Forwarded from SSB Future Officers (Ankit)
#TO_ALL_LADIES_GENTLEMAN
Do finish all these psych tests in the prescribed time and attempt all and share your attempts(numbers only) on the group.
Daily practice is easy but attempting the real test format with real timings is bit challenging and you have to attempt with positivity and determination.
And compilation of all SRTs and WATs which have been discussed on the group earlier on daily basis,takes plenty of time.So do some justice to your efforts as well as ours.
It's advised to every candidate to be truthful to themselves and do some serious self-analysis.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Do finish all these psych tests in the prescribed time and attempt all and share your attempts(numbers only) on the group.
Daily practice is easy but attempting the real test format with real timings is bit challenging and you have to attempt with positivity and determination.
And compilation of all SRTs and WATs which have been discussed on the group earlier on daily basis,takes plenty of time.So do some justice to your efforts as well as ours.
It's advised to every candidate to be truthful to themselves and do some serious self-analysis.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Forwarded from SSB Future Officers (Ankit)
SRT 5.pdf
129.6 KB
#TO_ALL_LADIES_GENTLEMAN
For GPE -(at 4:00 PM)
Follow the timing strictly and try to write the solution within 10 minutes after reading the story card and analysing the model properly.
And submit it on a A4 sheet or any paper available with u with proper solution and strictly in 2 pages only before 4:30 PM.
Google meet discussion for those who submitted their responses before 4:30 PM.
It's advised to every candidate to be truthful to themselves and do some serious self-analysis.✌️✌️
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion.
For GPE -(at 4:00 PM)
Follow the timing strictly and try to write the solution within 10 minutes after reading the story card and analysing the model properly.
And submit it on a A4 sheet or any paper available with u with proper solution and strictly in 2 pages only before 4:30 PM.
Google meet discussion for those who submitted their responses before 4:30 PM.
It's advised to every candidate to be truthful to themselves and do some serious self-analysis.✌️✌️
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion.
#GPE_practice
Group Planning Exercise 21
Response time between 4:00 PM & 4:30 PM.
For more https://t.me/ssbgeneraldiscussion
Group Planning Exercise 21
Response time between 4:00 PM & 4:30 PM.
For more https://t.me/ssbgeneraldiscussion
You are a group of students from Rampur town. You came for a picnic to Gauri FARM and you have to return by 11AM today. You had carried three guns and ammunition for your protection in the Ghana jungle . Today early morning when four of you were having a joy ride on the horses of the Farm you saw a plane crash landing nearby. On reaching the crash site you found the pilot alive who had luckily survived with minor injuries. He told you that he was carrying a safety mechanism weighing 150 kgs which was urgently required at the Atomic Power Plant in Rampur by 8AM. Non availability of this mechanism would lead to a major accident involving huge loss of life and property. At the same time, a worker from the farm, who is the resident of Rampur came to you and told you that 15 minutes ago a tiger had badly injured a person in his village. The injured person was bleeding profusely and was lying unconscious in Rajghat . He requested you to kill the tiger as it was frequently attacking people of his village. Responding to your enquiries, he told you that the only tractor available at the Gauri Farm returns to the farm by 7:30 AM daily after unloading grains in the Gauri village. He also informed that the movement of vehicles either way on the GT road is every 10 minutes and on Rampur-Sitapur Road it is every 20 minutes.
2. When you were discussing what to do, the motor boat operator came and told you that the plane had damaged the bridge while crash landing. He also informed you that a passenger train leaves Sitapur for Rampur at 6:15 AM daily. Remembering he added that there was motorised inspection trolley available at the Flag Station. Offering his full help to you, he informed that the capacity of this boat is 5 persons.
3. There are no mobile or telephone services in area. Time now is 6 AM As young energetic students what will you do?
2. When you were discussing what to do, the motor boat operator came and told you that the plane had damaged the bridge while crash landing. He also informed you that a passenger train leaves Sitapur for Rampur at 6:15 AM daily. Remembering he added that there was motorised inspection trolley available at the Flag Station. Offering his full help to you, he informed that the capacity of this boat is 5 persons.
3. There are no mobile or telephone services in area. Time now is 6 AM As young energetic students what will you do?
An Expert Explains: IAF role in Eastern Ladakh
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/an-expert-explains-iaf-role-in-eastern-ladakh-6618417/
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/an-expert-explains-iaf-role-in-eastern-ladakh-6618417/
The Indian Express
An Expert Explains: The role of the Indian Air Force in Eastern Ladakh
The Indian Army is preparing for extended deployment at the LAC through the winter months. This leaves the IAF with a key role in providing support to the troops. What are the challenges to meet in the harsh winter and tough terrain?
