Saturday, November 7, 2009

Thread for UIAMS Students

Hi All,

I had a great time with you guys yesterday. I hope my session was also useful to you and helped you in understanding basics of Indian Economy and reasons behind subprime crisis and its impact on India. I would like you to give me an honest feedback for the session.

ALso feel free to post your doubts about the session on this thread. Thanks.

IAS Mains 2009: Essay

ESSAY (Compulsory) : 2009

Time Allowed: Three Hours Max. Marks: 200

Instruction: The Essay must be written in the medium specified in the admission certificate issue to you. The name of medium must be stated clearly on the cover of the answer-book in the space provided for the purpose. No credit will be given to the essay written in a medium other than that specified in the admission certificate.

(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate’s grasp of his material, it’s relevant to the subject chosen and to his ability to think constructed and present his ideas concisely, logically and effectively).

Write an Essay on any one of the following topics:

1. Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death?
2. Are we a ‘Soft ’ state ?
3. “The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society”.
4. “ Good Fences make good neighbors”
5. ‘ Globlisation’ vs. ‘ Nationalism’

IAS Mains 2009: Geography Paper 2

Candidates should attempt Question No. 1 and 5 which are
compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting at
least one question from each Section. Wherever a question is
attempted, all its parts are to be attempted. The number of
marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the
question.

SECTION – A
1. On the outline map of India provided to you , mark the
location of any fifteen of the following for which 1 ( one)
mark is given to each correct entry. Write in your answer
script the significance geographical relevance or strategic
importance of these locations, whether physical /
commercial / economic / ecological / environmental /
cultural in not more than 30 words for each entry. 3 (three)
marks are allotted for each write up. 15×4=60
a) Akarimota
b) Kolleru Lake
c) Van Tivu
d) Silent Valley
e) Amaravati River
f) Pirotan Island
g) Mangla
h) Meghnagar
i) Shipki La
j) Bhachau
k) The Home of Sundari tree
l) Place of orgin of River Narmada
m) Gokak
n) Ken River
o) Bailadila
p) Bhavani Sagar Dam
q) Kutralam Falls
r) Dalma Hills
s) Rangit River
t) Dhanjori Hills

2. a). Discuss the formation and their distribution of the
major soil types of India. 30
b). Give reasons as to why rainfall variability is a
characteristic features of India’s monsoons. 30

3. Distinguish between the West and East coasts of India in
terms of their evolution, present topography and drainage
pattern. 60

4. Examine the role of raw materials in the location of the Iron
and Steel Industry in India. Illustrate your answer with
suitable examples. 60

SECTION B
5. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each:
20×3=60
a). What is the role of the Triple Transport System in the
regional development of India ?
b). Explain the factors responsible for the distribution of Sugar
Industry in India.
c). State the geographical factors which influence rural house
types in India.
d). Giving reasons , identify the chronic drought prone areas
of India.

6. What are the cause and consequences of environmental
degradation in India’s industrial areas? Give specific
examples. 60

7. “ There is no sharp divide where an urban settlement stops
and rural areas begins.” Analyze the statement with reference
to the sprawl of Indian cities. 60

8. a). How do the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors operate for the
emergence of slums in the metropolises of India? 30
b). Discuss the impact of globlisation of India’s industry
and agriculture sectors. 30

IAS Mains 2009: Geography Paper 1

Candidates should attempt Question No. 1 and 5 which are
compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting at
least one question from each Section. Wherever a question is
attempted, all its parts are to be attempted. The number of
marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the
question.

SECTION – A
1. Answer the following in about 200 words each :
a) Highlights the geomorphic features essentially found in
topographies under the second cycle of Erosion. 20
b) Give a brief account of principal land biomes and their
latitudinal distribution. 20
c) Discuss views on slope development provided by L.C.
King. 20

2. a). Identify each features that is indicated by the numerals (i)
to (x) on the world Map provided. Identification of the feature
carries 2 marks each. 2×10=20
b). Mention the location of each feature in respect of + (-)
GMT. This carries 1 mark each. 1×10=10
c). provide a write up on the significance of the identified
feature in approximately 40 words, this carries 3 marks
each. 3×10=30

3. a). Explain factors contributing to the global climate change
20
b). Discuss the consequences of Climate Change on
agriculture and food security , and on the Coastal Zones of
the world. 20
c). How does Climate change affect urban areas? 20

4. a). Examine economic significance of the resources of the
Continental Shelf of the Indian Ocean. 30
b). Comment on marine heat budget and the oceanic
Circulation system. 30

Section B
(Human Geography)

5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about
200 words each: 20×3=60
a). Weight Triangle
b). ‘Limit to Growth’ Model
c). Tropical atmospheric instability
d). Zonal and Azonal soils

6. a). Provide a geographical account of global production
and distribution of food. 30
b). ‘Quantitative Revolution and model building provided
an empirical basis for geographical research’ – Elaborate.
30

7. Elaborate the concept of Megalopolis and discuss the
characteristics and problems related to two such regions
selecting one each from North America and Europe. 60

8. a). Provide a broad classification of world cultural regions.
30
b). Highlights the significance of environmental issues in
Regional Planning. 30

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Thread for IAS Pre GS Paper...

