IAS zone

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Pub ad : Q&A

Q. For Weber, bureaucracy emerged as a neutral , hierarchically organized , efficient and inevitable in contemporary society 15 M

Weber conceptualized theory of bureaucracy in 19^th century german society which was going through a political chaos. He considered bureaucracy as a legal rational authority capable of delivering a stable administration. Weber considered following as important characteristics of bureaucracy

1. Hierarchy

2. Rule orientation

3. Impersonality

4. Role specificity

5. Neutrality

6. Anonymity

Hierarchically structured organization facilitated in clear definition of roles and responsibilities for various positions in an organization. Neutrality ensured that decisions were made on an objective and rational basis. It insulated bureaucracy from political executive. Bureaucracy with these characteristics delivered stable and efficient administration in germany. Soon it was adopted by various countries. Hence bureaucracy emerged as an inevitable and efficient form of administration in 19^th century.

However over a period of time, the evils of bureaucracy like goal displacement, stratus quoist orientation emerged. This led to rise of post bureaucratic organizations to address the deficiencies in bureaucratic organizations. However certain features of bureaucracy like impersonality, anonymity are still relevant to 21^st century society

Monday, May 28, 2012

GREXIT: Will it Happen

source- Economic times
WILL GREECE LEAVE THE EURO ZONE
Unlikely in the near future.The fallout of Greeces exit would be
more painful than negotiating fresh conditions under which the austerity measures and repayment obligations could be eased.Any exit has to be voluntary as no country can be pushed out.
WHAT HAS CHANGED POLITICALLY FOR GREECE
New French President Francois Hollande has hinted at some relief
for Greece as he stands for liberal government spending rather than austerity.Even Chancellor Angela Merkel,who has been the prime mover of the austerity drive,could agree to climb down as a possible Greek exit could hurt German companies and banks and her country would lose all economic benefits it gained from the single currency.
Its banking system will collapse,with depositors pulling out funds and banks ownership of Greek bonds becoming worthless.Bank funding will dry up as ECB wont lend anymore.Creation of a new currency,or the return to its old drachma,will lead to depreciation of as high as 80%.That would bloat debt and make imports impossible,causing job losses & poverty.
WHAT IF THE BANKING SYSTEM COLLAPSES

The contagion will spread since faith in the euro would vanish.Peripheral countries such as Portugal and Spain,where the banking system is perceived to be weak,will also come under assault as people will pull out funds.Once the contagion spreads,the financial markets will seize up.
.
CAN GREECE GAIN FROM TRADE IF CURRENCY FALLS

Once it pulls out of the euro zone,its trade with other countries will face tariffs.Movement of capital and labour will also be restricted,causing more pain.
HOW MUCH IT NEEDS TO REPAY DEBT

Greece will need around 20 -28 billion a year until 2016.Thereafter,the funding requirements could fall below 20 billion and converge towards 10 billion.Under this scenario,bailout III would require around 110 billion from 2015-2020,according to RBS.
IS AN ORDERLY EXIT POSSIBLE

No.Approximately 20% of the worlds reserves are in euros,and a larger notional amount of euro swaps are traded than dollar swaps.An exit would almost automatically be disorderly as different laws govern different contracts.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Recent satellite launches

Monday, March 26, 2012

Environment MCQ

1. which among following is true

• A. IPCC does not carry out its own original research

• B. Its main activity is to monitor climate change

• A. A only B. B only C. A&B D. None

2. which of following is true about hornbills?

· A. They are mainly seen in western ghats and north east india

· B. It is included under schedule I of wildlife protection act

· A. A only B. B only C. A&B D. None

3. which among following is true about integrated coastal zone management program?

