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Just Facts

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Syskool
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  • The world’s highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
  • India has the largest number of post-offices in the world.
  • The Indian Railways is the largest employer in the world; it employs over a million people.
  • Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world.
  • The Bailey bridge is the highest bridge in the world; it is located in Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan Mountains. It was built by Indian Army in August 1982.
  • The name of India is derived from river ‘Indus’, the valleys around which early settlers lived.
  • The ‘Place Value System’ and the ‘Decimal System’ were developed in India in 100 BC.
  • The people of India have had a continuous civilization since 2500 BC, when the inhabitants of the Indus river valley developed an urban culture based on commerce and sustained by agricultural trade.
  • The foundation of modern Indian Navy was laid in 17th Century when the East-India company had established a maritime force, thereby graduating in time to the establishment of the Royal Indian Navy in 1934.
  • The national flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand, an Indian freedom fighter. The flag was adopted in its present form during the meeting of constituent held on 22 July, 1947 a few days before India’s Independence.
  • Among all the animals chimpanzees are genetically closest relative of humans.
  • A single strand of hair can withstand the strain of 100 grams. And if the scalp was strong enough, an average head of hair could hold 10-15 tonnes.
  • At birth, a baby Kangaroo is about the same length as a paper clip.
  • Nearly a third of people between the age of 25 and 34 in the United Kingdom have a tattoo.
  • Some honeybee queens quack.
  • The skin of a hippopotamus secretes its own moistener and sunblock.
  • Astronauts aboard the International Space Station usually see the sun “use” once every 90 minutes – that’s about 16 sunrises every 24 hours.
  • A study says, a cow with a name produces more milk than one without.

SPACE SCIENCE TERMS

By
Syskool
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0

Artificial Satellites:

A man-made object placed in the orbit about a planet.

Astrionics:

Electronics applied especially to astronautics.

Astronaut:

The person who actually flies through space and also those concerned with flying through space.
Read Also: Neil Armstrong

Booster:

A propulsion unit used in the initial stage of rocket flight.

Boost-Glide Vehicle:

A rocket- boosted winged-vehicle under aerodynamic control capable of leaving the atmosphere, entering space and re-entering the atmosphere by gliding.

Cislunar:

Space between the Earth and the Moon.

Cosmonaut:

The Russian name of the person who actually flies through space and also those concerned with such flying.

Early-warning satellite:

A reconnaissance satellite for detecting the enemy ballistic missile firing well in advance ti give warning.

Environment space chamber:

A chamber used for training the specimen.
Don’t Miss: Yuri Gagarin – The First Man in Space

Hard Landing:

The destructive impact of a space vehicle on a predetermined celestial target, the vehicle being destroyed upon impact.

Orbit:

Path of a body relative to its primary.

Payload:

Useful cargo.

Propellent:

A liquid or solid substance burned in a rocket to develop thrust.

Retro-rocket:

A rocket fitted on or in a vehicle used to retard forward motion.

Satellite:

A body moving around a celestial body.

Soft landing:

The presence of smooth landing of a space vehicle on a planet or satellite without any damage.

Space-platform:

A large orbiting satellite serving as a base in space well-equipped for the purpose.
Read Also: The European Space Agency (ESA)

Stationary orbit:

A circular orbit in which the satellite moves from west to east at such a speed as to remain fixed above a particular point on the

Telemetering:

A process of taking the measurement of speed, temperature, pressure and radiation within a spacecraft during flight and conveying them by radio to a ground station.

Tracking-station:

A station equipped with radio and radar etc. to track a body moving through space.

Trajectory:

The path described by a space vehicle.

Weightlessness:

The absence of any apparent gravitational pull on an object. Absolute weightlessness is obtained only by an object falling freely in the vacuum.
Must Read:  

Bring To The Fore Potential And Liminitations

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Syskool
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There is no denying the fact that in spite of all the domestic problems regarding good governance and political logjams, India has a vitality to appear on the global stage , since both regional order and global governance are in flux . At such a time , 5th BRICS Summit , which took place on March 26 -27, 2013 in Durban , South Africa represented a uniquely appropriate platform and flexible mechanism with India making its presence felt in a significant measure. Before leaving for Durban , Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had made it clear to the Media that he hoped to discuss a number of issue with leaders of others BRICS nations , as also with those from Africa invited to the Summit.
Must Read:

UPSC GS Syllabus for Preliminary Test and Mains Exam

By
Syskool
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1

Preliminary Test

  • Current events of national and international importance
  • History of India and Indian National Movement
  • Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization
  • General Science.

Mains Exam

General Studies- I:

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

  • Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
  • Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
  • events, personalities, issues
  • The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
  • parts of the country.
  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
  • History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
  • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
  • Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  • Salient features of world’s physical geography.
  • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
  • Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

General Studies- II:

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations. 

  • Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
  • Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the
  • federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
  • Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
  • Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
  • Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
  • Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
  • Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
  • Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
  • Constitutional Bodies.
  • Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
  • Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
  • Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
  • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
  • performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
  • protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
  • Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
  • Education, Human Resources.
  • Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
  • Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
  • Role of civil services in a democracy.
  • India and its neighborhood- relations.
  • Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
  • Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
  • Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

General Studies-III:

Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. 

  • Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Government Budgeting.
  • Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and
  • irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
  • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
  • Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
  • Land reforms in India.
  • Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
  • Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
  • Investment models.
  • Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
  • Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  • Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and
  • issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
  • Disaster and disaster management.
  • Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
  • Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  • Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
  • Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with
  • terrorism
  • Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

General Studies- IV:

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude 
  • This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.
  • Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
  • Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
  • Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
  • Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
  • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
  • Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
  • Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
  • Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
  • Case Studies on above issues.

Indian Revenue Service (IRS) – Income Tax, Customs & Central Excise

By
Syskool
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0
The Indian Revenue Service comprises of IRS – Customs and Central Excise (C&CE) and IRS – Income Tax (IT). It is one of the Group a Central Civil Service of India. The cadre controlling authority for IRS is Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) / Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). The Service was formed during the year 1946. The selected candidates go through training sessions in different institutes.
  • Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Missouri: 3 months foundation course.
  • National Institute of Financial Management at Faridabad: 15 months profession training for officers of Customs and Excise.
  • National Academy of Direct Taxes at Nagpur: 15 months profession training for officers of Income Tax.
Cadre size: 2311 (C&CE), 2500 (IT) posts (direct recruitment – 50%, promotion – 50%. Lateral entry – if any).

Functions of the Indian Revenue Service Officers

  • Indian Revenue Service officers are concerned with the collection, administration, and policy formation of direct (viz. Income, Corporate, Wealth, FBT etc.) and indirect (viz. Central Excise, Service Tax and even Customs Duty) taxes.
Service Hierarchy
Grade
Pay scales
Designation in Field (Commercial)
Designation in Field (Operational)
Junior time scale
8000-275-13500
Assistant commissioner
–
Senior time scale
10000-325-15200
Deputy commissioner
–
Junior administrative grade
12000-365-16500
Joint commissioner
–
Selection grade
14300-400-18300
Additional commissioner
–
Senior administrative grade
18400-500-22400
Commissioner
–
Higher administrative grade
18400-500-22400
Chief Commissioner or Director General
–
24050-650-26000
–
Member, CBEC / CBDT
26000 (fixed)
–
Chairman, CBEC
CBDT or Chairman CEIB

Also, Read:

All You Need to Know About Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC)

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