Address farmers’ issues now | HT Editorial
https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/address-farmers-issues-now-ht-editorial/story-oov5IHBUiYkRLxHuFojVyI.html
-via Opeddiction
https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/address-farmers-issues-now-ht-editorial/story-oov5IHBUiYkRLxHuFojVyI.html
-via Opeddiction
Hindustan Times
Address farmers’ issues now | HT Editorial
Reassure farmers; ensure proper regulatory oversight in the wake of reform bills
#Important_notes_ssb_Lecturette
Role of NGOs in Indian Democracy
◆India has nearly 3.4 million non-governmental organisations (NGOs), working in a variety of fields ranging from disaster relief to advocacy for marginalised and disadvantaged communities.
◆There the role and responsibilities are immense in developing country like India, which can listed as follows:
Bridging The Gap: NGOs endeavour to plug gaps in the government’s programmes and reach out to sections of people often left untouched by state projects. For example, providing aid to migrant workers in Covid-19 crisis.
●Also, they are engaged in diverse activities, relating to human and labour rights, gender issues, healthcare, environment, education, legal aid, and even research.
Role of an Enabler: Community-level outfits and self-help groups are critical for bringing any change in the ground.
●In the past, such grass roots organisations have been enabled by collaborations with bigger NGOs and research agencies that have access to foreign funding.
Acting as a Pressure Group: There are political NGOs that mobilise public opinion against government’s policies and actions.
●To the extent such NGOs are able to educate the public and put pressure on public policy, they act as important pressure groups in a democracy.
●They also mobilize and organize the poor to demand quality service and impose a community system to accountability on the performance of grassroots government functionaries.
Role in Participative Governance: Many civil society initiatives have contributed to some of the path-breaking laws in the country, including the Environmental Protection Act-1986, Right to Education Act-2009, Forests Rights Act-2006 and Right to Information Act-2005.
Acting as a Social Mediator: The social inter-mediation is an intervention of different levels of society by various agents to change social and behavioural attitudes within the prevailing social environment for achieving desired results of change in society.
●In Indian context wherein people are still steeped in superstition, faith, belief and custom, NGOs act as catalysts and create awareness among people.
Issues Emanating From NGOs
Lack of Credibility: During the last few years, numerous organisations have mushroomed which claim to work for the cause of helping the poor.
◆Under the garb of being an NGO, these NGOs often mint money from donors and are also involved in money laundering activities.
◆There is nearly one NGO for every 400 people in India. However, not every NGO out there is engaged in serious social welfare work. Many are fraudulent and many are there without much serious intent.
Lack of Transparency: India’s disproportionate number of NGOs and the sector’s lack of transparency and accountability is clearly an issue that needs reforms.
◆Further the allegations of corruption against NGOs be ignored. In the past many NGOs were blacklisted after being found to have indulged in misappropriation of funds.
Undermining Development Activities: A report by India’s Intelligence Bureau accused NGOs such as Greenpeace, Cordaid, Amnesty, and Action Aid for reducing India’s GDP by 2-3% per year.
Conclusion
●It is important for NGOs to achieve and maintain a high degree of transparency in not just their work but also their financials. NGOs need to keep their income and expenditure open to public scrutiny. However, credibility of an NGO cannot be decided against the touchstone of the source of funds, native or foreign.
●Also, the government must realise that seamless sharing of ideas and resources across national boundaries is essential to the functioning of a global community, and it should not be discouraged unless there is reason to believe the funds are being used to aid illegal activities.
●Thus, given the role of NGOs in the development sector of India, there is a need to balance between autonomy of NGOs and Government’s imperative to put a check on NGOs that are engaged in illegal activities.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
Role of NGOs in Indian Democracy
◆India has nearly 3.4 million non-governmental organisations (NGOs), working in a variety of fields ranging from disaster relief to advocacy for marginalised and disadvantaged communities.
◆There the role and responsibilities are immense in developing country like India, which can listed as follows:
Bridging The Gap: NGOs endeavour to plug gaps in the government’s programmes and reach out to sections of people often left untouched by state projects. For example, providing aid to migrant workers in Covid-19 crisis.
●Also, they are engaged in diverse activities, relating to human and labour rights, gender issues, healthcare, environment, education, legal aid, and even research.
Role of an Enabler: Community-level outfits and self-help groups are critical for bringing any change in the ground.