· A. it is a world bank funded program

· B. It includes mapping of hazard lines of along india’s coast including the islands

· C. Pilot projects are being implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

· Answer

o A. A only

o B. B&C

o C. A,B,C

o D. A & C

4. Which among following is true?

A. central pollution control board was setup under Air act

B. Indian vehicles currently use Euro III and Euro IV fuels

Answer

A. A only

B. A&B

C. B only

D. None

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Food additives

Glycerol monostearate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol_monostearate

a colorless, odorless, and sweet-tasting flaky powder that is hygroscopic
Glycerol monostearate, commonly known as GMS, is an organic molecule used as an emulsifier
It occurs naturally in the body as a by-product of the breakdown of fats, and is also found in fatty foods.
GMS is a food additive used as a thickening, emulsifying, anti-caking, and preservative agent

Stabiliser (food) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabiliser_(food)

stabiliser is an additive to food which helps to preserve its structure.
For example it is used in preventing ice crystals from forming in frozen food such as ice cream; and preventing fruit from settling in products such as jam and yogurt.

Focusing On Preservatives: How They Keep Food Fresh
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021113070827.htm

What do preservatives do? They keep foods fresh and inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts or molds.
Preservatives can be grouped into three general types: antimicrobials that block growth of bacteria, molds or yeasts; antioxidants that slow oxidation of fats and lipids that leads to rancidity, and a third type that fights enzymes that promote the natural ripening that occurs after fruits or vegetables are picked.

Food-Info.net : What are emulsifiers and why are they used ?
http://www.food-info.net/uk/qa/qa-fi63.htm

Emulsifiers are molecules with one water-loving (hydrophilic) and one oil-loving (hydrophobic) end. They make it possible for water and oil to become finely dispersed in each other, creating a stable, homogenous, smooth emulsion.
Some common applications of emulsifiers
In bread emulsifier added to the dough is enough to achieve an enhanced volume, a softer crumb structure and a longer shelf-life
In Chocolate emulsifiers are added to provide the right consistency of the chocolate, so it can be moulded into plates of chocolate, chocolate bars etc.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Anthro Notes: Somatotypes

1919 G Viola

· took 10 measurements of the body and compared the individual to a group average

· he differentiated 3 body types

1925 E Kretschmer –

· described 3 body types and linked them to psychiatric problems

o Pyknic - broad, fat, round and sturdy, often become manic depressives

o Leptosomic - long and thin,slender limbs,anaemic personality.

o Athletic - large and muscular thorax and shoulders, often are schizophrenic

His work became disused as it assumes 3 discrete types when in reality he had defined 3 extremes of groups

1940 Sheldon –

tried to link body type to personality and disease.

· Extreme Endomorphy

o spherical body,

o weak and fatty arms and thighs.

o Slim wrists and ankles.

o The thoracic and pelvic part of the skeleton is greater in the anteroposterior than in the transverse direction.

o The word endomorphy is derived from endoderm, the embryonic layer from which the digestive system develops.

o Susceptible to depression and diabetes.

· Extreme Mesomorphy

o Ex: The classical Hercules.

o Broad shoulders and chest.

o Muscled arms and legs.

o The word mesomorphy is derived from mesoderm, the embryonic layer from which the muscle and bone develops.

o Susceptible to paranoia, hysteria and coronary heart disease.

· Extreme Ectomorphy –

o A Linear man, spindly limbs.

o Narrow chest and abdomen.

o Little muscle and little fat.

o ectomorphy is derived from ectoderm, the embryonic layer from which the skin and nervous system develops.

o Susceptible to anxiety, schizophrenia and pulmonary tuberculosis.

This technique was based on assessment of each component by visual observation of photographs.

Each component is rated on a scale of 1 - 7 and this is used to give a 3 digit somatotype.

most common somatotypes are 344, 433 or 352

He stated that not all parts of the body will show the same characteristics, this difference is called dysplasia

This method is no-longer used as the use of photographs to evaluate somatotype is too subjective

1968 Heath & Carter

· Built on sheldon’s model

· idea of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy is retained

· included anthropometric procedures along with photographic analysis to estimate the "present morphological configuration."

· This is the method most commonly used today

· They developed the Heath-Carter chart, used to determine somatotype given the anthropometric data.