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IFS Main Examination Paper-I: General English Paper-II: General Knowledge

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Main Examination

Paper-I: General English Paper-II: General Knowledge

Previous Years' Papers Conducted by

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2020 (Exam held on 28/02/2021) . . . . 1-16

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-39

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-55

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56-72

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73-84

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85-101

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102-118

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119-138

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PREVIOUS YEARS’ PAPER–I & II, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139-156

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Indian Forest Service Main Exam, 2020 (Exam Held on 28-02-2021)

PAPER-I : GENERAL ENGLISH Agricultural research and development on seed has often been guided by its pressing domestic needs. It has successfully overcome the problems of food grain shortage and importing edible oils. Strategies for control of drought and famine are available; improved varieties to overcome such natural calamities have been evolved under the well-organized National Agriculture Research System (NARS). Farmers’ ready acceptance to adopt quality seeds of improved varieties and realization of their yield potential under conditions of intensive agronomic management based on use of fertilizers, pesticides and other input secured a place of respect in the eyes of many in the developed world. Indian agriculture has made enormous strides in the past 50 years, raising food grains production from 50 mt to over 212 mt. In the process, the country has progressed from a situation of food shortages and imports to one of surpluses and exports. Having achieved food sufficiency, the aim now is to achieve food and nutritional security at the household level. The increase in agricultural production, however, has brought in its wake, uneven development, across regions, crops, and also across different sections of farming community. In the decade of the ‘nineties’, a marked slackening in the pace of growth has occurred, pointing to the need for infusing a new vitality in the agricultural sector. Biotechnology plays a vital role in the development of the agriculture sector. Genetic engineering/gene pyramiding technology holds enormous promise in developing crop varieties with a higher level of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and also to improve productivity and nutritional quality of food. A conducive atmosphere for application of frontier sciences in varietal development and for enhanced investments in research and development is a pressing requirement. At the same time, concerns relating to possible harm to human and animal health and biosafety, as well as interests of farmers, must be addressed. Globalization and economic liberalization have opened up new opportunities as well as challenges. The main objectives of the National Seeds Policy, therefore, are the provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize available and prospective opportunities, safeguarding of the interests of Indian farmers and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. While unnecessary regulation needs to be dismantled, it must be ensured that gullible farmers are not exploited by unscrupulous elements. A regulatory system of a new genre is,

All the questions are to be attempted. The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it. Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to. You must not disclose your identity in any of your answers. Answers must be written in ENGLISH only. 1. Write an essay, in say 800-1000 words, on any one of the following topics: (a) Depletion of Natural Resources : A Threat to Humanity (b) Impact of Agricultural Reforms on India’s Economic Future (c) Virtual Teaching and the Crisis of Primary Education (d) New Education Policy and the Future of India’s Youth 2. (a) Write a letter to the Editor of an English daily, reporting the growing incidence of rowdyism in your locality. (Kindly do not write your name or address anywhere in your answer. Use ABC or XYZ for your name or that of the newspaper.) (b) Write a report on Covid awareness camp organized by your NGO for the benefit of citizens in general. (Please do not write your name or address anywhere in your answer. Use ABC or XYZ for your name or that of the NGO.) 3. Write a precis of the following passage in about onethird of its original length. Do not assign any title to it: A good harvest is impossible without good seed. For agriculture to prosper, farmers must have a reliable supply of high-quality seeds and seedlings, at an affordable price. Fortunately, recent advances in the technology of seed and seedling production are helping to improve both the quality and range of planting materials. Seed is the most important determinant of agricultural production potential, on which the efficacy of other agriculture inputs is dependent. Seeds of appropriate characteristics are required to meet the demand of diverse agro-climatic conditions and intensive cropping systems. Sustained increase in agriculture production and productivity is dependent, to a large extent, on development of new and improved varieties of crops and an efficient system for timely supply of quality seeds to farmers. The seed sector has made impressive progress over the last three decades. In traditional agriculture, farmers saved the seed from their own crops to use in the following year. Now that most farmers are producing for commercial production, they are buying seed of improved varieties. New technological developments are helping produce better seed at a lower cost. 1

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therefore, needed, which will encompass quality assurance mechanisms coupled with facilitation of a vibrant and responsible seed industry. (581 words) 4. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below in your own words: An ingrained idea in the minds of Western scholars is that any Western borrowings must be equated with a loss of identity. Indeed, it is predicated upon a sort of general theory of Indian development loaded with Western cliches about modern India. It draws heavily on the fashionable Western view that Indian intellectuals, Jawaharlal Nehru included, are elitist, ape the West and have no sense of the truly Indian. Implied in this is also the thought that the West must tell us how to be true Indians. None of these westerners or expatriate Indians, it is clear, have seen the vast rural concourses that assembled to hear Nehru and have no idea of the degree of his rapport with them. In discussing economic planning, they lose sight of India’s goal of real independence, free from manipulation and economic imperialism, to be found only in a substantial industrialagricultural self-sufficiency. They set up a dramatic opposition between Gandhi and Nehru, painting one Indian and the other Western, forgetting the Western influence on the former and the Indianness of the latter—both of which ran equally deep. What is also forgotten is that despite their differences Gandhi did nominate Nehru as his successor. The Nehruvian policy of non-alignment is an extension of non-violence and the doctrine of import substitution an extension of the Charkha (spinning wheel), the Gandhian symbol of individual self-sufficiency in the pre-Independence period. There is a lack of understanding here about the reversal process that so-called ‘Westernization’ brings in at the creative, intellectual level in an ancient civilization. Macaulay’s educational policy sought to generate a tribe of ‘brown Englishmen’ and partly succeeded in doing so, but he never foresaw that they would in fact turn into a great force to liberate Indians from the British and to engage in a discovery of India. Indeed, it can be shown from the history of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that in virtually all fields of creative endeavour, it is the so-called westernized segment which led a great movement for Indianization. It is they who turned from a European philosophy, literature and art to a rediscovery of their roots in Indian tradition. It can also be shown that those who did not go through the process of reversal became victims of cheap Western mores and are today celebrating a macabre marriage of consumerism and fundamentalism that is threatening the very integrity and unity of India, creating a new divisiveness on religious, linguistic and regional axes. Few Western scholars understand the vital need in developing countries for a successful synthesis of tradition and modernity that would trigger progress without loss of identity. An unchanged, unmediated continuity would destroy itself by its very unawareness

