PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MCQ-2

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
MCQ TEST-2

1. Which among the following is NOT one of the attributes of a Fused Society, according to Fred W Riggs?
(a) Ascription
(b) Paritcularism
(c) Functional Diffusion
(d) Selectivism

The Locus and Focus of Public Administration are respectively
(a) body of knowledge and expertise and politics
(b) governmental bureaucracy and evolution of the discipline of administration
(c) governmental bureaucracy and body of knowledge and expertise
(d) politics- administration dichotomy and principles of administration

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

List I List II
(Book) (Year of Publication)
A. Principles of Public Administration 1. 1937
B. Papers on the Science of Administration 2. 1900
C. Politics and Administration 3. 1938
D. The Functions of the Executive 4. 1927

A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 4 1 2 3
(c) 4 1 3 2
(d) 3 4 1 2

The “Scientization of the Democracy” means
(a) Applying principles of physical science to democracy
(b) Contempt for the masses
(c) Make public opinion efficient without suffering it to be meddlesome
(d) Making democracy scientific

5. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R) :
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ? (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Assertion: If organisation were to maximise effective communication and to reduce distortion then there should be as few hierarchical layers as possible.
Reason: Fewer people up or down the hierarchy, the more likely it would be that the message would arrive intact and undistorted.

6. Which among the following factors are responsible for growing importance of Comparative Administration during 1960’s?
1. It was a response to Robert Dahl’s contention that public administration can achieve the status of science only when it establishes universally valid propositions about administrative behaviour
2. The growing global cooperation between different countries
3. To bring to light administrative innovations that are prevailing in various countries
4. To make use of American administrative experience in other European and Asian countries.
a. 1,2 and 4 only
b. 2,3 and 4 only
c. 1,2 and 3 only
d. all of the above

(7) Which among the following is NOT one of the functions performed by the Government?
(a) Provide a minimum of public order
(b) Provide for the common defence and for dealing with other governments
(c) Solve problems related to private sector workers union
(d) Provide orderly means for replacing those who rule – legitimate means

(8) Which among the following are the reasons for the decline of Development Administration, according to Nef and Dwivedi?
Crisis of social science paradigm
crisis of development theory
crisis of administrative thought
crisis in developing countries

(a) 1,2 and 3 only
(b) 2,3 and 4 only
(c) 1,2 and 4 only
(d) 1,3 and 4 only

(9) “The post colonial state was to feed the starving people and clothe the naked masses, and to give every Indian fullest opportunity to develop himself according to his capacity”. The above statement was made by
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sardar Vallabhai Patel
(d) Babu Rajendra Prasad

(10) Which of the following were recommendations of the Fulton Committee?
1. Generalism
2. Unified grading structure
3. specialism
4. professionalism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 2,3 and 4
(b) 2 And 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1 and 2

(11) American concept of civil service neutrality was described by
(a) Second Hoover Commission
(b) Masterman Committee
(c) Brownlow Committee
(d) First Hoover Commission
(12) Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R) :
Assertion (A) : According to Gleen Stahl, unless recruitment policy is soundly conceived, there can be little hope for building a first rate staff.
Reason (R) : He considers recruitment as the cornerstone of the whole public personnel structure.
In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct ? (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

(13) Which one of the following is NOT one of the administrative reform initiatives of the Union Government?
(a) The constitution of a Working Group on Right to information and Transparency to draft legislative proposals.
(b) Steps to initiate the formulation of Citizens', Charter by a number of Central Ministries and Departments with public interface, and the introduction of various citizen friendly procedures and decentralised services by Railways, Posts, Telecom, Petroleum Ministry, Customs and Excise, Income Tax, etc.
(c) Constitution of an Expert Group for drawing up short term and long term plans for the computerisation of Government operations and the provision of services. to the public, and steps already taken for computerisation in many Ministries.
(d) State scheme for the computerisation of land records, digitisation of village cadastral maps, and consolidation of land holdings, with substantial benefits to cultivators, revenue administration, agricultural operations etc.

(14) Which among the following is NOT correctly matched?
(a) National Academy of Administration : Mussoorie
(b) National Institute of Rural Development : Chennai
(c) Institute of Secretariat Training and Management : New Delhi
(d) National Forest Academy : Dehradun

(15) Match List I with List II and select the correct the right answer.

List I List II
A. Induction Training 1. imparted to those candidates who aspire to enter
Into public service in the near future
B. Vestibule Training 2. involves instruction in a new field of
Specialisation
C. Pre-Entry Training 3. kind of on entry training
D. Retraining 4. involves a series of introductory lecture followed
By inspection trips to the departments

A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 4 1 2 3
(c) 4 1 3 2
(d) 3 4 1 2

(16) In which of the following directions does public administration move at present?
1. Multi-foci in study
2. Mini-paradigms
3. New Public Administration
4. Locus and focus approach

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) 4 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1 and 3

(17) The 5th pay commission recommended
(a) Group System in the place of functional classification
(b) Abolition of both functional and group systems
(c) Functional classification in the place of group system
(d) Co-existence of both functional and group systems

(18) Which among the following is NOT one of the features of Civil Services?
(a) It is a body of professional administrators as opposed to amateur politicians
(b) They are paid regularly by the state and have the incentive of private profit while in civil service
(c) It does not include those persons who hold political offices
(d) Includes impartial selection

