Thursday, September 30, 2010

Time Management

Every individual on earth has the same amount of time - 60 seconds in a minute; 60 minutes in an hour; 1,440 minutes in a day; and 525,600 minutes in a year. While a vast majority of people confesses faltering to come to grips with it, extremely few can claim to have made the most of it. How is it that they have got it all done? It's because they have managed a way to figure out how to manage their time effectively.

Time Management is more than just managing time. It is about controlling the use of the most valuable - and undervalued - resource. It is managing oneself in relation to time. It is setting priorities and taking charge of the situation and time utilization. It means changing those habits or activities that cause waste of time. It is being willing to adopt habits and methods to make maximum use of time.
Click this Link...http://cgg.gov.in/Handbook%20on%20Time%20Management%20Skills.pdf

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Email Etiquettes

Here are some Email Rules which we should follow in our day-to-day email communications; office or personal.
We call them 'Email Etiquettes'.
 
1. Indent: Keep your mail in Left Indent format. This is the American style and currently being followed.
Alignment: Keep as 'Justified'.
 
2. Recipients: If you are sending a message to more than one person, it is advisable to keep the recipients in 'Bcc' instead of 'To'. Also in such case, address the recipients by 'Hi', 'Hello', 'Greetings', etc.
If the recipient is a female, address as 'Ms. X' (this is irrespective of the female being married or single). Same applies to a male recipient.
Do NOT use 'Good Morning' and alike, since you never know at what time of the day the recipient may read your message.
 
3. Font style, Font size: Most preferred font style and size is 'Verdana 10 pt'. If you wish to have give a colour, it should not be anything else than black, blue.
 
4. Spell Check: Please use the Spell check facility in your mailbox without fail. Every email service provides this useful facility.
 
5. Length of a paragraph: Avoid extending one paragraph above 5 lines.
 
6. Avoid using 'Smileys' unnecessarily, especially in official communications.
 
7. Apply your brains while 'Replying to All'. If not necessary, avoid 'Reply All' function.
 
8. Signatures (for official purpose only): It is advisable to keep a pre-designed signature for your outgoing mails. When composing a mail at first place, it is advisable to use the full signature details. While replying to mails, reduce your signature details by half.
Signature should have: Your name (first and last only), Designation, Department Name, Organisation Name & Address, Contact details(direct or reception or cell).
 
9. Avoid sending mails on official email addresses if you have the recipients personal email address. Many corporates consider 'sending to and receiving of mails from external media as Risk issue'.
 
10. If you have said 'Please find attached', ensure that you attach and re-check the attached document, before sending.
 
11. Hitting the 'SEND' button should be the last task. Do not hurry in sending the communication, since once sent, it's gone for forever.
 
12. Avoid being unnecessarily 'informal in formal communications' and 'vice-versa'.
 
13. Do not write a mail when you are in a hurry. If you are not able to reply in detail, just reply as "Will get back to you soon".
 
Happy Emailing ! ! !

General Points for Exam Preparation

Dear Friends,

 

I'd like to share some of the tips/suggestions connected with Exam preparation. These tips/suggestions are very general in nature and very easy to implement and you may use them for any kind of exam preparation. Sincerely hope that these tips/suggestions would be off some help in your exam preparation.

 

  1. Figure out your mistake or reason for low marks, if any, in the previous Examination and promise yourself to avoid them in your next exam.

 

  1. Focus on your Study and Goal. In short your vision towards your future must be crystal clear.

 

  1. Plan your revision schedule as early as possible and follow the same honestly and keep reviewing it and make necessary changes as and when necessary.

 

  1. Invest your time in Exam oriented discussion. There are two advantage of this activity:

i.        You may discuss your problems during such discussions and resolve them quickly in the early stage.

ii.      These discussions will also help you to focus on your goal.

 

  1. Work out on your presentation skills as your presentation and writing skills plays an important role in your exam success.

 

  1. In examination hall length of answer plays an important role due to time factor. Keep this factor in mind and plan your answer accordingly.

