Reply to Dr Sanjay

Hello Dr Sanjay, thanks for your visit on the blog and added information...Actually I replied to the query in general sense [not in detail regarding the citizen criteria] because the query was related with graduation degree from Singapore...still thanks for your valuable suggestions....keep blogging...

Reply to Miss/Mr Anonymous

Hello Miss/Mr Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog...Regarding your query, the eligibility criteria to appear in civil services are:
[1] you should be an Indian citizen for IAS,IPS and IFS and for other services kindly refer more details on www.upsc.gov.in ]
[2] You should be a graduate in any discipline from an institution recognised by the government [ UGC( university grant commission)]
Thus there is no need to appear for IIM exam as it provides post graduate degree which is not required as the basic requirement is graduation. Now you need to check out whether the degree which you have from Singapore is recognised by India or not. If it is yes then you can appear in civil services examination.....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

The proposed changes in CSE-2011

Aspirants for the civil services will face a different pattern of examination from next year as the government has approved a proposal to introduce an aptitude test in place of the existing preliminary examination to shortlist candidates for the main exam. Accordingly, the candidates will have to appear in two objective-type papers having special emphasis on testing their "aptitude for civil services" as well as on "ethical and moral dimension of decision-making" under a Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). Both these papers — having equal weightage — will be common to all candidates in place of the one common paper (general awareness) and one optional paper (any particular subject of choice) under the existing system which lays greater emphasis on subject knowledge. As of now, the change will be effective only for the first stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) from 2011 onwards. The second and third stages — CS (Main) Examination and interview respectively — may remain the same till a committee of experts goes into various aspects of the entire system and submits its report. Confirming the change for the first stage of CSE, minister of state for personnel Prithviraj Chavan told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the proposal for introduction of CSAT in place of the existing CS (Preliminary) Examination. In his written reply, he said: "CSAT is expected to come into effect from CSE, 2011." The proposal to this effect was sent to the PMO last year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which conducts CSE every year to select candidates for elite all-India services, including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and others Group 'A' and Group 'B' central jobs. Officials familiar with the proposal which has got the PM's nod explained that the changes were suggested by various committees, including the second Administrative Reforms Commission, in their reports submitted over the years. Most of the panels had advocated laying greater emphasis on the "aptitude" of candidates than their knowledge of a subject, arguing that specialists or experts in any particular subject may not necessarily be good civil servants. Referring to introduction of CSAT, an official said: "The new system will also provide a level-playing field and equity, since all candidates will have to attempt common papers unlike the current format which provides for only one common paper." Though a scaling system is currently used in the preliminary examination in order to ensure that no candidate who has opted for any particular optional paper gets undue advantage because of varying degree of difficulty of any paper or inherent scorability, the government has received a number of complaints objecting to the method on one ground or the other. One related matter has even been pending in Supreme Court for long.

Source: The Times of India, Delhi edition [p-11]

Reply to Mr Sumit Sarkar

Hello Mr Sumit Sarkar, thanks for your visit on the blog and important links for the interview preparation. I have published your comment. Readers can see the latest comment by Mr Sumit Sarkar and take the benefit of the good articles available on the website. I just want to say you that don't loose your hope with temporary set backs. Recharge your self and prepare for CSE-2010...Good luck...keep blogging...

