Journey
Sail in ship of ambition and anchor at harbour of successArchive for IAS
Should one come to delhi for IAS prep ???
Well this is one of the BIG question in many of the minds . Should I leave my job for preperation ? Should I come to Delhi for prep ?
Q1> Should I leave my job for prep ??
There cannot be a objective reply for this question . It is subjective . But what I can contribute is contribute some stratergies which can help you decide .
1>Ge a list of reading materials .
2> Start reading Newspaper
3> Subscribe to a test series .
By subscribing to a test series ,and preparing for it , you can get to know if you can handle studying and working simultaneously .
If you are scoring pretty decent in test series , then there is no need for you to ditch your job !!
Q2 Should I come to Delhi ?
The answer for this depends on the answer of Q1 . If you are faring well , no pblm . If you are not … ThenYou need to question yourself “why are you not performing ?”
First of all What happens in Delhi ( synergy ) and What happens in Vajiram ?
Vajiram:
Vajiram is good for Polity and currrent Affairs . Other subjects one can manage even without it . For Polity if you can comprehend DD Basu , and have a look at Vajirams Polity “class notes” . I would say you have completed the whole essence of attending Vajiram .
Synergy :
No need of coaching for PubAd . If you can go through Lakshmikanth , paying attention to the words in it that should help one to sail through easily . Pub Ad is jugalbandi of words .
For eg : Lets say Elements of Delgation :
1. Assignment of task .
2. Grant of Authority
3. Creation of Responsibility
The above statement carries the meaning
Responsibility is “Created ” not “Granted “ . Authority is “granted” not “created ” . Task is “Assigned” not anything else .
I hope one is getting the meaning which I am trying to convey . One has to pay minute attentions to the words used . Such a preparation can come only from self preperation .
But the main advantages of being in Delhi
1> AVAILABILITY of materials —- This is the BIG advantage
2> Availability of peers preparing ( A motivation dose ) .
India 2009
The much awaited India 2009 ( 15 marks+) can be downloaded form http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/
List of “Must” study for PubAd prelims
The following is the list of materials which one should be thoroughly prepared for PubAd prelims . One needs to be thorough with definitions/ statements and meanings of statements of Thinkers . For eg If you know “Acess to Boss” was concept forwarded by Urwick , its not enought ..you should be able to identitfy that “Acess to boss ” was framed by Urwick in refrence to describe factors acffecting span of control and under “Space” . Such a clarity can come only by repeated repeition .
This list is complete . In the sense any serious Pub Ad student is expected to follow and is followed by Mohanty , Manocha or Brain Tree .
1> LakshmiKanth — complete
2> Stephen Robbins [ 9th edition . Not latest ]. Chapters to be read
- Decision Making — Pg No ( 84-94) .
- Motivation —- ( 97 -112)
- Motivation from Comcept to Application — ( 118 -120)
- Emotional Intelligence —-[144]
- Group Decision Making Techniques –[165]
- Commmunication –[186-199]
- Leadership –[203-216]
- Foundations of Org Structure [257-273]
3> Nicholas Henry [ 10th Edition]
Chptr 2 ,3,4,5,6,8,9,10
4> Mohit Bhattacharya
- Minnowbrook II , Public Choice Approach and Public Service —- (19-28)
- privitisation Movement –(39-41)
- Gender Issues in Bureaucracy –(89-90)
- Neo Human Relations and Tech (94-110)
- Models of Public Policy ( 125-140)
- NPM ( 387-404)
- Post Modernisation and Pub Ad–(449)
5> India Year Book
- Polity
- Ministry and Dept
- All India Services
- CAG
- Admin Reforms and public Greviance
- Election Commison
2. Ministry of Defence
- Defence Undertakings
3. Ministry Of Finance
- Public Debt , Pension Reforms , Controller General of Accounts
4. Justice and Law
- Lok Adalats and enforcement Agencies
5. Labour
- Employee Provident Fund Scheme
6 . Welfare
- National Commision for Women
For Prelims this is the exhaustive List . So if you are thorough with these then you are bound to clear PubAd in prelims . The stratergy for mains is a bit different . However the reading which you have put in the prelims is not going to be waste , the infos should be organised in a bit diff manner . So All the best .
Detailed Stratergy For Sanskrit in UPSC
1> Study Material :
Sanskrit study material is pretty difficult to get . However in the market we find Upkar Publications Sanskrit by Dr Mitilesh Pandey . One can also approach Dr Rajendra Kumar for his compilation of notes which he has maintained form all his previous students .
2> Way to go about
The syllabus can be spilt into 1> Grammar 2> Non Grammar part .