 

  1. Mental strength is very important. So prepare yourself mentally and physically for Examination cum War.

 

  1. Very Important Revision Tips: What you prepare on Monday try and recall it on Tuesday without using books. If you are able to recall 60%-70%, then you are 100% going to succeed in this examination. Again try to recall the same after the gap of 2-3 days.

 

  1. Use abbreviation method. If you have 10 points to remember in a question give them a certain abbreviation and remember that abbreviation. This technique is really very helpful. Just try it.

 

  1. Stay away from Time wasting and unproductive habits. At least during exam times.

 

  1. Prepare a list of questions which you consider tuff or a bit time consuming. Prepare a handout yourself with solution of these questions and give them a reading on regularly basis with a time gap of 2-3 days.

 

  1. Prepare a list of frequently asked questions asked in the previous examinations and practice/revise them properly.

 

  1. Give a little bit time to every subject per day. Try and increase your study time day by day.

 

  1. After a certain time (close to exam) do not add any new topic in your schedule. Just focus on revision-revision and revision.

 

  1. Stop collecting different notes per day. Try and figure out the notes which are relevant for you and support your style of study. Only use them for exam purpose.

 

  1. Take very good care of your health. Consider your health as a subject. Remember if you fail to perform well in this subject you are going to fail.

 


September 28 is 'International Right to Know Day

International Right to Know Day was established by access to information advocates from around the globe. It was first celebrated on 28 September 2003, and 2010 will see the 8th International Right to Know Day. It is a chance to highlight the right to information and to remember how important this right is for the fulfillment of all human rights.


From securing the right to food, health care and education, to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment, to increasing people's participation in government and achieving gender equality, having access to information is fundamental if we are to fully exercise our rights in a meaningful way and take an active role in shaping the societies in which we live.

The importance of access to information has long been recognised by the international community. At its very start in 1946, the United Nations General Assembly recognised that "freedom of information is a fundamental human right and the touchstone for all freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated".

Access to information
Although originally envisaged as an element of the right to freedom of expression, the right to information is increasingly gaining recognition as a "foundational right" necessary for the protection of every other human right.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), for example, outlines member state's obligations to provide women with access to information about family planning in order to fully protect their right to health and to be equal partners in the marriage agreement.

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development recognises that the right to a healthy environment includes the right to access government information about the environment, including hazardous materials and activities.


This International Right to Know Day is an opportunity to remember that each of us has a human right to information, and that effective protection of this right is dependent on our government's willingness to embrace policies of transparency and openness.



Friday, September 24, 2010

UPSC finally goes online for all competitive exams

AS part of its e-governance initiative, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced the system of online submission of applications for the competitive examinations it conducts. An increasingly good number of candidates have already started applying online for the UPSC Examinations notified during 2010. Although this facility is in addition to the option of submitting paper applications already available, the prospective candidates are encouraged to prefer online mode of applying for the UPSC Examinations using the link http://www.upsconline.nic.in.

Anyone choosing to apply online has the following distinct advantages :-

++ One can apply in a hassle free manner at the convenience of sitting at home or at cyber cafe or any other place any time even during night hours.

++ prompt confirmation of submitted application is received. An online application requires one to pay only 50% of the fee required otherwise while applying offline. The cost of buying paper application from the Post Office as well as postal charges is also saved.

++ one doesn't run the risk of postal delays.

++ lower risk of rejection of one's application on account of wrong/incomplete data entry since online application system has built-in self- scrutinising features not allowing an applicant to leave any column blank.

++ one can view and take a print out of one's application for future reference.

++ When applying online in response to any Examination Notice of the Commission, all one needs is, the applicant's scanned photo and scanned signature in .png format of size not exceeding 40 KB.

