatively came to be known as the ENSO. The ENSO
is known to have a pronounced effect on the strength of SW Monsoon over India with the
Monsoon being weak (causing droughts in India) during the El Nio years whereas La Nia
years had particularly good Monsoon strength over India.
(iii)Indian Ocean Dipole effect
IOD is an irregular phenomenon in which the western equatorial of the Indian Ocean becomes
warmer while the eastern equatorial cooler.It affects the Sub continent, Australia, Indonesia and
many other surrounding countries. There are two phases of Indian Ocean Dipole; 1. Positive IOD
2. Negative IOD
Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) causes sea temperatures to rise in the western
Indian Ocean with heavy precipitation in Sub-continent while it makes the sea
temperatures cooler in the eastern Indian Ocean with drought or very little to no
precipitation in Australia and Indonesia.
Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) causes cooler sea temperatures in western Indian
Ocean with no rainfall in the Sub-continent while eastern Indian Ocean becomes warmer
with heavy precipitation.
For more infos: http://www.pmfias.com/2015/10/el-nino-la-nina-el-nino-madoki-indian-oceandipole.html

18. Explain the difference between Centrifugal and Centripetal Drainage pattern with
examples from India.
Approach: Centrifugal drainage is nothing but Radial drainage. Explain Centrifugal and
Centripetal drainage with examples and diagrams.
Model Answer: Centrifugal patterns also known as Radial drainage pattern, is formed by
the streams which diverge from a central higher point in all directions. Since the stream follow
the slopes and hence they are basically consequent streams. These streams resemble the spokes
of a wheel or the radii of a circle. Examples- Sri Lanka is the best example of radial drainage
pattern at macro-level, Ranchi city has given birth to radial drainage pattern wherein the South
Koel, Subarnarekha, Kanchi and Karo rivers take their source and radiate in different directions,
Hazaribagh Plateau, Parasnath hill, Panchet Hill and Dalma lava upland (all in Jharkhand) have
radial or Centrifugal drainage pattern.
27
Whereas Centripetal or Inland drainage pattern is opposite to the radial drainage pattern
because it is characterized by the streams which converge at a point which is generally a
depression of a basin.This pattern is formed by a series of streams which after emerging from
surrounding uplands converge in a central low land which may be a depression, or a basin or a
crater lake. The Kathmandu valley of Nepal presents an ideal example of centripetal drainage
pattern wherein the tributary streams of the Baghmati converge in the tectonically formed
circular basin.The depression formed by Rajgarh Dome and Lower Chambal Basin has given
birth to centripetal drainage pattern.
19. What is Tennis Court Oath? What is its significance ?

Approach: This question is related to French Revolution. First introduce the term Tennis court
Oath in the first para/ introduction part. Then summarize the events that led to the Tennis Court
Oath along with its significance in the last paragraph.
Model Answer: The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal event during the first days of the French
Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who
were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789.
The King Louis XVI faced the grave economic crisis in 1789. He couldnt raise more taxes
and didnt have the power to find the money he needed to govern. To prevent impending
bankruptcy Louis XVI was forced to summon the States-General in the hope of finding a way
out. Estates-General was the legislative assembly of the three estates.
The Estates-General met at Versailles and Louis XVI hoped that the agenda discussed would
mostly be traditional and financial. The representatives, on the other hand, demanded the end of
Absolute monarchy. However, the representative of the different estates had different views
about the policy related with taxation. The representatives of the Third Estate envisaged uniform
taxation for all the people of France irrespective of their state to which they belong to. This also
28
meant end of all special privileges of First and Second Estates. On the other hand, the
representatives of the First and Second Estates were not ready as they had vested interests.
There were also differences among the representatives of different Estates about the manner of
voting. The representatives of First and Second Estates wanted that the vote of every Estate
should be counted separately. In doing so, they wanted to outvote the Third Estate by 2:1. On the
other hand, the representative of Third Estate wanted voting on the basis of headcount. They
wanted that the individual votes of the representatives present in the Estates-General should be
counted. The divergent views related to the voting procedure created a dead lock in the
assembly.
Unable to resolve the deadlock related to the voting procedures in the Estates-General on June
20th 1789, the representatives of the Third Estates had to face an alarming situation. They were
locked out of the assembly hall of the Estates-General. The representative were shocked to
discover that the chamber doors was locked and guarded by soldiers.
The representatives of the Third Estates gathered in the nearby Tennis Court under the
leadership of Mirabeau (a rebel noble). In the Tennis court they took the solemn collective oath
not to separate and to reassemble wherever circumstances required despite the royal
prohibition, until the constitution of the kingdom get established. The Third Estate also declared
itself as the National Assembly.
The oath signified political legitimacy derived from the will of the people and their
representatives rather than from the monarch himself. The solidarity forced Louis XVI to
recognize the National Assembly and ordered the clergy and the nobility to join with the Third
Estate in the National Assembly.
20. What are different kinds of Chemical and Physical Weathering Processes? Explain with
examples.
Approach: Just define weathering in the introduction and explain only chemical and physical
weathering processes with example. No need to mention other types.
Model Answer.
Weathering is defined as mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks
through the actions of various elements of weather and climate. There are three major groups of
weathering processes : (i) chemical; (ii) physical or mechanical; (iii) biological weathering
processes. Very rarely does any one of these processes ever operate completely by itself, but
quite often a dominance of one process can be seen.
Chemical Weathering Processes
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A group of weathering processes viz; solution, carbonation, hydration, oxidation and reduction
act on the rocks to decompose, dissolve or reduce them to a fine clastic state through chemical
reactions by oxygen, surface and/or soil water and other acids. Water and air (oxygen and carbon
dioxide) along with heat must be present to speed up all chemical reactions. Over and above the
carbon dioxide present in the air, decomposition of plants and animals increases the quantity of
carbon dioxide underground.
Solution
When something is dissolved in water or acids, the water or acid with dissolved contents is
called solution. This process involves removal of solids in solution and depends upon solubility
of a mineral in water or weak acids. On coming in contact with water many solids disintegrate
and mix up as suspension in water. Soluble rock forming minerals like nitrates, sulphates, and
potassium etc. are affected by this process.. Carbon dioxide produced by decaying organic matter
along with soil water greatly aids in this reaction. Common salt (sodium chloride) is also a rock
forming mineral and is susceptible to this process of solution.
Carbonation
Carbonation is the reaction of carbonate and bicarbonate with minerals and is a common process
helping the breaking down of feldspars and carbonate minerals. Carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and soil air is absorbed by water, to form carbonic acid that acts as a weak acid.
Calcium carbonates and magnesium carbonates are dissolved in carbonic acid and are removed
in a solution without leaving any residue resulting in cave formation.
Hydration
Hydration is the chemical addition of water. Minerals take up water and expand; this expansion
causes an increase in the volume of the material itself or rock. Calcium sulphate takes in water
and turns to gypsum, which is more unstable than calcium sulphate. This process is reversible
and long, continued repetition of this process causes fatigue in the rocks and may lead to their
disintegration. Many clay minerals swell and contract during wetting and drying and a repetition
of this process results in cracking of overlying materials. Salts in pore spaces undergo rapid and
repeated hydration and help in rock fracturing. The volume changes in minerals due to hydration
will also help in physical weathering through exfoliation and granular disintegration.
Oxidation and Reduction
In weathering, oxidation means a combination of a mineral with oxygen to form oxides or
hydroxides. Oxidation occurs where there is ready access to the atmosphere and oxygenated
waters. The minerals most commonly involved in this process are iron, manganese, sulphur etc.
In the process of oxidation rock breakdown occurs due to the disturbance caused by addition of
oxygen. When oxidised minerals are placed in an environment where oxygen is absent,
30
reduction takes place. Such conditions exist usually below the water table, in areas of stagnant
water and waterlogged ground. These weathering processes are interrelated. Hydration,
carbonation and oxidation go hand in hand and hasten the weathering process.
Physical Weathering Processes
Physical or mechanical weathering processes depend on some applied forces. The applied forces
could be:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
gravitational forces such as overburden pressure, load and shearing stress;

expansion forces due to temperature changes, crystal growth or animal activity;
water pressures controlled by wetting and drying cycles. Many of these forces are
applied both at the surface and within different earth materials leading to rock
fracture. Most of the physical weathering processes are caused by thermal expansion
and pressure release. These processes are small and slow but can cause great damage
to the rocks because of continued fatigue the rocks suffer due to repetition of
contraction and expansion.
Unloading and Expansion

