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10/23/13 Mrunal » [Studyplan] India 2013 Yearbook: Introduction and approach to Environment and Biodiversity (EnB) (part 1 of 6) » Print

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[Studyplan] India 2013 Yearbook: Introduction and approach toEnvironment and Biodiversity (EnB) (part 1 of 6)

1. Utility in Prelims (CSAT)

2. Utility in Mains

3. Utility in Interview

4. Limitations of yearbook

5. General guidelines while using India Yearbook

1. #1: Skipping sentences

2. #2: Organizations

3. #3: Schemes

6. Yearbook Chapter Classification

7. Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)

1. EnB: organizations

2. EnB: Important facts for MCQ/2m

3. Laws/conventions/IR

4. Environment : Policies

5. EnB: Schemes

6. EnB: Overview Topics

The India 2013 (also known as India yearbook) is made up of

1. Overview of topics (like cement industry, Animal husbandry etc.)2. Organizations: structure function (like Competition Commission of India,

NABARD etc.)3. Policies, laws Schemes, projects, missions. (like MNREGA, PMGSY, NRLM

etc.)4. Some facts, GK (mostly chapter 1, 2, 3, 30, 32).5. Truckload of dates, numbers and tables (most of them useless from exam point

of view).

Anyways, India Yearbook has specific utility in each stage of UPSC civil service exam.

Utility in Prelims (CSAT)

UPSC often asks MCQs based on

1. Functions/ Jurisdiction of organizations: “which of the following ministry /organization looks after xyz matter?” and options given.

http://mrunal.org/

http://www.flipkart.com/india-2013/p/itmdhzsh4eg3rez6?pid=9788123018362&affid=mrunalrugm



2. Salient features of schemes: “which of the following are correct statementsregarding XYZ schemes”. Then you’re given 2,3 or 4 statements and you’ve toidentify the correct or incorrect statements.

3. MCQ based on some absolute fact/GK given in yearbook.

Utility in Mains

In last two years, we can see the trend developing

Type Question Yearbook provides

Long questions(20, 25 markers)

Often asking you to “analyse” or“evaluate” some topic.

Fodder material.

Mediumquestion (10, 12,15 marks)

Salient features of ascheme/policy/organization etc. Or“discuss” xyz thing.

Direct answers (withfollowup point fromnet/newspapers).

2-markers(2, 5 marks)

You’re given some name/term, andyou’ve to write a few lines on it.

Direct answers. (if the termis asked from yearbook).

1. The schemes/terms with catchy names/short-forms = important for MCQ(prelims)/2markers (in mains). (e.g.SABLA, UJJWALA etc.) so better justmaintain a note/MS excel file of it for quick revisions for prelims.

Utility in Interview

1. Chapter 30 of yearbook provides you information about your home state andneighboring states = important for profile based questions.

2. The “organization –functions- jurisdiction” angle very important. Because ifBoard-member asks you “what should be done to improve electricity outputfor Industries?” and you say “Power ministry should do xyz thing.” But actuallythat xyz matter falls under jurisdiction of coal ministry / environment ministry =you’re ruining your impression.

3. The “Schemes” angle. If Board-member asks you “what should be done forDevelopment of North Eastern states?” and you say “xyz thing should bedone”. But that xyz thing is already being done under some scheme for last 10years. Now Board-member thinks that You’re not aware of the realities. Yourknowledge/understanding/reading is shallow.

So overall, yearbook helps you in above areas. But at the same time

Limitations of yearbook

1. For private companies, success = how much money made. Similarly forGovernment, success = how much money spent. So whenever yearbook talksabout a particular scheme, they give you a paragraph/table full of “xyz croresrupees were allotted during 2012-13” and so on….



2. Such data Is hardly useful for exam (brain’s memory storage capacity). Andbecause of such useless data, book is very bulky.

3. Yearbook is written by Government. They want to paint a rosy picture. So,Yearbook won’t generally tell you problems / limitations / shortcomingsassociated with any scheme/organization.

4. That’s why you’ve to follow newspaper columns on regular basis and maintain adairy collecting the fodder points. (which you can cite duringmains/essay/interview, when questions about “analyse, evaluate, suggestreforms” etc are asked.)

5. Coverage is not “exhaustive” for every topic. You’ll still need to dig internet/ oldnewspaper articles to gather more points. (e.g. SEZ, or petro pricing etc.)

General guidelines while using India Yearbook

#1: Skipping sentences

Any statement or table given in yearbook, is important only IF it gives you one or moreof the following information:

1. Some fact/ feature/reason that can be asked in MCQ, 2m or descriptive.2. Some fancy name that can be asked in MCQ, 2m (e.g. Annapurna, Swadhar,

Ujjwala etc.)3. Some Fodder point that can be cited in descriptive answer, essay, interview

^if the statement doesn’t contain any of these, then it’s a useless statement.

Don’t bother finishing the sentence, move to next sentence. Otherwise you cannotfinish this 1200+ pages book in time, If you’re going to read it line by line, word byword.

some risk taking is also necessary.

#2: Organizations

In the introductory part of every chapter, the yearbook will tell you about the“evolution” that xyz ministry was earlier known as abc ministry and then it wasrenamed in 1989 and it was merged with def department and so on….skip “evolution”,just find what functions are performed by the ministry right now?

The organization that affects more lives, is more important.

Small time organizations are not really important. E.g. Rajiv Gandhi flight trainingacademy etc. (cost benefit is not good + gives diminishing rate of returns + you’ve totake some risk, else you can’t finish syllabus.)

Whenever you read about an “organization” ask yourself



1. Where does it fall in the hierarchy?2. What are the functions of this organizations?3. What type of organization is it?= executive, statutory, constitutional, society

etc.?4. Who is the boss, how is he selected? (although not always relevant).

