Answerkey for CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012 Polity questions only

  Answerkey for CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012 Polity questions only

In CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012, Total 18 questions were asked from Indian Polity. I’m providing the answer keys with explanation and reference source.

President

According   to   the   Constitution   of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following? 1.The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission 2.The Report of the Public Accounts Committee 3.The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 4.The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Select the correct answer using the codes given below : (a)1 only (b)2 and 4 only (c)1, 3 and 4 only (d)1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:
Copy pasting from Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
(Chapter 37, CAG):
….CAG gives three audit reports to President…. he lays it before both houses of the parliament. After this, the Public Accounts Committee examines them and reports its findings to the parliament.
It means:

• President lays down CAG report.
• PAC lays down report in parliament on its own (President doesn’t come in picture).

So,
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2
Eliminate choices *not* involving Statement #3
Final- Answer: C

Deadlock

A deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of
1.Ordinary Legislation
2.Money Bill
3.Constitution Amendment Bill
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3
Copy pasting from Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
’s chapter on Parliament:
….it must be noted here that provisions of joint sitting is applicable to ordinary bills or financial bills only and not to money bills or Constitutional amendment bills.
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2 and #3
Final- Answer: A

CAG role

In India, other than ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and for intended purpose, what is the importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)?
1.CAG exercises exchequer control on behalf of the Parliament when the President of India declares national emergency/financial emergency.
2.CAG reports on the execution of projects or programmes by the ministries are discussed by the Public Accounts Committee.
3.Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances.
4.While dealing with the audit and accounting of government companies, CAG has certain judicial powers for prosecuting those who violate the law.
Which   of   the   statements   given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 3 and 4 only
(b)2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation:
Statement #1 and #4 are bogus. Eliminate choices accordingly.
We are left with B and C.
I’m not really sure whether Information from CAG reports can be used by investigating agencies to press charges against those who have violated the law while managing public finances
50/50 between B and C
(or perhaps may be 70/30 between B and C !)

PM appointment

The Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment
(a)need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of one of the" Houses within six months
(b)need not necessarily be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament but must become a member of the Lok Sabha within six months
(c)must be a member of one of the Houses of the Parliament
(d)must be a member of the Lok Sabha
Explanation:

Chapter 19: Prime Minister
In 1977, SC held that a person who is not a member of either house of parliament can be appointed as PM for 6 months, within which, he should become a member of either house of parliament; otherwise he cases to be a PM.
Final- Answer: A

Delimitation Commission

With reference to the  Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements :
1.The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2.When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modifications in the orders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
Indian Polity by Wizard Publication :
The delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court of law. These orders come into force on a date to be specifified by President of India. The copies of its orders are laid before the House of People and the State legislative assembly concerned but no modifications are permissible therein by them.
Therefore both statements are correct.
Final- Answer: C

Distribution of powers

The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the
(a)Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909
(b)Montagu-Chelmsford Act, 1919
(c)Government of India Act, 1935br /> (d)   Indian Independence Act, 1947
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication) 1^st Chapter
Government of India Act 1935 ->Features of the Act
The Act divided the powers between Centre and unit in terms of three lists-

1. Federal List  (for Centre, with 59 items)
2. Provincial List (for provinces, with 54 items) and
3. Concurrent List (for both, with 36 items)

Final Answer: (C)

Fundamental duties

Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution?
1.To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
2.To protect the weaker sections from social injustice
3.To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry
4.To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 only
(c)1, 3 and 4 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Fifth fundamental duty is “to promote harmony and spirit of brotherhood amongst all the people of india transcending religious….”
But it doesn’t talk specifically about protecting weaker sections from social injustice.
Eliminate Choices involving Statement #2
Rich heritage = Duty#6
Scientific temper=Duty#8
Excellence=Duty#10.
Therefore (C) is the correct choice.