Removal of overlying rock load because of continued erosion causes vertical pressure release
with the result that the upper layers of the rock expand producing disintegration of rock masses.
Exfoliation sheets resulting from expansion due to unloading and pressure release may measure
hundreds or even thousands of metres in horizontal extent. Large,smooth rounded domes called
exfoliation domes result due to this process
Temperature Changes and Expansion
Various minerals in rocks possess their own limits of expansion and contraction. With rise in
temperature, every mineral expands and pushes against its neighbour and as temperature falls, a
corresponding contraction takes place. Because of diurnal changes in the temperatures, this
internal movement among the mineral grains of the superficial layers of rocks takes place
regularly. This process is most effective in dry climates and high elevations where diurnal
temperature changes are drastic.. The surface layers of the rocks tend to expand more than the
rock at depth and this leads to the formation of stress within the rock resulting in heaving and
fracturing parallel to the surface. Due to differential heating and resulting expansion and
contraction of surface layers and their subsequent exfoliation from the surface results in smooth
rounded surfaces in rocks. In rocks like granites, smooth surfaced and rounded small to big
boulders called tors form due to such exfoliation.
Freezing, Thawing and Frost Wedging
Frost weathering occurs due to growth of ice within pores and cracks of rocks during repeated
cycles of freezing and melting. This process is most effective at high elevations in mid-latitudes
31
where freezing and melting is often repeated. Glacial areas are subject to frost wedging daily. In
this process, the rate of freezing is important. Rapid freezing of water causes its sudden
expansion and high pressure.The resulting expansion affects joints, cracks and small inter
granular fractures to become wider and wider till the rock breaks apart.
Salt Weathering
Salts in rocks expand due to thermal action, hydration and crystallisation. Many salts like
calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and barium have a tendency to expand. Expansion of
these salts depends on temperature and their thermal properties. High temperature ranges
between 30 and 50oC of surface temperatures in deserts favour such salt expansion. Salt crystals
in near-surface pores cause splitting of individual grains within rocks, which eventually fall off.
This process of falling off of individual grains may result in granular disintegration or granular
foliation. Salt crystallisation is most effective of all salt-weathering processes. In areas with
alternating wetting and drying conditions salt crystal growth is favoured and the neighbouring
grains are pushed aside. With salt crystal growth, chalk breaks down most readily, followed by
limestone, sandstone, shale, gneiss and granite etc.
21. Most of our knowledge about the interior of the earth is largely based on estimates and
inferences. Explain with a list of direct and indirect sources which helps to know more
about the earths interior.
Approach: Just mention the direct and indirect sources with little explanations on each one of
it. Based on NCERT text.
Model Answer:
Knowledge about the earths interior can be studied by various direct and indirect sources
which are mentioned below:
Direct Sources
The most easily available solid earth material is surface rock or the rocks we get from mining
areas. Gold mines in South Africa are as deep as 3 - 4 km. Going beyond this depth is not
possible as it is very hot at this depth.
Besides mining, scientists have taken up a number of projects to penetrate deeper depths to
explore the conditions in the crustal portions. Scientists world over are working on two major
projects such as Deep Ocean Drilling Project and Integrated Ocean Drilling Project.
The deepest drill at Kola, in Arctic Ocean, has so far reached a depth of 12 km. This and many
deep drilling projects have provided large volume of information through the analysis of
materials collected at different depths.
32
Volcanic eruption forms another source of obtaining direct information. As and when the
molten material (magma) is thrown onto the surface of the earth, during volcanic eruption it
becomes available for laboratory analysis. However, it is difficult to ascertain the depth of the
source of such magma.
Indirect Sources
Analysis of properties of matter indirectly provides information about the interior. We know
through the mining activity that temperature and pressure increase with the increasing distance
from the surface towards the interior in deeper depths. Moreover, it is also known that the
density of the material also increases with depth. It is possible to find the rate of change of these
characteristics. Knowing the total thickness of the earth, scientists have estimated the values of
temperature, pressure and the density of materials at different depths.
Another source of information are the meteors that at times reach the earth. However,it may be
noted that the material that becomes available for analysis from meteors, is not from the interior
of the earth. The material and the structure observed in the meteors are similar to that of the
earth. They are solid bodies developed out of materials same as, or similar to, our planet. Hence,
this becomes yet another source of information about the interior of the earth.
33
The other indirect sources include gravitation, magnetic field, and seismic activity. The
gravitation force (g) is not the same at different latitudes on the surface. It is greater near the
poles and less at the equator. This is because of the distance from the centre at the equator being
greater than that at the poles. The gravity values also differ according to the mass of material.
The uneven distribution of mass of material within the earth influences this value. The reading of
the gravity at different places is influenced by many other factors. These readings differ from the
expected values. Such a difference is called gravity anomaly. Gravity anomalies give us
information about the distribution of mass of the material in the crust of the earth. Magnetic
surveys also provide information about the distribution of magnetic materials in the crustal
portion, and thus, provide information about the distribution of materials in this part. Seismic
activity is one of the most important sources of information about the interior of the earth.
Due to these seismic activities like earthquake and waves generated by it like body and surface
waves are used to study earths interior.
Thus with both direct and indirect sources of estimation, the interior of earth can be classified as
above diagram.
22. Do you agree that Spanish Civil War was the dress rehearsal of the Second World
War.? Elucidate.
Approach: The answer aim at starting of Spanish civil war and why it is called dress
rehearsal of the second world war.
Model Answer: The Spanish Civil War is also known as dress rehearsal of the Second world
War. In the civil war the clash of ideologies between the communists and Fascists became
clearly visible.
In 1931, a Republican government was formed in Spain. This government in Spain started
drifting towards communism. A revolt started in Spain under General Franco as a reaction
against the growth of communist tendencies of the government. General Franco was inclined
towards Fascism.
The Spanish Civil War is also called as dress rehearsal of the Second World War because
various European countries got involved in this. Russia along with the other socialists and
communists across the Europe openly supported the Republican government while Italy and
Germany sided with General Franco. France and Britain maintain neutrality as they were
ideologically opposed to both Fascism and communism. General Franco emerged as a victor.
Spanish Civil war proved to be a big accomplishment for Germany and Italy.
Thus Spanish Civil War was the dress rehearsal of the Second World War.
23. What are Lacustrine Plains? Where it is found in India? Explain their economic
significance?
34
Approach: The questions is indirectly asking about the Karewa, which are Lacustrine deposits
found in Kashmir valley and its economic significance.
Model Answer: Lacustrine Plains (or lake plains) are lakes that get filled by incoming sediment.
Over time, the water may drain from the lake, leaving the deposited sediments behind. This can
be caused by natural drainage, evaporation or other geophysical processes.
The soil of the plain left behind may constitute fertile and productive farm land, due to the
previous accumulation of lacustrine sediments. In other cases it may become a wetland or
a desert.
The examples of lacustrine plains include The Kashmir Valley of India, the Imphal basin in
the Manipur hills and the watershed of the Red River of the North in the USA and Canada.
Karewas are the lacustrine deposits in the Valley of Kashmir and in Bhadarwah Valley of
the Doda District of the Jammu Division. These are the flat topped mounds that border the
Kashmir Valley on all sides. They are composed of fine silt, clay, sand, and bouldery-gravel.
They are characterised with fossils of mammals and at places by peat. According to geologists,
35
during the Pleistocene Period, the entire Valley of Kashmir was under water. Subsequently, due
to endogenetic forces, the Baramullah Gorge was created and the lake was drained through this
gorge. The deposits left in the process are known as karewas
According to Middlemiss, the thickness of karewas is about 1400 m. In fact, the karewas have
been elevated,dissected and in great measure removed by subaerial denudation as well as by the
Jhelum river giving them the present position. The karewas are mainly devoted to the cultivation
of saffron, almond, walnut, apple and orchards. The karewas, devoted to saffron cultivation are
fetching good income to the growers. The karewas of Palmpur, Pulwama, and Kulgam are
well known for their production of superior quality of saffron.
The world famous saffron from Pampore and apples from Shopian are best examples of the
products produced in these karewas.
24. How is ethics different from values and morals? Explain with examples. (250 Words) (10
marks)
Model Answer:
Ethics, morals and values share common and inseparable behavioral theories. Superficially they
are indectical and integral. However penetrative analysis of these theories bring some
segregation with permeable boundaries.
Values are the rules by which we make decisions about right and wrong, should and shouldn't,
good and bad. They also tell us which are more or less important, which is useful when we have
to trade off meeting one value over another. Often values are ideas that we aispire to achieve,
like equality and social justice.
Morality delves into the right and wrong at a much deeper level, both personal and spiritual. It
defines personal character.It concerns more with one's inner shelf rather on some customes or set
of rules We thus judge others more strongly on morals than values. A person can be described as
immoral, yet there is no word for them not following values.
Ethics tend to be codified into a formal system or set of rules which are explicitly adopted by a
group of people. Like professional ethics , medical ethics etc. Ethics is set of standards that a
society places on itself and which helps guide behavior, choices and actions. It rely on logical
and rational criteria to reach a decision, a cognitive process.
To summarize ethics describes a generally accepted set of moral principles
morals describes the goodness or badness or right or wrong of actions
values describes individual or personal standards of what is valuable or important.
When considering the difference between ethics and morals, it may be helpful to consider a
36
criminal defense lawyer. Though the lawyers personal moral code likely finds murder immoral
and reprehensible, ethics demand the accused client be defended as vigorously as possible, even
when the lawyer knows the party is guilty and that a freed defendant would potentially lead to
more crime. Legal ethics must override personal morals for the greater good of upholding a
justice system in which the accused are given a fair trial and the prosecution must prove guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ethics can be separated from values with the help of following example.
A community worker may consider that it is in the best interests of their client to breach the
clients confidence, leading to a breach of a set standard of confidentiality such as prescribed by
a code of ethics, a code of conduct or a legal obligation. The reason for the breach may have
been value-based and thereby will not satisfy proper and accepted standards for breaching
confidence even though the community worker thought it acceptable or even mandatory. This
highlights how our individual values can intrude into our professional lives and potentially cause
us to ignore ethical obligations and duties. In other words, our values may cause us to ignore a
code of ethics.
25. What are forms of condensation? Describe the process of dew and frost formation.
Approach: Define condensation and factors influencing its formation and its various forms
briefly. Then discuss dew and frost formation.

Model Answer:
The transformation of water vapour into water is called condensation.

Condensation is caused by the loss of heat. When moist air is cooled, it may reach a level when
its capacity to hold water vapour ceases. Then, the excess water vapour condenses into liquid
form. If it directly condenses into solid form, it is known as sublimation. In free air, condensation
results from cooling around very small particles termed as hygroscopic condensation nuclei.
Particles of dust, smoke and salt from the ocean are particularly good nuclei because they absorb
water. Condensation also takes place when the moist air comes in contact with some older object
and it may also take place when the temperature is close to the dew point. Condensation,
therefore, depends upon the amount of cooling and the relative humidity of the air. Condensation
is influenced by the volume of air, temperature, pressure and humidity.
Condensation takes place: (i) when the temperature of the air is reduced to dew point with its
volume remaining constant; (ii) when both the volume and the temperature are reduced; (iii)
when moisture is added to the air through evaporation. However, the most favourable condition
for condensation is the decrease in air temperature. After condensation the water vapour or the
moisture in the atmosphere takes one of the following forms dew, frost, fog and clouds.
Forms of condensation can be classified on the basis of temperature and location. Condensation
takes place when the dew point is lower than the freezing point as well as higher than the
freezing point.
37
Dew
When the moisture is deposited in the form of water droplets on cooler surfaces of solid objects
(rather than nuclei in air above the surface) such as stones, grass blades and plant leaves, it is
known as dew. The ideal conditions for its formation are clear sky, calm air, high relative
humidity, and cold and long nights. For the formation of dew, it is necessary that the dew point
is above the freezing point.
Frost
Frost forms on cold surfaces when condensation takes place below freezing point (00C), i.e. the
dew point is at or below the freezing point. The excess moisture is deposited in the form of
minute ice crystals instead of water droplets. The ideal conditions for the formation of white frost
are the same as those for the formation of dew, except that the air temperature must be at or
below the freezing point.
26. NITI Aayog will emerge as a "think-tank" that will provide Governments at the central
and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key
elements of policy. Identity what role has been envisaged for this institution in the national
polity? In what ways NITI Aayog is different from Planning Commission?
Model Answer:
The Government has replaced Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI Aayog
(National Institution for Transforming India).
NITI Aayog would constitute three sub groups:
Subgroup-A:
To study the 66 Centrally Sponsored Schemes and recommend which to continue,which
to transfer to states, and which to cut down.
Subgroup-B:
To recommend how NITI Aayog can promote skill development and creation of skilled
manpower within states.
Subgroup-C:
To decide on institutional mechanisms to be evolved, and technological inputs,
forensuring that commitment to Swachh Bharat becomes a part of our life in perpetuity.
NITI Aayog will emerge as a "think-tank" that will provide Governments at the central
and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key
elements of policy
Functions & Roles in National Polity:

The new institution will be a catalyst to the developmental process; nurturing an
overall enabling environment, through a holistic approach to development going beyond the
limited sphere of the Public Sector and Government of India.
38
An empowered role of States as equal partners in national development;operationalizing

the principle of Cooperative Federalism.
NITI Aayog will provide Governments at the central and state levels with relevant
strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of the policy.
With NITI Aayog, there will be multi-directional flow of policy (from Centre to States,
from States to Centre, between ministries etc.)
Better inter-ministry coordination.
The NITI Aayog will develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans to the village level
and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.
The NITI Aayog will create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system
through a collaborative community of national and international experts.
It will ensure leverage India's pool of entrepreneurial, scientific and intellectual human
capital
Think tank for Government policy formulation.
Find best practices from other countries, partner with other desi-videsi bodies to help
their adoption in India.
Cooperative Federalism: Involve state governments and even villages in planning
process.
Sustainable development: + Modis Zero defect-zero effect (on environment)
manufacturing.
Policy related to Urban Development,Participatory Develoment,Inclusive
Development,poverty elimination.
Monitoring and feedback of policies and Midway course correction, if needed.
Make policies to reap demographic dividend and social capital.
Regional Councils will address specific issues for a group of states. Example: Regional
Council for drought, Left-wing extremism, Tribal welfare and so on.
Extract maximum benefit from NRIs geo-economic and Geo-political strength for Indias
Development.
Use Social media and ICT tools to ensure transparency, accountability and good
governance.
Help sorting inter-departmental conflicts.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NITI AAYOG & PLANNING COMMISION

Planning Commission was an advisory body, and so is Niti Ayog. But the key difference
between them is that while the former had powers to allocate funds to ministries and states; this
function will be now of finance ministry. Niti Ayog is essentially a think tank and a truly
advisory body. Other differences are as follows:
39
1. The role of states in the planning commission era was limited. The states annually needed
to interact with the planning commission to get their annual plan approved. They had
some limited function in the National Development Council. Since Niti Ayog has all
chief ministers of states and administrators of UT in its Governing Council, it is obvious
that states are expected to have greater role and say in planning/ implementation of
policies.
2. The top down approach is reversed in Niti Ayog. It will develop mechanisms to
formulate credible plans to the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher
levels of government.
3. The provision of regional council is there in Niti Ayog to address local / regional
development issues.
4. One of the new functions of Niti Ayog is to address the need of the National Security in
the economic strategy. How this is to be done is yet to be watched.
5. While the planning commission formed Central Plans, Niti Ayog will not formulate them
anymore. It has been vested with the responsibility of evaluating the implementation of
programmes. In this way, while Niti Ayog retains the advisory and monitoring functions
of the Planning commission, the function of framing Plans and allocating funds for Plan
assisted schemes has been taken away.
The governing council, which has all chief ministers of states and administrators of the
Union Territories sounds much like the National Development Council.
40
Planning commision
Design of FYP
Decide money matters:

How much money to give to each state
for centrally sponsored schemes (CSS)
and for each states own state-five-yearplans.
PC design FYP ,NDC approve then it

Tabled in parliament.
41
NITI aayog
Design national agenda and co-operative
federalism
Mostly work as a policy-formulationhub ,still not clear about fund allocation
States/UT represented in Governing

council,but still their stand not clear.
One size fits all, top-down socialist

planning by Armchair Nehruvian
economists and IES cadre officers
Paricipatory planning with less IES

involvement and more of Free market
economists and Technocrats
An indicative planning + core planning
8-Full Time members and no provision

for part-time members.
No.of Full time members less than

planning commission-3 and no.of part
time member depend on need.
Deputy Chairman equivalent to Cabinet

Minister
Vice chairman equivalent toCabinet

Secretary
Independent in Plan Evaluation
Not independent have Govt interference
Conclusion
NITI Aayog will seek to facilitate and empower this critical requirement of good governance,
whichis people-centric, participative, collaborative, transparent and policy-driven.It will provide
critical directional and strategic input to the development process, focusing on deliverables and
outcomes. This, along with being as incubator and disseminator of fresh thought and ideas for
development, will be the core mission of NITI Aayog.
27. What is Swachh Bharat Mission? What are its key components? How important is the
participation of corporate sector in the success of Swachh Bharat Mission?
Model Answer:
Swachh Bharat mission :
National campaign by the Government of India
Officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat.
Aims to accomplish the vision of a 'Clean India' by 2 October 2019, the 150th birthday
of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Government itself will spend over Rs 62,000 crore on the programme
Key components :
Construction of individual sanitary for households BPL with subsidy (80%) where demand
exists.
42
Conversion of dry latrines into low-cost sanitary latrines.

