ISIS

               Read an interesting piece in The Hindu today about ISIS.The US administration is concerned about the enormous wealth that ISIS is able to generate primarily through the sale of oil from oil rich fields of Iraq, Jordan and Syria.It also mentions that situation is so grave that in the wake of failure of Iraqi armed forces now only a fraction of the country along the eastern flanks remains under the control of Kurdish forces which they are trying to defend with significant help from the US.By selling  oil from occupied areas at 60 $ a barrel which is much less than that of the international market rates of around 100 $ they are reaping huge profits on account of large scale illegal trade along the border posts now controlled by ISIS forces.
             The ISIS aim to establish 'caliphate' .The wikipedia describes it as a sunni jihadist group active in syria and iraq in the middle east.Unlike in previous occasions the US or the NATO nations are not in a position to tackle this situation by sending forces.The Obama administration is facing domestic pressure against sending forces to Iraq to support the Kurdish forces hence Obama has adopted a no foot soldier policy wherein US is involved only in air strikes over the ISIS captured regions.
            Must leave this topic here as the noble minds in UPSC say do not to Phd on any topic but be aware of the basic facts.In the week gone by I gave three tests.The experience was as follows;

1.Ethics:Bad, but it was my first test on GS 4.I will improve in future as lot of my time got spent in searching study material.
2.Oceanography:Ok but need to more often revise basic concepts from Ncert and dictionary.
3.Polity:Again Ok but it could have been better.More revision and more careful study of newspaper will do the needful.
         Society and geomorphology tests are lined up this week.Will start much early so that no topics are left out unlike in the previous tests.

Planning....

           On independence day a few weeks back , the PM  made an inspiring speech which also contained a mention of demise of the Planning Commission and bringing a new body in it's place the details of which might come out as the policy makers give shape to it in due course of time.The PC being a non-constitutional body does not require constitutional amendment to make the changes as desired by the new Goverment but nevertheless there seems to be widespread discontent among other national parties over the decision and demands for parliamentary discussions are being a made.
          At this moment i am more concerned about my own plans.Let me list down the things which i am doing on a daily basis:
1.Preparing for weekly tests at Ias score ( which is taking care of my GS preparation ).
2.Preparing for Fortnightly Geography tests (which is catering to my optional preparations).
3.Maintaining a diary containing sectionwise notes of topics like econ, IR, Internal security, constitutional developments, Goverment policies etc etc. (also useful for essay)
4.Reading daily newspaper.
          But i will try to streamline all these activities so that proper time is allotted to all activities including my daily jogs (o.k 4 times a week to be precise), watching sitcoms on you tube.
         

Hello Ethics

           The ias score test series has ethics as the first test to be held coming saturday. I tried preparing for ethics a few times before prelims but could not continue as i was pre occupied with GS preparations and if at all i could get time from the synergy CSAT test series which was held every alternate weekend i would prefer Studying Geography (my optional) instead.But now since i am free from csat preparation i started with ethics yesterday.
           I found the subject so relevant and contemporary not only for a civil servant but for any ordinary human facing ethical or moral dilemmas in everyday life.Is it right to bribe for something that would benefit disadvantaged people, you caught a boy stealing from a shop whether to punish him so as to label him as a thief or let him go which would encourage him to repeat the same deed again.There are different schools of ethics like Utilitarianism, kantian, Rights-based, Contractarian etc which give different views on what to do in above mentioned situations.But lot depends on individual perception also.
          Yesterday evening i was mentally drained so much that I did not feel like studying.So I dragged myself to Batra to watch Mary kom just to re-freshen myself.The approaching weekend would be quite challenging with a test on ethics and Oceanography lined up. Ethics syllabus for test is short so i am confident of preparing it well, oceanography will need revision and diagram practice.Will start with it right away.

PDS and the Subziwala..

           It is a peculiar thing with Mains study that when you read a page about any topic you cannot leave it midway and switch to some other topic because doing so will make you go again through the grind of revising the topic from scratch next time one has to open it.So as i was glancing through an article about Public distribution system on Ias score website but it made me more curious to read all detail notes which i am doing till now.From PDS i went to APMC act,from there i will next go to food processing and in the course revise definitions relating to Min support price, Fair price shop, food subsidy etc etc.
            While i was studying the sabziwala was passing with his thela.While i wa bargaining for reducing the price of lowki and brinjal the though passed my mind on whether these vegetables have come from mandis or directly from a farm.Where there any middleman who were making profits, if so am i paying the correct price to the thelawala.This is the thing which fascinates me the most about the Civil service exam that the syllabus is so much part of our everyday life.
         Now time to get back to studies will finish GS 3 syllabus based on PDS and food chain and start with ethics in the evening as from today i have only 6 days to write my first test on ethics.