and its consequent imitation of the most superficial aspects of Western society. Questions: (a) What, according to the writer, are the main prejudices Western scholars nurture about India? (b) In what different ways did Nehru incorporate Gandhian ideas in his vision of India? (c) What is known as the ‘reversal process’? Explain with the help of examples the writer has given. (d) Discuss the implications of the paradox between Western elite and Indianization, as outlined by the writer. (e) Why is it important for the developing countries to find the synthesis of tradition and modernity? 5. (a) Rewrite the following sentences after correcting the grammatical errors in each: (i) What is the time in your watch? (ii) I am understanding the lesson. (iii) The man standing in a corner was trembling from cold. (iv) It is a much interesting film. (v) Although it was past mid-night, yet the shops were still open. (vi) The coolie refused to carry her heavy luggages to the station. (vii) More simple the business, the better off you are. (viii) The librarian asked which book did I want? (ix) I saw your friend before two weeks. (x) He hanged the picture on the wall. (b) Make sentences using the following words in such a way that the meaning of each word is clear from the context: (i) Profit, Prophet (ii) Addition, Edition (iii) Insight, Incite (iv) Censor, Sensor (v) Heel, Heal (c) Use the following idiomatic expressions in sentences in order to bring out their meaning: (i) Fish out of water (ii) To kick the bucket (iii) A blessing in disguise (iv) To smell a rat (v) To miss the bus (d) Make adjectives from the following words: (i) Fool (ii) Venture (iii) Sense (iv) Industry (v) Virtue (e) Make nouns using the following words: (i) Recommend (ii) Decay (iii) Imply (iv) Fly (v) Disclose (f) Rewrite the following sentences as directed: (i) He will be late. It is certain. (Combine the sentences using ‘that’) (ii) He was doubtful if he could walk so far. (Change it into a ‘negative sentence’) (iii) The speaker said, “We tried to control the prices last year.” (Change it into ‘indirect speech’) (iv) He remarked on the boy’s impudence. (Change it into a ‘complex sentence’) (v) The people will make him the President. (Change into a ‘passive sentence’) 2155 (IFS–Main Exam P-I & II)–1-II

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

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PAPER-II : GENERAL KNOWLEDGE All the questions are to be attempted. The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it. Attempt of a part / question shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a part /question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off. Answers must be written in ENGLISH only. 1. (a) Enumerate the multiple aspects of the Mauryan Period that make it a time of great historical interest. (200 words) (b) Describe the administrative and cultural features of the Chola Empire. (200 words) (c) To what extent can Aurangzeb be held responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire? (125 words)

second) Amendment Act? On what basis is the antidefection provision critiqued? (125 words) (d) Presidents and Governors enjoy discretionary powers in some situations. What are these situations? (125 words) 4. (a) Explain the shrinkage of the Greenland Ice-sheet due to the impact of global warming and atmospheric circulation patterns. (200 words) (b) Explain the causes and impact of the bushfires in Australia which occurred in 2019-2020. (200 words) (c) “Cultivation and the way of life are intimately linked with the concept of cultural and natural landscapes.” Elaborate with examples. (125 words)

(d) Analyse the Popular Revolt of 1857 as India’s First War of Independence. (125 words)

(d) Briefly explain the physiological, agricultural and population densities of India. How are they different from each other? (125 words)

2. (a) Examine the view that economic growth of India remains subdued and uncertain due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Explain the need for supportive monetary policy and strong public investment for a swift economic revival. (200 words)

5. (a) Describe Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ’s) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFA’s). What is the statutory backing for them? What were the controversies encircling ESZ’s/EFA’s? In what ways do community reserves differ from ESZ’s/EFA’s? (200 words)

(b) Elucidate the implications of climate change for fresh water resources in India. Does demand side management through appropriate behavioural nudges increase enduse efficiency of water? Discuss. (200 words)

(b) Explain organellar genome. Can this be connected to endosymbiotic theory? Why are organellar genomes proposed as candidates for transgene containment, a concern in GM crops? (200 words)

(c) ‘Financial inclusion is emerging as the new paradigm of economic growth.’ In the light of the given statement, discuss the importance of digital technology in furthering the cause of financial inclusion. (125 words)

(c) What are the different uses of nanotechnology in agriculture? Name some prominent nanoparticles used for specific purposes in agriculture and mention their advantages. (125 words)