Regarding CSE-2009 Interview

Hello, I congratulate to the successful candidates of CSE-09...This time UPSC has asked the candidates to fill in a summary sheet separately and post it to UPSC with in 10 days. This summary sheet is available on the UPSC website. So, it is to inform all the successful candidates to send this summary sheet to UPSC well in time....I am publishing the rough performa of this summary sheet below....good luck...keep blogging...
***************************************************
UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
SUMMARY
(FOR OFFICE USE ONLY)
DATE
SESSION
(TO BE FILLED BY CANDIDATES)
ROLL NUMBER
NAME OF EXAMINATION
CIVIL SERVICES (MAIN) EXAMINATION, 2009
NAME
OPTIONAL SUBJECTS
INDIAN LANGUAGE
MEDIUM
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
TOWN / VILLAGE
DISTRICT
STATE
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED
10TH OR EQUIVALENT
12TH OR EQUIVALENT
GRADUATION OR
EQUIVALENT
OTHERS (1)
OTHERS (2)
EXAMINATIONS PASSED (Restrict to a maximum of 5 entries in the order of 10th, 12th, Graduation etc.)
EXAMINATIONS
CLASS/
DIVISION
YEAR
SUBJECTS TAKEN
BOARD/
UNIVERSIRY
PARTICULARS OF PRIZES,
MEDALS, SCHOOL
SCHOLARSHIPS ETC.#
TEAM GAMES/SPORTS/NCC/
HITCH-HIKING/ MOUNTAINEERING ETC. #
POSITION(S) OF
AUTHORITY HELD
IN SCHOOL/COLLEGE #
OTHER EXTRA CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
(SUCH AS HOBBIES, PAINTING
MUSIC, DANCING ETC.)#
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS (Restrict to the last three positions held for a period of 3 months and above)
OFFICE WHERE WORKING
POST HELD
FROM
TO
Instructions for filling in
i) All the fields/section except date and session are mandatory to be filled in by the candidates.
ii) Date and Session should not be filled by the candidates as it is meant for office purpose only.
iii) Fill in the sheet in English CAPITAL/BLOCK letters only using black-ball-point pen.
iv) Candidates should neither sign this sheet nor indicate any excess or additional information.
v) Please fill in the sheet carefully and error-free.
# Please restrict your information to maximum 16 words and 2 lines.

Reply to Mr/Miss Anonymous

Hello Miss/Mr Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog...Regarding your query, if you have submitted your form before the last date then it will not be a problem. UPSC generally is very cooperative and candidate friendly in nature. However you can contact to UPSC in writing though the delivery of acknowledgement card is not very regular. This matter will not be entertained by UPSC at this moment. You should wait till UPSC start dispatching admit cards for CSE-10...This information will also be available in due time on its website. Thus you need not worry much and focus on your studies. Good luck for CSE-2010....further query is welcome....keep blogging...

UPSC announced CSE-09 mains result

The UPSC has finally announced CSE-09 mains result today...The interview will start from 23rd March onwards....The total seats are expected to be around 700 plus....I wish a very best of luck to those who got the call for the interview....Those who didn't get the call should not worry much...They must take some time to relax and start preparing for CSE-2010 pre which is not far away...One should not loose hope and courage with small failures...but the analysis of failure must be done with minute details...These mistakes must not be repeated in successive attempts...those who have finished their all the attempts should not loose hope because life will go on...UPSC is not the only thing...There are people who didn't crack CSE but are hugely successful in their chosen career...because during CSE preparation one learns a lot of thing with huge learning base...This knowledge will definitely be useful in the world minus UPSC...good luck for the interview....keep blogging...

Wish you all a very happy holi

Hello all, I wish you all a very happy and successful holi..The CSE-2009 mains result is about to come.I wish a very good luck to all those who appeared in CSE-09....keep blogging...

Tips for Geography...Reply to Mr Ramakrishna Hampiker

Hello Mr Ramakrishna Hampiker, thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it....regarding your query about Geography optional in CSE, there are common books which every one usually refers....you can depend on them also [I have posted a blog on the name of books]....The important thing which makes a difference is answer writing and presentation....in geography, you require to give lot of diagrams, maps and examples [geographical details]....you rightly said that Paper-1 and Paper-2 requires different approaches...Paper-1 requires more factual informations with examples from world while paper-2 requires more inter linkages among the topics of paper-2 as well as with paper-1....this technique will come only with practice...you can write answers every day and get it evaluated by university prof or any senior or from any coaching institutes....you can purchase Chronical book on geography answers which are mostly written by CSE aspirants...you can get a fair idea from these sample answers....Regarding the place, it matters only in the collection of material...if you have easy access to material and guidance, then you can prepare from any part of the country...in previous years, candidates got in to CSE even from very remote places...Regarding the role of a team...it is significant in maintaining the level of motivation and up gradation of facts and figures....regarding the teacher, it is difficult to get any one genuine who had evaluated UPSC papers...thus depends on available teachers in the market....good luck for the CSE...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Miss/Mr Anonymous

