IAS Previous Year Paper General Studies Mains-2012

IAS Previous Year Paper General Studies Mains-2012

                      GENERAL STUDIES  

Paper I

  

Candidates should attempt all questions strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each question.  

1. Answer any five of the following in about 250 words each :                                           25×5=125 

  (a)  What do you understand by the term "innovation" ? Discuss the need for launching a national innovation policy in India

. (b)  Keeping in view the informal sector's share in the total workforce of the country, critically examine the relevant inclusive measures initiated by the Government of India and their effectiveness

. (c)  Examine the causes and the extent of 'desertification' in India and suggest remedial measures

. (d)  In the context of the growing demands for the ban of Endosulfan in the country, critically examine the issues involved. What, in your view, should be done in the matter ?

 (e) "The Indian independence movement was a mass-based movement that encompassed various sections of the society. It also underwent the process of constant ideological evolution." Critically examine.

 (f)  The issue of tourism in core areas of tiger reserve forests in the country is a subjective matter of debate. Critically examine various aspects of this issue, keeping in view relevant recent judicial pronouncements.  

 2. Answer any seven of the following in about 150 words each :                                          15×7=105 

  (a)  "There is an urgent need for the Planning Commission to revise the chapter on health in the 12th Plan document." Comment.

 (b)  The Union Cabinet recently cleared the proposal to rename and amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. What are the salient features of the proposed amendments ?

 (c)  "Domestic resource mobilization, though central to the process of Indian economic growth, is characterized by several constraints." Explain.

 (d)  The 'flute-playing Krishna' theme is very popular in Indian art. Discuss. 

(e)  What are the salient features of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2011 introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2011 ?

 (f)  What do you understand by the term "Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis" (MDR-TB) ? What measures would you advocate for its containment and what are the implications of its spread in the community ?

 (g)  Given the accelerated pace of development and demand for energy, would you consider renewable energy as a viable option for India's future ?

 (h)  Many food items contain "trans fats". What do you understand by this term? Which Indian food items contain trans fats? What are the implications of trans fats on human health?   

 3. Answer the following in about 50 words each :                                                                    5×11=55   (a)  What is the 'Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat'?

 (b)  List the main objectives of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), 2011.

 (c)  Comment on the significance of Rasarnava in studying the history of Indian Chemistry.

 (d)  What are the rights within the ambit of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution? (e)  Comment on the significance of the Preamble contained in the Right to Information Act. 

(f)  To implement one key recommendation of the Mohini Giri Committee, the Government has recently announced the constitution of a National Council. Highlight the composition and the mandate of this National Council. 

(g)  Comment on the recent launching of the National Mission on Libraries (NML).

 (h)  What are the groups into which musical instruments in India have traditionally been classified? 

(i)   Comment on the significance of fire in Zoroastrianism.

 (j)  Why is Laurie Baker called 'the conscience keeper of Indian architecture'?

(k)  You are stationed in a small district town in the plains of Northern India. The summer has been severe. Suddenly, a colleague, who had been out since morning, returns to the office complaining of headache, restlessness and confusion. Shortly, he becomes unconscious. His body temperature is 40oC. What first aid steps would you take to revive him? 

 4. Comment on each of the following in about 20 words each :                                                 2×5=10   (a)  The significance of Patharughat in the Indian freedom struggle 

(b) Bagurumba folk dance

 (c)  Determining the 'value' assigned to the vote of a Member of a State Legislative Assembly and of a Member of Parliament in the Indian Presidential elections

. (d)  Significance of the SPOT-6 rocket launch for ISRO 

(e)  Issues highlighted through the work of Palagummi Sainath  

5. Why have the following been in the news recently? (Answer to be in one sentence only)        1×5=5   

(a)  P.V. Sindhu

 (b)  Aditya Kumar Mandi

 (c)  Cyrus Mistry 

(d)  Ashoke Sen

 (e)  Mario de Miranda  

                       

               GENERAL STUDIES  

                                   Paper II   

Candidates should attempt all questions strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each question.  

1. Answer any four of the following in about 250 words each:      (25×4=100)  

1. Do you think that China’s emergence as one of the largest trading partners of India had adversely affected the settlement of the outstanding border problem?