(d) What are the different types of non-timber forest products? Describe the importance of non-timber forest products in ensuring livelihood and food security. (125 words) 3. (a) Can Directive Principles be best understood as providing the framework of values that structure and constrain the interpretation and construction of Fundamental Rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India? Explain. (200 words) (b) ‘The Indian federal model emerged out of, and has been sustained by, an understanding that only a strong union can keep the country together and is necessary in the conditions in which our Constitution is operating.’ Comment. (200 words) (c) What are the grounds for disqualification of Members of Parliament, State Legislative Assembly or State Legislative Council under the Constitution (Fifty-

(d) Describe three model organisms, out of which one is a plant. What are the advantages of using model organisms in research? What are the specialities of their genomes? (125 words) 6. (a) What is GPS? How does it work? What are the minimum number of satellites required for a GPS and why? (200 words) (b) What does MRI stand for? What is the physics behind this technique? What are the advantages of MRI over other radio-diagnostic techniques such as X-ray and CT scan? (125 words) (c) What do you understand by Hydrogen Energy? Why is it called as ‘green’ energy? Explain fuel cell technology for using hydrogen as a fuel. (200 words) (d) Recently the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) was in the news. Write briefly about it. Why are Higgs bosons so important for science? (125 words)

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ANSWERS PAPER-I 1. (a) Depletion of Natural Resources: A Threat to Humanity The depletion of natural resources occurs when resources are consumed at a faster rate than that of replacement. Natural resources are those resources that are in existence without human actions and they can either be renewable or non-renewable. A resource that is rare on earth due to depletion has a higher value than a natural resource which is in abundance. Due to the increasing global population, the levels of natural resource degradation is also increasing. Consequently, the world’s eco-footprint is estimated to be one and a half times the ability of the earth to sustainably provide each individual with enough resources that meet their consumption levels. Causes Overpopulation: An increase in the populace expands the need for resources and conditions necessary to sustain it. Research further indicates that developing countries are using more and more resources to industrialize and support their ever-increasing population. Hence, the depletion of natural resources will continue as long as the world population increases. Poor Farming Practices: Poor irrigation practices, is a key contributing factor to salinization and alkalization of the soil that sustains plant growth. Poor soil management practices and the use of heavy machinery and farming equipment also destroy the soil structure making it unsuitable for plant growth. Some farming practices such as excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides equally kill important soil micro-organisms that are essential in replenishing nutrients in the soil. Logging: Humans are also cutting down trees to make space for residential complexes and multiplexes. Through deforestation, the planet not only loses tress but also thousands of animals and great plant biodiversity due to the destruction of their natural habitats. Moreover, increased logging activities lead to soil erosion that degrades natural soil minerals. Overconsumption of Natural Resources: The 1760 industrial revolution saw large-scale mineral and oil exploration and the practice has been gradually growing, leading to more and more natural oil and mineral depletion. The increased exploitation of different minerals has led to some of them entering into a production decline. Pollution: An increase in population and modern anthropogenic activities is a major contributor to the disposal of pollutants into the natural environment

and as such, the value of natural environments is gradually exposed to degradation. The soil, air, lakes, and seas are being contaminated with sewage, radioactive, materials, and toxic chemicals among other pollutants. Uncontrolled release of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide, and carbon dioxide, for example, have resulted in the degradation of the ozone layer and global warming - environmental changes with their resultant depletive impacts on different natural habitats. Industrial and Technological Development: The present-day world is incessantly becoming industrialized as more and more countries make major technological breakthroughs. But as technological advancements continue, there is similarly a considerable growth in industries that release toxins and chemical by-products which are eventually deposited in lakes, soils, and lands. Effects of Depletion of Natural Resources Water shortages: Poor farming practices, deforestation and pollution are major causes of water resource depletion due to contamination, wastage, and the destruction of natural water catchment areas. Oil depletion: Oil is an essential commodity in manufacturing, planting, mining, and transportation among many activities, and its depletion would be devastating. The adverse effects of oil depletion include the fall of the business, the high cost of living in developing countries, and uncertainty in the transport sector. Loss of forest cover: Other devastating effects of deforestation include soil erosion, an increase in the greenhouse gases leading to global warming, loss of biodiversity, increased flooding, and drought. Depletion of minerals: There has been an increase in the exploitation of minerals such as phosphorus, gasoline, copper, and zinc among others to sustain the seven billion people on earth. Extinction of Species: Forested regions are known to be a habitat for thousands of animals but deforestation is progressively destroying forest habitats. Practices such as overfishing and pollution have similarly led to a drastic reduction in the number of marine species such as the tuna fish. Solutions of Depletion of Natural Resources Controlling Deforestation: Sustainability programs that aim to educate people about the importance of conserving natural resources should also be enacted as a way of focusing on the long-term risks associated with environmental degradation.

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Reducing oil, mineral, and material consumption: Oil-rich countries together with the World Bank, state, and consumables’ regulatory bodies should join hands towards a comm on international objective of discussing how oil and mineral consumption, as well as exploitation, can be reduced. Use of renewable sources of energy: Renewables such as solar and wind power can be explored more and utilized to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel, which is a major cause of environmental pollution, climate change, global warming, and destruction of natural habitats. Protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems: The coastal and wetland ecosystems are thus vital in sustaining the food chain as they replenish water sources and avail minerals and nutrients for primary producers (green and flowering plants), essential for maintaining plant and animal biodiversity. Sensitization and awareness creation: People need to be educated on how their daily practices put a strain on the scarce natural resources and their individual contributions to the depletion of natural resources. The main purpose of creating awareness would be to encourage people to preserve and restore the natural environment by getting involved in conservation efforts. 1. (b) Impact of Agriculture Reforms on India’s Economic Future India’s agriculture policies have had multiple mandates, including a production imperative (national food security), a consumer imperative (keeping food prices low for a large low-income population), and a farmer welfare imperative (raising farmer’s income). Realising the significance of agriculture in India’s socio-economic order, the government has set an agenda of doubling farmer incomes by raising productivity and cutting down costs, and going for diversification towards high value agriculture. However, Indian Agriculture is in the need for many fundamental reforms. Significance of Agriculture in India O Highest Employment Provider: More Indians depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for employment than on any other sector. O Addresses Malnutrition and provides food security: Agriculture holds a key to reducing India’s malnutrition problem, directly affecting public health and worker productivity. O Augmenting Economic Growth: Agriculture has the potential to spur India’s overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Agricultural growth of 4%, would add at least a percentage point to GDP, increase exports and improve India’s trade deficit. O Economic transformation in developing nations is propelled by increases in agricultural incomes underpinning industrial growth.