Hello Miss/Mr Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog....I appreciate your determination to prepare for CSE despite numerous odds....You can purchase different books from following book stores:
[1]Jawahar book depo, Ber Sarai, Near IIT, New Delhi.
[2] Sood Book store , old Rajinder Nagar, Near Karol Bagh metro station, New Delhi
[3] Several book shops located in Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi
you can take bus or auto to reach these well connected places. The above Shops [2] and [3] can be reached by metro...Generally, shop [1] and [2] are closed on Sunday but shop [3] is open on all days from 10 AM onwards.... all the best for your preparation....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Impact of huge gulf in education.....Reply to Mr Harsh

Hello Mr Harsh, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding the gap in education, of course you will have lot of question in the interview on this....but if you can give some convincing reply then it will not have any adverse impact on the score...there have been incidences like this in previous years too..Even some of the candidates with gap of more than 7 years have scored very well....It may also happen that they will not ask any question on it....So be confident and frame your reply in advance....I feel that give the genuine reply as the candidates generally take 2 to 3 years normally....you can say that in the initial years you didn't have any comprehensive strategy or support to crack the exam...later on you learnt from your previous mistakes and able to clear few stages of CSE....good luck for your interview...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Mr Gaurav

Hello Mr Gaurav, thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it....Regarding your query, the education leave will not have any effect in seniority...Even Department of personnel [Dopt] sponsor the education cost and provides full support during the education....Officer who went on education leave also get full salary but of course they have to sign a bond with the government....further query is welcome.....keep blogging...

Reply to Mr vibhor

Hello Mr vibhor, thanks for your visit on the blog....Although I have already written about the various ways to send the queries to the blog still You can write them by a click on the comment link below each posting or you can send it on neutralviews@gmail.com .....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

आदमीं बन जाओ........…

भारत माता ने अपने घर में जन-कल्याण का जानदार आँगन बनाया. उसमें शिक्षा की शीतल हवा, स्वास्थ्य का निर्मल नीर, निर्भरता की उर्वर मिट्टी, उन्नति का आकाश, दृढ़ता के पर्वत, आस्था की सलिला, उदारता का समुद्र तथा आत्मीयता की अग्नि का स्पर्श पाकर जीवन के पौधे में प्रेम के पुष्प महक रहे थे.

सिर पर सफ़ेद टोपी लगाये एक बच्चा आया, रंग-बिरंगे पुष्प देखकर ललचाया. पुष्प पर सत्ता की तितली बैठी देखकर उसका मन ललचाया, तितली को पकड़ने के लिए हाथ बढाया, तितली उड़ गयी. बच्चा तितली के पीछे दौड़ा, गिरा, रोते हुए रह गया खडा.

कुछ देर बाद भगवा वस्त्रधारी दूसरा बच्चा खाकी पैंटवाले मित्र के साथ आया. सरोवर में खिला कमल का पुष्प उसके मन को भाया, मन ललचाया, बिना सोचे कदम बढाया, किनारे लगी काई पर पैर फिसला, गिरा, भीगा और सिर झुकाए वापिस लौट गया.

तभी चक्र घुमाता तीसरा बच्चा अनुशासन को तोड़ता, शोर मचाता घर में घुसा और हाथ में हँसिया-हथौडा थामे चौथा बच्चा उससे जा भिड़ा. दोनों टकराए, गिरे, कांटें चुभे और वे चोटें सहलाते सिसकने लगे.

हाथी की तरह मोटे, अक्ल के छोटे, कुछ बच्चे एक साथ धमाल मचाते आए, औरों की अनदेखी कर जहाँ मन हुआ वहीं जगह घेरकर हाथ-पैर फैलाये. धक्का-मुक्की में फूल ही नहीं पौधे भी उखाड़ लाये.

कुछ देर बाद भारत माता घर में आयीं, कमरे की दुर्दशा देखकर चुप नहीं रह पायीं, दुःख के साथ बोलीं- ‘ मत दो झूटी सफाई, मत कहो कि घर की यह दुर्दशा तुमने नहीं तितली ने बनाई. काश तुम तितली को भुला पाते, काँटों को समय रहते देख पाते, मिल-जुल कर रह पाते, ख़ुद अपने लिये लड़ने की जगह औरों के लिए कुछ कर पाते तो आदमी बन जाते.