●In the past, such grass roots organisations have been enabled by collaborations with bigger NGOs and research agencies that have access to foreign funding.
Acting as a Pressure Group: There are political NGOs that mobilise public opinion against government’s policies and actions.
●To the extent such NGOs are able to educate the public and put pressure on public policy, they act as important pressure groups in a democracy.
●They also mobilize and organize the poor to demand quality service and impose a community system to accountability on the performance of grassroots government functionaries.
Role in Participative Governance: Many civil society initiatives have contributed to some of the path-breaking laws in the country, including the Environmental Protection Act-1986, Right to Education Act-2009, Forests Rights Act-2006 and Right to Information Act-2005.
Acting as a Social Mediator: The social inter-mediation is an intervention of different levels of society by various agents to change social and behavioural attitudes within the prevailing social environment for achieving desired results of change in society.
●In Indian context wherein people are still steeped in superstition, faith, belief and custom, NGOs act as catalysts and create awareness among people.
Issues Emanating From NGOs
Lack of Credibility: During the last few years, numerous organisations have mushroomed which claim to work for the cause of helping the poor.
◆Under the garb of being an NGO, these NGOs often mint money from donors and are also involved in money laundering activities.
◆There is nearly one NGO for every 400 people in India. However, not every NGO out there is engaged in serious social welfare work. Many are fraudulent and many are there without much serious intent.
Lack of Transparency: India’s disproportionate number of NGOs and the sector’s lack of transparency and accountability is clearly an issue that needs reforms.
◆Further the allegations of corruption against NGOs be ignored. In the past many NGOs were blacklisted after being found to have indulged in misappropriation of funds.
Undermining Development Activities: A report by India’s Intelligence Bureau accused NGOs such as Greenpeace, Cordaid, Amnesty, and Action Aid for reducing India’s GDP by 2-3% per year.
Conclusion
●It is important for NGOs to achieve and maintain a high degree of transparency in not just their work but also their financials. NGOs need to keep their income and expenditure open to public scrutiny. However, credibility of an NGO cannot be decided against the touchstone of the source of funds, native or foreign.
●Also, the government must realise that seamless sharing of ideas and resources across national boundaries is essential to the functioning of a global community, and it should not be discouraged unless there is reason to believe the funds are being used to aid illegal activities.
●Thus, given the role of NGOs in the development sector of India, there is a need to balance between autonomy of NGOs and Government’s imperative to put a check on NGOs that are engaged in illegal activities.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
#INTERNATIONAL_CURRENTAFFAIRS #INTERNATIONAL_RELATIONS
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
Why in News-Recently, territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has re-erupted with heavy clashes.
◆Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of Transcaucasia or South Caucasia (geographical region in the vicinity of the southern Caucasus Mountains on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia consisting of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan).
Reasons for Dispute:
•Territorial: Nagorno-Karabakh region has 95% of the population as ethnically Armenian and is controlled by them but it is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
•Religious: Armenia is Christian majority, while Azerbaijan is Muslim majority country.
•Domestic Politics: The leaders of both the nations have fueled the issue time and again for their vested political interests.
Impact:
Destabilize the Region: Renewed tensions threaten to reignite a military conflict between the countries and destabilize the South Caucasus region. This may cause social unrest in the region which is already suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Civilian Casualties: In this disputed region, there are hundreds of civilian settlements, residents of which would be directly impacted and potentially displaced if any large-scale war were to break out between the two countries
Economic Impact: This could also disrupt oil and gas exports from the region, since Azerbaijan, is a significant oil and gas exporter to Europe and Central Asia. This may even lead to higher oil prices globally.
International Involvement: Russia has closer ties with Armenia while Turkey and USA support Azerbaijan, and Iran has a large Azeri minority, which could escalate a crisis and entangle actors involved. Any military escalation would draw regional powers like Turkey and Russia more deeply into the conflict.
◆Russia, Israel and many other countries have been supplying Arms to both the countries despite the arms embargo by the United Nations.
Effect on India
India- Armenia: In recent years, Indian-Armenian bilateral cooperation has seen rapid growth.
●The then Vice-President of India visited Yerevan (Armenia) in 2017.
●Armenia bought the India SWATHI military radar system in March 2020.
●Many Indian students study in Armenian medical Universities and in recent years Armenia has witnessed an increasing flow of Indian labour migrants.
●For Armenia, close relations with India are vitally important as India provides a counter balance to the rival strategic axis between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey.
India-Azerbaijan: India is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
●Azerbaijan is a dialogue partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which India is a member of.