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India’s vital land and water resources, which farmers used for agricultural production, assumes more significance especially in the face of mounting scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change. Government to Increase Farmer Income O Subsidizing Input Costs: Providing water, power and fertilizer subsidies to decrease production costs. O Green Revolution: Increasing yields through better farming practices and timely availability of quality inputs, especially high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and water. O Stabilizing Output Prices: Through minimum support prices (MSP) and public procurement. O Augmenting Non-Crop related Agriculture Income: KUSUM scheme. O Providing Direct Income Transfers to Farmers: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). Challenges in India’s Agriculture Agricultural subsidies were introduced to incentivise farmers to take up the green revolution. Subsidies also intended to reduce the cost of production for farmers and to check food price inflation and protect consumers. However, today it has become apparent that subsidies are inflicting significant damage on different aspects of the economy. Subsidised urea has led to massive overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers, leading to damaged soils and pollution of local water bodies. Similarly, power subsidies have not only led to an alarming overuse of groundwater, but also it has severely damaged the health of power distribution companies. Credit subsidies like loan waivers have weakened the Indian banking system (due to increased NPAs), having negative spillover effects on the economy. Output price supports in the form of Minimum Support Price (MSP) basically apply to only a handful of crops, especially wheat and rice that are procured by the government in a handful of states. Consumer Oriented Policies O Whenever there is a price rise in any agricultural commodity, the government imposes restrictions on exports to protect Indian consumers. It creates hindrances for farmers taking advantage of high prices in foreign markets. O This, coupled with the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), has meant lower private investment in export infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storage systems. Agricultural Marketing Policies Due to restrictions imposed by Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts passed by various states, Indian farmers today can only sell their produce at Farmgate or local market (haat) to village aggregators, O

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APMC mandis and to government at the minimum support price (MSP). The introduction of the electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM)—an online trading platform for agricultural commodities in India—is a step in the right direction. Slow Agricultural Growth Rate The Ashok Dalwai Committee Report on doubling farmers’ income, estimated that the doubling farmers’ income will require an agricultural growth rate of 1011% per annum, until 2022-23. However, agricultural growth rate and farmers’ income growth rate has been stagnating and well below the required rate of growth. Increase Farmers’ Income O Freeing up input prices to market levels, or charging an optimum cost pricing for fertilisers, power, agricredit, and canal waters fees. O Channelizing the resulting savings for expenditures on investments in agricultural R&D, irrigation, marketing infrastructure, building value chains by involving Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and linking farms to organised retail, food processing, and export markets. O Direct income transfers to farmers’ should be promoted by leveraging the trinity of Jan DhanAadhaar-Mobile (JAM) to reduce the leakages and pilferage. Allowing Land Leasing The central government, in association with the state governments, should free up land lease markets, which can help provide farmers with a steady income, while maintaining asset security. O In remote dry areas, leasing land to solar or wind power companies could provide farmers with relatively higher and steadier incomes. O The Model Land Lease Act, 2016 offers an appropriate template for the states and UTs to draft their own piece of legislations, in consonance with the local requirements and adopt an enabling Act. Increasing Avenues for Non-Farm Income O Subsidised electricity should be rationalised, as today solar water pumps are operationally and financially sustainable. O This will reduce government burden of electricity subsidies, while at the same time allowing surplus power from the solar powered pumps to be sold back to the grid. O Promoting value-added uses of biomass like Bamboo for construction and other applications, rice husk, and ethanol from sugar cane and corn can all help augment farmer incomes in sustainable ways while developing more dynam ic local rural economies. Improving Agricultural Export: India needs to address the composition of its agriculture export

basket. Currently, agricultural exports constitute 10% of the country’s exports, but the majority of its exports are low value. O The share of India’s high value and value-added agriculture produce is less than 15%. In this context, the government has launched Agriculture Export Policy 2018. It is aimed at doubling the agricultural exports and integrating Indian farm ers and agricultural products with the global value chains. Investing in Agriculture Infrastructure O The most sustainable way to augment farmers’ real incomes over the long term is through investments in productivity-enhancing areas, ranging from agricultural research and development (R&D), to irrigation to the development of rural and marketing infrastructure. O Local level investments that seek to build village level storage facilities, better surface irrigation management, and investments in drip irrigation, tile drainage, trap crops, etc., that can give results in a relatively short period of time. Agricultural Marketing Reforms Farmers’ income can improve substantially if they are able to capture a greater share in the supply chain from farm gate to consumer. For this to happen, farmers must have the freedom to sell what they want, where they want, and when they want without any restrictions on sale, stocking, movement, and export of farm produce. These will require legal and institutional changes, major investments in market infrastructure and storage, and incentives for the creation and operation of infrastructure by FPOs. 1. (c) Virtual Teaching and the Crisis of Primary Education A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a set of teaching and learning tools, which incorporate the computers and the internet as important components of the education process. They are in a way designed to enhance the learning experience of the student. Instant messaging (chat), wikis and weblogs, discussion forums, audio and video conferencing, e-mail, smart boards, online games and activities, internet and computer softwares all come under the umbrella of VLE. This concept is slowly gaining popularity owing to the benefits it offers. Virtual learning has completely revolutionized the education sector in India. A student is no longer dependent on a teacher and the classroom teaching has transcended the four walls of the classroom. The student has an access to learning irrespective of his geographic location. The student can learn a concept and test his knowledge in the privacy and comfort of his home. Weaker students can escape from the shame of facing a classroom full of students and can work on improving their scores. Virtual learning thus improves their confidence and provides positive motivation for learning. The student