 2. Discuss the globalization of R&D and its impact on India’s development. Provide an illustration from at least one sector such as Information Technology or Health.

 3. Discuss the contentious issues that have caused the prolonged constitutional logjam in Nepal.

 4. The human population is slated to grow to 9 billion by 2050. In this context, many scientists predict that plant genomics would play a critical rule in keeping out hunger and preserving the environment. Explain.

 5. “ The situation today is far different to that prevalent fifty years back when the Indus Water Treaty was signed.” Highlight the complexity of the current challenges on both sides of the border in this regard. Do you think that a review of the Treaty is in India’s best interests?  

2. Answer any five of the following in about 150 words each:      (15×5=75)  

1. Write a short analytical note on Indian Diaspora. How is the “New Diaspora” different from the “Old Diaspora”? 

2. Why have the resource rich African and South Asian countries remained poor for decades? Explain.

 3. Does Putin’s return as President of Russia mark a shift to a confrontationist stance in international diplomacy  towards the West?

 4. Analyse critically the interlinkages between the Convention on Biological Diversity and FAO Treaty on Plant  Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

. 5. Critically review the international concern in achieving the targets set for the Millennium Development Goals.

 6. Discuss the likely negative impact of the protectionist measures proposed by the US on India’s software industry.  

3. Answer any six of the following in not more than 100 words each:     (10×6=60) 

1. In the context of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, India has emerged as a hub of commercial surrogacy. What key biological, legal and ethical issues merit consideration while framing the regulation to govern surrogacy in India?

 2. Why is international trade perceived to have failed to act as an “engine of growth” in many developing countries including India? 

  

3. Despite strict prohibitory regulations, “doping” has become increasingly common amongst athletes. Name five commonly used performance- enhancing drugs. What are the risks associated with their use?

 4. Compare the significance of IBSA and BRICS in the context of India’s multilateral diplomacy

. 5. The safe landing of the “Curiosity” Rover under NASA’s space programme has sparked many possibilities. What are those and how could humankind benefit from them?

 6. How have the US sanctions against Iran affected India’s bilateral relations with Iran?

 7. What is Permaculture? Give at least three common examples where permaculture concepts are being put to use.  

4. Answer the following in not more than 50 words each:       (5×6=30)  

1. The Sequoia supercomputer was launched this year. What are its specific features and what is its purpose?

 2. What is meant by the G8+5 group?

 3. The Human Papilloma Virus vaccine has been making the headlines in the recent months. Who make the ideal candidates for receiving this vaccine and what are its benefits?

 4. What are India’s stakes in the South China Sea?

 5. Explain the concepts “Environmental Sustainabilty” and “Sustainable Development of People”

. 6. Explain briefly the “Clean Development Mechanism” as provided under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  

5. (a) The following table gives the number of mistakes made by 16 data entry clerks who enter medical data from case report forms. The column Enteredindicates the number of values entered, and the column Errors gives the number of coding errors that were detected among these. Entered Errors 

4434 35 

4841 42 

6280 15 

1958 28 

7749 36 

2829 42 

4239 18 

3303 54 

5706 34 

  

3770 40 

3363 36 

1740 23 

3404 27 

1640 26 

3803 56 

1529 20

 i. Make a scatter-plot of these data. Which do you choose for the response and which for the explanatory variables? Describe any patterns.

 ii. Does the scatter-plot indicate any relation between the two variables?

 iii. One analyst concluded,”The clerks who enter more values make more mistakes. Evidently they become tired as they enter more values.” Is this an appropriate conclusion? (9 marks)  

5 (b) The following table provides the Rural and Urban population of West Bengal according to the Censuses of 1921-1951. (Population in Lakhs) : Census-year Rural Urban 

1921 139.94 24.32 

1931 147.92 28.97 

1941 171.97 46.79 

1951 200.25 62,82

 (i) Construct a suitable diagram to compare the population figures.