अभी भी समय है,, बड़े हो जाओ,,,
आदमीं बन जाओ ।

वन्दे मातरम

Source : An E-mail from Mr Sachin Khare

A must read article by all....Renewing the chase for excellence

The world has shifted from one axis to another. The Search for Excellence that once fired the imagination of the best and the most gifted among us has been edged out. What we now celebrate is the Search for Success, that amazing spirit which powers the dreams of soldiers of fortune, gold diggers and carpetbaggers. No, this is not about moral distinctions because soldiers of fortune have also made history, shaped human destiny. As Gordon Gekko says, Greed is good. It’s greed that sailed Columbus to India. He found America instead. It’s greed that brought the East India Company here, made us the nation we are today. It’s greed that drives modern China to such success that brings the world to Asia’s door. Yet, despite that, why does unabashed greed still make me squirm?
I guess it’s because we grew up with the Search for Excellence. Shops today are stacked with books that teach you only to win. Winning is not just everything, they warn you, winning is all. If you don’t win, everything is in vain. What you have learnt. What you practise. What you strive for. They add up to nothing unless you win. Winning is no more a process. It’s the goal, the only goal. You can lead a race all the way but if you don’t breast the tape before the rest, you don’t even count for a footnote. Excellence, on the other hand, is what you spend a lifetime seeking. It’s an art form, a faith. It teaches you to align yourself with the best. While success teaches you that you get only one shot at winning. Blow it, you’re gone.
The distinction between the two is clear. Yet we are all confused. Excellence and success are treated as synonyms today. We forget that the winner is not always excellent. We also forget that excellence doesn’t always ensure a win. I went to a school which taught me that there was no reason to fear defeat if I played the game well. But in those days, no sport was ever a gladiator sport, not even boxing. Our heroes were artistes of the game, not statistics hunters. Style defined the sportsman. Winning or losing was part of the game. In fact, we were even taught how to lose well. After all, there were always more people rooting for the losers. The underdog was the hero. The cocky winner, today’s role model, was everyone’s pet hate.
That’s changed now. The winner is a hero today. The only hero. The word loser is loaded with shame. It symbolises not someone shouldering the heroism of loss but the ignominy of defeat. A batsman returning to pavilion with 99 rarely gets a spirited applause. There’s only space for one team on the field after the game, the winners. Even if that victory is but by a whisker, the losers go out shamed. As if they have let everyone down. Even where a win is merely the outcome of a popular poll, in all probability fixed, the winner takes it all. There’s instant amnesia about the other participants. The winner too is only remembered till the next season when another winner steps in and grabs the limelight. We forget past winners so easily that they even forget they were once winners. Look at Deve Gowda. He is so badly behaved and abusive that no one believes he was once Prime Minister of India. While his successor, Gujral is so embarrassed he’s no longer in Race Course Road that he has slunk into a dark corner.
We are slowly forgetting that a world without losers can be dreadfully boring. Strutting, boastful winners are not easy to live with. Ask any journalist what it would be to live in a world full of Vidhu Vinod Chopras. That’s why the Search for Excellence is so crucial. It allows you the space, the bandwidth to accommodate other equally gifted people. Subodh Gupta is not the only artist around just because his works sell for the highest price. Aamir Khan is not the only star because he has given us 3 Idiots. Chetan Bhagat is not the only writer because his books sell in millions. Hits alone don’t define success. Or else Dan Brown would be a greater author than Dante. Damien Hirst a better painter than Gaugin, Himesh a greater singer than Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and James Cameron a better film maker than Satyajit Ray.
The Search for Success leaves the streets littered with corpses. Teen suicides, homicides, financial scams, white collar crimes, family break ups are the tragic consequences of the winner takes it all worldview. The pressures around us are too scary. No one’s allowed not to win. By making defeat so ignominious, we are forcing losers to lose sight of life. Courage, heroism, dignity in defeat, the power to learn from one’s mistakes are all yielding way to one thing: The Great Bootlick of Mammon.
Source: The Times of India..An Article by Mr Pritish Nandy, 17 January 2010, 07:46 PM IST published in Mumbai edition on 20th Jan 2010