Joined Iasscore test series

          Sept 7,2014

           World History, IR,Internal security these all are the most interesting topics to prepare for in the mains exam but perhaps Civil Services is not about ones interests. This exam demands your interest in perhaps every topic which concerns ordinary people be it the constitution of India or that God damn coral reef lying at a depth of 20-30 metre somewhere in the Andamans or the lakshwadeep or anywhere in the tropical region.So soon i will have to switch over to other topics as per the ias score test series schedule.
           I was surprised and totally shocked when i learn t that the first batch for a GS Mains test series got filled.So much demand for a test series !! But the incident gave me a lesson to be more proactive in decision making it took mea lot of time in taking the decision to leave Vision's test series midway and go for Ias score.
         But now I am glad that until November i am bound by a very tight schedule as one cant miss any test to be held on a particular day.The syllabus for mains is vast and simultaneously I have to keep on giving Geography tests also as my optional paper.I wasted 20 minutes at Karol Bagh Bargaining for a pair of lowers Inspite of it being highly tempting i should give precedence to time over money from now onwards and in the end that thelawala did not reduce even a single paisa.Total waste of time !!
          Mary Kom running at Batra cinema just 300 metres from my place. But seriously, whatever might be the report of the movie having watched 'million dollar baby ' atleast 7-8 times i am just not that interested to watch another boxing movie though i adore Mary kom and her achievements.so time to get back to studies tonights itinerary goes like this:Revise World History,Indian Diaspora,Indo-pak, Indo-US, Indo-China but before that will watch 'Lincon' for some time, yet another masterpiece by 'spielberg' Saheb.

Post PRE Recovery....!!

            After having slogged for months studying books on hist,geog,culture,economy,science, writing multiple tests and repeating the procedure time and again made me feel i had done my best and that the Civil service prelims 2014 would be a cake walk.But alas it did not go as expected.With probability of clearing the first stage of exam woefully low in my second attempt self doubts on my ability are all time high.Nevertheless given the very narrow time gap between prelims and mains this time i need to continue with the half left job i started before prelims i.e writing the remaining tests as part of the VISION mains test series (the one which i joined back in Mar 2014). The experience of writing tests will come handy when i get to  write the Mains.
          I think by now i have started developing a fair grip over International relations.With the new BJP Government at power India and its neighborhood section has become very dynamic and thus will have to focus on this area.The middle east crisis, the ISIS crisis in Iraq and Syria are not to be neglected either.Will finish Post independence India today and whatever part remains in World history.Time to get back to study but before that will catch up with 'friends' season 1 on you tube.

Blemishes in Indian Foreign Policy...

BSF Soldiers guarding Border

      Neighbors may be good or bad, receptive or hostile, friendly or unsociable. But at the end of the day you have to live with them,you have to find ways and means to exist in harmony . Our country too is blessed with a unique geographical location with a blend of friendly and hostile neighbors in it's vicinity. India has long and porous land borders in northern and eastern parts with Pakistan, China , Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Infiltration of terrorists,illegal immigrants and smuggling along such borders is the biggest challenge for the countries security forces.India became a Nuclear power state after conducting it's first nuclear test in 1974.India has since then adopted the policy of nuclear deterrence wherein India can use it's nuclear power to prevent any untoward action from it's two main rivals China and Pakistan.
         What is the  problem with Pakistan ???....In simple terms, normally in any country the army is controlled by the State (i.e Government in power) but in the case of Pakistan the state is controlled by the Army.As a result no matter which party is in power the pakistan external intelligence agency ISI and Pak Army are the ones dictating policies and always planning anti India activities like terrorism,smuggling of arms,terror attacks to destabilize Indian economy etc no matter how much we try to take steps towards establishing cordial relations with them.

चीन का नकली माल  !

