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Until the Soviet Union’s fall on December 25. 1991, India’s foreign, strategic and economic policies were predicated on what the USA and the Soviet Union did. Despite its non-aligned status, India was closer to the Soviet Union in the matters relating to trade, defence and food. Moreover, India was interested only in strengthening its strategic position vis-à-vis Pakistan in South Asia, for which it had to engage with the USA and Europe. However, things changed rapidly with the Soviet Union’s fall and the rise of China as the new global power. The strategic context in the Asia-Pacific region evolved to the extent that the competition between China and India has intensified in the fields of trade and security. Clearly, the decline of the US influence in the region is opening up a strategic gap that China intends to fill, much to the alarm of smaller South East Asian countries. Thanks to the rise of the Asian Tiger Economies (Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong), the region...

We as individuals think that it is better to stay away from the issues that plague society or some region of our country because we will not be able to make a difference in any case. Some pivotal affairs of the nations are neglected by us due to their disturbing or unpleasant nature. By neglecting we feel that we are not being affected by it but often the contrary is true. When we choose to be passive, we compromise with the quality of our life, by staying out of our own governance. At the core of the matter, we must understand that every voice matters and that a silenced voice is a dead one. Raising our voices and taking a stand matters, not only to others but to oneself. No matter if you make a difference on a small scale, no matter if you can’t see the change yourself, change occurs and creates a wave effect to bring about revolution. It is time that every individual participates actively in the governance of our democracy so as to do justice our constitution’s words- ‘a governme...

It is the first Valentine’s Day after the demolition of Article 377. For those of you who aren’t keeping up with the Supreme Court’s business, the Supreme Court had decriminalized section 377 of the IPC and with it decriminalized consensual adult sex saying sexual orientation is natural and people have no control on it. It was a progressive step to show support to the LGBT community and also reinforce that love has no defined form, way or orientation. Many people from the LGBT community can celebrate freely and without the terror of being discovered, judged, hated or discriminated against or at least officially. The truth is that India, among many other societies, is yet to break their stereotypes about LGBT people and begin to understand or see them as a part of the human race they belong to. It is shocking to see the level of disgust of people about something they understand so little. The unawareness gives rise to blind hate and hate crimes even apart from the psychological torme...

According to ITM’s Article on Unlearning;   We live in a “symptom society” in which we want the fastest and easiest solution to relieve us of pain. The first response is usually aimed at treating the symptom and often takes the form of drugs. It usually appears to resolve the issue. Or does it? The flaw in this process is twofold: 1. Even if the symptom is successfully eradicated, the root cause/issue remains unsolved and often undiagnosed. 2. The second line of defence becomes weak and under-researched because it is seen as irrelevant. In Education, we treat the symptom (eg, poor behavior, low grades, disengagement in lessons, low employment after school) then measure how good we are at this (exam results improvement, attendance, English and maths progress…) without looking at the cause of the problem. If we were more accountable for our school drop out rates, the level of anxiety and depression in teenagers and the chronic lack of independent thought, I think we wo...

Preparing for competitive exams requires a lot of grit, focus, and persistence. Whether that be in guided study or self-study, our environment has a great impact on our productivity. I will particularly lay stress on the environment required for self-study. A self-study environment must be a perfect blend of care and comfort and self-discipline and routine. A student must have the required facilities which provide him enough comfort to focus on his/her study and not be disturbed by distractions of physical inconvenience and discomfort. He must have his/her study space which is undisturbed and personalized. He mustn’t have the burden of judgment or pressure there. Along with these conducive elements, he/she must also have a self-created routine that works best for him, an independent system of self-check and a progress chart made specially by him for his use only. He must also make sure he has interaction with his peers for healthy comparison and discussions. He must have the necessa...

Until the Soviet Union’s fall on December 25. 1991, India’s foreign, strategic and economic policies were predicated on what the USA and the Soviet Union did. Despite its non-aligned status, India was closer to the Soviet Union in the matters relating to trade, defence and food. Moreover, India was interested only in strengthening its strategic position vis-à-vis Pakistan in South Asia, for which it had to engage with the USA and Europe. gurmarg educare However, things changed rapidly with the Soviet Union’s fall and the rise of China as the new global power. The strategic context in the Asia-Pacific region evolved to the extent that the competition between China and India has intensified in the fields of trade and security. Clearly, the decline of the US influence in the region is opening up a strategic gap that China intends to fill, much to the alarm of smaller South East Asian countries. Thanks to the rise of the Asian Tiger Economies (Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong...

