Thursday, 15 December 2011

www.UPSCPORTAL.com : "(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Basic Numeracy - Square Root & Cube Root (MCQ - 1)" plus 10 more

www.UPSCPORTAL.com : "(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Basic Numeracy - Square Root & Cube Root (MCQ - 1)" plus 10 more

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(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Basic Numeracy - Square Root & Cube Root (MCQ - 1)

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:05 AM PST


Basic Numeracy
Square Root & Cube Root (MCQ - 4)

1. Square root of 2025 is
(a) 35
(b) 45
(c) 55
(d) 65


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(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Basic Numeracy - Square Root & Cube Root

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:22 AM PST


Basic Numeracy
Square Root & Cube Root

A Civil Servant should be well-versed in concepts of Square Root & Cube Root. In the Civil Services Aptitude Test Paper 2, in Basic Numeracy, certainly there will be asked some questions fromsquare roots and cube roots of number to test fast calculation skills of a candidate.

Square Root

The square root of a number is that number the product of which itself gives the given number, ie, the square root of 400 is 20, the square root of 625 is 25.

The process of finding the square root is called evaluation. The square root of a number is denoted by the symbol Ö  called the radical sign. The expression " Ö9 " is read as "root time", "radical nine" or "the square root of nine".

How to Find the Square Root of an Integer?

(i) By the method of Prime Factors: When a given number is a perfect square, we resolve it into prime factors and take the product of prime factors, choosing one out of every two.

Example 1: Find the square root of 4356.

Solution.

Thus from the above example it is clear that in order to find the complete square root of a given number every prime factor of that number should be repeated twice. Thus, we can make a number which is not a perfect square, a perfect square by multiplying or dividing the number by those factors of it which are not contained in pairs.

Example 2: Find the least number by which 1800 be multiplied or divided to make it a perfect square.

Solution. 1800 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5 × 5

The least number by which the given number be multiplied or divided is 2.

(ii) By the method of Long Division: This method can be used when the number is large and the factors cannot be determined easily. This method can also be used when we want to add a least number or to subtract a least number from a given number so that the resulting number may give a perfect square of some number.

Example 3: Find the square root of 156816.

Solution.

Explanations: Firstly, mark off the digits in pairs starting from the unit's digit. Each pair is called a period.
Now, 32 = 9 and 42 = 16. So we take 32 = 9 and on subtracting 9 from 15 we get 6 as remainder.

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Today's Important News: 15 December 2011

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:41 AM PST

(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Science & Technology : Biology - The Nervous System (MCQ - 4)

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:23 AM PST


Biology
The Nervous System (MCQ - 4)

1. Consider the following statements.
(A) The Central Nervous System includes the brain & the spinal cord.
(B) The peripheral Nervous system vondidy consist of all body nervous.
(C) Not all animals have a highly specialized nervous system.

Which of the above are true?
(A) A& B
(B) B & C
(C) A only
(D) All of the above


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(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Science & Technology : Biology - The Nervous System

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:13 AM PST


Biology
The Nervous System

INTRODUCTION

Multicellular animals must monitor and maintain a constant internal environment as well asmonitor and respond to an external environment. In many animals, these two functions are coordinated by two integrated and coordinated organ systems: the nervous systemand the endocrine system. Three basic functions performed by nervous systems are:-

  1. Receive sensory input from internal and external environments
  2. Integrate the input
  3. Respond to stimuli

SENSORY INPUT

Receptors are parts of the nervous system that sense changes in the internal or external environments. Sensory input can be in many forms, including pressure, taste, sound, light, blood pH, or hormone levels, that are converted to a signal and sent to the brain or spinal cord.

INTEGRATION AND OUTPUT

In the sensory centers of the brain or in the spinal cord, the barrage of input is integrated and a response is generated. The response, a motor output, is a signal transmitted to organs than can convert the signal into some form of action, such as movement, changes in heart rate, release of hormones, etc.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS

Some animals have a second control system, the endocrine system. The nervous system coordinates rapid responses to external stimuli. The endocrine systemcontrols slower, longer lasting responses to internal stimuli. Activity of both systems is integrated.

DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

  • The nervous system monitors and controls almost every organ system through a series of positive and negative feedback loops.
  • The Central Nervous System (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord.
  • The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) connects the CNS to other parts of the body, and is composed of nerves (bundles of neurons).
  • Not all animals have highly specialized nervous systems.
  • Those with simple systems tend to be either small and very mobile or large and immobile.
  • Large, mobile animals have highly developed nervous systems: the evolution of nervous systems must have been an important adaptation in the evolution of body size and mobility.

NERVOUS SYSTEM IN VARIOUS ORGANISMS

Coelenterates, cnidarians, and echinoderms have their neurons organized into a nerve net. These creatures have radial symmetry and lack a head. Although lacking a brain or either nervous system (CNS or PNS) nerve nets are capable of some complex behavior. Bilaterally symmetrical animals have a body plan that includes a defined head and a tail region. Development of bilateral symmetry is associated with cephalization, the development of a head with the accumulation of sensory organs at the front end of the organism. Flatworms have neurons associated into clusters known as ganglia, which in turn form a small brain. Vertebrates have a spinal cord in addition to a more developed brain. Chordates have a dorsal rather than ventral nervous system. Several evolutionary trends occur in chordates: spinal cord, continuation of cephalization in the form of larger and more complex brains, and development of a more elaborate nervous system.

VERTEBRATE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The vertebrate nervous system is divided into a number of parts. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of all body nerves. Motor neuron pathways are of two types: somatic (skeletal) and autonomic (smoothmuscle, cardiac muscle, and glands).The autonomic system is subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.


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(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Geography - World Geography General: Africa (MCQ - 4)

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:30 PM PST


World Geography General
Africa (MCQ - 4)

1. Consider the following statements
i) Africa is the second largest continent after Asia and is ten times the size of India
ii) Also called as The Dark Continent
iii) It is the only continent that crosses the Tropic of Cancer, Equator and Tropic of Capricon.

Which of the above are correct?
a) i and ii
b) ii and iii
c) i only
d) i and iii


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(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Geography - World Geography General: Africa

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:20 PM PST


World Geography General
Africa

Introduction

Area: 3,03,35,000 sq. km (20.4% of total area Madagascar and other islands of Africa)

Population : 778.5 million

Latitude : 37031'N to 34052'S Longitude : 25011'W to 51024'E

Size : Second largest continent after Asia and nine times the size of India.

Situation : Situated to the south of Europe and south west of Asia. It is bound by the Meditarranean Sea in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the west and southwest, the Indian Ocean in the east and the Red Sea in the northeast. Africa belongs to all the four hemispheres and bulk of the continent lies in tropics. It is joined to Asia by the narrow isthmus of Suez and separated from Eurasia at three diffirent points (Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb). The only continent which is crossed by Tropic of Cancer, Equator and Tropic of Capricorn.

Africa is called as the "Dark Continent' because the greater part of its vast interior remained little known to the outside world until the last century.

Important Seas / Ocean Channels around Africa:

Name Location African Countries Along the Sea
Mediterranean Sea
  • It separates Africa from Europe.
  • Region around are known for its
    distinct climate.
North of Africa Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt.
Red Sea
  • It separates Africa from Asia.
North East of Africa Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.
Indian Ocean East of Africa Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambiquei
and South Africa
Atlantic ocean West of Africa Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania,
Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau,
Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Ivory
Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria,
Camernoon, Equatorial Guniea, Gabon,
Congo, Zaire, Angola, Namibia, South
Africa.
Mozambique Channel East of Mozambique Mozambique (West) and Madagascar
(East).

Important Gulfs and Bays

Name Location
Gulf of Guinea South of Ivory coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial
Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
Walvis Bay West of Namibia, Atlantic Ocean
Maputo Bay South East of Mozambique, Indian Ocean.

Important Straits


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Name Separates Connects
Strait of Gibraltar Europe from Africa Mediterranean Sea with Atlantic Ocean.
Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb Djibouti (Africa) from Yemen (Asia) Red Sea with Gulf of Aden.
Coasts of Africa Countries  
Grain Coast Sierra Leone and Liberia  
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast  
Gold Coast Ghana  
Slave Coast Togo, Benin and Nigeria.  

