Campus Resources By Anurag Sharma

Genpact eyes expansion in India

2009-07-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

Business process outsourcing company Genpact Ltd expects its healthcare services business to grow at "a good pace," and is looking to
expand the segment in the United States, India and the Europe, its chief executive said.

"This is one (segment) that can grow at very large double digits mainly because it is a relatively untapped market," Genpact Chief Executive Pramod Bhasin said in an interview.

Genpact, which provides services in asset management, hospital administration, supply chain logistics and finance, gets about 7 per cent to 8 per cent of its revenue from healthcare outsourcing. The company, which draws majority of its revenue from banking, financial services and insurance, and manufacturing sectors, reported revenue of $1 billion in 2008.

Healthcare organisations, especially in developed countries, are increasingly looking at opportunities to outsource as the need for a cost-effective healthcare system -- with trained but cheap manpower -- becomes acute. Soaring healthcare costs in the United States, where health spending is estimated to hit $2.5 trillion in 2009, undermine the competitiveness of businesses, strain state and federal budgets and drive many Americans into bankruptcy, even as 46 million Americans remain with no health insurance.

US President Barack Obama aims to expand healthcare coverage to all Americans, provide better care and reduce wasteful spending for medical errors, fraud and unnecessary treatments through his proposed healthcare overhaul package. Obama's proposed health reforms and the healthcare overhaul package are going to put a lot of pressure on hospitals to reduce costs, Bhasin said.

Genpact, which draws about 75 per cent of its revenue from the United States, has been focusing on building expertise in areas such as hospital administration, supply chain logistics, equipment and doctor utilization, asset management, and finance and administration, the CEO said. To make the best use of global opportunities, thrown open by the growing significance of cheaper healthcare, Genpact is planning to expand the business in the United States, India and Europe.

"Healthcare is interesting because it is an area where frankly, anytime, you can actually take this expertise to any part of the world," said Bhasin, who is also the chairman of National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), the IT trade body in India. Genpact got its start in 1997 as the India-based business process services unit of GE Capital, General Electric Co's financial services business, and became independent in 2005.

GE is the company's top client, contributing almost half of its revenue. Genpact, which competes with International Business Machines Corp, Accenture Ltd and WNS Holdings Ltd, counts GlaxoSmithKline, Kimberly-Clark Corp and Cadbury Schweppes among its other clients.

Oracle plans to lay off up to 1,000

2009-07-04T05:25:00.000-07:00

Oracle Corp plans to lay off up to 1,000 workers in Europe, or about 1 percent of its global staff, as the recession erodes the giant so
ftware company's earnings, French news agency has AFP reported.

Oracle spokeswoman Deborah Hellinger declined to comment.

The world's No. 2 publicly held software maker would be one of the last major technology companies to undertake significant layoffs in this economic downturn.

Oracle would join EMC Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co, International Business Machines Corp, Intel Corp, Microsoft Corp and SAP AG, among others.

Trade unions learned of the job cuts on Monday and Tuesday during committee meetings of Oracle's European workers, according to the AFP report.

Redwood City, California-based Oracle had some 86,000 employees as of May 31, compared with 84,233 a year earlier. About a third of the software maker's employees are in the United States.

UK bank goes for Wipro, TCS staff

2009-07-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Even as protectionism gains ground among political hardliners in the UK and US, UK-based Lloyds Bank has initiated the process of replac
ing most its British IT workers with Indian nationals.

Many of the Indian recruits will be from top-rung Indian IT majors like Wipro and TCS, who are also the bank’s vendors, said two industry officials familiar with the development.

The bank, which has over 400 employees in its IT department, is learnt to be considering replacing over 80% of its IT workforce with those from India. “We continue to outsource areas of IT work to companies based overseas. At any one time, some of the staff from these companies will be based in the UK to deliver aspects of our IT projects which is standard industry practice,” said a Lloyds spokeswoman over email. She added that the number of staff from overseas companies working with Lloyds in the UK varied depending on the projects underway and the skills required. TCS declined to comment since it was in the midst of its silent period while Wipro refrained from comemnting on “market speculation.”

Globally, the economic crisis has resulted in serious cost-cutting measures which includes wage cuts. For example, an Indian IT specialist with over four years of experience, will be paid almost 30% lesser than his British counterpart. “The costs pressures for companies in Europe and US are forcing companies to lay off workers and replace them with more inexpensive labour mostly from India and China,” said a UK-based consultant who advises European banks on outsourcing strategies. Last week, the Lloyds Banking Group’s employee union protested on a move to replace skilled IT workers of British origin with those from India.

“Workers from India, who would otherwise have no legal right to work in the UK, are being given work visas and flown into the country to take on jobs that could otherwise be given to the existing UK-based staff. The UK government should be using its 43% ownership in Lloyds to force the bank’s board to act in the best interest of UK jobs and its economy,” the union’s assistant general secretary Steve Tatlow had said last week.

A Billion Year Ultra-Dense Memory Chip

2009-06-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

When it comes to data storage, density and durability have always moved in opposite directions - the greater the density the shorter the durability. For example, information carved in stone is not dense but can last thousands of years, whereas today's silicon memory chips can hold their information for only a few decades. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley have smashed this tradition with a new memory storage medium that can pack thousands of times more data into one square inch of space than conventional chips and retain this data for more than a billion years!

"We've developed a new mechanism for digital memory storage that consists of a crystalline iron nanoparticle shuttle enclosed within the hollow of a multiwalled carbon nanotube," said physicist Alex Zettl who led this research.

"Through this combination of nanomaterials and interactions, we've created a memory device that features both ultra-high density and ultra-long lifetimes, and that can be written to and read from using the conventional voltages already available in digital electronics."

Zettl, one of the world's foremost researchers into nanoscale systems and devices, holds joint appointments with Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division (MSD) and the Physics Department at UC Berkeley, where he is the director of the Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems. He is the principal author of a paper that has been published on-line by Nano Letters entitled: "Nanoscale Reversible Mass Transport for Archival Memory." Co-authoring the paper with Zettl were Gavi Begtrup, Will Gannett and Tom Yuzvinsky, all members of his research group, plus Vincent Crespi, a theorist at Penn State University.

The ever-growing demand for digital storage of videos, images, music and text calls for storage media that pack increasingly more data onto chips that keep shrinking in size. However, this demand runs in sharp contrast to the history of data storage. Compare the stone carvings in the Egyptian temple of Karnak, which store approximately two bits of data per square inch but can still be read after nearly 4,000 years, to a modern DVD which can store 100 giga (billion) bits of data per square inch but will probably remain readable for no more than 30 years.

"Interestingly," said Zettl, "the Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086 and written on vellum, has survived over 900 years, while the 1986 BBC Domesday Project, a multimedia survey marking the 900th anniversary of the original Book, required migration from the original high-density laserdiscs within two decades because of media failure."

Zettl and his collaborators were able to buck data storage history by creating a programmable memory system that is based on a moveable part - an iron nanoparticle, approximately 1/50,000th the width of a human hair, that in the presence of a low voltage electrical current can be shuttled back and forth inside a hollow carbon nanotube with remarkable precision. The shuttle's position inside the tube can be read out directly via a simple measurement of electrical resistance, allowing the shuttle to function as a nonvolatile memory element with potentially hundreds of binary memory states.

