Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Facts about the Sun

FACTS ABOUT THE SUN

TEN FACTS ABOUT THE SUN
Fact One:
The official definition of a star like The Sun as a "Yellow G2 Dwarf." It is an average, middle-aged star.
Fact Two:
If the Sun was brighter, it would be hotter and would have burnt off its hydrogen fuel billions of years ago. This means that, if the Sun is any different to how it is now, life on Earth would not exist. It is the perfect size, perfect age, perfect distance, perfect temperature and perfect brightness for life to exist on a planet like Earth.
Fact Three:
Everytime hydrogen nuclei fuse together to form helium nuclei, which results in a burst of energy, heating up and powering the Sun, the Sun loses a tiny amount of its mass.
Fact Four:
If we could remove the bright, glowing surface of the Sun, we would see nothing other than blackness. Only the Sun's outer surface shines brightly. The inside of the Sun is complete darkness.
Fact Five:
Light from the Sun takes 8 minutes to reach Earth, 40 minutes to reach Jupiter and 7 hours to reach the edge of the Solar System.
Fact Six:
In the same way that the planets orbit around the Sun, the Sun orbits around the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, taking 225,000,000 years to complete a full orbit, travelling at 800,000 kilometres per hour.
Fact Seven:
Many centuries ago, people believed Earth to be the centre of the Universe, with the Sun as a planet orbiting it. They believed that the Moon was the closest planet, followed by either Mercury, Venus or the Sun in the next closest position, with Jupiter and Saturn orbiting furthest away.
Fact Eight:
The Sun was formed, like every other star, from a huge swirling cloud of gas called a nebula. The cloud contained all the matter which went together to form the Sun and its family of 9 planets, 61 moons and hundreds of thousands of asteroids, meteors and comets. In total, 98% of the matter in the cloud formed the Sun. The other 2% formed all of the other objects in the Solar System. And, just in case you want to know what the mass of the Sun is, it's about 1,989,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms!
Fact Nine:
The Sun's gravitational pull is so strong that, even a planet 5,900,000,000 kilometres away from it (Pluto) is still kept in orbit of the Sun.
Fact Ten:
The Sun is almost half-way through its life, and at its most stable point in its lifetime. Eventually, it will increase in size, eating up the Inner Planets and heating up the Outer Planets and their moons, before collapsing to become a very small White Dwarf.

Civil Services (Manis) Papers

GENERAL STUDIES: 2007
Paper- I
Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300


INSTRUCTIONS

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

number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question.



1. Answer anyone of the following questions (in about 250 words): 30

(a) What was the character of social religious reforms in the 19th Century and how did they contribute to the national

awakening in India?

(b) The crisis of the colonial order during 1919 and 1939 was directly linked to the constitutional reforms,

disillusionment and militant anti-colonial struggles. Elucidate.

2. Answer any two of the following questions (in about 150 words each) : 15x2 = 30

(a) What are the salient features of the Government of India Acts of 1858 and 1909?

(b) Do you think Mahatma Gandhi's support to Khilafat Movement had diluted his secular credentials? Give your

argument based on the assessment of events.

(c) Evaluate the contribution of revolutionary terrorism represented by Bhagat Singh to the cause of India’s Struggle of

independence.

3. Write about the following (not 20 words each) : 2x15 = 30

(a) Age of Sangam Literature

(b) Bhakti

(c) Ashtadhyayi of Panini

(d) Charvakas

(e) Ajivikas

(f) Gandhara Art

(g) Mlechchas

(h) Lingayats

(i) Megasthenes

(j) R. C. Dutt

(k) Nagarjunakonda

(1) Pastoralism

(m) Rudramadevi

(n) Sati

(0) Ramanuja

4. Answer any two of the following questions (in about 125 words each) : l0x2=20

(a) Explain how the Himalayan and the Tibetan highlands play an important role in the development of the South West

monsoon.

(b) Technological changes have brought in a major shift in the use of roads as transport corridors in India. How far do

you agree with this view?

(c) Explain the nature and causes of growing slum problems in the metropolitan cities of India.

5. Write notes on the following (in about 20 words each): 2 x 5= 10

(a) Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

(b) Inceptisol

(c) Jarawas

(d) Indira Point

(e) Causes of Chambal Ravines

6. Answer anyone of the following questions (in about 250 words) : 30

(a) What is a Constitution? What are the main sources of the Indian Constitution?

(b) Bring out the differences between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. Discuss some

of the measures taken by the Union and State Governments for the implementation of the Directive Principles of State

Policy.

7. Answer anyone of the following questions (in about 250 words): 30

(a). What is regionalism ? In which way regionalism has affected the Indian Polity.

(b). what are the Main determination of voting behavior in India?

8. Answer any two of the following questions (in about 150 words each): 15x2 = 30

(a) What are the exceptions when the President of India is not bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers?

(b) What is pro tem Speaker?

(e) Under what circumstances, Parliament may legislate on State subjects?