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(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Indian History - Ancient India : The Vedic (MCQ -3)

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:56 AM PST


Ancient India
The Vedic (MCQ -3)

1. Assertion : Vedas are also known as Shrutt Reason : Vedas have bee passed on from one generation to another through verbal transmission.
(a) Assertion is correct, Reason is incorrect
(b) Assertion is incorrect, Reason is correct
(c) Assertion is correct, Reason is correct
(d) Assertion is incorrect, Reason is incorrect


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(IGP) IAS Pre: GS - Indian History - Ancient India : The Vedic (Part - 2)

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:42 AM PST


Ancient India
The Vedic (Part -2)

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

Philosophical schools

Nastik - Athestic
Astik — Thestic
Nastik - (a) Carvak -
              (b) Jainism -
              (c) Buddhism -

SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY CHIEF EXPOUNDER

Astik - 

(a) Sankhya - Kapil
(b) Yoga - Patanjali
(c) Nyayay - Gautam
(d) Vaisesika - Kannad
(e) Mimansa - Jaimini
(f) Vedant - Bhadrayan and Shankaracharya

UNORTHODOX RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

Early Buddhist texts speak of six foremost opponents of Lord Buddha who were

(1) Ajit Kesh Kamblin - (Believed in Materialsm)
(2) Maskari Gosal - (Founder of Ajivaka sect)
(3) Puran Kasyap - Atomist)
(4) Pakudh Katyayam - (Believed in fatalism)
(5) Sanjay Vethaliputta - (Believed in materialismsynicism)
(6) Niggantha Nathputta - (He was Bhagvan Mahavir

Charvak

This school of philosophy is also known as Lokayat. According to this philosophy there is no Law of Karman and no rebirth. There is no conscious entity like soul. It also promulgated that death is the only end.

Jainism

This school of philosophy is based on the teachings of Parsvanath and Mahavira. The doctrine of Jainism is known as Anekantvad. Jaina doctrine is also called Syadvad. This school of thought recognises five sources and kinds of knowledge. These are Mati (sense-perception), Sruti (intelligible symbols), Awadhi (knowledge acquired through supernormal means), Manahprayay (telepathy) and Kevalya (Omniscience). Jainas also believe that Jivas are infinite in number.

Bhagvatism

Chandogya upanishad depicts about Lord Krishna.

  • Sutra of Panini speaks of Lord Krishna and Krishna was disciple of Ghora Angirasa.
  • Bhagvatisrn is known as Satvat, Eknatika Dharma;
  • This believes in the worship of Panchavrishni Veers named Bairama, Krishan, Pradyaman, Samb and Anirudha.
  • Samb introduced Sun worship in India.
  • Nagri, Ghosundi and Besa nagar inscriptions depict about this cult.
  • Later on it was known as Vaishnavism.
  • The philosophy of this cult is called Bhakti that means complete surrenderence to God.
  • Follower of Krishna were known as  Bhagwat.
  • Follower of Narayan were known.as Vaishnav his cult.

In South India this cult was promulgated by Vaishnav saints called Alvars. There were eleven great Alvars. There devotional anthologies are of great fame. The best one is known as Halaroyam Which was composed by Wamalvar.

Buddhism

Buddha's four noble truths are called Aryasatya. These are

(1) Dukha - (World is full of miseries).
(2) Sukha Smudya - (Causes of miseries).
(3) Dukh Nirodh - (Miseries can be checked).
(4) Dukh Nirodha Gamini Pratipada - (Eight fold path).

Eight Fold Path (Astangik Marg)

Right Faith (Samyak Dristi)
Right Resolve (Samyak Sankalp)
Right Speech (Samyak Vak)

EVENT SYMBOL
Birth Lotus and Bull
Great renunciation Horse
First Sermon Dharmachakra or wheel
Nirvana Bodhi tree
Pararinivana or Death Stupa.
Three Ratna Budha Dhaxnma, Sangha.

Right Action (Samyak Action)
Right Living (Samyak Ajiv)
Right Effort (Samyak Vyayam)
Right Thought (Samyak Smriti)
Right Concentration (Samyak Concentration)

Buddhism believes in Law of Karman operating in this life and next. In this regard Buddha also talked about twelve-linked chain of causation. (Dvadas Nidan).

Other schools of Buddhist Thought

1. Vaibhasik of Vijanvada — Entire world is mental in structure. Ideas of the mind are the stuff of the world and the entire world originates from Alyavijana (Cosmic-consciousness) Asvaghosh was the most renowned leader of this school.