Hi All,

YOu can post all your doubts for IAS pre GS exam on this thread. Also feel free to share your learning with others.

In case you want me to explain any topic that you are finding difficult to understand then let me know. I would try my best to help you in that topic.

If you have any suggestions to make this blog more useful then also feel free to post your comments and suggestions.

Monday, November 2, 2009

IAS Mains 2009: Political Science Paper 2

SECTION – A

1. Answer on any THREE of the following in about 200
words each: 20×3=60
a) Is it necessary to evolve a distinct theoretical
framework for analysis emergent politics in the
developing world?
b) What is the significance of the increasing global
diffusion of nuclear and long range delivery vehicle
technology ?
c) What are the major critiques of liberal
internationalization ?
d) Comment on the contribution of global feminism to the
consolidation of global society.

2. Explain how far Deutsch’s model explains the framework
international interdependence. Do you think that the
processes of interdependence and integration have grown
steadily in the post Cold War Globlisation trajectory ? 60

3. Explain the role of non state actors, like IMF, World Bank ,
European Union and MNCs , in modulating and transforming the
broad dynamics of international relations. 60

4. Examine the comparative advantages of democracy and
autocracy in restraining political violence. Do you think that
autocratic societies are more prone to political violence?
Illustrate your answer with a comparative study of a few
societies. 60

SECTION ‘B’

5. Answer on any THREE of the following in about 200
words each: 20×3=60

a) Do you think that India’s ‘ Look East’ policy would
help a common Asian market , unlike European
common market
b) In the context of developments on the nuclear weapons
front in the neighbourhood , do you think that any
change in India ‘s defence strategy is indicated ?
c). Identify India’s contributions and assistance in the process
of nation-building in South Africa.
d). To what extent is India’s policy in regard to Afghanistan
dictated by a vision of ‘ Global South’ , rather than
compulsions ?

6. Examine India’s role in strategic terms with regard to the
land-locked countries in South Asia. With regard to Nepal ,
to what extent has the involvement of major posers such
as China , the US and the EU impacted India ‘s strategic
interests. 60

7. Analyze the basic causes of insurgency and terrorism
in two majors areas that are affected in the country. In this
regard , to what extent have state policies to counter
terrorism been effective in these areas ? 60

8. “ Domestic problems and Historic legacies , apart from
other factors , constitute major strains on Indian foreign
policy.” Discuss this statement with suitable examples. 60

IAS Mains 2009: Political Science Paper 1

Candidates should attempt Question No. 1 and 5 which are
compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting
at least one question from each Section..
All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION – A

1. Comments on any THREE of the following statements in
not more than 200 words each: 20×3=60

a) “ Political Theory is , quite simply , man’s attempt to
consciously understand and solve the problems of his
group life and organization ….. It is the disciplined
investigation of political problems …. Not only to
show what a political practice is, but also to show what
it means . In showing what a practice means , or what it
ought to mean , political theory can alter what it is.”
( Sabine )

b) “ Women has always been man’s dependent , If not his
slave ; the two sexes have never shared the world in
equality.” ( Simone de Beauvoir )

c) “ Western thought , one might say , has been either
platonic or anti platonic but hardly ever non-platonic.”
( Popper )

d) “ Socialism is a much used hat , whose original shape
no one can define.” ( C E M Joad)

2. a). Compare and contrast Kautilya and Machiavalli on
statecraft. 20

b). Explain as to why Jeremy Bentham dismisses the theory
of natural right as ‘ nonsense upon stilts’ . 20

c). Comment on the proposition that liberal constitution-
- alism precedes liberal democracy. 20

3. Examine in detail Marx’s prescription for ending alienation
and reaching the stage of de-alienation. 60

4. Critically examine Hamza Alavi’s Formulation of the over -
- developed state. 60

SECTION ‘B’

5. Comments on any THREE of the following in not more
than 200 words each: 20×3=60

a). Inter State Committee .
b). Radical Humanism
c). The Functions , duties and powers of the appropriate
National Commission as laid down in clauses (5),(8)
and (9) of Articles-338 of the constitution.
d). Implication of the use of Electronic Voting Machine
( EVM ) on electoral politics.

6. a). Critically examine the arguments being advanced for
review of the present system of appointment of judges
to the higher judiciary of the country. 30

b). Bring out the changing educational profile of the
members of the Lok Sabha over the years , up to the
present ( 15th ) Lok Sabha .

7. “ The OBC politics has challenged the nature of dominant
caste politics in the states.” Critically examine this
statement and bring out your conclusion. 60

8. “ The environmental movements have challenged the
policy and pattern of economic development in post
independent India.” Analyze with examples. 60