Role of Age in Civil Services...Reply to Mr Sandeep

Hello Mr Sandeep, thanks for your visit on the blog...Regarding your query, of course, Age plays a major role in civil services for e.g. successful candidate of 21 year old will have the greater chances to become cabinet secretary depending on his/her performance....thus at the age of 27, you may not get the Chance to become foreign secretary of India [due to your choice of IFS]....In India, for promotion, seniority along with the service records are being considered....however, you should not worry much about it...every one has equal chances to serve the country and earn his/her name in his/her career as a diplomat...It depends on the level of motivation and consistent effort along with honesty and integrity....thus age factor is not a big hurdle for you...So good luck for CSE-2011.....Regarding the higher education in IAS, yes ,you can go for higher education on the sponsorship of government of India [Dopt] after the completion of 5 years of service...you can go to any foreign university...but you have to sign a bond with government of India for at least 3 years of service to the government after completion of the course....Thus the trend of higher education in the services [in all the services, not only in IAS] still continues...the procedure for this is very simple....Dopt [Department of personnel] comes out with various schemes for the diplomats and bureaucrats.They have to apply in a prescribed format. After due considerations, name are being finalised for the grant of study leave and scholarship. for more details,you can visit the website of Dopt [www.persmin.nic.in] ...further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Mr Raviraaj Paatil

Hello Mr Raviraaj Paatil, thanks for your visit on the blog...regarding your query, You should read NCERT thoroughly for CSE-2010....Though, UPSC, in recent times, is focusing on modern India but they can ask any number of questions at any point of time...so for proper preparation, you must read Modern,Medieval and Ancient History...You can follow old NCERT book for history..for Science, you can go through 10,11 and 12th NCERT along with TMH.....for Economy also, It is better to study from NCERT along with Pratiyogita Darpan special issue...good luck for CSE-2010....further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Miss/Mr Anonymous

Hello Miss/Mr Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog...regarding your query on class notes, the class notes are in hand written form and usually bulky in nature as they cover whole syllabus but they are shorter than printed notes...Besides, you can get the class notes of current batch but you need to update and enrich them from the latest examples and case studies...Usually class notes are available after the completion of a batch...So you need to put an extra effort to grab these latest notes available on zerox shops...However, class notes are not the panacea of all evils...you can clear the exam without reading Vaji Ram & Ravi notes by simply reading the books comprehensively according to syllabus and of course with great labour......further query is welcome...keep blogging...

Reply to Miss Shilpa

Hello Miss Shilpa, thanks for your visit on the blog....regarding your query, I am extremely sorry for not providing you an instant reply as my optionals were different...I will reply your query after consulting some successful candidates of your optional shortly...If you wish you can leave your e-mail id also on neutralviews@gmail.com ....further query is welcome....keep blogging..

Strategy for Public Ad & Geography for CSE-2010....Reply to Dr. Anonymous

Hello Dr. Anonymous, thanks for your visit on the blog and kind words about it...Regarding your query, It is really very difficult to expect from CSE-2009 owing to the drastic changes in the pattern of exam and back to back papers of Pub Ad and Geography.....but one should not loose patience....any thing can happen....I wish you a good luck for CSE-2010.
However,it is always prudent to prepare for CSE-2010 if situation permits....the candidates of these optionals [or similar] should make notes in point form so that whole syllabus can be revised just before the exam....It is also advised to focus on all the sundry topics which are not usually covered by candidates and also by coaching institutes.....Regarding the Pub ad Paper-1...as I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, you can follow book by Mr Sharma and Sadana according to syllabus....some topics can be covered from B.L. Fadia if you are not able to comprehend from Sharma and Sadana...after that you can read book by Mr Mohit Bhattacharya. For thinkers, you can refer book by Mr Prasad and Prasad....Since you have already appeared in CSE mains, you must have over all good knowledge of Pub Ad....Now, you can concentrated on finer points, live examples from India and other countries, case studies,etc...For this, you can read The Times of India and Hindustan Times along with the regular paper i.e. The Hindu [or what ever you follow]....The social coverage of Times and Hindustan Times[HT] is very good...lot of case studies are being published in it...you must purchase the 'crest edition' of Times of India [on every Saturday] for detail analysis of topics....you can make notes of one or two liners from the news papers.....Along with it, if you want to score high in Pub Ad, you can purchase one liner quotation book of 'Sanskrit slokas' which can be quoted according to the context.....Last but not the least, if you are not able to understand the basic concepts of Pub Ad Paper-1 at all then leave all things and study the printed material of Vaji Ram and Ravi.....further query is welcome...keep blogging....