(19) Which of the following is NOT correctly matched?
(a) Guardian Bureaucracy: civil servant is considered as the guardian of justice and welfare of the community
(b) Patronage Bureaucracy: recruitment is based on personal favour or political reward
(c) Caste Bureaucracy: Persons belonging only to the lower castes and classes become the civil servants
(d) Merit Bureaucracy: civil servants are selected and appointed on the basis of their merit only

(20) Who among the following has criticised bureaucracy as Frankenstein’s Monster?
(a) H J Laski
(b) Parkinson
(c) C K Allen
(d) Ramsay Muir

(21) Which among the following is NOT one of the four steps in the development of position classification?
(a) Grouping the positions into classes on the bases of their similarities
(b) Installation by allocating individual positions to the classes thus described
(c) Description of minimum classifications
(d) Analysing and recording the duties and other distinctive characteristics of the positions to be classified

(22) Which among the following are the advantages of rank classification?
It is easy to understand as well as administer
It is conductive to prepare scientific and objective standards
It emphasises on the career opportunities of civil servants
It promotes loyalty to the civil service as a whole

(a) 1,2 and 3 only
(b) all of the above
(c) 1,2 and 4 only
(d) 1,3 and 4 only

(23) Which among the following is NOT correctly matched?
(a) First Pay Commission : Srinivasa Varadachariar
(b) Second Pay Commission: P N Singhal
(c) Third Pay Commission: Raghubir Dayal
(d) Fifth Pay Commission: Ratnavel Pandian

(24) Which Pay Commission has recommended that civil servants should enjoy the right to strike?
(a) First Pay Commission
(b) Second Pay Commission
(c) Fourth Pay Commission
(d) Fifth Pay Commission

(25) Arrange the following committees in chronological order.
A D Gorwala’s Report on Public Administration
Bengal Administration Enquiry Committee
Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption
Railway Corruption Enquiry Committee

(a) 2-1-3-4
(b) 1-3-2-4
(c) 2-1-4-3
(d) 1-3-4-2


Answers

1. c
2. c
3. b
4. c ( N Henry p32)
5. a ( N Henry p34)
6. c
7. c (2B p 12)
8. a (Fresh Perspectives, Koteswara Rao article p3)
9. b (Fresh Perspectives, DA: New Agenda)
10. a
11. d
12. b
13. d
14. b
15. d
16. c
17. c
18. b
19. c
20. d
21. c
22. d
23. b
24. b
25. c

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2007

It is very important for the Civil Service aspirants. If you are already familiar with the document for a year or more, venture into it extensively. Or confine yourself to summaries as they are published in major financial papers like Businessline or Economic Times.

http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:0pqJKoDtX0MJ:indiabudget.nic.in/+economic+survey+2007&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&lr=lang_en

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MCQ Paper-1

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER - I
OBJECTIVE TEST

1. “Public Administration is detailed and systematic application of law. Every particular application of law is an act of administration”. This definition was given by
(a) Henry Fayol (b) W F Willoughby
(c) Woodrow Wilson (d) Z A Veig


2. Which among the following is NOT one of the areas of concern for the discipline of Public Administration?
(a) Policy making
(b) Public Bureaucracy
(c) Both the process of administration and the substantive concerns
(d) Corporate Sector which is not dependent on governmental funding

3. “If a civilization fails it will be mainly because of the breakdown of administration”. The above statement was made by

(a) Chester Bernard
(b) Waldo
(c) W B Dohlam
(d) L D White

4. Which among the following distinguish public administration from private administration?

1. Political environment
2. increasing scope and complexity of functions
3. principles of organization

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) all of the above

5. Which of the following are similar to public and private administration?

1. principles of administration
2. emergence of public corporations
3. public accountability

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) all of the above

6. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

List I List II
(Author) (Definition)

1. Appleby a. “one of the most pressing needs of PA is to reinforce its re-
inforce its dedication to its primary political role as an agency
of unity and justice”
2. L Urwick b. “the more one succeeds in Non-Government fields , the more
unfit he becomes in PA”
3. F M Marx c. “It is difficult to contemplate seriously a biochemistry of
bankers, a phraseology of professors as a psychopathology of
of politicians”


(a) 1-a 2-b 3-c
(b) 1-b 2-c 3-a
(c) 1-b 2-a 3-c
(d) 1-c 2-b 3-a

7. Which among the following is NOT true? A state pursuing ‘good governance’ would

(a) reduce government in size and functions
(b) privatize state and para-statal enterprises
(c) enhance economic controls
(d) promote independent and effective judiciary

8. “Public Choice Theory is the application of classical economic methods of analysis to political and administrative systems”. The above definition was given by

(a) Tullock
(b) Niskanen
(c) Corbett
(d) Peter Self



9. The New Right Philosophy advocated

(a) Increasing role for government and increasing role for markets
(b) Minimum role for government and minimum role for markets
(c) Increasing role for government and minimum role for markets
(d) Minimum role for government and increasing role for markets

10. Which among the following is NOT one of the features of Entrepreneurial government as envisaged by Osborne and Gaebler?