SC Autonom

What is the provision to safeguard the autonomy of the Supreme Court of India?
1.While appointing the Supreme Court Judges, the President of India has to consult the Chief Justice of India.
2.The Supreme Court Judges can be removed by the Chief Justice of India only.
3.The salaries of the Judges are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India to which the legislature does not have to vote.
4.All appointments of officers and staffs of the Supreme Court of India are made by the Government only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 and 3 only
(b)3 and 4 only
(c)4 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
chapter on Supreme court:
Topic: Independnece of supreme court, Point #8: Freedom to appoint staff:
The CJI can appoint officers and servents of SC without any interference from  Executive (the Government )
So statement #4 is incorrect.
Eliminate all choices involving Statement #4, and we are left with final answer (A)

Rajya Sabha special powers

Which of the following special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha by the Constitution of India?
(a)To change the existing territory of a State and to change the name of a State
(b)To pass a resolution empowering the Parliament to make laws in the State List and to create one or more All India Services
(c)To amend the election procedure of the President and to determine the pension of the President after his/her retirement
(d)To determine the functions of the Election Commission and to determine the number of Election Commissioners
Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth (TMH Publication)
Chapter : parliament , topic : Special powers of Rajya Sabha

1. It can authorize the parliament to make a law on a subject enumerated in state list (Art.249)
2. It can authorize the parliament to create a new all india service common to both the Centre  and the State (art.312)

Accordingly, Final answer: Statement (b) is correct.

13^th Finance Commission

Which of the following is /are among the noticeable features of the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission? 1.A design for the Goods and Services Tax, and a compensation package linked to adherence to the proposed design 2.A design for the creation of lakhs of jobs in the next ten years in consonance with India's demographic dividend 3.Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants Select the correct answer using the codes given below : (a)1 only (b)2 and 3 only (c)1 and 3 only (d)1, 2 and 3

Appendix #3: recommendations of 13^th Finance Commission.
13^th FC talks about GST and compensation to States.
Eliminate choices not involving Statement #1
While 13^th FC does talk about disaster  Management, It doesn’t talk about “lakhs of  jobs or demographic dividend.”
Eliminate choices not involving Statement #2
While the 13^th FC does talks about giving 32% of the shareable central taxes to the states and about providing Grant in Aid to States for allocation to Local bodies. But the given statement “Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants” seems to be incorrect / exaggerated.  (Or may be I haven’t read the 11 page recommendation properly!)
Final answer: Confused between (a) and (c). 70/30 for (a)/(c).

Public Finance

Which of the following are the methods of Parliamentary control over public finance in India?
1.Placing Annual Financial Statement before the Parliament
2.Withdrawal of moneys from Consolidated Fund of India only after passing the Appropriation Bill
3.Provisions of supplementary grants and vote-on-account
4.A periodic or at least a mid-year review of programme of the Government against macroeconomic forecasts and expenditure by a Parliamentary Budget Office.
5. Introducing Finance Bill in the Parliament
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1, 2, 3 and 5 only
(b)1, 2 and 4 only
(c)3, 4 and 5 only
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Explanation:
Statement #4 doesn’t make sense. There is no parliamentary budget office to review programs of Government.
But there is an Estimate Committee of parliament to review policies and continuous examination of estimates from time to time throughout the year.
Eliminate choices involving Statement #4, and we are left with final Answer (A)
Or may be all correct! Answer choice (D)?

Education in Constitution

Which of the following provisions of the  Constitution of India have  a bearing on Education?
1.Directive Principles of State Policy
2.Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3.Fifth Schedule
4.Sixth Schedule
5.Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3, 4 and 5 only
(c)1, 2 and 5 only
(d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Solution

Item	Provision?
DPSP	Art. 45 to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of 6 years.
Rural and Urban Local Bodies	11th schedule, 29 functions of Panchayat : item#17: education including primary and secondary schools. 12th Schedule,
5th Sch.	Administration of tribal areas under States other than AMTM (Assam, Meghalay,Tripura,Mizoram) Did not find anything specific on education.
6th Sch.	Administration of tribal areas in AMTM. District council can establish, construct or manage primary schools.
7th Sch.	Union, State and concurrent list. Has provisions related to “education”

Statement 4 is definitely correct (6^th Schedule),
Eliminiate choices not involving Statement #4.
And since Statement #1 (DPSP) is definitely correct. We are left with the final answer Choice  (D) : all statements are correct.

