UPSC Exams Coaching Updates

Transparency and accountability are the characteristics of Good Governance. A Good Government has to be transparent in its functioning. People have a right to know what is happening.

The Right to information act is an act to promote transparency in Government functioning. It provides for voluntary disclosure of information. Every Government department is bound to display its activities on its website.

The Citizens Charter is an attempt at introducing accountability. In this Charter, the Agency displays what services are being offered. There are penalties for non-performance. Sakala introduced by the Government of Karnataka is a classic example of Citizens charter.

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Step 1 - Divide your syllabus into three major parts, that is ancient, medieval and modern history.

Step 2 - Better to start with ancient Indian history, study chronologically, as it will provide you with the basic startup knowledge of Indian subcontinents history. Try to write down the important events, dates, names, e.g., the name of the king, his poets, authors of texts/manuscripts etc.

Step 3 - Study regularly according to your timetable, gaps in the regular study will result in confusion as this is history and syllabus is vast.

Step 4 - Try to study by following regular revision method, it means before you start your next topic give a quick revision to the last topic you already covered. This is a very good method, especially for history students.

Step 5 - Cover your syllabus from topic to topic, chapter to chapter. If you are jumping your chapter/topics then this will surely increase your confusion and will waste your time even more as events in history are linked to each other, names are also repeated. For example Chandragupta 1, Chandragupta 2 etc.

Important overview - ancient Indian history is all about sources of ancient history, authors, poets, kings, their work, ancient findings, coins, manuscripts, temples, temple arts etc.

Medieval history is all about administration, wars, Mughals, development in art and literature, religion and downfall of various Kingdoms.

Modern history is all about the downfall of Indian princes, Britishers, their treaties their wars their policies, Indian economy. New ideas of religion and politics and struggle for independence.

Important authors - for ancient Indian history RS Sharma is best.
For medieval history, Satish Chandra is best.
For modern history, Bipin Chandra and Mohammad Tareeq are best.

Along with these authors, you must follow special editions of Pratiyogita Darpan on ancient medieval and modern history. Krishna reddie's book is also good when it comes to question bank and chronological notes etc. but it's a big book.

So please study chronologically and regularly, have a nice day.

Tarlok Singh
MA History, MA Economics.

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Subject: International Relations

Paper: Gs Paper 2

                China Dismisses Indo- Pacific Concept As Speculation

The News:

• China dismissed as speculation reports about the US and Japan floating a strategic concept of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region, a phrase which a US official earlier said highlights the rise of India.

• During the summit  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump has reached an agreement on the strategic concept of building a free and open Indo-Pacific region are "gas and speculation”.

• Later this week, President Trump embarks on a 12-day visit to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines. However, Donald Trump will not be visiting India this time.

• On November 5, the Trump administration defended the use of the "Indo-Pacific" phrase instead of "Asia Pacific", saying it captures the importance of the rise of India with which the US has strong and growing ties.

Indo- Pacific:

• The term “Indo-Pacific” has gained currency in recent times, largely due to statements regarding the United States’ Rebalance to Asia strategy and an acknowledgement of linkage between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

• The ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy’ rests on “two oceans” — Indian and Pacific — and “two continents” — Africa and Asia.

Indo- Pacific Strategy Of Japan:

• The new concept, “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” that aims to prepare Japan to deal with the fast changing global and regional order and threats from China and North Korea.

• The new Japanese strategy that will build peace pro-actively, based on “diplomacy that takes a panoramic view of the world map”.

• The strategy aims to create a “free and open” Asia-Pacific region which connects parts of eastern Africa, south Asia and southeast Asia with the western Pacific Ocean region and Japan.

US Statement: 

• The US is still using a 2010 strategic White Paper which indicated that the way to contain China was to use India, in alliance with the Philippines, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea as part of a containment strategy.

• On November 5, the Trump administration defended the use of the "Indo-Pacific" phrase instead of "Asia Pacific", saying it captures the importance of the rise of India with which the US has strong and growing ties.

India’s Status:

• As far as India is concerned, this linkage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific traversing the waters of Southeast Asia is nothing new.

• India’s approach to the region is exemplified by its evolving Look East Policy, beginning with economic engagement with Southeast Asia and now expanding to strategic cooperation beyond Southeast Asia.

• In 2004, the Indian Maritime Doctrine alluded to “the shift in global maritime focus from the Atlantic-Paci?c combine to the Paci?c-Indian”.

• Therefore, beyond the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific has for some time now been identified as falling within the ambit of India's security interests.

China’s Statement:

• "I think that whatever concept or term is employed, we must by no means lose sight of such an objective fact: this region has grown into the most vibrant region with the greatest potential in the world and serves as a major engine for global economic growth," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, adding that maintaining the peace, stability and prosperity of this region is of great significance to the whole world.

• We hope that the Asia-Pacific region can become a stable, prosperous and orderly region where consensus can be reached through consultation and where we are capable of managing differences and have the wisdom to resolve the disputes, she said.

Conclusion:

• Indo-Pacific is still finding its feet in the practice of world politics. For the American policymakers, Indo-Pacific seems to be an attempt to integrate India in an Asian architecture that seeks to serve US interests.

• The Indian side, however, has welcomed the concept because it provides space for India to follow its strategic autonomy. India can continue to engage with countries all across in flexible interactions and not form alliances. Indo-Pacific concept allows India to be a direct stakeholder rather than being an alliance partner of the US.

• Thus, India can take foreign policy decisions that sit in consonance with its national interests.

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Debits and Credits

After you have identified the two or more accounts involved in a business transaction, you must debit at least one account and credit at least one account.
To debit an account means to enter an amount on the left side of the account. To credit an account means to enter an amount on the right side of an account.

Generally, these types of accounts are increased with a debit: Dividends (Draws) ,Expenses,Assets,Losses.

You might think of D - E - A - L when recalling the accounts that are increased with a debit.

Generally, these types of accounts are increased with a credit: Gains, Income, Revenues, Liabilities , Stockholders' (Owners) Equity.

You might think of G - I - R - L - S when recalling the accounts that are increased with a credit.

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BRICS is an acronym for grouping of 5 nations namely : Brazil, Russia, India,China, South Africa. BRICS is born from BRIC which had all the present nations minus South Africa. Goldman Sachs. The major aim of BRICS is to develop a multi-polar world and reforming the institutions like IMF, World Bank which have hegemony of Western world., Kindly check out the attached image for further details : read less