Cisco Releases Security Advisory for Wireless Gateways

2009-06-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NMS: CSCO) has released a security advisory focused on key components susceptible to DoS and Privilege Escalation vulnerabilities inherent in the networking giant’s Wireless LAN Controllers, Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Modules, and last but not least their superb (in our opinion) Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers. The company has issued patches for the enumerated issues. There are no workarounds outside of the patch activity. The full advisory appears after the jump. Get patching folks.
Cisco Security Advisory: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Advisory ID: cisco-sa-20090204-wlc
Revision 1.0
For Public Release 2009 February 04 1600 UTC (GMT)
Summary
=======
Multiple vulnerabilities exist in the Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs), Cisco Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Modules (WiSMs), and Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers. This security advisory outlines details of the following vulnerabilities:
* Denial of Service Vulnerabilities (total of three)
* Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
These vulnerabilities are independent of each other.
Cisco has released free software updates that address these vulnerabilities.
There are no workarounds available for these vulnerabilities.

This advisory is posted at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20090204-wlc.shtml.
Affected Products
=================
Vulnerable Products
+——————
The following products and software versions are affected for each vulnerability.
Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
+——————————–
Two denial of service (DoS) vulnerabilities affect software versions 4.2 and later. All Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) platforms are affected. A third DoS vulnerability affects software versions 4.1 and later. The following platforms are affected by this vulnerability:
* Cisco 4400 Series Wireless LAN Controllers
* Cisco 4100 Series Wireless LAN Controllers
* Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series/7600 Series Wireless Services Module (WiSM)
* Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers
Note: The Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Modules supported on Cisco 2800 and 3800 series Integrated Services Routers are not vulnerable. The Cisco 2000 and 2100 Series Wireless LAN Controllers are also not affected by this vulnerability.
Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
+———————————
Only WLC software version 4.2.173.0 is affected by this vulnerability.
Determination of Software Versions
+———————————
To determine the WLC version that is running in a given environment, use one of the following methods:
* In the web interface, choose the Monitor tab, click Summary in the left pane, and note the Software Version.
* From the command-line interface, type “show sysinfo” and note the Product Version, as shown in the following example:
(Cisco Controller) >show sysinfo
Manufacturer’s Name.. Cisco Systems Inc.
Product Name……… Cisco Controller
Product Version…… 5.1.151.0
RTOS Version……… Linux-2.6.10_mvl401
Bootloader Version… 4.0.207.0
Build Type……….. DATA + WPS

Use the “show wism module controller 1 status” command on a Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series/7600 Series switch if using a WiSM, and note the Software Version, as demonstrated in the following example:
Router#show wism mod 3 controller 1 status
WiSM Controller 1 in Slot 3
Operational Status of the Controller: Oper-Up
Service VLAN: 192
Service Port: 10
Service Port Mac Address: 0011.92ff.8742
Service IP Address: 192.168.10.1
Management IP Address: 192.168.1.123
Software Version: 5.1.151.0
Port Channel Number: 288
Allowed vlan list: 30,40
Native VLAN ID: 40
WCP Keep Alive Missed: 0
Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable
+——————————–
No other Cisco products are currently known to be affected by these vulnerabilities.
Details
=======
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs), Cisco Catalyst 6500 Wireless Services Modules (WiSMs), and Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers are responsible for system-wide wireless LAN functions, such as security policies, intrusion prevention, RF management, quality of service (QoS), and mobility. These devices communicate with Controller-based Access Points over any Layer 2 (Ethernet) or Layer 3 (IP) infrastructure using the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP). This Security Advisory describes multiple distinct vulnerabilities in the WLCs, WiSMs, and the Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated WLCs. These vulnerabilities are independent of each other.
Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
+——————————–
These vulnerabilities are documented in the following Cisco Bug ID and have been assigned the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifiers:
* CSCsq44516 - CVE-2009-0058
Web authentication is a Layer 3 security feature that causes the controller to drop IP traffic (except DHCP and DNS related packets) from a particular client until that client has correctly supplied a valid username and password. An attacker may use a vulnerability scanner to cause the device to stop servicing web authentication or cause a reload of the device. The following error messages may appear on the console during an active attack:
SshPmStMain/pm_st_main.c:1954/
ssh_pm_st_main_batch_addition_result:
Failed to add rule to the engine:
restoring old state
SshEnginePmApiPm/engine_pm_api_pm.c:1896/
ssh_pme_enable_policy_lookup:
Could not allocate message
* CSCsm82364 - CVE-2009-0059
An attacker may cause a device reload when sending a malformed post to the web authentication “login.html” page. The following error messages may appear on the WLC console during this attack:
Cisco Crash Handler
Signal generated during a signal 11, count 193
Memory 0×14ef1e44 has been freed!
Note: A crash file is not generated during this attack.
* CSCso60979 - CVE-2009-0061
Affected Cisco WLC, WiSM and Catalyst 3750 Wireless LAN Controller models are vulnerable to a DoS condition that is triggered by the receipt of certain IP packets. Upon receiving these IP packets, the affected device may become unresponsive and require a reboot to recover. Note: This vulnerability affects software versions 4.1 and later in the Cisco 4400 series WLCs, Cisco Catalyst 6500 WiSM, and the Cisco Catalyst 3750 Integrated Wireless LAN Controllers. Cisco 4100, 2100, and 2000 series WLCs are not affected by this vulnerability.
Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
+———————————
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists only in WLC software version 4.2.173.0, and could allow a restricted user (i.e., Lobby Admin) to gain full administrative rights on the affected system. Note: Wireless network users are not affected by this vulnerability. This vulnerability is documented in Cisco Bug ID CSCsv62283 and has been assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier CVE-2009-0062.
Vulnerability Scoring Details
+—————————-
Cisco has provided scores for the vulnerabilities in this advisory based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). The CVSS scoring in this Security Advisory is done in accordance with CVSS version 2.0. CVSS is a standards-based scoring method that conveys vulnerability severity and helps determine urgency and priority of response. Cisco has provided a base and temporal score. Customers can then compute environmental scores to assist in determining the impact of the vulnerability in individual networks. Cisco has provided an FAQ to answer additional questions regarding CVSS at http://www.cisco.com/web/about/security/intelligence/cvss-qandas.html Cisco has also provided a CVSS calculator to help compute the environmental impact for individual networks at http://intellishield.cisco.com/security/alertmanager/cvss
* Certain packets may cause WebAuth services to hang or reload the device (CSCsq44516)

CVSS Base Score - 6.1
Access Vector - Adjacent Network
Access Complexity - Low
Authentication - None
Confidentiality Impact - None
Integrity Impact - None
Availability Impact - Complete

CVSS Temporal Score - 5.0
Exploitability - Functional
Remediation Level - Official-Fix
Report Confidence - Confirmed
* Crash handling invalid post for webauth (CSCsq44516)

CVSS Base Score - 6.1
Access Vector - Adjacent Network
Access Complexity - Low
Authentication - None
Confidentiality Impact - None
Integrity Impact - None
Availability Impact - Complete

CVSS Temporal Score - 5.0
Exploitability - Functional
Remediation Level - Official-Fix
Report Confidence - Confirmed
* WLC TSEC driver may hang or crash the device (CSCso60979)

CVSS Base Score - 7.8
Access Vector - Network
Access Complexity - Low
Authentication - None
Confidentiality Impact - None
Integrity Impact - None
Availability Impact - Complete

CVSS Temporal Score - 6.4
Exploitability - Functional
Remediation Level - Official-Fix
Report Confidence - Confirmed
* Local Management Users may obtain full admin rights (CSCsv62283)

CVSS Base Score - 9.0
Access Vector - Network
Access Complexity - Low
Authentication - Single
Confidentiality Impact - Complete
Integrity Impact - Complete
Availability Impact - Complete

CVSS Temporal Score - 7.8
Exploitability - Functional
Remediation Level - Official-Fix
Report Confidence - Confirmed

Impact
======
Successful exploitation of the denial of service vulnerabilities may cause the affected device to hang or reload. Repeated exploitation could result in a sustained DoS condition. The privilege escalation vulnerability may allow an authenticated user to obtain full administrative rights on the affected system.