In 1983, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka joined hands to establish South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In 2007, Afghanistan too joined it. Although it raised the possibilities of SAARC rivalling ASEAN and the European Union as an economic powerhouse, it remained essentially obsessed with terrorism, which created fissures in the organization because of India-Pakistan discord on this issue. gurmarg educare The first SAARC meeting took place in Dhaka in 1985. Despite numerous summits since then, it has failed to attain the objective of economic cooperation. Numerous agreements have been signed and institutional mechanisms established under SAARC, but they have not been adequately implemented. The most disappointing has been the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) which came into effect in 2006, but has not been able to boost the intra-regional trade beyond the five percent level. Sadly, while the SAARC nations comprise 23 % of...

The term, ‘Civil Society’ comprises non-¬governmental private organizations, associations and institutions, including groups—essentially economic, social, cultural, moral and other such associations. It works outside the state structure and belongs to the realm of autonomous associations and groups formed by individuals in their capacity as private citizens. Civil society performs important duties of checks and balances in democracies. It strives to influence the government and hold it accountable vis-à-vis individual rights. Its activities include, among other things, health, environment and economic rights. gurmarg educare In India, the civil society has been quite vibrant and has been fighting human rights violations like the rampant human trafficking, and sexual exploitation of children and women, thanks to the powerful legal tool in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which has become an important instrument of social change.  There have been other notable successe...

Let us understand what all Biodiversity includes. It includes all terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems including the environment in which they thrive. Biodiversity is intrinsic to the human ecosystem. It is so minutely woven that it forms a solid interdependence. Activist Matt Petronzio says that ‘The fewer animals we have, the fewer humans we will have'. It is difficult to realize and accept this fact but it is true. This also means that threats to biodiversity are subsequently threats to the human race. It is such an irony because almost all the threats to biodiversity are man-made. On International Day for Biological Diversity, with the theme being "Sustainable Biodiversity for Sustainable Development," the Secretary of the United Nations emphasized on fact Sustainable Development requires preservation and protection of biodiversity. He said that it was essential for the current and future generations. He also declared that Biodiversity forms an importa...

Geography constitutes an essential part of the curriculum of the IAS exams and other competitive exams. World Geography and Indian Geography can be quite a vast syllabus to cover. It is even more tedious if one tries to memorize it. To think about it, Geography isn't concept based and cannot even be understood. Various landforms of the world can only be known. Some physical and political boundaries need to be studied all across the globe. Then what is the method that can be adopted to master the subject? click here One innovative method is studying it through travel. There I something refreshing and reviving in this approach. When you think about a random place in the world and view it as a travel destination then your interest is   enhanced by a lot. Travel includes heritage, culture, food, and demography. These particular topics are the ones in the geography curriculum also. Studying various geographical phenomena with a practical approach rather than a theoretic one can e...

Effective communication is basically a 3 step process which involves delivery of message by the communicator, medium of communication, reception of message and its interpretation by the listener. Let us analyze the 3 steps from a closer view ; Delivery of message- This is the beginning of communication. When a communicator decides to deliver a message he plans its structure inside his/her mind. He automatically adjusts his language according to the listener and his vocabulary is in accordance with the assumed comprehension of the listener. His volume is preset in his mind right before he begins to communicate. He also decides the media through which the message can be communicated.   click here Medium of communication- The medium depends upon the listener as well as the environment but most importantly the aim of the communication. It may be verbal, written, electronic, visual or non- verbal. The medium has an effect on successful communication to a great extent.  ...

Science is interesting in its own essence but we find it difficult and typical. If we let our curiosity take the lead and act as our motivation then science can be fun and full of wonder. Let me tell you about some hidden truths of science and its fascinating world. We think that humans are the brainiest creatures on the planet but you’d be delighted to know that there are several other species like Dolphins which use a greater capacity of their brains than humans. Dolphins use ultrasonic waves to detect other Dolphins nearby. click here Elephants can hear frequencies which are more minute than humans. Such frequencies are ultrasound and that is the reason why phones and cameras are not allowed near elephants. Vibrations emitted from phones can disturb them to such a level that they can create havoc. Mosquitoes can see infrared radiations which humans cannot detect. Such radiations enable them to survive and escape threats in their external environment. It is because of this...