 (ii) Comment on the changes in populations. (6 marks)

 (c) Suppose milk is being sold at the rates of 18, 20, 22 and 25 rupees per litre in four different months. Assuming that equal amounts of money are spent on milk by a family in the four months, using a suitable measure, determine the average price in rupees per litre. (2 marks)  

6. (a) (i) Determine the median and mode for the following distribution of monthly income for 580 middle- class people of a country: Monthly income in Rs. Thousands Frequency 

25-30 53 

30-35 81 

35-40 114 

40-45 195 

  

45-50 63 

50-55 32 

55-60 20 

60-65 11 

65-70 8 

70-75 3

 (ii) Also obtain an approximate value of the mean income from the values of median and mode. 

(iii) Comment on the nature of the income distribution. (8 marks)  

6 (b) From the frequency distribution of height for 177 Indian adults given below, draw the ‘more than type’ ogive. Also locate the position of the median. (3 marks) Height (cm) Class Interval Frequency 

144.55-149.55 1 

149.55-154.55 3 

154.55-159.55 24 

159.55-164.55 58 

164.55-169.55 60 

169.55-174.55 27 

174.55-179.55 2 

179.55-184.55 2 

(c) A survey of 1000 large U.S. companies conducted by a Research Organisation asked their level white collar jobs to countries outside the U.S. The following table shows the percentage that indicated a certain action. The data for 2003 are real, the data for 2008 are speculative. (7 marks) Plan to 2003(%) 2008(%) 

Do virtually no white-collar offshoring 63 46 

Offshore white-collar work to some extent 33 44 

offshore any white-collar work possible 4 10  

  

  The following Bar chart with side-by-side columns summarizes the data:  

i. Does the Bar chart compare the impression of any anticipated in outsourcing of the white collar jobs?

 ii. Does the mode differ from the median for the distribution of percentages in 2003 and 2008?

IAS Previous Year Paper Public Administration-2012

IAS Previous Year Paper Public Administration-2012

                Public Administration  (Mains) 2012:

                                                  Paper-1

SECTION - A  

1.  Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words each :-     12×5=60

 a. ‘On a more sophisticated plane public choice is concerned with “Pareto optimality”, or at least with “Pareto improvements”.’ Comment.
 b. ‘In the  canonization of this  abstract idea of ‘Staatsraison’  are inseparably  woven the  sure instincts of the bureaucracy for the  conditions which preserve its own power in the State’ [Weber]. Explain.
c. ‘Man’s motives …  in different subparts of the same. organization may be different’ [Edgar Schein]. Discuss.
d. Leadership is the ‘influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organization’ [Katz and Kahn]. Analyze.
 e. ‘Policy judgements comprise reality judgements, value judgements and instrumental judgements’ [Geoffrey Vickers]. Elucidate.


Q. 2. 

a. How would you trace the development of Public Administration in terms of different paradigms from the  politics/administration dichotomy of 1900-1926 to the rise of Public Administration as Public Administration after the formation of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) in the USA in 1970 ?

 30 b. Two sub questions a. In what respects is  Taylor’s ‘Scientific  Management’ or classical motivational theory different from the classical organizational theory expounded by Gulick, Urwick etc ?

  15 b. What light does Antonio Gramsci ‘s critique ofTaylorism throw on its socio-psychological underpinnings ?   15


Q.3.
 a. ‘Three features characterize Simon’s original view of bounded rationality : search for alternatives, satisficing, and asp.iration adaptation.’ Elucidate. (20)

 b. Two questions

 i. ‘The  essence, of the  contingency theory paradigm is that organizational effectiveness results from  fitting characteristics of the organization,  such as its  structure,  to contingencies that reflect the situation of the organization.’  Give your reactions to  this statement.  20

 ii. In the light of your discussion on above, also show where and how this ‘fitting’ differs essentially from the  ‘coping’  with ‘stress’  from the environment emphasized by the systems theory of organization.   20

 Q.4. 
a. ‘Open access to  government records is …  the hallmark of a democratic government’,  but ‘governments are not hesitant about destroying records – very deliberately – in order to prevent investigations,  as well as to  generally weaken accountability’. Do you think that in this situation right to  information can go to  the  extent of demanding complete  declassification and ‘de-archivization’ of government records? Argue.  (30)

b. Should media exposure be included in rules for administrative accountability in India ? State your views.   15 c. Comment on the role of Civil Society in facilitating administrative accountability with special reference to the ‘J anlokpal’ issue in India.   15