9. Answer the following questions (in about 20 words each): 2 x 5 = 10

(a). What is criminalization of politics?

(b). How president of India elected?

(c). what is casting vote?

(d). what is the difference between council of Minister and Cabinet?

(e). what is the importance of Right to constitutional remedies?

10. Answer anyone of the following questions (in about 250 words): 30

(a). what were the main recommendations of the Platform for Action (PFA) adopted at the Beijing Women Conference

1995?

(b) Discuss the steps to get rid of child labour in India.

11. Answer any two of the following questions (in about 125 words each): l0x2=20

(a) What is stealth technology?

(b) Differentiate between Natural and Cultural heritage.

(c) What is value-based politics?

12. Write notes on any two of the following (in about 125 words each) : I0x2=20

(a) Integrated Child Services (lCDS) Development

(b) Prime Minister's 5-point agenda for India's development as a knowledge society

(c) The Lokpal Bill.

13. Write short notes on the following ( in about 20 words each ) 2 x 5 = 10

(a) Yakshagana

(h) PACE.

(c) Footloose Industries

(d) The Statue of Liberty

(e) Genome



GENERAL STUDIES
Paper- II
Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300



INSTRUCTIONS

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

number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question



1. Answer any two of the following (answer to each question should be in about 150 words): 15x2=30

(a) Indo-Russian Defence Co-operation

(b) India's response, to political crisis In Bangladesh

(c) Elaborate on India's Nuclear Doctrine

2. Write about the following (answer to each question should be in about 20 wordS): 2x5= I 0

(a) SAFTA

(b) India and East Asia Summit (EAS)

(c) Shanghai Cooperation Organization, (S.C.O.)

(d) Panchsheel in India's Foreign Policy

(e) Relevance of NAM

3. Write about the following (answer to each question should be in about 20 words) : 2x5=10

(a) Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana, 2006

(b) Indian All-Women Contingent to Liberia

(c) Madheshis in Nepal

(d) Know India Programme (KIP)

(e) Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs

4. Answer anyone of the following (in about 250 words): 30

(a). What is Dumping? Evaluate the remedial measures taken by Government of India vis-à-vis WTO provisions

regarding dumping.

(b) Comment on the relationship between credit availability and agricultural growth in India.

5. Answer any two of the following (answer to each question should be in about 150 words )

(a). What is the meaning and aim of social forestry ? What are the main weakness noticed in social forestry

programme?

(b). Bring out the main objective of Rastriya Krishi Bima Yojana. The scheme is being implemented by which agency.

(c). Explain Mega Food park Scheme of Government of India.

6. Write about the following (answer to each question should be in about 20 words ) : 2x15 = 30

(a) Explain the term Merit Goods

(b) What is Cheap Money?

(c) What is Countervailing Duty?

(d) What is Hot Money?

(e). Explain the Concept Trickle Down Theory

(f) What is Stagflation?

(g) What is Engel's Law?

(h) Meaning of CCIL

(i) What is Administered Price?

(j) What is Venture Capital?

(k) Explain the term Balance on Current Account

(I) What is Consolidated Fund?

(m) What is Budget Deficit?

(n) Explain the term Most Favored Nations

(0) Meaning of Capital- Output Ratio

7. Write about any two of the following (in about 150 words each): 15x2=30

(a) Impact of globalization on state system and its institutions

(b) SAARC Summit 2007

(c) The UN conference on Environment and Development (The Earth Summit)

8. Write about the following (in about 20 words each): 2x5 = 10

(a) G-8 Summit 2007

(b) Hyde Act of 2006

(c) Global Governance

(d) Operation Silence

(e) SAARC Human Rights Report 2006

9. Write about the following by expanding and explaining the objectives (in about 20 Words each): 2x5=10

(a) ICT4D

(b) BEMs

(c) IAEA

(d) BIMSTEC

(e) ECJ

10. Answer any one of the following in about 250 words: 30

(a). Explain the phenomenon of ozone depletion, its cause and effects . What efforts are needed to reduce it.

(b). what do you understanding by the term ‘biodiversity’? Examine the cause and consequence of degeneration of

biodiversity?

11. Answer any two of the following (answer for each question should be in about 150 words) : 15x2=30

(a) What are the alterative fuels available for the transport sector? Discuss their characteristics, advantages 'and

disadvantages in their utilization.

(b) Explain the objectives and the current achievements of human genome project.

(c) Discuss the missile technology initiatives undertaken by India.

12. Answer all the five (in about 20 words each) : 2x5=10

(a) What is firewall ? (b) What is mal ware ?

(c) What do the following stand for?

(i) MPEG (ii) ISP

(iii) HTML (iv) ASCII

(d) What is Root kit?

(e) What is computer architecture?

13. (a) In the year 2000 out of a total 1750 workers of a factory 1200 workers were members of a union. The number of

women employed was 200 of which 175 did not belong to the union. In 2005 , the number of union workers increased to

1510 of which 1290 were men . On the other hand the number of non union workers fell down to 208 of which 180 were

men. 8

(i) Put the above information in a proper table with title.