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centered teaching approaches of virtual learning reduce students’ dependence on teachers and make them more confident. The online courses and classrooms provide the freedom to choose from the given set of topics or syllabus rather than study something forcibly to the students. Apart from this, virtual learning also offers pedagogical benefits like increasing confidence of students, providing reinforcement and positive motivation. Virtual learning has come as a breeze of fresh air for all those, who found it difficult to relate to the concept of classroom teaching. With Information Technology (IT) taking the driver’s seat, the concepts are explained using the best possible techniques which are way better than the traditional blackboard model. It engages young people and provides the freedom of learning at their own pace. Many students prefer online modules over classroom teaching because of the way in which the topics have been explained in a simplified manner. Incorporation of social media like Facebook groups, discussion forums and weblogs help to capture the interest of the students. Virtual learning leads to increased online discussion and further understanding of the topic at hand. E-learning is especially used for mobile learning or web learning modules of distant education courses. People can access the learning modules on the go. Rural and backward areas, which do not have facilities for higher education, can greatly benefits from this concept. Students, housewives, working people and even farmers can increase their knowledge and improve their skills through virtual learning courses. Virtual learning can thus help us in achieving ‘education for all’. The Crisis of Primary Education: The adversity of the lockdown has deeply affected the condition of the education and the way of learning. Although at unsparing times like this, virtual classes are doing just fine, but the physical presence of the teacher has a better impact on the quality of the education so to speak. Online classes: The closure of schools on March 2020 left 321 million students clueless. The uncertainty in the air was lifted a few days later. Enter Google classroom and the Zoom classes that connected the pupils with their respective classes which otherwise seemed impossible. The online classes have successfully served as a substitute over the traditional blackboard system, in a matter of days. But the online classes haven’t compensated for the effectiveness of the classroom experience. Connectivity with students: The online classes are a good substitute, but a study reveals that 15% students in Delhi are untraceable or have no connections with the teacher since the lockdown started. If the national capital alone is suffering from such a crisis, then imagine the condition of other states. This has led to

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an unstable situation where the school authorities are unaware if those students are still enrolled in the school or not. In a recent talk with the authority of such a school, revealed that parents of such children don’t have enough funds or resources to keep up with any of the school’s demands but want their kids to be promoted next year without being involved in any academic activities the current year. Condition of rich schools: The functioning of schools with upper class standards or the rich schools in the urban parts of India doesn’t seem to have been much influenced by the lockdown. The students come from rich neighborhoods and backgrounds hence the schools are having the least trouble to continue to run efficiently. They still continue to charge full fees with no compensations, yet the parents are paying with total compliance, which is not a very big deal for them. Condition of poor schools: The real challenge however is faced by the students coming from poor families or lower middle class backgrounds, who despite having a tough time through the pandemic also have to deal with the fees being charged by the schools. The schools therefore are receiving very less funds to keep up with the normal functioning, and are struggling to pay their staff. This conspicuous loophole is threatening the existence of schools in the rural and sub-urban parts of India. In fact many rural parts of India don’t have a proper access to internet. The schools of those areas are struggling hard to save their schools from a total shutdown. Affects on the underprivileged: Even though most of us are fortunate enough to buy a smart phone, but the one’s struggling to buy everyday essentials in this lockdown won’t be able to afford it. Students coming from families with no computer literacy or those who don’t prefer smart phones are the worst affected. This has resulted into a vast number of students being completely disconnected from schools. A study finds that this will eventually lead to a sudden increase in child labour and poverty. Many are leaving costly private schools to seek admission into cheap government ones. In Haryana alone one lakh students left private schools. 1. (d) The New Education Policy has been brought in keeping with the shortcomings of the previous education policy and the current and future needs, which can lead to large-scale transformative reforms in both the school and higher education sectors. In June 2017, a committee was formed under the chairmanship of former ISRO chief Dr. K. Kasturi Rangan to formulate a new education policy. The draft of the National Education Policy was presented by this committee in May 2019. To achieve full human potential, education is a fundamental requirement for the development of a just