SECTION - B  

Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words each :- 12×5=60  

Q.5
 a. ‘Riggs’s  classification of societies into fused, prismatic, and diffracted is built around the concept of differentiation.’ Analyze.
 b. ‘The  anti-development  thesis  . ..  reduces development to an idea without history, impervious to change’, but ‘fails to take account of the fact that for all its  faults,  development can be empowering.’ Discuss. .
 c. The ‘selection model of recruitment rests on the assumption that the primary needs to be met are those of the organization.’ Examine.
d. ‘Our  normal expectation should be that new programs will fail to get off the ground and that, at best, they will take considerable time to  get started. The cards in this world are stacked against things  happening’ [Pressman and Wildavsky]. Comment.
 e. ‘Those who budget, deal with their overwhelming burdens by adopting heuristic aids to calculation’ (Wildavsky]. Explain.

Q.6
 a. Do you think that there is an unresolved and often overlooked tension in Dicey’s concept of rule of law, considering that the other principle of parliamentary sovereignty in English constitutional system runs counter to it ?  20
 b. Would you agree that the strong Rechsstaat version of the rule of law found on the Continent never existed in  England because of its particular history?  20
 c. Why is le droit administratif regarded alongside the  Napoleonic Code as the  most notable achievement of French legal science ?          20

 Q.7 
a. Comment on the reasons why universal theory remams  elusive  in  comparative  public administration.    20
 b. Given the importance of the issue of sex equality in development_ do you think the self-help group movement adequately addresses absence of women in the former mainstream development agenda ?  20 c. Would you agree with Bachrach and Baratz that along with decisions, non-decisions are also part of policy ? Give reasons for your answer.   20

Q.8
 1. ‘Relations are the building blocks of network analysis’ – In the light of this statement summarize the form and content of relations in ‘network analysis’. 15
 2. Trace the background and development of PERT and enumerate the steps involved in the application of PERT.   15
3. Draw a simple PERT chart for a seminar planning project.   15

 4. ‘The  apparent demise of e-Government and e-Business as the main organizing principles of society has created the conditions for the rise of e-Governance from the ashes’ – In the context of the  above statement show the  distinctions between e-Government and e-Governance.   15







       Public Administration  (Mains) 2012: 

                           Paper-2  

SECTION-A  

Q.1

: Attempt each of the  following in about 150 words each :-      (12×5=60)  
a. “The Mughal Administrative System was military rule by nature and a form of centralised despotism.” Analyse.
 b. ‘Judges should not govern the country. They can lay down a law, not interfere with governance.’ Discuss.
c. Critically examine the variables in the composition and functioning of Cabinet Committees.
 d. “‘Memorandum of Understanding’ scheme between the Government and Public enterprises has forced public undertakings to improve their overall performance.” Do you agree with this statement?
e. To what extent has the  74th Constitutional Amendment Act created a ‘federation within a federation’ in India ?

 Q.2
. a. “The success and prestige enjoyed by a Chief Secretary depend, to  a large  extent, upon his equations with the varied sets of people and institutions that form the work environment.” Critically evaluate the statement and its relevance to the role of the Chief Secretary in the discharge of his functions.   30
b. In the exercise of his/her functions, the President of India is a mere ‘Convenient working hypothesis’. Do you agree with this view ? Justify your reasoning with illustrations.   30

 Q.3
 a. ‘Parliamentary  Departmental Committees have played their role effectively in analysing the demands for grants.’ Evaluate.   20
 b. (i)  Explain the emerging ambiguity in respect of the  developmental role of the  District Collector in  the  wake of the  73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.  10
ii)  Justify ‘indicative’ planning in the context of LPG   10
 c. ‘Parliament is an independent institution, not to be seen as an extension of government or of a party.’ Elaborate.   20