Software Versions and Fixes
===========================
When considering software upgrades, also consult http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and any subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution. In all cases, customers should exercise caution to be certain the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or your contracted maintenance provider for assistance.

Himalayas warming faster than global average

2009-06-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Northwestern Himalayas has become 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer in the last 100 years, a far higher level of warming than the 0.5-1.1
degrees for the rest of the globe, Indian scientists have found.

Scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Pune University's Department of Geology examined the variation in precipitation (snowfall and rainfall) in the region and found that warming has led to a delay in the onset of winter and a reduction in snowfall.

The study published in the International Journal of Climatology from the Royal Meteorological society, Britain, found that northwestern Himalayas have warmed at the rate of about 1.4 degrees Celsius in the last century compared to the global range of 0.5 to 1.1 degrees Celsius.

"The interesting finding of the study is the unusually high rate of increase in both maximum and minimum temperatures in the last three decades in the northwestern Himalayan region (NWH) whereas in other high altitude mountainous regions of the world such as the Alps and the Rockies, the minimum temperature has increased more rapidly than the maximum," M.R. Bhutiyani, a DRDO scientist who led the study, told IANS.

"The warming on the NWH has been because of both maximum and minimum temperature increasing at a higher rate, with maximum temperature increasing more rapidly," said Bhutiyani, who is also head of the Department of Geology at the College of Military Engineering, Pune.

The data for the NWH region spread over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh was collected from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) in Manali and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

The study also indicated a significant decreasing trend in monsoon and annual overall precipitation during the period 1866-2006.

"The alarming aspect of it is that the winter precipitation consists now of more rainfall and less snowfall. Effective duration of winter has been curtailed with the late onset of winter and the early onset of spring. This, in turn, has directly influenced the ecology of the area," said Bhutiyani.

The study found that less snowfall followed by early melting of the snow has resulted in a changed water balance in the catchments.

Conforming to the global trends, the study said that the glaciers in the NWH have shrunk considerably in the last three decades, indicating major ice-loss.

"The research points towards the fact that a significant increase in air temperature, coinciding with the industrial revolution and enhanced anthropogenic (human related) activities may have resulted in warming of the region and climate change," Bhutiyani added.

Now, a way to measure pain!

2009-06-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

LONDON: Well, you may soon feel others' pain, thanks to scientists who have discovered what they claim is a way to measure a person's suffering.

Using brain scans, a team at the Oxford University has carried out a series of studies which have shown distinct differences between the brains of people in pain and others who are not.

"Pain seems to increase the blood flow to certain parts of the brain roughly in proportion to the amount of pain felt, and we can measure that activation in a brain scan," the team's leader Prof Irene Tracey said.

What the scientists have found is that the brain possesses what they call a "pain matrix", with such feelings typically activating more than a dozen parts of the brain, 'The Sunday Times' reported.

This is in contrast to other senses such as vision or hearing, where stimuli are generally fed to just one part of the brain for interpretation.

Spreading financial literacy

2009-06-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with the objective of disseminating information on the Central Bank and general banking concepts to various target
groups including school and college students, has undertaken an initiative titled 'Project Financial Literacy.' The project also aims to educate women, rural and urban poor, defence personnel and senior citizens on general banking concepts.

Recently, a pilot programme has been launched on financial literacy in Karnataka. The programme, launched by RBI in collaboration with the state government, will involve introduction of financial and related material in the curriculum of schools and colleges. Significant steps would also be taken to make financial literacy a part of non-formal education.

A Udgata, chief general manager, RBI, said: "Children, today, are not money-smart and hence, it is imperative to teach them the basic concepts of banking that would be useful for them in life. As a part of our project, we visit various schools across India and hold various activities for students to sensitise them on financial concepts."

He adds, "Our literacy project has two segments. While the first one is concerned with general topics designed to acquaint people with the basics of banking, finance, markets, banking products and facilities, the second one aims at familiarising people with the functioning of our Central Bank in areas like monetary policy, currency management, forex management, public debt management and other similar topics."

For spreading awareness about RBI and banking at the regional level, RBI also conducts an essay competition for schoolchildren on subjects related to financial inclusion. Adds Udgata, "We are also working on an RBI Young Scholarship Award to generate interest and awareness about the Indian banking sector. Under the scheme, RBI will select young scholars through a countrywide competitive examination who wll be given an opportunity to intern with the bank for two to three months. The opportunity will be available to students pursuing their graduation in Indian universities."

In an attempt to 'catch them young,' RBI launched two comic books in basic banking. He explains, "Through this pictorial representation, while Raju (a comic character) explains the basics of banking to children, Money Kumar (another character) explains the role and functions of RBI. Both these comics have been published in 13 languages including English and Hindi. They have been accommodated in Braille as well."

In addition, RBI has created a special subsite to make people understand the basics of banking in an interesting manner through comics, films, interactive games and stories. Udgata adds, "We are planning to launch a story book on this site narrating the story of the evolution of money from the times of the barter system to the present system of electronic money."

Scholarship

2009-06-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

A scholarship is an award of access to an institution or a financial aid award for an individual (a "scholar") for the purposes of furthering their education. A scholarship may be awarded based on range of criteria, which usually reflect the views or purposes of the donor or founder of the award.

Another meaning of “scholarship“ is the pursuit of a research subject, usually in arts or humanities (as opposed to science). In both scholarly and scientific fields, the word “scholarship“ is used to mean deep mastery of a research subject, often achieved through university studies

Merit-based - financial aid for which financial need is not used to determine the recipient. The recipient may be determined by students’ athletic, academic, artistic or other abilities. The actual monetary value of the scholarship may be negligible, the scholarship being meant to motivate the student and promote the study of the subject. However, this is not always the case and the largest scholarships are almost always merit-based.

Need-based - financial aid for which the student and family’s financial situation is a primary factor in determining the recipient. Usually such scholarship will cover all or part of the tuition and may even cover living-costs. Very often even need-based private scholarships require the awardees to be distinguished students, as the deed founding the award may include a phrase like: “for the studies of founder's favourite subject in founder's favourite institution of higher education for a talented youths of limited means from founder's home town/county/state etc.“

Ethnicity-based - financial aid where applicants must initially qualify by race, religion, or national origin. After filtering the applicants based on their ethnicity, additional factors are taken into consideration to determine the final recipients.

More Scholarships

1.Ron Brown Scholarships

The award: Leadership, community service, all fields. The deadline is usually in January. This is one of most prestigious scholarships and it's very, very competitive. Details at site.

2.Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship

The award: $6,000 per year. Number of winners about 100. It's renewable. Academic merit, leadership, community service, all fields. Deadline is usually in April. Details at site.