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

and equitable society and to promote national development. The whole world is undergoing rapid changes in the knowledge landscape. In this context, the National Education Policy, 2020 was approved by the Government of India on July 29, 2020, and the Ministry of Human Resource Development was also renamed as Ministry of Education. New Education Policy envisions the holistic development of India’s youth with emphasis on skill development as the determining factor to realise the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Even the students of middle level shall be exposed to hands on training in vocational skills like carpentry, plumbing, electrical repairing, horticulture, pottery, embroidery amongst other skills. The policy has set the target of providing vocational skills to at least 50 per cent students by 2025 in such a way that the vocational skills acquired at school level may be further extended up to higher education level. Aim of New Education Policy: The New National Education Policy 2020 aims at the universalization of education from pre-school to secondary level with a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in schooling by 2030. This proposes some changes, including the opening of Indian higher education in foreign universities, the introduction of a four-year multidisciplinary undergraduate program with several exit options. The objective of the New Education Policy is to make India a global knowledge superpower. This policy also proposes that all universities and colleges aim to be multidisciplinary by 2040. This policy will boost employment in the country and fundamentally change our educational system. System of New Education Policy: This policy talks about reorganizing the existing 10 + 2 school system into a new system of 5 + 3 + 3 + 4, the basis of the curriculum and teaching of all children aged 3 to 18 years. At present, children between the ages of 3 to 6 are not included in the 10 + 2 structure, as 6-yearolds are admitted in class 1. The current 10 + 2 system is to be replaced by a new 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 curriculum structure as per the age of 3-8, 8-11, 11-14 and 14-18 years respectively. Foundation Stage 5: Foundation Stage 5 is divided into two parts. For the first three years, children will take pre-schooling education in Anganwadi. After this, children will be studying in a school in classes 1 and 2 for the next two years. A new curriculum will be designed for these 5 years of studies. It will include children from 3 to 8 years old. Initial Stage 3: In this phase 3, children from classes 3 to 5 will be taught. During this time, children will be taught science, mathematics, art, etc. through experimentation. It will be taught to children between 8 and 11 years old.

Middle School Stage 3: In this phase, children from classes 6 to 8 will be educated. These classes will be taught subject-based courses. Vocational courses will also be started from class 6, in which children will be taught a variety of skills. The child will be taught coding from class 6 itself. In addition, project-based learning will also start from class 6. Children of 11 to 14 years will be included in this phase. Secondary Stage 4: In this phase, students of classes 9 to 12 will study in two stages. In the first phase, there will be students of classes 9 and 10 and in the second phase, students of classes 11 and 12. They will also be given the freedom to choose the subject. There will be some subjects which will be general for all and there will be some optional subjects like art, music, vocational subjects, etc, out of which students will be able to choose the subject according to their interest. This phase will cover 14 to 18-year-olds. Advantages: To make the board exams of classes 10 and 12 easier, the core competencies have to be tested instead of memorized facts, all students are allowed to take the exam twice. An independent authority to regulate both public and private schools. There is no rigid separation between educational streams, extracurriculum, vocational steam in schools. Vocational education will be starting at class 6 with an internship. Challenges Expensive Education: Under the New National Education Policy, admission to foreign universities is expected to make the education system expensive. Lack of human resources: There is a shortage of skilled teachers in current elementary education. In such a situation, practical problems are being seen in the implementation of the system made for elementary education under the National Education Policy, 2020. The exodus of teachers: Admission to foreign universities will lead to the migration of skilled Indian teachers. Teacher Education: A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE) will be prepared by NCTE in consultation with NCERT. By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching is a 4-year integrated B.Ed. Degree. Conclusion: Education is an essential and indispensable element for the all-round development of any society and country and a comprehensive national education policy is formulated by a nation to fulfill this requirement. The New National Education Policy, approved by the Government of India, is an important initiative in this direction. The success of this new education policy will depend on how it is implemented. Therefore, it can be said that India is the country with the youngest population and India’s future will depend on providing highquality educational opportunities to these youth.

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

2. (a) To Chief Editor XYZ Newspaper Sub: Complaint regarding Growing incidence of rowdyism in our locality. Sir/Madam, I write to your esteemed self to express my deep concern over the growing incidence rowdyism in our locality, and the police’s lackadaisical approach to the gravity of the situation. The incidents of eveteasing, thefts, chain and mobile snatching etc. are on the increase. There is an atmosphere of insecurity and fear in the entire locality. We the residents of ….. (name of the locality) have lodged a written complaint with the local Police Station in which we requested the SHO for permanent patrolling by the cops. In spite of our repeated complaints, no action has been taken. Now I on behalf of the residents of the locality have decided to bring the attention of the concerned authorities to the problem through the medium of your esteemed daily newspaper. I hope you will help us in bringing normalcy to our locality by publishing this letter in your reputed daily. Thanking you Yours truly, (ABC) 2. (b) Covid awarness camp organised by your NGO for the citizens in general. With the continuous rise in the cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), help is coming in from all quarters to fight the spread of infectious disease. From monetary donations to messages reaffirming the importance of hand washing, social distancing and staying indoors, to those providing food and shelter to migrant labourers and daily wage earners, Indians are coming together in various ways to take on the common enemy - coronavirus. A BC, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) working in the health sector, is spreading awareness about the disease and screening people for coronavirus. India reported its first case of COVID-19 on January 30 in Kerala and with that ABC sprung into action and started working towards their campaign ‘Combat COVID-19’. After getting a green signal from the government, an awareness camp was launched on dated….. Talking about the idea behind initiating ‘Combat COVID-19’, founder of the NGO, Mr A said, We often conduct regular health camps and screening of potential patients of fatal diseases, both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Following the same, we planned to organise the awareness campaign in XYZ areas. The motive has been to prevent COVID-19, a transferable virus spreading all over India and the