++ For fee payment, one may choose any one of the three options:- pay through any VISA/MASTERCARD, Debit or Credit Card issued by any Bank/Institution; pay through the Internet Banking facility of State Bank of India or one can pay cash at any Branch of State Bank of India, through a challan generated through the above website.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Free Online Certificate Course on Right To Information (OCC_RTI)

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India (GoI) has launched an 'Online Certificate Course on RTI' for various stakeholders on, both, the demand and supply sides of the RTI implementation regime.

This Online Certificate Course on RTI is launched in association with the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad.

This Online Certificate Course is aimed at:

  • Public Information Officers (PIOs)
  • Assistant Public Information Officers (APIOs)
  • Appellate Authorities
  • Officials assisting the above designated officers or other public officials
  • Citizens
  • Representative of Civil Society Organisations (including Media Organisations)
  • Any other person(s) who could be a direct / indirect stakeholder

OCC_RTI is a 15-day online course.

These 15 days are further divided into two slots. The first 12 days are allocated to study the chapters and thereby the modules including taking a quiz for each chapter. The last 3 days are to be used for taking the online examination.

The online course is flexible. Within these slots of 12 days and 3 days, a candidate can complete the course work (i.e,. study of modules) at her / his convenience - one or more than one chapter / module at a time. It is estimated that each chapter and its respective quiz can be completed in one hour.


What is the purpose of taking the OCC_RTI?

  • Perusing this course is going to be important from the point of view of understanding several implementation-related aspects of the 'RTI Act, 2005'.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Civil Services(Main) Examination Time Table 2010

Date/Day Forenoon Session 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 P.M.
Afternoon Session 2.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M.
29.10.2010(Friday) General Studies Paper-I General Studies Paper-II
30.10.2010(Saturday) Essay English
31.10.2010(Sunday) Indian Language
{Assamese/Bengali/Bodo/Dogri/
Gujarati/Hindi/Kannada/Kashmiri/
Konkani/Maithili/Malayalam/
Manipuri/Marathi/Nepali/Oriya/
Punjabi/Sanskrit/Santali/Sindhi
(Devanagari/Arabic Script)/Tamil/
Telugu/Urdu}
---
02.11.2010(Tuesday) Political Science & International Relations Paper-I/
Public Administration Paper-I
Political Science & International Relations Paper-II/
Public Administration Paper-II
04.11.2010(Thursday) History Paper-I History Paper-II
08.11.2010(Monday) Literature of Arabic/Assamese/Bengali/Bodo/
Chinese/Dogri/English/French/
German/Gujarati/Hindi/Kannada/
Kashmiri/Konkani/Maithili/
Malayalam/Manipuri/Marathi/Nepali/
Oriya/Pali/Persian/Punjabi/Russian/
Sanskrit/Santali/Sindhi (Devanagari/ Arabic Script)
/Tamil/Telugu/Urdu Language Paper-I
Literature of Arabic/Assamese/Bengali/Bodo/
Chinese/Dogri/English/French/
German/Gujarati/Hindi/Kannada/
Kashmiri/Konkani/Maithili/
Malayalam/Manipuri/Marathi/Nepali/
Oriya/Pali/Persian/Punjabi/Russian/
Sanskrit/Santali/Sindhi (Devanagari/ Arabic Script)/Tamil/Telugu/Urdu Language Paper-II
09.11.2010(Tuesday) Philosophy Paper-I Philosophy Paper-II
10.11.2010(Wednesday) Sociology Paper-I/
Anthropology Paper-I
Sociology Paper-II/
Anthropology Paper-II
11.11.2010(Thursday) Psychology Paper-I Psychology Paper-II
12.11.2010(Friday) Zoology Paper-I Zoology Paper-II
13.11.2010(Saturday) Law Paper-I Law Paper-II
15.11.2010(Monday) Economics Paper-I Economics Paper-II
16.11.2010(Tuesday) Commerce & Accountancy Paper-I/
Management Paper-I
Commerce & Accountancy Paper-II/
Management Paper-II
18.11.2010(Thursday) Civil Engg. Paper-I/Electrical Engg. Paper-I/
Mechanical Engg. Paper-I/
Medical Science Paper-I
Civil Engg. Paper-II/Electrical Engg. Paper-II/
Mechanical Engg. Paper-II/
Medical Science Paper-II
19.11.2010(Friday) Botany Paper-I/
Botany Paper-II/
20.11.2010(Saturday) Mathematics Paper-I/ Statistics Paper-I Mathematics Paper-II/ Statistics Paper-II
22.11.2010(Monday) Agriculture Paper-I/ Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Paper-I Agriculture Paper-II/ Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Paper-II
23.11.2010(Tuesday) Physics Paper-I Physics Paper-II
25.11.2010(Thursday) Chemistry Paper-I Chemistry Paper-II
26.11.2010(Friday) Geology Paper-I Geology Paper-II

International Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981.

To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace."

Year 2010

Over 55 Global Comedy Clubs will participate in the 2010 Peace Day Comedy "Stand-Up For International Peace" in recognition of the United Nation's 21st Peace Day. Celebrate Peace Day and Inspire a new generation of Peace Thinkers, Teachers and Leaders. This event is designed to bring much needed awareness and media attention to Peace Day. 


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Gandhian policing

Please find a link to vaartha news paper website on Gandhian policing...

http://vaartha.com/pdf_files/90759.pdf
http://epaper.vaartha.com/VT/VT/2010/09/19/index.shtml


LIST OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2011

LIST OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2011 FOR DELHI / NEW DELHI OFFICES


S.No. Holiday Date Saka Date Day




1932 SAKA ERA
1 Republic Day January 26 Magha 06 Wednesday
2 Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad) Febuary 16 Magha 27 Wednesday
3 Maha Shivaratri March 02 Phalguna 11 Wednesday




1933 SAKA ERA
4 Ram Navami April 12 Chaitra 22 Tuesday
5 Mahavir Jayanti April 16 Chaitra 26 Saturday
6 Good Friday April 22 Vaisakha 02 Friday
7 Buddha Prunima May 17 Vaisakha 27 Tuesday
8 Independence Day August 15 Sravana 31 Monday
9 Janamashtami (Vaisnava) August 22 Sravana 31 Monday
10 Idu'l Fitr August 31 Bhadra 09 Wednesday
11 Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday October 02 Asvina 10 Sunday
12 Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) October 06 Asvina 14 Thursday
13 Diwali (Deepavali) October 26 Kartika 04 Wednesday
14 Idu'l Zuha (Bakrid) November 07 Kartika 16 Monday
15 Guru Nanak's Birthday November 10 Kartika 19 Thursday
16 Muharram December 06 Agrahayana 15 Tuesday
17 Christmas Day December 25 Pausa 04 Sunday


LIST OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA RESTRICTED HOLIDAYS DURING THE YEAR 2011 FOR DELHI/NEW DELHI OFFICES.

S.No. Holiday Date Saka Date Day




SAKA ERA 1932
1 New Year's Day January 01 Pausa 11 Saturday
2 Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday Januray 05 Pausa 15 Wednesday
3 Makar Sankranti Januray 14 Pausa 24 Friday
4 Pongal January 15 Pausa 25 Saturday
5 Basanta Panchami / Sri Panchami February 08 Magha 19 Tuesday
6 Guru Ravidas' Birthday February 18 Magha 29 Friday
7 Shivaji Jayanthi February 19 Magha 30 Saturday
8 Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti February 27 Phalguna 08 Sunday
9 Holika Dahan (Dol yatra) March 19 Phalguna 28 Saturday
10 Holi March 20 Phalguna 29 Sunday