3.Project Excellence Scholarships

The award: $4,000 or higher (to full tuition). Number of winners: at least 600. Academic merit, leadership, community service, all fields. Deadline: Feb. 1. Details at site.

4.United Negro College Fund Scholarships

The UNCF is one of our major scholarship gateways. The awards are of varying amounts, and there are a great many under different names and requirements Grandmet, Duracell, for example). The deadline is usually December. Details at site.

5.Kodak Scholarships

The award: varying amounts to $5,000. Number of awards: Varies. For those studying in
film/cinematography at U.S. colleges. Details at site

6.Intel Science Talent Search

The award is from $5,000 to $100,000. There are approx. 40 awards in this prestigious competition. You must present a scientific research project. Deadline: December. Details at site.

7.NACME Scholarships-(National Action Council For Minorities in Engineering).

The award amounts to $20,000, and many are awarded. This is our major engineering scholarship gateway. You must be an engineering student. The deadline is usually in
February. Go to the website for details, or contact from aid official at your college.

8.Gates Millennium Scholarships

The Gates Millennium Scholarship is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for thousands of outstanding students with significant financial need. The scholarship will cover room, board and tuition for at least 1,000 high school students a year. Nomination material for 2002-2003 will be available November 2001. Go to website for details.

9.NSBE Scholarships-(National Society of Black Engineers).

Award amount: Generally range from $1,500 to $3,000 for members of NSBE. Number of awards varies. This is primarily for engineering students, and others majoring in related disciplines. Deadlines vary. Details at website.

10.American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants Scholarships (AICPA).

For undergraduates studying accounting at a U.S. college with at least 30 credits completed. Awards up to $5,000 with about 300 winners annually. Deadline is in July. Go to website for GPA requirements and details.

11.Developmental Fund for Black Students in Science and Technology Scholarships

Award amount: $2,000 and renewable. Several Scholarships granted. This is for science or engineering students at HBCUs. Deadline is June 15.

12.Coca-Cola Scholars Scholarships

This is a major competition with hundreds of over 250 awards going to "scholars," with academic, leadership, and talent qualities. The award amount is from $4,000 to $20,000. You can apply on-line. The deadline is October 31.

13.Ambassadorial Scholarships

This is the prestigious "Rotary" organization scholarship for students who can speak another language and want to study abroad in the "host" country of that language. Award amounts are from $10,000 to $23,000 for a 3 month to full year of study abroad. You should have completed at least 2 years of college work.

14.Ronald McDonald USA National Employees Scholarships.

Students must be studying at a HBCU which is a member of the UNCF. The award is from $1,000 to full tuition. Approx. 60 students are selected. The deadline is April 1. Go to website for details.

15.Xerox Technology Minority Scholarship

type in "Scholarship" in the search engine. This is a good scholarship for strong minority scholarships for students studying in areas like chemistry, engineering, physics, and "tech" areas. The award amount is up to $4,000 for undergraduates and more for graduate students. The deadline is Sept.15. Go to web location for details.

16.Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarships

The above link is to the Chicago headquarters and that gateway of scholarships. Note that there are over 700 AKA Chapters, and you would be wise to contact sorors in your local vicinity. Scholarship opportunities abound. The deadline at AKA headquarters is Feb. 15. Applications (at the website) must be sent between Dec. 1st and January 30th each year.
*Note: all of our Greeks (listed in our Black Excel college guide) offer scholarships, and you should contact your local chapters.

17.NCAA Scholarships -(National Collegiate Athletic Association)

This is the major NCAA sport association with which student-athletes are associated. Awards are given in all sports categories, amounts from $3,000 to $12,500. Awards are also available for sports-related study (such as sports journalism). Deadlines vary, as do the number of awards each year.

18.National Alliance for Excellence Scholarships

The student competitors can be seniors or already in college. They must submit an application that can include recommendations (academics), art (slides), dance (tapes), photographs, or other materials that point to talent and achievement in all areas. The awards are for a minimum of one year, and over 100 are granted. Applications can be
submitted at any time. The selection process is ongoing. Go to the website.

19.Harry S. Truman Scholarship

The is one of the most prestigious scholarships, shaped for students who intend to pursue a career targeted to public service or government. Graduate study should be a goal, with a portion of the funds directed there. You must be at least a junior, and your college must nominate you. A "nomination package" must be created. The awards can reach as high as $30,000 over the years. Generally about 80 students are selected. The deadline is February 1st. Go to website for details.

20.National Association of Hispanic Journalist

Awards from $1000-$5000 Students interested in journalism as a career can apply. Deadline is Feb 28th. See web site for application and information.

21.National Association of Black Journalists

NABJ offers 10 scholarships. It's a $2,500 award. Students should be attending a four-year university. They must present three letters of recommendation from a school adviser, dean or a faculty member. Also, a 500-800 word article on a Black journalist must be presented. A grade point average of 3.0 is desirable. Eligible students must be majoring in journalism-print, photography, radio or television. One of those should be a career goal. Deadline is March 31. Go to website for details.

22.Hispanic College Fund Scholarships

Major site for Hispanic students majoring in business-related areas, A to Z (accounting, human resources, communications, and more). The award amount varies. Over 140 awards granted. Deadline: April.

23.Arts Recognition And Talent Search Awards

These awards are granted to high school or college students (17, 18 years of age) who show talent in dance, voice, music, art, photography, jazz, visual arts, writing, or other creative areas. You must audition or submit a portfolio or tape. The award is to be used for freshman year in college. Award amounts from $100 to $3,000. Deadline is June 1 or April 1 (for registration in specific regions).

24.Society of Women Engineer Scholarships

These scholarships are targeted for women who are majoring in engineering or computer science. Award amount are from $200 to $5,000, and at least 90 are granted. The deadline for students already in college is February 1st but is May 15 for high school seniors entering an "accredited" program.

25.McDonald's USA - Scholarships

With the aid of our franchisees and Ronald McDonald House Charities, McDonald's is proud to sponsor several education scholarship programs.
The award: Leadership, community service, all fields. The deadline is usually in January. This is one of most prestigious scholarships and it's very, very competitive. Details at site.

Sukriti Vidyut Udyog

2009-06-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Company

Sukriti was established in 1972 at Ghaziabad (India) for manufacturing special conductors for Wire and Cable industry. Sukriti is preferred supplier in India and abroad, exporting 60% of its production to Europe and USA. Sukriti's range includes single and stranded silver plated copper wire, nickel plated copper wire, silver plated copper-clad steel wire and heating wires.

With quality systems equivalent to ISO 9000, we have integrated manufacturing facility with well equipped testing laboratory and Govt recognized research and development facility. Sukriti offers not just products but solutions.

Recruits R&D Engineer

Experience: 0 - 4 Years
Location: Ghaziabad
Education: B.Tech/B.E.
Industry Type: Industrial Products/Heavy Machinery
Functional Area: Engineering Design, R&D

Job Description
This is R&D engineering job in an Indian manufacturing company. It involves:
Work on live R&D engineering projects.
Design, development and enhancement of machines
Self study of engineering domains through books, internet, research papers for problem solving.
Exploring industrial market for components. So, knowledge of industrial market in NCR region is preferred.
Work under guidance of experienced engineers.
You should be able to execute assigned tasks with little supervision working in small team.