          China's main intention is to dominate the World.India stands in the way of china's ambition of controlling  Asia both on land and by sea.China has largest Army in the World and has Good infrastructure built along it's border areas with India to strike at a rapid pace in case of war.China has great trade relations with nearly all nations in Asia thanks to the cheap labour and high manufacturing capacity and hence chinese goods have flooded Asian Markets.Cinese Mobile,chinese batteries,chinese toys,elctrical machines inspite of low quality. India due to it's democratic past and an image of  peace loving nation has been able to maintain cordial relations with majority smaller nation like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives,Singapore,Mauritius,Thailand,phillipiens etc in south and south east Asia.The significant presence of Indian Navy in the Indian ocean has helped India to maintain  maritime security and protect the interests of itself and other smaller nations from china's domination.Recently China has started a major port building project in Sri Lanka and is trying to increase it's influence in Maldives.These are worrying signals for India.    Countering China cannot be  done militarily because it is impossible for India to spend so much on Defence budget as china does, so it is important India improves it's own economy. It is also important that India bridges the huge trade deficit with China which has reached 39 billion $, highly in favor of china. India must reduce it's dependence on chinese goods and device policies to boost Indigenous manufacturing sectors and make them more competitive and export oriented  especially agriculture,minerals,petroleum products etc so that they do not meet the same fate as Indian  plastic and electronic industry in the past.

People Displaced in Riots

         Bangladesh  during early years of formation had normal relations with India but since last two decades Relations have been bumpy just like the bus journey on  roads of rural India. Illegal influx of migrants from Bangladesh sneak illegally into India to earn a living and  have now entered every nook and corner of the country but situation is serious in  Assam with large scale displacement and loss of lives having occurred in early 2012 due to the riots between the locals and  immigrants from Bangladesh who have settled in Assam over many years(many of them having fake address proofs and Identity cards). Bangladesh is going through a political turmoil wherein the main opposition party BNP i.e Bangladesh Nationalist party led by Khaleda Zia along with certain islamic factions are resorting to violence which has taken hundreds of lives and damaged huge amount of property in their attempt to prevent holding of elections in the country.The ruling Goverment of Awami league led by Sheikh Hasina is finding it hard to control these rioters.India however has adopted a wait and watch approach and failed yet again to in settling the dispute between the Awami League and BNP. 

"I was just jocking"

           Nepal is a small land locked nation lying between India and China.Off late the Nepal border is being used for flesh trade which is fueling the prostitution business along Borders and has also become a corridor to smuggle arms and ammunition by terrorist networks.The biggest threat emanating from Nepal at present is it's unstable Political situation. There is a civil War going on between Royal Nepalese Army and the moist headed by their Leader Prachananda. Even though elections were held for the first time in 2007 Nepal has had 4 prime ministers since then and it's constituent assembly  is yet  to deliver a constitution for the country. In Nov,2013 in it's second election Nepal unanimously rejected unified communist party of Nepal (who got only 15 seats) in favor of Nepal congress and CPN (UML) which got 72 seats each.What is India's role here?? It is best in India's interest that a democratic Government is established in Nepal.Secondly India should check the growth of moist party under Prachananda. There is every possibility of communist China trying to destabilize Nepal's power equation and helping the moist  party in Nepal.( Chunky pandey is a big star in Nepal having worked in Nepalese films for many years.India can use him as a goodwill ambassador :))
              India areawise is the  largest country in south east Asia, yet it has a negligible influence on the south Asian Geopolitics.Today India can claim to be the first to send an expedition to Mars called Mangalaayan, Chandrayaanaa was another significant achievement and even NASA scientists appreciated the information sent by chandrayaana. We have developed inter continental ballistic missiles which will give an edge in case a nuclear war occurs in future.But all these achievements are futile in the absence of a pro active foreign policy on behalf of India.Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh continue to enter Indian territories and India's appeal has fallen on deaf ears of Bangladeshi political establishments.Thousands of innocent Tamils were slaughtered in Sri Lanka yet India remained a mute spectator.The plight of Hindu minorities in Pakistan is well known and they are repeatedly requesting the Indian establishment for refuge.Even smaller countries like Nepal and Maldives have lost faith in Indian diplomatic policies and have started looking for other reliable partners like China.Unless and until India starts to understand that it has to change it's present approach of wait and watch and replace it with that of more proactive approach it would continue to lose the trust of it's neighbors.