CGPSC MAINS 2019 Paper-4

Points to Remember: Growing rural market size and purchasing power. Technological advancements impacting rural marketing. Infrastructure development’s role. Challenges like illiteracy, fragmented markets, and logistics. Government initiatives and policies. Introduction: India’s rural market represents a significant and rapidly evolving segment of the economy. Comprising over 65% of the population, rural India’s purchasing power is steadily … Read more

Points to Remember: Definition and concept of in-situ conservation. Advantages and disadvantages of in-situ conservation. Examples of in-situ conservation strategies (protected areas, wildlife corridors, etc.). Challenges and threats to in-situ conservation efforts. Importance of community participation and sustainable development. Introduction: Biodiversity, encompassing the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to … Read more

Points to Remember: Asexual reproduction in plants involves the production of offspring from a single parent without the fusion of gametes. Several methods exist, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these methods is crucial for plant propagation and conservation. Introduction: Asexual reproduction, unlike sexual reproduction, does not involve the union of male and … Read more

Points to Remember: India’s mega-biodiversity status. Endemic species and hotspots. Threats to plant biodiversity. Conservation efforts. Introduction: India is one of the world’s 17 mega-biodiversity countries, boasting exceptional plant biodiversity. This richness stems from its diverse geographical features, ranging from the Himalayas to the coastal plains and deserts. Estimates suggest India harbors around 47,000 plant … Read more

Points to Remember: Thermal pollution stems from various sources, both natural and anthropogenic. The impact of thermal pollution varies depending on the magnitude, duration, and receiving water body’s characteristics. Mitigation strategies involve reducing heat discharge and improving water body management. Introduction: Thermal pollution refers to the degradation of water quality by any process that changes … Read more

Points to Remember: Metallurgy involves the science and technology of metals. Calcination, roasting, smelting, and refining are crucial steps in extractive metallurgy. Each process has specific objectives and conditions. Understanding these processes is vital for efficient metal extraction and resource management. Introduction: Metallurgy is the science and technology of metals; it encompasses the physical and … Read more

Points to Remember: Laws of reflection: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection; incident ray, reflected ray, and normal lie in the same plane. Plane mirror image characteristics: Virtual, erect, laterally inverted, same size as the object, and the distance of the image from the mirror is equal to the distance of the object from … Read more

Points to Remember: The man earns ₹200 and spends ₹150 in a two-day cycle. Net earnings per cycle are ₹50 (₹200 – ₹150). We need to determine the day when his total savings reach ₹600. Introduction: This is a mathematical word problem requiring an analytical approach. It involves calculating cumulative savings based on a repeating … Read more

Points to Remember: Profit is calculated as (Selling Price – Cost Price) Loss is calculated as (Cost Price – Selling Price) Percentage profit/loss is calculated as [(Profit/Loss)/Cost Price] * 100 Introduction: This question involves a basic business calculation concerning profit and loss. A shopkeeper’s overall profit or loss is determined by considering the individual profit … Read more

Points to Remember: Bio-insecticides are derived from natural sources. Benefits include reduced environmental impact and human health risks compared to synthetic insecticides. Hazards include potential for non-target effects, variable efficacy, and cost considerations. Introduction: Bio-insecticides, also known as biopesticides, are pest control agents derived from natural sources such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or certain plants. … Read more