Construction of exclusive village sanitary complexes for women providing facilities for hand
pumping, bathing, sanitation and washing on a selective basis where there is not adequate
land or space within houses and where village panchayats are willing to maintain the
facilities.(SLWM)
sanitary marts.
Total sanitation of villages ( through drains, soakage pits, solid & liquid waste disposal)
Intensive campaign for awareness generation and health education
End of manual scavenging
To completely start the scientific processing, disposals reuse and recycling the Municipal
Solid Waste.
Role of corporate sector :
The govt has set up the Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK) so that corporations provide help to
the mission by donating finds in the form of their Corporate Soical Responsibilty (CSR)
and also attract funds from volunteers
For example The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) launched a major cleaning
campaign in all its work centres on Gandhi Jyanti under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Power, Coal and New and
Renewable Energy have announced the construction of 50,000 toilets in schools.
SBK has been set up to facilitate and channelize individual philanthropic contributions
and CSR funds to achieve the objective by 2019.
The Kosh will be used to achieve the objective of improving cleanliness levels in rural
and urban areas including schools. The allocation of the Kosh will be used to supplement
and complement departmental resources.
To incentivise contributions from individuals and corporate, modalities are being
considered to provide tax rebates where possible Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
28. What is the new security policy of Japan? How does Japan's new security policy affect
the geopolitics of the world? What are China's concerns? What are its implications for
India?
Model Answer:
43
Since World War II, Japan has kept its distance from international conflicts. We consider
this the right choice. But 70 years after the end of that war, other countries have come to
see Japan in a different light.
The passage of Japan's national security bills marks a significant turning point.
The new legislation permits Tokyo to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces (the SDF)
overseas and strengthen ties with the U.S. military and American allies.
Supporters welcome these bold measures, after what they consider decades of
cowardly pacifism. Opponents see the first steps on the road to militarism.
It allows Japan's troops to fight alongside its allies or other partner countries if they come
under attack. The role and activity abroad of Japan's military will significantly expand,
affecting regional security conditions in various aspects.
Effect on Geo-Politics of the World:
Now that the security-related bills have been passed into law, it is assumed that if an
armed conflict occurs on the Korean Peninsula, the Self-Defense Forces will take such
actions as protecting U.S. warships and conducting minesweeping operations to clear
sailing routes, based on the right of collective self-defense.
It is also possible that the SDF will provide logistic support, such as refueling and
transporting supplies on the Korean Peninsula for countries that belong to the U.N.
forces, including Australia.
Koreans are anxious about the likelihood of unwanted Japanese boots on the peninsula.
They have a painful experience of Japan's brutal colonization for 35 years until it was
defeated in World War II.
Chinas Concerns:
Chinese forces have often made provocative moves near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa
Prefecture, such as locking fire-control radar onto Japanese vessels and Chinese fighter
jets approaching abnormally close. The security legislation makes it possible for the SDF
and U.S. forces to conduct warning and surveillance activities in such cases while
protecting one another.
Implications on India:
The network of security co-operation is becoming more and more intensive and
substantial which is one of the most important developments which underpins the
importance of Indo-Pacific regional co-operation.
A strategic partnership between India and Japan can help to maintain the balance of
power in the region against rising China.
Japans Dilemma in the Japan-US-China Triangle

Conclusion: Japan-US-China triangle
44
In a sense, thought, this is quite natural, as nearly 70 years have already passed since the end of
World War II. The trouble is, however, historical reconciliation has not been made in the minds
of the people in the PRC, who are still educated that Japan is a hostile nation. As matter of the
fact, a majority of people polled in China said that Japans current government is a military
regime. This contrasts sharply with a BBC worldwide poll conducted between 2011 and 2012
that scores Japan as the nation that has had the most positive influence in the world.
As Japan seeks an exit strategy from the current impasse and mutual distrust with China, it may
find itself in a difficult dilemma in the trilateral relationship with the United States and China. To
secure its territorial integrity, Japan needs to increase its own military capabilities and force
closer alliance ties with the United States, even when such actions could raise Chinas anxiety or
mistrust of Japan.
There is no getting around the fact that Japan needs to increase its business ties with China to
secure its own economic growth. However, the Japanese are no longer so naive as to expect
economic interdependence to prevent potential conflicts in the light of the Senkaku experience in
2010. The Japanese now realize that increasing economic interdependence could actually give
China bigger political tools with which to limit Japans policy choices.
Japanese strategy experts occasionally voice the concern about whether the United States would
fully support Japans security interests in the face of deepening US-China economic ties. The
Japan-US-China triangle may have entered a new difficult phase as China rises into a more
influential military and economic power. It behooves Japanese policymakers to address the
complex nature of this triangle, in which military rivalry and cooperation, economic competition
and interdependence, and historical differences and friendship are juxtaposed in the context of a
dynamic power shift in the Asia-Pacific.
29. What is River Capture? What is Captor Stream and Captured Stream? What are the
ideal conditions for River Capture?
Approach: Define River capture, captor stream and captured stream and list out the ideal
conditions for river capture
Model Answer: The diversion of the part of the course of a river by another river is called
Stream Diversion or River Capture. The river which captures the course of another river is
called the capturing or captor stream while the part of the stream which has been divested of
its course and water is called the captured stream. River capture is natural process which is
more active in the youthful stage of the valley development because the streams are actively
engaged in headward erosion and valley lengthening but river capture also occurs during mature
and senile stages of valley development through the process of lateral erosion and meander
intersection.
The stronger and more powerful streams (in terms of channel gradient, stream velocity, and
discharge and kinetic energy) captured the upper course of weak and sluggish streams. Capture
of Saraswati river by the Yamuna river is an example.
45
The following are the ideal conditions for river capture:

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Steep channel gradient

Relatively narrow valley so that water may not spread in the otherwise wide
and flat valley.
Higher volume of water so that velocity and discharge may be sufficiently
high.
Soft rocks so that the river may resort to rapid rate of headward erosion.
Deeper valley than the valleys of other neighboring rivers.
Low sediment load so that the river may resort to active erosion. Etc.
Thus, the forms of river capture may be grouped in 3 broad categories viz.
(i)
Capture through headward erosion
(ii)
Capture through lateral erosion
(iii)
Capture through the intersection of meanders
30. How is Spring and Neap Tides are caused? Explain with diagram.
Approach: Define what Tide is. Then Spring and Neap tides are to be defined and explain its
occurrence with diagram.
Model Answer: The rise of seawater and its movement towards the coast is called tide and the
resultant high water level is known as high tide water. The oceanic tides are caused due to tide
46
producing forces of the sun and the moon. There is a lot of temporal and spatial variation in the
tide producing forces because of different positions of the sun and the moon with the earth.
Spring Tide- Very high tide is caused when the sun, the moon and the earth are almost in the
same line. Such high tides are called Spring Tides. The position of the sun ,the moon and the
earth in a straight line is called syzygy. When the sun, the moon and the earth are in sequential
order in a straight line, in other words when the sun and the moon are in one side of the earth,the
position is called Conjunction(the situation of solar eclipse). When the position of the earth is in
between the sun and moon, this is called Opposition.
On the other hand, when sun, the earth and the moon are in a position of a right angle, this
position is called Quadrature. The position of conjuction and opposition take place during new
moon and full moon respectively. In these situations the gravitational forces of sun and the
moon work together with combined force and thus high tide is caused. The height of such spring
tides is 20% more than the normal tides.Such tides occur twice every month (during full moon
and new moon) and their timing is fixed.
Neap Tide- The sun, the earth and the moon come in the position of Quadrature (i.e. form right
angle) on 7th or 8th day of every fortnight of a month and thus tide producing forces of the sun
and the moon work in opposite direction, with the result low tide is caused. Such tide, which is
lower in height than the normal tide, is called neap tide. The height of neap tides is generally
20% lower than the normal tides.
31. What are the conditions of growth of Coral Polyps?
Approach: Define Coral Polyps and innumerate the conditions for its growth.
47
Model Solution: Coral polyps thrive in the tropical oceans confined between 25N-25S latitudes
and live on lime. They are generally attached to submarine platforms or islands submerged under
sea water.
Following are the conditions for the growth of coral polyps:
(i)
Corals are found mainly in the tropical oceans and seas because they require
high mean annual temperature ranging between 20-21 degree C for their
survival. They cannot survive in the waters having either very low
temperature or very high temperature.
(ii)
Corals do not live in deeper waters i.e. not more than 200-250 feet below sea
level because they die in waters deeper than 77m due to lack of sufficient
amount of sunlight and oxygen which are very much required for the growth
of coral polyps.
(iii) There should be clean sediment-free water because muddy water or turbid
water clogs the mouths of coral polyps resulting into their death.
(iv)
It may be pointed out that through coral polyps require sediment-free water
but fresh water is also injurious for the growth of corals. This is why corals
avoid coastal lands and live away from the areas of river mouths.
(v)
Very high proportion of oceanic salinity is injurious for the growth of coral
polyps.
(vi)
Ocean currents and waves are favorable for corals because they bring
necessary food supply for the polyps. It is obvious that corals grow in open
seas and oceans but they die in lagoons and small enclosed seas because of
lack of supply of food.
(vii) There should be extensive submarine platforms for the formation of colonies
by the coral polyps.
(viii) Human economic activities viz. deforestation, industrialization etc. causing
global warming adversely affect corals in their habitats.
(ix)
Global warming is also cause for coral polyps.
32. Recently the Supreme Court rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission
(NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment which sought to give politicians and
civil society a final say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts. Critically
comment on the judgement and its implications.
Model Answer:
NJAC
The 99th Constitutional Amendment provides for National Judicial Appointments Commission
which will replace the existing collegium system,which came in existance through famous
Three Judges Case, will institutionalise the appointment & transfer of Judges which is
currently opaque & cumbersome thus influenced by nepotism.
48
A new article 124 B, provides for the functions of the NJAC which include:
1. Recommending persons for appointment as CJI, Judges of SC& HC, CJ of HC.
2. Recommending transfer of CJ & other Judges of HC from one HC to any other.
3. Ensuring that the persons recommended are of ability & integrity.
Composition
In NJAC there are 6 members:
CJI & 2 senior most judges (judiciary),union law minister (executive) and two eminent persons
chosen by a panel comprising PM (executive), CJI (judiciary) & leader of biggest party in
opposition in LS (legislative).
However constitution amendment was struck down by 5 judges constitutional bench of supreme
court and called it unconstitutional and void on the ground that
1) Presence of Law minister (executive ) as a member of commission violates the doctrine of
separation of powers also mentioned in Article 50 deals with the independence of judiciary &
non-inference of executive. The independence of judiciary free from the influence of executive
and legislature could be endangered as the National Judicial Appointment Commission under the
NJAC Act consists of the Union Minister of Law and Justice as an ex-officio member. This also
disrupts the balance of power.
2)The other 2 member having power to Veto any decision will undermine and dilute the primacy
of judiciary which enshrined in constitution.
3) The above said Acts threaten the primacy of the judiciary, which is the basic structure of the
Constitution, as the recommendations of the Chief Justice of India and the two Senior-most
judges who are a part of the National Judicial Appointments Commission, can be vetoed.
4) Since the Government of India is the largest litigator in the cases before the High Courts and
Supreme Court, it is not meaningful for the executive to play a part in the appoint of judges to
these courts.
5) The National Judicial Appointments Commission has two 'eminent persons' as its members.
But there is no unambiguous definition of 'eminent persons' given by the NJAC Act.
The mixed implication of this judgementa)It prohibited the political interference and assure independence of judiciary which is important
in democratic country for protecting constitution and rights of people against arbitrary action of
state. The court has highlighted the need for
separation of judiciary and its need to be free from the spoils system of
the government. The court has taken the view that the basic
structure of the constitution is violated. Separation of powers should be maintained.
49
b)However reverting back to old system has raise further question of effective method of
appointment procedure.
c)NJAC act seek for check and balance over judiciary which is at present not accountable to
anyone. d) Not prudent to empower civil society to appoint
sensitive posts like judges.
So SC has taken right step but it need to come with more power and effective method of
appointment.
Considering the above broad factors, the five -judge bench of the Supreme Court struck down the
NJAC Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act. It instead suggests the legislature to
make changes such that the Collegium system could be more transparent and reflecting the
integrity of the judiciary.
33. As there are increasing demands for the special category status by the Indian states,
discuss the benefits associated with such status and the criteria adopted for awarding the
same?
Model Answer:
What is a Special-Category State?
A special-category state is a state with the special status in the context of Centre-state financial
aid. A special category state gets preferential treatment in federal assistance and tax breaks. They
are given a higher share of the Union government's resource allocation because of the inherent
features of these states and the relatively lower income base.
What are the traits for categorizing states as Special Category State?
Special Category status had been granted in the past by the Union government to States having
certain characteristics based on the recommendations of the National Development Council.
These included:
Hilly and difficult terrain.
Low population density and/or sizeable share of tribal population.
Strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries.
Economic and infrastructure backwardness.
Non-viable nature of State finances.
Which all states presently enjoy the Special-Category Status?
States enjoying Special - Category status are shown below in the figure A.
50
Fig A. Showing Special Category States

What are the benefits enjoyed by Special Category States over General Category states?
Under the Gadgil Mukherjee Formula, many benefits are enjoyed by the Special- Category
States. Funds allocated to states through central assistance for state plans can be broadly split
into three components: Normal Central Assistance (NCA), Additional Central Assistance (ACA)
and Special Central Assistance (SCA).
NCA:
Special Category states get 30% of the total assistance while the other states share the
remaining 70%.
The ratio between grants and loans is 90:10 for Special Category states while the ratio is
30:70 for other states.
ACA:
Assistance for externally-aided projects in the grant-loan ratio of 90:10, whereas such
assistance to other States is on back-to-back basis.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) is usually lower for Special Category States,
especially North-eastern region.
Central incentives for promotion of industries.
SCA
Funds for special plan assistance for projects (90 per cent grant)
Funds for untied special central assistance (100 per cent grant).
States demanding Special Category Status:
51
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
Odisha
Rajasthan
Andhra Pradesh
34. What are the problems faced by tea industry in India? What is the importance of
industry to Indian economy?
Model Answer: (FAQ format)
Which are the major tea growing areas in india?
Tea plantation is mainly located in rural hills and backward areas of N-E and Southern states.
Major areas:
Assam
West Bengal
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
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What are the features associated with the tea industry ?

