UPSC (IAS) Preparation - Only most important current affairs for UPSC / IAS /UKPSC

6 December 2016

GSM1-Topicwise Questions since Pattern change in 2013

In 2013, UPSC changed the syllabus-pattern of Mains examination and the number of general studies papers were increased from two to four. Out of them, GS Paper-I deals with History, Culture, Society and Geography. Overall breakup looks like this

Category	GS Mains Paper-1	2013	2014	2015	2016
History	Culture	20	40	25	25
History	Freedom struggle	30	30	25	37.5
History	World History	40	30	25	12.5
History	Post-independence	50	0	0	0
Society	Religion, Region, empowerment.	10	10	37.5	37.5
Society	Poverty, Population, Development	10	20	25	25
Society	Women	10	20	25	0
Geography	Climate	10	30	25	12.5
Geography	Resources	20	20	37.5	62.5
Geography	Urbanization	10	0	25	25
Geography	Physical	30	20	0	12.5
Geography	Industrial Location	10	30	0	0
	Total	250	250	250	250

5 December 2016

Upsc (ias) -2016 mains paper :GS1

Upsc (ias) -2016 mains paper :GS1

Analysis : Paper was much more straight compare to last years.
Issues asked were in news and easily doable.This is going to be highly scoring .
11 QUESTIONS WERE DIRECTLY covered by SAMVEG IAS' IAS MAINS-2016 TEST SERIES.This is a NOT for propaganda but a real fact.
questions were :

Q3 Explain how the upraising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.

Q4 Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.

Q5 Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom.

Q8 To what extent globalisation has influenced the core of cultural diversity in India? Explain.

Q9 “An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from the process of deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples.

Q11With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.”
Q12 What is the basis of regionalism? Is it that unequal distribution of benefits of development on regional basis eventually promotes regionalism? Substantiate your answer.
Q16 South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.
Q18 Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.
Q19Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.
Q20 In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?

#UPSC(IAS2016MAINS) ESSAY PAPER

3 December 2016

UNESCO) has formally inscribed Yoga in its representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has formally inscribed Yoga in its representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Decision in this regard was taken by the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The declaration describes Yoga, an ancient Indian practice as a Human Treasure. It was unanimously supported by all the 24 members of inter-governmental Committee.

Other new inscriptions added in the list are Rumba dance (Cuba), Belgian beer (Belgium), Almezmar (Saudi Arabia), Kuresi (Kazakhstan) and Khidr Elias feast (Iraq), Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals (Japan), Momoeria, New Year’s celebration (Greece), practice of organizing shared interests in cooperatives (Germany),Making and sharing flatbread (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan), Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (South Korea), Gada system (Ethiopia),Tahteeb, stick game (Egypt), Music and dance of the merengue (Dominican Republic), Valencia Fallas festivity (Spain), Solar Term(China), Mangal Shobhajatra on Pahela Baishakh(Bangladesh).

Background The proposal for inclusion of Yoga in this list was forwarded by the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) immediately after the first International Yoga Day was on 21st June 2016. The dossier in this regard was forwarded by MEA through the Sangeet Natak Akademi. India’s proposal for nominating Yoga had stressed upon its pan-Indian and global expanse, health benefits and practised by people from all communities. About UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The UNESCO’s coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. It was established in 2008 after Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003 came into effect. It compiles two lists viz. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Now, the list includes 814 cultural sites, 203 natural and 35 with both cultural and natural qualities.