#3: Schemes

Whenever you read about a scheme/mission/project. Ask yourself following

1. Who’s the boss? (implementing ministry)2. Who’s the beneficiary?(target group)3. What benefits are given?4. Is it cash (e.g. scholarship, pension, insurance) or is it kind (e.g. subsidized

fertilizer, wheat, rice, kerosene, tools, training) or both?5. Is It 100% centrally sponsored scheme?

Don’t bother with “year” unless some really big n important scheme. Otherwise justhave the timeframe in mind (started in 80s, 90s, 2000s.)

Yearbook Chapter Classification

I’ve reclassified the Yearbook chapters into following sections (and then given ch.noand page number from where each topic has to be prepared)

1. Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)2. Economy3. International relations, Diplomacy, Diaspora4. Rights issues (education, welfare, basic polity)5. Science Tech, Public Health and Agro6. Communication, IT, Mass comm7. Culture, Tourism, Youth, Sports and Misc GK.

In this article, I’m providing the reading list for “Environment and Biodiversity”.Remaining topics given in other five articles separately.

Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)

Background

1. How to approach Environment and Biodiversity for General Studies (prelims andmains) explained in separate article already (Click me)

2. NIOS Study material: (click me for download)

3. IGNOU Study material: (click me for download)

4. Articles on various topics of [EnB] can be found at http://www.mrunal.org/enb

5. Following list contains the essential ENB topics to be studied from India 2013

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/strategy-upsc-civil-ias-ips-ifs-service-exam-booklist-part3.html#551

https://files.secureserver.net/0sd46Y4oSFetsI

https://files.secureserver.net/3s9Yz8T5rTkosv

http://www.mrunal.org/enb




(aka India yearbook).

EnB: organizations

Ch Pg no Topic

12 291 ministry of environment forest

12 291 Botanical survey of India

12 292 Zoological Survey of India

12 292 Forest Survey of India

12 296 Genetic approval Committee: functions

12 300 national board of wildlife (dig net)

12 305 Pollution control board (CPCB)

12 310 national river conservation directorate

12 311 Ganga Basin authority (+ pg 740 planning)

12 323 NEAMA authority

27 958 functions of Ministry of water resources

27 966 water resource council, water board

27 970-71 Centrak water Commission functions

27 973 Central ground water board + RGI scheme

27 975-76 WAPCOS functions

27 976 narmada control authority

27 978 National Perspective plan + Water Development agency

EnB: Important facts for MCQ/2m

12 297 AICOPTAX

12 300 WCCB functions

12 301 central zoo authority : functions

12 303 name of statutory bodies for animal welfare (2nd para)

12 319 IGNFA, Dehradun trains IFS officers.

12 323 ECOMARK dig net

27 961 hydro project II (fact that world bank gives assistance)

27 980 river links

27 974 Farakka, Bansagar, Ganga Flood, Upper Yamuna (mostly MCQs)

Laws/conventions/IR

12 294 biosphere reserve

12 295 Biodiversity Act + overview on pg 743 planning

12 323 Green tribunal (NGT) + pg 741 planning + dig net

Environment : Policies

12 299 forest policy (dig net)




12 304 environment impact assement (dig net)

12 304 policy for abetment of pollution (+ more on page 306) + pg 742 planning

27 958 water policy (2nd para) dig net for more

EnB: Schemes

12 298 IFMS (Forest Management)

12 301project tiger (dig net) + tables given on pg 301, 302 =important forMCQs)

12 302 project elephant (dig net)

12 306 clean technology and hazard/waste Management (upto pg 310)

12 312 Wetland conservation + Ramsar

12313-14

Afforestation + eco Development

12 316 Gadgil panel (already discussed click me)

12 321 ENVIS

23 744 National Action plan for climate change (dig net for more)

23 745 Green India mission +low carbon economy

EnB: Overview Topics

These are the topics that don’t fall under conventional classification of “organization /scheme“, but nonetheless, they provide good facts and fodder points.

1 5 flora overview

1 6 fauna overview

4 73 climate change and agriculture

12 293 Mangrove protection + coral reefs + third para on page 317

12 323 climate change overview

25888-892

Ocean science and tech

25892-896

coastal and marine ecology+ coast Management program from pg 741planning

25 896 climate change research, cloud physics, disaster support

26 941 Sethusamudram project (dig more on net regarding SC orders)

23 740 12th FYP and environment + issues require attention @pg 742

27 962 flood Management

27 963 ground water Development upto pg 965: mostly fodder

Remaining Five parts

1. Approach to Economy, Finance, Industry, Commerce, Corporate Affairs (Part 2 of 6)

2. Approach to IR, Diplomacy, Diaspora, Communication, IT and Mass Comm (part 3 of 6)

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/enb-western-ghats-physical-geography-biodiversity-overview-part-1-of-4.html

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-economy-finance-industry-commerce-corporate-affairs-part-2-of-6.html

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-ir-diplomacy-diaspora-communication-it-and-mass-comm-part-3-of-6.html



3. Approach to Rights issue, education, welfare, poverty removal schemes (part 4 of 6)

4. Approach to Science-Tech, Public Health, Agro (Part 5 of 6)

5. Approach to Culture, Tourism, Youth, Sports, Misc.GK (Part 6 of 6)

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-introduction-and-approach-to-environment-and-biodiversity-enb-part-1-of-6.html

Posted By On 19/02/2013 @ 22:12 In the category Yearbook

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-rights-issue-education-welfare-poverty-removal-schemes-part-4-of-6.html

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-science-tech-public-health-agro-part-5-of-6.html

http://mrunal.org/2013/02/studyplan-india-2013-yearbook-approach-to-culture-tourism-youth-sports-misc-gk-part-6-of-6.html

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