Aim IAS Mains 2014?

Try to solve these questions

1.‘’The last two decades had been characterized by increased integration of global financial markets and cross-border banking activities, diversification of banks into other financial market segments, increased complexity of products, processes and group structures’’. In the light of this statement assess recent interventions of RBI in Indian market to regulate the economy.
 
2. Do you think that missions to Mars and sending man to the moon will give credence to the global aspirations of India to become a super power? 

3. To what extent the President is powerful in parliamentary form of democracy-especially in maintaining the federal balance? 

4. What is the case of transgender in present India? Do they face identity crisis? 

5. Online marketing gains popularity today. What are its implications in society and economy? 

6. ‘’Applications like 'Safe Hands’ and 'Saftipin' are destined to protect the new age women’’. Evaluate measures taken for safety of women in India 

7. Analyze India’s leadership role in South East Asia

8. Discuss the emergence and mainstreaming of free software and its implications on freedom of thought in the society

9. Examine economic importance of South China Sea in the wake of expansive claims by different nations in the region

10. Comment on safety of airline passengers in the light of recent developments in the sector. 

Practice Questions (Modern World) for CS main 2014

1. Discuss the relevance of the concept third world nation in the era of globalization.

2. First World War ended sowing seeds for another world war – Comment.

3. Can it be possible to consider the Second World War ended the trend of fascism?

4. To what extent communist ideology is relevant in the new world order?

5. Sub-nationalism is a threat to national unity – comment on the statement with special reference to Europe.

  

                                         Compiled by Muhammed Shameer kaipangara 

The Hindu 05/11/14 Wednesday

‘Make in India’ meets Russia’s ‘Eastern pivot’
Drones scour for trouble spots
NCAER pegs down growth forecast to 5%
Scientists find mechanism for spontaneous HIV cure
Mystery of bizarre object in galaxy solved
Harappan drawings found near Hampi
ED to track down black money in illegal mining
Navigation system will not disturb Ram Sethu: Gadkari
Measures to reduce fossil fuel emissions vital for India
Sand scooters may replace camels along desert border
Rogozin to spell out economic vision
Focus on Fifth Gen fighter jets ahead of Rogozin’s visit
“Pseudo polls” wreck Ukraine deal
Catalan breakup poll may be stalled
Growth and austerity
Major ports told to accord priority to coastal cargo
Norway pushes seafood exports to India
Renewable capacity addition lower in H1
How corals lose their colour
Fight to save Indus dolphins, turtles
UN to eliminate statelessness in 10 years
Ukraine to 're-examine' peace plan with rebels
Sunderbans water getting toxic: scientists
Electric car revs to world record in Switzerland

Special topic for CS mains 2014 

INDIA AND ITS ASTRONOMICAL TRADITION

On 24^th September 2014, when Mangalyaan entered the Mars orbit, India became the first Asian country to successfully sent spacecraft into the Martian orbit and the first country in the world to attain the goal in the maiden attempt. After United States, the former Soviet Union, and the European Space Agency, India became the fifth country in the world to attain this goal. This achievement was not a sudden development, but steady progression of space science in India.

Indian Space Research Organization which designed the Mangalyaan was formed in 1969, but history of the astronomical studies in India can be trace back to ancient period. By the third century B. C. mathematics, astronomy, and medicine began to develop separately. Aryabhata and Varahamihira were two renowned scholars of astronomy and mathematics. The first one was belonged to the fifth century AD whereas the latter to the sixth century AD. Their contributions to growth of Indian astronomy are invaluable and peerless. Aryabhata calculated the position of the planets according to the Baby­lonian method. In an age when eclipses were considered as disgrace of god, Aryabhata discovered the cause of lunar and solar eclipses and gave them scientific explanations. It is very interesting to note that Aryabhat measured the circumference of the earth on the basis of speculation, which is considered to be correct even now. Moreover, he pointed out that the sun is stationary and the earth rotates. It should be remembered that all of the discoveries were made in an age when no telescope or similar equipments were found. Also, the society was tolerant enough to the scientific explanations, even though many of them disproved their traditional beliefs.  Aryabhatiya is a seminal work of Aryabhata which refers to his observation skill and deep knowledge in astronomy and mathematics.

Varahamihira was another great mathematician- astronomer of ancient India.  He observed that the moon rotates round the earth and the earth rotates round the sun. He utilized several Greek works to explain the movement of the planets and some other astronomical problems. Al­though the Greek knowledge influenced Indian astronomy, there is no doubt that the Indians pursued the subject further and made use of it in their observations of the planets. Brihatsamhita is the best known among the works of Varahamihira.

Studies in astronomy were progressed in medieval India also. For instance, the 18^th century Rajput ruler Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber (1681-1743) was not only a distinguished statesman and reformer, but also a great astronomer. At Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura Jai Singh established obser­vatories called jantar mantar with accurate and advanced instruments. Some of the inventions were his own. His astro­nomical observations were remarkably accurate. He drew up a set of tables, entitled Zij Muhammadshahi, to enable people to make astrono­mical observations.

          But, in comparison to previous periods, the progress of astronomy in colonial India was undesirable. Lack of patronage and focus in freedom struggle might have caused this. However, the recent achievements of ISRO prove that the gap affected progression of Indian astronomical science in no way.

                                                       

                                                     Compiled by Muhammed Shameer kaipangara 

The Hindu 04/11/14 Tuesday

Delhi headed for fresh polls
Mauritius offers help on black money probe
Mudgal panel submits final report
Disqualified Bihar MLAs move High Court
Vijay Kelkar to head FinMin think tank
Soon, regulator for health outreach
Air pollution lowers crop yield: study
China’s laser to down drones
How to reform and how not to
Bridging the innovation gap
Europe’s chronic stagnation
E-commerce business will take time to evolve’
Regulation of e-tailers sought
Wagah blast halts Indo-Pak trade
Virgin ‘ignored’ space safety warnings: expert
Burkina army vows unity govt, protesters denounce power grab

The Hindu 03/11/14 Monday 


Act now on climate change, says new IPCC report
Navies of friendly countries keen on Indian sonars
India proposes guidelines for protecting fishermen in Bahrain
Indian-built Scorpene to carry critical DRDO system
U.N. Climate Change panel calls for phasing out fossil fuels
Donetsk, Lugansk hold elections
IPCC report another canary in the coal mine: Kerry
Winning with metropolitan clusters
Swachh Bharat: a scheme or a pipe dream?

The Hindu 02/11/14 Sunday 

India forces U.N. to review peacekeeping
GSLV Mark-III set for partial test flight
Centre asks SC to withdraw restraint on National Wildlife Board
Spain imposes ‘Google Tax’
Disaster cover: Centre vetting task force report
Russia invites India to jointly develop hydrocarbon projects
Govt extends Finance Commission’s term