(ii) Calculate the increase in the percentage of the female workers belonging to the union in that five year period.

(b) The marks obtained by 20 students in a subject are given: 8

32, 62, 72, 46, 52, 74, 53, 42, 58, 61, 59, 46, 36, 76, 58, 77, 62, 48, 36, 39.

Form a frequency distribution table with class interval 10. Also Draw the Histogram.

14. (a) For the following distribution of statistics test grades, construct a frequency polygon and answer the following: 8

(i) How many test grades are greater than 87 ?

(ii) What percentage of test grades are greater than 83?

(iii) What percentage of test grades are lower than72? '

(iv) What percentage of test grades are between 72 and 79 (inclusive )

Test Grades:

73, 92, 57, 89, 70, 95, 75, 80, 47, 88, 47, 48, 64, 86, 79, 72, 71, 77, 93, 55, 75, 50, 53, 75, 85, 50, 82, 45, 40, 82,

60, 89, 79, 65, 54, 93, 60, 83, 59

(b). Construct an appropriate diagram to show the following data of a university: 8

Course No. of Students

Engineering 440

Arts 220

Agriculture 120

Home Science 80

Economic 60

Total = 920

15. (a) What do you understand by 2

(i) Primary and secondary data

(ii) Data classification

(iii) Measures of central tendency

(iv) Characteristics of good average

(b) The mean wage of 100 laborers working in a factory running two shifts of 60 and 40 workers respectively is Rs. 38.

The mean wage of 60 labourers working in the morning shift is Rs 40. Find the mean wage of 40 Labourers working in

the evening shift. 2

(c) The mean age of a group of 5 boys is 16 years. Another boy joins the group and then the mean age of the group

becomes 18 years. How old is the newcomer? 2

(d) Arithmetic means of two completely different sets of values may be same. When extreme values are taken into

consideration, the arithmetic mean is largely affected. Is it merit or demerit of arithmetic mean and give reasons for your statement? 2

Research Institutes in India

List of Research Institutes in India

SNo

Name

Place

1

Central Building Research Institute

Roorkee, Uttarakhand

2

Central Drug Research Institute

Lucknow, U.P

3

Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute

Karaikudi, T.N

4

Central Electronics Engineering research institute

Pilani, Rajasthan

5

Central Food Technological Research Institute

Mysore, Karnataka

6

Central Fuel Research Institute

Dhanbad, Jharkhand

7

Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute

Jadhavpur, W.B

8

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Lucknow, U.P

9

Central Leather Research Institute

Chennai, T.N

10

Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute

Durgapur, W.B

11

Central Mining Research Station

Dhanbad, Jharkhand

12

Central Road Research Institute

New Delhi, Delhi

13

Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute

Bhavnagar, Gujarat

14

Central Scientific Instruments Organisation

Chandigarh, Chandigarh

15

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology

Kolkatta, W.B

16

Indian Institute of Petroleum

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

17

Industrial Texicology Central Centre

Lucknow, U.P

18

National Aeronautical Laboratory

Bangalore, Karnataka

19

National Botanical Research Institute

Lucknow, U.P

20

National Chemical Laboratory

Pune, Maharashtra

21

National Environment Engineering Institute

Napery, Maharashtra

22

National Geophysical Research Institute

Hyderabad, A.P

23

National Institute of Oceanography

Panjim, Goa

24

Bose Research Institute

Kolkata, W.B

25

National Metallurgical Laboratory

Jamshedpur, Jharkhand

26

National Physical Laboratory

New Delhi, Delhi

27

Regional Research Laboratories

Bhubaneshwer, Orissa; Jorhat, Assam; Jammu, J & K; Hyderabad, A.P

28

Structural Engineering Research Centre

Roorkee, Uttarakhand; Chennai; T.N;

29

Visvesvarayya Industrial and Technological Museum

Bangalore, Karnataka

30

High Altitude Research Laboratory

Gulmarg, J and K

31

Indian Cancer Research Centre

Mumbai, Maharashtra

32

Seismic Research Centre

Gaurividanur, Near Bangalore, Karnataka

33

Central Marine Research Station

Chennai, T.N

34

Central
research Laboratory

Chennai, T.N

35

Centre For Cellular and Molecular Biology

Hyderabad, A.P

36

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

New Delhi, Delhi

37

Forest Research Institute

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

38

Indian Institute of Science

Bangalore, Karnataka

39

Indian Institute of Sugar Technology

Kanpur, U.P

40

Indian Space Research Organisation

Bangalore, Karnataka

41

Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany

Lucknow, U.P

42

All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health

Kolkata, W.B

43

All India Institute of Medical Science

New Delhi, Delhi

44

All India Malaria Institute

Delhi

45

Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research

Jamnagar, Gujarat

46

National Institute of Communicable Diseases

New Delhi, Delhi