(a) Result-oriented government
(b) Market-oriented government
(c) Reactionary government
(d) Catalytic government

11. Which among the following countries was categorized as one of the countries with least emphasis on public management?

(a) USA
(b) Japan
(c) UK
(d) France

12. New Public Management is a constant confluence of
(a) Politics and Public Administration
(b) Sociology and Public Administration
(c) Management Science and Public Administration
(d) Biology and Public Administration

13. Which among the following is NOT one of the dimensions identified by Benn and Gaus to differentiate between public and private administration?
(a) Agency
(b) Interest
(c) Management
(d) Access

14. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

List I List II
A. M P Follet 1. Industrial and General Management
B. Willoughby 2. Creative Experience
C. Henry Fayol 3. Principles of Organization
D. Mooney & Reiley 4. Principles of Public Administration

(a) A-1 B-3 C-2 D-4
(b) A-2 B-4 C-3 D-1
(c) A-2 B-4 C-1 D-3
(d) A-4 B-2 C-1 D-3

(15) “Toward a New Public Administration. The Minnowbrook Perspective” was edited by
(a) Robert T Golembiewski
(b) Frank Marini
(c) Dwight Waldo
(d) Nigro


(16) “The state is everywhere; it leaves hardly a gap”. This explains the concept of

(a) welfare state
(b) democratic state
(c) federal state
(d) lessaiz faire state


(17) Which of the following is described as anti-bureaucratic, anti-positivist and anti-technical?
(a) Classical Theories of Administration
(b) Neo Classical Theories of Administration
(c) Development Administration
(d) New Public Administration

(18) Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
(a) F J Goodnow Politics and Administration (1900)
(b) Woodrow Wilson The State (1888)
(c) L D White Introduction to the Study of Public Administration (1926)
(d) Max Weber The Theory of social and Economic Organization

(19) Which of the following statements is NOT correct in respect of the public choice theory?
(a) It believes in the politics-administration dichotomy view
(b) It supports institutional pluralism in the provision of public services
(c) It is sympathetic to market forces
(d) It is a critique of the bureaucratic model of administration

(20) The claim that Public Administration is a science, was challenged by
(a) James G March
(b) Samuel Huntington
(c) Ferrel Heady
(d) Robert Dahl


Qns. 21 to 25 Assertion and Reason Pattern

Answer the following questions by using the codes given below:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

21. Assertion (A) : Both Public and Private Administration operate in the same social environment.
Reason (R) : Pressure group activity is more intent in Public than Private Administration

22. Assertion (A) : Public Administration is an action oriented applied social science because it is engaged in the task of implementing Public Policies.
Reason (R) : The need to adopt management science and techniques for improving the skills of Public Administration can hardly be overemphasized.

23. Assertion (A) : Public Administration is characterized by the absence of profit motive.
Reason (R) : The basic aim of governmental activities is not to maximize profit, but to promote social welfare.

24. Assertion (A) : Developmental approach to the study of Public Administration emerged due to increased realization of the irrelevance of the western concepts in understanding the problems of the third world nations.
Reason (R) : Development approach aims at establishing propositions about administrative behaviour which transcend national boundaries.

25. Assertion: The study of Public Administration lacks cross-cultural concepts and principles for being able to be recognized as a science.
Reason (R) : Administrative culture cannot transcend national frontiers and national experiences.

(1) c
(2) d
(3) c
(4) a
(5) c
(6) b
(7) c
(8) c
(9) d
(10) c
(11) b
(12) c
(13) c
(14) c
(15) b
(16) c
(17) d
(18) b
(19) a
(20) d
(21) b
(22) b
(23) a
(24) c
(25) c

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MCQs

Friends,

Starting from now, we will post for you atleast four MCQ papers- 25 questions each- every week. Do them and you are most likely to improve your score.

Best of Luck.

India saves and invests like never before! Track the subject for more excitement.Of course for the Exam too!

Savings and Investment

The overall growth of GDP during the second quarter of the current financial year (July to September) had stood at 9.2 per cent in comparison to 8.4 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. During the first quarter of 2006-07 (April to June), GDP growth had clocked 8.9 per cent. The earlier estimates of savings and investment in 2004-05 at 29.5 per cent and 30.5 per cent respectively had now been revised to 31.1 per cent and 31.5 per cent – the corresponding figures for 2005-06 have been placed at 33.4 per cent and 33.8 per cent.In other words, India is currently saving and investing roughly one-third of its total national income. Mr Chidambaram said his government’s policies had been evidently successful in promoting savings and investment

Foreign Trade Nuggets for Preliminary Examination 2007

Foreign Trade Nuggets for Prelims

· The year 2006 witnessed unprecedented growth in India’s merchandise exports which crossed the landmark figure of US $ 100 billion and reached US $ 103 billion during the year, recording a growth rate of 24%.
· At 24 per cent growth in 2005-06 and 27 per cent growth in 2004-05, exports are currently growing three times faster than GDP growth.
· Exports as a share of GDP is more than 13% currently compared with a share of only 6% in 1990-91.
· The high rate of growth during 2006 will ensure that the export target of $ 125 billion for this fiscal (2006-07) will be reached
· exports during April-November 2006 have already reached US $ 80 billion, with a record growth rate of about 39%.
· India has set itself a target of exports of US $ 150 billion by 2008-09 and achievement of this export target is likely to generate 136 lakh (i.e., 13.6 million) new jobs in the economy
· 7th India-European Union Summit held in Helsinki in October 2006, India and the EU agreed to launch negotiations for a broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement.

