Topper's blog for UPSC preparation

Yet another Indian who doesn't want to end up as yet another Indian, Umesh N S K, has detailed his study strategy in the blog Tour De Force. It is well written take on the current trends in UPSC. For students of Political Science, it is a good read. 

http://www.theumeshblog.blogspot.in/

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IAS Probationers meeting Honorable President of India

The IAS probationers do a eight week Bharat Darshan ( visit to different parts of India),At the end the probationers call on the Honorable President of India. A video release of the same:

Visit : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkRM47P0QMA

Interview 2014 IAS TOPPER

Interview in Hindi with Gaurav IAS Topper 2014

Youtube link : Click on picture or visit :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkUf-Gl7-FU

Project Mausam

Project Mausam

Announced by : Ministry of Culture

It is a project of Ministry of Culture with ASI as nodal agency and involvement of IGNCA.

Aim : Improve Soft Power, increase cooperation with 39 countries.

Indian ocean has the “Indian” in its name. This is proved again by this project. The cultural routes and maritime landscapes are of importance to India and other neighbouring states. The combined effort in this regard has invited positive response.It is a friendly gesture to all the surrounding states to reinforce the cooperation with India.

The Plan envisages joint initiative of India and various member states for implementation of UNESCO Cultural Conventions of World Heritage and Intangible culture. It further promotes joint research and selection of appropriate sites to prepare application of trans-national nomination of Maritime Routes & Coastal Cultural Landscape sites. The Standing Financial Committee (SFC) memorandum is under consideration.

Qtns: a)Analyse the relevance of Project Mausam with respect to India’s neighbours (300 words)

  b) 50 words : Project Mausam.

         

VANAJ NERPAP Collabland

Vanaj 2015

The first tribal festival in India conducted at New Delhi.

It was conducted by Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Show cases : Cuture , food , folk lore and other aspects of tribal life.

Collabland

What is it? It is a software

Use? : For computerization of land records

How? It is used for plotting survey maps.

It can handle variety of survey systems

NERPAP

Expansion : National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP)

What is new ? Linking of electoral database to Aadhar data.

How implemented? Using mobile, sms, webservices, offline submission etc aadhar number can be submitted. EPIC and aadhar database will be used to clearing the fake cards.

NITI aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

NITI aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

All of you would have known the replacement of Planning commission with NITI aayog. The new institution comes with following objectives.

1. To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in the light of national objectives.    The vision of the NITI Aayog will then provide a framework ‘national agenda’ for the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers to provide impetus to.

2. To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.

3. To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.

4. To ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy.

5. To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress. 

6. To design strategic and long term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their efficacy.  The lessons learnt through monitoring and feedback will be used for making innovative improvements, including necessary mid-course corrections.

7. To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.

8. To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners.

9. To offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.

10. To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders.

11. To actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen the probability of success and scope of delivery.

12. To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and initiatives.

13. To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above.

Why cooperative federalism? WIKI page read

One scheme implemented in a state may not be of significance to another state. India is a country with diversity, the one size fits all would not work in for all states. The need to frame programs that suit regional demands is core of cooperative federalism.

Eg: Jan Dhan Yojana may be of not much relevance in Kerala.

What is entrepreneur ecosystem?

source: www.wecreatehere.net

Book Review: Psychology by Robert A Baron

One of the most read books by psychology students is “Psychology – Robert A Baron”. It should not be confused with Social Psychology by the same author.

The book definitely is a wonderful one which explains the concepts in psychology in a lucid fashion. The writing style is such that the reader won’t feel the pages being flipped away.

I would concentrate on the utility of the book with regard to Psychology optional examination by UPSC. There are few things to keep in mind in case you have chosen this as a primary book for psychology.

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Firstly, Its fun to read this book. But don’t miss the concepts which we may miss while reading leisurely. This is a book with lot of icing along with cake. Don’t just have the icing and miss the cake.

Secondly, Its not for all kind of learners. Some aspirants like just the points to be given. There are some who like to read book with seriousness. Then this may not be their book.

Thirdly, You may need to supplement certain areas with reading from other books. Morgan and King’s Psychology book is a popular choice to fill the weaker areas in this book.

Fourthly, In some areas, the concepts are crowded in a small area. eg: Shaping, Chaining etc are in close paras in operant conditioning. Don't confuse the importance of topic with font size in Baron's Psychology!

This book is a good one for civils exam, but do keep in mind its limitations too.