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world, rapidly; to protect and test a maximum number of people each day. ABC has set up a screening center in XYZ areas and, others. Elaborating on how a team of lab technicians, doctors and volunteers is helping the government in its fight against coronavirus, Mr A said, We have five teams that work on the field and cover varied locations daily. Our trained health volunteers are visiting homes in close by localities, creating awareness and distributing pamphlets regarding dos and don’ts for residents and people involved in providing essential services like groceries, medicines, banks, among others. Additionally, during the sanitisation activity where we disinfect public places and homes, we have been doing announcements, educating people about the important preventive and precautionary measures. Validating ABC’s work of disinfecting public places, a senior police official from X police station said, the team often comes to disinfect our booth. Though they don’t have a fixed schedule as in they will come every day in the morning or twice in a week, so far they have come here thrice or more. Awareness and education are one side of the coin, the other side calls for screening of people so as to get clarity on the gravity of the situation. For screening, just like the government of India, ABC has resorted to thermal scanning, a process of detecting radiation. If someone has a fever- one of the symptoms of coronavirus, thermal screening will detect them and they can further be tested for coronavirus. Talking about how the foundation has undertaken thermal screening, a practice limited to airports, to recognise suspected cases of coronavirus, Mr A said, For a diverse setting, thermal screening has been the first go-to method to screen people and was adopted by the government of India as well as courthouses, railways stations, hotels, and other places. In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, where social distancing and proper hand washing can’t be stressed enough, it is difficult to isolate undiagnosed cases. Therefore, the go-to m ethod of thermal screening filters susceptible cases who are then approached with differential diagnosis in mind by the medical staff. This way the team claims to have reached out to over millions people, conducted screening of over thousands individuals, and disinfected homes and public places like police stations, banks, grocery shops, among others. 3. Good seed shown on ground can only produce a good harvest. To succeed for agriculture, farmers must have reliable supply of good quality seeds and seedlings. The major goal of seed technology is to increase agricultural production through the spread of good quality seeds of high yielding varieties. Increase in 2155 (IFS–Main Exam P-I & II)–2

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Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

production of agriculture and productivity is dependent, on development of new and improved varieties of crops and an efficient system for timely supply of quality of seeds to farmers. Nowadays, most farmers are producing for commercial production, they are buying seed of improved varieties. Agricultural research and development has successfully overcome the problems of food grain shortage and importing edible oils. Increase in production of agricultural, however has brought in its wake, uneven development, across regions, crops and different sections of farming. The NARS will design breeding programmes keeping in mind the opportunity of importing improved seed which may be economic way to obtain improved varieties. Genetic engineering technology holds enormous promise in developing crop varieties with a higher level or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Globalisation and economic liberalization have opened up new opportunities. The main objectives of National Seed Policy are the provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize available, prospective opportunities, safe guarding of the interest of Indian farmers. The regulatory system of a new genere is needed, which will encompass quality assurance mechanisms coupled with facilitation of seed industry. 4. (a) According to writer, the main prejudices Western Scholars nurture about India is an ingrained idea that any western borrowings must be equaled with the loss of identity. (b) The two main tenets of Gandhi’s ji teachings were ahimsa (non-violence) and concept of Satyagraha, a policy of passive against British rule. Nehru incorporated Gandhian ideas in his vision of India of non-alignment is an extension of non-violence and the doctrine of import substitution an extension of the Charkha. (c) The oriental renaissance had seen India educating the west, is called reversal process. There is a lack of understanding about the reversal process so called westernization brings in at the creative, intellectual level is an acient civilization. Lord Macaulay’s education policy sought to generate a tribe to ‘brown Englishmen’ and partly succeeded in doing so, but he never foresaw that they would in fact turn into a great force to liberate Indians from the British and to engage in a discovery of India. (d) Indeed, Macaulay’s education policy can be shown from the history that in virtually all fields of creative endeavour, it is called westernized segment which led a great movement for Indianization. It is they who turned from a European philosophy, literature and art to a rediscovery of their roots in Indian tradition. It can be shown that those who did not go through the

reversal process became victims of cheap western mores and are today celebrating on macabre marriage of consumerism and fundamentalism i.e., threatening the very integrity and unity of India, creating a new divisiveness on religious, linguistic and regional axes. (e) The western terms of education have been important in promoting successful progress towards modernity. It is because, few western scholars understand the vital need in developing countries for a successful synthesis of tradition and modernity that would trigger progress without loss of identity. 5. (a)

(i) What is the time by your watch? (ii) I am understanding the lesson now. (iii) The man standing at the corner was trembling from/ with cold. (iv) It is so interesting film. (v) Although it was past mid-night, the shops were still open. (vi) The coolie refused to carry her heavy luggage to the platform. (vii) More simple the business, the better of you will be. (viii) The librarian asked, “Which book do you want”. (ix) I saw your friend two weeks ago. (x) He hung the picture on the wall. 5. (b) (i) Profit: I turned a good profit on that piece of real estate. Prophet: The prophet was revered for his teachings. (ii) Addition: Our baby brother is an addition to our family. Edition: This is the seventh edition of this book. (iii) Insight: Most people do not have any insight on the impact of the decisions they take. Incite: The censor board was afraid if the documentary film would incite a riot in the village. (iv) Censor: The censor demanded that the scene be written out. Sensor: The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel level. (v) Heel: The heel of my foot hurts. Heal: One of the basketball players on the team fell, and hurt his leg. It will take him time to heal. 5. (c) (i) Ria has certainly not looked like a fish out of water in the mathematics lecture, since she is taking some online classes to improve her concepts. (ii) All the fish in my aquarium kicked the bucket, when we went on a vacation. (iii) The lockdown in 2020 proved to be a blessing in disguise. It gave me lots of time to spend with my family. (iv) Shareholders of targeted companies are also starting to smell a rat. (v) It is a pity that you should miss the bus.