Focus Area export promotion programmes in specific regions abroad like
· Focus LAC
· Focus Africa
· Focus CIS and
· Focus ASEAN+ 2 programmes

Objectives of Special Economic Zones

1. generation of additional economic activity
2. development of infrastructure facilities
3. creation of employment opportunities
4. promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources; and
5. promotion of exports of goods and services.

237 SEZs have been formally approved and 51 SEZs were notified during 2006. SEZ success stories of 2006 are:

1. Nokia SEZ in Tamil Nadu
2. Apache SEZ (Adidas Group) in Andhra Pradesh
3. Flextronics SEZ in Tamil Nadu
4. Quark City SEZ in Chandigarh, expected to have FDI of around US $ 0.5 billion, providing employment to 35,000 persons; and
5. Motorola and Foxconn setting up electronic hardware manufacturing units in the SIPCOT SEZ in Chennai with an investment of over US $ 200 Million.

Initiatives in the area of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs)

· implementation of agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) with effect from July 1, 2006
· implementation of an expanded list of preferential goods under the Bangkok Agreement with effect from September 1, 2006
· initiation of the process of working out a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with South Korea

Committees

Kiddos,

Get the differences among the following types of committees
/standing committee
/adhoc committee
/departmentally related standing committee
/select committee
/consultative committee.

Which one of the above is not a Parliamentary committee though it has only members of the Parliament.

Bravo- CISM

Bravo

“Bravo” is the Mascot for the 4th Bravo

“Bravo” is the Mascot for the 4th CISM Military World Games. This heralds India’s biggest sporting event for the coming year. The country is all set to host the Fourth CISM Military World Games in Hyderabad and Mumbai. This Mega World Military Sport Event is scheduled to be held from 14th October to 21st October 2007. The great Indian Bison, also known as Gaur which has been chosen as mascot for the 4th CISM Military World Games, possesses immense, strength, vigour and doggedness, but when disturbed drives terror into the hearts of its opponents.

The CISM Military World Games are conducted under the aegis of International Military Sports Council (CISM), Brussels (Belgium) at an interval of every four years. CISM is an international Sports Association which is open to the Armed Forces of all nations. India joined CISM in 1999 and thereafter has been one of its active members. 15 sports disciplines would be contested for during the Games. All the events would be conducted at Hyderabad except the Sailing and Triathlon, which are planned to be conducted at Mumbai. . This heralds India’s biggest sporting event for the coming year. The country is all set to host the Fourth CISM Military World Games in Hyderabad and Mumbai. This Mega World Military Sport Event is scheduled to be held from 14th October to 21st October 2007. The great Indian Bison, also known as Gaur which has been chosen as mascot for the 4th CISM Military World Games, possesses immense, strength, vigour and doggedness, but when disturbed drives terror into the hearts of its opponents.

The CISM Military World Games are conducted under the aegis of International Military Sports Council (CISM), Brussels (Belgium) at an interval of every four years. CISM is an international Sports Association which is open to the Armed Forces of all nations. India joined CISM in 1999 and thereafter has been one of its active members. 15 sports disciplines would be contested for during the Games. All the events would be conducted at Hyderabad except the Sailing and Triathlon, which are planned to be conducted at Mumbai.

Indian Economy :Important Facts and Figures from CSO

Indian Economy: Important Facts and Figures from CSO

Recent data provided by the CSO indicates that the services sector currently accounts for more than half the country’s GDP. According to the quick estimates for 2005-06, the share of the services sector in GDP at factor cost stood at 54 per cent. This proportion had stood at just over 52 per cent two years earlier in 2003-04.
The services sector has been subdivided into three broad sections:
· trade, hotels, transport and communications accounting for 26.2 per cent of GDP
· financial services comprising 13.5 per cent and
· community, social and personal services taking up the remaining 14.3 per cent.
As far as industry is concerned, its share in the country’s GDP has gone up slightly from 25.7 per cent in 2003-04 to 26.1 per cent two years. This sector has four broad sub-sections
· mining and quarrying (2 per cent)
· manufacturing (15.1 per cent)
· electricity, gas and water supply (2.7 per cent) and
· construction (6.7 per cent).
By way of contrast, the share of agriculture, forestry and fishing in India’s total national income has declined from 22.2 per cent in 2003-04 to 19.9 per cent as per the revised estimates for 2005-06.