This is R&D engineering job in an Indian manufacturing company. It involves:
Work on live R&D engineering projects.
Design, development and enhancement of machines
Self study of engineering domains through books, internet, research papers for problem solving.
Exploring industrial market for components. So, knowledge of industrial market in NCR region is preferred.
Work under guidance of experienced engineers.
You should be able to execute assigned tasks with little supervision working in small team.

Desired Candidate Profile
Education: BE (Mechanical/Electrical) from reputed engineering college
We are looking for following skills in candidate:
Basic electrial/mechanical engineering skills - fundamentals, engineering drawing, components, circuit diagrams
Engineer willing to utilize and enhance engineering skill on live projects.
Prior experience (0-4 years) in engineering field is preferred
know how of industrial market in NCR region is preferred.
Ability to execute assigned tasks with little supervision.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

2009-06-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Central Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination , 2009

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will hold a written Examination on 11th October 2009 for recruitment of posts of Assistant Commandants (Group A) in the Central Police Forces (CPF) viz BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB.

Eligibility
Age : Not less than 20 years and not more than 25 years as on 1st August, 2009. The upper age is relaxable for SC/ST/OBC and certain other categories of candidates to the extent specified in the Notice.

Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree of any recognised university or an equivalent qualification.
Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to the Regulations given in notice.
Sex : Both male and female candidates are eligible for appointment to CRPF and CISF. However, only male candidates are eligible for appointment to BSF, ITBP and SSB.
Possession of NCC B or C Certificate will be a desirable qualification. The desirable qualifications will be given consideration at the time of Interview/ Personality Test
only.
Selection Procedure : Selection will be based on the basis of a written examination to be conducted by the UPSC followed by Physcial Standards/ Physical Efficiency Test and Medical Standards Test to be conducted by the Miistry of Home Affairs and the Personality Test/ Interview to be condusted by UPSC.

Application Form: The candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examinations, which can be purchased from the designated Head Post Offices/ Post offices throughout the country against cash
payment of Rs. 20/- only.

Fee: Rs.100/- through Central Recruitment Fee Stamp only. SC/ST/PH candidates are exempted from payment (OBC candidates required to pay full fee).

How To Apply: All applications must reach the "Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069" either by hand or by Post/Speed Post or by courier on or before the 8th June, 2009. Last date of application is 15th June 2008 for the candidates of far flung areas.

Candidates can obtain details of the examination and can get information about registration of their applications, venues of the examination and syllabus etc at the website of the UPSC at http://upsc.gov.in/

Yahoo to hire 150 in India

2009-06-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Yahoo is hiring for hundreds of job openings including nearly 150 vacancies in India, even as the internet major is set to bring down i ts global workforce by about 675 employees.

"We are currently hiring for key positions and will continue to invest in strategically important areas," a Yahoo spokesperson based in the US said.

While the spokesperson did not elaborate on country-specific hiring plans, the career section of the internet major's website shows that Yahoo is looking for about 150 positions in India alone.

The openings are for its operations in Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi, while most of them are for Bangalore. Further, the internet major has over 120 job vacancies for different offices in the US, the website shows.

The India openings are for various departments including engineering, customer care, research and product management, among others.

Last week, while announcing its first quarter results on April 21, Yahoo said that it would slash five per cent of its headcount worldwide. At present, the company has 13,500 employees globally and a five per cent reduction would amount to laying off 675 people.

The firm is resorting to job cuts in the wake of slackening advertisement revenues and a 78 per cent drop in first quarter profit at $118 million. However, it is not clear whether India operations would be affected by the job cuts. India has about 1,500 employees.

"We will be reducing the number of our current employees worldwide by approximately five per cent. We do not break out how individual countries and teams will be impacted.

"We currently have 13,500 employees worldwide. We do not break down how many employees are in each country," the Yahoo spokesperson said.

The spokesperson noted that the majority of impacted employees are expected to be notified within the next two weeks. In 2008, Yahoo's worldwide workforce was about 15,000 and out of them, about 1,500 employees were in India.

Yahoo last October had announced that it would reduce its headcount by as much as 10 per cent. "The goal is to reduce its current annualised cost run rate of approximately $3.9 billion by more than $400 million before the end of 2008," the Internet major had said in October.

"(since) The majority of expenses are headcount-related, Yahoo expects to reduce its global workforce by at least 10 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2008," it had noted.

Oracle to buy Sun Micro for $7.4bn

2009-06-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

New York, April 20: Technology information company Oracle Corporation today announced that it would acquire rival Sun Microsystems for $9.50 a share, or about $7.4 billion.

The agreement with Oracle came about two weeks after IBM ended its talks with Sun.The Sun board baulked at that deal after IBM lowered its offer to $9.40 a share from $10. Still, Monday’s deal represented a 42 per cent premium over Sun’s closing price of $6.69 on Friday. Oracle and Sun said in a statement that net of Sun’s cash and debt, the deal was valued at $5.6 billion.

Lawrence J. Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder and chief executive, and Scott G. McNealy, Sun’s co-founder and chairman, have been two of Silicon Valley’s closest allies over the last 20 years. Their companies turned into two of the superstars of the Internet build-out, and both executives made ribbing rival Microsoft a favoured pastime.

Historically, most of Oracle’s database sales have occurred in tandem with Sun’s servers. Over the past few years, however, Oracle has moved to make Hewlett-Packard and Del stronger allies, as Sun’s business has declined.

“This combination is a natural evolution of our relationship and will be an industry-defining event,” McNealy said.Sun’s directors have unanimously approved the transaction. It is anticipated to close this summer, subject to Sun stockholder approval, the companies said in a statement. Oracle said it expected the purchase to add at least 15 cents a share to its adjusted earnings in the first year after the deal closes. The company also estimated that Sun would contribute more than $1.5 billion to Oracle’s adjusted profit in the first year and more than $2 billion in the second year.

Sun shares were up 36 per cent to $9.10 in early trading, while Oracle fell 5.6 per cent, to $17.99.The deal immediately disrupts the traditional relationships formed between some of the technology industry’s largest players and thrusts Oracle into the hardware business.

Oracle, for example, has long-standing partnerships with Sun’s rivals, including Hewlett-Packard and Dell. These sellers of server computers work to fine-tune Oracle’s database and business software for their computers.

IBM, which competes against Oracle in the software market, also comes under new threats with the deal. For years, IBM has used its homemade servers as leverage for selling higher-profit database and business software. With Sun, Oracle opens up the same opportunity and gains access to thousands of existing Sun customers.

In addition, Oracle has now obtained the MySQL database, which Sun acquired last year for $1 billion. The open-source software has proved popular with companies looking to expand their Internet operations.

Last year, Oracle began a flirtation with the hardware market. It started reselling a server computer from HP that relied on its software for managing and analysing large volumes of data.

NASSCOM rolls out NAC-TECH across India

2009-06-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

One lakh candidates to take test in the next 12 months

Skills assessment program for engineering students to benchmark their entry level skills in the IT industry
NASSCOM’s GMAT-like standardised test to gauge employability of fresh graduates in engineering and technology-based industries will allow students to take a single test that will be valid for multiple employers.
Termed NAC-Tech (NASSCOM’s Assessment of Competence – Technology), it will be used to screen applicants for jobs in the two specific segments, according to Sandhya Chintala, Director – Education Initiative, NASSCOM. The test has been evolved with inputs from some of the IT majors in India, including TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, Satyam, Hexaware, IBM, and Accenture. It will evaluate both soft skills and domain competence of candidates. “NAC-Tech is built like a first filter for all educational institutions, companies, and candidates. Students can take the tests online and will be assigned a score, which will facilitate employment.