Previous Years’ Paper (Solved)

5. (d)

(i) (iii) (v) 5. (e) (i) (iii) (v)

Foolish Sensible Virtuous Recommendation Implication Disclosure

(ii) Venturesome (iv) Industrial

5. (f)

(ii) Decay (iv) Fly or Flier or Flyer

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(i) It is certain that he will be late. (ii) He was not sure if he could walk so far. (iii) The speaker informed that they tried to control the prices last year. (iv) He remarked how impudent the boy was. (v) He will be made the President by the people.

PAPER-II 1. (a) The Mauryan Empire was founded in 322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya. Much of his success is attributed to his prime minister and mentor, Kautilya (Chanakya), author of the Arthashastra, a cold-blooded treatise on the acquisition and maintenance of power. His son, Bindusara, extended the empire into central and parts of southern India. Under Chandragupta and his successors, internal and external trade, agriculture and economic activities, all thrived and expanded across India thanks to the creation of a single and efficient system of finance, administration, and security. The third Mauryan emperor, Ashoka (ca. 273-232 B.C.), is one of the most famous rulers in Indian history. His conversion to and support of Buddhism is often likened to the impact of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great’s acceptance of Christianity in 313 A.D. Beginning in 254 B.C., Ashoka had monumental edicts on Buddhism carved into rocks and caves throughout his empire. Thirteen years later, he issued seven additional edicts carved into strategically placed polished sandstone pillars. One of the best preserved, at Lauriya Nandagarh in Bihar, stands 32 feet high and is capped by a seated lion. Ashoka is also credited with building 84,000 stupas to enshrine the relics of the Buddha and commemorate key events in the life of Gautama Buddha. 1. (b) The Chola kings followed a highly efficient system of’ administration. The entire Tanjore district, parts of’ Trichy, Pudukottai and South Arcot districts formed the part of’ the Chola Mandalam. The Cholas had three major administrative divisions called Central Government, Provincial Government and Local Government. Tanjore was the capital of the Cholas. The efficient Chola administrative system has been well appreciated by many historians and rulers. The king was the head of the administration. The Chola kings and Queens were considered as representatives of God. Their idols were kept in temples. The Chola kingship was hereditary. The Chola royal family followed the principle that eldest son should succeed the king to the Chola throne. The heir apparent was called Yuvaraja. The Chola monarchs enjoyed enormous powers and privileges. The Chola kings took up titles which marked their achievements. The society and its culture saw massive developments in the reign of the Cholas. The surroundings of this

region became a school for the folks where Holy Scriptures and the ancient Vedas were taught to students. The societal structure at this time was divided amongst Brahmins and Non-Brahmins. Several gods and goddesses were worshipped with Shiva being a popular source of strength for the faithful. There are links of the relevance of the Chola Empire with the Trimula deity at Sri Venkateshwara temple. Art, religion and literature benefited greatly during this period. 1. (c) The Mughal Empire had expanded beyond the point of effective control and its vastness only tended to weaken the centre. His policy of religious bigotism proved counter-productive and provoked a general discontent in the country and the empire was faced with the rebellions of Sikhs, the Jats, the Bundelas, the Rajputs and above all, the Marathas. Aurangzeb was orthodox in his outlook and he tried to remain within the framework of Islamic law which was developed outside India in vastly dissimilar situations and could hardly be applied rigidly to India. The failure of Aurangzeb to respect the susceptibilities of his non-Muslim subjects on many occasions, his adherence to the time-worn policy towards temples and re-imposition of jizyah tax as laid down by the Islamic law did not help him to rally the Muslims to his side or generate a greater sense of loyalty towards a state based on Islamic Law. On the other hand, it alienated the Hindus and strengthened the hands of those sections which were opposed to the Mughal Empire for political or other reasons. Aurangzeb’s mistaken policy of continuous war in Deccan was again a fatal blow to Mughal Empire. It was continued for 27 years and drained the resources of the empire completely. So Aurangzeb’s various such steps marked the start of Mughal Empire’s decline. 1. (d) Revolt of 1857 was known as the first war of independence because it was for the first time that our entire nation irrespective of the caste, creed, race, and religion had come together and staged an armed protest against the Britishers to gain independence from their colonial rule. The uprising of 1857 was a unique event in Indian History. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose referred to 1857 as First War of Independence. Besides the native sepoys, millions of people took place in the war. It occurred at a time when for various reasons

About the Book This valuable book of Previous Years’ Solved Papers has been specially published for the aspirants of IFS Main Exam (Paper-I: General English & Paper-II: General Knowledge). The book is highly recommended for the aspirants to improve their problem solving skills and help them prepare well by practising through these papers to face the exam with Confidence, Successfully.

Purple Patches of the Book: l The book comprises numerous questions in several Solved Previous Years’ Papers which will prove extremely useful for aspirants to be familiar with the current exam pattern, the type of questions asked, and their answers. l All the questions in the book have been solved by respective subjectexperts with due diligence. l Detailed Explanations have also been provided for selected questions for Better Understanding of readers. l The book will serve well both as practice material & a true test of your studies and preparation with actual examquestions solved by experts. While the specialised practice material in the form of Previous Years’ Papers is published with the sole aim of Paving the Way to your Success, your own intelligent study and practice in Synergy with this, will definitely ensure you Success in the Prestigious Exam.

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