A better explanation can be got by analysing the syllabus as follows
Paper-I
There will be three questions which must be answered in Sanskrit. The remaining questions must be answered either in Sanskrit or in the medium of examination opted by the candidate.
Section-A
- Significant features of the grammar, with particular stress on Sanjna, Sandhi, Karaka, Samasa, Kartari and Karmani vacyas (voice usages) (to be answered in Sanskrit).
This is the Grammar part which is also very scoring . -
- Main characteristics of Vedic Sanskrit language.
- Prominent features of classical Sanskrit language.
- Contribution of Sanskrit to linguistic studies . [ To be answered in Medium of Exam]
Generally one question comes from this part . All the answers are well defined . So possibility of high marks
- General Knowledge of
- Literary history of Sanskit,———- [ To be prepared in Medium of Exam]
- Principal trends of literary criticism —– One question from here . Since answer is well known and scientific .High marks
- Ramayana,
- Mahabharata —————— A cursory look on these two would be fine
- The origin and development of literary geners of:
- Mahakavya
- Rupaka (drama)
- Katha
- Akhyayika
- Campu
- Khandakavya
- Muktaka Kavya. ——————- on these Its advised to skip . Because more effort is needed and you have option to skip . One is generally advised to avoid this Question
Section-B
- Essentials of Indian Culture with stress on
- Purusarthas-
- Samskaras-
- Varnasramavyavastha
- Arts and fine arts
- Technical sciences ———————— To be answered in Medium of Exam
- Trends of Indian Philosophy
- Mimansa
- Vedanta
- Nyaya
- Vaisesika
- Sankhya
- Yoga
- Bauddha
- Jaina
- Carvaka ————————————– Skip this question
- Short Essay in Sanskrit ———————— One place where marks varies [ Not a very high scoring area]
- Unseen passage with the questions, to be answered in Sanskrit. —————– High Scoring area. Simple questions will be given . If u can understand Sanskrit then you can definitely score here
Paper-II
Question from Group 4 is to be answered in Sanskrit only. Question from Groups 1, 2 and 3 are to be answered either in Sanskrit or in the medium opted by the candidate.
Section-A
General study of the following groups:-
- Group 1
- Raghuvamsam-Kalidasa
- Kumarasambhavam-Kalidasa
- Kiratarjuniyam-Bharavi
- Sisupalavadham-Magha
- Naisadhiyacaritam-Sriharsa
- Kadambari-Banabhatta
- Dasakumaracaritam -Dandin
- Sivarajyodayam-S.B. Varnekar—————————– Before hand preperation .[ So medium scoring ]
- Group 2
- Isavasyopanisad
- Bhagavadgita
- Sundarakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana
- Arthasastra of Kautilya
- Group 3
- Svapnavasavadattam- Bhasa
- Abhijnanasakuntalam- Kalidasa
- Mrcchakatikam-Sudraka
- Mudraraksasam-Visakhadatta
- Uttararamacaritam- Bhavabhuti
- Ratnavali-Sriharshavardhana
- Venisamharam- Bhattanarayana———————— Advised to Skip
- Group 4
- Short notes in Sanskrit on the following
- Meghadutam-Kalidasa
- Nitisatakam-Bhartrhari
- Panchtantra-
- Rajatarangini-Kalhana
- Harsacaritam-Banabhatta
- Amarukasatakam-Amaruka
- Gitagovindam-Jayadeva—————————— To be answered in Sanskrit . Pre preperation is necessary
Section-B
Questions from Groups 1 & 2 are to be answered in Sanskrit only. (Questions from Groups 3 & 4 are to be answered in Sanskrit or in the medium opted by the candidate).
This Section will require first hand reading of the following selected texts :-
- Group 1
- Raghuvansam-Canto I, Verses 1 to 10
- Kumarasambhavam-Canto I, Verses 1 to 10
- Kiratarjuniyam-Canto I, Verses 1 to 10—————- To be answered in Sanskrit . [ High score area]
- Group 2
- Isavasyopanisad-verses-1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 15 and 18
- Bhagavatgita II chapter verses 13 to 25
- Sundarakandam of Valmiki Canto 15, Verses 15 to 30 (Geeta Press Edition)———— To be answered in Skt [ High Score area]
- Group 3
- Meghadutam-verses 1 to 10
- Nitisatakam-Verses 1 to 10 (Edited by D.D. Kosambi Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Publication)
- Kadambari-Sukanasopadesa (only)————————————————- To be answered in English
- Group 4
- Svapnavasavadattam Act VI
- Abhijnansakuntalam Act IV verses 15 to 30 (M.R. Kale Edition)
- Uttararamacaritam Act 1 verses 31 to 47 (M.R. Kale Edition)——————————- Skip
The above stratergy will enable one to answer all the questions as of UPSC .