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from India Koodiyattam: Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala. Mudiyett: theatre ritual of Kerala. Tradition of Vedic Chanting. Kalbelia: folk songs and dances of Rajasthan. Ramlila: Traditional Performance of the Ramayana. Sankirtana: singing, drumming and dancing ritual of Manipur. Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of Garhwal Himalayas. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil of Thatheras: Punjab. Chhau dance: classical Indian dance originated in the eastern Indian states. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has formally inscribed Yoga in its representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Decision in this regard was taken by the Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The declaration describes Yoga, an ancient Indian practice as a Human Treasure. It was unanimously supported by all the 24 members of inter-governmental Committee. Other new inscriptions added in the list are Rumba dance (Cuba), Belgian beer (Belgium), Almezmar (Saudi Arabia), Kuresi (Kazakhstan) and Khidr Elias feast (Iraq), Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals (Japan), Momoeria, New Year’s celebration (Greece), practice of organizing shared interests in cooperatives (Germany),Making and sharing flatbread (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan), Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (South Korea), Gada system (Ethiopia),Tahteeb, stick game (Egypt), Music and dance of the merengue (Dominican Republic), Valencia Fallas festivity (Spain), Solar Term(China), Mangal Shobhajatra on Pahela Baishakh(Bangladesh). Background The proposal for inclusion of Yoga in this list was forwarded by the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) immediately after the first International Yoga Day was on 21st June 2016. The dossier in this regard was forwarded by MEA through the Sangeet Natak Akademi. India’s proposal for nominating Yoga had stressed upon its pan-Indian and global expanse, health benefits and practised by people from all communities. About UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage The UNESCO’s coveted list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance. It was established in 2008 after Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003 came into effect. It compiles two lists viz. Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Now, the list includes 814 cultural sites, 203 natural and 35 with both cultural and natural qualities. List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from India Koodiyattam: Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala. Mudiyett: theatre ritual of Kerala. Tradition of Vedic Chanting. Kalbelia: folk songs and dances of Rajasthan. Ramlila: Traditional Performance of the Ramayana. Sankirtana: singing, drumming and dancing ritual of Manipur. Ramman: religious festival and ritual theatre of Garhwal Himalayas. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil of Thatheras: Punjab. Chhau dance: classical Indian dance originated in the eastern Indian states. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Read more at: http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/month/current-affairs-december-2016/page/6

29 November 2016

Rohingya Muslims.

new humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Myanmar after the military crackdown on “Islamist jihadists” in the Rakhine State, home to more than one million Rohingya Muslims. The military claims it began the counter-terror operation after three border security posts came under attack on October 9. But since then more than 130 people have been killed in the State and 30,000 displaced, triggering a new wave of migration of Rohingyas to neighbouring countries. The army denies targeting civilians, but satellite images taken after the start of the crackdown indicate that hundreds of buildings were burnt down; reports suggest that even those who tried to flee the country were shot dead. The migrants are not welcome in Myanmar’s neighbourhood either. The violence itself is not surprising given the record of persecution of the Rohingyas in Myanmar. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh though they have been living in Rakhine for generations. Myanmar’s military started a systematic persecution of the Rohingyas in the 1970s when thousands were deported to Bangladesh. The rest were stripped of citizenship by the junta, which often used the Rohingya problem to drum up support for itself among the Buddhist majority.

What is surprising this time is the silence of the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Ms. Suu Kyi, the country’s de facto ruler, has not said much about the military operation in Rakhine, or spoken for the Rohingya cause. When her party took power in April, ending decades of military rule, many had hoped that it would signal the dawn of a new era of peace and democracy in Myanmar. But the government has been largely ineffective in tackling internal security and humanitarian issues. The operation in Rakhine shows the change of guard in government hasn’t brought any meaningful difference to Myanmar’s most disadvantaged sections. True, the army still remains a powerful institution. It controls the security, defence and border ministries besides wielding considerable economic power. It is also possible that the generals are escalating the conflict on their own. Even so, the government cannot remain in denial about the atrocities. Ms. Suu Kyi bears responsibility for what is happening in Rakhine now because her party rules, not the junta. For decades, Myanmar persecuted the Rohingya people while the world ignored their plight. By all accounts, that situation has not changed.

Best test series for UKPCS-2016 PRE EXAM

PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma

Sure PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma would have preferred to become first Indians to win both men’s and women’s Super Series titles since Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth at the 2015 India Open. But with a run to the finals at the $400,000 Hong Kong Open, the two have met some personal goals.
Two Super Series finals in as many weeks is no mean feat from Sindhu. Having won the China Open Super Series Premier, the 21-year-old’s immediate target was to qualify for the year-ending World Super Series finals. The inspired run in Hong Kong not only paved her way to Dubai but also got her back into the top 10.
In Sunday’s final, Sindhu lost to Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying 15-21, 17-21. “It was a good game overall, but it was her day,” was Sindhu’s assessment.
It was Ying’s day alright. The 22-year-old had lost the last meeting against Sindhu, in the Rio Olympics round of 16. But on Sunday, she got her way with a mix of well-timed lobs and drop shots. Known to be adventurous, imaginative and unorthodox, Ying would hold the racquet up and push at the last possible moment. When back in the court, she’d trump Sindhu with disguised drops and well-placed smashes. At the net, she’d outmove the Indian and control the tempo. Sindhu’s trademark overhead smashes were few and far between, with the 5’10” Indian struggling to reach shots and stay in play.
Rightfully so, Ying became the world No. 1 with the win, after beating her predecessor and reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin twice in two weeks. And while Marin is faltering as the year draws to a close, Sindhu, the other finalist in Rio, is finishing strong.