IFoS 2014 Mains GK paper

Analysis of IFoS Mains GK paper


2013 paper	2014
Each question worth 8 marks.	12.5 marks
40 marks each from History, polity, environment cum geography.	50 each from those section
Person in news question asked	Not asked.
Polity had mix of theory + current e.g. SC guidelines on acid attacks.	3 polity qs. from theory and 1 from current (min gov.max.gov)
unusual topics like TRP rating in India, breaking news, spot fixing	Not asked. This year pretty straight forward paper.
few questions from budget & economic survey	same

History-Culture any one of the following combo
1. Tamilnadu Class 11-12 history books +Spectrum
2. Old NCERT + Spectrum
3. General Studies Manual
Geography / Environment:
1. For Theory: (NIOS + NCERTs)
2. For Current: newspapers.
Polity: M. Laxmikanth for theory + Hindu / Indian express for current affairs
Economy, Budget, Survey, Schemes: yours unfaithfully Mrunal.org/economy
IR/Diplomacy:
1. For Theory: NIOS Political science or IGNOU PDFs.
2. For Current: Newspaper + yours unfaithfully Mrunal.org/diplomacy + google because not all IR-bodies covered in theory-books.
Science-Tech: Theory/contemporary: selected google e.g. Nanotech, cryo-tech + current from newspapers.
PIN, Sports, books-awards: should be prepared from magazines & newspapers. Because trend in single exam =insufficient to presume that it won’t be asked in in 2015, given UPSC’s double-bluff back-breaking^TM move shown in CSAT-2014.
Self-Notes making and minimum 3 times revision is essential. Otherwise hard to recall points in the exam. Then even in easy questions like Champaran & Chola-art, you’ll end up writing average quality answers.
Newspaper means Hindu / Indianexpress ONLY. Don’t need both. Any one would suffice for IfoS.

Time Allowed: Three Hours (Maximum Marks : 300)
Each question worth 12.5 marks.
No alternate options given. All questions compulsory.
Attempt of a part/question shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a part/question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page
Left blank in the Question cum Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.

Discuss the objectives of Prime Minister’s Jan-Dhan Yojana. What challenges do you foresee in its implementation?
What are the reasons for persistent high rate of food inflation in India?
Explain demographic dividend and its relevance to India.
Discuss the recommendations of Rangarajan Panel on the estimates of poverty in India.

What do you understand by Environmental Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment?
Discuss the causes of the recent devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir. How do they compare with those of Uttarakhand disaster last year?
What do you understand by soil erosion Discuss its causes.
What are wet-lands? Discuss their importance.

3 out 4 questions can be solved from Indian Policy by M.Laxmikanth

Comment on ‘Digital India Programme’.
How is Indian mission of Mars different than that of other countries in recent times?
What do you understand by Nano technology? How is it critical in context with food industry?
How is Cryogenics different from Cryonics?