Current Events -2

1. Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor is the Vice Chief of Army Staff at the Army HQ, on 01 January 2007.
2. 14TH NATIONAL CHILDREN'S SCIENCE CONGRESS was held in SIKKIM in December 2006
3. Ultra Mega Powwer Projects (UMPPs)- In order to achieve faster capacity addition , Government decided to initiate Ultra Mega Power Projects -4000 MW each
4. Jodhpur has emerged as India’s second largest exporter of handicrafts. It follows Moradabad . Jodhpur has been declared, along with eleven other places in the country, as a “town of export excellence” for handicrafts which entitles entrepreneurs in the city to special facilities for infrastructure and export marketing. Other such towns include Ludhiana (woolen knitwear), Panipat (woolen blanket), Dewas (pharmaceuticals), Kollam (cashew), Alapuzzha (coir), Madurai (handlooms) and Tiruppur (hosiery). Jodhpur is the country’s leading centre of the guar gum manufacturing industry. Guar is a drought-resistant crop from which guar gum is extracted for use as thickener, emulsifier and stabilizer in the food, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, oil drilling and other industries.
5. As per the latest figures available with Agriculture Ministry, wheat and maize have been sown in significantly more area this season as compared to 2005-06. Wheat has covered 263.91 lakh ha so far as compared to 247.25 lakh ha during the corresponding period last year. Maize has been sown in 9.86 lakh ha as against 6.79 lakh ha last year. Higher coverage of wheat has been reported in Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Rabi rice has been sown in 8.81 lakh ha so far as against 7.79 lakh ha during the corresponding period of 2005-06. Coarse cereals have also been sown in more area this year as compared to last year. All Coarse cereals this year cover 66.36 lakh ha area against 62.42 lakh ha at this time last year. However, coverage under jowar has been slightly less (47.298 lakh ha against 47.69 lakh ha last year). As on 28.12.2006 the area coverage under pulses has exceeded that of last year. So far, Rabi pulses have been sown in 124.32 lakh ha as compared to 123.6 lakh ha at this time last year. Area under Rabi oilseeds (90.73 lakh ha), however, is less so far, as compared to last year (98.89 lakh ha) but it is higher than the five year average of area under Rabi oilseeds (83.71 lakh ha). The less coverage this season is attributed to diversion of are of rapeseed and mustard to Bengal gram in Madhya Pradesh and to wheat in Rajasthan and Haryana.
6. December 2006: The Joint India-Myanmar Army Car Rally was `Flagged in’ by the Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman Army’s Vice Chief . The Rally consisted of 27 Indian Army personnel and 12 Myanmar Army personnel. The Rally returned to New Delhi after successfully completing 8,000 Kms journey in India and Myanmar in 25 days. It may be recalled that the rally was flagged off by Mr AK Antony, Defence Minister on 05 Dec 06 from India Gate at New Delhi. The main objectives of the Car Rally was to to pay obeisance at Taukkyan War Cemetery at Yangon in Myanmar which houses a memorial of large No of Indian soldiers who were martyred during World War-II in erstwhile Burma;
   and to provide experience to Army personnel in endurance driving for adventure Motor Car Rallies in future.
7. SAARC Centre for Disaster Management-in recognition of the pioneering role and activities of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), a SAARC Centre for Disaster Management was established in its premises at New Delhi. The Union Home Minister inaugurated the Centre on 10th October, 2006.
8. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for setting up of the Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) under the Tea Board for funding replantation and rejuvenation activities aimed at improving the age profile of tea plantations.
9. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for setting up of Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialisation (MGIRI), Wardha as an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
   
10. Check this out:

In Parliament, the budget goes through five stages, in the order given below

• presentation of budget with Finance Minister's speech
• general discussions
• voting on demand for grants
• passing of appropriation bills
• passing of finance bill.
  

Of the last three Bills, only the fourth one- appropriation Bills can not be amended. The other two can be. Find out why. After which one of the above stages, does the Parliament go into a month-long recess? And Why?
It is stupid to say that demand for grant’ is a money Bill or non-money Bill !!!!! You answer why.

India's External Debt-Most Recent Figures.

http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/2006/dec06/r2006122903.pdf

Current Events February 2007 -I

Raghavan Committee on Ragging

Pursuant to an order of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated November 27, 2006, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. R.K. Raghavan (former Director, CBI) to look into the issue of ragging and suggest means of prevention in educational institutions
Mittal and HPCL

HPCL is entering into a joint venture with Mittal Investments, Luxemborg for 9 MMTPA Guru Gobind Singh Refinery project and allied facilities at Bathinda. HPCL and Mittal Investments will hold 49% equity each in the project.


Cleanliness Year’

Presenting the Railway Budget for 2007-08 in Lok Sabha today, Union Minister for Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad announced that the year 2007-08 will be observed as ‘Cleanliness Year’ by the Indian Railways. He said, during this year, special campaign will be launched to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at station premises, in passenger trains, railway lines and waiting rooms etc.

Haryali

Department of Land Resources has brought out an initiative called Haryali with an objective of empowering PRI’s both financially and administratively in implementation of Watershed Development Prorammes. Under this initiative, all ongoing area development programmes namely, Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programmes (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) are to be implemented through the PRIs. New projects under the aforesaid area development programmes are being implemented in accordance with the Guidelines for Haryali from April 1, 2003.