●In 2018, the then Indian External affairs minister had visited Baku (Azerbaijan), the first-ever bilateral visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Azerbaijan.
●India’s ONGC-Videsh is an investor in Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil fields and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
●However, Azerbaijan supports Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
Why in News-Recently, territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region has re-erupted with heavy clashes.
◆Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of Transcaucasia or South Caucasia (geographical region in the vicinity of the southern Caucasus Mountains on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia consisting of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan).
Reasons for Dispute:
•Territorial: Nagorno-Karabakh region has 95% of the population as ethnically Armenian and is controlled by them but it is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
•Religious: Armenia is Christian majority, while Azerbaijan is Muslim majority country.
•Domestic Politics: The leaders of both the nations have fueled the issue time and again for their vested political interests.
Impact:
Destabilize the Region: Renewed tensions threaten to reignite a military conflict between the countries and destabilize the South Caucasus region. This may cause social unrest in the region which is already suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Civilian Casualties: In this disputed region, there are hundreds of civilian settlements, residents of which would be directly impacted and potentially displaced if any large-scale war were to break out between the two countries
Economic Impact: This could also disrupt oil and gas exports from the region, since Azerbaijan, is a significant oil and gas exporter to Europe and Central Asia. This may even lead to higher oil prices globally.
International Involvement: Russia has closer ties with Armenia while Turkey and USA support Azerbaijan, and Iran has a large Azeri minority, which could escalate a crisis and entangle actors involved. Any military escalation would draw regional powers like Turkey and Russia more deeply into the conflict.
◆Russia, Israel and many other countries have been supplying Arms to both the countries despite the arms embargo by the United Nations.
Effect on India
India- Armenia: In recent years, Indian-Armenian bilateral cooperation has seen rapid growth.
●The then Vice-President of India visited Yerevan (Armenia) in 2017.
●Armenia bought the India SWATHI military radar system in March 2020.
●Many Indian students study in Armenian medical Universities and in recent years Armenia has witnessed an increasing flow of Indian labour migrants.
●For Armenia, close relations with India are vitally important as India provides a counter balance to the rival strategic axis between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey.
India-Azerbaijan: India is part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
●Azerbaijan is a dialogue partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which India is a member of.
●In 2018, the then Indian External affairs minister had visited Baku (Azerbaijan), the first-ever bilateral visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Azerbaijan.
●India’s ONGC-Videsh is an investor in Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil fields and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
●However, Azerbaijan supports Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
#INTERNATIONAL_CURRENTAFFAIRS #INTERNATIONAL_RELATIONS
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
#GD_Material
Farmer's Protest {1/2}
●Recently, there have been strong protests from farmers, especially from the states of Punjab and Haryana, against three farm bills that seek to replace ordinances issued in june 2020.
●These bills envisage to bring change in some of the key aspects of the farm economy — trade in agricultural commodities, price assurance, farm services including contracts, and stock limits for essential commodities.
●These bills sought to bring much needed reforms in the agricultural marketing system such as removing restrictions of private stock holding of agricultural produce or creating trading areas free of middlemen and take the market to the farmer.
●However, farmers are apprehensive that the free market philosophy supported by these bills could undermine the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and make farmers vulnerable to market forces.
Intended Benefits Associated with These Bills
●The Bills aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade by creating trading areas free of middlemen and government taxes outside the structure of Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
●It will allow farmers an option to sell their produce directly to these new zones, without going through the middlemen and paying levies such as mandi fees.
●It sought to remove stock holding limits as well as curbs on inter-State and intra-State trade, and create a framework for contract farming.
●Also, these bills promote the creation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) on a large scale and will help in creating a farmer-friendly environment for contract farming where small players can benefit.
●These bills may enable private players to invest in warehousing, grading and other marketing infrastructure.
●A combined effect of these bills will help in creating a ‘One Nation, One Market’ for agricultural produce.
Issues Raised by The Farmers & Opposition
Federal Angle: The provisions in the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, provides for unfettered commerce in designated trade areas outside APMC jurisdictions.
●Apart from this, the bill empowers the Centre government to issue orders to States in furtherance of the law’s objectives.
●However, matters of trade and agriculture being the part of subjects on the State list, have caused resentment in States.
Lack of Consultation: First the ordinance route and now the hastily attempt to pass the Bills without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including farmers.
●Also, by allowing ‘trade zones’ to come up outside the APMC area, farmers have become apprehensive that the new system would lead to eventual exit from the minimum support price.
Absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis: Another issue that is raised by the farmers is that the proposed bills give the preference for corporate interests at the cost of farmers’ interests.