Whereas, the certification test has two parts. 'Part A' is mandatory and has tests on verbal ability, analytical reasoning, attention to detail, learning ability, programming and written English skills; and 'Part B' is optional and has tests in IT concepts, electronics and communication, mechanical, civil, chemical, textile, bio-technology, electrical and telecommunication engineering. Candidates depending on their specialisation can take a test in any one area. All scores are valid for a period of one year from the date of assessment. NASSCOM will conduct regular feedback programmes and facilitate interviews for candidates with endorsing IT companies. The results and analysis of the NAC tech assessment will also be regularly shared with the universities and government to make any recommended changes in curriculum and faculty development programs.

According to Ms Sangeeta Gupta, Vice President, NASSCOM, “Talent suitability continues to be a key concern for the IT industry with only 25% of the total engineering graduate pool available in India having the requisite skills. The NAC Tech program aims to address this demand-supply gap by helping students understand the requirements of the IT industry, assess and improve their skills based on the program, and tap employment opportunities in the fast growing knowledge sector.

Interesting Interview Questions

2009-05-31T05:02:00.000-07:00

Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.

Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?
A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.

Q: Which number of job was that?
A: That was my third job.

Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?
A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying ‘employer loyalty’. But I was an idiot.

Q: Why do you say so?
A: My salary in the first 8 years went up only marginally. I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a ‘permanent’ job, so I need not worry about ‘what will I do if I lose my job’. I could never imagine losing a job because of economic slowdown and not because of my performance. That was January 2002.

Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.
A: Well, I had learnt my lessons of being ‘company loyal’ and not ‘money earning and saving loyal’. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving – I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.

Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?
A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me – can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.

Q: What have you gained by doing such things?
A: That’s the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process to wait for the company to give me a hike.

Q: So you decided on your own hike?
A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a ‘debt-free’ life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.

Q: So are you debt-free now?
A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq. feet) plus a loan free big car without bothering about any EMIs. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.

Q: Who is complaining?
A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me – why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.

Q: What is your advice to professionals?
A: Like Narayan Murthy had said – love your job and not your company because you never know when your company will stop loving you. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company’s needs. Companies can keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.

Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?
A: When a company does well, its CEO etc will address the entire company saying, ‘well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you.” But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO Etc will say, “It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go.” So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.

Extraordinary People

2009-05-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

1. Kim Ung-Yong: Attended University at age 4, Ph.D at age 15; world's highest IQ

This Korean super-genius was born in 1962 and might just be the smartest guy alive today (he's recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the highest IQ of anyone on the planet). By the age of four he was already able to read in Japanese, Korean, German, and English. At his fifth birthday, he solved complicated differential and integral calculus problems. Later, on Japanese television, he demonstrated his proficiency in Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, German, English, Japanese, and Korean. Kim was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under "Highest IQ"; the book estimated the boy's score at over 210.

Kim was a guest student of physics at Hanyang University from the age of 3 until he was 6. At the age of 7 he was invited to America by NASA. He finished his university studies, eventually getting a Ph.D. in physics at Colorado State University before he was 15. In 1974, during his university studies, he began his research work at NASA and continued this work until his return to Korea in 1978 where he decided to switch from physics to civil engineering and eventually received a doctorate in that field. Kim was offered the chance to study at the most prestigious universities in Korea, but instead chose to attend a provincial university. As of 2007 he also serves as adjunct faculty at Chungbuk National University.

40 Tips for Better Life

2009-05-30T05:21:00.000-07:00

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day..
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy..
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6...
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water..
12.. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness..
15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more...
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. GOD heals everything.
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
30. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
31. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
32. The best is yet to come.
33. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
34. Do the right thing!
35. Call your family often.
36. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
37. Each day give something good to others.
38. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
39. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.

NASSCOM rolls out NAC-TECH across India

2009-03-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

One lakh candidates to take test in the next 12 months
Skills assessment program for engineering students to benchmark their entry level skills in the IT industry

NASSCOM’s GMAT-like standardised test to gauge employability of fresh graduates in engineering and technology-based industries will allow students to take a single test that will be valid for multiple employers.
Termed NAC-Tech (NASSCOM’s Assessment of Competence – Technology), it will be used to screen applicants for jobs in the two specific segments, according to Sandhya Chintala, Director – Education Initiative, NASSCOM. The test has been evolved with inputs from some of the IT majors in India, including TCS, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, Satyam, Hexaware, IBM, and Accenture. It will evaluate both soft skills and domain competence of candidates. “NAC-Tech is built like a first filter for all educational institutions, companies, and candidates. Students can take the tests online and will be assigned a score, which will facilitate employment.

Whereas, the certification test has two parts. 'Part A' is mandatory and has tests on verbal ability, analytical reasoning, attention to detail, learning ability, programming and written English skills; and 'Part B' is optional and has tests in IT concepts, electronics and communication, mechanical, civil, chemical, textile, bio-technology, electrical and telecommunication engineering. Candidates depending on their specialisation can take a test in any one area. All scores are valid for a period of one year from the date of assessment. NASSCOM will conduct regular feedback programmes and facilitate interviews for candidates with endorsing IT companies. The results and analysis of the NAC tech assessment will also be regularly shared with the universities and government to make any recommended changes in curriculum and faculty development programs.

According to Ms Sangeeta Gupta, Vice President, NASSCOM, “Talent suitability continues to be a key concern for the IT industry with only 25% of the total engineering graduate pool available in India having the requisite skills. The NAC Tech program aims to address this demand-supply gap by helping students understand the requirements of the IT industry, assess and improve their skills based on the program, and tap employment opportunities in the fast growing knowledge sector.”

Civil Service Examination

2009-02-04T01:01:00.000-08:00

It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year. The first stage of the selection process is announced in November-December every year. The selection is done in 3 stages.

Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
Stage II: Main Examination
Stage III: Interview Test
Candidates move into the next stage through a process of elimination. The Prelims are held in May-June and results announced in July-August. The Main examination is held in October-November and those who qualify here are invited to the interview in March-April next.

I: Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple-choice questions) carrying a maximum of 450 marks.

Paper - I	General Studies	150 Marks
Paper - II	One of the optional subjects to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects	300 Marks

Optional Subjects (one subject to be selected): Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.

General Studies Topics:

General Science.

Current events of national and international importance

History of India and Indian National Movement

Indian and World Geography

Indian Polity and Economy

General Mental Ability

Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well educated person who has not made a special study of any particular scientific discipline. In current events, knowledge of significant national and international events will be tested. In History of India, emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic and political aspects. Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence. In Geography, emphasis will be on Geography of India. Questions on the Geography of India will relate to physical, social and economic Geography of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources. Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the country’s political system and Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj, Social Systems and economic developments in India. On general mental ability, the candidates will be tested on reasoning and analytical abilities.

The Question Papers (Test Booklets) are set in English & Hindi.
The course content of the syllabi is of degree level.
Duration of each paper is 2 hours.
Blind candidates are allowed an extra time of 20 minutes for each paper.
There is no negative marking and the score in the Prelims does not affect the ranking in the final merit list.