Adjournment Motion

In   the   Parliament   of   India,   the purpose of an adjournment  motion is

• (a)to allow  a   discussion   on  a definite matter of urgent public importance
• (b)to let opposition members collect information from the ministers
• (c)to allow a reduction of specific amount in demand for grant
• (d)to postpone the proceedings to check the inappropriate or violent behaviour on the part of some members

Chapter on Parliament
Topic: Devices of Parliamentary proceedings ? Motions ? Adjournment motion.
…it is introduced in the parliament to draw attention of the house to a definite matter of public importance, and needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
Final answer: Statement A is correct.

DPSP

  Consider   the   following   provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India :
1.Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code
2.Organizing village Panchayats
3.Promoting cottage industries in rural areas
4.Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities
Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?
(a)1, 2 and 4 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1, 3 and 4 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4

Chapter on Directive Principles of State Policy.
Topic: Classification of Directive Principles
Accordingly, given principles can be classified as following

Principle	Type	Art.No
Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code	Liberal intellectual	44
Organizing village Panchayats	Gandhian	40
Promoting cottage industries in rural areas	Gandhian	43
Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities	Socialistic	??

• Uniform Civil code is definitely not under Gandhian principle, so eliminate all options involving Statement #1, and we are left with final answer (B)

UT in RajyaSabha

Consider the following statements:
1.Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha.
2.It is within the purview of the Chief Election Commissioner to adjudicate the election disputes.
3.According to the Constitution of India, the Parliament consists of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 3
(d)None

Chapter on Parliament
Topic: organization of Parliament
…..Under the Constitution, the parliament of India consists of three parts

1. The President
2. The Council of States (Rajya Sabha)
3. The House of People (Lok Sabha)

Options involving statement #3 are false. Eliminate them
Same chapter of M.Laxmikanth,
Topic: Composition of two houses -> Composition of Rajya Sabha -> 2. Representation of Union Terrirotiries.
….Out of the seven union territories, only two (Delhi and Pondicherry) have representation in Rajya Sabha. The Population of other five union territories are too small to have any representative in Rajya Sabha.
Therefore Statement #1, is also incorrect.
Eliminate answer Choice (a)
We are left with the final answer (D)  : None of the given statements are correct.
ANSWER: (D)

Speaker

Regarding the office of the Lok Sabha Speaker, consider the following statements:
1.He/She holds the office during the pleasure of the President.
2.He/She need not be a member of the House at the time of his/her election but has to become a member of the House within six months from the date of his/her election.
3.If he/she intends to resign, the letter   of  his/her   resignation has to be addressed to the Deputy Speaker.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)None
Speaker is an autonomous Constitutional body by himself, he can be removed by Lok Sabha, President has no role in this. So Speaker doesn’t hold office during the pleasure of President.
Statement #1 is false.
Eliminate option s involving Statement #1
Statement #3: is correct,  Speaker can resign by writing to the Deputy Speaker.
Final Answer (B)

SC jurisdiction

Which of the following are included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
1.A dispute between the Government of India and one or more States
2.A dispute regarding elections to either House of the Parliament or that of Legislature of a State
3.A dispute between the Government of India and a Union Territory
4.A dispute between two or more States
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a)1 and 2
(b)2 and 3
(c)1 and 4
(d)3 and 4
Statement #1 and 4 fall under the original jurisdiction of Supreme Court.
Therefore Final answer (C)

PESA Act

In   the   areas   covered   under   the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha? 1.Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas. 2.Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce. 3.Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a)1 only (b)1 and 2 only (c)2 and 3 only (d)1, 2 and 3

Chapter :Local administration, subtopic: Extension Act of 1996 (PESA)
According to the book:
Statement 1 is correct verbatim. (Point 13/(iii) of the chapter)
Statement 2 is correct verbatim.  (Point 13/(ii) of the chapter)
Statement 3: problem
Point 10 says
“Recommendation of Gram sabha or Panchayat at the appropriate level shall be mandatory for grant of prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in the scheduled area”
Notice the word: “Minor minerals”
The given statement says “any Mineral”
Therefore Statement #3 is false.
Eliminate choices accordingly, and we are left with the final answer (B).

CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012

  CSAT Paper I (General Studies) 2012

Want the PDF Version ? 

1. Overall Breakup
2. History
3. Polity
4. Environment & Biodiversity (enb)
5. Geography
6. Economy
7. Science & Technology (S&T)
8. Yearbook stuff
9. Current Affairs vs Static
10. 4TF type of question
11. Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)
12. Make your own answerkey
13. Why Cut-offs talk is useless
14. Start preparing for mains
15. Was the CSAT-paper Tough?
16. Conclusion

Overall Breakup

In order to see the big picture, We must compare this data with the GS-papers of last two years. See how the topicwise-breakup has evolved.

Markwise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

Topic	2012	2011	2010
History	20	12	15
Polity	18	8	7
EnB	23	21	--
Geography	11	11	30
Economy	10	17	26
S&T	9	18	30
Yearbook	9	9	4
Total	100	Note1	Note2

• Note1: column will not add to 100, because I’ve not counted the international affairs etc. questions from 2011’s exam. However the total questions were 100.
• Note2: in 2010, GS paper had 150 questions, including Aptitude. Therefore column will not add to 100. Secondly, in 2010 they did not have separate EnB section.

This Situation calls for % table.

%wise Breakup (From 2010 to 2012)

For 2011 and 2012, the data will remain same (Because total 100 Questions) but for 2010, I’m converting marks into approximate percentages using 150 as ‘total’.

Topic	2012	2011	2010
History	20	12	10
Polity	18	8	5
EnB	23	21	0
Geography	11	11	10
Economy	10	17	17
S&T	9	18	20
Yearbook	9	9	3
Total	100	100	100

Charts and graphs

Data interpretation

• History has doubled in its importance from 2010 to 2012. Any sort of ‘predictability’ helps the coaching classes and senior players, and UPSC hates both of them. Most of us would have thought: history will decrease and S&T will remain steady. So, UPSC does the reverse. Besides, it is my personal opinion, this year History + Polity given heavy emphasis to reverse the "Science and Engineer graduates-friendly" trends of last two years.
• Polity increased by more than double. 8% in 2011 and 18% in 2012. And curiously, as the number of questions increased, the difficulty level of each question decreased!
• Geography remained “steady” 11% of the paper for last two years.
• Economy declined.
• Science and technology declined: almost halved: From 18% in 2011 to 9% in 2012! - To make room for the increased number of History and Polity Questions
• Just like Geography, the Yearbook stuff also remained: Steady 9% of the paper, for last two years.
• You can do more data interpretation on your own.

Remaining chart

Now time to take a look at individual subjects under General Studies paper.

1.History

A.Ancient and Medieval

1. Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries
2. Distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances
3. hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes
4. religion of early Vedic Aryans was
5. Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices
6. guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role
7. scientific progress of ancient India
8. common to both Buddhism and Jainism?
9. Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara

Questions Mostly related to religion and culture.
They had asked about Jainism in 2011’s paper as well.
Thankfully, No dates, places or name of kings though.

Modern India (Freedom Struggle)

Ryotwari settlement Rowlatt act aimed at Contribution made by dadabhai naoroji Principal feature(s) of the government of india act, 1919 National social conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation? Parties were established by dr. B. R. Ambedkar Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932 Lahore session of the indian national congress (1929) is very important Regarding brahmo samaj Things introduced into india by the english Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939

Even with the lousiest half-hearted preparation, one could solve question number 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11 from reading NCERTs, GS Manual and Bipin Chandra.