It is the oldest organized industry in india(172years).
India is the 2nd major exporter of tea in world accounting for 12 13% of world 's export.
It has a rise of 44% from 2002 to 2012.
Agro based labour intensive industry.
India account for 31% of global production.
What are the problems associated with the tea industry in india?
Tea industry of india is facing problem of sustainability : Agricultural issues:-
Replantation rate is 0.5% as against the desired level of 2%.

Old age of bushes with >30% of tea area being above the economic threshold age limit.
Quality and safety issues:-
Due to excessive use of pesticides.

Rising production cost .
Trade policy:-
FTP 2015 has reduced export concessions for tea from 5% to 3 % which affects its
competitiveness.
Global constraint: Global price shocks and civil strife in middle-east has adversely
affected our exports

Stiff competition from other producing and exporting countries like sri lanka china
Indonesia Vietnam Kenya.

Social issues or Labour issues::-
Agitation for better pay and working condition.

Monsoon dependence.
Structural constraints in management by tea board.
Low technology implementation and ageing tea bushes are also worrisome issues
53
How does tea industry impact Indian economy?

It provides employment to more than 2 million people in india and women constitute
51% of this work force.

Tea industry is a substantial foreign exchange earner.
It account for 1% of indias export.
Indian tea industry is having highest market capatalisation in the world with over 13,000
gardens.
Tea plantation support the economic life of hilly areas through employment generation
and social welfare and provides high standard of living at grass root level.
What are the future prospects related to it?
Medium term export strategy.
Financial and technical assistance to various plantation development activites.
Ex:- replanting,Rejuvenation ,creation of irrigation facilities,modernization.

Explore new market like kazakisthan, iran ,Egypt, chile etc.
For small farmers :
1 Quality Upgradation Programme.

2. Fixation of price sharing.
3. Price subsidy scheme.
4. Special tea term loan package.
To keep farmer fully engaged to cope with threats of global warming and increasing
erratic weather pattern.

Go back to nature:- by restoring environment in best possible way,soil improvement,water
and pest management.

'Tea development and promotion scheme' by the tea board
Taxes needs to be rationalised.
Increasing global demand for Indian tea has raised the hopes of the industry.
54
Recent delegation to Georgia is an excellent initiative to increase depth of markets for
Indian tea
Implementation of Plant Protection Code will allay all apprehensions about pesticides in
tea and boost its sales
Favourable export condition and domestic market promotion can also benefit the industry.
Diversification of tea leave products can open up new avenues
Impetus to food processing industry will lead to employment generation helping

economic development in NE states.
Improved supply chain and storage management will enhance shelf life
35. Explain Indias performance vis--vis the MDGs. How are the SDGs (Sustainable
Development Goals) different from MDGs? What are the challenges before India in
meeting the targets of SDGs?
Model Answer:
WHAT IS MDG?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the eight international development goals that
were established in 2000 and to achieve by 2015.
DISCUSS THE INDIAS PERFORMANCE REGARDING MDG?
S.
no
Indias performance vis--vis the MDGs

(MDG)
To eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger
Target achieved: (current: 21.1%, target 21.8%)
2.
To achieve universal primary

education
Male literacy rate: 94.81, Female literacy rate :

92.47 Improved
3.
To promote gender equality
School enrolment increases. Lags in: wages

equality and political representation.
4.
To reduce child mortality
(U5MR): 49/1000 (2013), target of 42/1000.

Moderate progress.
1.
55
On track: reduce hunger (current: 40%)
5.
To improve maternal health
6.
To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, Targets set against Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria
control almost achieved.
and other diseases
7.
To ensure environmental
sustainability
Access to drinking water and forest cover increased

but sanitation lags.
8.
To develop a global
partnership for development
Indian telecom network 2nd largest in the world,

increase in internet users.
(MMR): 167/100000 (2009) against a target of

109/100000.
WHAT IS SDG?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) extends the MDG which gets expires at the end of
2015. The proposal contained 17 goals with 169 targets.
WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SDG AND MDG?
3 BASIC DIFFERENCES ARE From halfway to all the way: The MDGs were designed to get us halfway to the goal while
SDGs intend to finish the job completely.
From some countries to all countries: MDGs goals were implied on some countries. SDG,
objectives applies to all countries.
From top-down to bottom-up: The MDGs were created through a top-down process. The
SDGs are being created through bottom-up approach by millions of citizen inputs on websites.
From the perspective of THP, here is the Top 10 Differences between the MDGs and the SDGs.
1. Zero Goals: The MDG targets for 2015 were set to get us half way to the goal of
ending hunger and poverty, with similar proportional goals in other fields. The SDGs are
designed to finish the job to get to a statistical zero on hunger, poverty, preventable
child deaths and other targets. This approach will call for very different strategies: getting
halfway there encouraged countries to do the easiest parts first. Getting to zero
requires a real focus on the empowering the poorest and hardest to reach. Much of
the impetus and evidence for the success of zero-based goals comes from Brookings
Institute, the new World Bank Zero Poverty goals, and the second inaugural
address of US President Obama.
56
2. Universal Goals: The MDGs were in the context of rich donors aiding poor recipients.
Since then the world has changed dramatically. Official development assistance (ODA) is
now tiny compared to other resources flows, and the majority of the poorest people live
in the middle-income countries. Inequality is the issue, not national-level poverty and
this applies to rich and poor countries alike. The SDGs will then be a set of goals
applicable to every country.
3. More Comprehensive Goals: There were 8 MDGs. The High Level Panel recommended
12 Goals, and the Open Working Group final report recommends 17 Focus Areas that
go beyond the symptoms of poverty, to issues of peace, stability, human rights and good
governance. This will undoubtedly make mobilization around these goals more difficult,
but everyone would agree that the complexity of sustainable global development was not
fully represented by the MDGs.
4. Addressing THP Pillars: While THP celebrated and firmly committed to the MDGs,
they largely ignored the three pillars of what we see as crucial for the sustainable end of
hunger: empowering women, mobilizing everyone, and partnering with local
government. The SDGs address these critical elements (to date) much more effectively,
with far stronger gender goals, peoples participation and government at all levels.
5. Inclusive Goal Setting: The MDGs were created through a top-down process. The SDGs
are being created in one of the most inclusive participatory processes the world has ever
seen (click here for the diagram) with face-to-face consultations in more than 100
countries, and millions of citizen inputs on websites. Civil society has been wellorganized throughout coordinated globally through Beyond2015 (click here).
6. Distinguishing Hunger and Poverty: In the MDGs, Hunger and Poverty were lumped
together in MDG1 as if solving one would solve the other. So much has been learned
about nutrition since that time, and the SDGs treat the issue of poverty separately from
Food and Nutrition Security.
7. Funding: The MDGs were largely envisioned to be funded by aid flows which did not
materialize. The SDGs put sustainable, inclusive economic development at the core of the
strategy, and address the ability of countries to address social challenges largely through
improving their own revenue generating capabilities.
8. Peace Building: Over the past 15 years, weve seen that peaceful, reasonably well
governed countries prosper. After 2015, experts predict that the majority of those in
extreme poverty will live in conflict-affected states. The inclusion of peace-building is
thus critical to the success of ending hunger and poverty yet was totally ignored in the
MDGs. It is controversial in the SDGs, but so far it has remained there.
57
9. Data Revolution: The MDGs said nothing about monitoring, evaluation and
accountability the SDGs target by 2020 to increase significantly the availability of
high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race,
ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics
relevant in national contexts.
10. Quality Education: The MDGs focused on quantity (eg, high enrollment rates) only to
see the quality of education decline in many societies. The SDGs represent the first
attempt by the world community to focus on the quality of education of learning and
the role of education in achieving a more humane world: education for sustainable
development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a
culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural
diversity and of cultures contribution to sustainable development.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF INDIA IN MEETING THE TARGETS
OF SDG?
Some of the areas where India is facing serious challenges are
1) Broad-based and employment-creating economic growth.
(2) Adequate allocation of resources towards the social sectors and basic services.
(3) Strong design and effective implementation of MDG related programmes.
(4) Creating basic infrastructure for better access and delivery of MDG related services.
(5) Womens empowerment.
Challenges for India in attaining SDGs
For me, there are broadly 4 main areas of concern.
Defining Indicators: Past record indicates that we have been not very successful in setting
relevant indicators to measure outcomes. Quality education has not successfully been defined.
Indias myopic definition of safe drinking water (with hand pumps and tube wells considered
as safe as piped water supply) means that official data suggests 86% of Indians have access to
safe drinking water and, as a result, we are on track for the MDG goal on drinking water.
However, the number of waterborne diseases and deaths due to diarrhoea clearly indicate, this is
not the case.
Financing SDGs: A new study estimates that implementing SDGs in India by 2030 will cost
around US$14.4 billion. Given the recent cut in social sector schemes by the Union government,
unless states devote a significant portion of their resources on the social sector, there is likely to
58
be a significant funding gap. High growth and redistribution itself are also not enough.
According to the United Nations MDG 2014 report, despite high economic growth, in 2010, onethird of the worlds 1.2 billion extreme poor lived in India alone. Given these constraints, it is
likely that domestic revenues aside, private finance could be a crucial source for financing the
SDGs.
Monitoring and Ownership: Relatedly, a third significant challenge is going to be with respect
to ownership. Reports suggest that NITI Aayog will play a significant role in tracking progress.
However, members at the Aayog have expressed reservations on being able to take on this
mammoth task. Moreover, if states are expected to play a pivotal role (giving the devolution post
14th Finance Commission), it will require ownership not just nationally, but also at the state and
local level.
Measuring Progress: Lastly but most importantly is the question of measuring progress or
achievement. By the governments own admission, non-availability of data (particularly in
respect to sub-national levels), periodicity issues and incomplete coverage of administrative data,
made accurate measuring progress of even MDGs virtually impossible.
These 4 challenges aside, it is important to remember, that while SDGs provide broad goals and
targets, it will be up to the national, and state governments to identify priorities, decide
appropriate locally relevant policies, harness innovation and ensure that an implementation and
monitoring plan is in place. Only then we will have any chance in ensuring that the S in SDGs,
also stand for successful.
36. 2015 Nobel Prize for Economics provides deep insights for Indian policymakers for
tackling poverty and reducing inequalities. Analyse.
Model Answer:
Angus Deatons major research has been to measure poverty and progress in India and China. He
has devised systems to understand consumption and poverty using household surveys and
number crunching. He has addressed debates related to Indias poverty measurement through
NSSO, appropriateness of the poverty lines used by the GOI and the Indian consumer price
indexes (CPIAL and CPIIL) used in the poverty calculations in his various researches.
Deatons impact on Indian policymaking can be divided into two broad areas. Firstly: his
contribution to how India should map the poor and disadvantaged; and his research on the
evolving status of nutrition and health. Secondly, his unwavering belief that it is only through
strong state intervention that people can be pulled out of poverty. He is best known for linking
aggregate data with individual data; which seeks to replace policymaking based on macroeconomic data. His work highlights following aspects specific to India:
59
Deaton used the National Sample Surveys to fine tune the way consumption expenditure
was calculated (Suresh Tendulkar Committee). Thiscalculation, in turn, was central to the
determination of poverty, which influenced the policy stance of the government.
His work on spending by consumers is crucial in evaluating how policy reforms, like
changes in consumption taxes, affect the welfare of different groups.
Malnutrition (stunting) is not just about a lack of calories or cereal calories, but is more
about the lack of variety in the dietthe absence of things like leafy vegetables, eggs,
and fruit. His works underlines the need for better nutrition-monitoring arrangements in
India.
Poverty is also crucially linked to inadequate sanitation, to the fact that women often do
not get enough to eat when they are pregnant, and to (in many areas) poor maternal and
infant health services.
The strengths and weaknesses of randomized controlled trials and their use for policy
development. For e.g. using cash transfers instead of the Public Distribution System all
the subsequent changes (procurement and storage, free market prices of grains) need to
be considered.
The threat that extreme inequality poses to democracy; if those who have escaped from
destitution use their wealth to block those who are still imprisoned by it.
Deaton has been a big votary of improving governments capacity to deliver services, without
which entitlements lose sanctity. The answer is to push for policy debates in public forums, and
strengthen the contract between the government and the governed.
Conclusion:
The Nobel laureate of 2015 in economics has tried to infuse three developmental means that is
health, well-being, and economic development. He stated that bringing poor above the poverty
line only in economical terms is not the end of poverty eradication policy. It is required that there
must be behavioural change too, among the poor. The focus must be on examining the causes
and consequences of poverty and especially of malnourishment and stunting.
With the burgeoning population in India, and huge portion living below poverty line, it is
required that policy makers try to create inclusive policies addressing behavioural changes as
well as consumptional patterns, so as to make development in true sense. To design economic
policy that promotes welfare and reduces poverty, it must first understand individual
consumption choices and accordingly making institutional changes to reach the beneficiary.
The need of the hour is that, welfare policies must try create ecosystem that help in changing
mental and behaviour aspects, apart from solely aiming to bring poor above poverty line.
60
37. Should computer softwares be given patents? How does Indias patent law deal with
this issue? Also examine latest developments in this regard.
Model Answer:
Software patents may be defined as patents on the performance of a computer realised by means
of a computer programme. Patenting of software is not permitted in several jurisdictions due to
following reasons: Software patents encourage monopolization, restrict technological progress and
massively enhance lists user,divert funds from R&D to litigation for licenses and sue
innovative companies for various innovations.
Massively enhance costs through creation of patent thickets
Programmers generally, lack the resources to defend their trolls,this basically means a
stunting of technological progress and innovation.
Usually Mathematical models and computer programme are considered to be natural and
hence can only be discovered not invented.As Mathematical models forms basis of
software so patent protection cannt be extended to them.(Global Patent Principle).
A program is the transcription of an algorithm in a programming language, and being
every (Turing-complete) programming language equivalent to Church's lambda
calculus by virtue of the Church-Turing thesis, a program is thus the transcription of a
mathematical function. Since math is not patentable, neither is software.
A patent thicket is a dense web of patents that companies must decipher in order to
develop new technology. There are various types of patent thickets such as when a single
innovation is protected by multiple patent holders or when a product is covered by
numerous patents. The consequences of patent thickets are increased difficulty of
innovation, cross-licensing relations between companies will be too complex, and it
discourages newcomers to enter the software industry.
Some scientific studies and expert reviews have concluded that patent systems
paradoxically hinder technological progress and allows monopolies and powerful
companies to exclude others from industrial science in a manner that is irreconcilable
with anti-trust laws.
Gary Becker, Nobel Prizewinning economist, argues, "Their exclusion from the patent
system would discourage some software innovations, but the saving from litigation costs
over disputed patent rights would more than compensate the economy for that cost.
Software programs are different than other electromechanical devices because they are
designed solely in terms of their function. The inventor of a typical electromechanical
device must design new physical features to qualify for a patent. On the other hand, a
software developer need only design new functions to create a working embodiment of
the program
Software is a component of a machine. The computers hardware is generic; it performs
functions that are common to all of the software that is capable of being executed on the
61
computer. Each software program that is capable of executing on the computer is a