Cut Off Marks for Prelims Exam

Optional subject	Minimum number of questions need to be correct for optional subject	Minimum number of questions need to be correct for General Studies
Geography	84-95	90+
Indian History	95-98	95
Mathematics	68	95
Political Science	90+	95+
Public Administration	84-98	90

Statistical Data of Preliminary

Year of Exam	No of Candidates
Year of Exam	Applied	Appeared
1997	2,65,761	1,30,198
1998	2,71,517	1,22,363
1999	3,09,501	1,35,086
2000	2,25,555	1,19,398
2001	2,56,673	1,38,240
2002	3,01,585	1,57,486

II: Main Examination

The Main Exam consists of a written exam and an interview test. The written exam has 9 papers of conventional essay type. Marks obtained in the Main Exam will determine whether a candidate is called for the interview. Marks obtained in the Main Exam plus interview determines the final ranking. Candidates are allotted various services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and preferences expressed by them. The written examination consists of the following papers:

Paper-I	One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the 18 languages included in the VIIIth Schedule to the Constitution (Qualifying Paper)	300 Marks
Paper-II	English (Qualifying Paper)	300 Marks
Paper-III	Essay	200 Marks
Papers IV & V	General Studies (300 Marks for each paper)	600 Marks
Papers VI, VII, VIII & IX	Any two subjects (each having 2 papers) to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects (300 marks for each paper)	1200 Marks
Total Marks for Written Examination		2000 Marks
Interview Test		300 Marks
Grand Total		2300 Marks

Note
(i) The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature; the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

(ii) The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subjects of only such candidates will be evaluated as attain such minimum standard as may be fixed by the Commission in their discretion for the qualifying papers on Indian Language and English.

(iii) The paper-I on Indian Languages will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the North-Eastern States of Arunachanl Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also for candidates hailing from the State of Sikkim.

(iv) For the Language papers, the script to be used by the candidates will be as under

(v) Candidates who have opted for an Indian Language as language medium for the Main Examination have an option of being interviewed either in English or in the same language which they have opted for the Main Examination.

List of optional subjects (Literature): Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu.

Optional subjects for Main Examination (any two): Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering,20Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.

The following combinations not allowed are:

Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration
Commerce and Management
Anthropology and Sociology
Mathematics and Statistics
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry &Veterinary Science
Management and Public Administration
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science
Any two branches of engineering.

The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
Each paper will be of three hours duration. Blind candidates will, however be allowed an extra time of thirty minutes at each paper.

Sequence of papers

General Studies
Essay, followed by English Language
Indian Language (1, 2 and 3 are on three consecutive days)
History
Mathematics/Statistics
Sociology/Anthropology
Geography
Civil Engg./Electrical Engg./Mechanical Engg./Medical Science
Political Science and International Relations/Public Administration
Literature (literature in all languages)
Physics
Commerce and Accountancy/Management
Zoology
Economics
Botany
Law
Philosophy
Agriculture/Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Psychology
Chemistry
Geology

General Studies
Paper-I
(a) History of Modern India and Indian Culture

The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the Freedom Movement and Social reforms. The part relating to Indian Culture will cover all aspects of Indian Culture from the ancient to modern times.

(b) Geography of India
In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and social geography of India.

(c) Indian Polity
This part will include questions on the Constitution of India, Political system and related matters.

(d) Current National issues and topics of social relevance
This part is intended to test the Candidate's awareness of current national issues and topics of social relevance in the present-day India, such as the following.

Demography & Human Resource & related issues. Behavioral & Social issues & Social Welfare problems, such as child labour, gender equality, adult literacy, rehabilitation of the handicapped and other deprived segments of the society, drug abuse, public health etc.

Law enforcement issues, human rights, corruption in public life, communal harmony etc.

Internal Security and related issues.

Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national heritage.

The role of national institutions, their relevance and need for change.

Paper-II

(a) India and the World
This part is intended to test candidate's awareness of India's relationship with the world in various spheres, such as the following:-
Foreign Affairs
External Security and related matters
Nuclear Policy
Indians abroad

(b) Indian Economy
In this part, questions will be on the planning and economic development in India, economic & trade issues, Foreign Trade, the role and functions of I.M.F., World Bank, W.T.O. etc.

(c) International Affairs & Institutions
This part will include questions on important events in world affairs and on international institutions.

(d) Developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space
In this part, questions will test the candidate's awareness of the developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space and also basic ideas of computers.

(e) Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams
This part will include exercises to test the candidate's ability to draw common sense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical or diagrammatical form and to point out deficiencies, limitations or inconsistencies therein.

Essay
Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

English
The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned.

The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :-
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precise Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary
(iv) Short Essay

Note 1 : The candidates will have to answer the English papers in English language (except where translation is involved).

General Instructions (Preliminary as well as Main Examination):
(i) Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, they will be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, blind candidates will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe.

Note (1) : The eligibility conditions of a scribe, his/her conduct inside the examination hall and the manner in which and extent to which he/she can help the blind candidate in writing the Civil Services Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard. Violation of all or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the blind candidate in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.

ii) The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.

(iii) If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him.

(iv) Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.

(v) Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.

(vi) In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.

(vii) Candidates should use only international form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.

(viii) Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) calculators at the conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted.
It is also important to note that candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore bring the same inside the Examination Hall.

Statistical Data of Main Examination

Year Of Exam	Vacancies					Candidates Recommended
Year Of Exam	SC	ST	OBC	GEN	TOTAL	SC	ST	OBC	GEN	TOTAL
1995	98	49	165	333	645	101	49	192	303	645
1996	125	57	174	383	739	138	59	212	330	739
1997	89	43	166	323	621	94	46	215	266	621
1998	53	28	114	275	470	60	30	142	238	470
1999	53	27	97	234	411	63	30	127	191	411
2000	54	29	100	244	427	58	34	128	207	427
2001	47	39	97	234	417	52	42	131	192	417
2002	38	22	88	162	310	38	22	88	138	286

III: Interview Test
The final stage of selection is the interview which is conducted in April/May every year. The object of the interview is to assess the suitability of the candidate for a career in public service. It is an assessment of not only the intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities judged are: mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, social cohesion, leadership and above all, intellectual and moral integrity. There are cases where students clear the preliminary and the mains but fail at the last stage. The secret is to start for preparations for the interview along with the written test. To succeed in the interview, candidates should take an intelligent interest not only in areas of their subjects, but also in what is happening around them, both within and outside their country. They should be aware of modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should arouse the curiosity of well educated youth. That is why it is most important to read magazines and newspapers, watch television programmes on current affairs and learn to organise thoughts the way the participants do.
Develop the habit of debating and discussing issues with friends or parents. Develop interests and hobbies so that you are able to answer convincingly Understand the current affairs and the issues behind the events. Remember that the interview is not a cross examination but a natural but purposeful conversation. It is an opportunity to reveal the mental qualities of a candidate.

The interview is not a test of specialised knowledge, as that has already been tested in written examination. The idea is to see the social traits of a person and his personality as suited to a career in the Civil Services. If a person gives the impression of being a bookworm, the chances of his selection are reduced. The candidate must exhibit an intelligent interest in events happening around him so that he appears to be a complete personality.