Garib Rath

“Garib Rath”, a train with air-conditioned coaches at an affordable rate for low and middle-income long distance passengers.
All the State Capitals would now be linked with Garib Rath trains in the coming years. This was announced by the Railway Minister Shri Lalu Prasad in his Budget speech on Feb 26th, 2007. He informed the House that the following new Garib Rath trains will be introduced during the year.
1. Secunderabad-Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express (3 days in a week)
2. Jaipur-Bandra (Terminus) via Ahmedabad Garib Rath (3 days in a week)
3. Kolkata-Patna Garib Rath Express (3 days in a week)
4. Bhubaneswar-Ranchi Garib Rath Express (3 days in a week)
5. Thiruvananthapuram-Lokmanya Tilak (Terminus) Garib Rath Express (2 days in a week)
6. Kolkata-Guwahati Garib Rath Express (2 days in a week)
7. New Delhi-Dehradun Garib Rath Express (3 days in a week)
8. Raipur-Lucknow Jn. Garib Rath Express (2 days in a week)

SAARC observers

SAARC decided to accord observer status to People's Republic of China and Japan also considered the application of South Korea, EU and United States of America for observer status.

Indo-Pak Agreement

An Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan on ‘Reducing the Risk from Accidents Relating to Nuclear Weapons’ . The External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Khurshid M. Kasuri, were present on this occasion. The Agreement was signed by Shri K.C. Singh, Additional Secretary (International Organizations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Mr. Tariq Osman Hyder, Additional Secretary (UN & EC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.The Agreement enters into force with immediate effect.(Feb 21)

4 th International Conference on Federalism

It will be held in New Delhi from 5 - 7 November this year. The earlier conferences were held in Canada in 1999, Switzerland in 2002 and Belgium in 2005.

Phase out of CST(Which Artcile of the Indian Constitution and why should it be phased out?)

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for initiating the process of phasing out CST with reduction in the CST rate from 4% to 3% from April 2007, taking necessary non-monetary and monetary measures for the purpose and making the necessary amendments to the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956, and the Additional Duties of Excise (Goods of Special Importance) Act, 1957. This will mark the beginning of the process of a very significant tax reform measure, which is critical for success of VAT and for introduction of GST in future. This will facilitate the process of developing a National Common Market. A Bill, namely the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2007 will be introduced in the coming session of the Parliament.


'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar'

Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, which is an Autonomous Body of Government of India and apex institution of performing arts in the country, is introducing for the first time awards for young artists from the year 2006. The award is being launched in the name of Ustad Bismillah Khan, Bharat Ratan and Fellow of the Akademi, who passed away in 2006 and will be known as 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar'. The objective of introducing the new award is to identify and encourage outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and give them a national recognition early in life so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in life long pursuit of their chosen form of art. The Yuva Puraskar is being given to artists below the age of 35.The Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs. 25,000/-.

Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2006

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for introduction of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill 2006 in Parliament. The proposed Bill will provide effective care and protection to the senior citizens and will provide speedy and inexpensive legal framework to grant maintenance to them.

Senior citizen is one who is 60 years above.

Fifth Schedule

The Union Cabinet gave its approval for inclusion of additional areas to be declared as Scheduled Areas in respect of State of Jharkhand under the provisions of Fifth Schedule to the Constitution. Find out what is 6th Schedule.

SITRA

The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebration of The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) in Coimbatore.


Mrs. Shanta Sinha, a Ramon Magasaysay Awardee has been appointed the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

What did you read in school, children??

The technology-led developments in agriculture have made India self-sufficient in foodgrains and a leading producer of several commodities in the world. The

• green revolution in crops,
• yellow revolution in oilseeds,
• white revolution in milk production,
• blue revolution in fish production and
• golden revolution in horticulture
• bear it out.
  
  
• Rainbow revolution encompassing an all-round growth in the production of foodgrains, edible oils, fruits, vegetables and animal and fish products and
  
  
• evergreen revolution in agriculture through diversified agriculture, precision farming, resource conservation and value addition to provide in real sense, the required food, nutrition and environmental security are the hopes of the future

Mahatma Gandhi Backward Region Development Fund

Mahatma Gandhi Backward Region Development Fund


(Read the following material on the Backward Region Development Fund. There is room for many MCQs on this item)


The Mahatma Gandhi Backward Region Development Fund was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Berpeta in Assam. The Rs 3,750-crore Fund, originally known as the Backward Region Grant Fund, will provide resources for supplementing and converging existing developmental inflows to 250 districts across the country, official sources told media. The scheme was established to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that were not being adequately met through existing allocations. To improve the performance and delivery of critical functions assigned to panchayats, a need was felt to strengthen panchayat and municipality-level governance with more appropriate capacity building to facilitate participatory planning, decision-making, implementation and monitoring, the sources said. The scheme for the 250 backward districts was conceived and piloted through the Cabinet by the Planning Commission as the successor to the earlier Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY). This was done with the view of rectifying deficiencies in the conceptual framework of RSVY. The key difference between RSVY and MGBRDF is the focus on district planning as provided for in the Constitution. A sum of Rs 3,750 crore for the current year has been placed at the disposal of Panchayati Raj ministry to administer the scheme, particularly because of the centrality of panchayats in the planning and implementation of the Fund. The budget provision is expected to rise to Rs 4,400 crore from the next fiscal, the sources said. The funds allotted under the scheme will go to the State Consolidated Fund and every identified district will receive a fixed minimum amount of Rs 10 crore a year plus additional allocations of Rs five crore depending on population and area. The scheme covers all districts where the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme is being implemented. Fifty per cent of the balance of the allocation will be allocated on the ratio of the share of the population of the district to the total population of all backward districts.