Polity

1 Duty of the President of India to cause to be laid 2 Deadlock between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha calls 3 Importance of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) 4 Prime Minister of India, at the time of his/her appointment 5 Delimitation Commission, consider the following statements : 6 Distribution of powers between the Centre and the States 7 Fundamental Duties of citizens 8 Autonomy of the Supreme Court of India 9 Special powers have been conferred on the Rajya Sabha 10 Recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission 11 Parliamentary control over public finance in India 12 Provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education 13 Adjournment motion 14 Directive Principles of State Policy 15 Union Territories are not represented in the Rajya Sabha. 16 Office of the Lok Sabha Speaker 17 Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court 18 Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

• In my earlier article " 100 Days 4 CSAT?" I had given the preparation strategy and study plan for Indian Polity and If you had thoroughly it, this Polity section was a walk in the park. Atleast 15 questions could be solved without any doubt.
• Most of these questions are so easy, seems like they framed them to insult the intelligence of a serious player!

Environment & Biodiversity (enb)

1 National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help 2 National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 3 Biopesticides 4 Biomass gasification 5 Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard 6 Chlorofluorocarbons, known as ozone-depleting substances 7 Protected areas in India are local people not 8 Pollinating agent/agents 9 Carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature 10 Acidification of oceans is increasing. Why 11 Category of endangered species 12 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 13 Antelopes Oryx and Chiru 14 Threats to the biodiversity of a geographical are 15 Black-necked crane 16 Carbon sequestration/storage in the soil 17 Phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason 18 Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside 19 Government of India encourages the cultivation of sea buckthorn 20 Wetlands of India, consider the following statements 21 Resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India 22 Prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created 23 Which of the above are Tiger Reserves

• Q. 7 on protected area, was directly discussed in my EnB article: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation.
• Q. 18 on Vulture question had been directly discussed in my EnB article: Types of Species.
• Q.14 Threats to biodiversity: the “alien species” were also discussed in above article (under title “Non-native species”.)
• Seems UPSC is making a habit of asking location of some odd wildlife animal every year. (Oryx, Chiru and Crane this year.)
• Almost 1/4th of the paper (25%) is EnB, because environment must be protected and candidates must be forced to prepare heavily for Environment topic as if they're going to actually 'implement' everything they read in the books, into their real lives!
• One interesting thing: about the “limits of current affairs”, This Sea buckthorn initiative happened in 2010 (according to MoEF public notification) and UPSC has asked this in 2012.
• Anyways most of the questions- not really tough, provided that you had been following

1. The NOS study-material
2. Science and Geography NCERTs
3. The Hindu S&T
4. Website of Ministry of Environment and Forest (www.moef.nic.in )
5. General Studies Manual.
6. My EnB series articles (vultures, Phytoplanktons)

Geography

1 Polestar 2 Duration of the monsoon 3 Characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region 4 Stages of demographic transition associated with economic 5 Chief characteristic of mixed farming 6 Crop that is used as pulse, fodder and green manure 7 Factors influence the ocean currents 8 Predominantly rainfed crop/crops 9 Travel in Himalayas, you will see the following 10 Temperature decreases with the increase in 11 Particular State in India has the following characteristics

Most of the it from

• NCERT Geography books Class 7 to 12.
• +General Studies manual.
• Curiously I’m not seeing anything from ‘world geography’ except the Tropical Savannah climate. (Ocean Current falls under Physical geography so not really a ‘world geography’ question)
• I forgot to write about Tropical Savannah climate under my  Africa Article

Economy

1 RBI acts as a bankers' bank 2 Capital gains' arise 3 Increase in the money supply in the economy 4 Foreign Direct Investment in India 5 Price of any currency in international market is decided by 6 Lead bank scheme 7 Why does India import millions of tonnes of coal 8 Rare earth metals 9 Policy initiative(s) of Government of India to promote 10 Index of Industrial Production, the Indices of Eight Core Industries

Science & Technology (S&T)

1 Graphene 2 UV radiation in the water purification systems 3 Stem cells 4 Anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus) 5 Evidences for the continued expansion of universe? 6 Electrically charged particles from space 7 Capillarity 8 Advantage does thorium hold over uranium 9 Elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth

• Graphene directly discussed in my Revision Note of Hindu S&T Part II.
• I forgot to write about water purifiers in the Odomos article
• S&T reduced by half: in 2011, they asked 18 questions, this time only 9 but if you look it from a hilltop (combined with heavy doze of Reading comprehension in Paper II) may be UPSC thought “since last two years, the Science and Engineering grads had been getting more advantage, so let us for a change, make a room for the Arts and commerce graduates – therefore increased importance to Polity +History this time and decreased importance of Science & tech.
• Besides, when you want to force everyone learn EnB and (assuming) that they'll implement climate saving habits in their real life, so how do you make a room? take the space out of Science and Tech - distribute it among EnB, Polity and History.

Yearbook stuff

I’m combining the “rights issue”, “Empowerment” and “Government scheme” in one category: 1 Jobs of 'ASHA', a trained community health worker? 2 National Rural Livelihood Mission seek to improve livelihood options of rural poor 3 Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford 4 Social Security' coverage under Employees' State Insurance Scheme? 5 Inclusive Governance 6 Janani Suraksha Yojana' Programme is 7 DRDAs help in the reduction of rural poverty in India? 8 National Water Mission 9 Consumers' rights/ privileges

• ASHA worker was discussed in my Yearbook article
• Seems UPSC is obsessed with National Rural Livelihood mission because in 2011 Mains GS Paper, they had asked about it.
• If you had been following India Yearbook and Economic Survey 2012, again most of the question could be solved with ease.

Current Affairs vs Static

Static = from routine books, theory stuff. Majority of the questions this time, are from the static portion.

• Over last three years, UPSC has constantly reduced the importance of current affairs: my take, they’re doing it to give level playing field to small town & rural candidates, who’re unable to purchase lots of newspapers, current-affairs magazines, internet for following the current affairs.
• Indian Juntaa doesn’t care for sportsmen (Except cricketers), Authors (except those Indian authors who can only write novels about adultery and sex), Dancers (Except those who can do ‘item-song) or social activists (except those who get extensive media coverage).
• So over the years, UPSC was feeling sorry for the unknown celebrities and had been asking questions related to “persons in news” in preliminary exam to give them their due recognition.
• But finally UPSC has learned the lesson: There is no point in forcing candidates to mugup names of people in news, you can’t make someone love you by holding a gun on his face.

4TF type of question

• 4TF= four (or two) statements are given, and you’re asked to identify the correct or incorrect statement.
• UPSC has increased the number of 4TF question in last two years.
• This time, There are approximately 20 normal question (i.e. pick up one from a/b/c/d, and remaining 80 questions are 4TF.
• 4TF have their own advantages and disadvantages
  • Good:  you can eliminate wrong answer choices and certain ‘combinations’.
  • Bad: requires thorough grip over the topic.
  • Bad: Time consuming because you have to re-read entire question multiple times to eliminate the wrong choices.
• Seems they’re trying to frame difficult questions from easy topics. using the 4TF technique.

Authentic Answerkeys! (lolz)

• “Authentic answerkey” is an oxymoron just like “Honest Politician”.
• After prelims are over, everybody starts googling for “answerkeys and cut-offs”. So, in a haste to capture the audience (and to advertise their mains classes and study packages), the coaching classes and certain websites release faulty answerkeys without doing proper research and homework.
• UPSC gives you 2 hours to solve 100 questions in the exam hall, so If you manually check the reference book for each and every question, it ought to take you no less than 4-5 hours at home. Besides for certain questions there is no reliable source / book / website to confirm the answer!
• Many candidates check their paper using multiple answerkeys and from whichever answerkey they get maximum score, they take it as their ‘official score’ and start worrying about the cut-offs!

Make your own answerkey

• I suggest you look at each and every question individually and find its source.  
• For example, in this prelims, UPSC asked questions on green tribunal and 13^th Finance Commission. If you solve these from readymade answerkeys, you will only know the four statements given in the question itself. But if you manually solve every question, you’ll come across 10 more points related to the topic, which you can use as fodder material for mains exam and interview. Who knows you might find some direct questions!
• Caution : donot merely type question phrases in Wikipedia, UPSC did not frame question after reading Wikipedia and Wikipedia is not the ‘authentic’ source. You should first refer the standard reference books to solve these questions and use Wikipedia only as last source.

