INFOGRAPHIC

 UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS How is the Finance Commission of India constituted? What do you know about the terms of reference of the recently constituted Finance Commission? Discuss Article 280 of the constitution of India provides for a Finance commission as a quasi judicial body. Finance Commission is constituted by the President of India every fifth year or at such earlier time as he considers necessary. The Finance Commission consists of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the president. The fifteenth Finance Commission was set under the chairmanship of N.K.Singh to suggest measures for the distribution of net proceeds of taxes to be shared between  the Centre and the states for the period 2020 to 2025. Terms of Reference of 15th Finance Commission: 1. Vertical devolution of taxes- The Finance Commission has to examine the impact of 42% devolution (14th Finance Commission) on Union government, including its New India Vision - 2022. States fear th...

 UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Bring out the causes for formation of heat islands in urban habitat of the world. An urban heat island is a metropolitan area that is comparatively much warmer than the surrounding rural areas . Formation of heat islands has emerged as a major   problem associated with rapid urbanization. There are many reasons behind the formation of heat islands in urban habitats: 1. Concrete, cement, and metal surfaces in urban areas tend to absorb heat energy rather than reflect it, contributing to higher urban temperatures. 2. Cities have a low albedo, the increased surface area of buildings results in more solar radiation absorption than reflection. 3. Construction of skyscrapers generates waste heat and heat that escapes insulation has nowhere to go. Therefore it lingers between buildings in the cities. 4.In densely populated areas tools such as cars and factories are always burning off energy which escapes in the f...

UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats.  Landslides are mass movement of soil or rocks along the slopes of mountains triggered by various natural and anthropogenic causes.  The Himalayan mountain system is among the youngest tertiary fold mountains in the world. The Himalayas have been created by interaction of convergent boundary between Indian and Eurasian plate.  The mountain building process of Himalayas form a highly unstable mountain system which is subjected to tectonic activities. Tectonic movement increases the incidence of earthquake which in turn increases the chances of landslides. In contrast, Western Ghats are older block mountain forming a stable mountain system much older than the Himalayas. Western Ghats are located on the stable part of the Indian plate i.e   Deccan plateau and the movement of Indian Plate does not affect Western Ghats. The Himalayas a...

 UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTION Analyse the factors for highly decentralised cotton textile industry in India Maharashtra and Gujarat were the traditional regions of cotton cultivation and preferred areas for textile industries. However off late it was realized that cotton is extremely light weight as a raw material and also a non-perishable item. Therefore setting up textile industries away from the cotton growing areas seemed viable. With the expansion of irrigation, the non-traditional regions also took up cotton cultivation. Besides better transportation infrastructure also facilitated scattered locations of textile industries. Other factors that determine the location of textile industries are: 1. Proximity to the market 2. Availability of water for dyeing and bleaching 3.Reliable power supply to run power looms and other machinery. 4.Availability of cheap labor . 5.Availability of capital/finance. Since the textile industry require relatively less capital and labor, it can ...

 UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. Gandhi's ideals of non-violence and sustainable living are a continuation of the long tradition that India has followed. With the advent of Globalization and an era of consumerism based culture Gandhi's thoughts have become a more relevant than ever before. Gandhi believed in all- inclusive group and felt that India can become a great nation when its improvished rural masses become better off. Gandhi's firm believe on empowering the rural masses, decentralization of political power, sanitation and hygiene, women empowerment and living in harmony with nature and even more relevant today than they were during times of Gandhi. Government's overemphasis on Swatch Bharat , empowering Panchayats and inclusive growth is the testimony of continuation of Gandhi's ideals in the behavioral politics of India.  Gandhi's ideal of international peace and ...

 UPSC GS MAIN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS What is meant by Gujral Doctrine? Does it have any relevance today? Discuss . The Gujral Doctrine is a set of five principles to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India's immediate neighbours as spelt out by I.K.Gujral.  Among the factors, these five principles arise from the belief that India's stature and strength cannot be divorced from the quality of its relations with it neighbours. It, does, recognises the supreme importance of friendly, cordial relations with neighbours. These principles are:  1.with neighbours like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Srilanka, India does not asked for reciprocity, but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust; 2. no South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region; 3. no country should interfere in the internal affairs of another; 4. all South Asian country must respect each other's territorial integrity...

 UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS: The recent cylcone on the east coast of India was called "Phailin". How are the tropical cyclones named across the world . Elaborate.   The naming of tropical cyclones is a recent phenomenon. The process involves several countries in  the region and is done under the aegis of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) .  The WMO has divided the world oceans into Basins and assigned the responsibility of naming the cyclones to the respective regional bodies. There are 5 such regional bodies called Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers (RSMC). World Meteorological Organization maintains rotating lists of names which are appropriate for each Tropical Cyclone basin. The RSMC follow their own rules for naming cyclones. Some rotate the same list every 6 years while some prefer male and female names. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is retired and replaced by another one. eg. Katrina .   Indian...