2. Madhyamika (Sunyavad) — There is nothing real in this world Ngaup was the chief exponent of this school.

Astika

1. Sankhya: It is a kind of dualistic ontology. It believes in two ultimate realities Prakrit and Purusa. Prakrit is made of a triad of fundamental attributes (Gunas) called Sattva, Rayas and Tamas. Purusa is pure consciousness.

2. Yoga System : It is applied Samkhya. It has devised a systematic method of bringing about the release of Purusa from Prakriti through mental mechanism.

3. Nyaya : It considers God as the creator who is free from Law of Karman. God is a soul and his wisdom, desire and effort are unbounded. Nyaya makes a detailed study of the sources of knowledge (Praman)

4. Valsesika : When the atoms of five basic elements begin to combine the creation of the world begins. Creation and dissolution of the world go on in cycles.

5. Mimansa : It is a philosophy of interpretation, application, and use of truths of Samhita and Brahmanas portions of the vedas. It has devised certain principles according to which the vedic mantras and their application in the field of sacrifies could be understood.

6. Vedant : According to this philosophy Atman and Parmatman are same. Partmatman is the ultimate reality and the whole world is an illusion (Maya). The whole philosophical thinking of this school is based on Upthiisahd, Bhagwatgeeta and Brahamsastra of Bhadrayan, called Prasthantrayi.

Buddhism

  • Buddha was born at Lumbanivan in 563 B.C.
  • His father was the king of Kapilvastu.
  • He belonged to the clan of Sakyas, so he is called Sakyamuni and also Sirnha Sakya.
  • Yasodhara was his wife and Rahul was his son.
  • Buddha renunciated the wordly life when he was 29 years old.
  • He meditated at Uruvela. There he got Nirvan. This place was later on known as Bodh Gaya.
  • Buddha gave his first sermon at lsipatan, i.e. modern Sarnath.
  • Bimbisar and Ajatsatru were his contemporary ruler of Magadh.
  • Prasenjit of Khosla was also his contemporary.
  • Bimbisar donated him Venuvan at Rajgriha.
  • Anath Pindak donated him jetvan at Sravasti.
  • Gautami was the first woman who joined the Sangha.
  • Anand and Upali were his twomost eminent disciples.
  • Buddha got his Mahaparinirvan at Kusinara.

Important Seats of Buddhism

  1. Sthavirvadi — Only ten people can get Buddhahood.
  2. Mahasanghika — Every one can get Buddhahood.
  3. Sautantrik — They wrote their texts in Sanskrit language.
  4. Sammitiyas — They believed in Atma (Soul)
  5. Hinyana — Buddha was only a great saint.
  6. Mahayana— Buddha was a great incarnation.
  7. Yogachar (Vijanvad) —They believed in Yoga and called it vijan.
  8. Sunyavad — There is nothing real in this world. It was also known as Madhyamika sect.
  9. Vajrayan — It believed in Tantra.

SECTSFOUNDERS

  1. Theravada - Mahakatyayam
  2. Mahasanghika - Mahakashyapa
  3. Sarvastivadin - Rahul bhadra
  4. Mahayan - Vasumitra
  5. Yogachar - Asang / Varusandhu
  6. Sunyavad - Nagarjuna

BUDDHIST TEXTS

Pitak-

(1) Sut Teachings of Buddha
(2) Vinay Discipline and order
(3) Abhidhamma Esoteric Philosophy

(1) Khuddak Nikaya of Sut Pikak has 15 tents.

  1. Dhammapad It is known as Bhagvatgita of Buddhism.
  2. Jatak This is collection of 550 stories of the previous births of Buddha.

(2) Vinay Pitak has three parts known as Parivar, Khandak and Vibhanga.

(3) Mahavibhasa sutra was written by Vammitra.

(4) Guhya Samaj Tantra and Manju Sn Miii Kalpa are the texts of Vajrayan.

Jainism

  • According to Jainism there were 24 Trithankaras (Enlightened Monks).
  • 23 Trithankar was Parsavanath. He was the son of the king of Kasi. He was a historical figure.
  • Mahavira was born in the family of Jantrika.
  • Yasodawas his wife and Priyadarsa was his daughter.
  • Herennounced the family life when he was 30 years old.
  • He got Kaivalya at Jrimbhakgram.
  • His disciples were called Ganadhara.
  • Sudharman became the head of the Jam sangha after him.