 Q.4.
 a. ‘The authority of the Governor in the discretionary field  is  not unrestrained. If it is  misused … the President can check him/her and if necessary, he may even remove the Governor.’ Examine this statement critically in the context of the Office of the Governor.   25
 b. Discuss the recommendations of the  Sarkaria Commission in  respect  of the  National Development Council for improving Centre-State planning relations. 20

 c. ‘The Arthashastra is a book of political realism.’ Elaborate.   15


                   SECTION - B  

Q.5.  Attempt each of the  following in about 150 words each :-      (12×5=60) 

a. ‘Bureaucrats should not play politics,  but understand how politics works.’ Comment.
 b. ‘Good governance is closely aligned with effective democratic governance.’ Elaborate
. c. ‘Corruption is more of an environmental than an administrative problem.’ Discuss.
 d. ‘Questions  represent a powerful technique of parliamentary control over expenditure.’ Explain.
 e. ‘Panchayati Raj Institutions are still affected by State control and domination by bureaucracy.’ Do you agree ?


 Q.6
 a. Local self-government in India is the interplay of several factors – historical, ideological, and adminis- trative. Critically examine these factors.   30
 b. ‘Efforts made towards administrative reforms so far  have been lacking in congruence between strategy, structure and substance.’ Discuss with illustrations.   30


Q.7
 a. Indian administration is  yet to fully appreciate and adopt the benefits of Information Technology. Elucidate.   15
 b. What is an output-based performance budgeting system ? Analyse this system in the context of India.   15 c. NGOs demand greater autonomy from the State and are now ‘new actors’ in development.  How effective are they  as instruments  of decentralisation and debureaucratisation? Critically evaluate.   30


 Q.8
 a. Compare and contrast the Padmanabhaiah, Ribeiro and Mallinath Committee Reports.   25
 b. “Even though law and order administration is a State subject in the  Indian Constitution, it  is paradoxical that the para-military and other kinds of security forces under the Union Government have grown in recent years.” Critically analyse the statement.   20
 c. How does New Localism impact  Centre-State- Local relations in the era of LPG ?   15

GENERAL STUDIES 2011

   GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-I  

1. Answer any three of the following in about 250 words each:   20x3=60  

(a) ‘Essentially all that is contained in part IV-A of the Constitution is just a codification of tasks integral to the Indian way of life.’ Critically examine this statement.
(b) ‘The exercise of executive clemency is not a privilege but is based on several principles, and discretion has to be exercised in public considerations.’ Analyse this statements in the context of the judicial powers of the President of India.
(c) Discuss the extent, causes, and implications of the ‘nutrition transition’ said to be underway in India.
(d) Bring out the salient features of the PCPNDT Act, 1994, and the implications of its amendment in 2003.

2. Answer one of the following in about 250 words:   20  

(a) Trace the salient sequence of events in the popular revolt that took place in February 1946 in the then, ‘Royal Indian Navy’ and bring out its significance in the freedom struggle. Do you agree with the view that the sailors who took part in this revolt were some of the unsung heroes of the freedom struggle?
(b) Evaluate the influence of the three important women’s organizations of the early twentieth century in India on the Country’s society and politics. To what extent do you think were the social objectives of these organizations constrained by their political objectives?

3. Answer one of the following in about 250 words:   20 

(a) Critically examine the design of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) scheme. Do you think it has a better chance of success than the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) in achieving its objectives?
(b) Highlight the structure, objectives and role of the Advertising Standards Council of India, In what way has the August 2006 government notification made it more effective?

4. Comment on any five of the following in about 150 words each:12x5=60  

(a) Salient recommendations of the RBI-appointed Damodaran committee on customer service in Banks.
(b) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
(c) Evolution of ‘Green Benches’ in our higher judiciary.

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(d) Distinction between ‘Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees’ and ‘Parliamentary Forums’.
(e) Benefits and potential drawbacks of ‘cash-transfers’ to ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) households.
(f) New initiatives during the 11th Five Year Plan in the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB).

5. Examine any three of the following in about 150 words each:   12x3=36  

(a) The impact of climate change on water resources in India.
(b) Measures taken by the Indian government to combat privacy in the Indian Ocean.
(c) The significance of counter-urbanisation in the improvement of metropolitan cities in India.
(d) Problems specific to the denotified and nomadic tribes in India.

6. In the context of the freedom struggle, write short notes (not exceeding 50 words each) on the following:  5x3=15 

(a) ‘Benoy-Badal-Dinesh’ martyrdom
(b) Bharat Naujawan Sabha
(c) ‘Babbar Akali’ movement.