For further guidance please contact Dr .Rajendra Kumar @9818559711.
PS: I was reffered to Dr Rajendra Kumar by Sharat who is a IAS 2006 and cleared with Sanskrit optional . Actually there are many others whom Sir has guided with Sanskrit .
Civil Service and Sanskrit
Sanskrit is a subject which has been known for scoring thorught the life of a student ..but yet we find very few takers of Sanskrit in UPSC . The main reason being lack of reliable materials in the market and over advertisements of sucess of other subjects . After much enquiry I did research into the Subjects and syllabus and here are the findings .
Advantages
1> The sylabus is small and limited [ Means there cannot be a total surprise in the question paper . One has to just write what he is prepared on] .
2> Sanskrit is scientific , if u already learnt Sanskrit ..you would have realised this . Thus much scoring . Infact It has given some aspirants as high as 450 .
3> Every year there are some people who have cleared with Sanskrit like Sharat , Ritu etc of recent . [ Best part is u can directly speak to them to know the pit falls]
4> After speaking to Sharat , I got the reference of Dr Rajendra Kumar who teaches Sanskrit for UPSC .He is a nice gentleman who is ready to help aspirants to great level . He can be reached at 9818559711 . [ This is for the benifit of aspirants , not for telemarketers] If you are a aspirant and seeking some serious guidance then he is one of the best option . He has maintained notes which is a contribution of his students who have cleared UPSC via Sanskrit . I have the copy of notes [ hard copy not digitized] .
5> Genrally one has studied Sanskrit more than Geography or other subject ..
I hope this provides some insight into Sanskrit for UPSC .
For details here
IAS vs SW vs MBA contd …
Well after a considrable thoughts following are some conclusions / theories built solely by me ..
Well now let us consider a Software industry .. We can find two types of programmers/companies . One that deal with platforms ( MS,IBM,Adobe) and other that deal with applications ( lots … ) .. If u have been a keen observer then you can easily say that ultimate master is one who builds platforms .. which allows other to build something on top of it .. If u develop a sw which solves a particluar problem.. u r building a application … But if u build a sw which give capabilites to solve a genre of problems u r building a platform … Its undisputed that platforms r the winners in the long term …
Lets bring this analogy to the real world ..
In the real world we have nations .. ( compare them to objects in OOPS) .. nations have some policies( comapre them to interfaces in OOPS) .. with each other .. Business are the applications that consume these interfaces .. and grow ..
Where is the real challenge ?? Building applications or frameworks ?? Both are equally intresting and equally challenging ..
If ur an MBA .. u can visualise urself as a application programmer … U deal with a application .. ( Business) and you consume the platform ..
If ur into civils you deal with the platform … defining/modifying interfaces btw the countries …that business can consume …
So the option is yours .. Wanna be with the platform / wanna be with applications ??
After all its a life which u live !!
We are humans .. a life span of 100 years … In this span of 100 years .. More than 90% spend their 20 + studying n another 20 yrs enabling their kids to study … U reach retirment by then … so retire n spend another few last years thinking what I have done so far ??
Coming to what one has done … A life can be said succesful if u can enable another hazaar lives live better .. Who are the guys whom you remember ??
1> Politicians : They make their way to ur memory irrespective of u like it or not !! Coz thats the way how they survive
2> Actors : Coz they entertain u when u have had a fight ur wife !!
Very few remember the people who are behind the scenes !! You code for Google , sell soaps for HUL or become a civil servant .. all that matters is what u did for the community or how you have affected the lives of the people . I hope everyone agrees to me that “affecting / changing lives of people” is the most dignified work ever possible .
Now the question arise whose life you want to change ?
- People who are already making money .. You can help them to move from x to x power x .
- People who are in abject poverty . They dont have two meals a day .
I was once asked if there ever existed such people who do not have two meals a day !! Unfortunately India is a nation of pluralism , at one extreme we are the major inventors of software for US and at the other extreme more than 50% of India do not have proper drinking water !!
There is again a critical balance to be striked out .. Personal vs public . How much of life would you devote for public , n how well u manage personal is a big challenge
Its all between Power vs Money
The choice between IAS n MBA/MS boils down straight , what you opt for ? Power ?? or Money ??
- Are u ready to leave ur kids with ur parents ?? some 1000 km far away for their education ??
- What u want power or money to buy the power ?
- Are u ready to get transfered every now and then ??
These are the primary hurdles that any official is faced with .. Ready for it ?? The choice is easier now …