JAIN TEXTS

  • 12 Angas
  • 12 Upanga
  • 10 Prakrinaka
  • 6 Bhedsutra
  • 4Sutra
  • Churnika was commentary
  • Way to Nirvana (Three Ratna)
  • Right faith (Samyak Vishwas)
  • Right knowledge (Samyak Gyan)
  • Right conduct (Samyak Karma) Various Heterodox Philosophies

NIYATIVADA

  • Third religious chief was Makhkhali Putta Gosal (supposed to be the real founder who popularised it).
  • Followers are known as Ajivikas.
  • Main profession was fortune telling and Astrology.
  • Philosophy is based on Niyati (Destiny) which means everything in the world is predetermined.
  • Makhkhali Gosala was a companion of Mahavira and this sect had a lot in common with Jainism.
  • Bindusar was disciple of Ajivikas.
  • Practised complete nudity and rigorous practices.
  • Ashoka donated Barabar cvend king Dhasarath donated Nagarjuni cave to Ajivikas.

Materialism

  • Developed by_Brihpor Charvaka.
  • Followers are known as Charvakas or  Lokyatas.
  • Believed that nothing existed which could not be understood by five senses.
  • Believed that earth, water, fire and air are the only elements.
  • Believed that death was ultimate and everything ended after death.
  • Believed that there was no soul, no god, no rebirth, no karm—'

Akriyavad/Antinomism

  • Founder was Purana Kasyapa (a brahmin of Kasyapa gotra).
  • Believed in the doctrine or non-action.
  • Believed that action did not lead to either merit or demerit.

Akrittavada /Aagasvatavad/Anunada

  • Founder was Pakuda Katyayana.

Unhchedavada /Jarvada /Annihilationism

  • Founder Ajita Keshakamblin (meaning with the hair blanket)
  • Believed in materialistic philosophy.
  • Ajita was the earliest propounder of materialism

Bhagvatism

Facts about Bhagvatism

  1. Religion based on the idea of a supreme God Han or Narayan or Vishnu (later known as Vaishvanism).
  2. Main philosophy is Bhakti, complete surrender of self to God and salvation through his prasada.
  3. Did not believe in sacrifice and slaughter of animals.
  4. Rise in west among the tribe satvatas (a branch of yadavas) in Mathura region.
  5. Vasudeva-Krishna of Vrishni race was the chief God who discussed its philosophy in Bhagvad — Gita
  6. Vasudeva— Krishna was the disciple of Ghora Agnirasa.
  7. Bhagvat—Gita gives amphasis on one's wordly duties as dharma.
  8. Magasthenes refers to Krishna as Herakies of Sourseni tribe.
  9. Ten awatares
  • Matsya (Fish)
  • Kurma (Tortoise)
  • Varaha (Bear)
  • Narsimha (man-lion)
  • Vamana (Dwarf)
  • Parasurama (Rama with the axe)
  • Rama
  • Krishna
  • Buddha
  • Kalkin (As a man on a white horse with a sword in his hand, the awatara yet to come in Kaliyuga).

10. The earliest reference to Krishna is found in Chhandogya Upanishad. Here he is represented as pupil of Ghora Angirasa and son of Deviki.

11. The reference of Vasu4eva is found in Panini's Astyaohyagi and Patanjali's Mahabhashya.

12. The Besnagar Pillar inscription is associated with Heliodorus son of Dion and a native of Taxila, and ambassador from the court of the Indo-Greek king Antialkidas to King Bhagabhadra (Sungas) who erected a garduadhwaj at Besnagar and claimed himself a Param-Bhagvata.

13. Pancharatra (of five nights), a vaishnavite school gave the doctrine of Vyuha (emanations) according to which Sankarsana (aftother name of Bulrama) Pradyumna (Krishna's Son) and Aniruddha (Krishna's grand son) emerged out of Vasudeva.

14. Developed and popularised in South by twelve saints known as Alvars.

15. Total No. of Nayanar saints was 63 and they were shaiv.

  • Tirumurai which is consider as fifth veda in which the preaching of Aiwar and Naynar saint were compiled in 11 volumes.

Saivism


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