component of the compute
Computers "design" and build the structure of executable software. Thus, software
developers do not design the executable software's physical structure because they merely
provide the functional terms.
Patent examination is too slow
For 2005, the projected average pendency for patent applications in the "Computer
Architecture, Software & Information Security" department of the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office was 3 and a half years.
In Europe, the average time taken to grant a patent in any field of technology was almost 4
years in 2005,with the computer related fields probably[vague] being greater than the average.
Software patents' usefulness as an information source is limited:
Some patent disclosures in the software field are not readable to some programmers; as a
result, patents are rarely used as a source of technical information by software developers.
Whereas, countries like USA promote Software patents due to: SP must be granted to spur innovation
Patenting of software has the potential of bringing hitherto unknown patents in the public
domain and this can help educate masses about their potential uses.
SP can bring economic benefit to small companies as SP increases valuation of such
companies => spurring investment.
Software patents increase the return on investment made by the public on federally
sponsored university research, and ensures the flow of knowledge that is required for
society to progress.
Patents protect functionality. Copyright on the other hand only protects expression.
Substantial modification to an original work, even if it performs exactly the same
function, would not be prevented by copyright. To prove copyright infringement also
requires the additional hurdle of proving copying which is not necessary for patent
infringement.
In India , Patent Act 1970 provided no blanket cover on patenting of software. While patenting
of software per se is prohibited, the Act permits software patenting under some limited
circumstances. In 2002,Section 3(k) was introduced in Patent Act after the recommendations of
JPC report given in 1999. This did not mean for software to be granted patent protection,but only
permitted patents for those innovations comprising both hardware and software,where entire
device was worthy of patent protection and not merely software portion protection. The
combination could be patented if it satisfied other criteria of patentability innovation,industrial,applicability etc.
62
Recently Patent office laid down Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions
(GECRI) that a Patent should not be denied if: Industrial applicability of the software is est. , it can then considered to be an invention
If the software with known hardware goes beyond the normal interaction with that
hardware and affects a change in functionality of that hardware.
if a claim specifies an apparatus in connection with or a technical process for carrying out
a business method or demonstrates a practical application for a mathematical method, it
can be considered an invention (i.e. could be the subject of patenting if it meets the other
tests of patentability).
As per World Intellectual Property Organisation statistics, only about 22 per cent of all patents
granted by the Indian Patent Office were to Indian residents questioning whether it makes
economic and strategic sense to permit enhancement of patent protections thereby excluding
Indians from being able to access knowledge that is vital in todays day and age.
Conclusion:
The software patent debate is the argument about the extent to which, as a matter of public
policy, it should be possible to patent software and computer-implemented inventions. Policy
debate on software patents has been active for years. The opponents to software patents have
gained more visibility with less resource through the years than their pro-patent
opponents. Arguments and critiques have been focused mostly on the economic consequences of
software patents.
38. Essay type topic/Question: WOMEN EMPOWERMENT NOT JUST A MORAL
CAUSE BUT AN ABSOLUTE ECONOMIC CAUSE.ANALYSE
Model Answer:
Womens empowerment that is, their capacity to bring about both social & economic change
for themselves is increasingly viewed as the most important contributing factor to achieving
equality between women and men. But economically strengthening women who are half the
worlds workforce is not only a matter of advancing women's human rights but means to spur
economic growth. When governments, businesses and communities invest in women, and when
they work to eliminate inequalities, developing countries are less likely to be plagued by poverty.
Entire nations can also better their chance of becoming stronger players in the global
marketplace.
Women Empowerment refers to policies and measures designed to increase the degree
of autonomy and self-determination in the lives of women.
Women's Empowerment Principles: Equality MeansBusiness. Empowering women to
participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies,
achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality
of life for women, men, families and communities.
63
Due to abject poverty, women are exploited as domestic helps and wives whose incomes are
usurped by the man of the house. Additionally, sex slaves are a direct outcome of poverty. If
poverty were not a concern, then the girl child will be able to follow her dreams without
concerns of sexual exploitation, domestic abuse and no education or work.
Some major areas where if empowerment provided to women can bring drastic changes:
The Food and Agriculture Organization, has estimated that giving women the same
access to farming resources as men could increase output in developing countries by up
to 4 per cent lifting over 100 million out of hunger. When women farmers can access
the resources they need, their production increases, making it less likely that their
families are hungry and malnourished.
Where women's participation in the labor force grew fastest, the economy experienced
the largest reduction in poverty rates. If the number of female workers were to increase to
the same level as the number of men, GDP in the United States would expand by 5 per
cent, by 9 per cent in Japan, and by 27 per cent in India, the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) has estimated.
When women own property and earn money from it, they may have more bargaining
power at home. This in turn can help reduce their vulnerability to domestic violence and
HIV infection.
The Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that giving women the same access
to farming resources as men could increase output in developing countries by up to 4 per
cent lifting over 100 million out of hunger. When women farmers can access the
resources they need, their production increases, making it less likely that their families
are hungry and malnourished.
When women have access to time-saving technologies such as a foot-pedaled water

pump or a motorized scooter economic benefits can follow. ICRW research has found
that technology helps women increase their productivity as well as launch incomegenerating pursuits and entrepreneurial ventures. Those kind of outcomes empower
women to become stronger leaders and to more effectively contribute financially to
their families, communities and countries.
In words of Ms Lagarde(IMF chief ) Greater gender equality not only raises absolute income, it
also helps to reduce income inequality. The message is clear: girls education is probably the
single best investment a country can makei.e. one extra year of primary school boosts a
womans earning potential by 10 to 20 per cent. One extra year of secondary school boosts her
earning potential by 25 per cent.
Women have the potential to change their own economic status, as well as that of the
communities and countries in which they live. Yet more often than not, womens economic
contributions go unrecognized, their work undervalued and their promise unnourished.So
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Their empowerment should not only be restricted to their protection from domestic violences or
their empancipation be it in health context or education or human trafficking but also
economically as well which makes them independent &powerful enough to combat the atrocities
of society &contribute equally as men do in all sectors.
How does Women Empowerment cause economic growth?
Greater gender equality enhances economic efficiency along with improving moral status of
women. Women Empowerment makes the availability of the productive workforce of women for
jobs that were hitherto reserved for men.
Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build
stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and
improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. The private sector is a
key partner in efforts to advance gender equality and empower women.
The Women's Empowerment Principles offer practical guidance to business and the private
sector on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Developed
through a partnership between UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact, the
Principles are designed to support companies in reviewing existing policies and practices or
establishing new ones to realize women's empowerment.
According to the World Banks 2012 World Development Report: Gender Equality and
Development, Greater gender equality can enhance economic productivity, improve
development outcomes for the next generation, and make institutions and policies more
representative.
Women represent 40 percent of the global labour force and more than half the worlds
university graduates, but are debarred form a category of work (New World Bank Group
Report) Overall productivity would increase if their skills and talents are used more
comprehensively.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) estimates that agricultural output in

developing countries could increase by as much as 2.5 to 4 percent if women are given
equal access to land as men.
According to Mckinsey report on The Power Parity, it would be possible to add 60% to
Indias GDP and 47% according to IMF report,by mending gender gap and allowing
women to join workforce.
Countries that discriminate women and do not promote gender equality suffer economically, and
there is a strong correlation between poverty and Women Empowerment.
65
Recognising this Rio20+, adopted Gender equality and Women Empowerment as one of the
Sustainable Developmental goals and Indian Government initiated National Mission for
Empowerment of Women (NMEW).
Add contents from this essay on women empowerment from below link:
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/essay-on-women-empowerment-in-india/31317/
- See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2011/10/women-sempowerment-principles-equality-means-business#sthash.96amhSSI.dpuf
39. What are the geo-political implications of the tensions in Korean peninsula for Asia and
the world community?
Model Answer:
Tensions in Korean peninsula
Geography deciding foreign policy =

geopolitics
What?
Tensions among Koreans once again rose high as Some light skirmishes took place along
the DMZ (demilitarized zone).
Just Like India-Pak
Why?
66
partition (1947) and

regular skirmishes.
Korea which was a colony of JAPAN after its retreat(1945) was occupied by both USA
and USSR and the land of Koreans became a victim of cold war politics thus dividing it
into two regions with a controversial boundary line along the DMZ.
POLITICAL:-
As the governments of both countries are reluctant to find a permanent solution and repeatedly
violate commitments to resolve the dispute, the issues keeps on hanging with nations like US,
Russia taking full advantage of it to fulfill its geopolitical, strategic interests.
IMPACT on Asia and World
The tensions have proliferated a humanitarian crisis taking large toll of deaths and fear
among people not only living in both countries but of diaspora of various countries of
the world community living on Korean land.
How can the world Economy get affected?
Ships entering and leaving east china sea, Japan sea, Yellow sea intending to
trade face a threat because of the ongoing conflict which can have serious
repercussions on many trading economies.
Rising military expenditure, declining social expenditure declining investor