It aims at promoting the training of “barefoot engineers”, “community- level agricultural extension workers” and local level specialists who can be of direct utility in each panchayat. The scheme also stresses the need for district planning committees in backward regions to facilitate effective planning in non-MGBRGDF districts in accordance with Planning Commission guidelines to serve as the foundation of the 11th Five-Year Plan. As the funds are untied, panchayats are expected to use them for "gap filling" in existing development programmes to build up development infrastructure so as to close the gap between backward and non-backward districts. Close on the heels of the rural job guarantee scheme, government is all set to implement an ambitious Rs 50 billion (Rs 5,000 crore) project to help develop India's backward regions and erase regional imbalances. Government has decided to revamp the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) programme by expanding its reach and focusing on infrastructure development in backward areas.Unlike the RSVY programme, which currently covers only 47 most backward districts, the new development fund for backward regions will cover 250 districts - a little less than half the total number of India's 604 districts.The fund would provide each of the 250 districts a minimum of Rs 100 million per annum, besides an additional allocation depending upon the geographical area and population of the district.The fund allocated to each backward district would go directly to the Consolidated Fund of the state.As proof of its commitment to erase regional imbalances, the major chunk of funds would go to most needy and backward states like Bihar and "KBK regions" of Orissa.The KBK region comprises the erstwhile Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput districts.The Rs 50 billion MGBRD Fund comprises three components - a Rs 10 billion special package for Bihar, another Rs 2.5 billion for the KBK region of Orissa and the remaining Rs 37.5 billion to be distributed among all the selected backward districts on the basis of their area and population.Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the new fund will be Bihar. As many as 36 of the state's 37 districts have been included under the scheme.Accordingly, in addition to the Rs 10 billion special package, 36 districts of Bihar would together get another Rs 3.6 billion.The new fund would include all the 200 districts where the UPA government's flagship programme, the rural job guarantee scheme unveiled last year, has been implemented.The funds under the regional disparity elimination fund would be specifically used to build sustainable infrastructure like roads, schools, dispensaries, bridges and power transmission lines.The rural job guarantee scheme, on the other hand, envisages projects that generate mass rural employment and is aimed at ensuring means of sustenance to the rural poor.The regional disparity fund will try to bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that are not being adequately met through existing schemes, including the rural job guarantee scheme.

National Judicial Council: The Bill and the Moily Panel Recommendation

NJC

The National Judicial Council that is sought to be set up by the Government by amending the Judges(Inquiry) Act, 1968 is on the following lines

An Amendment

of the Judges (Inquiry)

Act, 1968 is to be made for setting

up a National Judicial

Council that will investigate

reported acts of misconduct

by High Court and

Supreme Court Judges.

The new

law aimed at bringing

transparency in the functioning

of the judiciary and

will enhance its prestige.

Under the new procedure,

complaints can be made by

any person against Judges

of the Supreme Court and

High Courts except Chief

Justice of India.

The National

Judicial Council will consist

of the Chief Justice of

India and two senior most

judges of the Supreme

Court to be nominated by

the Chief Justice, two

judges of the High Court to

be nominated by the Chief

Justice of India irrespective

of their seniority. However,

in the case of complaint or

a reference against a judge

of the Supreme Court, the

Council shall consist of the

Chief Justice of India and

four senior most judges of

the Supreme Court to be

nominated by the Chief Justice

of India.

Note the difference with the NJC recommended by the Moily Panel on Administrative Reforms :The following is the summary of the Moily Commission on NJC:

It has the function of not only making appointments of Supreme Court judges; but also inquiring into complaints about them; recommending penal action; the procedure for removal as is contained in Art.124 that involves the Parliament passing a resolution by a special majority is to be dispensed with and the NJC will recommend to the President about the removal of judges.. The aim is to make the procedure effective by making it relatively less elaborate.

MCQs on Annual Financial Statement

MCQs on Annual Financial Statement

1. Answer the wrong one about cut motions

1. they can be introduced in either House of Parliament
2. they include both charged and the rest of expenditure
3. both
4. neither

2. One of the following is not a part of the General Budget

1. Performance Budget
2. Zero base budget
3. Both
4. Neither

3. The most comprehensive concept in public finance – in terms of amount- is the following

1. revenue deficit
2. capital deficit
3. primary deficit
4. fiscal deficit

4. The President does not have the following option with regard to a Money Bill that is passed by the Parliament and sent to him for his assent

1. accept
2. reject
3. return for re-passage
4. pocket veto

1. b,c and d
2. c and d
3. only c
4. b and d

5. If a Bill has provisions that are similar to an ordinary Bill and will involve expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India when it is passed and becomes a law, is found in the following Article of the Constitution and may be called the following