7. Comment on the following in not more than 50 words each:  5X6 = 30  

(a) Phase-IV of the tiger monitoring programme in India.
(b) Why the Central Statistics Office has notified a new series of Consumer Price Index from this year?
(c) Composition and functions of the National Executive Comittee of the National Disaster Management Authority.
(d) The Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009 and why it has been in the news recently?
(e) The Telecommunications Ministry’s proposed Spectrum Management Commission.
(f) The Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to sanitation.

8. Attempt the following in not more than 50 words each:  5X4= 20  

(a) Distinguish either between the ‘Moatsu’ and ‘Yemshe’ festivals of Nagaland or the ‘Losar’ and ‘Khan’ festivals of Arunachal Pradesh.

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(b) Write a sentence each on any five of the following traditional theatre forms:
(i) Bhand Pather
(ii) Swang
(iii) Maach
(iv) Bhaona
(v) Mudiyettu
(vi) Dashavatar
(c) What are the major different styles of unglazed pottery making in India?
(d) List the classical dance forms of India as per the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

9. Comment on the following in not more than 50 words each:    5x5=25  

(a) Nisarga-Runa technology of BARC.
(b) The first-aid that you can safely administer to a person standing next to you at the bus-stop who suddenly faints.
(c) The Kaveri K-10 aero-engine.
(d) Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) technology.
(e) E-governance initiatives by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

10. Who are the following and why have they been in the news recently? (Each answer should not exceed 20 words).  2x7=14  

(a) Lieutenant Navdeep Singh
(b) Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar
(c) Lobsang Sangay
(d) P.R. Sreejesh
(e) Nileema Mishra
(f) V. Tejeswini Bai
(g) Aishwarya Narkar





         GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-II  

1. Answer any two of the following in about 250 words:    20x2=40 

(a) List the Central Asian Republics and identify those of particular strategic and economic importance to India. Examine the opportunities and bottlenecks in enhancing relations with these countries.
(b) Critically examine the security and strategic implications of the so-called „string of pearls‟ theory for India.
(c) “Compared to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Free Trade Area (BIMSTEC FTA) seems to be more promising.” Critically evaluate.

2. Answer any three of the following in about 150 words each:  12x3=36 

(a) Subsequent to the Nuclear Suppliers‟ Group (NSG) waiver in 2008, what are the agreements on nuclear energy that India has signed with different countries?
(b) Trace the progress of India‟s efforts for a joint counter-terrorism strategy with China. What are the likely implications of the recent Xinjiang violence on these efforts?
(c) Bring out the importance of the „Small and Medium Enterprises Expo and Conference‟ held in Dubai last year for Indian business.
(d) What are the salient features of the political and economic relationship between India and South Africa?

3. Answer either of the following in about 250 words:    20 

(a) “The causes and implications of the Jasmine Revolution and its spread are as much economic in nature as they are political.” Critically evaluate.
(b) In the context of the „Euro-zone‟ debt crisis, examine the proposed „six-pack‟ solution. Do you think that this has a better chance of success than the earlier Stability and Growth Pact?

4. Answer any four of the following in about 150 words each:  12x4=48 

(a) “As regards the increasing rates of melting of Arctic Sea ice, the interests of the Arctic Council nations may not coincide with those of the wider world.” Explain.
(b) Is there still a role for the concept of balance of power in contemporary international politics? Discuss.
(c) “Strategic interests seem to be replacing commercial interests for the host country with regard to Cam Ranh Bay.” Amplify.
(d) To what extent has the withdrawal of al-Shabab from Mogadishu given peace a real chance in Somalia? Assess.