confidence worsens economies not only on both countries but in turn
affecting economy of Asia and ultimately world.
The extraction of sizeable marine resources available in the region faces a

constant threat.
Strategic:-
Such conflicts create a feeling of insecurity among the neighboring nations and also creates
geopolitical competition among the allies of the nations (in this case N & S Korea) what
happened in the cold war( USA & USSR) period just like what is happening today in West Asia(
Syria, Iraq).
POLITICAL:-
1)Though this is a bilateral issue still it facilitates the need to be discussed multilaterally in Asian
groupings like SAARC, ASEAN, etc.
67
This issue also gives rise to a need to realign foreign policies of most
stakeholder nations.
(INDIA in particular)
International Institutions like UNSC, WTO, IMF should try to resolve this
regular conflict to build a peaceful Asia integral to the development of
world economy as a whole.
40.Discuss India's economic and defence relationship with Australia and its significance for
India's ambitions in Asia Pacific region.
Model Answer:
During Cold War, ideological differences kept India and Australia far
apart. However, since 2006, existing economic security, people-to-people ties and Australia's
strategic discovery of a shared-values partner in India, has brought the two countries closer.
Economic Relationship
1. Bilateral trades involving Australia exporting gold, coal, copper, LNG and uranium to
India, while India exporting pearls, medical instruments, motor vehicle parts etc. Annual
trade worth is nearly AU$16 billion
2. Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), under progress, will
strengthen bilateral trade and investment
3. Australia views India as a key strategic partner as the world economy becomes
increasingly reliant on the Indian Ocean trade
4. Australia, accepting to become a long-term reliable supplier of Uranium to India with the
signing of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2014, is likely to increase
cooperation between the two countries at the level of nuclear science and technology and
India's energy demands
5. Indians migrating to Australia for higher studies and jobs and settling down there,
contribute to India's remittances. Australia, in turn, makes up for its labour shortage.
Services exports to India have also been growing rapidly with education leading from the
front. Australia is now the 2nd biggest overseas education destination for Indian students
6. Increase of tourist traffic is increasing steadily in both countries. Indian tourist arrivals
have also been on the rise contributing to Australias services exports to India.
7. Major IT companies are having an increasing presence in Australia
68
The Australian Trade Commission has embarked a very focused sector specific strategy to offer
Australian technology, expertise & solutions for Indian businesses in the areas of Resources,
Mining & Energy; Infrastructure; Building & Construction; Food & Beverage; Agri Business;
ICT; Film, Media & Entertainment; Retail; Financial Services
The Australian Trade Commission offers services for Indian businesses in identifying potential
Australian business partners; sourcing Australian technology, products, services & expertise and
in identifying Australian joint venture partners & investors.
For more information, please visit www.utsavaustralia.in
Defence Relationship
1. Framework for Security Cooperation has been formalised to facilitate greater defence
interaction over time, such as :
Joint naval cooperation to build a secure maritime environment in the strategic
Indian Ocean ( e.g. the first Bilateral Maritime Exercise-Exercise AUSINDEX
was held in Vishakhapatnam )
Bilateral Air Force relationship
Army staff talks and people-to-people links through personnel and training
exchanges
2. MoU on Defence Cooperation has been signed, as well as a Joint Declaration on
Security Co-operation, 2011.
3. Potential areas in maritime security include in naval exercises and training (such as use
of the Australian Submarine Escape Training facility in Fremantle), greater cooperation
in humanitarian and disaster relief operations and search and rescue, maritime border
protection and maritime domain awareness.
4. There are also opportunities for greater cooperation between the Indian and Australian
armies and air forces (reflecting the greater use of shared platforms).
5. Part of the framework for security co-operation includes annual Prime Ministerial
meetings and joint maritime exercises. Areas of increased co-operation include counterterrorism, border control and regional and international institutions
Significance for India's ambition in the Asia-Pacific region
69
1. Improved ties and cooperation with countries of Asia-Pacific like Australia will
help India gather support for her candidature as permanent member of UNSC
2. With the shift of the centre of gravity to the Asia-Pacific region, India's role in
shaping up political, economic, social, and security process in the region will
raise her image as the next superpower
3. Indian Ocean is fast emerging as a competitive arena between India and China as
India tries to retain its position as the dominant maritime power in what it views
as its backyard. Australia, on the other hand, is wary of China trying to push the
envelope in the South China Sea. So, bilateral ties help countering China's
assertiveness
4. India's increased activity in the Asia-Pacific boosts policies such as the 'Act East
Policy' , 'Make in India'
41. The recently launched RURBAN Mission is a step towards balanced regional
development. Comment.
Model Answer:
What is RURBAN Mission?
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban(Rural+Urban) Mission launched to deliver integrated
project based infrastructure in the rural areas and also tries to minimize the gap between an
area of rural activity and the edge of suburban area that has already been developed. This
scheme also includes development of economic activities and skill development.
Why RURBAN Mission?
To minimize the migration towards urban areas from rural areas this scheme (Shyama
Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission) was announced in a joint session of parliament in July last
year, President Pranab Mukherjee said it would provide urban amenities to rural areas while
preserving the ethos of the villages. This scheme has been replaced the UPA governments
PURA (provision of urban amenities in rural areas) initiative.
The preferred mode of delivery would be through PPPs while using various scheme
funds.
This scheme will focus on creating community assets and improving basic infrastructure
such as- education, power, drinking water, building of internal roads, health centres etc.
To improve the state of Indian cities, the challenge is not only to improve these services
in cities, but also bring these basic services to rural areas. For example- 70% of Indias
people live in villages, but 80% of teachers are in cities.
70
Technology can play a role in bridging this gap to some extent, but provision of basic
services and infrastructure is key to managing future growth of cities.
What are the Objectives of Rurban Mission ?
Bridge the rural - urban divide and achieve balanced socio economic development
Reduce migration from rural to urban areas due to lack of basic services
Improve standard of living in the Rurban areas
Create livelihood/employment opportunities in Rurban areas
Improve the quality of services such as basic infrastructure, amenities and facilities
Reduce pressure on existing urban areas
Efficient mass transportation system to improve connectivity between urban & rural
areas, which can reduce commuting time & help in reducing migration
Improve Physical & Electronic Connectivity (Roads, Transport & Telecommunication)
The objective of the mission is to improve the economic, social and infrastructural
development in the rural areas. This can be achieved in three ways:
Improving the life of people of the rural clusters
Bridging the rural-urban divide
Reducing distress migration from rural to urban areas
The scheme through development of Rurban growth clusters is aimed at catalyzing overall
regional growth, would thus simultaneously benefit the rural as well as urban areas of the
country, by achieving twin objectives of strengthening rural areas and disburdening the urban
areas hence leading to balanced regional development and growth of the country.
Rurban mission as a step towards balanced regional development:
The provisions of economic activities, developing skills, local entrepreneurship and
infrastructure development in the rural clusters have been the demand of the rural areas
to arrest unemployment, migration and economic deprivation. Thus planned urbanisation
in rural areas will prevent migration and therefore reduce slum proliferation in urban
areas and their associated problems, which is a step ahead both for the rural and as well
as the urban areas.
The objective and scientific analysis to select the cluster of villages if followed strictly
results in regional imbalance correction, and thereby will reduce economic disparity
across the country.
The Critical Gap Funding (CGF) addresses the gaps in funding the mission.
The close integration of both the state and center to smooth implementation of the project
is a step towards cooperative federalism.
What will the scheme cover?
To ensure an optimum level of development of a cluster, the scheme will focus on
14 mandatory components:
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1. Skill development training along with economic activities

2. Digital literacy
3. Provision of fully equipped mobile health unit
4. Inter-village road connectivity
5. Citizen service centres
6. e-gram connectivity
7. Public transport facilities
8. LPG gas connections
9. Agro processing
10. Agro services including storage and warehousing
11. Sanitation facilities
12. Provision of piped water supply
13. Solid and liquid waste management
14. Upgrading education facilities.
Salient features and benefits:
-> It will create a development central hub for a cluster of villages
->Connect all the nearby villages and provide economical support to them
->It will lead to decentralization of activities from urban to rural (through Rurban
centres)
->State of Gujarat has shown a model of sustainable implementation ( Akodara village in
Guj.)
-> Enhance financial inclusion, infrastructure, social benefits to masses
-> Create more accessible markets for farmers' yield
-> Encourages participation of private sector by support of government (with critical gap
funding)
-> Backward states and north eastern states will gain alot from this
But there are certain bottlenecks in implementation which are as follows:
1. While the demands- economic activities, skill development, local
entrepreneurship promotion- are accepted on paper, walking the talk has poor record so
far.
2. Coordination between district, state and centre would need strong capacity
building that is inadequate now.
3. In building infrastructure land acquisition may slow down the mission.
4. CGF guidelines and criteria are yet to be defined clearly.
Critics:
-> Model has been taken on national level under PURA which has failed and thus
not relaible
72
-> Selection of villages as centre may turn out to be politically motivated and
controversial
-> Nothing is clear on government's critical gap funding
-> States' participation and role is still unclear
-> Many argue that it just creates another city which will again lead to more urbanization
and emphasis should be on development of every village specifically
-> May not be profitable for private sector and they may not participate
It is required to learn from past mistakes of PURA and sustainable model should
be created so that this can be implemented throughout the country.
Though welcome in its conception, its implementation is wrought with contradictions. Though
role has been given to state governments to delineate the clusters, role of PRIs has not been
demarcated. Further poor implementation of the 73rd amendment act to achieve meaningful
devolution of funds, functions and functionaries risks jeopardising any significant socioeconomic growth of rural areas. Multiplicity of schemes in this regard in the form of SAGY,
BRGF,etc can lead to delayed decision making and confusion. Poor agricultural performance in
dwindling monsoon times need to be safeguarded and drought mitigation, smart cropping
patterns and institutional support in the form of insurance are key for any scheme for rural
development and this hasnt been integrated with the SPMRM. Developing certain clusters as
smart, and neglecting others will increase inequality and resentment among other villages."
The rurban mission inorder to be successful has to look to supplement and augment capabilities
of PRIs, improve congruencies with AMRUT for deciding on administering an ever growing
rural-urban fringe and promote a low carbon growth pattern for villages through use of
renewables to achieve a model sustainable growth paradigm for our villages.
The Mission envisages institutional arrangements both at the State and Center to ensure smooth
implementation of the Mission. The Mission also has an Innovation budget towards facilitating
research, development and capacity building.
The scheme through development of rurban growth clusters aimed at catalyzing overall regional
growth, would thus simultaneously benefit the rural as well as urban areas of the country, by
achieving twin objectives of strengthening rural areas and de burdening the urban areas hence
leading to balanced regional development and growth of the country.
42. Why C. Asian region relevant? What is current geopolitics of this region? What is
current geopolitics of this region? What is strategic significance of Indias ties with Central
Asia?
Model Answer:
India and Central Asia shared a long history and relationship marked by oppression and even
genocidal levels of violence. Close trade and cultural linkage between them, traced to Indus
73
valley civilization. India among first countries to recognized CARs (Central Asian Republic) and
open embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan just in 3 months of Soviet dissolution.
Current Geopolitics of Central Asia:Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are landlocked nations. They do not have complete control over
the utilization of their natural resources, as they are forced to ship their oil and gas via pipelines
that run through other countries in order to reach the global market. Whoever controls the
pipelines controls the energy they contain, which is vital to a countrys economy and even
military strength, as modern militaries, with aircraft, armoured vehicles, and gas powered ships
are reliant an oil. The struggle for control of these pipelines is now being waged, quietly but
surely, between many countries including Russia, China, Iran and the United States.
Strategic significance of Indias ties with C.Asia:
In spite of Indias limited trade and few ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Corporation) and
less than $800 million (U.S) trade between India and Central Asia in 2012-13, but due to reason
s strategic importance for India on several forts:- 1) Energy requirement .( 2) CARs Proximity
to Afghans increased China presence. (3) Support for UNSC and SCO.
India unveiled its strategic roadmap- The Connect Central Asia policy in 2012 and envisions:
1) agrarian assistance.
2) Closer military ties infrastructure development.
3) Use of Indias IT knowledge.
4) Building for hospitals and established Central Asia e-Network.
The foreign trade policy (2015-20) has highlighted the importance of The International NorthSouth transport corridor (INSTC) in expanding Indias trade and investment links with Central
Asia. The INSTC is Multi-model trade transport network that includes rail, road and water
transport from Mumbai via Bandar Abbas in Iran to Moscow in Russia.
But key-aspect of its success is development of Afghanistan as a hub of transport and developed
Irans chabahar port(TAPI Pipeline-PROJECT) will served as a potential entry into Central
Asia.
Conclusion: The rising importance of this region has been due to regions strategic importance
for India on several fronts: Indias pressing energy requirements, and an increased Chinese
presence in the region.
Add these also which will make the answer complete :
74
Relevance of central Asian countriesEconomic worthCentral aisa owes its significance to its vast economic potential and its geo-strategic location and
is fast becoming an economic center of the world. The region has a strategic location at the
crossroads of Asia, Europe, the Persian Gulf, the Middle East, and the Far East; surrounded by
some of the fastest growing economies in the world including China, Russia and India who are
not only investing in the region but are competing for the leading role. From 2000 to 2009,
foreign direct investment flows into Central Asia increased nine folds; while the regions gross
domestic product grew on average by 8.2% annually.
Kazakhastan
ranked 6th in the world in terms of natural