Why Cut-offs talk is useless

• As usual, I don’t involve myself in cut-off prediction or speculation.
• If India won 2011’s world cup by making 250 runs, does it mean India will win 2015’s world cup by making 250 runs? Then why are you trying “extrapolate” the RTI replies of previous cut-offs to speculate 2012’s cut-offs! Each year’s exam is a separate thing with separate difficulty and separate crowd.

• Second, in the online forums and facebook communities, people post their score based on the answerkey which gives them maximum marks! So you don’t get a standard data in the first place.

• Third, Mostly three types of people post their scores online:

A. those who performed exceptionally well.
B. those who performed terribly bad.
C. those who feel they are on ‘border line’ based on their own cut-off speculation.

• But even the combined number of above A+B+C category of people in all internet communities = no more than 2000. While there are no less than 20,000 serious contenders. (Rest 1-2 lakhs are just JBPS, we are not bothered with their future.) You need a huge sample data to statistically predict the cut-offs.
• Fourth, In an RTI reply, they had said: cut-offs for 2011’s CSAT exam will be released only after the entire mains-interview process is over. Using the same logic, UPSC is not going to reveal the official cut-offs for CSAT-2012, before May 2013.
• ^Edit 22 May 2012 courtesy Mallikarjun: Indianexpress report :CIC tells UPSC to disclose cut-off for prelims before mains and interview
• So let UPSC come out with cut-off data, there is no point in you increasing your blood pressure over cut-off speculation.
• The exam finished in the Evening of Sunday, right now it is tuesday morning, so not even three days have passed, UPSC cannot even collect back all the answersheets from every exam centre across India India to Delhi in such short time, and yet some people are saying "they've confirmed it with reliable sources inside UPSC office that cut off will be *** for 2012."
• ^How is it possible? The OMR bundles are not even opened yet, the answersheets are not even checked yet and you've came out with the cutoff data confirmed from UPSC itself! <--- This is absolutely ridiculous. Don't panic over such bogus rumors and claims made online.

Start preparing for mains

• Those of you have the mindset I'll prepare for mains based on cut-offs. If my chances look good, only then I prepare for mains.
• ^ wrong mentality. You’re thinking like a stockbroker but Success in UPSC requires the dedication of a world class athlete and patience of a gardener. Prelims is over means you have to start preparing for mains. You don’t wait for the results until August 2012 or waste time in cut-offs speculation. If you wait until August, it will be impossible to cover the syllabus of GS + Two optional subjects.
• Your CSAT paper did not go “good” or “Bad”. You paper is only “over”.
• In school or board exams, you’ve a pre-set target: 90% or First class therefore you can predict your own chances “meraa paper acchaa gaya. / Mera paper kharaab gaya”
• But in UPSC CSAT or CAT or similar competitive exams, there is no pre-set target, you just have to tick as many questions as you can – accurately without doing guesswork.
• So don’t say  “meraa paper kharaab gaya.” Because 10 of your friends are claiming to have ticked more answers than you did, or just because x member of orkut, or y coaching sir came up with a magical cut-off figure.
• And don’t waste your time or bandwidth asking people online “My score is *** so What’re my chances?” = only God or UPSC can answer that question.

Was the CSAT-paper Tough?

• Paper is never ‘tough’ or ‘easy’. Paper is just a paper.
• You’re not expected to know answer of each and every question.
• You don’t have to tick 90 or 100 answers to crack the exam.
• All you had to do was study hard, tick answers accurately and leave the rest in the hands of God.
• IF you believe you had studied hard and you’ve ticked the answers accurately without doing guesswork, then there is no need to worry. Let the result come in August 2012.
• And, Don’t become a Devdas or Superman after the results. In either case it’ll be a minor setback or victory, life is long and there are so many battles yet to be fought.