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(e) On a Formula-one (F-1) racing car track, information to drivers is generally signalled through the standardized use of flags of different colours. Describe the meanings associated with any six flags listed below:
(i) White flag
(ii) Black flag
(iii) Yellow flag
(iv) Blue flag
(v) Black and white flag divided diagonally
(vi) Chequered flag
(vii) Yellow and red striped flag

5. Comment on any thirteen of the following in about 50 words each:    5x13=65 

(a) International Year of Chemistry
(b) The scourge of e-waste
(c) „Designer‟ poultry eggs
(d) INSPIRE programme of the Department of Science and Technology
(e) The „Kessler syndrome‟ with reference to space debris
(f) Omega-3 fatty acids in our food
(g) Difference between „spin-dyring‟ and „tumble-drying‟ technology with reference to drying of washed clothes
(h) The diminishing population of vultures
(i) „Arensic-bug‟ and the significance of its discovery
(j) F-22 „Raptor‟ aircraft
(k) „Concentrated‟ solar energy and „photovoltaic‟ solar energy
(l) Analog, hybrid and IP systems in CCTV technology
(m) Various applications of Kevlar
(n) Differences between Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc

6. Comment on the following in about 50 words each:    5x5=25 

(a) Functions of the World Customs Organization. (WCO)
(b) Success of international intervention in Cote d‟Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
(c) Strategies adopted by Colombia to eliminates its drug cartels
(d) World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations (UN)
(e) Sculpture of the broken chair in front of the UN building at Geneva

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7. Why have each of the following been in the news recently? (Each answer in a sentence or two only)    2x10=20 

(a) Tiangong-1
(b) K-computer
(c) Gliese 581g
(d) MABLE robot
(e) „Operation Shady Rat‟
(f) „SAGA-220‟
(g) „Billion Acts of Green‟
(h) L‟Aquila earthquake
(i) OPERA detecter at Gran Sasso
(j) Saturn‟s Titan

8. Why have the following been in the news recently? (Each answer in a sentence or two only)    2x5=10 

(a) 'News International' newspaper
(b) Mustafa Abdul-Jalil
(c) Abel Kirui
(d) Natalie Portman
(e) Nawaf Salam

9.
 (a) List the requisities of a good table.
Present the following in a suitable tabular form:     5
(a) In-1980 out of a 1750 workers of a factory, 1200 were members of a union. The number of women employed was 200 of which 175 did not belong to the union. In 1985 the number of union workers increased to 1580 of which 1290 were men. On the other hand the number of non-union workers fell down to 208 of which 180 were men. In 1990 there were 1800 employees who belonged to the union and 50 who did not belong to the union. Of all the employees in 1990, 300 were women of which only 8 did not belong to the union.
(b) Draw an given for the following distribution, Read the median from the graph. How many students get between 60 and 72? Marks No. of students
50-55 6
55-60 10

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60-65  22
65-70  30
70-75 16
75-80 12
80-100 15
(c) From the following data calculate the missing frequency: No. of tables No. of persons cured
4-8 11
8-12 13
12-16  16
16-20 14
20-24 ?
24-28 9
28-32 17
32-36 6
36-40 4
 The average number of tables to cure fever was 19.9
(d) Life time of 400 tubes tested in a company is distributed as follows: Life-time(Hours) No. of tubes
300-399 14
400-499 46
500-599 58
600-699 76
700-799 68
800-899 62
900-999 48
1000-1099 22
1100-1199 6
Determine:        4
(i) Relative frequency of sixth class.
(ii) Percentage of tubes whose life-time does not exceed 600 hours.
(iii) Percentage of tubes whose life-time is greater than or equal to 900 hours.

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(iv) Percentage of tubes whose life-time is at least 500 but less than 1000 hours.
10. (a) A car travels 25km at 25km at 50 kph, and 25 km at 75 kph. Find the average speed of the car for the entire journey.
(b) The mean of 200 items was 50. Later on it was found that two items were wrongly read as 92 and 8 instead of 192 and 88. Find the correct mean.    4
(c) Students were asked how long it took them to walk to school on a particular morning. A cumulative frequency distribution was formed. Time taken (minutes) C.f.
<5 28
<10 45
<15  81
<20 143
<25 280
<30 349
<35 374
<40 395
<45 400
(i) Draw a cumulative Frequency curve.
(ii) Estimate how many students took less than 18 minutes.
(iii) 6% of students took x minutes or longer. Find x.        6
(d) An investors buys Rs. 1200 worth of shares in a company each month. During the first five months he bought the shares at a price of Rs. 10, Rs. 12, Rs. 15, Rs. 20 and Rs. 24 per share. After 5 months, what is the average price paid for the shares by him?