resource reserves.
Iron and steel reserves
Producer of high quality cotton
Turkmenistan
worlds 4th largest gas reserves
Uzbekistan
Best cotton in the world
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
not endowed with great hydrocarbon

resources, have water wealth instead
which is source of power of production.
Potential for production and export of Al.
Geostrategic Worth
Central Asia borders two of the permanent members of the Security Council in Russia
and China which are powerful nations. it provide avenues of trade and diplomatic depth
for the Central Asian Republics. Being at the centre it is the gateway to the whole of asia.
It connects Afghanistan through a narrow road from kushka,Caspian sea facilitate
relations with the Caucasus, iran and Russia and connects further west through Volga
don waterway canal.it was also part of the old silk road.
75
Current geopolitics of central asian regionAs the region is land locked, its-trade, economics and polity totally depends upon its neighbours.
Apart from interests in energy resources, Russia is also trying to have its political influence for
security reasons so that Russia can be safe along both black sea and and its southern frontier.
Us and EU,though not as active as other neighbouring countries,are trying to have their strategic
presence here to contain Russia and iran.they also indulge in exploitation of hydrocarbons from
Caspian sea.
Chinese interest in this region are due to its growing need for oil and natural gas. China is trying
to create a traditional vassal relationship with CARs through investment ,trade , and military
cooperation.
Strategic significance of indias ties with central asiaIndias strategic approach lies in the development of strong ties with the countries of Central
Asia along the energy and security vectors. some of the areas in central asia in which india has
shown interest areEnergy securityCurrently India is dependent on west asia for its oil import through strait of hormuz. With the
ongoing conflicts in the region and to diversify its sources, it needs to focus on central asia. This
can be supported by the facts that
Over the past decade, Indias state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
has sought to invest in Kazakhstan.
The Indian government has been engaged in protracted negotiations regarding the
1680 km-long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline which is

intended to transport 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from natural gas fields in
Turkmenistan via Afghanistan
and Pakistan to India.
National security
Indias security depends upon satability in this region.militant groups such as IMU have links
with Taliban and Pakistan. Any disturbance in the region will have impact on kasmir issue and
subsequently on the whole of India.this region is also vulnerable for drug trafficking which is
used to raise money for funding the several terrorist outfits. To secure its national interests india
has-
76
acquired foreign military outpost in Tajikistanand began to refurbish the airbase at Ayni
in2004
India did join the multilateral SCO as an Observer in 2005, and it aspires to become a full
member. The SCO is one of the most prominent multilateral bodies with regard to
Central Asia.
Commercial security
Indian tea and pharmaceutical industries have already acquired a foothold in the Central
Asian market, while potential for Indian investment and expertise has been identified in
the areas of IT, banking, construction, and food processing. There is also scope for India
to assist Central Asian states in developing small and medium-scale enterprises.
Thus, India and Central Asia are strategic neighbours and natural allies. . To carry forward and
strengthen indias relation with central asia mr. Modi has visited central asia in july 2015.
43. What is the significance of ISRO's launch of ASTROSAT Satellite? Critically comment
on ISRO participation in such commercial ventures?
Model Answer:
What is ASTROSAT?
The 1500-kg ASTROSAT is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an Indian Remote
Sensing (IRS)-class satellite. It was launched by PSLV-C30 on September 28, 2015. The
expected operating life time of the satellite will be more than five years. It is carrying five
payloads including ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT).
Features of Astrosat
It can make observations in different wavelength like ultraviolet, optical, visible, low and Xray simultaneously.
It will study stars, quasars, pulsars, supernova remnants, black holes and active galactic nuclei.
It carries five experimental payloads: 1)three Large Area X-Ray Proportional Counters
(LAXPCs) for X-ray timing studies, 2) Soft
X-Ray Telescope 3)two ultraviolet imaging telescope, 4) hard X-ray new technology imaging
detector, and 5) Scanning Sky monitor to monitor and detect bright objects
The instruments are co-aligned.
objectives are:
Understand high-energy processes in binary systems
Search for black hole sources in the galaxy
77
Measure magnetic fields of neutron stars
Study high-energy processes in extra-galactic systems
Detect new transient X-ray sources
Perform limited high angular-resolution deep field survey in UV
1)Astrosat, weighing about 1.5 tonnes will be launched by PSLV-XL in a 650 km high near
equitorial orbit with a 6inclination.
2)it carries 5 experimental payloads
a)3 large area x ray proportional counters (LAXPCS)for x-ray timing studies.
b)the soft x ray telescope
c)2uv visible telescopes.
d)cadmium -zinc -telluride imager (CZTI)
e)scanning sky monitor (SSM)
3)the expected life of Astrosat is 5 years.
4 )Astrosat is fitted with x-ray telescope, far uv telescopes etc meant for studying celestial
objects.
What is significance of ASTROSAT?
ASTROSAT launch heralds a new era in which India will cease to be regarded only as
provider of scientific talent and cheap launch services to the world's space efforts, but to
become a scientific partner and contributor to humanity understanding of universe (unlike
previous satellite launches which were predominantly technology demonstration projects,
e.g. Chandrayan, Mangalyan).
ASTROSAT will observe the universe in optical, ultraviolet low and high energy X-ray
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, while most other satellites are capable of
observing a narrow range of wavelength band.
It will increase Indias self-reliance as there is no need of others country satellites to
collect data for research work.
Indian ground-based telescopes (like IAO in Ladakh) and ASTROSAT (the space based
observatory) will complement each other in high-energy astrophysics research work.
It is for the first time that a majority of instruments (payloads) of any satellite had come
from outside ISRO (1 from ISRO, 2 from Mumbai-based TIFR and 1 from Pune
Astronomy University and last one from the IIA in Bangalore). ASTROSAT will present
an ideal platform for researchers in these institutions.
With its launch India has entered into group of few select countries (US, Japan, Russia
and ESA) which have launched space observatory to study celestial objects.
78
It will allow observations on a given celestial object and the associated astrophysical
phenomena across different wavelengths to gain a total perspective of the dynamics involved.
It is unique because, unlike similar missions in Europe and the U.S., it is a multi-wavelength
platform, very high resolution UV observations, and high resolution timing studies and hence
being considered as a potential world-class observatory.
It promises to be a true astronomical observatory in the sky
It is expected to make a significant and niche contribution to the important field of X-ray
astronomy and the study of the X-ray universe.
1. Its importance is because of its wavelength coverage which will provide a complete
picture of the space objects
2.
Its a breakthrough for ISRO
3. Space based telescope provide much better information than ground based telescopes
as there is no intervening path of light or wavelength that comes through
(A) The launch of the spacecraft will be especially beneficial for the Indian astronomical
community, as it will reduce the community's dependence on data from external sources like the
Hubble.
(B) The launch will also make India a member of the exclusive space club of countries with
space observatories, which currently includes - U.S., Europe, Russia and Japan.
(C) It will mark India's significant and niche contribution to the important field of X-ray
astronomy and the study of X-ray universe.
(D) The data received from this world-class observatory could foster greater coordination and
cooperation between Indian and foreign scientists in the future.
As with the launch of MOM, the scheduled launch of Astrosat has yet again proved to the world,
India's space capabilities.
1)It is significant because, unlike similar missions in Europe and U.S ,it will make observations
of celestial objects in different wavelengths from a common platform which enables to give total
perspective of the object under observation.
2)With in 1.5 tonne weight range it would be the world's best astronomical satellite. This image
helps the Anthrix (commercial wing of ISRO)to undertake such projects from foreign countries
and to gain foreign currency.
3)As it is space based it will give better information when compared to ground based
observatories and strengthen india's security from air front.
4)It will be a milestone in indian space research which is thriving to explore the secrets of space.
What is the importance of ISROs participation on such commercial ventures?
79
Although there may not be any immediate social or commercial benefits from such commercial
ventures but it can benefit India in future as
They will fillip the global presence of ISRO, which can facilitate more commercial
business for Antrix Corporation Ltd.
They can enhance the FDI in R&D sector in India.
The success of ISRO will also attract the new generation student to pursue scientific
research as their career, which in turn further enhances Indias reputation internationally.
#India's first space based multi wavelength astronomical satellite.

#Shows and confirms India's capability & technological advancement in space science.
#DEPENDENCY OF INDIA for data on external sources(Hubble) would be negated.
#ASTRONOMICAL STUDIES - Observation and study of stars, Planets,Solar
system,Galaxies,Black holes,Nebulae,quasars and pulsars.
#Most of the astronomical objects emit radiations spanning the entire electromagnetic
spectrum. Simultaneous recording of all the wavelengths and frequency through wide
spectral coverage is a possibility now.Thus enables better and accurate & better
understanding of cosmology and astronomy.
CONCLUSION
Missions like MOM (Mars orbiter mission), Chandrayaan-1,IRNS(Indian Regional
Navigation satellite system),Astrosat shows India's capabilities and efforts in the field of
space science which would benefit both science and humanity.
Add from following articles:

http://thewire.in/2015/09/23/why-astrosat-is-not-indias-hubble-11421/
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/isro-launches-dedicated-astronomy-satelliteastrosat/article7697712.ece
44. The debate on Net Neutrality should also focus upon the accessibility of Internet by the
poor sections of society which cannot afford the broadband services. Analyze in the light of
Free Basics/ internet.org initiative by Facebook.
Model Answer:
WHAT IS NET NEUTRALITY & INTERNET.ORG?
80
The principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and
applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular
products or websites
Internet.org is a partnership between Facebook and six companies that plans to bring
affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing
efficiency, and facilitating the development of new business models around the provision
of Internet access. It has been criticized for violating Net neutrality.
WHAT ARE PROS OF INTERNE.ORG LIKE PLATFORM?
Large coverage- 85% of Indian still cant access the basic internet. Internet.org will help
to connect remotest place & inaccessible part of India thus helping to empower Digital
India Campaign.
Economic Empowerment- People will be able to access useful content like weather
forecasting, agro related news, various websites relating to agriculture & will be
accessing various scheme like MNREGA, DBT, PDS.
Social Empowerment- Through internet social difference, Ill practices like gender gap,
dowry like issue will come down because a common person will be knowing about
downside of these practices .In short, it will lead to societal equality.
Helpful in E-governance- Through these kind of internet.org platforms govt. can extend
its certain services like e-chuapal, e-mandi under National agriculture market (NAM)
scheme, land digitization, Digital locker services .Thus GOI will be reducing corruption
at various level by removing role of the middle man. Similarly banking service could be
linked to poor through internet which will include financial inclusion of poor too.
What are cons of Internet.org?
It has been criticized for violating net neutrality and favoring Facebook's own services
over its rivals and providing only selective and regulated content to its users.
Certain content providers will be allowed to provide content .Thus this is itself against
the principle of innovation & equality. Internet can be exploited by the companies who
have already setup their dominance and new startups would be unable to survive and
grow.
It has been criticized for violating net neutrality and favoring Facebook's own services
over its rivals. An Indian journalist, in his reply to Mark Zuckerberg's article defending
Internet.org in India, criticized Internet.org as "being just a Facebook proxy targeting
India's poor" as it provides restricted Internet access to Reliance Telecom's subscribers in
India. Until April 2015, Internet.org users could access (for free) only a few websites, and
Facebook's role as gatekeeper in determining what websites were in that list was
81
criticised for violating net neutrality. In May 2015, Facebook announced that the
Internet.org Platform would be opened to websites that met its criteria.
CONCLUSION
It should be understood that in time in present era of Digital world, there is still a large
part of population which is inaccessible to basic internet & which could be benefited by
providing basic internet. So Government should ensure & check that there will be level
playing field for all content provider in this initiative Internet.org. So that millions of
poor would be able to access basic internet facility. Internet.org is the first step towards
universal connectivity, it may not be perfect but there is always scope for improvement.
Add various infos from this hindu article :