●In absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis, the farmers may find it difficult to deal with Corporates, as they solely operate on the motive of profit seeking.
Non-Favourable Market Conditions: While retail prices have remained high, data from the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) suggest a deceleration in farm gate prices for most agricultural produce.
●With rising input costs, farmers do not see the free market based framework providing them remunerative prices.
●These fears gain strength with the experience of States such as Bihar which abolished APMCs in 2006. After the abolition of mandis, farmers in Bihar on average received lower prices compared to the MSP for most crops.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
Farmer's Protest {1/2}
●Recently, there have been strong protests from farmers, especially from the states of Punjab and Haryana, against three farm bills that seek to replace ordinances issued in june 2020.
●These bills envisage to bring change in some of the key aspects of the farm economy — trade in agricultural commodities, price assurance, farm services including contracts, and stock limits for essential commodities.
●These bills sought to bring much needed reforms in the agricultural marketing system such as removing restrictions of private stock holding of agricultural produce or creating trading areas free of middlemen and take the market to the farmer.
●However, farmers are apprehensive that the free market philosophy supported by these bills could undermine the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and make farmers vulnerable to market forces.
Intended Benefits Associated with These Bills
●The Bills aim to do away with government interference in agricultural trade by creating trading areas free of middlemen and government taxes outside the structure of Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
●It will allow farmers an option to sell their produce directly to these new zones, without going through the middlemen and paying levies such as mandi fees.
●It sought to remove stock holding limits as well as curbs on inter-State and intra-State trade, and create a framework for contract farming.
●Also, these bills promote the creation of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) on a large scale and will help in creating a farmer-friendly environment for contract farming where small players can benefit.
●These bills may enable private players to invest in warehousing, grading and other marketing infrastructure.
●A combined effect of these bills will help in creating a ‘One Nation, One Market’ for agricultural produce.
Issues Raised by The Farmers & Opposition
Federal Angle: The provisions in the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, provides for unfettered commerce in designated trade areas outside APMC jurisdictions.
●Apart from this, the bill empowers the Centre government to issue orders to States in furtherance of the law’s objectives.
●However, matters of trade and agriculture being the part of subjects on the State list, have caused resentment in States.
Lack of Consultation: First the ordinance route and now the hastily attempt to pass the Bills without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including farmers.
●Also, by allowing ‘trade zones’ to come up outside the APMC area, farmers have become apprehensive that the new system would lead to eventual exit from the minimum support price.
Absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis: Another issue that is raised by the farmers is that the proposed bills give the preference for corporate interests at the cost of farmers’ interests.
●In absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis, the farmers may find it difficult to deal with Corporates, as they solely operate on the motive of profit seeking.
Non-Favourable Market Conditions: While retail prices have remained high, data from the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) suggest a deceleration in farm gate prices for most agricultural produce.
●With rising input costs, farmers do not see the free market based framework providing them remunerative prices.
●These fears gain strength with the experience of States such as Bihar which abolished APMCs in 2006. After the abolition of mandis, farmers in Bihar on average received lower prices compared to the MSP for most crops.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
#GD_Material
Farmer's Protest {2/2}
Way Forward
◆Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition: Government should massively fund the expansion of the APMC market system, make efforts to remove trade cartels, and provide farmers good roads, logistics of scale and real time information.
◆Empowering State Farmers Commissions: Rather than opting for heavy centralisation, the emphasis should be on empowering farmers through State Farmers Commissions recommended by the National Commission for Farmers, to bring about a speedy government response to issues.
◆Consensus Building: The Centre should reach out to those opposing the Bills, including farmers, explain to them the need for reform, and get them on board.
Conclusion
●Without strong institutional arrangements, the free market may harm lakhs of unorganised small farmers, who have been remarkably productive and shored up the economy even during a pandemic.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion
Farmer's Protest {2/2}
Way Forward
◆Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition: Government should massively fund the expansion of the APMC market system, make efforts to remove trade cartels, and provide farmers good roads, logistics of scale and real time information.
◆Empowering State Farmers Commissions: Rather than opting for heavy centralisation, the emphasis should be on empowering farmers through State Farmers Commissions recommended by the National Commission for Farmers, to bring about a speedy government response to issues.
◆Consensus Building: The Centre should reach out to those opposing the Bills, including farmers, explain to them the need for reform, and get them on board.
Conclusion
●Without strong institutional arrangements, the free market may harm lakhs of unorganised small farmers, who have been remarkably productive and shored up the economy even during a pandemic.
For more @ssbgeneraldiscussion