Tips to improve your performance at the UPSC Interview

There are generally 5 members at the board with the Chairperson seated at the center. Enter confidently and greet the Chairperson, who will probably welcome you, and pleasantly nod at other members. Wait till you are asked to sit. Have a positive body language.
Intelligent listing is the mantra, and for this maintaining eye contact is very important. You should not glare but all the same appear attentive and do not glance at other members, it can be very distracting for the interviewer. However if some other member asks you anything, look at that member and answer and turn back to the first - this is what we do in normal attentive listening.
Do not fidget or throw your hands around, or shake your head. Less amount of movement does not mean you should sit unnaturally stiff. Your posture should be attentive and relaxed at the same time. Do not crouch/bend forward or place your hands on the table.
Cut your answer short to the required patience shown by the member talking to you. They usually like to talk more, so listen carefully and think for a few seconds before you start answering the question. This will show that you are organising your thoughts in mind before starting to speak.
Leave some room for difference in opinion. Do take a stand, but do not look adamant or unwilling to appreciate the board's opinion.
Use couple of words from the question while answering any question. It shows you have listened to the question carefully. But at the same time limit the use the technical jargon.
Listen very carefully. Come to the central issue of the enquiry immediately. Wild guessing or speculation are a complete no no. Answer questions clearly and confidently.
Do not start evaluating your performance while still in the interview. Even if you have committed mistakes in the beginning, do not think that you have already lost the game. They are looking for warm, sensitive respectful and attentive youngsters. They know you are good or you would not have come so far.
Talk humbly about your achievements and hobbies. You may have mentioned some hobbies in the form without serious background in them, but before the interview it would be useful to pick up some basic info on the hobby.
Say less to convey more. Try not getting into long winded explanations and answer to the point.Less is more these days as per the minimalist creed. Argue logically and generalise correctly. Do not try to read too much between the lines.
Remember, while answering any question, what is easy to see is easy to miss. We often tend to miss the obvious and go for some non-crucial aspect of the subject.
Get up to leave only when the chairperson asks you to, not because you think everyone has asked a question. Similarly, even if someone has not asked a question and the chairperson asks you to leave then please leave. Some members do not ask questions at all, due to various reasons like limited time.
Before leaving politely thank the chairperson and nod at the others politely. Avoid saying "Have a good day sir". A "Thank you Sir/Madam" is enough.

Things To Be Avoided at the UPSC Interview

Avoid the expression, 'I am sorry.'
Avoid conversational cliches, like: 'as you know', 'that's correct', 'of course', 'indeed', 'obviously', etc.
Avoid technical jargon. However, if a member continues to probe you in any technical field, you can use technical expressions.
Maintain a cheerful disposition. Now and then you can appear serious; but most of the time keep smiling or look cheerful and composed. One caution here: if the board laughs, you should only smile. It is only when you maintain some amount of distance that the board begins to wonder about the depth of your personality.
Do not give long introductions. Come straight to the heart of the matter.
Show human concern whenever possible in your answers.
You should be logically consistent and analyse things rationally while talking. You are supposed to defend what you say, but with due respect to the views of the board. Stop trying to defend an answer if it becomes difficult to do so logically and fairly.
Do not make hasty or sweeping generalisations.

Indian Civil Service

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The Indian Civil Service serves as the backbone of India and carries great respect and responsibilities. India's best brains vie for entry into the Indian Civil Services as officers. Even though corporate jobs may offer the best of salaries and perks, a majority of youngsters and their parents still crave entry to the prestigious Indian Civil Services held by the UPSC. The very fact that a big share of every year's top posts in the civil services exams are bagged by professionals from various streams, shows that the IAS is still the dream job for many.

The Civil Services Examination is a challenge and thousands of candidates appear in it every year. As many students appear in the examination. To achieve success in the exam, it is important to study in a focused manner, both for the Preliminary as well as for the Main Exam. For an IAS aspirant, it is important to know the plan of the examination as well as what one might expect.

The examination consists of two parts: the Preliminary Examination (objective type), which is a qualifying examination, and a Main Examination consisting of written examination and interview. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam are not counted in the Main Exam and it is only a screening exam. The Preliminary Exam is an objective type test. One can appear in the Main Examination only after passing the Preliminary Exam. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the Preliminary Examination in May/June and the Main Examination is held in October/November. The notification for the Preliminary Examination is published in December every year. The exam is held in many cities in India and one can opt for a centre near one's place so that unnecessary travel is avoided. The number of vacancies are 600-700 every year. Reservation is made for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

How to Apply: Applications should be made in the prescribed format (the form is available from all leading Post offices) and sent to: Under Secretary (CSP), Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi-110 011. A registration number is given as a token of receipt of the application. If a candidate does not receive an acknowledgement within 45 days, he is advised to contact the UPSC. Admission certificates and Roll Nos. are sent and if they are not received one month before the exam, the candidate should contact the UPSC. Communications to the UPSC should contain name of examination, registration no., name and postal address as given in the application.

Important Steps to be followed

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Step 1.
Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. While you read, pay close attention to words you don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be exposed to many new words.

2008-01-02T02:22:00.000-08:00

This is my little brother

3.For faster calculations

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1. The first requirement is to mug up tables till 30, reciprocals with respect to percentage and decimals, squares & cubes till 30, square roots and cube roots till 7.

2. Practice various questions to become comfortable with the various types of problems and understand by which method you can solve a particular problem faster. Exposure to various types of questions is required so CAT does not come as a surprise to you.

3. Be very thorough with basics of all arithmetic topics like profit, loss and discount, ratios, basic number theory and formulas.

4. Take sectional tests and analyse your performance. This helps you to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Remember, a test is not conducted to tell you that you perform at 80% efficiency but to point out the 20% area where you are making mistakes.

5. Try vedic maths and learn short-cut methods that work for you. Also, try doing mental calculations and minimise the use of using pen and paper.

6. Approximation is the best tool to arrive at answers quickly but using it is an art, you will have to learn this through trial-and-error and practice.

7. Often you can arrive at the correct answer by the process of elimination. For some questions you may see that two or three of the given options are pretty far fetched and it is easy to select the right answer. Again, this method needs practice to perfect.

8. Whenever you try to calculate faster then your comfort zone speed, you are bound to make silly mistakes. So, try to build up your speed slowly so that it peaks in November when all the entrance tests are about to begin.

2.The Importance Of Reciprocal Percentages And Fractions

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Suppose you are to calculate 5.26% of 760 as a sub-step of a DI calculation say something like

(526/200) X (760/100) => {(5.26/100) X (760/1)} 1/20

You should know the equivalent fraction of 5.76% (It is actually 1/19 ), it reduces to (40) X 1/20 = 2

This can save you vital 15 – 20 seconds (at least) and saving this much time in almost every question means a higher attempt and higher accuracy.

So, be sure to spend time learning equivalent fraction & percentages from 1/1 to 1/30.

1.Base Method

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This is very suitable when numbers are close to a base like 10, 100, 1000 or so on. Let's take an example:
106 × 108

Here the base is 100 and the 'surplus' is 6 and 8 for the two numbers. The answer will be found in two parts, the right-hand should have only two digits (because base is 100) and will be the product of the surpluses. Thus, the right-hand part will be 6 × 8, i.e. 48. The left-hand part will be one multiplicand plus the surplus of the other multiplicand. The left part of the answer in this case will be 106 + 8 or for that matter 108 + 6 i.e. 114. The answer is 11448.

12 X 14.

10 would the most suitable base. In the current example, the surplus numbers are +2 and +4.

If 8x7 were to be performed and base of 10 were chosen, then -2 and -3 would have been the deficit numbers.