1. Art.112, Finance Bill
2. Art.116, Financial Bill (A)
3. Art.117, Financial Bill(B)
4. Art.116, Vote on Account

6. One of the following taxes being imposed and collected by the Union Government , is not a direct tax

1. Fringe Benefit Tax
2. Securities Transaction Tax
3. Cash Withdrawal Tax
4. Minimum Alternative Tax

1. b and d
2. a and d
3. all the above
4. none of the above

7. One of the following does not require the recommendation of the President of India for its introduction in Lok Sabha

a.Financial Bill(A)

b.Financial Bill(B)

c.Demand for Grant

d.Annual Finance Bill

8. National Savings Certificates (NSC) are certificates issued by Department of post, Government of India and are available at all post office counters in the country. Ramesh Rangarajan saves Rs.10,000 every year in this tax saving scheme. It helps him save money for a rainy day and the Government also has finances for its developmental schemes. The money thus saved is deposited into the following Constitutional fund

a. Consolidated Fund of India

b. Public Account of India

c. Central Development Fund

d. Stock Market Investment Fund

9. One of the following can be introduced in either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha

a.Annual Finance Bill

b.Financial Bill(A), Art.117

c.Financial Bill(B), Art.117

d.None of the above

10. Outcome Budget ensures that the expenditure incurred by the Government is well targeted and produces results commensurate with the investment. It was first introduced in the country in the Parlaiment in the following financial year

a.2004-05

b.2005-06

c.2006-07

d.1996-97

Iran's Nuclear Sites

The following two topics are important for May 2007 Preliminary Examination.

Latin America turns left
· Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
· Bolivia- Evo Morales
· Nestor Kirchner - Argentina
· Luis Inacio Lula da Silva - Brazil
· Nicaragua-- Daniel Ortega
· Rafael Correa - Ecuador.

Iran’s Nuclear Sites

BUSHEHR - Nuclear power station
The Bushehr nuclear power station (image: DigitalGlobe)
Iran's nuclear programme began in 1974 with plans to build a nuclear power station at Bushehr with German assistance.
The project was abandoned because of the Islamic revolution five years later, but revived in 1992 when Tehran signed an agreement with Russia to resume work at the site.
There are two pressurised water reactors at the site - one reportedly near completion.

ISFAHAN - Uranium conversion plant
Isfahan uranium conversion plant
Iran is building a plant here to convert uranium ore into three forms:
· Hexafluoride gas - used in gas centrifuges
· Uranium oxide - used to fuel reactors, albeit not the type Iran is constructing
· Metal - often used in the cores of nuclear bombs. The IAEA is concerned about the metal's use, as Iran's reactors do not require it as fuel.

NATANZ - Uranium enrichment plant

Iran suspended work on an uranium enrichment plant at Natanz in 2003 - but has recently reopened the facility.
In 2003, a leaked International Atomic Energy Agency report said that weapons-grade uranium had been found in samples taken from the site, although Iran blamed contaminated imported equipment, and an independent report later confirmed this.
According to some estimates, when complete, Natanz could house some 50,000 advanced gas centrifuges, which would produce enough weapons-grade uranium to produce more than 20 weapons per year.
Other estimates suggest the plant will have a total of 5,000 centrifuges when initial stages of the project are completed. With that number, Iran would be able to produce sufficient enriched uranium to make a small number of nuclear weapons each year.

ARAK - Heavy water plant
The Arak plant in 2002 (image: DigitalGlobe)
The apparent existence of a heavy water facility near the town of Arak first emerged with the publication of satellite images by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security in December 2002.
Heavy water is used to moderate the nuclear fission chain reaction either in a certain type of reactor - albeit not the type that Iran is currently building - or produce plutonium for use in a nuclear bomb.

MCQ on Global warming

1. One of the following is not a greenhouse gas, according to the Kyoto Protocol

a. Carbon Dioxide
b. Sulphur Hexa Flouride
c. Nitrous oxide
d. Hydroflouro carbons(HFCs)

a. a and b only
b. a,b and c
c. c and d only
d. all the above

2. Kyoto Protocol binds the industrialised countries to cut down the greenhouse gas emissions by the following extent on the following base year

a. 10.2%, 1997
b. 5.%, 1992
c.10%, 1990
d.5.2%, 1990

3. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the basis for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Conference of Parties ( COP ) is held every year since 1995 to devise ways of implementing the Convention. India is a signatory. All countries endorsing the Convention take part in the COPs. The 2006 Conference- COP 12- was held in the following place
a. New Delhi
b. Beunos Aires
c.Nairobi
d. Cancun

4. One of the following is not a finding of the Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) as contained in the Fourth Assessment Report report submitted in February 2007 on the climate change
a. it is caused by humans
b. sufficient damage is already done for the greenhouse effect to be a planetary problem for decades to come
c. average temperate of the planet will go up by 7 degrees C by the turn of the century in the best case scenario
d. None of the above

5. Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) is a group of about 2500 scientists, climatologists, atmosphere scientists etc drawn from about 130 countries. It was set up in set up in 1988 by the
a. World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
b. World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United nations Development Programme(UNDP)
c. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Management Committee and United nationas Environment Programme
d. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Management Committee and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

Welcome to all the IAS aspirants

Dear friends,

The number of aspirants for the prestigious Civil Services Examination is increasing. Standards are getting tougher. Standard information and analysis is rare. There is clearly a gap here that Sriram's IAS has striven to fill. We will continue to do so.

Log into this blog for something new all the time- almost on a daily basis. Post your queries. Ask questions. Look for the UPSC-friendly material on General Studies and Public Administration here.

Same blog will help you to know about our class room training programme, faculty and so on.

We are sure this blog will be a crucial factor in your aspiration turning into a reality- career in Indian Civil Services.

Best of Luck,

Sriram Srirangam