SAKA ERA 1933
11 Chaitra Sukladi / Gudi Padava / Ugadi / Cheti Chand April 04 Chaitra 14 Monday
12 Vaisakhi April 14 Chaitra 24 Thursday
13 Vishu April 14 Chaitra 24 Thursday
14 Mesadi April 14 Chaitra 24 Thursday
15 Vaisakhadi (Bengal)/Bahag Bihu (Assam) April 15 Chaitra 25 Friday
16 Easter Sunday April 24 Vaisakha 04 Sunday
17 Guru Rabindranath's Birthday May 09 Vaisakha 19 Monday
18 Hazarat Ali's Birthday June 16 Jyaishtha 26 Thursday
19 Rath Yatra July 03 Asadha 12 Sunday
20 Raksha Bandhan August 13 Sravana 22 Friday
21 Parsi New Year's day August 19 Sravana 28 Friday
22 Jamat-UI-Vida August 26 Bhadra 04 Friday
23 Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi September 01 Bhadra 10 Thursday
24 Onam September 09 Bhadra 18 Friday
25 (Maha Saptami Additional) October 03 Asvina 11 Monday
26 Dussehra (Maha Astami) (Additional) October 04 Asvina 12 Tuesday
27 Dussehra (Maha Navami) October 05 Asvina 13 Wednesday
28 Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday October 11 Asvina 19 Tuesday
29 Deepavali (South India) October 26 Kartika 04 Wednesday
30 Narak Chaturdasi October 26 Kartika 04 Wednesday
31 Govardhan Puja October 27 Kartika 05 Thursday
32 Bhai Duj October 28 Kartika 06 Friday
33 Pratihar Sashthi or Surya Sashthi (Chhat Puja) November 01 Kartika 10 Tuesday
34 Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day November 24 Agrahayana 03 Thursday
35 Christmas Eve December 24 Pausa 03 Saturday


In addition to the 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned above, three holidays shall be decided from the list indicated below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals, if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State. The final list applicable uniformly to all Central Government offices within the concerned State shall be notified after seeking prior approval of this Ministry and no change can be carried out thereafter. It is also clarified that no change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates as indicated.
http://90paisa.blogspot.com/2010/06/holidays-to-be-observed-in-central.html

Saturday, September 18, 2010

what IAS officers can do

Please find a interesting post on IAS ,sent by KANTHETI VINAY KUMAR IRS customs from NACEN.

Three stories that tell the power of Indian Administrative Service to bring about social, moral and cultural changes, at the micro and macro levels


http://navneet-anand.blogspot.com/2008/09/on-what-ias-officers-can-do.html

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Quick look on civil service exam

Qualification: Any degree certificate

Open category

Age limit - 30

Number of attempts - 4

Backward Classes

Age limit - 33

Number of attempts - 7

SC/ST

Age limit - 35

Number of attempts - 14

(The minimum age for all categories is 21 years)

Prelims 

Subjects/Papers : Two

The government has approved the proposal for the introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in place of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.In CSAT, one of the optional subjects which a candidate could have chosen out of 23 optionals has been replaced with a common paper on aptitude test.The government will shortly notify the new scheme of examination giving details of the syllabus.

General Studies (history, geography, general science, polity, economics, current affairs, simple general knowledge and mental ability)

(Question papers are based on objective type multiple choice mode with no negative marking)

Mains

General Studies: Two papers of 300 marks each

Optional - 1: Two papers of 300 marks each

Optional - 2: Two papers of 300 marks each

General essay: One paper of 200 marks

(Essays should be to the point and concise with facts, figures and logical explanation)

Two papers of qualifying nature: One English and the other any vernacular language.

(The marks of the qualifying papers are not considered in the final score)

Interview selection

Total marks allotted for interview: 300

Points that are considered and observed at the interview level:

Leadership and social cohesion, assimilation quality, variety and depth of interest, logical expression, emotional balance, mental alertness, interest in current affairs and intellectual and moral integrity.

Basically the physical, mental and intellectual personalities of the candidate are tested at the interview level.

Coaching institutes

Hyderabad

1. Brain Tree

2. Hyderabad Study Circle

3. IAS Study Circle

4. IAS Academy

5. R.C. Reddy IAS study circle

Visakhapatnam

1. Divakar IAS study Circle (DISC)

2. Delhi Institute of Coaching (DIC)