Inclusion and diversity and different, although they are used interchangeably. Inclusion can occur even when there is no diversity. Similarly, diversity can be present even without inclusion. Inclusion in society means when every member of that society feel valued and important. Each member must feel included and an active participant of the society. This is what inclusion means. Whether that be about inclusion of the disabled or racial inclusion in an industry, inclusion is the talk of the day. Higher diversity in student bodies and student communities benefit not only students of color and other minorities but also encourage multicultural environments and learning. When diverse people feel included then they can contribute more to the community. Various industries patronize the idea of a workforce which includes a variety of people from different social, cultural and economic backgrounds. Such people together give rise to a creative, innovative, out of the box environment which ...

click here Before studying the subject, the meaning of the name of the subject must be known to you. An interest is created by the name itself. So let me tell you a bit about what the social sector initiatives means. Social sectors are those sectors that embody the policies of a welfare state in the country. It works to uplift the standard of living of the members of society. It may demand a considerable amount of investment but don't yield immediate results. They don't even show a very predictable, finite promise of returns. Sectors like education, health, and nutrition etc are some social sectors that are socially valuable but do not add to economic growth immediately.   click here In the Evolution of social sector, two significant concepts emerged; First, was the human capital approach . It saw social sector initiatives as an investment which would lead to long-term, more stable and permanent returns such as higher standards of living, higher standards of employment...

click here Have you ever wondered why Mathematics is the main topic that is often asked in every competitive exam like SSC-CGL, CPO, Banking PO exams, etc? Why is there so much emphasis on Mathematics in these exams? What is the relation of the job profile with Mathematics? What is the skill that the employer wants to test by examining knowledge of   Mathematics? Answers to all these questions lie in understanding the basic nature of Mathematics. Well, Maths is a methodological and systematic subject that inculcates basic reasoning and aptitude in a person. It imparts an attitude to a person to deal with a problematic situation in a more rational and logical manner. click here     But many of you must be wondering that “I don’t like Maths since childhood or I am particularly weak in it. I am not able to understand it and solve different problems. So I won’t be able to crack these exams or I don’t have the required aptitude and skill set required for these pos...

Have you ever wonder e d that what differentiates us from the animals? The basic thing that differentiates Animals from Human Beings is our consciousness i.e. the ability to think with reason. Our mind is the main source of our consciousness. After thousands of years of evolution, we have started to know the power of our mind. In the limited span of 5-6 thousand years, we have become one of the most important species to have ever walked on the Earth. This all happened because our mind is a powerhouse of infinite knowledge. Some people say that their mind is weak or they lack knowledge. We have to know that our mind is like a rough diamond which needs to be polished continuously through perpetual learning and efforts. For the constant development of mind, every country and society has developed their own Education systems. But some education systems across the world like those of USA, Finland, Advanced European Countries, etc are successful in producing some of the sharpest minds...

http://www.gurmarg.com/blog.php Most of the times we are attracted by exceptional personalities even without being aware of it. We keep on trying to identify their X-factor. So what is it that makes a person charismatic? We try to look for quick tips but keep missing the point. Being Honest and Accepting of yourself More often than not, we feel that acquiring some positive qualities is the key. Though it isn't. What develops confidence is your honest innate nature and the utmost acceptance of it. If you happen to be shy, instead of joining spoken English classes, try to find a conducive, comfortable environment that lets you be vocal in your own language and convenience. Accept yourself first, only then can the solution come.   http://www.gurmarg.com/blog.php Freedom is Empowerment When we are free, we are more calm, composed and confident. It sounds counter-intuitive but sometimes in order to be in control you need to let the reigns free and sync with the na...

The IAS Exams are one of the most sought-after and difficult exams in the country. It is a well-known fact that a huge amount of hard work is required for the preparation of these competitive exams. Besides hard work, strategic preparation is crucial for maximized results. To start with, it is important to understand how the system of scoring works and what is the criteria to qualify. Priorities are set accordingly and the strengths and weaknesses of each individual are measured.   http://www.gurmarg.com/blog.php Thorough knowledge of subjects is critical. Fundamental subjects like History, Indian Polity, Environmental Ecology, and Economics form the base for more complex and contemporary subjects like Sustainable Development, Social Sector Initiatives, and Climate Change. Current National and International Events must be studied along with analyzing it with regard to the core subject and developing your opinion on them.   http://www.gurmarg.com/blog.php Compr...

As many as 39 crimes against women were reported every hour in India, up from 21 in 2007, according to crime in India 2016 report by the N ational C rime R ecords B ureau. The U nion T erritory of Delhi reported the highest crime rate 160.4 against the national average of 55.2. Delhi was followed by Assam, Odisha, Telangana, and Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh India's most populous state- reported the most crimes against women. Four rape cases reported every hour in 2016. Of rape victims in 2016 43% were girls below 18years. Reasons are likely: The first reason for increasing this crime is the lowest conviction rate for crime against women. "Greater reporting and a dismissal conviction rate spells disaster for women" The rate of increased illiteracy is also the main reason for crime increasing. Although our government provides free and compulsory education to the age of 6 to 14 years for but free education no one seeks their positive attention. This policy does no...