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/i-think-wikipedia-should-be-objectingto-howinternetorgis-using-their-site/article6882515.ece
45. WHAT IS NITAQAT PROGRAMME? HOW IT IMPACTS INDIA SAUDI ARABIA
RELATIONS? [200 WORDS]
Model Answer:
NITAQAT PROGRAMME
Introduction
It is also called as Saudization programme
Nitaqat (meaning ranges or zones) is a programme of the Saudi Labour Ministry to create
job opportunities for its nationals by replacing a small percentage of the foreign
workforce with Saudi youths
Features of Nitaqat
Nitaqat, announced in June 2011, insists that the companies and businesses reserve a
certain percentage of their workforce to Saudis depending on the size of the enterprise.
Those employing under-10 workers are exempt, but those with up to 49 have to have 10
per cent Saudis. Bigger workforces have to include higher number of Saudis.
Depending on their level of compliance, the enterprises are being categorised into four;
those that totally fail to comply will be in the red zone. Those complying with the
Nitaqat norms would be rewarded with incentives while those failing would have to fold
as the work permits of their expatriate workers would not be renewed.
82
Why Saudi Arabia took such decision
In the wake of Arab Spring uprisings, the government views unemployment among
nationals as a long-term strategic challenge that needs to be handled effectively
A study by the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information, fixed the
unemployment rate in the country last year at 12.2 per cent. That meant that more than
588,000 people were without jobs
Other estimates suggest that an alarming 39 per cent of the youth in the 15-25 years old
category, are unemployed.
Impact of Nitaqat programme
The Saudi road map of employment generation has now reached a stage when it threatens
the livelihood of nearly two million expatriates, the majority of whom are Indians
employed in the small and medium enterprises category. The Saudi daily Arab
Newsported that at least two million expatriates may lose their jobs or leave the
Kingdom shortly as about 250,000 small and medium enterprises will be listed in the Red
category of the Labour Ministrys Nitaqat system
Why recently in news
India expects the number of Indians in Saudi Arabia to grow despite Nitaqat which
reserves a percentage of jobs in each establishment for Saudi citizens and cracks down on
undocumented workers.
46. DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSULAR ACCESS AGREEMENT

BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN? [100 WORDS]
Model Answer:
Introduction
Recently Pakistan and India exchanged the lists of prisoners under the Consular Access
Agreement between the two countries.
Significance of Consular Access Agreement

1. Consular access agreement is expected to reduce chances of mistaken identity and will
provide immediate legal aid to the detainee
2. It will help avoid embarrassing situations of both countries discovering the nationality of
prisoners well after their sentence is over
83
3. It is a step towards bringing in more transparency and understanding between the

neighbours on this sensitive issue that often has domestic political implications.
4. While the detainee will be tried as per domestic law in the country concerned, the
agreement will help ensure fair treatment and no physical harm.
47. DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LABOUR COOPERATION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA [100 WORDS]
Model Answer:
India recently signed a labour cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which will
benefit a quarter of the 28 lakhs Indians working in the Gulf kingdom.
India has the largest number of expatriates in the Kingdom
It is for the first time India signed an labour related agreement with Saudi kingdom.
You have to write few words about Nitaqat programme of Saudi Arabia and its impact on
India.
This agreement to be a stepping stone for a comprehensive pact for the entire Indian
labour force in the Gulf nation.
Why India demands such agreement
New Delhi is laying emphasis on the agreement for domestic workers because it will
ensure a standard work contract, with requirements to be followed at the time of selection
and immigration.
India is looking for minimum labour standards from Saudi Arabia after the application of
the Nitaqat, which cleaned up infirmities in the documentation of all expatriates
Impact of Nitaqat on Indian labourers
Over 14 lakhs Indians availed themselves of the grace period by putting their papers in
order, while 1.41 lakh returned to India. But during the same time, the number of Indians
who went to Saudi Arabia was larger than those who returned
48. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY SATURATION DIVING? BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE

SIGNIFICANCE OF CHINAS RECENT SATURATION DIVING EXPERIMENT &
LESSONS TO INDIA? [200 WORDS]
Model Answer:
Introduction to Saturation diving
84
Saturation diving is a diving technique that allows divers to reduce the risk of
decompression sickness (the bends) when they work at great depth for long periods of
time
Chinas recent Saturation diving experiment
China recently began its first saturation diving experiment in sea
It aims to reach 300 metres under water surface as part of its efforts to enhance expertise
in deep sea exploration.
Saturation diving was developed to allow divers to stay under water for a longer time and
at a deeper sea level than with conventional techniques.
Significance of Saturation diving
It is commonly used in deep sea exploration, in rescue operations at sea and in

engineering construction at the bottom of the sea.
Steps taken by government to get expertise in underwater exploration
The new experiment was part of Chinas effort to develop expertise in underwater
exploration.
Last October, China tested its underwater vehicle in the eastern Pacific. According to
Chinas State Oceanic Administration the research vessel, Haiyang-6, conducted the
tests near Hawaii.
China has already developed its own manned submersible and remotely operated
underwater vehicle. The name of manned submersible Jiaolong
Importance of saturation diving in changing geo-political scenario
Land resources are limited when compared to ocean resources.
So expertise in underwater exploration will be required in near future.
China is actively acquiring raw material resources all over the world. Few years back,
china acquired exclusive economic zone in Indian ocean near east coast of Africa. So
china is actively involved in underground exploration. India can take note of it.
49. WHAT IS NUCLEAR MATERIALS SECURITY INDEX? ENUMERATE THE

REASONS FOR INDIAS LOW SCORE IN NMSI? GIVE YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO
IMPROVE THE NUCLEAR SECURITY STATUS IN INDIA? [200 WORDS]
Model Answer:
85
What is Nuclear Threat Initiative?
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in

the United States
It exists to strengthen global security by reducing the spread of nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons, and also to reduce the risk that they will actually be used.
Indias rank in NMSI
In the 2014 Nuclear Threat Initiatives Nuclear Materials Security Index released
recently, India has been ranked 23rd out of 25 countries with weapons-usable nuclear
materials.
India has been ranked below its two nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and China in
the list of countries with a weak nuclear material security in the world, according to a
US-based think-tank.
Criteria
Only 25 nations are included in this rating. Because only they fulfill the criteria of having
one kilogram or more of these nuclear materials.
Nuclear security fund
The NSF was established to support, amongst others things, the implementation of
nuclear security activities to prevent, detect and respond to nuclear terrorism.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) said this improvement reflects Indias first
contribution to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund.
Factors contributing to Indias score

1. Weak regulations
2. Increasing the quantities of weapons usable nuclear materials for both civilian and
military use.
3. Gaps in regulatory structure
4. Lack of independent regulatory agency
5. High level of corruption
UNSC resolution 1540
86
United Nations Security Council resolution 1540 was adopted unanimously on 28 April
2004 regarding the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
The resolution establishes the obligations under Chapter VII of the United Nations
Charter for all Member States to develop and enforce appropriate legal and regulatory
measures against the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
weapons and their means of delivery, in particular, to prevent the spread of weapons of
mass destruction to non-state actors.
In comparing both countries, India scored higher than China on the implementation of
UN Security Council Resolution 1540 related to nuclear security issues.
Comparing India with China
China, however, scored higher in a number of areas, including: the existence of an

independent regulatory agency; having invited a peer review of its nuclear security
arrangements; and having strong regulations for control and accounting of materials.
Why Pakistan received better score than India
Pakistan improved its score by publishing new regulations for the physical protection of
nuclear facilities.
In comparing both countries, India scored higher than Pakistan on international legal
commitments because India has adopted all of the relevant treaties whereas Pakistan has
not.
Pakistan, however, scored higher in a number of areas, including: the existence of an

independent regulatory agency; having invited peer review of its nuclear security
arrangements; and having security and other personnel with access to nuclear materials
subjected to additional vetting.
In addition, Pakistan has an operational Center of Excellence (COE), whereas the

foundation stone for Indias COE, the Global Center for Nuclear Energy Partnership, was
laid on January 3, 2014
What India needs to do to improve NTI score
NTI recommended that Indias nuclear materials security conditions could be improved
by strengthening its laws and regulations for mitigating the insider threat, for the control
and accounting of nuclear materials, and for the physical security of materials during
transport
87
Indias existing regulations could be strengthened by taking a more prescriptive approach

to security measures, as most countries already do, rather than simply recommending
security measures
Indias nuclear materials security conditions could also be improved by completing the
establishment of an independent nuclear regulatory agency, in fullfilment of a
commitment made at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.
50. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE RECENT STRUCTURAL CHANGES PROPOSED IN

EUROPEAN BANKING SYSTEM WITH REGARD TO TBTF BANKS? [200 WORDS]
Model Answer:
Introduction
The idea that a business has become so large and ingrained in the economy that a
government will provide assistance to prevent its failure.
Too big to fail describes the belief that if an enormous company fails, it will have a
disastrous ripple effect throughout the economy.
CONCEPT OF T.B.T.F BANKS CONCEPT IN INDIA & ITS SIGNIFICANCE
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to introduce increased capital requirements by
2016 for banks regarded as too big to fail, and make them subject to greater regulatory
oversight. [ december 2013]
Large banks such as the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Canara Bank and
Punjab National Bank were likely to fall under this category of systemically important
banks (D-SIBs) or too large to fail.
The Reserve Bank of India released draft rules planning to introduce increased capital
requirements by 2016 for banks regarded as too big to fail and make them subject to
greater regulatory oversight.
Banks classified under this category would be required to hold additional capital that
would begin from April 2016 and would be implemented in phases until 2019.
The names of banks classified as D-SIBs would be disclosed in August every year,
starting from 2015
Banks with size of more than 2 percent of GDP will be selected in the sample of banks
Banks classified as systemically important will be required to hold additional capital in

the range of 0.2 percent to 1 percent of their risk weighted assets, according to the central
bank proposals.
88
The banks designated as D-SIBs will be subjected to more intense supervision in the form
of higher frequency and higher intensity of off- and on-site monitoring
Why recently in news
The EU unveiled long-awaited plans to rein in the too-big-to-fail banks Wednesday in

what the bloc said was the final step towards preventing a repetition of the 2008 banking
crisis.
France and Germany have warned against going too far with the reforms, saying national
laws may be better and that too much meddling will hurt the fragile economic recovery.
The EUs proposals would stop the biggest banks from engaging in proprietary trading
trading with their own money for their own gain, as opposed for their clients.
They would also give EU banking supervisors the power to make big banks hive off
high-risk activities such as complex derivatives of the kind that led the banking sector
into crisis in the first place if they were seen as compromising financial stability.
89

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100 Most Probable Questions with Answers: Vol.

India Bhai/Ashutosh Gupta

reported number is less than actual pollution.

#3: Fragile Polity of the State

political fragility has resulted in ad-hoc and unplanned development.

bureaucrats who want transfer-posting in plump position. Hence, Disaster management

#4: Absence of tourism management

Due to Natural Calamity

#7: Reduction in forest cover

Inaccurate and incomplete prediction by the Met department: Monitoring,

but has grossly failed both in planning and implementation.

It didnt even have sufficient life-jackets in Rudraprayag.

formation of metropolitan planning committees as per Constitutional mandate. The Committees

9. What is the difference between Bioprospecting and Biopiracy? Give examples.

Ores are concentrated in metalliferous laterites; aluminium is found in bauxites, iron

Petroleum refining does not lead significant weight-loss, unlike the

1. near the raw material or

2. near the market or

The development of large tankers and pipelines bulk-transportation of petroleum

France agreed to give Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.

France agreed to pay to Prussia heavy was indemnity.

For more infos: http://www.pmfias.com/2015/10/el-nino-la-nina-el-nino-madoki-indian-oceandipole.html

19. What is Tennis Court Oath? What is its significance ?

gravitational forces such as overburden pressure, load and shearing stress;

Unloading and Expansion

briefly. Then discuss dew and frost formation.

The transformation of water vapour into water is called condensation.

Functions & Roles in National Polity:

An empowered role of States as equal partners in national development;operationalizing

Better inter-ministry coordination.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NITI AAYOG & PLANNING COMMISION

Decide money matters:

PC design FYP ,NDC approve then it

States/UT represented in Governing

One size fits all, top-down socialist

Paricipatory planning with less IES

8-Full Time members and no provision

No.of Full time members less than

Deputy Chairman equivalent to Cabinet

Vice chairman equivalent toCabinet

Independent in Plan Evaluation

Not independent have Govt interference

National campaign by the Government of India

Officially launched on 2 October 2014 at Rajghat.

Conversion of dry latrines into low-cost sanitary latrines.

End of manual scavenging

Effect on Geo-Politics of the World:

Japans Dilemma in the Japan-US-China Triangle

The following are the ideal conditions for river capture:

Steep channel gradient

Fig A. Showing Special Category States

States demanding Special Category Status:

What are the features associated with the tea industry ?

Replantation rate is 0.5% as against the desired level of 2%.

Due to excessive use of pesticides.

affected our exports

Indonesia Vietnam Kenya.

Agitation for better pay and working condition.

How does tea industry impact Indian economy?

51% of this work force.

Ex:- replanting,Rejuvenation ,creation of irrigation facilities,modernization.

1 Quality Upgradation Programme.

erratic weather pattern.